Wednesday, October 4, 2023

The DMDB Top 1000 Albums of All Time

Dave’s Music Database:

The Top 1000 Albums of All Time

Below is a list of the top 1000 albums of all time, according to Dave’s Music Database. To see more details about the creation and goals of this list, click on the appropriate link below or just head straight to the list.

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Pre-
1700s

1700
1749

1750
1799

1800
1819

1820
1839

1840
1879

1880
1899

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1900
1929

1930s

1940s

1950
1955

1956

1957

1958

1959

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1960

1961

1962

1963

1964

1965

1966

1967

1968

1969

1970

1971

1972

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

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    Pre-1700’s

  1. Giovanni Pierluigi Palestrina (composer) Missa Papae Marcelli (Pope Marcellus Mass) (classical, composed 1562)
  2. Thomas Tallis (composer) Spem in Alium, Motet for 40 Voices (1570)
  3. Claudio Monteverdi (composer) L’Orfeo (Orpheus) (opera, composed 1607, premiered 2/24/1607)
  4. Claudio Monteverdi (composer) Vespers of the Blessed Virgin (classical, composed 1610)
  5. Giovanni Gabrieli (composer) Canzona Noni Toni (Canzoni for Brass Choirs) (classical, 1612)
  6. Claudio Monteverdi (composer) Madrigals of Love and War (Madrigali Guerrieri ed Amorosi) (classical, 1638)
  7. Claudio Monteverdi (composer) L’incoronazione di Poppea (The Coronation of Poppaea) (opera: 1642)
  8. Henry Purcell (composer) Dido and Aeneas (premiered 12/1/1687)
  9. Johann Pachelbel (composer) “Canon in D major” (1694)

    1700-1749

  10. Johann Sebastian Bach (composer) “Toccata and Fugue for Organ in D minor” (classical, 1708) *
  11. George Friedrich Handel (composer) Water Music (classical, composed 1717, premiered 7/17/1717)
  12. Johann Sebastian Bach (composer) Sonatas and Partitas for Violin (classical, composed 1720)
  13. Johann Sebastian Bach (composer) Brandenburg Concertos (classical, composed 1719-21)
  14. Johann Sebastian Bach (composer) Cello Suites (classical, composed 1717-23)
  15. Johann Sebastian Bach (composer) Violin Concerto No. 2 in E major (classical, 1723)
  16. George Friedrich Händel (composer) Giulio Cesare in Egitto (Julius Caesar in Egypt) (classical, composed 1724)
  17. Antonio Vivaldi (composer) The Four Seasons (classical, composed 1725)
  18. Johann Sebastian Bach (composer) St. Matthew Passion (classical, composed 1729-36)
  19. Johann Sebastian Bach (composer) Goldberg Variations (classical, composed 1741)
  20. George Friedrich Händel (composer) Messiah (classical, composed 1741, premiered 4/13/1742)
  21. Johann Sebastian Bach (composer) Mass in B Minor (classical, composed 1733-1749)

    1750-1799

  22. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer) Piano Concerto No. 9 in E flat major (classical, 1777)
  23. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer) Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio) (classical, 1781)
  24. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer) Symphony No. 35 (Haffner) (classical, composed 1782)
  25. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Piano Concerto No. 19 in F major (classical, 1784)
  26. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer) Piano Concerto No. 20 (classical, composed 1785, premiered 2/11/1785)
  27. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer) Piano Concerto No. 21 (classical, composed 1785, premiered 3/10/1785)
  28. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer) Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major (classical, composed 1786)
  29. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer) Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor (classical, composed 1786)
  30. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer) Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) (opera, composed 1786)
  31. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer) Symphony No. 38 in D Major (Prague) (classical, composed 1786, premiered 1/19/1787)
  32. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer) Don Giovanni (opera, composed 1787, premiered 10/29/1787)
  33. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer) Symphony No. 39 in E flat major (classical, composed 1788)
  34. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer) Symphony No. 40 in G minor (classical, composed 1788)
  35. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer) Symphony No. 41 “Jupiter” (classical, composed 1788)
  36. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer) Clarinet Quintet in A Major (Stadler) (classical, 1789)
  37. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer) Cosí Fan Tutte (Thus Do They All) (classical, 1790)
  38. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer) Requiem Mass in D minor (classical, composed 1791)
  39. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer) Clarinet Concerto in A Major (classical, composed 1791)
  40. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer) Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute) (classical, composed 1791)
  41. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer) Piano Concerto No. 27 in B flat major (classical, 1791)
  42. Franz Josef Haydn (composer) Symphony No. 104 in D major (London) (composed 1795)

    1800-1819

  43. Ludwig van Beethoven (composer) Piano Concerto No. 3 (classical, composed 1800)
  44. Ludwig van Beethoven (composer) Symphony No. 3 in E-flat “Sinfonia Eroica” (classical, composed 1804)
  45. Ludwig van Beethoven (composer) Fidelio (classical, composed 1805)
  46. Ludwig van Beethoven (composer) Violin Concerto in D Major (classical, composed 1806)
  47. Ludwig van Beethoven (composer) Piano Concerto No. 4 (classical, composed 1806)
  48. Ludwig van Beethoven (composer) Symphony No. 4 (classical, composed 1806, premiered 3/1807)
  49. Ludwig van Beethoven (composer) Symphony No. 5 (classical, composed 1808, premiered 12/22/1808)
  50. Ludwig van Beethoven (composer) Symphony No. 6 “Pastorale” (classical, composed 1808, premiered 12/22/1808)
  51. Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor” (classical, premiered 1/13/1811)
  52. Ludwig van Beethoven (composer) Symphony No. 7 (classical, composed 1812, premiered 12/8/1813)
  53. Ludwig van Beethoven (composer) Symphony No. 8 (classical, composed 1812, premiered 2/27/1814)
  54. Gioacchino Rossini (composer) Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) (opera, composed 1816)
  55. Franz Schubert (composer) Piano Quintet in A Major (“Trout”) (classical, composed 1819)

    1820-1839

  56. Ludwig van Beethoven (composer) Piano Sonatas (32) (classical, composed 1795-1822)
  57. Ludwig van Beethoven (composer) Symphony No. 9 (classical, composed 1824, premiered 5/7/1824)
  58. Felix Mendelssohn (composer) Octet for Strings in E flat major (classical, 1825)
  59. Ludwig van Beethoven (composer) String Quartets (16) (classical, composed 1798-1826)
  60. Franz Schubert (composer) Symphony No. 9 in C major (The Great) (classical, composed 1828)
  61. Hector Berlioz (composer) Symphonie Fantastique (classical, composed 1830)
  62. Vincenzo Bellini (composer) Norma (classical, composed 1831, premiered 12/26/1831)

    1840-1879

  63. Felix Mendessohn (composer) Violin Concerto in E minor (composed 1838-45, premiered 3/14/1845)
  64. Giuseppe Verdi (composer) Rigoletto: La Donna E Mobile (composed 1851, premiered 3/11/1851)
  65. Giuseppe Verdi (composer) La Traviata (The Fallen Woman) (opera, composed 1853, premiered 3/6/1853)
  66. Richard Wagner (composer) Tristan Und Isolde (opera, composed 1857-59, premiered 6/10/1865)
  67. Franz Schubert (composer) Symphony No. 8 (Unfinished) (classical, composed 1822, premiered 12/17/1865)
  68. Edvard Grieg (composer) Piano Concerto in A minor (composed 1868)
  69. Giuseppe Verdi (composer) Aida (opera, composed 1871, premiered 12/1871)
  70. Modest Mussorgsky (composer) Tableaux d'une Exposition (Pictures at an Exhibition) (classical, composed for piano in 1874, reworked for orchestra in 1922, premiered 10/19/1923)
  71. Richard Wagner (composer) Der Ring Des Nibelungen (The Ring Cycle) (opera, composed 1848-1874, premiered 8/17/1876)
  72. Johannes Brahms Symphony No. 1 in C minor (composed 1876, premiered 11/4/1876)
  73. Georges Bizet (composer) Carmen (opera, composed 1873-74, premiered 3/3/1875)
  74. Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky (composer) Piano Concerto No. 1 (classical, composed 1875, premiered 10/15/1875)
  75. Johannes Brahms (composer) Violin Concerto in D Major (composed 1878, premiered 1/1/1879)

    1880-1899

  76. Johannes Brahms (composer) Symphony No. 4 (classical, composed 1885)
  77. Gustav Mahler (composer) Symphony No. 1 in D major (Titan) (classical, composed 1884-88, premiered 11/20/1889)
  78. Antonin Dvorák (composer) Symphony No. 9 in E minor (From the New World) (classical, composed 1893, premiered 5/24/1893)
  79. Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky (composer) Symphony No. 6 (Pathetique) (classical, composed 1893, premiered 10/28/1893)
  80. Gustav Mahler (composer) Symphony No. 2 in C minor “Resurrection” (composed: 1888-94, premiered 12/13/1895)
  81. Giacomo Puccini (composer) La Bohème (The Bohemian Life) (opera, composed 1896, premiered 2/1/1896)

    1900-1929

  82. Giacomo Puccini (composer) Tosca (opera, composed 1900, premiered 1/14/1900)
  83. Sergei Rachmaninov (composer) Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor (classical, composed 1901, premiered 11/9/1901)
  84. Gustav Mahler (composer) Symphony No. 5 (composed 1902, premiered 10/18/1904)
  85. Richard Strauss (composer) Der Rosenkavalier (The Knight of the Rose) (classical, composed 1911, premiered 1/26/1911)
  86. Gustav Mahler (composer) Symphony No. 9 in D Major (Farewell) (composed 1909, premiered 6/26/1912)
  87. Igor Stravinsky (composer) Le Sacre Du Printemps (The Rite of Spring) (ballet, composed 1913, premiered 5/29/1913)
  88. Arthur Collins The King of the Ragtime Singers (compilation: 1902-1916, released 2014)
  89. Giacomo Puccini (composer) Turandot (opera, composed 1926, stage debut: 4/25/1926)
  90. Jerome Kern (music) & Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) Show Boat (stage debut: 12/27/27, cast recorded 1933, soundtrack released 1951)
  91. Paul Whiteman Masterpieces (compilation: 1920-27, released 2015)
  92. Louis Armstrong The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings (box set, recorded 1925-28, released 8/22/2000)
  93. Henry Burr Anthology: The Original King of Pop (compilation: 1903-28, released 2005)

