Top 100 R&B Acts of All Time

R&B: Top 100 Acts

These are the top 100 R&B acts of all time, based on an aggregate of 60 lists, R&B related awards, and R&B chart performance. See other lists of Acts/Music Makers by Genre. 1. Stevie Wonder 2. Aretha Franklin 3. Marvin Gaye 4. Luther Vandross 5. Michael Jackson 6. Ray Charles 7. James Brown 8. Whitney Houston 9. Al Green 10. Sam Cooke 11. Smokey Robinson 12. Prince 13. Mariah Carey 14. R. Kelly 15. Mary J. Blige 16. Gladys Knight & The Pips 17. The Temptations 18. Barry White 19. Etta James 20. Patti LaBelle 21. Chaka Khan/Rufus 22. Usher 23. Janet Jackson 24. The Supremes 25. Otis Redding 26. Beyoncé 27. Earth, Wind & Fire 28. The Isley Brothers 29. Curtis Mayfield 30. The O’Jays 31. Diana Ross 32. The Jackson 5/The Jacksons 33. Boyz II Men 34. Lionel Richie 35. Alicia Keys 36. Teddy Pendergrass 37. Four Tops 38. Dionne Warwick 39. Jackie Wilson 40. Destiny’s Child 41. TLC 42. Anita Baker 43. En Vogue 44. Kool & the Gang 45. The Drifters 46. The Miracles 47. Spinners 48. Tina Turner 49. Babyface 50. Sly & the Family Stone 51. Donny Hathaway 52. New Edition 53. Isaac Hayes 54. Ruth Brown 55. Aaliyah 56. Fats Domino 57. Donna Summer 58. Sade 59. The Commodores 60. The Pointer Sisters 61. Rick James 62. Keith Sweat 63. Bill Withers 64. Louis Jordan 65. Bobby Womack 66. Little Richard 67. Maxwell 68. Erykah Badu 69. Parliament/Funkadelic 70. D’Angelo 71. The Impressions 72. Martha & the Vandellas 73. Wilson Pickett 74. The Dells 75. Rihanna 76. Chris Brown 77. Jill Scott 78. Roberta Flack 79. Ne-Yo 80. Toni Braxton 81. Chuck Berry 82. Bobby Brown 83. Nat “King” Cole 84. Ashford & Simpson 85. B.B. King 86. The Chi-Lites 87. Natalie Cole 88. Brandy 89. Dinah Washington 90. Sisters with Voices (SWV) 91. Bobby “Blue” Bland 92. Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes 93. Tony! Toni! Toné! 94. The Weeknd 95. Frank Ocean 96. John Legend 97. SZA 98. Chic 99. Joe 100. Keyshia Cole Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: Lists of Acts/Music Makers by Genre First posted 1/22/2012; last updated 3/5/2026.

Apollo Theater Walk of Fame: 2006-2024

The famed Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York, dates back to the mid-19th century when Civil War General Edward Ferrero founded Apollo Hall as a dance hall and ballroom. In 1872, his lease expired and the building was converted to a theater. It closed shortly before the turn of the century, but the Apollo Theater resurfaced around 1913 in a new building at 253 West 125th Street. It declined again in the 1960s and ‘70s, but was revived in 1983. It gained fame over the years for featuring almost exclusively African-American performers. Somewhere in the mid-2000s, the Apollo launched its own Walk of Fame (also called the Legends Hall of Fame). The first group looks to have been inducted in 2006 although other sources say the Walk of Fame wasn’t established until 2010. Even the official Apollo Theater website offers no details about the Walk of Fame so the list of inductees below has been compiled from various sources. The most recent inductee appears to be Clive Davis on June 6, 2025. See other Hall of Fames. Louis Armstrong Babyface (2024) Mary J. Blige (2021) James Brown (2006) Celia Cruz Clive Davis (2025) Billy Eckstine Ella Fitzgerald (2006) Aretha Franklin (2010) Marvin Gaye Daryl Hall & John Oates Billie Holiday Michael Jackson (2010) The Jacksons Etta James (2012) Elton John Quincy Jones (2009) Chaka Khan (2013) Gladys Knight & The Pips (2006) Patti LaBelle (2009) Little Richard (2006) Prince (2016) Lionel Richie (2012) Smokey Robinson (2008) The Supremes The Temptations (2021) Stevie Wonder (2011) Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Hall of Fames” ApolloTheater.org Wikipedia: Apollo Theater First posted 6/13/2016; last updated 6/6/2026.

