Wednesday, December 2, 2020

The Top 100 R&B/Soul Albums of All Time

First posted 8/11/2011; last updated 12/2/2020.

R&B/Soul:

The Top 100 Albums

This list was devised by aggregating more than 50 best-of lists focused on R&B and soul albums. These figures were averaged with the albums’ overall status in Dave’s Music Database to create this list. Note: there are references in the comments section to albums no longer on this list because of revisions.

Check out other best-of-genre/category lists here.

1. Marvin Gaye What’s Going On (1971)
2. Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life (1976)
3. Stevie Wonder Innervisions (1973)
4. Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)
5. Michael Jackson Thriller (1982)
6. James Brown Live at the Apollo Volume 1 (live, 1962)
7. Aretha Franklin I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967)
8. Michael Jackson Off the Wall (1979)
9. Sly & the Family Stone There’s a Riot Goin’ On (1971)
10. Prince & the Revolution Purple Rain (1984)

11. Otis Redding Otis Blue (1965)
12. Prince Sign ‘O’ the Times (1987)
13. Aretha Franklin Lady Soul (1968)
14. Curtis Mayfield Superfly (1972)
15. Stevie Wonder Talking Book (1972)
16. Whitney Houston Whitney Houston (1985)
17. Usher Confessions (2004)
18. Boyz II Men II (1994)
19. Alicia Keys Songs in A Minor (2001)
20. Marvin Gaye Let’s Get It On (1973)

21. Various artists (Whitney Houston et al) The Bodyguard (soundtrack, 1992)
22. Ray Charles Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (1962)
23. TLC Crazy Sexy Cool (1994)
24. Frank Ocean Channel Orange (2012)
25. Parliament Mothership Connection (1976)
26. Janet Jackson Control (1986)
27. Bobby Brown Don’t Be Cruel (1988)
28. D’Angelo Voodoo (2000)
29. Isaac Hayes Hot Buttered Soul (1969)
30. Al Green I’m Still in Love with You (1972)

31. Michael Jackson Dangerous (1991)
32. Sly & the Family Stone Stand! (1969)
33. Janet Jackson Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989)
34. Michael Jackson Bad (1987)
35. Earth, Wind & Fire That’s the Way of the World (1975)
36. Mariah Carey The Emancipation of Mimi (2005)
37. Lionel Richie Can’t Slow Down (1983)
38. D’Angelo Brown Sugar (1995)
39. Erykah Badu Baduizm (1997)
40. Prince 1999 (1982)

41. Anita Baker Rapture (1986)
42. Beyoncé Lemonade (2016)
43. Toni Braxton Toni Braxton (1993)
44. Funkadelic One Nation Under a Groove (1978)
45. Beyoncé Beyoncé (2013)
46. Beyoncé Dangerously in Love (2003)
47. Al Green Let’s Stay Together (1972)
48. Alicia Keys The Diary of… (2003)
49. Al Green Call Me (1973)
50. Destiny’s Child The Writing’s on the Wall (1999)

51. Various Artists (Bee Gees et al) Saturday Night Fever (soundtrack, 1977)
52. Stevie Wonder Fulfillingness’ First Finale (1974)
53. War The World Is a Ghetto (1972)
54. Mary J. Blige What’s the 411? (1992)
55. Various Artists (Whitney Houston et al) Waiting to Exhale (soundtrack, 1995)
56. Mariah Carey Mariah Carey (1990)
57. Toni Braxton Secrets (1996)
58. D’Angelo & the Vanguard Black Messiah (2014)
59. Janet Jackson janet. (1993)
60. Isaac Hayes Shaft (soundtrack, 1971)

61. Mary J. Blige My Life (1994)
62. R. Kelly 12 Play (1993)
63. Curtis Mayfield Curtis (1970)
64. Funkadelic Maggot Brain (1971)
65. Etta James Tell Mama (1968)
66. Stevie Wonder Hotter Than July (1980)
67. Maxwell Urban Hang Suite (1996)
68. Rick James Street Songs (1981)
69. Boyz II Men Cooleyhighharmony (1991)
70. The Isley Brothers 3 + 3 (1973)

71. Mariah Carey Daydream (1995)
72. Dusty Springfield Dusty in Memphis (1969)
73. Sly & the Family Stone Fresh (1973)
74. En Vogue Funky Divas (1992)
75. Mariah Carey Butterfly (1997)
76. Mary J. Blige The Breakthrough (2005)
77. Sam Cooke Live at the Harlem Square Club (aka “One Night Stand”) (live, 1963)
78. The Weeknd Beauty Behind the Madness (2015)
79. Al Green Greatest Hits (1975)
80. Natalie Cole Unforgettable…With Love (1991)

81. Gladys Knight & the Pips Imagination (1973)
82. Beyoncé I Am…Sasha Fierce (2008)
83. Bill Withers Still Bill (1972)
84. Prince Dirty Mind (1980)
85. Jill Scott Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1 (2000)
86. James Brown Sex Machine (live, 1970)
87. Sade Diamond Life (1984)
88. Sade Promise (1985)
89. The O’Jays Ship Ahoy (1973)
90. Bruno Mars 24K Magic (2016)

91. The Miracles Going to a Go-Go (1965)
92. Jodeci Forever My Lady (1991)
93. Soul II Soul Club Classics Vol. I (aka “Keep on Movin’”) (1989)
94. Otis Redding The Dock of the Bay (1968)
95. Diana Ross Diana (1980)
96. Guy Guy (1988)
97. Donny Hathaway Everything Is Everything (1970)
98. Sam Cooke Night Beat (1963)
99. Maxwell Black Summer’s Night (2009)
100. Marvin Gaye Here, My Dear (1978)


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8 comments:

  1. The Velvet Rope is too low :(

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  2. No Jagged Edge????????????

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    Replies
    1. As noted, this list is an aggregate of 22 R&B-oriented best-of lists. The albums which made this list were determined completely objectively based on what made those lists. Sorry!

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    2. Well it seems like a pretty flawed process if Snoop Dogg and The Black Eyed Peas made the list.

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  3. How the hell is this the top 100 R&B albums!!! Where is Brandy, Aaliyah and how the hell did 2Pac make the R&B List??????????

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    Replies
    1. Sigh. It never ceases to amaze me how incapable people are of finding redeeming value in a list that doesn't perfectly match their own sensibilities.

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    2. It’s an excellent list! :)

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