With the development of a PVC-based material better known as vinyl came the long-playing record, or LP for short. Issued in both 10-inch and 12-inch formats, to be played at a speed of 33 1/3 turntable revolutions per minute (16 2/3 for spoken word records), the LP could hold much more music per side than pre-existing shellac records of the same diameters played at 78 rpm. This allowed for the release of albums on a single disc as opposed to heavy books – albums in the true sense – full of the aforementioned shellacs. So began the album era, which started in the late 1940s and steadily took off thereafter.
Take classical music out of the equation and one might argue that artists such as Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Miles Davis – the latter of whom released “Kind of Blue” in 1959 – fine-tuned the album concept by crafting LPs as collections of individual tracks but also as the sum of their parts. Then came rock acts like The Beatles and The Who, who took an increasingly calculated and thematic approach toward the album format as their sound and style evolved throughout the 1960s. (Those two groups are certainly among the most popular rock bands of all time.)
The notion of the studio itself being an instrument reached an early apex with 1967’s “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” after which the music industry was never quite the same. While not necessarily as unique as its reputation would suggest, it was this release that cemented the album as both a springboard for singles and a collective experience unto itself. By the 1970s, everyone from David Bowie to Marvin Gaye was taking a similar approach to their material, producing what became known as “concept records” – a trend that continues to this day. (These are the artists with the most hit albums.)
To determine the 100 best albums of all time, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on chart performance, record sales, and critical reception. Considering only albums ranked on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, published in September 2020, we developed an index based on three metrics: an album’s performance on the Billboard 200 album charts, giving one week at No. 200 one point, one week at No. 199 two points, and so on; the number of certified unit sales in the United States; and an album’s position on Rolling Stone’s greatest albums list. All data were given full weight in the index. (Data on Billboard 200 chart performance is from Billboard and is current as of May 2022. Data on certified U.S. unit sales came from the Recording Industry Association of America and is also current as of May 2022.)
Click here to see the 50 greatest pop albums of all time
50. Beyoncé, Beyoncé
> Release date: December 13, 2013
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 186
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 2
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #81
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49. Billy Joel, The Stranger
> Release date: September 22, 1977
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #2 (for 6 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 137
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 10
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #169
48. Elton John, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
> Release date: October 1, 1973
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 8 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 111
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 8
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #112
47. The Doors, The Doors
> Release date: January 1, 1967
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #2 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 122
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 4
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #86
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46. Kendrick Lamar, DAMN.
> Release date: April 14, 2017
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 4 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 222
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 3
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #175
45. Beyoncé, Lemonade
> Release date: April 22, 2016
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 87
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 3
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #32
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44. Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP
> Release date: May 23, 2000
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 8 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 171
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 10
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #145
43. George Michael, Faith
> Release date: October 30, 1987
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 12 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 96
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 10
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #151
42. Dr. Dre, The Chronic
> Release date: November 9, 1992
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #3 (for 6 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 95
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 3
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #37
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41. Whitney Houston, Whitney Houston
> Release date: February 21, 1985
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 14 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 176
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 13
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #249
40. Led Zeppelin, Physical Graffiti
> Release date: March 3, 1975
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 6 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 48
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 16
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #144
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39. U2, The Joshua Tree
> Release date: March 9, 1987
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 9 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 121
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 10
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #135
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38. Madonna, The Immaculate Collection
> Release date: November 13, 1990
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #2 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 148
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 10
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #138
37. The Beatles, Rubber Soul
> Release date: December 6, 1965
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 6 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 70
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 6
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #35
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36. The Notorious B.I.G., Ready to Die
> Release date: September 13, 1994
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #15 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 61
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 6
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #22
35. Taylor Swift, Red
> Release date: October 22, 2012
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 7 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 170
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 7
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #99
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34. The Beatles, Revolver
> Release date: August 8, 1966
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 6 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 85
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 5
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #11
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33. Paul Simon, Graceland
> Release date: August 25, 1986
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #3 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 105
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 5
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #46
32. Amy Winehouse, Back to Black
> Release date: March 13, 2007
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #2 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 173
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 2
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #33
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31. Bruce Springsteen, Born to Run
> Release date: September 1, 1975
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #3 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 110
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 6
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #21
30. Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin II
> Release date: October 22, 1969
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 7 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 117
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 12
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #123
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29. Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin
> Release date: October 8, 1990
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #7 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 115
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 10
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #101
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28. Jimi Hendrix, Are You Experienced?
> Release date: August 26, 1967
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #5 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 106
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 5
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #30
27. Shania Twain, Come On Over
> Release date: November 4, 1997
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #2 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 151
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 20
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #300
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26. Bee Gees, Saturday Night Fever
> Release date: January 7, 1977
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 24 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 137
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 16
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #163
25. Lauryn Hill, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
> Release date: August 18, 1998
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 4 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 91
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 10
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #10
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24. Stevie Wonder, Songs in the Key of Life
> Release date: September 28, 1976
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 14 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 82
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 10
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #4
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23. Bruce Springsteen, Born in the U.S.A.
> Release date: June 1, 1984
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 7 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 143
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 15
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #142
22. Michael Jackson, Off the Wall
> Release date: August 1, 1979
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #3 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 193
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 9
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #36
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21. Pearl Jam, Ten
> Release date: August 20, 1991
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #2 (for 4 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 264
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 13
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #160
20. Pink Floyd, The Wall
> Release date: November 28, 1979
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 15 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 158
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 23
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #129
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19. Prince and the Revolution, Purple Rain
> Release date: June 25, 1984
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 24 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 152
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 13
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #8
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18. Kendrick Lamar, good kid, m.A.A.d city
> Release date: October 22, 2012
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #2 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 455
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 3
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #115
17. Alanis Morissette, Jagged Little Pill
> Release date: June 13, 1995
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 12 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 127
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 16
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #69
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16. The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
> Release date: June 2, 1967
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 15 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 232
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 11
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #24
15. The Eagles, Hotel California
> Release date: December 8, 1976
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 8 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 137
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 26
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #118
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14. Carole King, Tapestry
> Release date: January 30, 1971
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 15 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 318
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 13
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #25
13. Drake, Take Care
> Release date: November 15, 2011
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 437
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 6
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #95
12. Guns N’ Roses, Appetite for Destruction
> Release date: July 21, 1987
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 5 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 250
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 18
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #62
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11. Nirvana, Nevermind
> Release date: September 24, 1991
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 533
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 10
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #6
10. Metallica, Metallica
> Release date: August 2, 1991
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 4 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 616
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 16
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #235
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9. The Beatles, Abbey Road
> Release date: November 1, 1969
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 11 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 419
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 12
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #5
8. The Beatles, The Beatles [White Album]
> Release date: November 25, 1968
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 9 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 215
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 24
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #29
7. Adele, 21
> Release date: February 22, 2011
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 24 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 507
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 14
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #137
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6. Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin IV
> Release date: November 8, 1971
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #2 (for 4 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 283
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 23
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #58
5. AC/DC, Back In Black
> Release date: July 21, 1980
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #4 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 472
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 25
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #84
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4. Pink Floyd, The Dark Side Of The Moon
> Release date: April 17, 1973
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 957
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 15
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #55
3. Fleetwood Mac, Rumours
> Release date: February 4, 1977
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 31 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 433
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 20
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #7
2. Bob Marley and the Wailers, Legend
> Release date: July 24, 1984
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #5 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 687
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 15
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #48
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1. Michael Jackson, Thriller
> Release date: December 30, 1982
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 37 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 479
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 33
> Rolling Stone Greatest Albums rank: #12
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