The 50 Greatest Albums of All Time

Since the birth of the long-play record in the mid-1950s, an almost unimaginable number of albums have shaped modern culture. Estimates range from 2.5 to 10 million albums released worldwide. After three decades of working as a music journalist and reviewing thousands of records, I have assembled a personal list of the best among the very best.

Like any ranking, this selection will spark disagreement. That is part of the fun. Even I sometimes argue with my past self. To clarify the criteria, this list focuses on rock and pop albums with long-lasting cultural impact. It excludes classical music and jazz, which shaped the sound of the twentieth century but declined in influence during the album era. I also avoided most of what was once labeled “World Music,” which, until recently, did not carry the same cultural weight as the Anglo-American pop mainstream.

Many of these albums have brought me immense joy over the years, and I hope the rest inspire your next musical discovery.

Let the countdown begin.

50. Elton John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)

49. The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds (1966)

48. R.E.M. – Automatic for the People (1992)

47. The Smiths – The Queen Is Dead (1986)

46. Taylor Swift – 1989 (2014)

45. Van Morrison – Astral Weeks (1968)

44. Madonna – Like a Prayer (1989)

43. Amy Winehouse – Back to Black (2006)

42. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly (2015)

41. Paul Simon – Graceland (1986)

40. Bob Marley and The Wailers – Exodus (1977)

39. Aretha Franklin – Lady Soul (1968)

38. Kraftwerk – Trans Europe Express (1977)

37. Black Sabbath – Paranoid (1970)

36. Leonard Cohen – I’m Your Man (1988)

35. Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)

34. Massive Attack – Protection (1994)

33. Sex Pistols – Never Mind the Bollocks (1977)

32. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)

31. Eagles – Hotel California (1976)

30. Elvis Presley – Elvis Presley (1956)

29. The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Electric Ladyland (1968)

28. Patti Smith – Horses (1975)

27. Lou Reed – Transformer (1972)

26. The Clash – London Calling (1979)

25. Carole King – Tapestry (1971)

24. The Who – Who’s Next (1971)

23. U2 – Achtung Baby (1991)

22. Miles Davis – Bitches Brew (1970)

21. Radiohead – OK Computer (1997)

20. The Beatles – Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)

19. Stevie Wonder – Songs in the Key of Life (1976)

18. Led Zeppelin – IV (1971)

17. Bruce Springsteen – Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978)

16. Michael Jackson – Thriller (1982)

15. Bob Dylan – Blonde on Blonde (1966)

14. Joni Mitchell – Hejira (1976)

13. Prince – Purple Rain (1984)

12. David Bowie – Aladdin Sane (1973)

11. The Beatles – Revolver (1966)

10. The Rolling Stones – Exile on Main St (1972)

9. Daft Punk – Random Access Memories (2013)

8. Beyoncé – Lemonade (2016)

7. Nirvana – Nevermind (1991)

6. Kate Bush – Hounds of Love (1985)

5. Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)

4. Fleetwood Mac – Rumours (1977)

3. Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On (1971)

2. Bob Dylan – Blood on the Tracks (1975)

1. The Beatles – Abbey Road (1969)