Time Magazine's Top 100 Albums of all Time

[Bearcat729]

They have detailed explinations on each choice, but I still think any top album list without Pink Floyd on it is flawed, and I prefer Led Zeppelin II over Led Zeppelin IV.

http://www.time.com/time/2006/100albums/index.html

2000s
Hank Williams - The Essential Hank Williams Collection
Kanye West - The College Dropout
Sam Cooke - Portrait Of A Legend 1951-1964
Elvis Presley - Elvis: 30 No. 1 Hits
Muddy Waters - The Anthology, 1947 - 1972
Radiohead - Kid A
Outkast - Stankonia
PJ Harvey - Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP

1990s
Elvis Presley - Sunrise
Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
Radiohead - OK Computer
The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready To Die
Bob Dylan - Time Out Of Mind
DJ Shadow - Endtroducing...
Oasis - (What's The Story) Moning Glory
Hole - Live Through This
Mary J. Blige - My Life
Pavement - Slanted And Enchanted
Dr. Dre - The Chronic
U2 - Achtung Baby
Nirvana - Nevermind
R.E.M. - Out Of Time
Various Artists - Phil Spector, Back To Mono (1958-1969)
Garth Brooks - Ropin' The Wind
James Brown - Star Time
A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory

1980s
Madonna - Like A Prayer
Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
Public Enemy - It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton
R.E.M. - Document
Eric B. And Rakim - Paid In Full
Prince - Sign O' The Times
U2 - The Joshua Tree
Paul Simon - Graceland
Metallica - Master Of Puppets
Run-DMC - Raising Hell
Bob Marley And The Wailers - Legend
Prince - Purple Rain
Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense
Chuck Berry - The Great Twenty-Eight
Michael Jackson - Thriller
AC/DC - Back In Black

1970s
The Clash - London Calling
Parliament/Funkadelic - One Nation Under A Groove
The Sex Pistols - Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
The Eagles - Hotel California
The Ramones - Ramones
Stevie Wonder - Songs In The Key Of Life
Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run
Patti Smith - Horses
Willie Nelson - Red Headed Stranger
Al Green - Call Me
Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
David Bowie - The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust
The Rolling Stones - Exile On Main Street
Stevie Wonder - Talking Book
Jimmy Cliff And Various Artists - The Harder They Come
Joni Mitchell - Blue
Dolly Parton - Coat Of Many Colors
David Bowie - Hunky Dory
Led Zeppelin - IV
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers
Carole King - Tapestry
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On
The Who - Who's Next
Neil Young - After The Gold Rush
Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water
John Lennon - Plastic Ono Band
Van Morrison - Moondance

1960s
The Beatles - Abbey Road
Miles Davis - Bitches Brew
Sly & The Family Stone - Stand!
The Band - The Band
Van Morrison - Astral Weeks
Johnny Cash - At Folsom Prison
Aretha Franklin - Lady Soul
The Beatles - The Beatles ("The White Album")
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced
Aretha Franklin - I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You
The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground And Nico
Bob Dylan - Blonde On Blonde
The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
The Beatles - Revolver
Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited
Otis Redding - Otis Blue
The Beatles - Rubber Soul
John Coltrane - A Love Supreme
James Brown - Live At The Apollo (1963)
Ray Charles - Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music
Robert Johnson - King Of The Delta Blues Singers

1950s
Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue
Little Richard - Here's Little Richard
Frank Sinatra - Songs For Swingin' Lovers
Frank Sinatra - In The Wee Small Hours

[cartman]

I saw this as well. If there is Top 100 list of 'Bad Top 100 lists', this one would rank near the top.

A lot of big albums not listed (such as the ones you mentioned), and quite a few crap ones included (yes, I'm looking at you Plastic Ono Band).

[EagleFan]

Any top whatever list that has Kanye West on it can't be taken seriously anyway.

[Crapshoot]

Crap list - the 70's without Blood on The Tracks ? Sam Cooke?
No A Hard Day's Night? No GNR?

[QuikSand]

I will pass on my usual generic comment about every list being easy to pick apart, and simply renew my objection that I think the wrong Public Enemy album is once again being enshrined.

[molson]

It seems like music is more about preference than any other art form. I mean, people can usually agree that a film or book or painting is great, even if they don't personally enjoy it. The range of opinion on music however, is seemingly infinite.