    1930-1939

  94. Various Artists compiled by Harry Smith Anthology of American Folk Music (box set, recorded 1926-32, released 1952)
  95. Bessie Smith The Essential (compilation, 1923-33, released 9/23/1997)
  96. Charlie Patton Founder of the Delta Blues (compilation: 1929-34, released 1969)
  97. George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Dubose Heyward (composers) Porgy and Bess (opera/musical, composed 1935, stage debut: 9/30/35)
  98. Dmitry Shostakovich (composer) Symphony No. 5 in D minor (classical, composed 1937, premiered 11/21/1937)
  99. Robert Johnson The Complete Recordings (compilation: 1936-37, released 8/28/90)
  100. Benny Goodman The Complete Legendary Carnegie Hall Concert (live, recorded 1/16/38)
  101. Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg, & Herbert Stothart (composers) The Wizard of Oz (soundtrack, 8/25/39)

    1940-1949

  102. Woody Guthrie Dust Bowl Ballads (7/40)
  103. Billy Murray Anthology: The Denver Nightingale (compilation: 1903-40, released 2002)
  104. Glenn Miller Glenn Miller (aka “Glenn Miller & His Orchestra”) (compilation: 1939-42, charted 3/24/45)
  105. Duke Ellington The Blanton-Webster Band (box set: 1939-42, released 10/25/90)
  106. Richard Rodgers/Oscar Hammerstein II (composers) Oklahoma! (stage debut: 3/31/43, cast recording released 12/4/44, soundtrack released 8/1/55)
  107. Béla Bartók (composer) Concerto for Orchestra (classical, composed 1944, premiered 12/1/44)
  108. Glenn Miller Very Best of (compilation: 1939-44, released 2010)
  109. Richard Rodgers (music) & Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) Carousel (stage debut: 4/19/45, cast recording released 5/21/45, soundtrack charted 2/25/56)
  110. Bing Crosby Merry Christmas (aka ‘White Christmas’) (Christmas, charted 12/1/45)
  111. Irving Berlin (music & lyrics) Annie Get Your Gun (stage debut: 5/16/46, cast recording released 7/8/46, soundtrack charted 6/10/50)
  112. Al Jolson Songs He Made Famous (soundtrack, released 11/46)
  113. Cole Porter (composer) Kiss Me, Kate (stage debut: 12/30/48, cast recording released 1949, soundtrack charted 1/23/54)
  114. Richard Rodgers/Oscar Hammerstein II (composers) South Pacific (stage debut: 4/4/49, cast released 5/9/49, soundtrack released 3/19/58)
  115. Al Jolson Best of (compilation: 1913-49; released 6/27/1007)

    1950-1955

  116. Miles Davis Birth of the Cool (recorded 1/21/49 to 3/9/50, released 1957)
  117. Frank Loesser (composer) Guys and Dolls (stage debut: 11/24/50, cast recording: 12/3/50, released 1/8/51)
  118. Guy Lombardo The Band Played On: 25 Number One Hits! (compilation: 1927-50, released 2002)
  119. Richard Rodgers/Oscar Hammerstein II (composers) The King and I (stage debut: 3/29/51, cast recording charted 5/28/51, soundtrack charted 7/21/56)
  120. George & Ira Gershwin (composers) An American in Paris (classical, soundtrack released 10/4/51)
  121. Jane Froman With a Song in My Heart (soundtrack, charted 3/29/52)
  122. Jackie Gleason Music for Lovers Only (charted 1/17/53)
  123. Hank Williams 40 Greatest Hits (compilation: 1947-53, released 1978)
  124. Mario Lanza The Student Prince (soundtrack, charted 7/10/54)
  125. Frank Sinatra In the Wee Small Hours (4/25/55)
  126. Muddy Waters His Best 1947-55 (includes all of Best of, compilation: 1947-55, released 1997)
  127. Elvis Presley The Sun Sessions (aka Sunrise, The Sun Years, or The Sun Collection) (archives, recorded 1954-55, released 3/76)

    1956

  128. Frank Sinatra Songs for Swingin’ Lovers! (1/16/56)
  129. Alan Jay Lerner/Frederick Loewe (composers) My Fair Lady (stage debut: 3/15/56, cast recorded 3/24/56, cast album charted 4/28/56, soundtrack charted 10/10/64)
  130. Elvis Presley Elvis Presley (aka Rock ‘N’ Roll) (3/23/56)
  131. Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book (covers, released 3/27/56)
  132. Harry Belafonte Calypso (charted 6/16/56)
  133. Duke Ellington At Newport (live, recorded 7/7/56)
  134. Sonny Rollins Saxophone Colossus (recorded 3/22/56 to 10/5/56)
  135. Various Artists The First Rock and Roll Record (1916-56, released 10/20/11)

    1957

  136. Little Richard Here’s Little Richard (3/57)
  137. Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim (composers) West Side Story (stage debut: 9/26/57, cast recording charted 3/17/58, soundtrack charted 10/23/61)
  138. Elvis Presley Elvis’ Christmas Album (10/57)
  139. Buddy Holly & the Crickets The Chirping Crickets (11/27/57)
  140. Meredith Willson (composer) The Music Man (stage debut: 12/19/57, cast recording charted 2/24/58, soundtrack charted 8/11/62)
  141. Bing Crosby The Definitive Collection (compilation, 1931-57, released 1/24/2006)

    1958

  142. Johnny Mathis Johnny’s Greatest Hits (compilation: 1956-58, 3/58)
  143. Alan Jay Lerner/Frederick Loewe (composers) Gigi (soundtrack, charted 6/23/58, cast: 1973)
  144. Buddy Holly & The Crickets 20 Golden Greats (compilation: 1956-58, released 2/17/78)

    1959

  145. Henry Mancini The Music from Peter Gunn (soundtrack, charted 2/9/59)
  146. Miles Davis Kind of Blue (recorded 3/2/59 to 4/22/59)
  147. Charles Mingus Mingus Ah Um (recorded 5/5/59 to 5/12/59)
  148. Ornette Coleman The Shape of Jazz to Come (recorded 5/22/59)
  149. The Kingston Trio At Large (charted 6/22/59)
  150. Dave Brubeck Time Out (released 6/59)
  151. Richard Rodgers/Oscar Hammerstein II (composers) The Sound of Music (stage debut: 11/16/59, cast recording released 11/59, soundtrack released 3/65)
  152. John Coltrane Giant Steps (recorded 4/1/59 to 12/2/59, released 1960)

    1960

  153. Miles Davis/Gil Evans Sketches of Spain (recorded 11/15/59 to 3/10/60)
  154. Lionel Bart (composer) Oliver! (musical: 6/30/60; movie: 9/26/68)
  155. Muddy Waters At Newport (live, recorded 7/3/60)
  156. Elvis Presley G.I. Blues (soundtrack, 10/60)
  157. Bobby “Blue” Bland Two Steps from the Blues (compilation: 1956-60, released 11/12/60)
  158. Frederick Loewe/Alan Jay Lerner (composers) Camelot (cast recording, stage debut: 12/3/60, soundtrack: 1967)

    1961

  159. Judy Garland Judy at Carnegie Hall (live, recorded 4/23/61, released 7/10/61)
  160. Bill Evans Trio Sunday at the Village Vanguard (live, recorded 6/25/61; released 10/61)
  161. Elvis Presley Blue Hawaii (soundtrack, 10/1/61)

    1962

  162. Ray Charles Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (charted 4/21/62)
  163. James Brown Live at the Apollo Volume 1 (live, recorded 10/24/62, released 1/63)
  164. Howlin’ Wolf Moanin’ in the Moonlight/Howlin’ Wolf (aka ‘The Rockin’ Chair Album’) (compilations: 1951-62, released in 1959 and 1962)

    1963

  165. Stan Getz/João Gilberto Getz/Gilberto (recorded 3/19/63)
  166. The Beatles Please Please Me (3/22/63)
  167. Bob Dylan The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (5/27/63)
  168. Jerry Herman (composer) Hello, Dolly! (musical: 11/18/63)
  169. The Beatles With the Beatles (11/22/63)
  170. Patsy Cline 12 Greatest Hits (compilation: 1957-63, released 2/4/73)
  171. Elmore James The Sky Is Crying: The History of (compilation: 1951-63; released 4/6/1993)

    1964

  172. Eric Dolphy Out to Lunch! (recorded 2/25/64)
  173. The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones (aka ‘England’s Newest Hitmakers’) (4/16/64)
  174. The Beatles A Hard Day’s Night (7/10/64)
  175. Bob Dylan Another Side of Bob Dylan (8/8/64)
  176. Richard M. Sherman/Robert B. Sherman (composers) Mary Poppins (soundtrack, released 8/27/64)
  177. Jerry Bock/Sheldon Harnick (composers) Fiddler on the Roof (stage debut: 9/22/64, cast recording charted 10/31/64, soundtrack charted 10/30/71)
  178. B.B. King Live at the Regal (live, recorded 11/21/64, released 1965)
  179. The Beatles Beatles for Sale (12/4/64)
  180. John Coltrane A Love Supreme (recorded 12/9/64, released 2/65)
  181. Chuck Berry The Great Twenty-Eight (compilation: 1955-65, released 1982)

    1965

  182. Bob Dylan Bringing It All Back Home (3/22/65)
  183. Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass Whipped Cream & Other Delights (charted 5/15/65)
  184. The Byrds Mr. Tambourine Man (6/21/65)
  185. The Beatles Help! (8/6/65)
  186. Bob Dylan Highway 61 Revisited (8/30/65)
  187. Otis Redding Otis Blue (8/65)
  188. Junior Wells with Buddy Guy Hoodoo Man Blues (11/65)
  189. The Beatles Rubber Soul (12/3/65)
  190. The Who The Who Sings My Generation (12/20/65)
  191. Sam Cooke The Man and His Music (compilation: 1951-65, released 2/86)
  192. Roy Orbison For the Lonely - 18 Greatest Hits (compilation: 1956-64, released 1/7/89)

