Thursday, July 29, 2021

YouTube: Billion Airs Club

You Tube:

Billion Airs Club

YouTube has become the 21st century’s version of MTV; that is, it is the go-to place for music videos. On December 1, 2012, “Gangnam Style” by Psy became the first music video to surpass one billion views. Since then, more than a hundred music videos have passed that mark. This page captures those videos in a ranked list based on most views. The numbers listed after the song titles indicate the number of views in billions.

Note: if there are multiple versions of a song (such as an official video, a lyric video, or live performances) the numbers have been consolidated into one figure as long as all the versions are the same song by the same performer. Also, since I have yet to find an official list of videos crossing the billion mark, it is quite possible there are videos not included in this list. If you know of such a video, feel free to let me know in the comments section.

Click here to see other genre-specific song lists.

1. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee “Despacito” (2017) 7.740
2. Marc Ronson & Bruno Mars “Uptown Funk!” (2014) 5.743
3. Ed Sheeran “Shape of You” (2017) 5.421
4. Wiz Khalifa & Charlie Puth “See You Again” (2015) 5.014
5. Psy “Gangnam Style” (2012) 4.143
6. Pinkfong! Kids’ Songs “Baby Shark Dance” (2016) 4.100
7. Maroon 5 with Cardi B “Girls Like You” (2017) 3.654
8. Justin Bieber “Sorry” (2015) 3.614
9. Maroon 5 “Sugar” (2014) 3.300
10. Katy Perry “Roar” (2013) 3.254

11. Ed Sheeran “Thinking Out Loud” (2014) 3.199
12. Ed Sheeran with Beyoncé “Perfect” (2017) 3.065
13. Taylor Swift “Shake It Off” (2014) 3.057
14. Chainsmokers & Halsey “Closer” (2016) 2.972
15. Katy Perry & Juicy J “Dark Horse” (2013) 2.924
16. Major Lazer, DJ Snake & MØ “Lean On” (2015) 2.915
17. Camila Cabello with Young Thug “Havana” (2017) 2.902
18. Adele “Hello” (2015) 2.883
19. One Republic “Counting Stars” (2013) 2.880
20. Enrique Iglesias, Descemer Bueno, & Gente de Zona “Bailando” (2014) 2.790

21. Taylor Swft “Blank Space” (2014) 2.761
22. Alan Walker “Faded” (2015) 2.590
23. Twenty One Pilots “Stressed Out” (2015) 2.577
24. Passenger “Let Her Go” (2012) 2.570
25. J. Balvin & Willy Williams “Mi Gente” (2017) 2.570
26. Shakira & Maluma “Chantaje” (2016) 2.480
27. LooLoo Kids “Johny Johny Yes Papa” (2016) 2.420
28. Justin Bieber & Ludacris “Baby” (2010) 2.400
29. Shakira & Freshlyground “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” (2010) 2.370
30. Meghan Trainor “All About That Bass” (2014) 2.340

31. Ellie Goulding “Love Me Like You Do” (2015) 2.308
32. Calvin Harris & Rihanna “This Is What You Came For” (2016) 2.290
33. Clean Bandit, Sean Paul, & Anne-Marie “Rockabye” (2016) 2.250
34. Charlie Puth & Selena Gomez “We Don’t Talk Anymore” (2016) 2.240
35. Justin Bieber “What Do You Mean?” (2015) 2.225
36. Fifth Harmony “Work from Home” (2016) 2.219
37. Little Baby Bum “Wheels on the Bus” (2014) 2.210
38. Cocomelon “Bath Song” (2018) 2.190
39. Sia “Chandelier” (2014) 2.173
40. Lil Nas X with Billy Ray Cyrus “Old Town Road” (2018) 2.162

41. Pharrell Williams “Happy” (2013) 2.109
42. The Weeknd & Daft Punk “Starboy” (2016) 2.042
43. Sia & Sean Paul “Cheap Thrills” (2016) 2.032
44. Nio Garcia with Darrell & Casper Magico, Bad Bunny, Nicky Jam, & Ozuna “Te Boté (Remix)” (2018) 2.000
45. Adele “Rolling in the Deep” (2010) 1.984
46. Justin Bieber “Love Yourself” (2015) 1.975
47. Magic! “Rude” (2013) 1.971
48. Dua Lipa “New Rules” (2017) 1.970
49. Natti Natasha with Ozuna “Criminal” (2017) 1.918
50. Eminem & Rihanna “Love the Way You Lie” (2010) 1.900

51. Idina Menzel “Let It Go” (2013) 1.893
52. Cocomelon “Yes Yes Vegetables Song” (2018) 1.890
53. Crazy Frog “Axel F” (2005) 1.890
54. Avicii & Aloe Blacc “Wake Me Up” (2013) 1.880
55. Luis Fonsi with Demi Lovato “Échame La Culpa” (2017) 1.870
56. Icanrockyourworld “The Gummy Bear Song” (2007) 1.850
57. The Chainsmokers with Coldplay “Something Just Like This” (2017) 1.836
58. Fifth Harmony & Kid Ink “Worth It” (2015) 1.783
59. Nicky Jam with J. Balvin “X” (2018) 1.770
60. Bruno Mars “The Lazy Song” (2010) 1.750

61. Becky G with Bad Bunny “Mayores” (2017) 1.732
62. LMFAO, Lauren Bennett & GoonRock “Party Rock Anthem” (2011) 1.730
63. Shawn Mendes “Treat You Better” (2016) 1.717
64. Drake “Hotline Bling” (2015) 1.712
65. Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj “Side to Side” (2016) 1.680
66. Silento “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” (2015) 1.652
67. J. Balvin “Ay Vamos” (2014) 1.638
68. The Weeknd “The Hills” (2015) 1.635
69. Becky G “Sin Pijama” (2018) 1.612
70. Daddy Yankee with Snow “Con Calma” (2019) 1.610

71. Post Malone with Swae Lee “Sunflower” (2018) 1.609
72. Ricky Martin & Maluma “Vente Pa Ca” (2016) 1.588
73. Bruno Mars “That’s What I Like” (2016) 1.584
74. John Legend “All of Me” (2013) 1.580
75. Maluma “Felices los 4” (2017) 1.563
76. Bruno Mars “24K Magic” (2016) 1.560
77. CNCO “Reggaeton Lento (Bailemos)” (2016) 1.546
78. Romeo Santos & Eliza Gonzalez “Propuesta Indecente” (2013) 1.539
79. Bruno Mars “Just the Way You Are (Amazing)” (2010) 1.524
80. Guns N’ Roses “November Rain” (1991) 1.500

81. Daddy Yankee “Dura” (2018) 1.496
82. The Chainsmokers with Daya “Don’t Let Me Down” (2016) 1.477
83. Jennifer Lopez & Pitbull “On the Floor” (2011) 1.460
84. Piso 21 with Manuel Turizo “Déjala Que Vuelva” (2017) 1.458
85. Christina Perri “A Thousand Years” (2011) 1.450
86. Chino & Nacho with Daddy Yankee “Andas en Mi Cabeza” (2016) 1.445
87. Taylor Swift & Kendrick Lamar “Bad Blood” (2014) 1.434
88. Maluma with Nego Do Borel “Corazón” (2017) 1.430
89. Adele “Someone Like You” (2011) 1.430
90. Shawn Mendes with Camila Cabello “Señorita” (2019) 1.430

91. Jessie J, Ariana Grande, & Nicki Minaj “Bang Bang” (2014) 1.429
92. Nicky Jam “Hasta El Amanecer” (2016) 1.420
93. Rihanna “Diamonds” (2012) 1.420
94. Post Malone with 21 Savage “Rockstar” (2017) 1.417
95. Jason Derulo with Nicki Minaj & Ty Dolla $ign “Swalla” (2017) 1.402
96. Daddy Yankee “Shaky Shaky” (2016) 1.401
97. Ellie Goulding “Burn” (2013) 1.381
98. XXXtentacion “Sad!” (2018) 1.374
99. Danny Ocean “Me Rehúso” (2016) 1.367
100. Queen “Bohemian Rhapsody” (1975) 1.358

101. Twenty One Pilots “Heathens” (2016) 1.358
102. Nirvana “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (1991) 1.357
103. Carlos Vives & Shakira “La Bicicleta” (2016) 1.355
104. Martin Garrix “Animals” (2013) 1.348
105. Billie Eilish “Bad Guy” (2019) 1.346
106. Eminem “Not Afraid” (2010) 1.344
107. Calvin Harris “Summer” (2014) 1.340
108. DJ Khaled with Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, & Lil’ Wayne “I’m the One” (2017) 1.332
109. Calvin Harris & Disciples “How Deep Is Your Love” (2015) 1.325
110. David Guetta with Nicki Minaj & Afrojack “Hey Mama” (2015) 1.324

111. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis with Wanz “Thrift Shop” (2012) 1.320
112. Gotye with Kimbra “Somebody That I Used to Know” (2011) 1.317
113. Imagine Dragons “Radioactive” (2012) 1.307
114. Carly Rae Jepsen “Call Me Maybe” (2011) 1.300
115. Pulcinopiotv “El Pollito Pio” (2012) 1.287
116. Nicky Jam with Enrique Iglesias “El Perdon (Forgiveness)” (2015) 1.280
117. Psy “Gentleman” (2013) 1.277
118. Katy Perry “Firework” (2010) 1.268
119. Lady Gaga with Bradley Cooper “Shallow” (2018) 1.265
120. Nicky Jam “El Amante” (2017) 1.259

121. Joey Montana “Picky” (2015) 1.247
122. Mike Posner “I Took a Pill in Ibiza” (2015) 1.247
123. Rihanna with Drake “Work” (2016) 1.243
124. Whitney Houston “I Will Always Love You” Whitney Houston (1992) 1.212
125. Katy Perry “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” (2010) 1.203
126. Gente de Zona with Marc Anthony “La Gozadera” (2015) 1.202
127. Lukas Graham “7 Years” (/2015) 1.201
128. Drake “God’s Plan” (2018) 1.200
129. Ariana Grande with Iggy Azalea “Problem” (2014) 1.192
130. Linkin Park “Numb” (2003) 1.190

131. Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine” (1987) 1.188
132. Taylor Swift “You Belong with Me” (2008) 1.187
133. 50 Cent “In Da Club” (2002) 1.187
134. Maluma “El Perdedor” (2016) 1.175
135. Pitbull with Ke$ha “Timber” (2013) 1.163
136. Justin Timberlake “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” (2016) 1.157
137. Ricky Martin with Yotuel “La Mordidita” (2015) 1.152
138. Sam Smith “Stay with Me” (2014) 1.150
139. Rosalía with J. Balvin & El Guincho “Con Altura” (2019) 1.150
140. Lady Gaga “Bad Romance” (2009) 1.140