[bosshogg23]

I will pass on my usual generic comment about every list being easy to pick apart, and simply renew my objection that I think the wrong Public Enemy album is once again being enshrined.

http://shop.bbarak.cz/images/wares/pic_small_1982.jpg

There is the correct album :)

[QuikSand]

Absolutely.

[CraigSca]

YES!!!! The Roses are on there!!!

[Maple Leafs]

As always, the 60s and 70s are over-represented.

[Subby]

I think this is a fantastic list of some random people's favorite albums.

[JPhillips]

Any list is full of stuff to argue about. The only thing I find really odd is the inclusion of greatest hits cds. If they're included can't you make a case that most of these are inferior to a greatest hits collection for the artist?

[VPI97]

YES!!!! The Roses are on there!!!
First one I looked for, too :)

[kurtism]

Without looking at any specific inclusions/exclusions, I think this list is flawed for its emphasis on "Best Of" and "Greatest Hits" albums. If you wanted to compile a collection of great songs, go ahead. But Bob Marley never recorded an album called Legend, and for Elvis to have "top albums" in the 90s and 00s is just silly...

[kurtism]

Dola. The absence of anything by Big Star is a crime.

[Ksyrup]

That list is devoid of anything that I own, let alone made an impact on my musical tastes, aside from Master of Puppets and some 60s/70s stuff. For that reason alone, this list sucks. It looks like nothing more than a combination of most popular albums and politically correct/genre inclusive albums, not to mention a cop out by adding the GH/BO stuff to attempt to include more than just 100 albums, in essence (like listing a top 10 and having a/b/c subparts).

Then again, it IS Time Mag, so what did we expect?

[Desnudo]

Four of the greatest albums from the 2000s are from dead people?

[Ksyrup]

Four of the greatest albums from the 2000s are from dead people?

40% of the top albums of this century are by musicians who haven't been NEAR their peak (or hell, even alive!) in the past 25-50 years.

[Passacaglia]

40% of the top albums of this century are by musicians who haven't been NEAR their peak (or hell, even alive!) in the past 25-50 years.

But still, including anthologies and the like in your 'top albums' list is pretty lame, though.

[Ksyrup]

But still, including anthologies and the like in your 'top albums' list is pretty lame, though.

Without a doubt. If they're gong to do that, then why not include the Now That's What I Call Shit on a Shingle! compilations...

[QuikSand]

Thread progressing pretty much as expected.

That list is devoid of anything that I own, let alone made an impact on my musical tastes, aside from Master of Puppets and some 60s/70s stuff. For that reason alone, this list sucks.

Honestly, if there's basically nothing on this list that even triggers your "influence" list, that's certainly just fine and dandy. But you have basically forfeited any ability to speak about the genre of popular music with any authority beyond your own interests.

[Ksyrup]

I didn't say I haven't heard some or most of this stuff. And certainly, since everything is basically an influence on everything that came after it, there are albums on here by bands that have had an obvious impact on the stuff I like (or the artists who made the music I like). It's just that none of these albums appeal to me to the point where I have decided to purchase (or hell, even d/l for free!) any of it and have any desire/need to listen to it.

I tried Radiohead...I bought OK Computer, listened to it once, tried several times to listen to it again, and finally sold it after a year of collecting dust. Do they trigger, on some level, something on my influence list? Probably. Certainly Oasis does, but I have no need/desire to listen to any of their music.

And I think as a basic point, none of us has any authority to speak about any genre with any authority beyond our interests. I have made it known that I'm not fond of punk, so if I ever comment on a particular punk band, it's with that understanding and should be taken as such. Ironically, I listen to quite a bit of stuff that could/would otherwise be classified as "pop music"...but for the fact that very little of it is popular. Style-wise, there's really no reason it shouldn't be, but it isn't.

[Schmidty]

About time Pavement gets some love.

[Ksyrup]

But you have basically forfeited any ability to speak about the genre of popular music with any authority beyond your own interests.

Another side point...this list is not the top 100 popular albums of all time. It's the top 100 albums of all-time, period. Whether that's measured by album sales, "influence," critical review, or some other basis is, I guess, left up to the reader. So from that standpoint, I'm not really commenting on "popular music" so much as expressing my displeasure that this category, containing the albums they have seen fit to include, does not include a number of albums I consider to be of the "top 100" variety. I don't expect my list of top 100 albums to be the same as theirs, but certainly, I see this list - as I pointed out above - to be more of a popularity/genre-fitting list than a true top 100. That's simply not the way I would define a "top 100." But then again, I'm not selling my list to the broadest possible market, either.

