PopVortex.com first created a best-of list in 2011, saying, “There have been plenty list available that rank the top 100 greatest albums of all time. What makes this list different is that it compiles and aggregates data from other best of lists, including both critics lists such as Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums books and fan polls such as Q magazine’s 100 Greatest Albums Ever poll. The goal of this list to find not only the greatest albums of all time but also the most influential and culturally significant albums as well, so in addition to just the opinions of critics and fans to compile the list other metrics where used as well such as Billboard chart statistics, RIAA sales figures and several others to help determine the final rankings of the best albums.”
“In all 236 different albums were eligible for the list of greatest albums…and they span from the earliest days of rock in the 1950s through today, covering many different genres and styles of music. In the end these are the must have albums that every serious music fan should have in their vinyl, CD or mp3 collection.”
The list was updated in 2025. Albums new to the 2025 list are marked with an asterisk (*). Albums bumped from the list are indicated after the top 100 list.
Check out other publications and organizations’ best-of album lists here.
The Top 100 Albums: The 2025 Version
1. The Beatles Abbey Road (1969)
2. Michael Jackson Thriller (1982)
3. The Beatles Revolver (1966)
4. Nirvana Nevermind (1991)
5. Fleetwood Mac Rumours (1977)
6. The Beach Boys Pet Sounds (1966)
7. Marvin Gaye What’s Going On (1971)
8. The Beatles The Beatles (aka “The White Album”) (1968)
9. Bob Dylan Highway 61 Revisited (1965)
10. The Beatles Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
11. Joni Mitchell Blue (1971)
12. The Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street (1972)
13. The Clash London Calling (1979)
14. Bruce Springsteen Born to Run (1975)
15. Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life (1976)
16. Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
17. Bob Dylan Blood on the Tracks (1975)
18. Prince & the Revolution Purple Rain (soundtrack, 1984)
19. Velvet Underground & Nico Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)
20. The Beatles Rubber Soul (1965)
21. U2 The Joshua Tree (1987)
22. The Jimi Hendrix Experience Are You Experienced? (1967)
23. David Bowie The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)
24. Carole King Tapestry (1971)
25. Bob Dylan Blonde on Blonde (1966)
26. Miles Davis Kind of Blue (1959)
27. Public Enemy It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988)
28. Radiohead OK Computer (1997)
29. Stevie Wonder Innervisions (1973)
30. The Rolling Stones Let It Bleed (1969)
31. Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)
32. Paul Simon Graceland (1986)
33. Prince Sign ‘O’ the Times (1987)
34. Van Morrison Astral Weeks (1968)
35. The Who Who’s Next (1971)
36. Sex Pistols Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols (1977)
37. Guns N’ Roses Appetite for Destruction (1987)
38. Aretha Franklin I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967)
39. Eagles Hotel California (1976)
40. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV (1971)
41. Patti Smith Horses (1975)
42. The Jimi Hendrix Experience Electric Ladyland (1968)
43. Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill (1995)
44. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II (1969)
45. Radiohead Kid A (2000)
46. U2 Achtung Baby (1991)
47. Simon & Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)
48. The Doors The Doors (1967)
49. Bob Marley & the Wailers Exodus (1977)
50. Elvis Presley The Sun Sessions (archives: 1954-55, released 1976)
51. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin I (1969)
52. Oasis (What’s the Story) Morning Glory (1995)
53. Pink Floyd The Wall (1979)
54. Michael Jackson Off the Wall (1979)
55. The Band The Band (1969)
56. Beyoncé Lemonade (2016) *
57. Amy Winehouse Back to Black (2006) *
58. Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010) *
59. The Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers (1971)
60. The Notorious B.I.G. Ready to Die (1994) *
61. David Bowie Hunky Dory (1971)
62. Dr. Dre The Chronic (1992) *
63. Ramones Ramones (1976)
64. AC/DC Back in Black (1980)
65. The Smiths The Queen Is Dead (1986)
66. Jay-Z The Blueprint (2001) *
67. R.E.M. Automatic for the People (1992)
68. Love Forever Changes (1967)
69. Adele 21 (2011) *
70. Van Morrison Moondance (1970)
71. Wu-Tang Clan Enter the Wu-Tang Clan (36 Chambers) (1993) *
72. A Tribe Called Quest The Low End Theory (1991) *
73. Talking Heads Remain in Light (1980) *
74. Bob Marley & the Wailers Legend (compilation: 1973-83, released 1984)
75. John Coltrane A Love Supreme (1965) *
76. James Brown Live at the Apollo, Volume 1 (live, 1962)
77. Radiohead The Bends (1995)
78. The Stone Roses The Stone Roses (1989)
79. Frank Ocean Blond (2016) *
80. D’Angelo Voodoo (2000) *
81. Nas Illmatic (1994) *
82. Bob Dylan Bringing It All Back Home (1965)
83. Neil Young After the Gold Rush (1970)
84. OutKast Aquemini (1998) *
85. Taylor Swift 1989 (2014) *
86. Aretha Franklin Lady Soul (1968)
87. N.W.A. Straight Outta Compton (1989) *
88. Kate Bush Hounds of Love (1985) *
89. Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti (1975)
90. John Lennon Plastic Ono Band (1970)
91. Various artists (Bee Gees et al) Saturday Night Fever (soundtrack, 1977)
92. Chuck Berry The Great Twenty-Eight (compilation: 1955-64, released 1982) *
93. Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here (1975)
94. Curtis Mayfield Superfly (soundtrack, 1972)
95. Portishead Dummy (1994)
96. Kendrick Lamar Good Kid m.A.A.d. City (2012) *
97. R.E.M. Out of Time (1991)
98. Beyoncé Beyoncé (2013) *
99. The Allman Brothers At Fillmore East (live, 1971)
100. Billie Eilish When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019) *
Albums from the 2011 List Which Didn’t Make the 2025 List
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First posted 10/5/2024; last updated 8/19/2025. | 
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