141. Shawn Mendes “Stitches” (2015) 1.140
142. Post Malone with Quavo “Congratulations” (2016) 1.135
143. Bruno Mars “Grenade” (2016) 1.134
144. The Weeknd “Can’t Feel My Face” (2015) 1.134
145. Prince Royce “Darte Un Beso” (2013) 1.115
146. Taylor Swift “Look What You Made Me Do” (2017) 1.114
147. Skrillex with Diplo & Justin Bieber “Where Are Ü Now” (2015) 1.113
148. Eminem “Lose Yourself” (2002) 1.105
149. One Direction “What Makes You Beautiful” (2011) 1.103
150. Future with Drake “Life Is Good” (2020) 1.100

151. Ariana Grande “Thank U, Next” (2018) 1.099
152. The Police “Every Breath You Take” (1983) 1.095
153. Aha “Take on Me” Aha (1984) 1.066
154. Michael Jackson “Billie Jean” (1982) 1.054
155. Miley Cyrus “Wrecking Ball” (2013) 1.051
156. Iggy Azalea with Charli XCX “Fancy” (2014) 1.048
157. Cardi B with Bad Bunny & J. Balvin “I Like It” (2018) 1.043
158. Rihanna with Calvin Harris “We Found Love” (2011) 1.039
159. French Montana with Swae Lee “Unforgettable” (2017) 1.029
160. James Arthur “Say You Won’t Let Me Go” (2016) 1.028

161. Eminem “Without Me” (2002) 1.027
162. Ariana Grande with Zedd “Break Free” (2014) 1.029
163. The Weeknd “Blinding Lights” (2019) 1.014
164. Rick Astley “Never Gonna Give You Up” (1987) 1.001
165. Twenty One Pilots “Ride” (2015) 1.000

Resources and Related Links:

First posted 11/22/2018; last updated 7/29/2021.

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Wednesday, July 28, 2021

The Top 100 Videos of All Time

Music Videos:

All-Time Top 100

This was the first best-of list posted on the DMDB Facebook page back on February 5, 2010. It has been updated to include an aggregate of more than 70 lists in addition to various video awards and YouTube plays. See sources at bottom of page.

You can also check out the Dave’s Music Database podcast focused on the 40th anniversary of MTV and this list. It premieres August 3, 2021.

1. Michael Jackson “Thriller” (1983)
2. Peter Gabriel “Sledgehammer” (1986)
3. Aha “Take on Me” (1985)
4. Nirvana “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (1991)
5. Beastie Boys “Sabotage” (1994)
6. Fatboy Slim “Weapon of Choice” (2001)
7. Dire Straits “Money for Nothing” (1985)
8. Madonna “Like a Prayer” (1989)
9. Guns N’ Roses “November Rain” (1992)
10. Johnny Cash “Hurt” (2003)

11. Pearl Jam “Jeremy” (1993)
12. Jamiroquai “Virtual Insanity” (1997)
13. Michael Jackson “Billie Jean” (1983)
14. Smashing Pumpkins “Tonight, Tonight” (1996)
15. Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee “Despacito” (2017)
16. Sinéad O’Connor “Nothing Compares 2 U” (1990)
17. Run-D.M.C. with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler & Joe Perry “Walk This Way” (1986)
18. Foo Fighters “Learn to Fly” (1999)
19. Queen “Bohemian Rhapsody” (1975)
20. Talking Heads “Once in a Lifetime” (1981)

21. Beyoncé “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) ” (2008)
22. R.E.M. “Losing My Religion” (1991)
23. Madonna “Vogue” (1990)
24. Weezer “Buddy Holly” (1995)
25. The Police “Every Breath You Take” (1983)
26. Nine Inch Nails “Closer” (1994)
27. OK Go “Here It Goes Again” (2006)
28. Duran Duran “Hungry Like the Wolf” (1982)
29. Cyndi Lauper “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” (1983)
30. Michael Jackson “Beat It” (1983)

31. Britney Spears “Baby One More Time” (1999)
32. Fatboy Slim “Praise You” (1999)
33. OutKast “Hey Ya!” (2004)
34. Eurythmics “Sweet Dreams Are Made of This” (1983)
35. Robert Palmer “Addicted to Love” (1986)
36. Lady Gaga “Bad Romance” (2009)
37. Metallica “One” (1989)
38. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers “Don’t Come Around Here No More” (1985)
39. Psy “Gangnam Style” (2012)
40. The Cars “You Might Think” (1984)

41. Blur “Coffee + TV” (1999)
42. The Buggles “Video Killed the Radio Star” (1979)
43. Herbie Hancock “Rock-It” (1983)
44. Chris Isaak “Wicked Game” (1991)
45. Ed Sheeran “Shape of You” (2017)
46. The White Stripes “Fell in Love with a Girl” (2002)
47. Korn “Freak on a Leash” (1999)
48. Marc Ronson & Bruno Mars “Uptown Funk!” (2014)
49. Michael Jackson with Janet Jackson “Scream” (1995)
50. New Order “True Faith” (1987)

51. Wiz Khalifa & Charlie Puth “See You Again” (2015)
52. Aerosmith “Janie’s Got a Gun” (1990)
53. Nirvana “Heart-Shaped Box” (1993)
54. George Michael “Freedom ’90” (1990)
55. The Replacements “Bastards of Young” (1985)
56. Madonna “Express Yourself” (1989)
57. Justin Bieber “Sorry” (2015)
58. TLC “Waterfalls” (1995)
59. Red Hot Chili Peppers “Californication” (2000)
60. Don Henley “The Boys of Summer” (1984)

61. Eminem “Without Me” (2002)
62. Soundgarden “Black Hole Sun” (1994)
63. Radiohead “Just” (1995)
64. Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine” (1988)
65. Guns N’ Roses “Welcome to the Jungle” (1987)
66. Van Halen “Right Now” (1992)
67. Madonna “Ray of Light” (1998)
68. R.E.M. “Everybody Hurts” (1993)
69. David Bowie “Ashes to Ashes” (1980)
70. Camila Cabello with Young Thug “Havana” (2017)

71. Taylor Swft “Blank Space” (2014)
72. The Prodigy “Smack My Bitch Up” (1997)
73. Maroon 5 “Sugar” (2014)
74. Van Halen “Hot for Teacher” (1984)
75. Justin Timberlake “Cry Me a River” (2003)
76. Duran Duran “Girls on Film” (1981)
77. Tupac Shakur (2pac) & Dr. Dre “California Love” (1996)
78. Adele “Rolling in the Deep” (2010)
79. Adele “Hello” (2015)
80. Ed Sheeran “Thinking Out Loud” (2014)

81. Bob Dylan “Subterranean Homesick Blues” (1967)
82. Maroon 5 with Cardi B “Girls Like You” (2017)
83. Madonna “Justify My Love” (1990)
84. Alanis Morissette “Ironic” (1996)
85. Genesis “Land of Confusion” (1986)
86. Katy Perry & Juicy J “Dark Horse” (2013)
87. Van Halen “Jump” (1984)
88. Aerosmith “Cryin’” (1994)
89. Madonna “Material Girl” (1985)
90. INXS “Need You Tonight/Mediate” (1988)

91. Pharrell Williams “Happy” (2013)
92. Rihanna with Calvin Harris “We Found Love” (2011)
93. Taylor Swift & Kendrick Lamar “Bad Blood” (2014)
94. Christina Aguilera with Redman “Dirrty” (2002)
95. Katy Perry “Roar” (2013)
96. Metallica “Enter Sandman” (1991)
97. The Verve “Bitter Sweet Symphony” (1997)
98. Kendrick Lamar “Humble” (2017)
99. Michael Jackson “Black or White” (1991)
100. Justin Bieber with Ludacris “Baby” (2010)

Annual Awards:

Other Resources/Related Links:

First posted 2/5/2010; last updated 7/28/2021.

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The DMDB Top 1000 Albums of All Time

Last updated 7/28/2021.

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.

Pre-
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    Pre-1800’s

  1. Giovanni Pierluigi Palestrina (composer) Missa Papae Marcelli (Pope Marcellus Mass) (classical, composed 1562)
  2. Claudio Monteverdi (composer) L’Orfeo (Orpheus) (opera, composed 1607, first performed: 2/24/1607)
  3. Claudio Monteverdi (composer) Vespers of the Blessed Virgin (classical, composed 1610)
  4. Claudio Monteverdi L’incoronazione di Poppea (The Coronation of Poppaea) (opera: 1642)
  5. Henry Purcell (composer) Dido and Aeneas (performed 12/1/1687)
  6. George Friedrich Handel (composer) Water Music (classical, composed 1717, performed 7/17/1717)
  7. Johann Sebastian Bach (composer) Brandenburg Concertos (classical, composed 1719-21)
  8. Johann Sebastian Bach (composer) Cello Suites (classical, composed 1717-23)
  9. Antonio Vivaldi (composer) The Four Seasons (classical, composed 1725)
  10. Johann Sebastian Bach (composer) St. Matthew Passion (classical, composed 1729-36)
  11. Johann Sebastian Bach (composer) Goldberg Variations (classical, composed 1741)
  12. George Friedrich Händel (composer) Messiah (classical, composed 1741, performed 4/13/1742)
  13. Johann Sebastian Bach (composer) Mass in B Minor (classical, composed 1733-1749)
  14. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer) Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) (opera, composed 1786)
  15. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer) Don Giovanni (opera, composed 1787, performed 10/29/1787)
  16. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer) Symphony No. 40 in G minor (classical, composed 1788)
  17. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer) Symphony No. 41 “Jupiter” (classical, composed 1788)
  18. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer) Piano Concertos (27) (classical, composed 1773-1791)
  19. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer) Requiem Mass in D minor (classical, composed 1791)
  20. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer) Clarinet Concerto in A Major (classical, composed 1791)
  21. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer) Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute) (classical, composed 1791)