    1966

  193. The Rolling Stones Aftermath (4/15/66)
  194. The Beach Boys Pet Sounds (5/16/66)
  195. Bob Dylan The Royal Albert Hall Concert (The Bootleg Series Volume 4) (live, recorded 5/17/66)
  196. Bob Dylan Blonde on Blonde (6/20/66)
  197. The Mothers of Invention Freak Out! (6/27/66)
  198. John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers/Eric Clapton Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton (7/22/66)
  199. The Beatles Revolver (8/5/66)
  200. John Kander/Fred Ebb (composers) Cabaret (musical: 11/20/66, movie: )
  201. Bob Dylan Greatest Hits (compilation: 1962-66, released 3/27/67)

    1967

  202. The Doors The Doors (1/4/67)
  203. The Byrds Younger Than Yesterday (2/6/67)
  204. Aretha Franklin I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (3/10/67)
  205. The Velvet Underground & Nico Velvet Underground & Nico (3/12/67)
  206. Jefferson Airplane Surrealistic Pillow (charted 3/25/67)
  207. The Jimi Hendrix Experience Are You Experienced? (5/12/67)
  208. The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (6/1/67)
  209. Moby Grape Moby Grape (6/67)
  210. Albert King Born Under a Bad Sign (7/67)
  211. Pink Floyd The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (8/5/67)
  212. Byrds Greatest Hits (compilation: 1965-67, released 8/7/67)
  213. The Doors Strange Days (9/25/67)
  214. Galt MacDermot (music) with Gerome Ragni & James Rado (lyrics) Hair (stage debut: 10/17/67, cast recording charted 8/3/68, soundtrack: 1979)
  215. Buffalo Springfield Again (10/30/67)
  216. The Moody Blues Days of Future Passed (11/11/67)
  217. Cream Disraeli Gears (charted 11/18/67)
  218. The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour (11/27/67)
  219. The Velvet Underground White Light/White Heat (11/30/67)
  220. Love Forever Changes (11/67)
  221. The Jimi Hendrix Experience Axis: Bold As Love (12/1/67)
  222. The Who Sell Out (12/16/67)
  223. Leonard Cohen The Songs of Leonard Cohen (12/27/67)
  224. Bob Dylan John Wesley Harding (12/27/67)

    1968

  225. The Byrds The Notorious Byrd Brothers (1/3/68)
  226. Simon & Garfunkel/Dave Grusin The Graduate (soundtrack, 1/21/68)
  227. Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison (live, recorded 1/13/68, released 3/1/68)
  228. Aretha Franklin Lady Soul (1/22/68)
  229. The Mothers of Invention We’re Only in It for the Money (3/4/68)
  230. Simon & Garfunkel Bookends (3/68)
  231. The Zombies Odessey & Oracle (4/68)
  232. Iron Butterfly In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida (6/14/68)
  233. The Small Faces Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake (charted 6/23/68)
  234. Cream Wheels of Fire (studio/live, 6/68)
  235. The Band Music from Big Pink (7/1/68)
  236. Big Brother & the Holding Company Cheap Thrills (8/12/68)
  237. The Byrds Sweetheart of the Rodeo (8/30/68)
  238. The Jimi Hendrix Experience Electric Ladyland (9/16/68)
  239. The MC5 Kick Out the Jams (live, recorded 10/30-31/68, charted 3/8/69)
  240. The Beatles The Beatles (aka “The White Album”) (11/22/68)
  241. The Kinks Village Green Preservation Society (11/22/68)
  242. Van Morrison Astral Weeks (11/68)
  243. The Rolling Stones Beggars Banquet (12/6/68)
  244. Blood, Sweat & Tears Blood, Sweat & Tears (12/11/68)
  245. Various Artists Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968 (box set: 1964-68, released 9/72)
  246. Bob Dylan & The Band The Basement Tapes (archives, recorded 1967-68, released 6/26/75)
  247. Ray Charles Anthology (compilation: 1955-68, charted 10/29/88)

    1969

  248. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin I (1/12/69)
  249. Dusty Springfield Dusty in Memphis (1/18/69)
  250. Johnny Cash At San Quentin (live, recorded 2/24/69, released 6/4/69)
  251. The Grateful Dead Live/Dead (live, recorded 3/2/69, released 11/10/69)
  252. The Velvet Underground The Velvet Underground (3/31/69)
  253. Bob Dylan Nashville Skyline (4/9/69)
  254. Sly & the Family Stone Stand! (charted 4/26/69)
  255. Chicago Chicago Transit Authority (4/69)
  256. The Flying Burrito Brothers The Gilded Palace of Sin (charted 5/3/69)
  257. Neil Young Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (5/14/69)
  258. The Who Tommy (5/23/69)
  259. Crosby, Stills & Nash Crosby, Stills & Nash (5/29/69)
  260. Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band Trout Mask Replica (6/16/69)
  261. Isaac Hayes Hot Buttered Soul (charted 7/12/69)
  262. Blind Faith Blind Faith (7/21/69)
  263. Various Artists Woodstock (live soundtrack, recorded 8/15-18/69, released 8/70)
  264. The Stooges The Stooges (charted 8/23/69)
  265. Nick Drake Five Leaves Left (9/1/69)
  266. Miles Davis In a Silent Way (charted 9/6/69)
  267. Creedence Clearwater Revival Green River (charted 9/13/69)
  268. The Band The Band (9/22/69)
  269. The Beatles Abbey Road (9/26/69)
  270. King Crimson In the Court of the Crimson King (10/10/69)
  271. Frank Zappa Hot Rats (10/10/69)
  272. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II (10/22/69)
  273. The Rolling Stones Let It Bleed (11/28/69)
  274. Creedence Clearwater Revival Willy and the Poor Boys (charted 12/13/69)
  275. The Rolling Stones Get Yer Ya Ya’s Out (live, recorded 11/28/69, released 9/4/70)
  276. Fairport Convention Liege and Lief (12/69)
  277. Willie Dixon/various artists The Chess Box (compilation: 1951-69, released 1988)
  278. Various Artists produced by Phil Spector Back to Mono (box set: 1958-69, released 11/12/91)

    1970

  279. Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsys (live, recorded 12/31/69 to 1/1/70, charted 5/2/70)
  280. Simon & Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water (1/26/70)
  281. Black Sabbath Black Sabbath (2/13/70)
  282. The Who Live at Leeds (live, recorded 2/14/70, released 5/16/70)
  283. Van Morrison Moondance (2/28/70)
  284. Crosby, Stills & Nash Déjà Vu (3/11/70)
  285. James Taylor Sweet Baby James (charted 3/14/70)
  286. The Beatles Let It Be (5/8/70)
  287. Miles Davis Bitches Brew (charted 5/16/70)
  288. Deep Purple In Rock (charted 6/3/70)
  289. Grateful Dead Workingman’s Dead (6/14/70)
  290. The Stooges Fun House (7/7/70)
  291. Creedence Clearwater Revival Cosmo’s Factory (charted 7/25/70)
  292. Neil Young After the Gold Rush (8/31/70)
  293. Velvet Underground Loaded (8/31/70)
  294. Black Sabbath Paranoid (charted 9/19/70)
  295. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin III (10/5/70)
  296. Santana Abraxas (charted 10/10/70)
  297. Grateful Dead American Beauty (11/1/70)
  298. Nick Drake Bryter Layter (11/1/70)
  299. Derek and the Dominos Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (charted 11/21/70)
  300. Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice (composers) Jesus Christ Superstar (studio: 11/21/70, stage debut: 10/12/71, soundtrack: 6/30/73)
  301. Cat Stevens Tea for the Tillerman (11/23/70)
  302. George Harrison All Things Must Pass (11/27/70)
  303. John Lennon Plastic Ono Band (12/11/70)
  304. Simon & Garfunkel Greatest Hits (compilation: 1964-70, released 6/20/72)
  305. The Beatles 1 (compilation: 1962-70, released 11/14/00)

    1971

  306. Janis Joplin Pearl (1/11/71)
  307. Carole King Tapestry (2/10/71)
  308. The Allman Brothers At Fillmore East (live, recorded 3/12/71 to 3/13/71, released 7/71)
  309. Jethro Tull Aqualung (charted 3/19/71)
  310. Yes The Yes Album (3/19/71)
  311. The Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers (4/23/71)
  312. The Doors L.A. Woman (4/29/71)
  313. Marvin Gaye What’s Going On (5/21/71)
  314. Rod Stewart Every Picture Tells a Story (5/28/71)
  315. Joni Mitchell Blue (6/22/71)
  316. The Who Who’s Next (8/14/71)
  317. John Lennon Imagine (9/9/71)
  318. T-Rex Electric Warrior (9/24/71)
  319. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV (11/8/71)
  320. Sly & the Family Stone There’s a Riot Goin’ On (charted 11/13/71)
  321. Yes Fragile (11/26/71)
  322. The Rolling Stones Hot Rocks 1964-71 (compilation: 1964-71, released 12/15/71)
  323. David Bowie Hunky Dory (12/17/71)
  324. Janis Joplin Greatest Hits (compilation: 1967-71, charted 7/14/73)
  325. The Doors The Best of (compilation: 1966-71, charted 8/8/87)
  326. Various Artists Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971 (box set: 1959-71, released 11/13/92)

    1972

  327. Neil Young Harvest (2/14/72)
  328. Nick Drake Pink Moon (2/25/72)
  329. John Prine John Prine (charted 2/26/72)
  330. Deep Purple Machine Head (3/25/72)
  331. Todd Rundgren Something/Anything? (charted 3/25/72)
  332. The Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street (5/12/72)
  333. David Bowie The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (6/6/72)
  334. Led Zeppelin How the West Was Won (live box set, recorded 6/25/72 and 6/27/72, released 5/27/03)
  335. Jimmy Cliff et al The Harder They Come (soundtrack, released 7/7/72)
  336. Curtis Mayfield Superfly (soundtrack, 7/72)
  337. Deep Purple Made in Japan (live, recorded 8/15/72 to 8/17/72, charted 4/21/73)
  338. Neil Diamond Hot August Night (live, recorded 8/24/72, charted 12/9/72)
  339. Yes Close to the Edge (9/13/72)
  340. Stevie Wonder Talking Book (10/27/72)
  341. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Will the Circle Be Unbroken (10/72)
  342. Lou Reed Transformer (11/8/72)
  343. Steely Dan Can’t Buy a Thrill (11/72)
  344. The Temptations Anthology (compilation: 1964-72, released 8/23/73)
  345. John Denver Greatest Hits (compilation: 1969-72, released 11/15/73)
  346. Creedence Clearwater Revival Chronicle (compilation: 1968-72, charted 3/6/76)

