Acclaimed Music: Albums of the Year, 1950-2019

Acclaimed Music: Albums of the Year, 1950-2019

According to Wikipedia, “Acclaimed Music is a website created by Henrik Franzon, a statistician from Stockholm Sweden in September 2001. Franz has statistically aggregated hundreds of published lists that rank songs and albums into aggregated rankings by year, decade, and all-time.” The lists include a ranking of the top 3000 albums, which was last updated 7/15/2018. There are also breakdowns of the top albums by year. The site does not appear to have been updated since 2019. Check out other album of the year awards here. 2019: Lana Del Rey Norman Fucking Rockwell! 2018: Janelle Monáe Dirty Computer 2017: Kendrick Lamar Damn. 2016: David Bowie Blackstar 2015: Kendrick Lamar To Pimp a Butterfly 2014: The War on Drugs Lost in the Dream 2013: Vampire Weekend Modern Vampires of the City 2012: Frank Ocean Channel Orange 2011: PJ Harvey Let England Shake 2010: Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy 2009: Animal Collective Merriweather Post Pavilion 2008: Portishead Third 2007: Radiohead In Rainbows 2006: Amy Winehouse Back to Black 2005: Sufjan Stevens Illinois 2004: Arcade Fire Funeral 2003: The White Stripes Elephant 2002: Streets Original Pirate Material 2001: The Strokes Is This It 2000: Radiohead Kid A 1999: The Flaming Lips The Soft Bulletin 1998: Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 1997: Radiohead OK Computer 1996: Beck Odelay 1995: Oasis (What’s the Story) Morning Glory 1994: Jeff Buckley Grace 1993: Nirvana In Utero 1992: R.E.M. Automatic for the People 1991: Nirvana Nevermind 1990: Public Enemy Fear of a Black Planet 1989: The Pixies Doolittle 1988: Public Enemy It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back 1987: Prince Sign ‘O’ the Times 1986: The Smiths The Queen Is Dead 1985: Jesus and Mary Chain Psychocandy 1984: Prince & the Revolution Purple Rain (soundtrack) 1983: R.E.M. Murmur 1982: Michael Jackson Thriller 1981: The Human League Dare! 1980: Talking Heads Remain in Light 1979: The Clash London Calling 1978: Elvis Costello & the Attractions This Year’s Model 1977: The Sex Pistols Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols 1976: Ramones Ramones 1975: Bruce Springsteen Born to Run 1974: Bob Marley & The Wailers Natty Dread 1973: Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon 1972: The Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street 1971: Marvin Gaye What’s Going On 1970: Neil Young After the Gold Rush 1969: The Beatles Abbey Road 1968: The Beatles The Beatles (aka “The White Album”) 1967: The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band 1966: The Beatles Revolver 1965: Bob Dylan Highway 61 Revisited 1964: The Beatles A Hard Day’s Night 1963: James Brown Live at the Apollo Volume 1 (live, recorded 1962; released 1963) 1962: Ray Charles Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music 1961: Bill Evans Trio Sunday at the Village Vanguard 1960: John Coltrane Giant Steps (recorded 1959, released 1960) 1959: Miles Davis Kind of Blue 1958: Billie Holiday Lady in Satin 1957: Miles Davis Birth of the Cool (recorded 1950, released 1957) 1956: Elvis Presley Elvis Presley (aka Rock ‘N’ Roll) 1955: Frank Sinatra In the Wee Small Hours 1954: Clifford Brown and Max Roach Clifford Brown and Max Roach 1953: The Quintet (Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Charles Mingus, & Max Roach) Jazz at Massey Hall (live) 1952: Bud Powell The Amazing Bud Powell 1951: Thelonious Monk Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 1 (recorded 1947, released 1951) 1950: Benny Goodman The Complete Legendary Carnegie Hall Concert (live, recorded 1938) Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Acclaimed Music: Top 100 Albums” AcclaimedMusic.net (7/15/2018). “Top Albums of All Time” Wikipedia: “Acclaimed Music” Dave’s Music Database: “Other Year-End Album Awards” First posted 8/22/2020.

