This was originally posted as a top 20 list on Facebook and then expanded for the DMDB blog. 38 lists (sources at bottom of page) focused on country albums were aggregated to create this list. Albums making 4 or more lists were ranked and averaged with their overall overall status in Dave’s Music Database.
Check out other best-of-genre/category lists here.
1. Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison (1968)
2. Ray Charles Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (1962)
3. Garth Brooks No Fences (1990)
4. Garth Brooks Ropin’ the Wind (1991)
5. Shania Twain Come on Over (1997)
6. Gram Parsons Grievous Angel (1974)
7. Taylor Swift Fearless (2008)
8. Willie Nelson Red-Headed Stranger (1975)
9. Various artists O Brother Where Art Thou (soundtrack, 2000)
10. The Byrds Sweetheart of the Rodeo (1968)
11. Johnny Cash At San Quentin (live, 1969)
12. Dixie Chicks Wide Open Spaces (1998)
13. Dixie Chicks Home (2002)
14. Loretta Lynn Van Lear Rose (2004)
15. Shania Twain The Woman in Me (1995)
16. Dixie Chicks Fly (1999)
17. Kenny Rogers The Gambler (1978)
18. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Will the Circle Be Unbroken (1972)
19. Hank Williams 40 Greatest Hits (compilation: 1947-53, released 1978)
20. Carrie Underwood Some Hearts (2005)
21. Chris Stapleton Traveller (2015)
22. Johnny Cash American Recordings (1994)
23. The Flying Burrito Brothers The Gilded Palace of Sin (1969)
24. Lady Antebellum Need You Now (2010)
25. Taylor Swift Speak Now (2010)
26. Kacey Musgraves Same Trailer, Different Park (2013)
27. Garth Brooks In Pieces (1993)
28. Clint Black Killin’ Time (1989)
29. Billy Ray Cyrus Some Gave All (1992)
30. Garth Brooks The Hits (compilation: 1989-1993)
31. Kenny Rogers Greatest Hits (compilation: 1977-80, released 1980)
32. Lucinda Williams Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (1998)
33. Faith Hill Breathe (1999)
34. Taylor Swift Red (2012)
35. LeAnn Rimes Blue (1996)
36. Alan Jackson A Lot about Livin’ and a Little ‘Bout Love (1992)
37. Randy Travis Always and Forever (1987)
38. Alabama Mountain Music (1982)
39. Willie Nelson Always on My Mind (1982)
40. Randy Travis Storms of Life (1986)
41. Dolly Parton Coat of Many Colors (1971)
42. Waylon Jennings Honky Tonk Heroes (1973)
43. Garth Brooks Double Live (1998)
44. Bob Dylan Nashville Skyline (1969)
45. Taylor Swift Taylor Swift (2006)
46. Dwight Yoakam Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc. (1986)
47. Patsy Cline 12 Greatest Hits (compilation: 1957-63, released 1973)
48. Tim McGraw Not a Moment Too Soon (1994)
49. Charlie Rich Behind Closed Doors (1973)
50. George Strait Blue Clear Sky (1996)
51. Steve Earle Guitar Town (1986)
52. Garth Brooks The Chase (1992)
53. Garth Brooks Sevens (1997)
54. Eric Church Chief (2011)
55. Kris Kristofferson Kristofferson (aka “Me and Bobby McGee”) (1970)
56. Gretchen Wilson Here for the Party (2004)
57. Marty Robbins Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs (1959)
58. Alabama The Closer You Get (1983)
59. Miranda Lambert Revolution (2009)
60. Dixie Chicks Taking the Long Way (2006)
61. Grateful Dead American Beauty (1970)
62. Kacey Musgraves Golden Hour (2018)
63. Waylon Jennings Greatest Hits (compilation: 1968-78, released 1979)
64. Emmylou Harris Wrecking Ball (1995)
65. Brad Paisley Time Well Wasted (2005)
66. John Denver Back Home Again (1974)
67. Sturgill Simpson A Sailor’s Guide to Earth (2016)
68. Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Tompall Glaser, & Jessi Colter Wanted! The Outlaws (1976)
69. Toby Keith Shock ‘n Y’all (2003)
70. Jason Aldean My Kinda Party (2011)
71. Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, & Emmylou Harris Trio (1987)
72. Shania Twain Up! (2002)
73. Elvis Presley Moody Blue (1977)
74. Alabama Feels So Right (1981)
75. Alan Jackson Drive (2002)
76. Brooks & Dunn Brand New Man (1991)
77. Lyle Lovett Pontiac (1987)
78. Buck Owens & His Buckaroos Carnegie Hall Concert (live, 1966)
79. Tim McGraw Greatest Hits (compilation: 1994-99, released 2000)
80. Miranda Lambert Platinum (2014)
81. Kenny Chesney When the Sun Goes Down (2004)
82. Loretta Lynn Coal Miner’s Daughter (soundtrack, 1980)
83. George Jones I Am What I Am (1980)
84. Alan Jackson Greatest Hits Volume 2 and Some Other Stuff (compilation: 1996-2003, released 2003)
85. Tammy Wynette D-I-V-O-R-C-E (1968)
86. Miranda Lambert Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2007)
87. Glen Campbell Wichita Lineman (1968)
88. Garth Brooks Garth Brooks (1989)
89. Alan Jackson Greatest Hits Collection (compilation: 1990-95, released 1995)
90. Luke Bryan Crash My Party (2013)
91. Patsy Cline Showcase (1962)
92. Tammy Wynette Stand by Your Man (1969)
93. Willie Nelson Stardust (1978)
94. Alabama Greatest Hits (compilation: 1980-86, released 1986)
95. Alabama Roll On (1984)
96. Tim McGraw Everywhere (1997)
97. Rosanne Cash Seven Year Ache (1981)
98. Sturgill Simpson Metamodern Sounds in Country Music (2014)
99. Kenny Rogers Kenny (1979)
100. Uncle Tupelo No Depression (1990)
Resources and Related Links:
- Dave’s Music Database: other best-of-genre lists
- 24/7 Wall St. (4/1/2020). “100 Most Popular Country Music Albums of All Time”
This list was created based on albums sales and performance on Billboard’s country album chart. All albums hit #1 on that chart and sold at least 1 million copies.