    1973

  347. Gram Parsons G.P. (1/73)
  348. Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon (3/1/73)
  349. Roxy Music For Your Pleasure (3/23/73)
  350. Led Zeppelin Houses of the Holy (3/28/73)
  351. Bob Marley & the Wailers Catch a Fire (4/13/73)
  352. David Bowie Aladdin Sane (4/13/73)
  353. Iggy & the Stooges Raw Power (charted 4/28/73)
  354. Al Green Call Me (charted 5/19/73)
  355. Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells (5/25/73)
  356. ZZ Top Tres Hombres (7/26/73)
  357. Lou Reed Berlin (7/73)
  358. Various Artists American Graffiti (soundtrack, 8/2/73)
  359. Stevie Wonder Innervisions (8/3/73)
  360. Marvin Gaye Let’s Get It On (8/28/73)
  361. New York Dolls New York Dolls (charted 9/1/73)
  362. Lynyrd Skynyrd Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd (charted 9/22/73)
  363. Elton John Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (10/5/73)
  364. Genesis Selling England by the Pound (charted 10/13/73)
  365. Herbie Hancock Head Hunters (10/13/73)
  366. The Who Quadrophenia (10/19/73)
  367. Paul McCartney & Wings Band on the Run (12/5/73)
  368. Neil Young Tonight’s the Night (recorded 1973, released 7/12/75)
  369. Al Green Greatest Hits (compilation: 1971-73, charted 3/22/75)
  370. The Modern Lovers The Modern Lovers (recorded 1973, released 1976)
  371. Sly & the Family Stone Anthology (includes all of 1970’s Greatest Hits) (compilation: 1968-73, released 1981)

    1974

  372. Joni Mitchell Court and Spark (1/17/74)
  373. Gram Parsons Grievous Angel (charted 2/16/74)
  374. Steely Dan Pretzel Logic (2/20/74)
  375. Big Star Radio City (2/74)
  376. Richard & Linda Thompson I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight (4/74)
  377. Bad Company Bad Company (6/26/74)
  378. Neil Young On the Beach (7/16/74)
  379. Eric Clapton 461 Ocean Boulevard (charted 7/20/74)
  380. Stevie Wonder Fulfillingness’ First Finale (7/22/74)
  381. Bob Marley & The Wailers Natty Dread (10/25/74)
  382. Kraftwerk Autobahn (11/1/74)
  383. Elton John Greatest Hits (compilation: 1970-74, released 11/4/74)
  384. Genesis The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (11/18/74)
  385. Supertramp Crime of the Century (charted 12/7/74)
  386. Various Artists Atlantic Rhythm & Blues (box set: 1947-74, released 10/15/91)
  387. Aretha Franklin Queen of Soul: The Very Best of (compilation: 1967-74, released 10/17/94)

    1975

  388. Bob Dylan Blood on the Tracks (1/17/75)
  389. Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti (2/24/75)
  390. Earth, Wind & Fire That’s the Way of the World (soundtrack, charted 3/15/75)
  391. Aerosmith Toys in the Attic (4/8/75)
  392. Elton John Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (5/19/75)
  393. John Kander & Fred Ebb (composers) Chicago (musical: 6/3/1975; soundtrack released 1/14/2003)
  394. Fleetwood Mac Fleetwood Mac (7/11/75)
  395. Bob Marley & the Wailers Live! (At the Lyceum) (live, recorded 7/18/75, released 12/19/75)
  396. Willie Nelson Red Headed Stranger (charted 7/26/75)
  397. Bruce Springsteen Born to Run (8/25/75)
  398. Kiss Alive! (live, 9/10/75)
  399. Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here (9/15/75)
  400. Brian Eno Another Green World (9/75)
  401. Patti Smith Horses (11/8/75)
  402. Queen A Night at the Opera (11/21/75)
  403. Peter Frampton Frampton Comes Alive! (live, recorded 3/24/75 to 11/22/75, charted 1/31/76)
  404. Parliament Mothership Connection (12/15/75)
  405. Big Star Third/Sister Lovers (recorded 1975, released 7/78)

    1976

  406. Bob Dylan Desire (1/16/76)
  407. David Bowie Station to Station (1/23/76)
  408. Rush 2112 (charted 4/10/76)
  409. Ramones Ramones (4/23/76)
  410. Aerosmith Rocks (charted 5/29/76)
  411. Boston Boston (8/25/76)
  412. Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life (9/28/76)
  413. Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band Night Moves (10/1/76)
  414. Abba Arrival (10/11/76)
  415. James Taylor Greatest Hits (compilation: 1968-76, released 11/1/76)
  416. Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice (composers) Evita (studio album: 11/19/76, stage debut: 6/21/78, soundtrack: 11/12/96)
  417. The Doobie Brothers Best of the Doobies (compilation: 1972-76, released 11/20/76)
  418. The Band The Last Waltz (live, recorded 11/26/76; released April 1978)
  419. Eagles Hotel California (12/8/76)
  420. Neil Young Decade (compilation: 1966-76, charted 11/26/77)
  421. The Supremes Anthology (compilation: 1962-76, released 1986)

    1977

  422. David Bowie Low (1/14/77)
  423. Pink Floyd Animals (1/23/77)
  424. Fleetwood Mac Rumours (2/4/77)
  425. Television Marquee Moon (2/8/77)
  426. The Clash The Clash (4/8/77)
  427. Kraftwerk Trans-Europa Express (Trans Europe Express) (charted 4/16/77)
  428. Bob Marley & The Wailers Exodus (6/3/77)
  429. Styx The Grand Illusion (7/7/1977)
  430. Elvis Costello My Aim Is True (7/22/77)
  431. Iggy Pop Lust for Life (charted 9/17/77)
  432. Billy Joel The Stranger (9/29/77)
  433. Steely Dan Aja (10/8/77)
  434. David Bowie Heroes (10/14/77)
  435. Meat Loaf Bat Out of Hell (10/21/77)
  436. The Sex Pistols Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols (10/28/77)
  437. Various Artists (Bee Gees et al) Saturday Night Fever (soundtrack, 11/15/77)
  438. Eric Clapton Slowhand (charted 11/26/77)
  439. Wire Pink Flag (11/77)
  440. Jackson Browne Running on Empty (12/6/77)
  441. Elvis Presley 30 #1 Hits (compilation: 1956-77, released 9/24/02)

    1978

  442. Van Halen Van Halen (2/10/78)
  443. Elvis Costello & The Attractions This Year’s Model (3/17/78)
  444. Various Artists (including Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta) Grease (soundtrack, 4/14/78)
  445. Cheap Trick At Budokan (live, recorded 4/78, charted 2/24/79)
  446. Bruce Springsteen Darkness on the Edge of Town (6/2/78)
  447. The Cars The Cars (6/6/78)
  448. The Rolling Stones Some Girls (6/9/78)
  449. Dire Straits Dire Straits (charted 7/22/78)
  450. Devo Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo (7/78)
  451. Blondie Parallel Lines (charted 9/16/78)
  452. Funkadelic One Nation Under a Groove (charted 10/7/78)
  453. Billy Joel 52nd Street (charted 10/28/78)
  454. The Police Outlandos D’Amour (11/2/78)
  455. The Jam All Mod Cons (11/3/78)
  456. Steve Miller Band Greatest Hits 1974-1978 (compilation: 1974-78, released 11/15/78)
  457. Rod Stewart Greatest Hits (compilation: 1971-78, charted 11/24/79)

    1979

  458. Elvis Costello & the Attractions Armed Forces (1/5/79)
  459. Bee Gees Spirits Having Flown (charted 2/17/79)
  460. Stephen Sondheim (composer) Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street (stage debut: 3/1/79, cast: 1979, soundtrack charted 1/5/08)
  461. Supertramp Breakfast in America (charted 3/31/79)
  462. Joy Division Unknown Pleasures (6/14/79)
  463. Neil Young & Crazy Horse Rust Never Sleeps (7/2/79)
  464. AC/DC Highway to Hell (8/3/79)
  465. Talking Heads Fear of Music (8/3/79)
  466. Michael Jackson Off the Wall (8/10/79)
  467. Eagles The Long Run (9/24/79)
  468. Gang of Four Entertainment! (9/79)
  469. Buzzcocks Singles Going Steady (compilation: 1977-79, released 9/79)
  470. The Police Reggatta De Blanc (10/5/79)
  471. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Damn the Torpedoes (10/19/79)
  472. The Specials The Specials (10/19/79)
  473. Public Image Ltd. Metal Box (aka “Second Edition”) (11/23/79)
  474. Pink Floyd The Wall (11/30/79)
  475. The Clash London Calling (12/14/79)
  476. Aerosmith Greatest Hits (compilation: 1973-79, charted 11/29/80)
  477. Led Zeppelin Mothership (compilation: 1969-79, released 11/12/2007)