    1800-1899

  22. Ludwig van Beethoven (composer) Symphony No. 3 in E-flat “Sinfonia Eroica” (classical, composed 1804)
  23. Ludwig van Beethoven (composer) Violin Concerto in D Major (classical, composed 1806)
  24. Ludwig van Beethoven (composer) Symphony No. 5 (classical, composed 1808, performed 12/22/1808)
  25. Ludwig van Beethoven (composer) Symphony No. 6 “Pastorale” (classical, composed 1808, performed 12/22/1808)
  26. Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor” (classical, performed 1/13/1811)
  27. Ludwig van Beethoven (composer) Symphony No. 7 (classical, composed 1812, performed 12/8/1813)
  28. Gioacchino Rossini (composer) Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) (opera, composed 1816)
  29. Ludwig van Beethoven (composer) Piano Sonatas (32) (classical, composed 1795-1822)
  30. Ludwig van Beethoven (composer) Symphony No. 9 (classical, composed 1824, performed 5/7/1824)
  31. Ludwig van Beethoven (composer) String Quartets (16) (classical, composed 1798-1826)
  32. Hector Berlioz (composer) Symphonie Fantastique (classical, composed 1830)
  33. Giuseppe Verdi (composer) La Traviata (The Fallen Woman) (opera, composed 1853, performed 3/6/1853)
  34. Franz Liszt (composer) Piano Sonata in B Minor (classical, composed 1853)
  35. Richard Wagner (composer) Tristan Und Isolde (opera, composed 1857-59, performed 6/10/1865)
  36. Giuseppe Verdi (composer) Aida (opera, composed 1871, performed 12/1871)
  37. Richard Wagner (composer) Der Ring Des Nibelungen (The Ring Cycle) (opera, composed 1848-1874, performed 8/17/1876)
  38. Modest Mussorgsky (composer) Tableaux d'une Exposition (Pictures at an Exhibition) (classical, composed for piano in 1874, reworked for orchestra in 1922, performed 10/19/1923)
  39. Georges Bizet (composer) Carmen (opera, composed 1873-74, performed 3/3/1875)
  40. Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky (composer) Piano Concerto No. 1 (classical, composed 1875, performed 10/15/1875)
  41. Johannes Brahms (composer) Symphony No. 4 (classical, composed 1885)
  42. Antonin Dvorák (composer) Symphony No. 9 in E minor (“From the New World”) (classical, composed 1893, performed 5/24/1893)
  43. Giacomo Puccini (composer) La Bohème (The Bohemian Life) (opera, composed 1896, performed 2/1/1896)

    1900-1929

  44. Giacomo Puccini (composer) Tosca (opera, composed 1900, performed 1/14/1900)
  45. Igor Stravinsky (composer) Le Sacre Du Printemps (The Rite of Spring) (ballet, composed 1913, performed 5/29/1913)
  46. Arthur Collins The King of the Ragtime Singers (compilation: 1902-1916, released 2014)
  47. Giacomo Puccini (composer) Turandot (opera, composed 1926, stage debut: 4/25/1926)
  48. Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein II (composers) Show Boat (stage debut: 12/27/27, cast recorded 1933, soundtrack released 1951)
  49. Paul Whiteman Masterpieces (compilation: 1920-27, released 2015)
  50. Louis Armstrong The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings (box set, recorded 1925-28, released 8/22/2000)
  51. Henry Burr Anthology: The Original King of Pop (compilation: 1903-28, released 2005)

    1930-1939

  52. Various Artists compiled by Harry Smith Anthology of American Folk Music (box set, recorded 1926-32, released 1952)
  53. Bessie Smith The Essential (compilation, 1923-33, released 9/23/1997)
  54. Charlie Patton Founder of the Delta Blues (compilation: 1929-34, released 1969)
  55. George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin/Dubose Heyward (composers) Porgy and Bess (opera, composed 1935, stage debut: 9/30/35)
  56. Robert Johnson The Complete Recordings (compilation: 1936-37, released 8/28/90)
  57. Benny Goodman The Complete Legendary Carnegie Hall Concert (live, recorded 1/16/38)
  58. Béla Bartók (composer) The String Quartets (classical, composed 1908-39)

    1940-1949

  59. Woody Guthrie Dust Bowl Ballads (7/40)
  60. Billy Murray Anthology: The Denver Nightingale (compilation: 1903-40, released 2018)
  61. Glenn Miller Glenn Miller & His Orchestra (compilation: 1939-42, charted 3/24/45)
  62. Duke Ellington The Blanton-Webster Band (box set: 1939-42, released 10/25/90)
  63. Benny Goodman Very Best of (compilation: 1934-42, released 11/7/00)
  64. Richard Rodgers/Oscar Hammerstein II (composers) Oklahoma! (stage debut: 3/31/43, cast recording released 12/4/44, soundtrack released 8/1/55)
  65. Béla Bartók (composer) Concerto for Orchestra (classical, composed 1944, performed 12/1/44)
  66. Glenn Miller Very Best of (compilation: 1939-44, released 2010)
  67. Richard Rodgers/Oscar Hammerstein II (composers) Carousel (stage debut: 4/19/45, cast recording released 5/21/45, soundtrack charted 2/25/56)
  68. Bing Crosby Merry Christmas (aka ‘White Christmas’) (Christmas, charted 12/1/45)
  69. Irving Berlin (composer) Annie Get Your Gun (stage debut: 5/16/46, cast recording released 7/8/46, soundtrack charted 6/10/50)
  70. Al Jolson Songs He Made Famous (soundtrack, released 11/46)
  71. Cole Porter (composer) Kiss Me, Kate (stage debut: 12/30/48, cast recording released 1949, soundtrack charted 1/23/54)
  72. Richard Rodgers/Oscar Hammerstein II (composers) South Pacific (stage debut: 4/4/49, cast released 5/9/49, soundtrack released 3/19/58)
  73. Al Jolson Best of (compilation: 1913-49; released 6/27/1007)

    1950-1955

  74. Miles Davis Birth of the Cool (recorded 1/21/49 to 3/9/50, released 1957)
  75. Frank Loesser (composer) Guys and Dolls (stage debut: 11/24/50, cast recording: 12/3/50, released 1/8/51)
  76. Guy Lombardo The Band Played On: 25 Number One Hits! (compilation: 1927-50, released 2002)
  77. 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)
  78. George & Ira Gershwin (composers) An American in Paris (classical, soundtrack released 10/4/51)
  79. Jane Froman With a Song in My Heart (soundtrack, charted 3/29/52)
  80. Jackie Gleason Music for Lovers Only (charted 1/17/53)
  81. Hank Williams 40 Greatest Hits (compilation: 1947-53, released 1978)
  82. Mario Lanza The Student Prince (soundtrack, charted 7/10/54)
  83. Frank Sinatra In the Wee Small Hours (charted 5/28/55)
  84. Muddy Waters His Best 1947-55 (includes all of Best of, compilation: 1947-55, released 1997)
  85. Elvis Presley The Sun Sessions (aka Sunrise, The Sun Years, or The Sun Collection) (archives, recorded 1954-55, released 3/76)

    1956

  86. Frank Sinatra Songs for Swingin’ Lovers! (1/16/56)
  87. 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)
  88. Elvis Presley Elvis Presley (aka Rock ‘N’ Roll) (3/23/56)
  89. Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book (covers, released 3/27/56)
  90. Harry Belafonte Calypso (charted 6/16/56)
  91. Duke Ellington At Newport (live, recorded 7/7/56)
  92. Sonny Rollins Saxophone Colossus (recorded 3/22/56 to 10/5/56)
  93. Various Artists The First Rock and Roll Record (1916-56, released 10/20/11)

    1957

  94. Little Richard Here’s Little Richard (3/57)
  95. Elvis Presley Loving You (soundtrack, released 7/57)
  96. Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim (composers) West Side Story (stage debut: 9/26/57, cast recording charted 3/17/58, soundtrack charted 10/23/61)
  97. Elvis Presley Elvis’ Christmas Album (10/57)
  98. Buddy Holly & the Crickets The Chirping Crickets (11/27/57)
  99. Meredith Willson (composer) The Music Man (stage debut: 12/19/57, cast recording charted 2/24/58, soundtrack charted 8/11/62)
  100. Bing Crosby The Definitive Collection (compilation, 1931-57, released 1/24/2006)

    1958

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

    1959

  104. Henry Mancini The Music from Peter Gunn (soundtrack, charted 2/9/59)
  105. Miles Davis Kind of Blue (recorded 3/2/59 to 4/22/59)
  106. Charles Mingus Mingus Ah Um (recorded 5/5/59 to 5/12/59)
  107. Jule Styne/Stephen Sondheim (composers) Gypsy (stage debut: 5/21/59, cast recording: 5/28/59, soundtrack: 12/15/62)
  108. Ornette Coleman The Shape of Jazz to Come (recorded 5/22/59)
  109. The Kingston Trio At Large (charted 6/22/59)
  110. Dave Brubeck Time Out (released 6/59)
  111. Richard Rodgers/Oscar Hammerstein II (composers) The Sound of Music (stage debut: 11/16/59, cast recording released 11/59, soundtrack released 3/65)
  112. John Coltrane Giant Steps (recorded 4/1/59 to 12/2/59, released 1960)

    1960

  113. Miles Davis/Gil Evans Sketches of Spain (recorded 11/15/59 to 3/10/60)
  114. Muddy Waters At Newport (live, recorded 7/3/60)
  115. Elvis Presley G.I. Blues (soundtrack, 10/60)
  116. Bobby “Blue” Bland Two Steps from the Blues (compilation: 1956-60, released 11/12/60)
  117. Frederick Loewe/Alan Jay Lerner (composers) Camelot (cast recording, stage debut: 12/3/60, soundtrack: 1967)

    1961

  118. Judy Garland Judy at Carnegie Hall (live, recorded 4/23/61, released 7/10/61)
  119. Bill Evans Trio Sunday at the Village Vanguard (live, recorded 6/25/61; released 10/61)
  120. Elvis Presley Blue Hawaii (soundtrack, 10/1/61)
  121. Henry Mancini Breakfast at Tiffany’s (soundtrack, charted 10/9/61)

    1962

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

    1963

  125. Sam Cooke Live at the Harlem Square Club (aka “One Night Stand”) (live, recorded 1/12/63)
  126. Stan Getz/João Gilberto Getz/Gilberto (recorded 3/19/63)
  127. The Beatles Please Please Me (3/22/63)
  128. Bob Dylan The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (5/27/63)
  129. The Beatles With the Beatles (11/22/63)
  130. Patsy Cline 12 Greatest Hits (compilation: 1957-63, released 2/4/73)
  131. Elmore James The Sky Is Crying: The History of (compilation: 1951-63; released 4/6/1993)

    1964

  132. Eric Dolphy Out to Lunch! (recorded 2/25/64)
  133. The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones (aka ‘England’s Newest Hitmakers’) (4/16/64)
  134. The Beatles A Hard Day’s Night (7/10/64)
  135. Bob Dylan Another Side of Bob Dylan (8/8/64)
  136. Richard M. Sherman/Robert B. Sherman (composers) Mary Poppins (soundtrack, released 8/27/64)
  137. 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)
  138. B.B. King Live at the Regal (live, recorded 11/21/64, released 1965)
  139. The Beatles Beatles for Sale (12/4/64)
  140. John Coltrane A Love Supreme (recorded 12/9/64, released 2/65)
  141. Chuck Berry The Great Twenty-Eight (compilation: 1955-65, released 1982)