 

Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion debut at #1 with “WAP”

WAP Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion

Writer(s): Cardi B, Megan Pete, Austin Owens, James Foye III, Frank Rodriguez, Jorden Thorpe (see lyrics here) Released: August 7, 2020 First Charted: August 22, 2020 Peak: 14 BB, 12 DG, 110 ST, 110 RB, 13 UK, 14 CN, 16 AU, 28 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 8.0 US, 1.2 UK, 11.2 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 1021.00 video, 1295.89 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Cardi B had already topped the Billboard Hot 100 with “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves” (2017), “I Like It” (2018), and “Up” (2020) when she paired with Megan Thee Stallion for her fourth #1. The latter was born Megan ovan Ruth Pete in Texas in 1995. She had also been part of the rap game since 2017, experiencing her first big success with “Hot Girl Summer” (#11 BB, 2019). She had her first chart-topping success earlier in 2020 with a remix of “Savage” that paired her with Beyoncé. Pairing these two American rappers together was a no-brainer. Not surprisingly, it was the first female collaboration to debut atop the Billboard Hot 100. The song was fueled by heavy bass and drum beats and a sample from 1993’s “Whores in This House” by DJ Frank Ski. Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion rap about “how they want to be pleased by men, specifically referencing numerous sexual practices” WK and “exchanging dirty talk about their lady parts.” SF Some praised the song for “its sex-positive message and for empowering women.” WK Pitchfork’s Lakin Starling called it “a nasty-ass rap bop, bursting with the personality of two of rap’s most congenial household names.” WK The New York Times’ Jon Caramanica said it was “an event record that transcends the event itself.” WK NPR’s Taylor Crumpton said it was “an already iconic song about women sexuality.” WK There were also conservative pundits who criticized the song for sexually explicit lyrics. The New York Times’ Ben Sisario said it “is almost certainly the most explicit song” SF to top the Hot 100. A clean radio version of the song made changes to the song, such as substituting the hook “wet-ass pussy” (the title is an acronym for “Wet-Ass Pussy”) with “wet and gushy.” WK Cardi B explained that the video used the censored version because “even YouTube was like ‘Hold on…that song might be too nasty.’” SF Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Cardi B DMDB encyclopedia entry for Megan Thee Stallion SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia First posted 1/16/2024; last updated 3/25/2024.

Dave's Music Database Hall of Fame: Album Inductees (August 2020)

Originally posted 8/22/2020. January 22, 2019 marked the 10-year anniversary of the DMDB blog. To honor that, Dave’s Music Database announced its own Hall of Fame. This month marks the seventh batch of album inductees. Since theBillboard album chart launched in 1945, only 17 albums have spent 20 weeks or more at #1. Six of them have been previously inducted: Adele 21 (2011), Fleetwood Mac Rumours (1977), Michael Jackson Thriller (1982), the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack (1977), and the South Pacific cast album (1949) and soundtrack (1958). That leaves 11 albums to be inducted in this batch.

Harry Belafonte Calypso (1956) Inducted August 2020 as “Albums with 20+ Weeks at #1.”

“With this landmark album, calypso not only became tattooed to Belafonte permanently; it had a revolutionary effect on folk music in the 1950s and ‘60s.” AMG “Calypso became the first million-selling album by a single artist…[and] triggered a veritable tidal wave of imitators, parodists, and artists wishing to capitalize on its success.” AMG Read more.

Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim (composers) West Side Story (soundtrack, 1961) Inducted August 2020 as “Albums with 20+ Weeks at #1.”

West Side Story is hailed as “one of the greatest musicals of all time.” RU The modern take on Romeo and Juliet opened on Broadway in 1957 and won Tonys for choreography and design. In 1961, it was made into a movie which went on to win 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The soundtrack spent more weeks atop the Billboard album chart (54) than any other album in history and won the Grammy for Best Soundtrack or Cast Album. Read more.