- Academy of Country Music (1967-2019). “Album of the Year”
- Albumoftheyear.org: “The Best Country Albums of All Time”
Top 25 list. Heavily slanted toward 21st century albums.
- BestEverAlbums.co (2013). “Top 100 Country Albums” by Bork
- Billboard “Greatest of All Time Top Country Albums”
- Billings Gazette (4/22/2017). “Tradition vs. Recent Hits: Ranking the Best Country Music Albums of All Time”
- BobbyBones.iheart.com (2/1/2018). “These Are the top 50 Country Albums of All Time” by Morgan Huelsman
- TheBoot.com (3/31/2020). “10 Essential Albums for Your Country Music Education”
- Cleveland.com (9/19/2019). “50 Greatest Country Music Albums of All Time” by Troy L. Smith
- CMT (4/24/2013). “Nashville Skyline: What Are the Greatest Albums Ever?” by Chet Flippo
- CMT Edge: “10 Essential Alt-Country Albums”
Now dead link.
- Consequence of Sound (9/10/2019). “10 Country Albums Every Music Fan Should Own” by Jacob Nierenberg and Tyler Dunston
- Country Music Association (1967-2019). “Album of the Year”
- Digital Dream Door (6/24/2017). “100 Greatest Country Music Albums” edited by Chris F., Lew
- Discogs.com (2019). “Essential Country Albums to Own on Vinyl” by gaspipe
- Entertainment Weekly (5/15/2008). “25 Country Albums You Need to Hear Even if You Hate Country Music” by Chris Willman
- Grammy Award (1965-66, 1994-2020). “Best Country Album”
- IGN (6/16/2012). “Top 25 Country Albums” by Spence D.
BBC listeners were polled to determine the top 100 albums of all time.
- Mademan: “Top 10 Best Country Albums of All Time”
Now dead link.
- Mentor Public Library (8/23/2017). “25 Classic Country Albums on Freegal”
- Mojo (2001). “The Ultimate CD Buyers Guide: Country”
- Music Radar (4/2/2013). “Son Volt’s Jay Farrar Picks 10 Essential Country Albums” by Joe Bosso
- Paste (10/19/2019). “The 30 Best Country Albums of the 2010s”
- Pitchfork: “Highest Rated Country Albums of All Time”
- Q Magazine: “30 Essential Country Rock Albums”
- Q Magazine (April 2005). “Ultimate Music Collection”
Featured lists of must-have albums (from 4 to 11 picks) and tracks (roughly 50) in multiple genres including rock, pop, punk, rap, country, blues, soul, metal, reggae, jazz, folk, electronic, and indie.
- Rate Your Music: “100 Greatest Country Albums”
An unranked list created by Ratey Your Music user BradL.
- Reddit (2015). “What Are County Music’s Essential Albums?”
- Rolling Stone (5/27/2020). “50 Country Albums Every Rock Fan Should Own”
- SavingCountryMusic.com (3/25/2013). “Greatest Country Music Albums of All Time”
- A Taste of Country (2015). “100 Greatest Country Albums of All Time”
- Treble: “10 Essential Alt-Country Albums”
- Vinyl Me Please (8/3/2018). “The 10 Best Alt-Country Albums to Own on Vinyl” by Andrew Madigan
- VivaScene.com (1/16/2019). “Essential: The Ttop 10 Country Albums Every Music Fan Should Own” by Brian Miller
- Wide Open Country (2020). “The 50 Best-Selling Country Albums of All Time” by Bobby Moore
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What about Mary Chapin Carpenter's Come On Come On which had 7 singles hit the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts. It sold 3 million copies and won 2 Grammy awards. Definitely deserved to be in the top 100 country albums.
ReplyDeleteI don't listen country. I don't understand it) But my father loves this music)) All my childhood i listened to this music because my dad plays in a country band) When I writing articles for original-writing.com I listen to hip-hop music)
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