    1965

  142. Bob Dylan Bringing It All Back Home (3/22/65)
  143. Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass Whipped Cream & Other Delights (charted 5/15/65)
  144. The Byrds Mr. Tambourine Man (6/21/65)
  145. The Beatles Help! (8/6/65)
  146. Bob Dylan Highway 61 Revisited (8/30/65)
  147. Otis Redding Otis Blue (8/65)
  148. Junior Wells with Buddy Guy Hoodoo Man Blues (11/65)
  149. The Beatles Rubber Soul (12/3/65)
  150. The Who The Who Sings My Generation (12/20/65)
  151. Sam Cooke The Man and His Music (compilation: 1951-65, released 2/86)
  152. Roy Orbison For the Lonely - 18 Greatest Hits (compilation: 1956-64, released 1/7/89)
  153. Various Artists Rock Revival Greats (K-Tel compilation: 1954-65, released 1972)

    1966

  154. The Rolling Stones Aftermath (4/15/66)
  155. The Beach Boys Pet Sounds (5/16/66)
  156. Bob Dylan The Royal Albert Hall Concert (The Bootleg Series Volume 4) (live, recorded 5/17/66)
  157. Bob Dylan Blonde on Blonde (6/20/66)
  158. The Mothers of Invention Freak Out! (6/27/66)
  159. John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers/Eric Clapton Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton (7/22/66)
  160. The Beatles Revolver (8/5/66)
  161. Simon & Garfunkel Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme (9/66)
  162. Bob Dylan Greatest Hits (compilation: 1962-66, released 3/27/67)

    1967

  163. The Doors The Doors (1/4/67)
  164. The Monkees More of the Monkees (1/10/67)
  165. The Byrds Younger Than Yesterday (2/6/67)
  166. Aretha Franklin I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (3/10/67)
  167. The Velvet Underground & Nico Velvet Underground & Nico (3/12/67)
  168. Jefferson Airplane Surrealistic Pillow (charted 3/25/67)
  169. The Jimi Hendrix Experience Are You Experienced? (5/12/67)
  170. The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (6/1/67)
  171. Moby Grape Moby Grape (6/67)
  172. Albert King Born Under a Bad Sign (7/67)
  173. Pink Floyd The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (8/5/67)
  174. Byrds Greatest Hits (compilation: 1965-67, released 8/7/67)
  175. The Doors Strange Days (9/25/67)
  176. Galt MacDermot/Gerome Ragni/James Rado (composers) Hair (stage debut: 10/17/67, cast recording charted 8/3/68, soundtrack: 1979)
  177. Buffalo Springfield Again (10/30/67)
  178. The Moody Blues Days of Future Passed (11/11/67)
  179. Cream Disraeli Gears (charted 11/18/67)
  180. The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour (11/27/67)
  181. The Velvet Underground White Light/White Heat (11/30/67)
  182. Love Forever Changes (11/67)
  183. The Jimi Hendrix Experience Axis: Bold As Love (12/1/67)
  184. The Who Sell Out (12/16/67)
  185. Leonard Cohen The Songs of Leonard Cohen (12/27/67)
  186. Bob Dylan John Wesley Harding (12/27/67)

    1968

  187. The Byrds The Notorious Byrd Brothers (1/3/68)
  188. Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison (live, recorded 1/13/68, released 3/1/68)
  189. Aretha Franklin Lady Soul (1/22/68)
  190. The Mothers of Invention We’re Only in It for the Money (3/4/68)
  191. Simon & Garfunkel Bookends (3/68)
  192. The Zombies Odessey & Oracle (4/68)
  193. Iron Butterfly In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida (6/14/68)
  194. The Small Faces Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake (charted 6/23/68)
  195. Cream Wheels of Fire (studio/live, 6/68)
  196. The Band Music from Big Pink (7/1/68)
  197. Big Brother & the Holding Company Cheap Thrills (8/12/68)
  198. The Byrds Sweetheart of the Rodeo (8/30/68)
  199. The Jimi Hendrix Experience Electric Ladyland (9/16/68)
  200. The MC5 Kick Out the Jams (live, recorded 10/30-31/68, charted 3/8/69)
  201. The Beatles The Beatles (aka “The White Album”) (11/22/68)
  202. The Kinks Village Green Preservation Society (11/22/68)
  203. Van Morrison Astral Weeks (11/68)
  204. The Rolling Stones Beggars Banquet (12/6/68)
  205. Blood, Sweat & Tears Blood, Sweat & Tears (12/11/68)
  206. Various Artists Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968 (box set: 1964-68, released 9/72)
  207. Bob Dylan & The Band The Basement Tapes (archives, recorded 1967-68, released 6/26/75)
  208. Ray Charles Anthology (compilation: 1955-68, charted 10/29/88)

    1969

  209. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin I (1/12/69)
  210. Dusty Springfield Dusty in Memphis (1/18/69)
  211. Johnny Cash At San Quentin (live, recorded 2/24/69, released 6/4/69)
  212. The Grateful Dead Live/Dead (live, recorded 3/2/69, released 11/10/69)
  213. The Velvet Underground The Velvet Underground (3/31/69)
  214. Bob Dylan Nashville Skyline (4/9/69)
  215. Sly & the Family Stone Stand! (charted 4/26/69)
  216. Chicago Chicago Transit Authority (4/69)
  217. The Flying Burrito Brothers The Gilded Palace of Sin (charted 5/3/69)
  218. Neil Young Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (5/14/69)
  219. The Who Tommy (5/23/69)
  220. Crosby, Stills & Nash Crosby, Stills & Nash (5/29/69)
  221. Elvis Presley From Elvis in Memphis (charted 6/14/69)
  222. Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band Trout Mask Replica (6/16/69)
  223. Isaac Hayes Hot Buttered Soul (charted 7/12/69)
  224. Blind Faith Blind Faith (7/21/69)
  225. Various Artists Woodstock (live soundtrack, recorded 8/15-18/69, released 8/70)
  226. The Stooges The Stooges (charted 8/23/69)
  227. Nick Drake Five Leaves Left (9/1/69)
  228. Miles Davis In a Silent Way (charted 9/6/69)
  229. Creedence Clearwater Revival Green River (charted 9/13/69)
  230. The Band The Band (9/22/69)
  231. The Beatles Abbey Road (9/26/69)
  232. King Crimson In the Court of the Crimson King (10/10/69)
  233. Frank Zappa Hot Rats (10/10/69)
  234. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II (10/22/69)
  235. The Rolling Stones Let It Bleed (11/28/69)
  236. Creedence Clearwater Revival Willy and the Poor Boys (charted 12/13/69)
  237. The Rolling Stones Get Yer Ya Ya’s Out (live, recorded 11/28/69, released 9/4/70)
  238. Fairport Convention Liege and Lief (12/69)
  239. Willie Dixon/various artists The Chess Box (compilation: 1951-69, released 1988)
  240. Various Artists produced by Phil Spector Back to Mono (box set: 1958-69, released 11/12/91)

    1970

  241. Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsys (live, recorded 12/31/69 to 1/1/70, charted 5/2/70)
  242. Simon & Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water (1/26/70)
  243. Black Sabbath Black Sabbath (2/13/70)
  244. The Who Live at Leeds (live, recorded 2/14/70, released 5/16/70)
  245. Van Morrison Moondance (2/28/70)
  246. Crosby, Stills & Nash Déjà Vu (3/11/70)
  247. James Taylor Sweet Baby James (charted 3/14/70)
  248. Randy Newman 12 Songs (4/70)
  249. The Beatles Let It Be (5/8/70)
  250. Miles Davis Bitches Brew (charted 5/16/70)
  251. Deep Purple In Rock (charted 6/3/70)
  252. Grateful Dead Workingman’s Dead (6/14/70)
  253. The Stooges Fun House (7/7/70)
  254. Traffic John Barleycorn Must Die (charted 7/11/70)
  255. James Brown Sex Machine (live, recorded 6/12/69 to 7/23/70, charted 9/12/70)
  256. Creedence Clearwater Revival Cosmo’s Factory (charted 7/25/70)
  257. Neil Young After the Gold Rush (8/31/70)
  258. Velvet Underground Loaded (8/31/70)
  259. Black Sabbath Paranoid (charted 9/19/70)
  260. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin III (10/5/70)
  261. Santana Abraxas (charted 10/10/70)
  262. Grateful Dead American Beauty (11/1/70)
  263. Nick Drake Bryter Layter (11/1/70)
  264. Derek and the Dominos Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (charted 11/21/70)
  265. Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice (composers) Jesus Christ Superstar (studio: 11/21/70, stage debut: 10/12/71, soundtrack: 6/30/73)
  266. Cat Stevens Tea for the Tillerman (11/23/70)
  267. George Harrison All Things Must Pass (11/27/70)
  268. John Lennon Plastic Ono Band (12/11/70)
  269. The Who Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy (compilation: 1964-70, released 10/30/71)
  270. Simon & Garfunkel Greatest Hits (compilation: 1964-70, released 6/20/72)
  271. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young So Far (compilation: 1969-70, released 8/19/74)
  272. The Beatles 1 (compilation: 1962-70, released 11/14/00)

    1971

  273. Janis Joplin Pearl (1/11/71)
  274. Carole King Tapestry (2/10/71)
  275. The Allman Brothers At Fillmore East (live, recorded 3/12/71 to 3/13/71, released 7/71)
  276. Jethro Tull Aqualung (charted 3/19/71)
  277. Yes The Yes Album (3/19/71)
  278. The Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers (4/23/71)
  279. The Doors L.A. Woman (4/29/71)
  280. Marvin Gaye What’s Going On (5/21/71)
  281. Rod Stewart Every Picture Tells a Story (charted 6/19/71)
  282. Joni Mitchell Blue (6/22/71)
  283. The Who Who’s Next (8/14/71)
  284. John Lennon Imagine (9/9/71)
  285. T-Rex Electric Warrior (9/24/71)
  286. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV (11/8/71)
  287. Sly & the Family Stone There’s a Riot Goin’ On (charted 11/13/71)
  288. Yes Fragile (11/26/71)
  289. The Rolling Stones Hot Rocks 1964-71 (compilation: 1964-71, released 12/15/71)
  290. David Bowie Hunky Dory (12/17/71)
  291. Janis Joplin Greatest Hits (compilation: 1967-71, charted 7/14/73)
  292. The Doors The Best of (compilation: 1966-71, charted 8/8/87)
  293. Various Artists Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971 (box set: 1959-71, released 11/13/92)

