Friday, March 22, 2024

Top 100 Country Albums of All Time

Country Music:

The Top 100 Albums

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)


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First posted 3/17/2010; last updated 3/22/2024.

3 comments:

  1. My brother recommended I might like this web site.
    He was entirely right. This post actually made my day. You can not imagine just
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    ReplyDelete
  2. 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.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I 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)

    ReplyDelete