Paste Magazine: Top 300 Albums

Paste Magazine: The Top 300 Albums

Paste magazine launched in July 2002 as a print publication after first starting as a website in 1998. In 2010, they went back to being online only. They started with a focus on music, specifically adult alternative, indie rock, and Americana. They have since expanded to include focus on movies, TV, books, and more. As explained on the Paste website: “For this list, we called on our entire writing cohort—including editors, staff writers, interns and freelancers far and wide—to send in their individual Top 20 lists. We then took those lists, along with editorial oversight, and compiled what we believe is a selection of music that represents what Paste believes is the best to have ever been recorded.” Check out other publications and organizations’ best-of album lists here. 1. Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life (1976) 2. The Cure Disintegration (1989) 3. Kate Bush Hounds of Love (1985) 4. Prince Sign ‘O’ the Times (1987) 5. The Beatles Abbey Road (1969) 6. OutKast Stankonia (2000) 7. Fishmans Long Season (1996) 8. Nina Simone Wild Is the Wind (1966) 9. Milton Nascimento & Lo Borges Clube da Esquina (1972) 10. The Beach Boys Pet Sounds (1966) 11. Public Enemy It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988) 12. Miles Davis Bitches Brew (1970) 13. Marvin Gaye What’s Going On (1971) 14. Joni Mitchell Blue (1971) 15. Bruce Springsteen Born to Run (1975) 16. Janet Jackson The Velvet Rope (1997) 17. Funkadelic Maggot Brain (1971) 18. Fleetwood Mac Rumours (1977) 19. Prince & the Revolution Purple Rain (soundtrack, 1984) 20. Wilco Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2001) 21. Velvet Underground & Nico Velvet Underground & Nico (1967) 22. Kendrick Lamar To Pimp a Butterfly (2015) 23. The Clash London Calling (1979) 24. Sam Cooke Live at the Harlem Square Club (aka “One Night Stand”) (1963) 25. Talking Heads Remain in Light (1980) 26. The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) 27. The Jimi Hendrix Experience Electric Ladyland (1968) 28. Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998) 29. 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 (2012) 30. Bob Dylan Blood on the Tracks (1975) 31. Björk Post (1995) 32. Billie Holiday Lady in Satin (1958) 33. Carole King Tapestry (1971) 34. David Bowie The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972) 35. John Coltrane A Love Supreme (1965) 36. Amy Winehouse Back to Black (2006) 37. The Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street (1972) 38. Sufjan Stevens Illinois (2005) 39. Neil Young On the Beach (1974) 40. Patti Smith Horses (1975) 41. The Replacements Tim (1985) 42. PJ Harvey To Bring You My Love (1995) 43. Cocteau Twins Heaven or Las Vegas (1990) 44. De La Soul 3 Feet High and Rising (1989) 45. The Beatles Revolver (1966) 46. The Roots Things Fall Apart (1999) 47. Miles Davis Kind of Blue (1959) 48. Julee Cruise Floating into the Night (1989) 49. Frank Ocean Blond (2016) 50. Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison (live, 1968) 51. Novos Baianos Acabou Chorare (1972) 52. Joni Mitchell Hissing of Summer Lawns (1975) 53. R.E.M. Automatic for the People (1992) 54. Wu-Tang Clan Enter the Wu-Tang Clan (36 Chambers) (1993) 55. Beyoncé Lemonade (2016) 56. Stevie Wonder Innervisions (1973) 57. Pharoah Sanders Karma (1969) 58. Van Morrison Astral Weeks (1968) 59. The Notorious B.I.G. Ready to Die (1994) 60. Hole Live Through This (1994) 61. Lucinda Williams Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (1998) 62. The Beatles The Beatles (aka “The White Album”) (1968) 63. Hüsker Dü New Day Rising (1985) 64. Ray Charles Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (1962) 65. Nirvana Nevermind (1991) 66. Michael Jackson Off the Wall (1979) 67. A Tribe Called Quest The Low End Theory (1991) 68. Aretha Franklin Lady Soul (1968) 69. Nas Illmatic (1994) 70. My Bloody Valentine Loveless (1991) 71. Madonna Like a Prayer (1989) 72. Kendrick Lamar Good Kid m.A.A.d. City (2012) 73. The Miracles Going to a Go-Go (1965) 74. Bob Dylan Blonde on Blonde (1966) 75. Little Richard Here’s Little Richard (1957) 76. The Replacements Let It Be (1984) 77. Erykah Badu Baduizm (1997) 78. Charles Mingus The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady (1963) 79. Black Sabbath Paranoid (1970) 80. Alice Coltrane Journey in Satchidananda (1971) 81. D’Angelo Voodoo (2000) 82. Radiohead In Rainbows (2007) 83. Pixies Surfer Rosa (1988) 84. Sophie Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides (2018) 85. Nina Simone I Put a Spell on You (1965) 86. Kanye West The Life of Pablo (2016) 87. Beastie Boys Paul’s Boutique (1989) 88. Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream (1993) 89. Television Marquee Moon (1977) 90. The Stooges Raw Power (1973) 91. Otis Redding Otis Blue (1965) 92. Deerhunter Halcyon Digest (2010) 93. War The World Is a Ghetto (1972) 94. Sade Love Deluxe (1992) 95. Aphex Twin Selected Ambient Works Vol. 2 (1994) 96. Fleetwood Mac Tusk (1979) 97. Death Symbolic (1995) 98. Donna Summer Bad Girls (1979) 99. The Grateful Dead American Beauty (1970) 100. B.B. King Live at the Regal (live, recorded 1964, released 1965) 101. Simon & Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970) 102. Prince 1999 (1982) 103. Sunn O))) Black One (2005) 104. Bruce Springsteen The River (1980) 105. Paul & Linda McCartney Ram (1971) 106. N.W.A. Straight Outta Compton (1989) 107. Dilla, J. Donuts (2006) 108. This Heat Deceit (1981) 109. Sleater-Kinney Dig Me Out (1997) 110. The Smiths The Queen Is Dead (1986) 111. Godspeed You! Black Emperor Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennae to Heaven (2000) 112. Mariah Carey Music Box (1993) 113. Madvillain Madvillainy (2004) 114. System of a Down Toxicity (2001) 115. Lou Reed Transformer (1972) 116. Dr. Dre The Chronic (1992) 117. Willie Nelson Red Headed Stranger (1975) 118. The Jimi Hendrix Experience Are You Experienced? (1967) 119. Sonic Youth Daydream Nation (1988) 120. Fugees The Score (1996) 121. Michael Jackson Thriller (1982) 122. The Breeders Last Splash (1993) 123. Ramones Ramones (1976) 124. R.E.M. Murmur (1983) 125. Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon (1973) 126. Daft Punk Discovery (2001) 127. David Bowie Low (1977) 128. The Beatles Rubber Soul (1965) 129. Minutemen Double Nickels on the Dime (1984) 130. Herbie Hancock Head Hunters (1973) 131. George Michael Faith (1987) 132. PJ Harvey Rid of Me (1993) 133. Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti (1975) 134. Ellott Smith Either/Or (1997) 135. Tatsuro Yamashita For You (1982) 136. Metallica Master of Puppets (1986) 137. James Brown Live at the Apollo Volume 1 (live, 1962) 138. Sparks No. 1 in Heaven (1979) 139. Gang of Four Entertainment! (1979) 140. Spiritualized Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space (1997) 141. Eric Dolphy Out to Lunch! (1964) 142. Boris Pink (2005) 143. Björk Homogenic (1997) 144. Paul Simon Graceland (1986) 145. Belle & Sebastian If You’re Feeling Sinister (1996) 146. Jay-Z Reasonable Doubt (1996) 147. Madonna Erotica (1992) 148. Boards of Canada Music Has the Right to Children (1998) 149. Frank Ocean Channel Orange (2012) 150. Radiohead OK Computer (1997) 151. Lana Del Rey Norman Fucking Rockwell! ( (2019) 152. Slowdive Souvlaki (1993) 153. Fishmans Kuuchuu Camp (1996) 154. Jason Isbell Southeastern (2013) 155. The Dismemberment Plan Emergency & I (1999) 156. Dusty Springfield Dusty in Memphis (1969) 157. Sly & the Family Stone There’s a Riot Goin’ On (1971) 158. Waylon Jennings Dreaming My Dreams (1975) 159. Van Halen Van Halen (1978) 160. Gillian Welch Time (The Revelator) (2001) 161. Oasis Definitely Maybe (1994) 162. Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010) 163. The Pixies Doolittle (1989) 164. Aretha Franklin I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967) 165. Neil Young & Crazy Horse Rust Never Sleeps (1979) 166. Death Cab for Cutie Transatlanticism (2003) 167. X-Ray Spex Germ-Free Adolescents (1978) 168. Marvin Gaye I Want You (1976) 169. Talking Heads Fear of Music (1979) 170. Guns N’ Roses Appetite for Destruction (1987) 171. Taylor Swift Red (2012) 172. Neutral Milk Hotel In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (1998) 173. Public Image Ltd. Metal Box (aka “Second Edition”) (1979) 174. Genius/GZA Liquid Swords (1995) 175. Swans Soundtracks for the Blind (1996) 176. Nick Drake Pink Moon (1972) 177. Kacey Musgraves Golden Hour (2018) 178. Yo La Tengo And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out (2000) 179. Angelo Badalamenti Twin Peaks (ST) (1990) 180. Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott Supa Dupa Fly (1997) 181. John Prine John Prine (1971) 182. The Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers (1971) 183. The Ronettes Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica (1964) 184. The Strokes Is This It (2001) 185. Beyoncé Beyoncé (2013) 186. Sufjan Stevens Carrie & Lowell (2015) 187. Eminem The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) 188. Kate Bush The Dreaming (1982) 189. The Microphones The Glow Pt. 2 (2001) 190. Pavement Slanted and Enchanted (1992) 191. TLC Crazy Sexy Cool (1994) 192. Dinosaur Jr. You’re Living All Over Me (1987) 193. Fiona Apple Fetch the Bolt Cutters (2020) 194. The Velvet Underground The Velvet Underground (1969) 195. Vince Staples Big Fish Theory (2017) 196. Rush Moving Pictures (1981) 197. Slayer Reign in Blood (1986) 198. Various Artists Buena Vista Social Club (1997) 199. The War on Drugs Lost in the Dream (2014) 200. Massive Attack Blue Lines (1991) 201. Danger Mouse The Grey Album (2001) 202. Built to Spill Perfect from Now On (1997) 203. Leonard Cohen The Songs of Leonard Cohen (1967) 204. Janelle Monáe Dirty Computer (2018) 205. Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band Trout Mask Replica (1969) 206. American Football American Football (1999) 207. Tom Waits Rain Dogs (1985) 208. Joni Mitchell Court and Spark (1974) 209. The Stooges Fun House (1970) 210. The Blue Nile Hats (1989) 211. Fugazi Repeater (1990) 212. Grace Jones Nightclubbing (1981) 213. Lil Wayne Tha Carter III (2008) 214. Joanna Newsom Ys (2006) 215. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV (1971) 216. Magnetic Fields 69 Love Songs (1999) 217. Liz Phair Exile in Guyville (1993) 218. The Band Music from Big Pink (1968) 219. Jeff Buckley Grace (1994) 220. Bob Dylan Highway 61 Revisited (1965) 221. The Supremes Where Did Our Love Go? (1964) 222. The Cure Pornography (1982) 223. Bruce Springsteen Nebraska (1982) 224. U2 The Joshua Tree (1987) 225. Curtis Mayfield Superfly (soundtrack, 1972) 226. Solange A Seat at the Table (2016) 227. The Germs GI (1979) 228. The Avalanches Since I Left You (2000) 229. Beck Odelay (1996) 230. Carly Rae Jepsen Emotion (2015) 231. Ornette Coleman The Shape of Jazz to Come (1959) 232. Portishead Dummy (1994) 233. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Déjà Vu (1970) 234. D’Angelo & the Vanguard Black Messiah (2014) 235. Aretha Franklin Amazing Grace (1972) 236. Joy Division Unknown Pleasures (1979) 237. Danny Brown Atrocity Exhibition (2016) 238. Elton John Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) 239. The Mountain Goats The Sunset Tree (2005) 240. Lady Gaga The Fame Monster (2009) 241. Sex Pistols Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols (1977) 242. The Promise Ring Nothing Feels Good (1997) 243. Alice Coltrane Turiya Sings (1982) 244. Four Tet There Is Love in You (2010) 245. Eric B. & Rakim Paid in Full (1987) 246. LCD Soundsystem Sound of Silver (2007) 247. The Shangri-La's Leader of the Pack (1965) 248. Steely Dan Aja (1977) 249. Joni Mitchell Hejira (1976) 250. Burial Untrue (2007) 251. Popol Vuh Hosianna Mantra (1972) 252. Lorde Melodrama (2017) 253. George Jones I Am What I Am (1972) 254. Nico The Marble Index (1969) 255. Cyndi Lauper She’s So Unusual (1983) 256. Marty Robbins Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs (1959) 257. OutKast Aquemini (1998) 258. Janet Jackson Control (1986) 259. The Byrds Sweetheart of the Rodeo (1968) 260. PJ Harvey Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (2000) 261. The