    1972

  294. Neil Young Harvest (2/14/72)
  295. Nick Drake Pink Moon (2/25/72)
  296. Jethro Tull Thick As a Brick (3/3/72)
  297. Deep Purple Machine Head (3/25/72)
  298. Todd Rundgren Something/Anything? (charted 3/25/72)
  299. The Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street (5/12/72)
  300. David Bowie The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (6/6/72)
  301. Led Zeppelin How the West Was Won (live box set, recorded 6/25/72 and 6/27/72, released 5/27/03)
  302. Jimmy Cliff et al The Harder They Come (soundtrack, released 7/7/72)
  303. Roxy Music Roxy Music (charted 7/29/72)
  304. Curtis Mayfield Superfly (soundtrack, 7/72)
  305. Deep Purple Made in Japan (live, recorded 8/15/72 to 8/17/72, charted 4/21/73)
  306. Neil Diamond Hot August Night (live, recorded 8/24/72, charted 12/9/72)
  307. Yes Close to the Edge (9/13/72)
  308. Al Green I’m Still in Love with You (charted 10/21/72)
  309. Stevie Wonder Talking Book (10/27/72)
  310. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Will the Circle Be Unbroken (10/72)
  311. Lou Reed Transformer (11/8/72)
  312. Steely Dan Can’t Buy a Thrill (11/72)
  313. The Temptations Anthology (compilation: 1964-72, released 8/23/73)
  314. John Denver Greatest Hits (compilation: 1969-72, released 11/15/73)
  315. Creedence Clearwater Revival Chronicle (compilation: 1968-72, charted 3/6/76)

    1973

  316. Gram Parsons G.P. (1/73)
  317. Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon (3/1/73)
  318. Roxy Music For Your Pleasure (3/23/73)
  319. Led Zeppelin Houses of the Holy (3/28/73)
  320. Bob Marley & the Wailers Catch a Fire (4/13/73)
  321. David Bowie Aladdin Sane (4/13/73)
  322. Eagles Desperado (4/17/73)
  323. Iggy & the Stooges Raw Power (charted 4/28/73)
  324. Al Green Call Me (charted 5/19/73)
  325. Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells (5/25/73)
  326. ZZ Top Tres Hombres (7/26/73)
  327. Lou Reed Berlin (7/73)
  328. Stevie Wonder Innervisions (8/3/73)
  329. Marvin Gaye Let’s Get It On (8/28/73)
  330. New York Dolls New York Dolls (charted 9/1/73)
  331. Various Artists American Graffiti (soundtrack, charted 9/1/73)
  332. Lynyrd Skynyrd Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd (charted 9/22/73)
  333. Elton John Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (10/5/73)
  334. Genesis Selling England by the Pound (charted 10/13/73)
  335. Herbie Hancock Head Hunters (10/13/73)
  336. The Who Quadrophenia (10/19/73)
  337. Paul McCartney & Wings Band on the Run (12/5/73)
  338. Neil Young Tonight’s the Night (recorded 1973, released 7/12/75)
  339. Al Green Greatest Hits (compilation: 1971-73, charted 3/22/75)
  340. The Modern Lovers The Modern Lovers (recorded 1973, released 1976)
  341. Sly & the Family Stone Anthology (includes all of 1970’s Greatest Hits) (compilation: 1968-73, released 1981)

    1974

  342. Joni Mitchell Court and Spark (1/17/74)
  343. Brian Eno Here Come the Warm Jets (1/74)
  344. Gram Parsons Grievous Angel (charted 2/16/74)
  345. Steely Dan Pretzel Logic (2/20/74)
  346. Big Star Radio City (2/74)
  347. Richard & Linda Thompson I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight (4/74)
  348. Bad Company Bad Company (6/26/74)
  349. Neil Young On the Beach (7/16/74)
  350. Eric Clapton 461 Ocean Boulevard (charted 7/20/74)
  351. Stevie Wonder Fulfillingness’ First Finale (7/22/74)
  352. Bob Marley & The Wailers Natty Dread (10/25/74)
  353. Kraftwerk Autobahn (11/1/74)
  354. Elton John Greatest Hits (compilation: 1970-74, released 11/4/74)
  355. Genesis The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (11/18/74)
  356. Supertramp Crime of the Century (charted 12/7/74)
  357. Various Artists Atlantic Rhythm & Blues (box set: 1947-74, released 10/15/91)
  358. Aretha Franklin Queen of Soul: The Very Best of (compilation: 1967-74, released 10/17/94)

    1975

  359. Bob Dylan Blood on the Tracks (1/17/75)
  360. Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti (2/24/75)
  361. Earth, Wind & Fire That’s the Way of the World (soundtrack, charted 3/15/75)
  362. Aerosmith Toys in the Attic (4/8/75)
  363. Elton John Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (5/19/75)
  364. Fleetwood Mac Fleetwood Mac (7/11/75)
  365. Bob Marley & the Wailers Live! (At the Lyceum) (live, recorded 7/18/75, released 12/19/75)
  366. Willie Nelson Red Headed Stranger (charted 7/26/75)
  367. Bruce Springsteen Born to Run (8/25/75)
  368. Kiss Alive! (live, 9/10/75)
  369. Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here (9/15/75)
  370. Brian Eno Another Green World (9/75)
  371. Patti Smith Horses (11/8/75)
  372. Queen A Night at the Opera (11/21/75)
  373. Peter Frampton Frampton Comes Alive! (live, recorded 3/24/75 to 11/22/75, charted 1/31/76)
  374. Parliament Mothership Connection (12/15/75)
  375. Big Star Third/Sister Lovers (recorded 1975, released 7/78)

    1976

  376. Bob Dylan Desire (1/16/76)
  377. David Bowie Station to Station (1/23/76)
  378. Boz Scaggs Silk Degrees (charted 3/20/76)
  379. Rush 2112 (charted 4/10/76)
  380. Ramones Ramones (4/23/76)
  381. Aerosmith Rocks (charted 5/29/76)
  382. Boston Boston (8/25/76)
  383. Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life (9/28/76)
  384. Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band Night Moves (10/1/76)
  385. Abba Arrival (10/11/76)
  386. James Taylor Greatest Hits (compilation: 1968-76, released 11/1/76)
  387. Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice (composers) Evita (studio album: 11/19/76, stage debut: 6/21/78, soundtrack: 11/12/96)
  388. The Doobie Brothers Best of the Doobies (compilation: 1972-76, released 11/20/76)
  389. Eagles Hotel California (12/8/76)
  390. Neil Young Decade (compilation: 1966-76, charted 11/26/77)
  391. The Supremes Anthology (compilation: 1962-76, released 1986)

    1977

  392. David Bowie Low (1/14/77)
  393. Pink Floyd Animals (1/23/77)
  394. Fleetwood Mac Rumours (2/4/77)
  395. Television Marquee Moon (2/8/77)
  396. Foreigner Foreigner (3/8/77)
  397. The Clash The Clash (4/8/77)
  398. Kraftwerk Trans-Europa Express (Trans Europe Express) (charted 4/16/77)
  399. Bob Marley & The Wailers Exodus (6/3/77)
  400. Styx The Grand Illusion (7/7/1977)
  401. Elvis Costello My Aim Is True (7/22/77)
  402. Talking Heads 77 (9/16/77)
  403. Iggy Pop Lust for Life (charted 9/17/77)
  404. Billy Joel The Stranger (9/29/77)
  405. Steely Dan Aja (10/8/77)
  406. David Bowie Heroes (10/14/77)
  407. Meat Loaf Bat Out of Hell (10/21/77)
  408. The Sex Pistols Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols (10/28/77)
  409. Ramones Rocket to Russia (11/4/77)
  410. Various Artists (Bee Gees et al) Saturday Night Fever (soundtrack, 11/15/77)
  411. Eric Clapton Slowhand (charted 11/26/77)
  412. Wire Pink Flag (11/77)
  413. Jackson Browne Running on Empty (12/6/77)
  414. Elvis Presley 30 #1 Hits (compilation: 1956-77, released 9/24/02)

    1978

  415. Van Halen Van Halen (2/10/78)
  416. Elvis Costello & The Attractions This Year’s Model (3/17/78)
  417. Various Artists (including Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta) Grease (soundtrack, 4/14/78)
  418. Cheap Trick At Budokan (live, recorded 4/78, charted 2/24/79)
  419. Bruce Springsteen Darkness on the Edge of Town (6/2/78)
  420. The Cars The Cars (6/6/78)
  421. The Rolling Stones Some Girls (6/9/78)
  422. Dire Straits Dire Straits (charted 7/22/78)
  423. Devo Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo (7/78)
  424. Blondie Parallel Lines (charted 9/16/78)
  425. Funkadelic One Nation Under a Groove (charted 10/7/78)
  426. Billy Joel 52nd Street (charted 10/28/78)
  427. The Police Outlandos D’Amour (11/2/78)
  428. The Jam All Mod Cons (11/3/78)
  429. Steve Miller Band Greatest Hits 1974-1978 (compilation: 1974-78, released 11/15/78)
  430. Kenny Rogers The Gambler (released 11/78)
  431. Rod Stewart Greatest Hits (compilation: 1971-78, charted 11/24/79)

    1979

  432. Elvis Costello & the Attractions Armed Forces (1/5/79)
  433. Bee Gees Spirits Having Flown (charted 2/17/79)
  434. Stephen Sondheim (composer) Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street (stage debut: 3/1/79, cast: 1979, soundtrack charted 1/5/08)
  435. Supertramp Breakfast in America (charted 3/31/79)
  436. Joy Division Unknown Pleasures (6/14/79)
  437. Neil Young & Crazy Horse Rust Never Sleeps (7/2/79)
  438. AC/DC Highway to Hell (8/3/79)
  439. Talking Heads Fear of Music (8/3/79)
  440. The B-52s The B-52s (charted 8/4/79)
  441. Michael Jackson Off the Wall (8/10/79)
  442. Led Zeppelin In Through the Out Door (8/15/79)
  443. Eagles The Long Run (9/24/79)
  444. Gang of Four Entertainment! (9/79)
  445. Buzzcocks Singles Going Steady (compilation: 1977-79, released 9/79)
  446. The Police Reggatta de Blanc (10/5/79)
  447. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Damn the Torpedoes (10/19/79)
  448. The Specials The Specials (10/19/79)
  449. Public Image Ltd. Metal Box (aka “Second Edition”) (11/23/79)
  450. Pink Floyd The Wall (11/30/79)
  451. The Clash London Calling (12/14/79)
  452. Aerosmith Greatest Hits (compilation: 1973-79, charted 11/29/80)
  453. Led Zeppelin Remasters (compilation: 1969-79, released 1/1/92)

