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 3 or more of those lists were ranked by their overall status in Dave’s Music Database. Also factored in were those which topped the country album chart or won Country Album of the Year awards from the Academy of Country Music, American Music Awards, Billboard, Country Music Association, Dave’s Music Database, and the Grammys.
There is a lot of cross-polination between country, folk, and Americana. I’ve created three separate lists for these genres and allowed an album to only show up on one of the three lists. Check out those and other best-of-genre/category lists here.
1. Shania Twain Come on Over (1997)
2. Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison (1968)
3. Taylor Swift Fearless (2008)
4. Ray Charles Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (1962)
5. Various artists O Brother Where Art Thou (soundtrack, 2000)
6. Taylor Swift Red (2012)
7. Chris Stapleton Traveller (2015)
8. Kacey Musgraves Golden Hour (2018)
9. Garth Brooks Ropin’ the Wind (1991)
10. The Byrds Sweetheart of the Rodeo (1968)
11. Gram Parsons Grievous Angel (1974)
12. Garth Brooks No Fences (1990)
13. Hank Williams 40 Greatest Hits (compilation: 1947-53, released 1978)
14. Kenny Rogers Greatest Hits (compilation: 1977-80, released 1980)
15. Patsy Cline 12 Greatest Hits (compilation: 1957-63, released 1973)
16. Morgan Wallen Dangerous: The Double Album (2021)
17. Garth Brooks The Hits (compilation: 1989-1993)
18. Carrie Underwood Some Hearts (2005)
19. Johnny Cash At San Quentin (live, 1969)
20. Taylor Swift Speak Now (2010)
21. The Flying Burrito Brothers The Gilded Palace of Sin (1969)
22. Billy Ray Cyrus Some Gave All (1992)
23. Dixie Chicks Home (2002)
24. Shania Twain Up! (2002)
25. Dixie Chicks Wide Open Spaces (1998)
26. Sturgill Simpson A Sailor’s Guide to Earth (2016)
27. Loretta Lynn Van Lear Rose (2004)
28. Morgan Wallen One Thing at a Time (2023)
29. Dixie Chicks Fly (1999)
30. Willie Nelson Red-Headed Stranger (1975)
31. Shania Twain The Woman in Me (1995)
32. Lady Antebellum Need You Now (2010)
33. Shania Twain Greatest Hits (compilation: 1994-2004, released 2004)
34. Dixie Chicks Taking the Long Way (2006)
35. Garth Brooks Double Live (1998)
36. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Will the Circle Be Unbroken (1972)
37. Kacey Musgraves Same Trailer, Different Park (2013)
38. Alan Jackson Greatest Hits Volume 2 and Some Other Stuff (compilation: 1996-2003, released 2003)
39. Alabama Greatest Hits (compilation: 1980-86, released 1986)
40. Gram Parsons G.P. (1973)
41. Alan Jackson The Greatest Hits Collection (compilation: 1989-95, released 1995)
42. Chris Stapleton Starting Over (2020)
43. Taylor Swift Taylor Swift (2006)
44. Garth Brooks In Pieces (1993)
45. Taylor Swift Red (Taylor’s Version) (2021)
46. Kenny Rogers The Gambler (1978)
47. Miranda Lambert Platinum (2014)
48. Luke Combs This One’s for You (2017)
49. Emmylou Harris Wrecking Ball (1995)
50. Garth Brooks Sevens (1997)
51. Clint Black Killin’ Time (1989)
52. Tim McGraw Greatest Hits (compilation: 1994-99, released 2000)
53. Garth Brooks The Chase (1992)
54. Kenny Rogers Ten Years of Gold (compilation: 1967-77, released 1978)
55. Eagles Long Road Out of Eden (2007)
56. George Strait 50 Number Ones (compilation: 1982-2004, released 2004)
57. Zach Bryan American Heartbreak (2022)
58. Willie Nelson Stardust (1978)
59. LeAnn Rimes Blue (1996)
60. Garth Brooks Garth Brooks (1989)
61. Faith Hill Breathe (1999)
62. Randy Travis Always and Forever (1987)
63. Chris Stapleton From a Room, Volume 1 (2017)
64. Various Artists Coyote Ugly (soundtrack, 2000)
65. Luke Bryan Crash My Party (2013)
66. Kacey Musgraves Star-Crossed (2021)
67. Eric Church Chief (2011)
68. Various Artists Country Music (box: 1928-2002, released 2019)
69. Waylon Jennings Greatest Hits (compilation: 1968-78, released 1979)
70. Willie Nelson Always on My Mind (1982)
71. Gretchen Wilson Here for the Party (2004)
72. Jason Aldean My Kinda Party (2011)
73. Garth Brooks The Ultimate Hits (compilation: 1989-2007, released 2007)
74. Alan Jackson Drive (2002)
75. Lyle Lovett Pontiac (1987)
76. Charlie Rich Behind Closed Doors (1973)
77. Willie Nelson Greatest Hits & Some That Will Be (compilation: 1973-81, released 1981)
78. Tim McGraw Not a Moment Too Soon (1994)
79. Alan Jackson A Lot about Livin’ and a Little ‘Bout Love (1992)
80. Alabama Mountain Music (1982)
81. Rascal Flatts Me and My Gang (2006)
82. Kenny Chesney When the Sun Goes Down (2004)
83. Mary Chapin Carpenter Come on, Come On (1992)
84. Alabama The Closer You Get (1983)
85. Brad Paisley Time Well Wasted (2005)
86. Alabama Feels So Right (1981)
87. Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Tompall Glaser, & Jessi Colter Wanted! The Outlaws (1976)
88. Brooks & Dunn Brand New Man (1991)
89. Toby Keith Shock ‘n Y’all (2003)
90. Reba McEntire Greatest Hits Volume Two (compilation: 1988-93, released 1993)
91. Miranda Lambert Revolution (2009)
92. George Strait Blue Clear Sky (1996)
93. John Denver Back Home Again (1974)
94. Glen Campbell Wichita Lineman (1968)
95. Kenny Rogers Kenny (1979)
96. Garth Brooks Fresh Horses (1995)
97. Elvis Presley Moody Blue (1977)
98. Garth Brooks Scarecrow (2001)
99. Randy Travis Storms of Life (1986)
100. Dwight Yoakam Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc. Etc. (1986)
Resources and Related Links:
- Dave’s Music Database: other best-of-genre lists
- Dave’s Music Database: Country Music: Albums of the Year (Academy of Country Music, American Music Awards, Billboard, Country Music Association, Dave’s Music Database, and Grammy awards for country album of the year)
- 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”
- Billboard “List of Billboard number-one 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 Associati “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-present). “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”
- Treblezine.com (3/10/2016). “10 Essential 21st Century CountryAlbums”
- 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 Top 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
First posted 3/17/2010; last updated 3/22/2024. |
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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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