Through a variety of media outlets, including radio and publishing, Virgin Records has put out a variety of best-of album lists through the years. This exclusive DMDB list consolidates four Virgin lists (see sources at bottom of page) into one top 100.
Check out other publications and organizations’ best-of album lists here.
1. Nirvana Nevermind (1991)
2. Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
3. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV (1971)
4. The Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street (1972)
5. Queen A Night at the Opera (1975)
6. Meat Loaf Bat Out of Hell (1977)
7. Eagles Hotel California (1976)
8. Guns N’ Roses Appetite for Destruction (1987)
9. Dire Straits Brothers in Arms (1985)
10. The Beatles Revolver (1966)
11. R.E.M. Automatic for the People (1992)
12. The Beatles Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
13. The Beatles Abbey Road (1969)
14. The Beach Boys Pet Sounds (1966)
15. Oasis (What’s the Story) Morning Glory (1995)
16. U2 The Joshua Tree (1987)
17. The Beatles The Beatles (aka “The White Album”) (1968)
18. David Bowie The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)
19. The Smiths The Queen Is Dead (1986)
20. David Bowie Hunky Dory (1971)
21. Fleetwood Mac Rumours (1977)
22. U2 Achtung Baby (1991)
23. Sex Pistols Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols (1977)
24. The Beatles Rubber Soul (1965)
25. Bruce Springsteen Born to Run (1975)
26. Bob Dylan Blonde on Blonde (1966)
27. Paul Simon Graceland (1986)
28. Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill (1995)
29. The Doors The Doors (1967)
30. The Jimi Hendrix Experience Are You Experienced? (1967)
31. Blur Parklife (1994)
32. Pearl Jam Ten (1991)
33. Crowded House Woodface (1991)
34. The Who Who’s Next (1971)
35. Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life (1976)
36. Blondie Parallel Lines (1978)
37. Manic Street Preachers Everything Must Go (1996)
38. The Verve Urban Hymns (1997)
39. Red Hot Chili Peppers Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991)
40. Elton John Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)
41. Metallica Master of Puppets (1986)
42. AC/DC Back in Black (1980)
43. The Jam All Mod Cons (1978)
44. Derek and the Dominos Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs (1970)
45. The Police Synchronicity (1983)
46. Elvis Costello My Aim Is True (1977)
47. Elvis Costello & The Attractions Imperial Bedroom (1982)
48. Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet (1986)
49. The Rolling Stones Aftermath (1966)
50. Sting Ten Summoner’s Tales (1993)
51. Def Leppard Pyromania (1983)
52. The Cars The Cars (1978)
53. ZZ Top Eliminator (1983)
54. Radiohead The Bends (1995)
55. Radiohead OK Computer (1997)
56. The Stone Roses The Stone Roses (1989)
57. Van Morrison Astral Weeks (1968)
58. Bob Dylan Blood on the Tracks (1975)
59. Velvet Underground & Nico Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)
60. The Jimi Hendrix Experience Electric Ladyland (1968)
61. Love Forever Changes (1967)
62. Bob Dylan Highway 61 Revisited (1965)
63. Miles Davis Kind of Blue (1959)
64. Prince Sign ‘O’ the Times (1987)
65. The Clash London Calling (1979)
66. Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here (1975)
67. Oasis Definitely Maybe (1994)
68. Marvin Gaye What’s Going On (1971)
69. Massive Attack Blue Lines (1991)
70. Portishead Dummy (1994)
71. Pink Floyd The Wall (1979)
72. Joni Mitchell Blue (1971)
73. The Rolling Stones Let It Bleed (1969)
74. The Band The Band (1969)
75. R.E.M. Out of Time (1991)
76. Beck Odelay (1996)
77. Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band Trout Mask Replica (1969)
78. Travis The Man Who (1999)
79. Simon & Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)
80. Michael Jackson Thriller (1982)
81. Lou Reed Transformer (1972)
82. Neil Young After the Gold Rush (1970)
83. Leftfield Leftism (1995)
84. Bob Marley & the Wailers Legend (compilation: 1973-83, released 1984)
85. Kate Bush Hounds of Love (1985)
86. Smashing Pumpkins Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995)
87. Prince & the Revolution Purple Rain (soundtrack, 1984)
88. Television Marquee Moon (1977)
89. Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti (1975)
90. Björk Debut (1993)
91. The Beatles A Hard Day’s Night (soundtrack, 1964)
92. David Bowie Low (1977)
93. The Smiths The Smiths (1984)
94. Tori Amos Little Earthquakes (1992)
95. Primal Scream Screamadelica (1991)
96. Carole King Tapestry (1971)
97. Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells (1973)
98. Jeff Buckley Grace (1994)
99. U2 The Unforgettable Fire (1984)
100. Neil Young Harvest (1972)
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First posted 12/27/2003; last updated 9/4/2026. | 
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