    1980

  454. Pretenders Pretenders (1/7/80)
  455. Billy Joel Glass Houses (3/10/80)
  456. Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band Against the Wind (charted 3/15/80)
  457. Peter Gabriel Peter Gabriel (third album) (5/30/80)
  458. Queen The Game (6/30/80)
  459. Joy Division Closer (7/18/80)
  460. AC/DC Back in Black (7/25/80)
  461. Dexy’s Midnight Runners Searching for the Young Soul Rebels (charted 7/26/80)
  462. David Bowie Scary Monsters (9/12/80)
  463. Dead Kennedys Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables (charted 9/13/80)
  464. Ozzy Osbourne Blizzard of Ozz (charted 9/20/80)
  465. Claude-Michel Schönberg/ Alain Boublil/ Herbert Kretzmer (composers) Les Misérables (stage debut: 9/22/80, cast: 10/8/85, soundtrack: 12/21/12)
  466. Kenny Rogers Greatest Hits (compilation: 1977-80, released 9/23/80)
  467. The Police Zenyatta Mondatta (10/3/80)
  468. Talking Heads Remain in Light (10/8/80)
  469. Bruce Springsteen The River (10/10/80)
  470. John Lennon/Yoko Ono Double Fantasy (11/17/80)
  471. REO Speedwagon Hi Infidelity (11/21/80)
  472. Blondie Best of (compilation: 1976-80, charted 10/30/81)
  473. John Lennon The Collection (compilation: 1969-80, released 11/1/1982)
  474. Frank Sinatra Best of the Best (compilation: 1953-80; released 11/15/2011)

    1981

  475. Styx Paradise Theater (charted 1/31/81)
  476. Phil Collins Face Value (2/9/81)
  477. Rush Moving Pictures (2/12/81)
  478. Motörhead No Sleep ‘Til Hammersmith (live, recorded 3/28/80 to 3/30/81, charted 6/27/81)
  479. Foreigner 4 (7/2/81)
  480. Journey Escape (7/17/81)
  481. The Go-Go’s Beauty and the Beat (7/24/81)
  482. The Rolling Stones Tattoo You (8/30/81)
  483. The Police Ghost in the Machine (charted 10/10/81)
  484. The Human League Dare! (10/16/81)
  485. Queen Greatest Hits (compilation: 1973-81, released 11/3/81)
  486. Men at Work Business As Usual (11/9/81)
  487. Barbra Streisand Memories (released as Love Songs in the UK) (compilation: 1974-81, released 11/81)
  488. Black Flag Damaged (12/5/81)
  489. Bob Dylan Biograph (box: 1962-81, released 11/7/85)
  490. Eric Clapton The Cream of Clapton (compilation: 1966-81, released 3/7/95)
  491. Carpenters The Singles 1969-1981 (includes all of The Singles 1969-1973) (compilation: 1969-81, released 5/23/00)

    1982

  492. Richard & Linda Thompson Shoot Out the Lights (3/15/82)
  493. Asia Asia (3/18/82)
  494. Iron Maiden The Number of the Beast (3/22/82)
  495. Duran Duran Rio (3/29/82)
  496. Toto Toto IV (4/8/82)
  497. John Cougar (Mellencamp) American Fool (4/12/82)
  498. Roxy Music Avalon (charted 6/5/82)
  499. ABC Lexicon of Love (6/21/82)
  500. Elvis Costello & The Attractions Imperial Bedroom (7/2/82)
  501. Bruce Springsteen Nebraska (9/20/82)
  502. Prince 1999 (10/27/82)
  503. Donald Fagen The Nightfly (charted 10/30/82)
  504. Michael Jackson Thriller (11/30/82)
  505. Abba Gold: Greatest Hits (compilation: 1974-82, released 9/21/92)

    1983

  506. Def Leppard Pyromania (1/20/83)
  507. U2 War (2/28/83)
  508. R.E.M. Murmur (4/11/83)
  509. David Bowie Let’s Dance (4/11/83)
  510. Violent Femmes Violent Femmes (4/13/83)
  511. Various Artists Flashdance (soundtrack, 4/15/83)
  512. ZZ Top Eliminator (charted 4/23/83)
  513. Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble Texas Flood (6/13/83)
  514. The Police Synchronicity (charted 6/17/83)
  515. Metallica Kill ‘Em All (7/25/83)
  516. Madonna Madonna (7/27/83)
  517. U2 Under a Blood Red Sky (live, recorded 8/20/83)
  518. Billy Joel An Innocent Man (charted 8/20/83)
  519. Huey Lewis & The News Sports (9/15/83)
  520. Tom Waits Swordfishtrombones (9/83)
  521. Lionel Richie Can’t Slow Down (10/11/83)
  522. Cyndi Lauper She’s So Unusual 10/14/83)
  523. Culture Club Colour by Numbers (10/22/83)
  524. Talking Heads Stop Making Sense (live soundtrack, recorded 12/83, charted 9/22/84)
  525. Bob Marley & the Wailers Legend (compilation: 1973-83, released 5/8/84)

    1984

  526. Van Halen 1984 (1/9/84)
  527. Various Artists Footloose (soundtrack, 1/31/84)
  528. The Smiths The Smiths (2/20/84)
  529. Tina Turner Private Dancer (5/29/84)
  530. Bruce Springsteen Born in the U.S.A. (6/4/84)
  531. Prince & the Revolution Purple Rain (soundtrack, 6/25/84)
  532. Sade Diamond Life (charted 7/28/84)
  533. Minutemen Double Nickels on the Dime (7/84)
  534. Metallica Ride the Lightning (charted 9/29/84)
  535. Hüsker Dü Zen Arcade (9/84)
  536. U2 The Unforgettable Fire (10/1/84)
  537. The Replacements Let It Be (10/2/84)
  538. Bryan Adams Reckless (10/29/84)
  539. Wham! Make It Big (11/5/84)
  540. Madonna Like a Virgin (11/12/84)
  541. James Brown Star Time (box set: 1956-84, released 5/7/91)

    1985

  542. Whitney Houston Whitney Houston
  543. Tears for Fears Songs from the Big Chair (2/17/85)
  544. Phil Collins No Jacket Required (2/18/85) (2/14/85)
  545. Dire Straits Brothers in Arms (5/13/85)
  546. Sting The Dream of the Blue Turtles (6/1/85)
  547. Marillion Misplaced Childhood (6/17/85)
  548. Prefab Sprout Steve McQueen (aka Two Wheels Good) (charted 6/22/85)
  549. Billy Joel Greatest Hits Volume I & II (compilation: 1973-85, released 7/2/85)
  550. John Cougar Mellencamp Scarecrow (8/5/85)
  551. The Pogues Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash (8/5/85)
  552. Kate Bush Hounds of Love (charted 9/28/85)
  553. Tom Waits Rain Dogs (9/30/85)
  554. The Fall This Nation’s Saving Grace (9/85)
  555. Jesus and Mary Chain Psychocandy (charted 11/30/85)
  556. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band Live 1975/1985 (live box: 1975-85, released 11/10/86)
  557. Dire Straits Money for Nothing (compilation: 1978-85, released 10/17/88)

    1986

  558. Janet Jackson Control (2/6/86)
  559. Metallica Master of Puppets (2/24/86)
  560. Anita Baker Rapture (charted 4/16/86)
  561. Peter Gabriel So (5/13/86)
  562. Various Artists Top Gun (soundtrack, 5/20/86)
  563. Run-D.M.C. Raising Hell (5/27/86)
  564. Genesis Invisible Touch (6/9/86)
  565. The Smiths The Queen Is Dead (6/28/86)
  566. Madonna True Blue (6/30/86)
  567. Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet (8/18/86)
  568. Paul Simon Graceland (8/25/86)
  569. Steve Earle Guitar Town (10/7/86)
  570. Andrew Lloyd Webber/Charles Hart/Richard Stigoe (composers) Phantom of the Opera (cast, opened 10/9/86)
  571. The Police Every Breath You Take – The Singles (aka The Classics) (compilation: 1978-1986; released 10/27/86)
  572. Slayer Reign in Blood (10/28/86)
  573. Beastie Boys Licensed to Ill (11/11/86)
  574. Robert Cray Strong Persuader (charted 11/15/86)

    1987

  575. U2 The Joshua Tree (3/17/87)
  576. Prince Sign ‘O’ the Times (3/30/87)
  577. Fleetwood Mac Tango in the Night (4/13/87)
  578. Randy Travis Always and Forever (5/4/87)
  579. Whitney Houston Whitney (6/2/87)
  580. Eric B. & Rakim Paid in Full (7/9/87)
  581. Terence Trent D’Arby Introducing the Hardline… (7/13/87)
  582. Guns N’ Roses Appetite for Destruction (7/21/87)
  583. Def Leppard Hysteria (8/3/87)
  584. New Order Substance (compilation: 1981-87, released 8/11/87)
  585. Aerosmith Permanent Vacation (8/18/87)
  586. Michael Jackson Bad (8/31/87)
  587. Various Artists Dirty Dancing (soundtrack, 9/1/87)
  588. R.E.M. Document (9/8/87)
  589. Paul McCartney All the Best! (compilation: 1970-87, released 9/18/87)
  590. Bruce Springsteen Tunnel of Love (10/9/87)
  591. INXS Kick (10/20/87)
  592. George Michael Faith (11/3/87)
  593. Eric Clapton Crossroads (1963-87, released 4/18/88)
  594. Journey Greatest Hits (compilation: 1978-87, released 11/15/88)
  595. Bee Gees Timeless: The All-Time Greatest Hits (compilation: 1966-87, released 4/21/17)

    1988

  596. Pixies Surfer Rosa (3/21/88)
  597. Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman (4/5/88)
  598. Bobby Brown Don’t Be Cruel (6/20/88)
  599. Paula Abdul Forever Your Girl (6/21/88)
  600. Public Enemy It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (6/28/88)
  601. Jane’s Addiction Nothing’s Shocking (8/23/88)
  602. Metallica …And Justice for All (8/25/88)
  603. New Kids on the Block Hangin’ Tough (charted 8/27/88)
  604. Bon Jovi New Jersey (9/20/88)
  605. U2 Rattle and Hum (studio/live soundtrack, 10/11/88)
  606. Sonic Youth Daydream Nation (10/88)
  607. R.E.M. Green (11/8/88)
  608. Fleetwood Mac Greatest Hits (compilation: 1975-88, released 11/22/88)
  609. Beach Boys Very Best of (compilation: 1962-88; released 6/30/01)