[QuikSand]

I'm not trying to reject your taste in music, Ksyrup, I'm just pointing out that if you reject everything made by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Biob Dylan, Steve Wonder, Ray Charles, Johnny Cash, Sam Cooke, U2, James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, R.E.M., Fleetwood Mac, Michael Jackson, Led Zeppelin, The Beach Boys, Brue Springsteen and all the others on this list as being completely irrelevant to your view of popular music -- then you have simply defined yourself outside the rest of the universe of people for which this list was created.

[cartman]

Anytime they include "Best of" or other kinds of compilations, it should be defined as a "Top Recordings" list, and not a "Top Albums" list.

[Ksyrup]

I'm not trying to reject your taste in music, Ksyrup, I'm just pointing out that if you reject everything made by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Biob Dylan, Steve Wonder, Ray Charles, Johnny Cash, Sam Cooke, U2, James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, R.E.M., Fleetwood Mac, Michael Jackson, Led Zeppelin, The Beach Boys, Brue Springsteen and all the others on this list as being completely irrelevant to your view of popular music -- then you have simply defined yourself outside the rest of the universe of people for which this list was created.

I think I to some extent, that's true. As I mentioned above, the list was created to appeal to a large segment of the population for marketing purposes, which is the first fatal flaw. So my interests/influence list is necessarily more limited than what is captured on this list (or at least, in a "6 degrees of separation" sense, is further from the original). But I'd also say, the further back you go on that list, the more I see music I either own or can acknowledge an influence from.

And again, I don't define this as a view on popular music, but of the top 100 albums of all-time, which is what this purports to be. IMO, this list can, and should, include at least a percentage of albums that the vast majority of people would say, "Who the hell is that?" But that doesn't sell magazines, and because they have to touch on so many genres, doing that would take away from the primary reason for this list.

So I guess I would undoubtedly acknowledge that many of these artists - particularly the older ones - bear some degree of influence on what I like, but I would never consider owning an album by a number of them. Which is what I think I originally posted - aside from MoP and some 60s/70s stuff (particularly the Beatles and Zeppelin), none of this has directly influenced my musical tastes. Now, have some of those artists influenced the artists I listen to? I guarantee all of them have. But the tangential influence is about all I need, and in some respect, despite the influence, I do not find anything enjoyable about the music of the originals.

Take U2, for example. Outside of Bullet the Blue Sky, I've never really liked a single song I've heard of theirs. Yet early on, they were a huge influence on Doug Pinnick of King's X. But U2 never directly influenced my musical tastes, despite the acknowledged influence they had on KX. Doug's black and left-handed...Hendriz was huge for him. Me? I don't own a single Hendrix album. The early soul/R&B stuff? Bores me to tears. But I'm a huge fan of bands like Follow For Now, 24/7 Spyz, Living Colour, David Ryan Harris, etc., for whom those artists were a clear influence.

[timmae]

Interesting list... most I'd agree with based on my interpretation of "Top 100 Albums" . However, by stating "top album" I too would like to see the compilation "albums" removed. Over a span of a career it is very easy to classify some artists into the greatest category even though they have never had the groundbreaking album that others have had. I'd almost venture to say that there is something in my heart that strays towards the groups that just hit an album perfectly and then were zapped from oblivion for whatever reason. Planets aligning or whatnot... having said all of that the greatest hits packages should qualify the "Greatest Artists" of all time not the greatets album of all time.

[Lathum]

I think it's stupid that the albums from 2000 are mostly artists 30-40 years old. I also think it's BS that appetite for destruction isn't on there as well as bat out of hell.

[Julio Riddols]

It is impossible to put together a top 100 for me, even for personal reasons.. because every time I look at it, I have a change or two I want to make.

I did, however, have a good idea of how the top 100 times I took a shit should line up, especially at number one.. Hoo boy..

[cartman]

I did, however, have a good idea of how the top 100 times I took a shit should line up, especially at number one.. Hoo boy..

Absolutely true. No one ever forgets their #1 ranked #2.

[Maple Leafs]

I also think it's BS that appetite for destruction isn't on there
At least they had the good sense to include it in the accompanying "What Album Did We Leave Out" poll?

[timmae]

has anyone ever done an FOFC Top 100 list/poll? It'd be interesting to see what the crew around here would actually include...

[Critch]

Any list of a top 100 albums that chooses "London Calling" by The Clash ahead of "The Clash" by The Clash is beneath contempt and should be struck from written history.

[Maple Leafs]

Also, any Top [whatever] list that doesn't have the nads to actually list them in order isn't worth debating.