Bing Crosby Merry Christmas (aka ‘White Christmas’) (1945) Inducted August 2020 as “Albums with 20+ Weeks at #1.”

This is the second best-selling Christmas album of all-time, only behind Elvis Presley. When it comes to songs, though, nothing tops the 56 million in sales of “White Christmas,” just one of the songs featured in this collection. Originally issued as five 78s in 1945, this was reissued and repackaged multiple times. However, since the 1955 vinyl reissue, only the cast recording of Oklahoma! has been in print longer. Read more.

Jane Froman With a Song in My Heart (1952) Inducted August 2020 as “Albums with 20+ Weeks at #1.”

The movie biopic starred Oscar-nominee Susan Hayward as Jane Froman, a star of Broadway, radio, television, and movies during a 30-year career. Froman supplied the vocals for the movie and this soundtrack of her collection of standards, including “Blue Moon” and “Tea for Two,” was released. Read more.

Jackie Gleason Music for Lovers Only (1953) Inducted August 2020 as “Albums with 20+ Weeks at #1.”

While known more as a comedic actor, Gleason also took an active role in the music featured on his shows. He couldn’t read or write music, nor was he a conductor or composer, but he released a series of “orchestral pop” albums in the ‘50s and ‘60s that were designed as mood music. Gleason said, “The only thing better than one of my songs is one of my songs with a glass of scotch.” SA Read more.

M.C. Hammer Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em (1990) Inducted August 2020 as “Albums with 20+ Weeks at #1.”

The album didn’t break any new ground; its biggest hits, “U Can’t Touch This” and “Pray” borrowed their hooks from Rick James’ “Super Freak” and Prince’s “When Doves Cry” respectively while “Have You Seen Her?” was pretty much a cover of the Chi-Lites’ song. However, the familiarity of the music helped propel rap music from “a specialty niche genre” AMG to a “commercial juggernaut.” AMG Read more.

Al Jolson Songs He Made Famous (soundtrack, 1946) Inducted August 2020 as “Albums with 20+ Weeks at #1.”

This collection of re-recordings of some of Jolson’s biggest hits from 1913 to 1928 served as the soundtrack for the 1946 movie musical The Jolson Story, a somewhat fictionalized version of Jolson’s life. The re-recorded versions of “My Mammy” and “April Showers” were top-20, million-selling hits. The soundtrack was followed by a second volume entitled Souvenir Album. Read more.

Mario Lanza The Student Prince (soundtrack, 1954) Inducted August 2020 as “Albums with 20+ Weeks at #1.”

Sigmund Romberg’s operetta The Student Prince opened on Broadway in 1924. When cast albums became popular in the 1940s, Columbia, RCA Victor, and Decca all released versions. However, the one that became the biggest success – spending more weeks at #1 than all albums in history except the cast album for The Sound of Music and the soundtrack for West Side Story – was Mario Lanza’s soundtrack recording to accompany the 1954 MGM film. Read more.

Elvis Presley Blue Hawaii (soundtrack, 1961) Inducted August 2020 as “Albums with 20+ Weeks at #1.”

When Elvis came back from the Army, he delved into movies, churning out dozens of soundtracks. They took on a formulaic quality, but the earlier ones – like Blue Hawaii – were still “attractive if flawed efforts.” BE The Hawaiianesque flavor of this soundtrack “doesn’t necessarily present Elvis in…his strongest musical setting, BE but it does feature standout tracks such as “Aloha Oe,” “No More,” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” “arguably the best song in any Elvis movie, and maybe the best song ever written for a rock & roll movie.” BE Read more.

Prince & the Revolution Purple Rain (soundtrack, 1984) Inducted August 2020 as “Albums with 20+ Weeks at #1.”