    1989

  610. N.W.A. Straight Outta Compton (1/10/89)
  611. Milli Vanilli Girl You Know It’s True (aka All or Nothing) (3/7/89)
  612. De La Soul 3 Feet High and Rising (3/14/89)
  613. Madonna Like a Prayer (3/21/89)
  614. Bonnie Raitt Nick of Time (3/21/89)
  615. The Pixies Doolittle (4/18/89)
  616. Tom Petty Full Moon Fever (4/24/89)
  617. The Stone Roses The Stone Roses (5/2/89)
  618. The Cure Disintegration (5/2/89)
  619. Clint Black Killin’ Time (5/2/89)
  620. Beastie Boys Paul’s Boutique (7/25/89)
  621. Aerosmith Pump (9/12/89)
  622. Janet Jackson Rhythm Nation 1814 (9/19/89)
  623. Phil Collins …But Seriously (11/17/89)
  624. Van Morrison Best of (compilation: 1965-89, charted 4/7/90)
  625. Eurythmics Greatest Hits (compilation: 1983-89; released 5/24/91)
  626. U2 Best of 1980-1990 (compilation: 1980-89, released 11/3/98)

    1990

  627. M.C. Hammer Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em (2/12/90)
  628. Black Crowes Shake Your Money Maker (2/13/90)
  629. David Bowie ChangesBowie (compilation: 1969-90, released 3/4/90)
  630. Depeche Mode Violator (3/19/90)
  631. Public Enemy Fear of a Black Planet (3/20/90)
  632. Sinéad O’Connor I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got (3/20/90)
  633. Mariah Carey Mariah Carey (6/12/90)
  634. Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, & Jose Carreras The Three Tenors in Concert/Mehta (live, recorded 7/7/90)
  635. Garth Brooks No Fences (8/27/90)
  636. Vanilla Ice To the Extreme (9/10/90)
  637. Madonna The Immaculate Collection (compilation: 1983-90, released 11/13/90)
  638. Happy Mondays Pills ‘N’ Thrills and Bellyaches (charted 11/17/90)

    1991

  639. R.E.M. Out of Time (3/12/91)
  640. Slint Spiderland (3/27/91)
  641. Boyz II Men Cooleyhighharmony (4/30/91)
  642. Natalie Cole Unforgettable: With Love (covers, 6/11/91)
  643. Crowded House Woodface (7/2/91)
  644. Massive Attack Blue Lines (8/6/91)
  645. Metallica Metallica (aka “The Black Album”) (8/12/91)
  646. Pearl Jam Ten (8/27/91)
  647. Garth Brooks Ropin’ the Wind (9/2/91)
  648. Guns N’ Roses Use Your Illusion I (9/17/91)
  649. Guns N’ Roses Use Your Illusion II (9/17/91)
  650. Nirvana Nevermind (9/24/91)
  651. Red Hot Chili Peppers Blood Sugar Sex Magik (9/24/91)
  652. A Tribe Called Quest The Low-End Theory (9/24/91)
  653. Simply Red Stars (9/30/91)
  654. Primal Scream Screamadelica (10/8/91)
  655. Queen Greatest Hits II (compilation: 1981-91, released 10/30/91)
  656. My Bloody Valentine Loveless (11/5/91)
  657. Pet Shop Boys Discography – The Complete Singles Collection (compilation: 1985-91, released 11/5/91)
  658. U2 Achtung Baby (11/19/91)
  659. Michael Jackson Dangerous (11/26/91)
  660. Various Artists The Music of Disney: A Legacy in Song (1926-91, released 9/14/92)

    1992

  661. Tori Amos Little Earthquakes (1/13/92)
  662. Eric Clapton Unplugged (live, recorded 1/16/92; released 8/25/92)
  663. Pavement Slanted and Enchanted (charted 3/31/92)
  664. Lionel Richie Back to Front (compilation: 1977-92, released 5/5/92)
  665. Billy Ray Cyrus Some Gave All (5/19/92)
  666. Garth Brooks The Chase (9/14/92)
  667. Alice in Chains Dirt (9/29/92)
  668. Stone Temple Pilots Core (9/29/92)
  669. R.E.M. Automatic for the People (10/6/92)
  670. Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine (11/3/92)
  671. Various artists (Whitney Houston e al) The Bodyguard (soundtrack, 11/17/92)
  672. Dr. Dre The Chronic (12/15/92)
  673. Prince Very Best of (compilation: 1979-92, released 7/31/01)

    1993

  674. Janet Jackson janet. (5/18/93)
  675. Ace of Base The Sign (6/1/93)
  676. Liz Phair Exile in Guyville (6/22/93)
  677. U2 Zooropa (7/5/93)
  678. Björk Debut (7/13/93)
  679. Toni Braxton Toni Braxton (7/13/93)
  680. Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream (7/27/93)
  681. Sheryl Crow Tuesday Night Music Club (8/3/93)
  682. Garth Brooks In Pieces (8/23/93)
  683. Mariah Carey Music Box (8/31/93)
  684. Counting Crows August and Everything After (9/14/93)
  685. Meat Loaf Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell (9/14/93)
  686. Nirvana In Utero (9/21/93)
  687. Pearl Jam Vs. (10/19/93)
  688. Sarah McLachlan Fumbling Towards Ecstasy (10/22/93)
  689. Bryan Adams So Far So Good (compilation: 1982-93, released 11/2/93)
  690. Wu-Tang Clan Enter the Wu-Tang Clan (36 Chambers) (11/9/93)
  691. Celine Dion The Colour of My Love (11/9/93)
  692. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Greatest Hits (compilation: 1977-93, released 11/16/93)
  693. Nirvana MTV Unplugged in New York (recorded live 11/18/93, released 11/1/94)
  694. Snoop Doggy Dogg Doggystyle (11/23/93)
  695. Garth Brooks The Hits (compilation: 1989-93: released 12/13/94)

    1994

  696. Green Day Dookie (2/1/94)
  697. Pavement Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (charted 2/26/94)
  698. Nine Inch Nails The Downward Spiral (3/8/94)
  699. Soundgarden Superunknown (3/8/94)
  700. Pink Floyd The Division Bell (3/30/94)
  701. The Offspring Smash (4/11/94)
  702. Hole Live Through This (4/12/94)
  703. Live Throwing Copper (4/19/94)
  704. Nas Illmatic (4/19/94)
  705. Blur Parklife (4/25/94)
  706. Johnny Cash American Recordings (4/26/94)
  707. Weezer Weezer (aka “The Blue Album”) (5/10/94)
  708. Beastie Boys Ill Communication (5/23/94)
  709. Elton John/ Tim Rice/ Hans Zimmer (composers) The Lion King (soundtrack, 6/4/94)
  710. various artists Forrest Gump (soundtrack, 6/28/94)
  711. Hootie & the Blowfish Cracked Rear View (7/5/94)
  712. The Prodigy Music for the Jilted Generation (charted 7/16/94)
  713. Jeff Buckley Grace (8/23/94)
  714. Manic Street Preachers The Holy Bible (8/29/94)
  715. Oasis Definitely Maybe (8/30/94)
  716. Boyz II Men II (8/30/94)
  717. Portishead Dummy (charted 9/3/94)
  718. The Notorious B.I.G. Ready to Die (9/13/94)
  719. Eric Clapton: From the Cradle (covers, 9/13/94)
  720. various artists Pulp Fiction (soundtrack, 9/27/94)
  721. Bon Jovi Cross Road (compilation: 1984-94, released 10/18/94)
  722. Bob Seger Greatest Hits (compilation: 1972-94, released 10/25/94)
  723. Eagles Hell Freezes Over (live/studio, 11/8/94)
  724. Sting Fields of Gold – The Best of (compilation: 1985-94, released 11/8/94)
  725. TLC CrazySexyCool (11/15/94)
  726. Pearl Jam Vitalogy (12/6/94)
  727. Pink Floyd Echoes: The Best of (compilation: 1967-1994, released 11/6/01)
  728. Nirvana Nirvana (Greatest Hits) (compilation: 1988-94, released 10/29/02)
  729. Guns N’ Roses Greatest Hits (compilation: 1987-94, released 3/23/04)

    1995

  730. Leftfield Leftism (1/30/95)
  731. Shania Twain The Woman in Me (2/7/95)
  732. Tricky Maxinquaye (2/20/95)
  733. PJ Harvey To Bring You My Love (2/28/95)
  734. Jewel Pieces of You (2/28/95)
  735. Bruce Springsteen Greatest Hits (compilation: 1975-95, released 2/28/95)
  736. Radiohead The Bends (3/13/95)
  737. Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill (6/13/95)
  738. Emmylou Harris Wrecking Ball (9/26/95)
  739. Oasis (What’s the Story) Morning Glory (10/3/95)
  740. Mariah Carey Daydream (10/3/95)
  741. No Doubt Tragic Kingdom (10/10/95)
  742. Smashing Pumpkins Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (10/24/95)
  743. Alan Jackson The Greatest Hits Collection (compilation: 1989-95, released 10/24/95)
  744. Pulp Different Class (10/30/95)
  745. Various Artists (Whitney Houston et al) Waiting to Exhale (soundtrack, 11/14/95)

    1996

  746. Fugees The Score (2/12/96)
  747. Tupac Shakur (2pac) All Eyez on Me (2/13/96)
  748. Celine Dion Falling into You (3/11/96)
  749. Manic Street Preachers Everything Must Go (5/20/96)
  750. Beck Odelay (6/18/96)
  751. Toni Braxton Secrets (6/18/96)
  752. LeAnn Rimes Blue (7/9/96)
  753. Matchbox 20 Yourself or Someone Like You (10/1/96)
  754. Tool Ænima (10/1/96)
  755. Spice Girls Spice (11/4/96)
  756. Belle & Sebastian If You’re Feeling Sinister (11/18/96)
  757. DJ Shadow Endtroducing… (11/19/96)

    1997

  758. The Notorious B.I.G. Life after Death (3/25/97)
  759. Chemical Brothers Dig Your Own Hole (4/7/97)
  760. Radiohead OK Computer (6/16/97)
  761. Buena Vista Social Club Buena Vista Social Club (6/21/97)
  762. The Prodigy Fat of the Land (7/1/97)
  763. Sarah McLachlan Surfacing (7/15/97)
  764. Backstreet Boys Backstreet Boys (U.S. Version, 8/12/97)
  765. Mariah Carey Butterfly (9/16/97)
  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)
  771. Garth Brooks Sevens (11/25/97)