Meters Rejuvenation (1974) 262. Silver Jews American Water (1998) 263. Alvvays Blue Rev (2022) 264. Stars of the Lid The Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid (2001) 265. Thin Lizzy Jailbreak (1976) 266. Mahmoud Ahmed Éthiopiques Vol 7: Erè Mèla Mèla (1975) 267. Dolly Parton Coat of Many Colors (1971) 268. Tom Petty Wildflowers (1994) 269. Fiona Apple When the Pawn… (1999) 270. Mississippi John Hurt Today! (1966) 271. Wire Chairs Missing (1978) 272. Blondie Parallel Lines (1978) 273. Neil Young After the Gold Rush (1970) 274. Songs: Ohia Magnolia Electric Co. (2003) 275. Kraftwerk Die Mensch Maschine (The Man Machine) (1978) 276. Vampire Weekend Modern Vampires of the City (2013) 277. Pulp Different Class (1995) 278. Hiroshi Yoshimura Music for Nine Post Cards (1982) 279. Robyn Body Talk (2010) 280. Townes Van Zandt The Late Great Townes Van Zandt (1972) 281. Shin Joong Hyun & Yup Juns Shin Joong Hyun & Yup Juns (1974) 282. Brian Eno Another Green World (1975) 283. Bob Marley & the Wailers Burnin’ (1973) 284. Talk Talk Laughing Stock (1991) 285. Lil' Kim Hard Core (1996) 286. The KLF Chill Out (1990) 287. Bonnie “Prince” Billy I See a Darkness (1999) 288. The Who Tommy (1969) 289. Britney Spears …Baby One More Time (1999) 290. The Fall Wonderful and Frightening World of... (1984) 291. Camarón La Leyenda del Tiempo (1979) 292. David Bowie Scary Monsters (1980) 293. Ice Cube AmeriKKKas Most Wanted (1990) 294. Deulgukhwa March (1985) 295. Bad Brains Bad Brains (1982) 296. The Raincoats The Raincoats (1979) 297. Terry Riley A Rainbow in Curved Air (1968) 298. Queen Jazz (1978) 299. Rihanna Anti (2016) 300. Modest Mouse The Lonesome Crowded West (1997) Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: Best-of Album Lists by Publications/Organizations PasteMagazine.com (6/3/2024). “The 300 Greatest Albums of All Time” First posted 6/3/2024; last updated 6/6/2024.

 

Apple Music: Top 100 Albums

Apple Music: The Top 100 Albums

According to Apple.com, this list was “crafted by Apple Music’s team of experts alongside a select group of artists, including Maren Morris, Pharrell Williams, J Balvin, Charli XCX, Mark Hoppus, Honey Dijon, and Nia Archives, as well as songwriters, producers, and industry professionals. The list is an editorial statement, fully independent of any streaming numbers on Apple Music – a love letter to the records that have shaped the world music lovers live and listen in.” Numbers 91-100 were revealed on May 13, 2024. The remaining albums were revealed ten at a time over ten days with the finale on May 22, 2024. The list met with mixed reception with multiple critics saying the list overrepresented newer releases. WK It was also criticized for lack of representation for some genre’s such as country and jazz. The San Francisco Chronicle’s Aidin Vaziri wrote “The selection sharply contrasts with the traditional rankings by legacy music publications, such as Rolling Stone.” WK For example, The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, which as the #1 album of all time according to Dave’s Music Database, is almost a certainty on any best-of list and doesn’t even make the cut here. Variety’s Chris Willman said the list “exists almost expressly to make you mad.” WK The Wall Street Journal’s Ben Cohen wrote that the list “was clearly a stunt to get attention and sell subscriptions to Apple Music.’” WK Check out other publications and organizations’ best-of album lists here. 1. Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998) 2. Michael Jackson Thriller (1982) 3. The Beatles Abbey Road (1969) 4. Prince Purple Rain (1984) 5. Frank Ocean Blond (2016) 6. Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life (1976) 7. Kendrick Lamar Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012) 8. Amy Winehouse Back to Black (2006) 9. Nirvana Nevermind (1991) 10. Beyoncé Lemonade (2016) 11. Fleetwood Mac Rumours (1977) 12. Radiohead OK Computer (1997) 13. Jay-Z The Blueprint (2001) 14. Bob Dylan Highway 61 Revisited (1965) 15. Adele 21 (2011) 16. Joni Mitchell Blue (1971) 17. Marvin Gaye What's Going On (1971) 18. Taylor Swift 1989 (2014) 19. Dr. Dre The Chronic (1992) 20. The Beach Boys Pet Sounds (1966) 21. The Beatles Revolver (1966) 22. Bruce Springsteen Born to Run (1975) 23. Daft Punk Discovery (2001) 24. David Bowie The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972) 25. Miles Davis Kind of Blue (1959) 26. Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010) 27. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II (1969) 28. Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon (1973) 29. A Tribe Called Quest The Low End Theory (1991) 30. Billie Eilish When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019) 31. Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill (1995) 32. The Notorious B.I.G. Ready to Die (1994) 33. Radiohead Kid A (2000) 34. Public Enemy It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988) 35. The Clash London Calling (1979) 36. Beyoncé Beyoncé (2013) 37. Wu-Tang Clan Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993) 38. Carole King Tapestry (1971) 39. Nas Illmatic (1994) 40. Aretha Franklin I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967) 41. Outkast Aquemini (1998) 42. Janet Jackson Control (1986) 43. Talking Heads Remain in Light (1980) 44. Stevie Wonder Innervisions (1973) 45. Björk Homogenic (1997) 46. Bob Marley & the Wailers Exodus (1977) 47. Drake Take Care (2011) 48. Beastie Boys Paul's Boutique (1989) 49. U2 The Joshua Tree (1987) 50. Kate Bush Hounds of Love (1985) 51. Prince Sign 'O' the Times (1987) 52. Guns N' Roses Appetite for Destruction (1987) 53. The Rolling Stones Exile on Main St. (1972) 54. John Coltrane A Love Supreme (1965) 55. Rihanna Anti (2016) 56. The Cure Disintegration (1989) 57. D'Angelo Voodoo (2000) 58. Oasis What's the Story Morning Glory? (1995) 59. Arctic Monkeys AM (2013) 60. The Velvet Underground & Nico The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967) 61. Sade Love Deluxe (1992) 62. Tupac (2pac) Shakur All Eyez on Me (1996) 63. Jimi Hendrix Experience Are You Experienced? (1967) 64. Erykah Badu Baduizm (1997) 65. De La Soul 3 Feet High and Rising (1989) 66. The Smiths The Queen Is Dead (1986) 67. Portishead Dummy (1994) 68. The Strokes Is This It (2001) 69. Metallica Master of Puppets (1986) 70. N.W.A. Straight Outta Compton (1989) 71. Kraftwerk Trans-Europa Express (Trans Europe Express) (1977) 72. SZA SOS (2022) 73. Steely Dan Aja (1977) 74. Nine Inch Nails The Downward Spiral (1994) 75. Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott Supa Dupa Fly (1997) 76. Bad Bunny Un Verano Sin Ti (2022) 77. Madonna Like a Prayer (1989) 78. Elton John Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) 79. Lana Del Rey Norman Fucking Rockwell! (2019) 80. Eminem The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) 81. Neil Young After the Gold Rush (1970) 82. 50 Cent Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003) 83. Patti Smith Horses (1975) 84. Snoop Doggy Dogg Doggy Style (1993) 85. Kacey Musgraves Golden Hour (2018) 86. Mary J. Blige My Life (1994) 87. Massive Attack Blue Lines (1991) 88. Nina Simone I Put a Spell on You (1965) 89. Lady Gaga The Fame Monster (2009) 90. AC/DC Back in Black (1980) 91. George Michael Listen without Prejudice (1990) 92. Tyler the Creator Flower Boy (2017) 93. Solange A Seat at the Table (2016) 94. Burial Untrue (2007) 95. Usher Confessions (2004) 96. Lorde Pure Heroine (2013) 97. Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine (1992) 98. Travis Scott Astro World (2018) 99. Eagles Hotel California (1976) 100. Robyn Body Talk (2010) Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: Best-of Album Lists by Publications/Organizations Apple.com (5/22/2024). “100 Best” Wikipedia.org (2024). “Apple Music 100 Best Albums” First posted 5/22/2024.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees Ranked: 1986-2024