Prince had experienced mainstream success prior to Purple Rain, but the schmaltzy movie based loosely on his life became a surprise hit – and the soundtrack became a juggernaut. It was huge right out of the gate, selling a million and a half copies in its first week. “When Doves Cry” and “Let’s Go Crazy” were #1 hits and the title cut and “I Would Die 4 U” landed in the top 10. The album spent a whopping 6 months atop the album chart. Read more.

Various artists (Whitney Houston et al) The Bodyguard (soundtrack, 1992) Inducted August 2020 as “Albums with 20+ Weeks at #1.”

Whitney Houston was already a superstar before taking on her first big-screen role in The Bodyguard. The movie was hit, but the soundtrack’s success was astonishing. Houston’s cover of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” spent a record-shattering 14 weeks at #1, propelling the soundtrack to the top of the album charts. It sold more than 38 million worldwide and won the Grammy for Album of the Year. Read more.

Harry Styles “Watermelon Sugar” hit #1

Watermelon Sugar Harry Styles

Writer(s): Harry Styles, Mitch Rowland, Tyler Johnson, Thomas Hull (see lyrics here) Released: May 15, 2020 First Charted: November 30, 2019 Peak: 11 BB, 11 DG, 17 RR, 11 A40, 4 UK, 3 CN, 5 AU, 21 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 7.0 US, 2.4 UK, 13.72 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 549.94 video, 2603.91 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Singer Harry Styles was born in 1994 in England. He got his start in 2010 with One Direction, a boy band formed on the British TV talent show The X Factor. They released five studio albums from 2011 to 2015, all of which topped either the U.S. or UK charts or both. They landed fourteen top-ten hits in the UK; four of them went to #1. He released his first solo album in 2017. The self-titled album topped the charts in the U.S. and UK, went five times platinum, and featured “Sign of the Times,” a #1 hit in the UK and a top-five hit in the U.S. His next album, Fine Line was released in 2019. It topped the charts in the U.S. and went three times platinum. The singles “Lights Up” and “Adore You” both reached the top ten in the UK. The fourth single, “Watermelon Sugar,” gave Styles his first trip to the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 as a solo artist or with a group. The song mixes elements of rock, funk, indie pop, and soul. The song uses fruit and summer as metaphors for a sexual experience. WK Styles specifically said it was about “that initial euphoria of when you start seeing someone, or sleeping with someone, or being around someone and you have that excitement.” SF He’s also said the song is about female orgasms. WK It has been speculated that the song is about Camille Rowe, a model who dated Harry in 2017 and ’18. In an interview with Elle magazine in 2017, she said that “Richard Brautigan’s post-apolcalyptic novel In Watermelon Sugar is one of her favorite books.” SF Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Harry Styles SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia First posted 4/13/2024.

The All-Time Top 100 Albums According to Billboard

First posted 3/29/2012; updated 8/5/2020.