    1980

  478. Pretenders Pretenders (1/7/80)
  479. Billy Joel Glass Houses (3/10/80)
  480. Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band Against the Wind (charted 3/15/80)
  481. Queen The Game (6/30/80)
  482. Joy Division Closer (7/18/80)
  483. AC/DC Back in Black (7/25/80)
  484. Dexy’s Midnight Runners Searching for the Young Soul Rebels (charted 7/26/80)
  485. David Bowie Scary Monsters (9/12/80)
  486. Dead Kennedys Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables (charted 9/13/80)
  487. Ozzy Osbourne Blizzard of Ozz (charted 9/20/80)
  488. Claude-Michel Schönberg (music) with Alain Boublil & Herbert Kretzmer (lyrics) Les Misérables (stage debut: 9/22/80, cast: 10/8/85, soundtrack: 12/21/12)
  489. Kenny Rogers Greatest Hits (compilation: 1977-80, released 9/23/80)
  490. The Police Zenyatta Mondatta (10/3/80)
  491. Talking Heads Remain in Light (10/8/80)
  492. Bruce Springsteen The River (10/10/80)
  493. John Lennon/Yoko Ono Double Fantasy (11/17/80)
  494. REO Speedwagon Hi Infidelity (11/21/80)
  495. Blondie Best of (compilation: 1976-80, charted 10/30/81)
  496. John Lennon The Collection (compilation: 1969-80, released 11/1/1982)
  497. Frank Sinatra Best of the Best (compilation: 1953-80; released 11/15/2011)

    1981

  498. Styx Paradise Theater (charted 1/31/81)
  499. Phil Collins Face Value (2/9/81)
  500. Rush Moving Pictures (2/12/81)
  501. Motörhead No Sleep ‘Til Hammersmith (live, recorded 3/28/80 to 3/30/81, charted 6/27/81)
  502. Foreigner 4 (7/2/81)
  503. Journey Escape (7/17/81)
  504. The Rolling Stones Tattoo You (8/30/81)
  505. The Police Ghost in the Machine (charted 10/2/81)
  506. The Human League Dare! (10/16/81)
  507. Queen Greatest Hits (compilation: 1973-81, released 11/3/81)
  508. Men at Work Business As Usual (11/9/81)
  509. Barbra Streisand Memories (released as Love Songs in the UK) (compilation: 1974-81, released 11/81)
  510. Black Flag Damaged (12/5/81)
  511. Bob Dylan Biograph (box: 1962-81, released 11/7/85)
  512. Eric Clapton The Cream of Clapton (compilation: 1966-81, released 3/7/95)
  513. Carpenters The Singles 1969-1981 (includes all of The Singles 1969-1973) (compilation: 1969-81, released 5/23/00)

    1982

  514. Richard & Linda Thompson Shoot Out the Lights (3/15/82)
  515. Asia Asia (3/18/82)
  516. Iron Maiden The Number of the Beast (3/22/82)
  517. Duran Duran Rio (3/29/82)
  518. Toto Toto IV (4/8/82)
  519. John Cougar (Mellencamp) American Fool (4/12/82)
  520. Roxy Music Avalon (charted 6/5/82)
  521. ABC Lexicon of Love (6/21/82)
  522. Elvis Costello & The Attractions Imperial Bedroom (7/2/82)
  523. Bruce Springsteen Nebraska (9/20/82)
  524. Prince 1999 (10/27/82)
  525. Donald Fagen The Nightfly (charted 10/30/82)
  526. Michael Jackson Thriller (11/30/82)
  527. Abba Gold: Greatest Hits (compilation: 1974-82, released 9/21/92)
  528. The Who Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy/Ultimate Collection (compilation: 1964-82, released 6/11/02)

    1983

  529. Def Leppard Pyromania (1/20/83)
  530. U2 War (2/28/83)
  531. R.E.M. Murmur (4/11/83)
  532. David Bowie Let’s Dance (4/11/83)
  533. Violent Femmes Violent Femmes (4/13/83)
  534. Various Artists Flashdance (soundtrack, 4/15/83)
  535. ZZ Top Eliminator (charted 4/23/83)
  536. Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble Texas Flood (6/13/83)
  537. The Police Synchronicity (charted 6/17/83)
  538. Madonna Madonna (7/27/83)
  539. U2 Under a Blood Red Sky (live, recorded 8/20/83)
  540. Billy Joel An Innocent Man (charted 8/20/83)
  541. Huey Lewis & The News Sports (9/15/83)
  542. Tom Waits Swordfishtrombones (9/83)
  543. Lionel Richie Can’t Slow Down (10/11/83)
  544. Cyndi Lauper She’s So Unusual 10/14/83)
  545. Culture Club Colour by Numbers (10/22/83)
  546. Talking Heads Stop Making Sense (live soundtrack, recorded 12/83, charted 9/22/84)
  547. Bob Marley & the Wailers Legend (compilation: 1973-83, released 5/8/84)

    1984

  548. Van Halen 1984 (1/9/84)
  549. Various Artists Footloose (soundtrack, 1/31/84)
  550. The Smiths The Smiths (2/20/84)
  551. Tina Turner Private Dancer (5/29/84)
  552. Bruce Springsteen Born in the U.S.A. (6/4/84)
  553. Prince & the Revolution Purple Rain (soundtrack, 6/25/84)
  554. Sade Diamond Life (charted 7/28/84)
  555. Minutemen Double Nickels on the Dime (7/84)
  556. Metallica Ride the Lightning (charted 9/29/84)
  557. Hüsker Dü Zen Arcade (9/84)
  558. U2 The Unforgettable Fire (10/1/84)
  559. The Replacements Let It Be (10/2/84)
  560. Bryan Adams Reckless (10/29/84)
  561. Wham! Make It Big (11/5/84)
  562. Madonna Like a Virgin (11/12/84)
  563. James Brown Star Time (box set: 1956-84, released 5/7/91)

    1985

  564. Whitney Houston Whitney Houston
  565. Tears for Fears Songs from the Big Chair (2/17/85)
  566. Phil Collins No Jacket Required (2/18/85)
  567. Dire Straits Brothers in Arms (5/13/85)
  568. Sting The Dream of the Blue Turtles (6/1/85)
  569. Marillion Misplaced Childhood (6/17/85)
  570. Billy Joel Greatest Hits Volume I & II (compilation: 1973-85, released 7/2/85)
  571. John Cougar Mellencamp Scarecrow (8/5/85)
  572. Kate Bush Hounds of Love (charted 9/28/85)
  573. Tom Waits Rain Dogs (9/30/85)
  574. Jesus and Mary Chain Psychocandy (charted 11/30/85)
  575. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band Live 1975/1985 (live box: 1975-85, released 11/10/86)

    1986

  576. Janet Jackson Control (2/6/86)
  577. Metallica Master of Puppets (2/24/86)
  578. Anita Baker Rapture (charted 4/16/86)
  579. Peter Gabriel So (5/13/86)
  580. Various Artists Top Gun (soundtrack, 5/20/86)
  581. Run-D.M.C. Raising Hell (5/27/86)
  582. Genesis Invisible Touch (6/9/86)
  583. The Smiths The Queen Is Dead (6/28/86)
  584. Madonna True Blue (6/30/86)
  585. Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet (8/18/86)
  586. Paul Simon Graceland (8/25/86)
  587. Andrew Lloyd Webber/Charles Hart/Richard Stigoe (composers) Phantom of the Opera (cast, opened 10/9/86)
  588. The Police Every Breath You Take – The Singles (compilation: 1978-1986; released 10/27/86)
  589. Slayer Reign in Blood (10/28/86)
  590. Beastie Boys Licensed to Ill (11/11/86)
  591. Robert Cray Strong Persuader (charted 11/15/86)

    1987

  592. U2 The Joshua Tree (3/17/87)
  593. Prince Sign ‘O’ the Times (3/30/87)
  594. Fleetwood Mac Tango in the Night (4/13/87)
  595. Whitney Houston Whitney (6/2/87)
  596. Eric B. & Rakim Paid in Full (7/9/87)
  597. Terence Trent D’Arby Introducing the Hardline… (7/13/87)
  598. Guns N’ Roses Appetite for Destruction (7/21/87)
  599. Def Leppard Hysteria (8/3/87)
  600. New Order Substance (compilation: 1981-87, released 8/11/87)
  601. Michael Jackson Bad (8/31/87)
  602. Various Artists Dirty Dancing (soundtrack, 9/1/87)
  603. R.E.M. Document (9/8/87)
  604. Paul McCartney All the Best! (compilation: 1970-87, released 9/18/87)
  605. Bruce Springsteen Tunnel of Love (10/9/87)
  606. INXS Kick (10/20/87)
  607. George Michael Faith (11/3/87)
  608. Eric Clapton Crossroads (1963-87, released 4/18/88)
  609. Journey Greatest Hits (compilation: 1978-87, released 11/15/88)
  610. Bee Gees Timeless: The All-Time Greatest Hits (compilation: 1966-87, released 4/21/17)

    1988

  611. Pixies Surfer Rosa (3/21/88)
  612. Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman (4/5/88)
  613. Bobby Brown Don’t Be Cruel (6/20/88)
  614. Paula Abdul Forever Your Girl (6/21/88)
  615. Public Enemy It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (6/28/88)
  616. Metallica …And Justice for All (8/25/88)
  617. New Kids on the Block Hangin’ Tough (charted 8/27/88)
  618. Bon Jovi New Jersey (9/20/88)
  619. U2 Rattle and Hum (studio/live soundtrack, 10/11/88)
  620. Sonic Youth Daydream Nation (10/88)
  621. R.E.M. Green (11/8/88)
  622. Fleetwood Mac Greatest Hits (compilation: 1975-88, released 11/22/88)
  623. Beach Boys Very Best of (compilation: 1962-88; released 6/30/01)

    1989

  624. N.W.A. Straight Outta Compton (1/10/89)
  625. Milli Vanilli Girl You Know It’s True (aka All or Nothing) (3/7/89)
  626. De La Soul 3 Feet High and Rising (3/14/89)
  627. Madonna Like a Prayer (3/21/89)
  628. Bonnie Raitt Nick of Time (3/21/89)
  629. The Pixies Doolittle (4/18/89)
  630. Tom Petty Full Moon Fever (4/24/89)
  631. The Stone Roses The Stone Roses (5/2/89)
  632. The Cure Disintegration (5/2/89)
  633. Beastie Boys Paul’s Boutique (7/25/89)
  634. Aerosmith Pump (9/12/89)
  635. Janet Jackson Rhythm Nation 1814 (9/19/89)
  636. Phil Collins …But Seriously (11/17/89)
  637. Van Morrison Best of (compilation: 1965-89, charted 4/7/90)
  638. Eurythmics Greatest Hits (compilation: 1983-89; released 5/24/91)
  639. U2 Best of 1980-1990 (compilation: 1980-89, released 11/3/98)