    1998

  772. Air Moon Safari (1/19/98)
  773. Dixie Chicks Wide Open Spaces (1/27/98)
  774. Madonna Ray of Light (3/3/98)
  775. Massive Attack Mezzanine (4/20/98)
  776. Lucinda Williams Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (6/30/98)
  777. Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (8/25/98)
  778. Phil Collins Hits (compilation: 1981-98, released 10/5/98)
  779. Fatboy Slim You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby (10/12/98)
  780. George Michael Ladies and Gentlemen – The Best of (compilation: 1984-98, released 11/10/98)
  781. Garth Brooks Double Live (live, 11/17/98)
  782. Mariah Carey #1’s (compilation: 1990-98, released 11/17/98)
  783. Stevie Wonder The Definitive Collection (compilation: 1962-98, released 10/29/02)

    1999

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

    2000

  800. D’Angelo Voodoo (1/11/00)
  801. N Sync No Strings Attached (3/21/00)
  802. David Gray White Ladder (5/13/00)
  803. Britney Spears Oops!...I Did It Again (5/16/00)
  804. Whitney Houston The Greatest Hits (compilation: 1984-2000 released 5/16/00)
  805. Eminem The Marshall Mathers LP (5/23/00)
  806. Nelly Country Grammar (6/27/00)
  807. Coldplay Parachutes (7/10/00)
  808. Madonna Music (9/19/00)
  809. Radiohead Kid A (10/3/00)
  810. Benny Andersson/Björn Ulvaeus (composer) Mamma Mia! (stage debut: 10/17/2000, cast: 2001, soundtrack: 2008)
  811. Linkin Park Hybrid Theory (10/24/00)
  812. OutKast Stankonia (10/31/00)
  813. U2 All That You Can’t Leave Behind (10/31/00)
  814. PJ Harvey Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (10/31/00)
  815. The Avalanches Since I Left You (11/27/00)
  816. Various Artists O Brother Where Art Thou (soundtrack, 12/5/00)
  817. Madonna GHV2 (compilation: 1991-2000, released 11/13/01)
  818. U2 Best of 1990-2000 (compilation: 1991-2000; released 11/5/2002)

    2001

  819. Daft Punk Discovery (3/9/01)
  820. Destiny’s Child Survivor (5/1/01)
  821. Tool Lateralus (5/15/01)
  822. Alicia Keys Songs in A Minor (6/5/01)
  823. The White Stripes White Blood Cells (7/3/01)
  824. The Strokes Is This It (7/30/01)
  825. Björk Vespertine (8/28/01)
  826. System of a Down Toxicity (9/4/01)
  827. Bob Dylan Love and Theft (9/11/01)
  828. Wilco Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (9/18/01)
  829. Jay-Z The Blueprint (9/18/01)
  830. Pink M!ssundaztood (11/20/01)

    2002

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

    2003

  849. 50 Cent Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ (2/6/03)
  850. Evanescence Fallen (3/4/03)
  851. Linkin Park Meteora (3/25/03)
  852. The White Stripes Elephant (4/1/03)
  853. Yeah Yeah Yeahs Fever to Tell (4/29/03)
  854. Beyoncé Dangerously in Love (6/17/03)
  855. Dizzee Rascal Boy in Da Corner (7/21/03)
  856. Alan Jackson Greatest Hits Volume 2 and Some Other Stuff (compilation: 1996-2003, released 8/12/03)
  857. OutKast Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (9/23/03)
  858. 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)
  859. R.E.M. In Time – The Best of 1988-2003 (compilation: 1988-2003, released 10/28/03)
  860. Jay-Z The Black Album (11/4/03)
  861. Michael Jackson Number Ones (compilation: 1978-2003, released 11/17/03)
  862. Red Hot Chili Peppers Greatest Hits (compilation: 1989-2003, released 11/17/03)
  863. Alicia Keys The Diary of… (12/2/03)
  864. Johnny Cash The Legend of… (compilation: 1955-2003, released 8/2/05)

    2004

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

    2005

  884. Antony & The Johnsons I Am a Bird Now (2/1/05)
  885. Jack Johnson In Between Dreams (3/1/05)
  886. 50 Cent The Massacre (3/3/05)
  887. Mariah Carey The Emancipation of Mimi (4/12/05)
  888. Gorillaz Demon Days (5/24/05)
  889. Coldplay X & Y (6/6/05)
  890. Black Eyed Peas Monkey Business (6/7/05)
  891. Sufjan Stevens Illinois (7/4/05)
  892. Kanye West Late Registration (8/30/05)
  893. Nickelback All the Right Reasons (10/4/05)
  894. Carrie Underwood Some Hearts (11/15/05)
  895. Eminem Curtain Call: The Hits (compilation: 1999-2005, charted 12/4/05)

    2006

  896. Various Artists High School Musical (TV soundtrack, 1/10/06)
  897. Arctic Monkeys Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not (1/23/06)
  898. Red Hot Chili Peppers Stadium Arcadium (5/9/06)
  899. Dixie Chicks Taking the Long Way (5/23/06)
  900. Bob Dylan Modern Times (8/29/06)
  901. Justin Timberlake FutureSex/LoveSounds (9/12/06)
  902. Amy Winehouse Back to Black (10/6/06)
  903. Taylor Swift Taylor Swift (10/24/06)

    2007

  904. LCD Soundsystem Sound of Silver (3/20/07)
  905. Arctic Monkeys Favourite Worst Nightmare (4/23/07)
  906. Rihanna Good Girl Gone Bad (6/5/07)
  907. High School Musical 2 (TV soundtrack, 8/14/07)
  908. M.I.A. Kala (8/20/07)
  909. Kanye West Graduation (9/11/07)
  910. Bruce Springsteen Magic (10/2/07)
  911. Radiohead In Rainbows (10/10/07)
  912. Robert Plant & Allison Krauss Raising Sand (10/23/07)

    2008

  913. Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend (1/28/08)
  914. Adele 19 (1/28/08)
  915. Jack Johnson Sleep Through the Static (2/1/08)
  916. Bon Iver For Emma, Forever Ago (2/19/08)
  917. Portishead Third (4/29/08)
  918. Lil’ Wayne Tha Carter III (5/13/08)
  919. Fleet Foxes Fleet Foxes (6/3/08)
  920. Coldplay Viva La Vida (6/11/08)
  921. Lady Gaga The Fame (8/19/08)
  922. Kings of Leon Only by the Night (9/19/08)
  923. Taylor Swift Fearless (11/11/08)
  924. Beyoncé I Am…Sasha Fierce (11/11/08)

    2009

  925. Animal Collective Merriweather Post Pavilion (1/20/09)
  926. U2 No Line on the Horizon (3/2/09)
  927. Black Eyed Peas The E.N.D. (Energy Never Dies) (6/3/09)
  928. Mumford & Sons Sigh No More (10/5/09)
  929. Susan Boyle I Dreamed a Dream (11/23/09)

    2010

  930. Lady Antebellum Need You Now (1/26/10)
  931. The National High Violet (5/11/10)
  932. Janelle Monáe The Arch Android (5/18/10)
  933. LCD Soundsystem This Is Happening (5/18/10)
  934. The Black Keys Brothers (5/18/10)
  935. Eminem Recovery (6/21/10)
  936. Arcade Fire The Suburbs (8/3/10)
  937. Katy Perry Teenage Dream (8/24/10)
  938. Bruno Mars Doo Wops & Hooligans (10/4/10)
  939. Taylor Swift Speak Now (10/25/10)
  940. Rihanna Loud (11/16/10)
  941. Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (11/22/10)

    2011

  942. Adele 21 (1/19/11)
  943. PJ Harvey Let England Shake (2/15/11)
  944. Lady Gaga Born This Way (5/23/11)
  945. Michael Bublé Christmas (10/21/11)
  946. Drake Take Care (11/15/11)

    2012

  947. Lana Del Rey Born to Die (1/27/12)
    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)
  948. Frank Ocean Channel Orange (7/10/12)
  949. Imagine Dragons Night Visions (9/4/12)
  950. Mumford & Sons Babel (9/21/12)
  951. Kendrick Lamar Good Kid m.A.A.d. City (10/22/12)
  952. Taylor Swift Red (10/22/12)
  953. Bruno Mars Unorthodox Jukebox (12/6/2012)

    2013

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

    2014

  963. Beck Morning Phase (2/21/14)
  964. St. Vincent St. Vincent (2/24/14)
  965. The War on Drugs Lost in the Dream (3/18/14)
  966. Sam Smith In the Lonely Hour (5/26/14)
  967. Miranda Lambert Platinum (6/3/14)
  968. Ed Sheeran X (Multiply) (6/20/14)
  969. U2 Songs of Innocence (9/9/2014)
  970. Taylor Swift 1989 (10/27/14)
  971. D’Angelo & the Vanguard Black Messiah (12/15/14)

    2015

  972. Lin-Manuel Miranda (composer) Hamilton (cast album: 2015)
  973. Kendrick Lamar To Pimp a Butterfly (3/15/15)
  974. Sufjan Stevens Carrie & Lowell (3/31/15)
  975. Chris Stapleton Traveller (5/5/15)
  976. The Weeknd Beauty Behind the Madness (8/28/15)
  977. Adele 25 (11/20/15)

    2016

  978. David Bowie Blackstar (1/15/16)
  979. Rihanna Anti (1/27/16)
  980. Sturgill Simpson A Sailor’s Guide to Earth (4/15/16)
  981. Beyoncé Lemonade (4/23/16)
  982. Drake Views (4/29/16)
  983. Frank Ocean Blonde (8/20/16)
  984. Solange A Seat at the Table (9/30/16)
  985. Bruno Mars 24K Magic (11/18/16)

    2017

  986. Ed Sheeran ÷ (Divide) (3/3/17)
  987. Kendrick Lamar Damn. (4/14/17)
  988. Lorde Melodrama (6/16/17)
  989. Various Artists The Greatest Showman (soundtrack, 12/8/2017)

    2018

  990. Kacey Musgraves Golden Hour (3/20/18)
  991. Cardi B Invasion of Privacy (4/6/18)
  992. Janelle Monáe Dirty Computer (4/27/18)
  993. Drake Scorpion (6/29/18)

    2019

  994. Ariana Grande Thank U, Next (2/8/2019)
  995. Billie Eilish When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (3/29/19)
  996. Vampire Weekend Father of the Bride (5/3/19)
  997. Lana Del Rey Norman Fucking Rockwell! (8/30/19)

    2020

  998. Fiona Apple Fetch the Bolt Cutters (4/17/20)
  999. Taylor Swift Folklore (7/24/20)

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 Mention

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

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