Billboard: The Top 100 Albums

Billboard magazine has long been the leading authority in the music industry when it comes to charting music. They provide a means of gauging quantifiable success of music. The DMDB has aggregated seven different Billboard lists (details at the bottom of the page) which measure the best albums of all time based on various factors such as weeks on the chart, weeks at #1, and sales. Also, check out annual picks for album of the year. 1. Michael Jackson Thriller (1982) 2. Fleetwood Mac Rumours (1977) 3. Carole King Tapestry (1971) 4. The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) 5. Whitney Houston Whitney Houston (1985) 6. The Beatles Abbey Road (1969) 7. Adele 21 (2011) 8. Various artists (Whitney Houston et al) The Bodyguard (soundtrack, 1992) 9. Various artists (Bee Gees et al) Saturday Night Fever (soundtrack, 1977) 10. Dirty Dancing (soundtrack, 1987) 11. Prince & the Revolution Purple Rain (soundtrack, 1984) 12. Pink Floyd The Wall (1979) 13. Guns N’ Roses Appetite for Destruction (1987) 14. George Michael Faith (1987) 15. Grease (soundtrack, 1978) 16. Dire Straits Brothers in Arms (1985) 17. U2 The Joshua Tree (1987) 18. Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon (1973) 19. Bruce Springsteen Born in the U.S.A. (1984) 20. Metallica Metallica (1991) 21. Garth Brooks Ropin’ the Wind (1991) 22. Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill (1995) 23. M.C. Hammer Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em (1990) 24. Santana Supernatural (1999) 25. Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet (1986) 26. Def Leppard Hysteria (1987) 27. Nirvana Nevermind (1991) 28. Michael Jackson Bad (1987) 29. Backstreet Boys Millenium (1999) 30. James Horner (composer) Titanic (soundtrack, 1997) 31. Lionel Richie Can’t Slow Down (1983) 32. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV (1971) 33. Mariah Carey Music Box (1993) 34. Paula Abdul Forever Your Girl (1988) 35. Eric Clapton Unplugged (1992) 36. Phil Collins No Jacket Required (1985) 37. Whitney Houston Whitney (1987) 38. Simon & Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970) 39. The Beatles 1 (compilation: 1962-70, released 2001) 40. AC/DC Back in Black (1980) 41. Shania Twain Come on Over (1997) 42. Celine Dion Falling into You (1996) 43. Billy Ray Cyrus Some Gave All (1992) 44. Eagles Hotel California (1976) 45. The Sound of Music (soundtrack, 1965) 46. West Side Story (soundtrack, 1961) 47. Mary Poppins (soundtrack, 1964) 48. Bob Marley & the Wailers Legend (compilation: 1973-83, released 1984) 49. Eminem The Eminem Show (2002) 50. Britney Spears …Baby One More Time (1999) 51. Taylor Swift Fearless (2008) 52. Norah Jones Come Away with Me (2002) 53. Backstreet Boys Backstreet Boys (U.S. Version, 1997) 54. Linkin Park Hybrid Theory (2000) 55. Garth Brooks No Fences (1990) 56. REO Speedwagon Hi Infidelity (1980) 57. Pearl Jam Ten (1991) 58. Mariah Carey Mariah Carey (1990) 59. Peter Frampton Frampton Comes Alive! (live, 1975) 60. Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass Whipped Cream & Other Delights (1965) 61. Elton John Greatest Hits (compilation: 1970-74) 62. The Police Synchronicity (1983) 63. Taylor Swift 1989 (2014) 64. Men at Work Business As Usual (1981) 65. Foreigner 4 (1981) 66. Usher Confessions (2004) 67. The Beatles A Hard Day’s Night (soundtrack, 1964) 68. Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life (1976) 69. Celine Dion Let’s Talk about Love (1997) 70. The Monkees More of the Monkees (1967) 71. Hair (cast album, 1967) 72. The Monkees The Monkees (1966) 73. Supertramp Breakfast in America (1979) 74. The Lion King (soundtrack, 1994) 75. No Doubt Tragic Kingdom (1995) 76. Asia Asia (1982) 77. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II (1969) 78. Simon & Garfunkel/Dave Grusin The Graduate (soundtrack, 1968) 79. Green Day Dookie (1994) 80. Michael Jackson Off the Wall (1979) 81. The Beatles Meet the Beatles! (1964) 82. The Eagles The Long Run (1979) 83. Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass What Now My Love (1966) 84. John Cougar Mellencamp American Fool (1982) 85. Creedence Clearwater Revival Cosmo’s Factory (1970) 86. South Pacific (cast album, 1949) 87. Eagles Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 (compilation: 1971-75, released 1976) 88. My Fair Lady (cast album, 1956) 89. The Sound of Music (cast album, 1959) 90. The Music Man (cast album, 1957) 91. Kenny G Breathless (1992) 92. Meat Loaf Bat Out of Hell (1977) 93. Michael Jackson Dangerous (1991) 94. Maurice Jarre Doctor Zhivago (soundtrack, 1966) 95. Vanilla Ice To the Extreme (1990) 96. Taylor Swift Taylor Swift (2006) 97. Hootie & the Blowfish Cracked Rear View (1994) 98. Frozen (soundtrack, 2013) 99. Andy Williams Days of Wine and Roses (1963) 100. Ray Charles Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (1962) Resources and Related Links: 8/4/2020: Wikipedia: “List of Best-Selling Albums” List used to update “Best-Selling Albums” list from Joel Whitburn’s Top Pop Albums 1955-2009. Includes official certified sales and claimed sales. 8/3/2020: “The Biggest #1 Albums in U.S. Chart History” List especially created by Dave’s Music Database. Update of list from Joel Whitburn’s Top Pop Albums 1955-2009. Ranks albums in the rock and pre-rock era based on weeks at #1. 8/2/2020: “The Longest-Charting Albums in U.S. Chart History” List especially created by Dave’s Music Database. Ranks albums based on total weeks on the Billboard album charts. Update of list from Joel Whitburn’s Top Pop Albums 1955-2009. 6/22/2017: “What Is the Greatest Album of All Time According to the Music Industry?” 2015: “Greatest of All Time: Billboard 200 Albums” 2010: “Top 100 Albums.” Pages 964-5 from Joel Whitburn’s Top Pop Albums 1955-2009 (7th edition) Top 100 list based on weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart. 2010: “Albums of Longevity.” Page 969 from Joel Whitburn’s Top Pop Albums 1955-2009 (7th edition) Top 50 list of albums which have charted more than 175 weeks on the Billboard 200 album chart. 2010: “Best Selling Albums.” Page 970 from Joel Whitburn’s Top Pop Albums 1955-2009 (7th edition) A list of all albums certified by the RIAA to have sold 10 million or more copies. 11/1/1994: “Top 100 Albums of All Time” This special list was compiled for the magazine’s 100th anniversary issue.

