Some musicians were seemingly born to be stars. While many bands and solo artists release a few albums before they hit their stride, others – like the Cars, whose 1978 multi-platinum self-titled album is considered a rock masterpiece – nail it on their first try with a chart-topping debut that exemplifies their unique sound and solidifies their position in the music world. (wee where it falls on this list of the 50 greatest pop albums of all time.)
To determine the most popular debut albums of all time, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on Billboard 200 chart performance. Debut studio albums released before 2010 were ranked based on an inverse point system wherein a week at No. 1 is worth 200 points, a week at No. 2 is worth 199 points, and so on, up to a week at No. 200 worth one point. Debut albums by solo artists who had previously released popular albums as a member of a band were not considered. Billboard 200 chart data is current through April 22, 2023.
Click here to see the most popular debut albums of all time
The albums range from the mid ‘60s, with artists including Jimi Hendrix and The Doors, to the 2000s, when pop stars like Taylor Swift and Adele came on the scene with a bang. Nearly half are from the ‘90s, which was an explosive decade for music in terms of the variety of genres that went mainstream. It was also the beginning of the end of the importance of albums, as music sales dropped dramatically with the advent of streaming.
Many of the popular debut albums that spent the longest at No. 1 are from ‘90s divas including Whitney Houston, whose self-titled album spent 14 weeks in the top slot; Mariah Carey, who spent 11 weeks at the summit with her self-titled album; and Paula Abdul, whose first album, “Forever Your Girl,” topped the charts for 10 weeks. In terms of total time on the Billboard charts, Lady Gaga’s debut “The Fame” takes the cake with 310 weeks. (These are the 50 greatest albums by women.)
50. Cyndi Lauper, “She’s So Unusual”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 4 (for 4 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 97 weeks
> Chart debut date: Dec. 24, 1983
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49. Christina Aguilera, “Christina Aguilera”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 1 week)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 97 weeks
> Chart debut date: Sept. 11, 1999
48. The Mamas & the Papas, “If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 1 week)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 105 weeks
> Chart debut date: March 12, 1966
47. Santana, “Santana”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 4 (for 6 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 108 weeks
> Chart debut date: Sept. 13, 1969
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46. Beastie Boys, “Licensed to Ill”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 7 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 152 weeks
> Chart debut date: Nov. 29, 1986
45. Gretchen Wilson, “Here for the Party”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 2 (for 1 week)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 102 weeks
> Chart debut date: May 29, 2004
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44. Florence + The Machine, “Lungs”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 14 (for 1 week)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 131 weeks
> Chart debut date: Nov. 7, 2009
43. Third Eye Blind, “Third Eye Blind”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 25 (for 1 week)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 106 weeks
> Chart debut date: April 26, 1997
42. Savage Garden, “Savage Garden”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 3 (for 1 week)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 104 weeks
> Chart debut date: May 3, 1997
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41. Ace Of Base, “The Sign”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 102 weeks
> Chart debut date: Dec. 11, 1993
40. Nelly, “Country Grammar”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 104 weeks
> Chart debut date: July 15, 2000
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39. The Cars, “The Cars”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 18 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 139 weeks
> Chart debut date: July 1, 1978
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38. Stone Temple Pilots, “Core”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 3 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 117 weeks
> Chart debut date: Jan. 9, 1993
37. Van Halen, “Van Halen”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 19 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 173 weeks
> Chart debut date: March 11, 1978
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36. Brooks & Dunn, “Brand New Man”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 10 (for 1 week)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 153 weeks
> Chart debut date: Sept. 7, 1991
35. Jimi Hendrix, “Are You Experienced?”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 5 (for 1 week)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 106 weeks
> Chart debut date: Aug. 26, 1967
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34. Boston, “Boston”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 3 (for 6 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 138 weeks
> Chart debut date: Sept. 25, 1976
33. Creed, “My Own Prison”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 22 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 112 weeks
> Chart debut date: Oct. 18, 1997
32. The Doors, “The Doors”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 2 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 122 weeks
> Chart debut date: March 25, 1967
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31. Britney Spears, “…Baby One More Time”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 6 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 103 weeks
> Chart debut date: Jan. 30, 1999