[WVUFAN]

I think Queensryche's "Operation Mindcrime" should be on this list.

[Chief Rum]

I would like to see a Top 100 worst albums, with some kind of required minimum albums sold, so that only fairly well sold albums would be included. Now that would be an interesting list. I'll bet that disco, 80s glam metal and 90s grunge would dominate the list.

[molson]

Another thing I find interesting about these music "debates" is no one can ever actually articulate a reason why one album or artist is better than another. All you ever get is "Any list with X in it is stupid", or "this list worthless because it doesn't have X". Occasionally you'll hear something vague about "influence", but I don't see how even that is relevant to a "best of" list.

[JMO]

Where are 'The Smiths'?

Arguably the biggest British band of the 80s, wildly infuential to this day and they broke America. I know its too much hoping for Joy Division love but The Smiths?

I know a number of people who would regard them as the greatest British band of all time(including myself), and your not going to get laughed out for mentioning it. Big oversight.

Oh yea..Elvis in the 2000s. Bollocks.

[cthomer5000]

Any list of a top 100 albums that chooses "London Calling" by The Clash ahead of "The Clash" by The Clash is beneath contempt and should be struck from written history.

I dunno... i'm as big a Clash fan as you'll find and they're very hard to pin down when talking about best album. First off with "The Clash" you've got radically different UK vs. US versions which probably creates a lot of confusion to begin with. Most people are down on "Give 'Em Enough Rope" (I like it a lot, personally), London Calling is generally the most well-received and has a number of their biggest hits. I think their best material is on Sandinasta, but the album is so absurdly bloated that there is no way I could call it their best album (though when reduced to 1 LP, I would argue it is their best), and no one can seriously consider Combat Rock or Cut The Crap.

London Calling was such a huge musical leap forward for them that I understand why it's considered their best album. To me, it's really a coin flip on best album for them, so i'm fine with any representation.

[cthomer5000]

Man, upon further inspection i'm blown away that PJ Harvey's Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea makes this list. Good album, but by no means top 100 of all-time good. An easy drop, IMHO.

[Ksyrup]

Man, upon further inspection i'm blown away that PJ Harvey's Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea makes this list. Good album, but by no means top 100 of all-time good. An easy drop, IMHO.

That was the "we're Time Magazine, and this shows we're hip" pick.

[Butter]

Hole makes the list? HOLE? That album was saved from horrificness by 2 decent songs. These kind of lists are just an exercise to show how "cool" the listmakers are. Mostly total crap.

[Critch]

London Calling was such a huge musical leap forward for them that I understand why it's considered their best album. To me, it's really a coin flip on best album for them, so i'm fine with any representation.

Yeah I agree it's pretty close, I was going for the over-the-top hyperbole to fit in with the other posts :)

I'd give The Clash the nod over London Calling as London Calling has a lot of good, but it gets stuck into the same bloated bracket as Sandinista. When I listen to London Calling (because nothing says punk rebellion like listening to The Clash on your iPod at work), I'll flip through at least half the songs. With The Clash (US version?, the one with "White Man in the Hammersmith Palais") I'll only flip through about 3 songs, so The Clash wins it for me.

edit to save dola - so 4 of the 9 cds from the 2000's are greatest hits from performers from prior decades. That either means 2000's music is crap or the voters are all 40-something music journalists.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Just out of curiosity, I looked at the list a little more closely.

-- I currently own/have ever owned 7 of the 100 albums listed here.
-- I have ever owned any album by just 12 of the artists represented in this list. (Hank Williams, Garth Brooks, Metallica,Run-DMC,Prince,Michael Jackson,AC/DC, The Eagles,Black Sabbath,Johnny Cash,Frank Sinatra)

Which doesn't really affect much of anything, I just figured I'd post that bit of trivia anyway.

[Julio Riddols]

Absolutely true. No one ever forgets their #1 ranked #2.

Good to see someone in here besides myself has their shit in order. :)

[MizzouRah]

No Van Halen - 1984? At least Run DMC and raising hell is on there.

[Young Drachma]

I'm working on a Top 100 list for just albums released this year (or a few random ones that I heard this year for the first time...that I figure are obscure) and I can really say that it's hard to deny your own influences and you can tell with this list, they wanted to try to get a bit of everything so they didn't get accused of ignoring something.

But they clearly weren't trying that hard, in spite of themselves.

[Jaguars]

Really surprised Darkside of the Moon is not on there...