The Biggest #1 Albums in U.S. Chart History

First posted 11/15/2010; updated 8/3/2020.

U.S.A.: Top 100+ #1 Albums

This is a list of the #1 albums of all time according to the Billboard charts. All albums which spent nine weeks or more on top of the chart are included, making for just over 100 albums. Albums are listed in order of most weeks at #1. In the event of ties (of which there are many), the album ranking highest in Dave’s Music Database is listed first and so on. Also, the year listed is when the album was released or first charted. Consequently, it may not indicate the actual year or years in which the album peaked at #1. This list was originally posted on Facebook on 11/15/2010 and then at DavesMusicDatabase.com on 2/4/2012. Also, check out annual picks for album of the year. 69 weeks: South Pacific (cast album, 1949) 54 weeks: West Side Story (soundtrack, 1961) 42 weeks: Mario Lanza The Student Prince (soundtrack, 1954) 39 weeks: Bing Crosby Merry Christmas (aka ‘White Christmas’) (1945) 37 weeks: Michael Jackson Thriller (1982) 31 weeks: Fleetwood Mac Rumours (1977) South Pacific (soundtrack, 1958) Harry Belafonte Calypso (1956) 25 weeks: Al Jolson Songs He Made Famous (1947) Jane Froman With a Song in My Heart (1952) 24 weeks: Prince & the Revolution Purple Rain (soundtrack, 1984) Saturday Night Fever (soundtrack, 1977) 23 weeks: Adele 21 (2011) Jackie Gleason Music for Lovers Only (1952) 21 weeks: M.C. Hammer Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em (1990) 20 weeks: Various artists (Whitney Houston et al) The Bodyguard (soundtrack, 1992) Elvis Presley Blue Hawaii (soundtrack, 1961) 19 weeks: Show Boat (soundtrack, 1951) Mario Lanza The Great Caruso (soundtrack, 1951) 18 weeks: Dirty Dancing (soundtrack, 1987) Garth Brooks Ropin’ the Wind (1991) The Monkees More of the Monkees (1967) 17 weeks: The Police Synchronicity (1983) Billy Ray Cyrus Some Gave All (1992) Danny Kaye Hans Christian Andersen (1953) Doris Day Love Me or Leave Me (1955) 16 weeks: Titanic (soundtrack, 1997) Glenn Miller Glenn Miller and His Orchestra (1945) An American in Paris (soundtrack, 1951) The Sound of Music (cast album, 1959) Vanilla Ice To the Extreme (1990) Andy Williams Days of Wine and Roses (1963) 15 weeks: The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) Pink Floyd The Wall (1979) Carole King Tapestry (1971) My Fair Lady (cast album, 1956) Men at Work Business as Usual (1981) REO Speedwagon Hi Infidelity (1980) The Kingston Trio At Large (1959) Eddie Fisher I’m in the Mood for Love (1952) 14 weeks: Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life (1976) The Beatles A Hard Day’s Night (soundtrack, 1964) Whitney Houston Whitney Houston (1985) Ray Charles Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (1962) Mary Poppins (soundtrack, 1964) Exodus (soundtrack, 1961) Bob Newhart The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart (1960) Al Jolson Volume Three (1948) 13 weeks: Hair (cast album, 1967) Frozen (soundtrack, 2013) Judy Garland Judy at Carnegie Hall (1961) Drake Views (2016) The Monkees The Monkees (1966) Enoch Light with Terry Snyder & the All Stars Persuasive Percussion (1960) 12 weeks: Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill (1995) Grease (soundtrack, 1978) George Michael Faith (1987) Santana Supernatural (1999) The Music Man (cast album, 1957) Henry Mancini Breakfast at Tiffany’s (soundtrack, 1961) Vaughn Meader The First Family (1962) The King Cole Trio The King Cole Trio (1945) The Kingston Trio Sold Out (1960) 11 weeks: The Beatles Abbey Road (1969) The Beatles Meet the Beatles! (1964) Whitney Houston Whitney (1987) Taylor Swift Fearless (2008) Mariah Carey Mariah Carey (1990) Taylor Swift 1989 (2014) Miami Vice (TV soundtrack, 1985) Three Little Words (soundtrack, 1950) Doris Day with Harry James & His Orchestra Young Man with a Horn (soundtrack, 1950) Lawrence Welk Calcutta! (1961) Glenn Milller Plays Selections from the Film ‘The Glenn Miller Story’ (1954) 10 weeks: Simon & Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970) Elton John Greatest Hits (1974) Peter Frampton Frampton Comes Alive! (1975) Elvis Presley Elvis Presley (aka ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll’) (1956) Adele 25 (2015) Backstreet Boys Millenium (1999) Henry Mancini The Music from Peter Gunn (soundtrack, 1959) Footloose (soundtrack, 1984) Paula Abdul Forever Your Girl (1988) The Lion King (soundtrack, 1994) Elvis Presley G.I. Blues (soundtrack, 1960) Foreigner 4 (1981) Gigi (soundtrack, 1958) Elvis Presley Loving You (soundtrack, 1957) Al Jolson Souvenir Album (1947) Kiss Me, Kate (cast album, 1948) Around the World in 80 Days (soundtrack, 1957) Glenn Miller The Glenn Miller Story (soundtrack, 1954) The Singing Nun The Singing Nun (1963) The Kingston Trio String Along (1960) 9 weeks: The Beatles The Beatles (aka “The White Album”) (1968) U2 The Joshua Tree (1987) Dire Straits Brothers in Arms (1985) Creedence Clearwater Revival Cosmo’s Factory (1970) The Beatles Help! (soundtrack, 1965) Janis Joplin Pearl (1971) Usher Confessions (2004) The Beatles Beatles ‘65 (1964) No Doubt Tragic Kingdom (1995) Asia Asia (1982) Eagles The Long Run (1979) The Rolling Stones Tattoo You (1981) John (Cougar) Mellencamp American Fool (1982) Simon & Garfunkel The Graduate (soundtrack, 1968) Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass What Now My Love (1966) Chicago Chicago V (1972) Frank Sinatra Nice ‘N Easy (1960) various artists Stars for a Summer Night (1961)