    1990

  640. M.C. Hammer Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em (2/12/90)
  641. David Bowie ChangesBowie (compilation: 1969-90, released 3/4/90)
  642. Depeche Mode Violator (3/19/90)
  643. Public Enemy Fear of a Black Planet (3/20/90)
  644. Sinéad O’Connor I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got (3/20/90)
  645. Mariah Carey Mariah Carey (6/12/90)
  646. Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, & Jose Carreras The Three Tenors in Concert/Mehta (live, recorded 7/7/1990)
  647. Garth Brooks No Fences (8/27/90)
  648. Vanilla Ice To the Extreme (9/10/90)
  649. Madonna The Immaculate Collection (compilation: 1983-90, released 11/13/90)
  650. Happy Mondays Pills ‘N’ Thrills and Bellyaches (charted 11/17/90)
  651. Olivia Newton-John Magic: The Best Of (compilation: 1973-90, released 11/9/01)

    1991

  652. R.E.M. Out of Time (3/12/91)
  653. Boyz II Men Cooleyhighharmony (4/30/91)
  654. Natalie Cole Unforgettable: With Love (covers, 6/11/91)
  655. Crowded House Woodface (7/2/91)
  656. Massive Attack Blue Lines (8/6/91)
  657. Metallica Metallica (aka “The Black Album”) (8/12/91)
  658. Pearl Jam Ten (8/27/91)
  659. Garth Brooks Ropin’ the Wind (9/2/91)
  660. Guns N’ Roses Use Your Illusion I (9/17/91)
  661. Guns N’ Roses Use Your Illusion II (9/17/91)
  662. Nirvana Nevermind (9/24/91)
  663. Red Hot Chili Peppers Blood Sugar Sex Magik (9/24/91)
  664. A Tribe Called Quest The Low End Theory (9/24/91)
  665. Primal Scream Screamadelica (10/8/91)
  666. Alan Menken (music) with Howard Ashman & Tim Rice (lyrics) Beauty and the Beast (movie: 10/29/91, musical: 4/18/94)
  667. Queen Greatest Hits II (compilation: 1981-91, released 10/30/91)
  668. My Bloody Valentine Loveless (11/5/91)
  669. Pet Shop Boys Discography – The Complete Singles Collection (compilation: 1985-91, released 11/5/91)
  670. U2 Achtung Baby (11/19/91)
  671. Michael Jackson Dangerous (11/26/91)
  672. Various Artists The Music of Disney: A Legacy in Song (1926-91, released 9/14/92)

    1992

  673. Tori Amos Little Earthquakes (1/13/92)
  674. Eric Clapton Unplugged (live, recorded 1/16/92; released 8/25/92)
  675. Pavement Slanted and Enchanted (charted 3/31/92)
  676. Lionel Richie Back to Front (compilation: 1977-92, released 5/5/92)
  677. Billy Ray Cyrus Some Gave All (5/19/92)
  678. Alice in Chains Dirt (9/29/92)
  679. Stone Temple Pilots Core (9/29/92)
  680. R.E.M. Automatic for the People (10/6/92)
  681. Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine (11/3/92)
  682. Various artists (Whitney Houston e al) The Bodyguard (soundtrack, 11/17/92)
  683. Dr. Dre The Chronic (12/15/92)
  684. Prince Very Best of (compilation: 1979-92, released 7/31/01)

    1993

  685. Sting Ten Summoner’s Tales (3/9/93)
  686. Janet Jackson janet. (5/18/93)
  687. Ace of Base The Sign (6/1/93)
  688. Liz Phair Exile in Guyville (6/22/93)
  689. U2 Zooropa (7/5/93)
  690. Björk Debut (7/13/93)
  691. Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream (7/27/93)
  692. Sheryl Crow Tuesday Night Music Club (8/3/93)
  693. Mariah Carey Music Box (8/31/93)
  694. Counting Crows August and Everything After (9/14/93)
  695. Meat Loaf Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell (9/14/93)
  696. Nirvana In Utero (9/21/93)
  697. Pearl Jam Vs. (10/19/93)
  698. Bryan Adams So Far So Good (compilation: 1982-93, released 11/2/93)
  699. Wu-Tang Clan Enter the Wu-Tang Clan (36 Chambers) (11/9/93)
  700. Celine Dion The Colour of My Love (11/9/93)
  701. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Greatest Hits (compilation: 1977-93, released 11/16/93)
  702. Nirvana MTV Unplugged in New York (recorded live 11/18/93, released 11/1/94)
  703. Snoop Doggy Dogg Doggystyle (11/23/93)
  704. Garth Brooks The Hits (compilation: 1989-93: released 12/13/94)

    1994

  705. Green Day Dookie (2/1/94)
  706. Pavement Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (charted 2/26/94)
  707. Nine Inch Nails The Downward Spiral (3/8/94)
  708. Soundgarden Superunknown (3/8/94)
  709. The Offspring Smash (4/11/94)
  710. Hole Live Through This (4/12/94)
  711. Live Throwing Copper (4/19/94)
  712. Nas Illmatic (4/19/94)
  713. Blur Parklife (4/25/94)
  714. Johnny Cash American Recordings (4/26/94)
  715. Weezer Weezer (aka “The Blue Album”) (5/10/94)
  716. Beastie Boys Ill Communication (5/23/94)
  717. Elton John/ Tim Rice/ Hans Zimmer (composers) The Lion King (soundtrack, 6/4/94)
  718. various artists Forrest Gump (soundtrack, 6/28/94)
  719. Hootie & the Blowfish Cracked Rear View (7/5/94)
  720. Jeff Buckley Grace (8/23/94)
  721. Manic Street Preachers The Holy Bible (8/29/94)
  722. Oasis Definitely Maybe (8/30/94)
  723. Boyz II Men II (8/30/94)
  724. Portishead Dummy (charted 9/3/94)
  725. The Notorious B.I.G. Ready to Die (9/13/94)
  726. Eric Clapton: From the Cradle (covers, 9/13/94)
  727. various artists Pulp Fiction (soundtrack, 9/27/94)
  728. Bon Jovi Cross Road (compilation: 1984-94, released 10/18/94)
  729. Bob Seger Greatest Hits (compilation: 1976-94, released 10/25/94)
  730. Sting Fields of Gold – The Best of (compilation: 1985-94, released 11/8/94)
  731. TLC CrazySexyCool (11/15/94)
  732. Pearl Jam Vitalogy (12/6/94)
  733. Pink Floyd Echoes: The Best of (compilation: 1967-1994, released 11/6/01)
  734. Nirvana Nirvana (Greatest Hits) (compilation: 1988-94, released 10/29/02)
  735. Guns N’ Roses Greatest Hits (compilation: 1987-94, released 3/23/04)

    1995

  736. Shania Twain The Woman in Me (2/7/95)
  737. Tricky Maxinquaye (2/20/95)
  738. PJ Harvey To Bring You My Love (2/28/95)
  739. Jewel Pieces of You (2/28/95)
  740. Bruce Springsteen Greatest Hits (compilation: 1975-95, released 2/28/95)
  741. Radiohead The Bends (3/13/95)
  742. Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill (6/13/95)
  743. Emmylou Harris Wrecking Ball (9/26/95)
  744. Oasis (What’s the Story) Morning Glory (10/3/95)
  745. Mariah Carey Daydream (10/3/95)
  746. No Doubt Tragic Kingdom (10/10/95)
  747. Smashing Pumpkins Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (10/24/95)
  748. Alan Jackson The Greatest Hits Collection (compilation: 1989-95, released 10/24/95)
  749. Pulp Different Class (10/30/95)
  750. Various Artists (Whitney Houston et al) Waiting to Exhale (soundtrack, 11/14/95)

    1996

  751. Fugees The Score (2/12/96)
  752. Tupac Shakur (2pac) All Eyez on Me (2/13/96)
  753. Celine Dion Falling into You (3/11/96)
  754. Manic Street Preachers Everything Must Go (5/20/96)
  755. Beck Odelay (6/18/96)
  756. Matchbox 20 Yourself or Someone Like You (10/1/96)
  757. Tool Ænima (10/1/96)
  758. Spice Girls Spice (11/4/96)
  759. Belle & Sebastian If You’re Feeling Sinister (11/18/96)
  760. DJ Shadow Endtroducing… (11/19/96)

    1997

  761. The Notorious B.I.G. Life after Death (3/25/97)
  762. Chemical Brothers Dig Your Own Hole (4/7/97)
  763. Radiohead OK Computer (6/16/97)
  764. Various Artists Buena Vista Social Club (6/21/97)
  765. The Prodigy Fat of the Land (7/1/97)
  766. The Verve Urban Hymns (9/30/97)
  767. Bob Dylan Time Out of Mind (9/30/97)
  768. Shania Twain Come on Over (11/4/97)
  769. Celine Dion Let’s Talk about Love (11/15/97)
  770. James Horner (composer) Titanic (soundtrack, 11/18/97)

    1998

  771. Air Moon Safari (1/19/98)
  772. Dixie Chicks Wide Open Spaces (1/27/98)
  773. Madonna Ray of Light (3/3/98)
  774. Massive Attack Mezzanine (4/20/98)
  775. Lucinda Williams Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (6/30/98)
  776. Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (8/25/98)
  777. Phil Collins Hits (compilation: 1981-98, released 10/5/98)
  778. Garth Brooks Double Live (live, 11/17/98)
  779. Mariah Carey #1’s (compilation: 1990-98, released 11/17/98)
  780. Stevie Wonder The Definitive Collection (compilation: 1962-98, released 10/29/02)

    1999

  781. Britney Spears …Baby One More Time (1/12/99)
  782. Eminem The Slim Shady LP (2/23/99)
  783. Moby Play (5/17/99)
  784. The Flaming Lips The Soft Bulletin (5/17/99)
  785. Backstreet Boys Millennium (5/18/99)
  786. Dido No Angel (6/1/99)
  787. Red Hot Chili Peppers Californication (6/8/99)
  788. Santana Supernatural (6/15/99)
  789. Destiny’s Child The Writing’s on the Wall (7/27/99)
  790. Dixie Chicks Fly (8/31/99)
  791. The Magnetic Fields 69 Love Songs (9/7/99)
  792. Creed Human Clay (9/28/99)
  793. Celine Dion All the Way…A Decade of Song (compilation: 1991-99, released 11/13/99)
  794. Tim McGraw Greatest Hits (compilation: 1994-99, released 11/21/00)