With every year’s announcement of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, there are two guarantees – there will be a slew of complaints about who hasn’t been inducted and who has been inducted who shouldn’t have been. This challenged me to come up with an objective rating of the inductees to determine just who has earned it most and who hasn’t. These rankings consolidate multiple best-artists-of-all-time lists along with sales figures, chart statistics, and other awards and honors. In the event of ties, earliest inductees are listed first. Here are the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees ranked. See other Hall of Fames. 1. The Beatles 2. Elvis Presley 3. The Rolling Stones 4. Bob Dylan 5. Paul McCartney 6. Elton John 7. David Bowie 8. Michael Jackson 9. Bruce Springsteen 10. Stevie Wonder 11. John Lennon 12. Prince 13. U2 14. Madonna 15. Led Zeppelin 16. Eric Clapton 17. The Who 18. Pink Floyd 19. Jimi Hendrix 20. Queen 21. Aretha Franklin 22. R.E.M. 23. Ray Charles 24. Neil Young 25. James Brown 26. Marvin Gaye 27. Billy Joel 28. The Beach Boys 29. George Harrison 30. Rod Stewart 31. George Martin 32. Eagles 33. Louis Armstrong 34. Fleetwood Mac 35. Smokey Robinson 36. Irving Azoff 37. Johnny Cash 38. Berry Gordy Jr. 39. Sam Phillips 40. Radiohead 41. Lou Reed 42. The Bee Gees 43. Aerosmith 44. Nat “King” Cole 45. Whitney Houston 46. Jerry Wexler 47. Ringo Starr 48. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers 49. Chuck Berry 50. Jay-Z 51. Pearl Jam 52. Bob Marley 53. Tina Turner 54. Willie Nelson 55. Guns N’ Roses 56. The Police 57. Dolly Parton 58. The Supremes 59. Nirvana 60. Eminem 61. The Temptations 62. Rush 63. Van Morrison 64. John Mellencamp 65. Yes 66. Carole King 67. Elvis Costello 68. Genesis 69. Eddie Holland 70. Journey 71. Fats Domino 72. Brian Holland 73. Paul Simon 74. Peter Gabriel 75. Lionel Richie 76. Lamont Dozier 77. Simon & Garfunkel 78. Metallica 79. The Doors 80. Van Halen 81. Billie Holiday 82. Jerry Leiber 83. Sam Cooke 84. Roy Orbison 85. Chicago 86. Herb Alpert 87. Mike Stoller 88. Phil Spector 89. The Kinks 90. Clive Davis 91. Bon Jovi 92. Velvet Underground 93. Ahmet Ertegun 94. B.B. King 95. Jimmy Iovine 96. Santana 97. Little Richard 98. Janet Jackson 99. AC/DC 100. Buddy Holly 101. Nesuhi Ertegun 102. Leonard Chess 103. Neil Diamond 104. Stevie Nicks 105. Brian Epstein 106. Crosby, Stills & Nash 107. Kenny Gamble 108. Green Day 109. Def Leppard 110. Leon Huff 111. Miles Davis 112. Bob Seger 113. Black Sabbath 114. Kiss 115. Bernie Taupin 116. Hank Williams 117. Creedence Clearwater Revival 118. Otis Redding 119. The Miracles 120. The Jackson 5 121. The Allman Brothers Band 122. Todd Rundgren 123. The Clash 124. Foreigner 125. Frank Zappa 126. ZZ Top 127. George Michael 128. Dire Straits 129. Deep Purple 130. Lynyrd Skynyrd 131. Jerry Lee Lewis 132. Muddy Waters 133. Abba 134. Linda Ronstadt 135. The Everly Brothers 136. The Byrds 137. The Moody Blues 138. Red Hot Chili Peppers 139. Andrew Loog Oldham 140. Sheryl Crow 141. Cream 142. The Band 143. The Cure 144. Electric Light Orchestra 145. Glyn Johns 146. Brenda Lee 147. Cher 148. Ozzy Osbourne 149. Quincy Jones 150. The Drifters 151. David Geffen 152. Daryl Hall & John Oates 153. Depeche Mode 154. Barry Mann 155. Sly & the Family Stone 156. Sex Pistols 157. James Taylor 158. The Ink Spots 159. Jim Stewart 160. Foo Fighters 161. Bessie Smith 162. Cynthia Weil 163. T-Rex 164. Eurythmics 165. Robert Johnson 166. Tom Waits 167. Al Green 168. Grateful Dead 169. Gerry Goffin 170. Clarence Avant 171. Duran Duran 172. Chris Blackwell 173. Jeff Barry 174. The Doobie Brothers 175. John Hammond 176. Blondie 177. Talking Heads 178. Jac Holzman 179. Terry Lewis 180. Jimmy Jam 181. Jon Landau 182. Patti Smith 183. Tom Dowd 184. Jerry Moss 185. Pat Benatar 186. Mo Ostin 187. Steely Dan 188. The Cars 189. The Platters 190. Louis Jordan 191. Bill Graham 192. Milt Gabler 193. Dave Bartholomew 194. Seymour Stein 195. Beastie Boys 196. Joni Mitchell 197. Four Tops 198. Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship 199. Ramones 200. Earth, Wind & Fire 201. Art Rupe 202. Gladys Knight & the Pips 203. Carly Simon 204. Ellie Greenwich 205. Public Enemy 206. Donna Summer 207. Syd Nathan 208. Cat Stevens 209. The Righteous Brothers 210. Pretenders 211. Bonnie Raitt 212. Bobby Darin 213. Ike Turner 214. Les Paul 215. Curtis Mayfield 216. Kool & the Gang 217. Dionne Warwick 218. The Yardbirds 219. Roxy Music 220. Tupac Shakur (2pac) 221. The Animals 222. Nine Inch Nails 223. Heart 224. Jackson Browne 225. The Four Seasons 226. Bobby “Blue” Bland 227. Kate Bush 228. Parliament/Funkadelic 229. Bo Diddley 230. Jeff Beck 231. Mary J. Blige 232. Dave Matthews Band 233. Norman Whitfield 234. Otis Blackwell 235. Janis Joplin 236. Ricky Nelson 237. Jackie Wilson 238. Doc Pomus 239. Harry Belafonte 240. John Lee Hooker 241. Isaac Hayes 242. LL Cool J 243. Bill Haley 244. Judas Priest 245. Howlin’ Wolf 246. Randy Newman 247. The Stooges 248. Jimmy Buffett 249. Bill Black 250. Joan Jett 251. Run-D.M.C. 252. Mort Shuman 253. Traffic 254. Etta James 255. Kraftwerk 256. Alice Cooper 257. Steve Miller Band 258. Woody Guthrie 259. Huddie “Leadbelly” Ledbetter 260. Cheap Trick 261. Jimmie Rodgers 262. Leonard Cohen 263. The Hollies 264. Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble 265. Dinah Washington 266. Charlie Christian 267. Wilson Pickett 268. The Shirelles 269. Big Joe Turner 270. Isley Brothers 271. The Spinners 272. The Mamas & the Papas 273. Don Kirshner 274. The Impressions 275. Alan Freed 276. Rage Against the Machine 277. The Coasters 278. Ferdinand “Jelly Roll” Morton 279. Dion & The Belmonts 280. Pete Seeger 281. Chaka Khan/Rufus 282. Buffalo Springfield 283. Willie Dixon 284. Chet Atkins 285. Dick Clark 286. Dave Clark Five 287. The O’Jays 288. Scotty Moore 289. James Burton 290. Missy Elliott 291. Peter Frampton 292. The (Young) Rascals 293. N.W.A. 294. Booker T. & the MG’s 295. Dusty Springfield 296. DJ Fontana 297. Don Cornelius 298. Clyde McPhatter 299. Bob Wills 300. Nina Simone 301. T-Bone Walker 302. Joan Baez 303. Martha & the Vandellas 304. Sylvia Robinson 305. The Notorious B.I.G. 306. Bill Withers 307. Elmore James 308. A Tribe Called Quest 309. The Ronettes 310. Tom Donahue 311. Ruth Brown 312. Bill Monroe 313. Charley Patton 314. Eddie Cochran 315. Buddy Guy 316. John Mayall 317. Lovin’ Spoonful 318. The Flamingos 319. The Go-Go’s 320. Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five 321. Donovan 322. Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers 323. Al Kooper 324. Freddy King 325. The Dells 326. The Faces 327. Del Shannon 328. Duane Eddy 329. Lloyd Price 330. Percy Sledge 331. Ma Rainey 332. Hank Ballard & the Midnighters 333. The MC5 334. LaVern Baker 335. Ritchie Valens 336. The Staple Singers 337. Little Walter 338. Carl Perkins 339. Nile Rodgers 340. The Zombies 341. Sam & Dave 342. Little Anthony & the Imperials 343. Solomon Burke 344. Albert King 345. Mahalia Jackson 346. Gene Pitney 347. The Small Faces 348. Sister Rosetta Tharpe 349. Billy Preston 350. Charles Brown 351. The Orioles 352. Jimmy Reed 353. Bobby Womack 354. Gene Vincent 355. Little Willie John 356. The Ventures 357. Professor Longhair 358. Big Mama Thornton 359. The Moonglows 360. The E Street Band 361. Link Wray 362. Allen Toussaint 363. Leon Russell 364. James Jamerson 365. Johnny Otis 366. Dr. John 367. Randy Rhoads 368. Wanda Jackson 369. Lou Adler 370. Jimmy Cliff 371. Darlene Love 372. Hal Blaine 373. Floyd Cramer 374. Gil Scott-Heron 375. Earl Palmer 376. The Soul Stirrers 377. The Five Royales 378. Johnnie Johnson 379. Cosimo Matassa 380. Laura Nyro 381. Spooner Oldham 382. Ralph Bass 383. Bennie Benjamin 384. Steve Douglas 385. Jesse Stone 386. King Curtis 387. Leo Fender 388. Paul Ackerman 389. DJ Kool Herc 390. Eilzabeth Cotten 391. Bert Berns 392. Jimmy Yancey 393. Paul Butterfield Blues Band 394. Jann Wenner 395. Neil Giraldo 396. Frank Barsalona 397. Allen Grubman 398. Alexis Korner 399. Suzanne De Passe Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Hall of Fames” DMDB blog: The Top 100 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees (alphabetical order) DMDB blog: The Top 100 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Hopefuls First posted 12/14/2018; last updated 4/23/2024.