The Definitve 200 -- A new "Best Album of All Time List" (1 Viewer)

[Dave Hahn]

Here is the story as reported by Amazon.com




1.BEATLES – SGT. PEPPER’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND
2.PINK FLOYD – DARK SIDE OF THE MOON
3.MICHAEL JACKSON – THRILLER
4.LED ZEPPELIN – LED ZEPPELIN IV
5.U2 – JOSHUA TREE
6.ROLLING STONES – EXILE ON MAIN STREET
7.CAROLE KING – TAPESTRY
8.BOB DYLAN – HIGHWAY ‘61 REVISITED
9.BEACH BOYS – PET SOUNDS
10.NIRVANA – NEVERMIND
11.PEARL JAM – TEN
12.BEATLES – ABBEY ROAD
13.SANTANA – SUPERNATURAL
14.METALLICA – METALLICA
15.BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – BORN TO RUN
16.PRINCE – PURPLE RAIN
17.AC/DC – BACK IN BLACK
18.ROLLING STONES – LET IT BLEED
19.DOORS – DOORS
20.GRATEFUL DEAD – AMERICAN BEAUTY
21.SHANIA TWAIN – COME ON OVER
22.WHO – WHO’S NEXT
23.STEVIE WONDER – SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE
24.FLEETWOOD MAC – RUMOURS
25.PINK FLOYD – WALL
26.ALANIS MORISSETTE – JAGGED LITTLE PILL
27.NORAH JONES – COME AWAY WITH ME
28.EMINEM – MARSHALL MATHERS LP
29.OUTKAST – SPEAKERBOXX-LOVE BELOW
30.DR. DRE – CHRONIC
31.BEASTIE BOYS – LICENSED TO ILL
32.GUNS ‘N ROSES –APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION
33.DIXIE CHICKS – WIDE OPEN SPACES
34.MILES DAVIS – KIND OF BLUE
35.EAGLES – HOTEL CALIFORNIA
36.DEF LEPPARD – HYSTERIA
37.SOUNDTRACK – GREASE
38.MARVIN GAYE – WHAT’S GOING ON
39.BEATLES – WHITE ALBUM
40.SOUNDTRACK – SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER
41.JIMI HENDRIX – ARE YOU EXPERIENCED?
42.BEATLES – REVOLVER
43.BOSTON – BOSTON
44.BON JOVI – SLIPPERY WHEN WET
45.U2 – ACHTUNG BABY
46.WHITNEY HOUSTON – WHITNEY HOUSTON
47.LED ZEPPELIN – LED ZEPPELIN II
48.DAVE MATTHEWS BAND – CRASH
49.ROLLING STONES – STICKY FINGERS
50.GREEN DAY – DOOKIE
51.LED ZEPPELIN – HOUSES OF THE HOLY
52.JONI MITCHELL – BLUE
53.ELVIS PRESLEY – ELVIS AT SUN
54.AEROSMITH – TOYS IN THE ATTIC
55.LAURYN HILL – MISEDUCATION OF LAURYN HILL
56.BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – BORN IN THE U.S.A.
57.50 CENT – GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN’
58.AC/DC – HIGHWAY TO HELL
59.NOTORIOUS B.I.G. – LIFE AFTER DEATH
60.VAN HALEN – VAN HALEN
61.GREEN DAY – AMERICAN IDIOT
62.BLACK SABBATH – PARANOID
63.EMINEM – EMINEM SHOW
64.JEWEL – PIECES OF YOU
65.COLDPLAY – RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD
66.MEATLOAF – BAT OUT OF HELL
67.USHER – CONFESSIONS
68.KID ROCK – DEVIL WITHOUT A CAUSE
69.GEORGE HARRISON – ALL THINGS MUST PASS
70.BILLY JOEL – STRANGER
71.EAGLES – HELL FREEZES OVER
72.VAN MORRISON – MOONDANCE
73.REM – AUTOMATIC FOR THE PEOPLE
74.PHIL COLLINS – NO JACKET REQUIRED
75.METALLICA – MASTER OF PUPPETS
76.FAITH HILL – BREATHE
77.JOHNNY CASH – AT FOLSOM PRISON
78.JOHN COLTRANE – LOVE SUPREME
79.PINK FLOYD – WISH YOU WERE HERE