    2000

  795. D’Angelo Voodoo (1/11/00)
  796. N Sync No Strings Attached (3/21/00)
  797. David Gray White Ladder (5/13/00)
  798. Eminem The Marshall Mathers LP (5/23/00)
  799. Nelly Country Grammar (6/27/00)
  800. Coldplay Parachutes (7/10/00)
  801. Madonna Music (9/19/00)
  802. Radiohead Kid A (10/3/00)
  803. Linkin Park Hybrid Theory (10/24/00)
  804. OutKast Stankonia (10/31/00)
  805. U2 All That You Can’t Leave Behind (10/31/00)
  806. PJ Harvey Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (10/31/00)
  807. Various Artists O Brother Where Art Thou (soundtrack, 12/5/00)
  808. Madonna GHV2 (compilation: 1991-2000, released 11/13/01)
  809. U2 Best of 1990-2000 (compilation: 1991-2000; released 11/5/2002)

    2001

  810. Daft Punk Discovery (3/9/01)
  811. Destiny’s Child Survivor (5/1/01)
  812. Radiohead Amnesiac (5/30/01)
  813. Alicia Keys Songs in A Minor (6/5/01)
  814. The White Stripes White Blood Cells (7/3/01)
  815. The Strokes Is This It (7/30/01)
  816. Björk Vespertine (8/28/01)
  817. System of a Down Toxicity (9/4/01)
  818. Bob Dylan Love and Theft (9/11/01)
  819. Wilco Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (9/18/01)
  820. Jay-Z The Blueprint (9/18/01)
  821. Pink M!ssundaztood (11/20/01)

    2002

  822. Norah Jones Come Away with Me (2/26/02)
  823. The Streets Original Pirate Material (3/25/02)
  824. Eminem The Eminem Show (5/26/02)
  825. Avril Lavigne Let Go (6/4/02)
  826. Nelly Nellyville (6/25/02)
  827. Maroon 5 Songs about Jane (6/25/02)
  828. Red Hot Chili Peppers By the Way (7/9/02)
  829. The Flaming Lips Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (7/16/02)
  830. Bruce Springsteen The Rising (7/30/02)
  831. Interpol Turn on the Bright Lights (8/20/02)
  832. Coldplay A Rush of Blood to the Head (8/27/02)
  833. Dixie Chicks Home (8/27/02)
  834. Queens of the Stone Age Songs for the Deaf (8/27/02)
  835. Beck Sea Change (9/24/02)
  836. The Libertines Up the Bracket (10/21/02)
  837. Various Artists (Eminem et al) 8 Mile (10/29/02)
  838. Justin Timberlake Justified (11/5/02)
  839. Shania Twain Up! (11/19/02)

    2003

  840. 50 Cent Get Rich or Die Tryin’ (2/6/03)
  841. Evanescence Fallen (3/4/03)
  842. Linkin Park Meteora (3/25/03)
  843. The White Stripes Elephant (4/1/03)
  844. Yeah Yeah Yeahs Fever to Tell (4/29/03)
  845. Radiohead Hail to the Thief (6/9/03)
  846. Beyoncé Dangerously in Love (6/17/03)
  847. Dizzee Rascal Boy in Da Corner (7/21/03)
  848. Alan Jackson Greatest Hits Volume 2 and Some Other Stuff (compilation: 1996-2003, released 8/12/03)
  849. OutKast Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (9/23/03)
  850. Eagles Very Best of (includes all of 1976’s Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 and 1982’s Greatest Hits Volume 2) (compilation: 1971-2003, released 10/21/03)
  851. The Shins Chutes Too Narrow (10/21/03)
  852. R.E.M. In Time – The Best of 1988-2003 (compilation: 1988-2003, released 10/28/03)
  853. Jay-Z The Black Album (11/4/03)
  854. Michael Jackson Number Ones (compilation: 1978-2003, released 11/17/03)
  855. Red Hot Chili Peppers Greatest Hits (compilation: 1989-2003, released 11/17/03)
  856. Alicia Keys The Diary of… (12/2/03)
  857. Johnny Cash The Legend of… (compilation: 1955-2003, released 8/2/05)

    2004

  858. Franz Ferdinand Franz Ferdinand (2/9/04)
  859. Kanye West The College Dropout (2/10/04)
  860. Norah Jones Feels Like Home (2/10/04)
  861. Usher Confessions (3/23/04)
  862. Modest Mouse Good News for People Who Love Bad News (4/6/04)
  863. Loretta Lynn Van Lear Rose (4/27/04)
  864. Keane Hopes and Fears (5/10/04)
  865. Streets A Grand Don’t Come for Free (5/10/04)
  866. The Killers Hot Fuss (6/7/04)
  867. Arcade Fire Funeral (9/14/04)
  868. Green Day American Idiot (9/21/04)
  869. Brian Wilson Smile (9/28/04)
  870. James Blunt Back to Bedlam (10/11/04)
  871. Robbie Williams Greatest Hits (compilation: 1997-2004, released 10/12/04)
  872. Shania Twain Greatest Hits (compilation: 1994-2004, released 11/8/04)
  873. Eminem Encore (11/12/04)
  874. U2 How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (11/23/04)
  875. Kelly Clarkson Breakaway (11/30/04)

    2005

  876. Bright Eyes I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning (1/25/05)
  877. Bloc Party Silent Alarm (2/2/05)
  878. Jack Johnson In Between Dreams (3/1/05)
  879. 50 Cent The Massacre (3/3/05)
  880. Mariah Carey The Emancipation of Mimi (4/12/05)
  881. Gorillaz Demon Days (5/24/05)
  882. Coldplay X & Y (6/6/05)
  883. Sufjan Stevens Illinois (7/4/05)
  884. Kanye West Late Registration (8/30/05)
  885. Nickelback All the Right Reasons (10/4/05)
  886. Carrie Underwood Some Hearts (11/15/05)
  887. Eminem Curtain Call: The Hits (compilation: 1999-2005, charted 12/4/05)

    2006

  888. Various Artists High School Musical (TV soundtrack, 1/10/06)
  889. Arctic Monkeys Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not (1/23/06)
  890. Red Hot Chili Peppers Stadium Arcadium (5/9/06)
  891. Dixie Chicks Taking the Long Way (5/23/06)
  892. TV on the Radio Return to Cookie Mountain (7/6/2006)
  893. Bob Dylan Modern Times (8/29/06)
  894. Justin Timberlake FutureSex/LoveSounds (9/12/06)
  895. Amy Winehouse Back to Black (10/6/06)
  896. Taylor Swift Taylor Swift (10/24/06)

    2007

  897. LCD Soundsystem Sound of Silver (3/20/07)
  898. Arctic Monkeys Favourite Worst Nightmare (4/23/07)
  899. The National Boxer (5/22/07)
  900. Rihanna Good Girl Gone Bad (6/5/07)
  901. Bon Iver For Emma, Forever Ago (7/8/07)
  902. High School Musical 2 (TV soundtrack, 8/14/07)
  903. Kanye West Graduation (9/11/07)
  904. Bruce Springsteen Magic (10/2/07)
  905. Radiohead In Rainbows (10/10/07)
  906. Robert Plant & Allison Krauss Raising Sand (10/23/07)

    2008

  907. Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend (1/28/08)
  908. Adele 19 (1/28/08)
  909. Lil’ Wayne Tha Carter III (5/13/08)
  910. Fleet Foxes Fleet Foxes (6/3/08)
  911. Coldplay Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (6/11/08)
  912. Lady Gaga The Fame (8/19/08)
  913. Kings of Leon Only by the Night (9/19/08)
  914. Taylor Swift Fearless (11/11/08)

    2009

  915. Animal Collective Merriweather Post Pavilion (1/20/09)
  916. U2 No Line on the Horizon (3/2/09)
  917. Black Eyed Peas The E.N.D. (Energy Never Dies) (6/3/09)
  918. Mumford & Sons Sigh No More (10/2/09)

    2010

  919. Lady Antebellum Need You Now (1/26/10)
  920. The National High Violet (5/11/10)
  921. Janelle Monáe The Arch Android (5/18/10)
  922. LCD Soundsystem This Is Happening (5/18/10)
  923. The Black Keys Brothers (5/18/10)
  924. Eminem Recovery (6/21/10)
  925. Arcade Fire The Suburbs (8/3/10)
  926. Katy Perry Teenage Dream (8/24/10)
  927. Bruno Mars Doo Wops & Hooligans (10/4/10)
  928. Taylor Swift Speak Now (10/25/10)
  929. Rihanna Loud (11/16/10)
  930. Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (11/22/10)

    2011

  931. Adele 21 (1/19/11)
  932. PJ Harvey Let England Shake (2/14/11)
  933. Lady Gaga Born This Way (5/23/11)
  934. Bon Iver Bon Iver (6/17/11)
  935. Ed Sheeran Plus (+) (9/18/11)
  936. Michael Bublé Christmas (10/21/11)
  937. Drake Take Care (11/15/11)

    2012

  938. Lana Del Rey Born to Die (1/27/12)
  939. The Lumineers The Lumineers (4/3/12)
  940. Fiona Apple The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do (6/19/12)
  941. Frank Ocean Channel Orange (7/10/12)
  942. Imagine Dragons Night Visions (9/4/12)
  943. Mumford & Sons Babel (9/21/12)
  944. Kendrick Lamar Good Kid m.A.A.d. City (10/22/12)
  945. Taylor Swift Red (10/22/12)
  946. Bruno Mars Unorthodox Jukebox (12/6/2012)