30. Wilson Phillips, “Wilson Phillips”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 2 (for 10 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 125 weeks
> Chart debut date: April 14, 1990
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29. Spice Girls, “Spice”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 105 weeks
> Chart debut date: Feb. 22, 1997
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28. Mariah Carey, “Mariah Carey”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 11 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 113 weeks
> Chart debut date: June 30, 1990
27. Bush, “Sixteen Stone”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 4 (for 1 week)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 109 weeks
> Chart debut date: Jan. 28, 1995
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26. Madonna, “Madonna”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 8 (for 3 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 168 weeks
> Chart debut date: Sept. 3, 1983
25. ‘N Sync, “‘N Sync”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 2 (for 3 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 109 weeks
> Chart debut date: April 11, 1998
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24. Maroon 5, “Songs About Jane”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 6 (for 1 week)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 158 weeks
> Chart debut date: May 31, 2003
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23. Evanescence, “Fallen”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 3 (for 7 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 114 weeks
> Chart debut date: March 22, 2003
22. Jewel, “Pieces Of You”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 4 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 114 weeks
> Chart debut date: Feb. 17, 1996
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21. Lady Antebellum (now Lady A), “Lady Antebellum”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 4 (for 1 week)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 148 weeks
> Chart debut date: May 3, 2008
20. Boyz II Men, “Cooleyhighharmony”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 3 (for 1 week)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 133 weeks
> Chart debut date: June 1, 1991
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19. matchbox 20, “Yourself or Someone Like You”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 5 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 121 weeks
> Chart debut date: March 22, 1997
18. Hootie & The Blowfish, “Cracked Rear View”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 8 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 129 weeks
> Chart debut date: July 23, 1994
17. Seal, “Seal”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 15 (for 1 week)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 181 weeks
> Chart debut date: July 20, 1991
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16. The Black Crowes, “Shake Your Money Maker”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 4 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 167 weeks
> Chart debut date: March 24, 1990
15. Chicago, “Chicago Transit Authority”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 17 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 171 weeks
> Chart debut date: May 17, 1969
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14. Paula Abdul, “Forever Your Girl”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 10 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 175 weeks
> Chart debut date: July 23, 1988
13. Daughtry, “Daughtry”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 176 weeks
> Chart debut date: Dec. 9, 2006
12. Backstreet Boys, “Backstreet Boys”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 4 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 133 weeks
> Chart debut date: Aug. 30, 1997
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11. Carrie Underwood, “Some Hearts”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 2 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 157 weeks
> Chart debut date: Dec. 3, 2005
10. Whitney Houston, “Whitney Houston”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 14 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 176 weeks
> Chart debut date: March 30, 1985
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9. Garth Brooks, “Garth Brooks”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 13 (for 1 week)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 224 weeks
> Chart debut date: May 12, 1990
8. Norah Jones, “Come Away With Me”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 165 weeks
> Chart debut date: March 16, 2002
7. Linkin Park, “[Hybrid Theory]”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 2 (for 4 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 295 weeks
> Chart debut date: Nov. 11, 2000
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6. Adele, “19”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 4 (for 1 week)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 222 weeks
> Chart debut date: June 28, 2008
5. Guns N’ Roses, “Appetite for Destruction”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 258 weeks
> Chart debut date: Aug. 29, 1987
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4. Pearl Jam, “Ten”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 2 (for 4 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 264 weeks
> Chart debut date: Jan. 4, 1992
3. Lady Gaga, “The Fame”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 2 (for 1 week)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 310 weeks
> Chart debut date: Nov. 15, 2008
2. Zac Brown Band, “The Foundation”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 9 (for 1 week)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 294 weeks
> Chart debut date: Dec. 6, 2008
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1. Taylor Swift, “Taylor Swift”
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 5 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 275 weeks
> Chart debut date: Nov. 11, 2006
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