    2013

  947. Justin Timberlake The 20/20 Experience (3/15/13)
  948. Kacey Musgraves Same Trailer, Different Park (3/19/13)
  949. Vampire Weekend Modern Vampires of the City (5/14/13)
  950. Daft Punk Random Access Memories (5/17/13)
  951. Kanye West Yeezus (6/18/13)
  952. Arctic Monkeys AM (9/6/13)
  953. Lorde Pure Heroine (9/27/13)
  954. Various Artists Frozen (soundtrack, 11/25/13)
  955. Beyoncé Beyoncé (12/13/13)

    2014

  956. Beck Morning Phase (2/21/14)
  957. The War on Drugs Lost in the Dream (3/18/14)
  958. Sam Smith In the Lonely Hour (5/26/14)
  959. Ed Sheeran X (Multiply) (6/20/14)
  960. U2 Songs of Innocence (9/9/2014)
  961. Taylor Swift 1989 (10/27/14)
  962. D’Angelo & the Vanguard Black Messiah (12/15/14)

    2015

  963. Lin-Manuel Miranda (composer) Hamilton (musical premiered 2/17/15, cast album released 9/25/15)
  964. Kendrick Lamar To Pimp a Butterfly (3/15/15)
  965. Courtney Barnett Sometimes I Sit and Think and Sometimes I Just Sit (3/20/15)
  966. Sufjan Stevens Carrie & Lowell (3/31/15)
  967. Alabama Shakes Sound & Color (4/21/15)
  968. Chris Stapleton Traveller (5/5/15)
  969. The Weeknd Beauty Behind the Madness (8/28/15)
  970. Adele 25 (11/20/15)

    2016

  971. David Bowie Blackstar (1/15/16)
  972. Rihanna Anti (1/27/16)
  973. Sturgill Simpson A Sailor’s Guide to Earth (4/15/16)
  974. Beyoncé Lemonade (4/23/16)
  975. Drake Views (4/29/16)
  976. Frank Ocean Blond (8/20/16)
  977. Solange A Seat at the Table (9/30/16)
  978. Bruno Mars 24K Magic (11/18/16)

    2017

  979. Ed Sheeran ÷ (Divide) (3/3/17)
  980. Kendrick Lamar Damn. (4/14/17)
  981. Lorde Melodrama (6/16/17)
  982. Various Artists The Greatest Showman (soundtrack, 12/8/2017)

    2018

  983. Kacey Musgraves Golden Hour (3/20/18)
  984. Cardi B Invasion of Privacy (4/6/18)
  985. Janelle Monáe Dirty Computer (4/27/18)
  986. Drake Scorpion (6/29/18)

    2019

  987. Ariana Grande Thank U, Next (2/8/2019)
  988. Billie Eilish When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (3/29/2019)
  989. Lana Del Rey Norman Fucking Rockwell! (8/30/2019)
  990. Post Malone Hollywood’s Bleeding (9/6/2019)

    2020

  991. Fiona Apple Fetch the Bolt Cutters (4/17/2020)
  992. Taylor Swift Folklore (7/24/2020)
  993. Bruce Springsteen Letter to You (10/23/2020)
  994. Chris Stapleton Starting Over (11/13/2020)

    2021

  995. Morgan Wallen Dangerous: The Double Album (1/8/2021)
  996. Olivia Rodrigo Sour (5/21/2021)
  997. Adele 30 (11/17/2021)

    2022

  998. Harry Styles Harry’s House (5/20/2022)
  999. Beyoncé Renaissance (7/29/2022)
  1000. Taylor Swift Midnights (10/21/2022)

How This List Was Created

When I set out to create this list as the 20th century was drawing to a close, my aim was to compile a “best of the best” list; that is, combine all the other “best-of” lists out there into one. The goal in averaging multiple lists together was to weed out the idiocyncrisies of individual lists and create a more objective, definitive best-of list. Here are links to the lists, chart information, and sales data that went into the creation of the DMDB 1000:

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Representing Multiple Genres

One of the huge bonuses in compiling lots of lists is the better representation of multiple genres of music. Most lists are very skewered toward post-‘50s rock and roll. By pooling lists from multiple sources, the DMDB 1000 represents classical, show tunes, jazz, folk, country, R&B, rock and roll, adult contemporary, pop, rap, and more.

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Multiple Versions of the Same Album or Work

Representing multiple genres poses a challenge, however. There are cases where there are multiple versions of the same work. When that occurred, all versions are compiled into one entry. This possibility most likely occurred in one of three situations:

  1. classical works that are recorded multiple times (example: Johann Sebastian Bach’s Goldberg Variations is listed as being composed by Bach in 1741 and no specific recordings of that work are noted).

  2. cast album recordings that later surfaced as soundtracks as well (example: 1959’s The Sound of Music cast album and 1965’s soundtrack version are listed as one entry under 1959 and credited to writers Richard Rodgers/Oscar Hammerstein II).

  3. British rock albums in the mid-‘60s that were slightly altered when they hit American shores (example: The Beatles U.K. album With the Beatles was released in the U.S., with some alterations, as Meet the Beatles!. The first release is generally what is listed).
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What Constitutes an Album

In addition to the aforementioned re-definings of what makes an album an album, the DMDB also wanted to be as inclusive as possible in different formats of albums. Some best-of lists, for example, disregard compilations or live recordings and focus only on studio efforts. As such, the DMDB 1000 list contains standard studio albums alongside “specialty albums,” such as compilations, box sets, live recordings, soundtracks, cast albums, various artist collections, classical works, operas, and Christmas recordings.

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Why Chronological and Not Ranked

The more inclusive approaches described above diminished the merits of presenting this as a ranked list. Any list generates enough heat about what makes the cut and what doesn’t without a debate over why an album is ranked at #999 instead #998. However, a debate over whether Beethoven’s 5th Symphony is a more important work than Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon is most likely to keep people firmly entrenched in their genre camps. By not focusing on where an album is on the list, the focus becomes, more appropriately, why it makes the list. Since all the albums link to individual DMDB pages, you can check out those justifications for yourself and see if you think the album is list worthy.

Another benefit of presenting this list chronologically is how it shows the emergence of new public tastes and the development of the album over the years. Combined with the no-genres-excluded approach, this makes for a fascinating observation of how entire musical genres dominated at different times. In a nutshell, one can see the following trends:

  • the dominance of classical works, which would later fit into an album-length format, from the pre-20th century era through the first quarter of the 20th century (Beethoven, Bach)
  • the rise of cast recordings of hugely successful Broadway productions in roughly the second quarter of the 20th century (Rodgers & Hammerstein)
  • the beginnings of “albums” recorded by single artists with the predominace of jazz recordings in the ‘40s and ‘50s (Miles Davis, John Coltrane)
  • the birth of rock & roll in the mid-‘50s (led by Elvis Presley) through to the early-‘60s British Invasion (led by The Beatles)
  • the explosion of the album as a true force in the ‘60s (The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones)
  • the development of the album rock format in the late-‘60s and early-‘70s (Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd)
  • the rise of the superstar mega-selling albums of the late-‘70s and early-‘80s (Fleetwood Mac, Michael Jackson, Prince, Bruce Springsteen)
  • the emergence of critically acclaimed indie and experimental albums in the ‘80s (U2, REM, Talking Heads)
  • the move toward albums that seemed to launch their own genres in the ‘90s (Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day)
  • the attempt to keep the album format alive in the 21st century with music that harkens back to earlier decades (The Strokes, The White Stripes)
Listing albums chronologically is not as easy as it sounds. Even for conventional studio recordings, release dates aren’t always available so sometimes an album’s first chart appearance was used. Classical works are listed by the date they were composed and/or first performed. Dates for cast recordings and soundtracks may include the date a show opened on stage, the date a cast recording was made, and/or the first chart appearance.

Compilations and live albums are listed by the date of recording instead of release. For example, The Beatles’ 1 is a greatest hits collection released in 2001, but it covers 1962-1970 so its date notation is (compilation: 1962-70, released 11/14/2000), meaning the album is listed under ‘1970.’

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Honorable Mentions

These are albums formerly in the DMDB 1000 which have since been bumped, but are still acknowledged with honorable mentions.

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10 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 26, 2015 at 3:02 PM

    Hello Dave, thanks for the update.

    One question: i'm actually a pretty big U2 fan, but I really don't see how the new album would be here: almost non-existant sales (due to current market conditions + the apple thing), lack of critical acclaim. It pretty much only has the nr1 at rolling stone year end list in its favor... is that really enough? Best Regards and congrats on the site

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    1. Dave WhitakerMay 26, 2015 at 3:42 PM

      You are absolutely right. Its presence IS debatable and I hemmed and hawed over whether to include it. Ultimately it is there because of 26 million downloads (even if they were against people's will). If treated as sales, that puts 'Songs of Innocence' in the top 50 of all-time best sellers. On a subjective level, though, I am also a huge U2 fan but would rate it as one of their least significant works. Thanks for the feedback and for following the site. - Dave

      Delete
    2. AnonymousMay 26, 2015 at 3:48 PM

      Many Thanks for the quick reply :)
      Of course this is your call, but i have to say I totally disagree with downloads being counted as sales: its not even the moral aspect of it... its that those were completely free of charge. Those just can not be considered sales I think

      Delete
  2. AnonymousMay 26, 2015 at 3:04 PM

    Even the 2009 U2 album is a bit debatable, but that one had a pretty good performance on charts (another thing the 2014 one lacks), if not huge sales.

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  3. JamesAugust 17, 2020 at 1:20 PM

    As of the 8/17/20 update, there are only 996 albums listed.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Alberto CunhaAugust 14, 2021 at 5:11 PM

    Hello! Great update to a great list. Just to say The National's High Violet appears twice (one of them in 2000), so the list only actually has 999 albums.
    All the best

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    1. Dave WhitakerOctober 31, 2021 at 9:02 AM

      Thanks for the catch, Alberto. I've removed the duplication and next time I update the list, I'll make sure it has 1000 albums!

      Delete
  5. AndrésMarch 4, 2022 at 4:18 PM

    How is Ed Sheeran's "X" here and not To Be Kind by Swans? I mean, To Be Kind is massively acclaimed

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    1. Dave WhitakerMarch 15, 2022 at 2:38 PM

      Sorry. It just doesn't show up on enough lists to make the cut.

      Delete

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