80.MICHAEL JACKSON – OFF THE WALL
81.MARVIN GAYE – LET’S GET IT ON
82.BOB SEGER – NIGHT MOVES
83.PAUL SIMON – GRACELAND
84.LINKIN PARK – HYBRID THEORY
85.PRINCE – 1999
86.DEF LEPPARD – PYROMANIA
87.JANET JACKSON – CONTROL
88.RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS – BLOOD SUGAR SEX MAGIK
89.DIRE STRAITS – BROTHERS IN ARMS
90.TUPAC – ALL EYEZ ON ME
91.MATCHBOX TWENTY – YOURSELF OR SOMEONE LIKE YOU
92.RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS – CALIFORNICATION
93.LED ZEPPELIN – PHYSICAL GRAFFITI
94.NELLY – COUNTRY GRAMMAR
95.CREED – HUMAN CLAY
96.CLASH – LONDON CALLING
97.CELINE DION – FALLING INTO YOU
98.NEIL YOUNG – HARVEST
99.SOUNDTRACK – DIRTY DANCING
100.DIXIE CHICKS – HOME
101.TOM PETTY – FULL MOON FEVER
102.VAN HALEN – 1984
103.SOUNDTRACK – TITANIC
104.CROSBY STILLS & NASH – DÉJÀ VU
105.TLC – CRAZYSEXYCOOL
106.BECK – ODELAY
107.KENNY G – BREATHLESS
108.NWA. – STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON
109.SEX PISTOLS – NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS
110.BEATLES – RUBBER SOUL
111.RADIOHEAD – O.K. COMPUTER
112.SIMON & GARFUNKEL – BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER
113.DIXIE CHICKS – FLY
114.METALLICA – AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
115.MICHAEL JACKSON – DANGEROUS
116.MARIAH CAREY – DAYDREAM
117.SOUNDTRACK – TOP GUN
118.ELTON JOHN – GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD
119.POLICE – SYNCHRONICITY
120.NO DOUBT – TRAGIC KINGDOM
121.ROLLING STONES – BEGGAR’S BANQUET
122.R KELLY – R
123.TOOL – LATERALUS
124.OASIS – WHAT’S THE STORY MORNING GLORY
125.BOB MARLEY – EXODUS
126.JOURNEY – ESCAPE
127.CHRISTINA AGUILERA – CHRISTINA AGUILERA
128.JAY-Z – BLUEPRINT
129.ALICIA KEYS – DIARY OF ALICIA KEYS
130.SOUNDTRACK – O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU?
131.CARS – CARS
132.ENYA – DAY WITHOUT RAIN
133.NATALIE COLE – UNFORGETTABLE WITH LOVE NATALIE COLE
134.SOUNDTRACK – FOOTLOOSE
135.LIONEL RICHIE – CAN’T SLOW DOWN
136.SARAH MCLACHLAN – SURFACING
137.BONNIE RAITT – NICK OF TIME
138.METALLICA – RIDE THE LIGHTNING
139.SHERYL CROW – TUESDAY NIGHT MUSIC CLUB
140.FRANK SINATRA – IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS
141.EARTH WIND FIRE – GRATITUDE
142.ZZ TOP – ELIMINATOR
143.WILLIE NELSON – RED HEADED STRANGER
144.JOHN LENNON – IMAGINE
145.TONI BRAXTON – TONI BRAXTON
146.ETTA JAMES – AT LAST
147.ELVIS PRESLEY – ELVIS PRESLEY
148.CAT STEVENS – TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN
149.SMASHING PUMPKINS – MELLON COLLIE & THE INFINITE SADNESS
150.DAVE BRUBECK – TIME OUT
151.JANET JACKSON – JANET
152.QUEEN – A NIGHT AT THE OPERA
153.OZZY OSBOURNE – BLIZZARD OF OZZ
154.WILL SMITH – BIG WILLIE STYLE
155.PRINCE – SIGN OF THE TIMES
156.PUBLIC ENEMY – IT TAKES A NATION OF MILLIONS TO HOLD US BACK
157.BOB DYLAN – BLOOD ON THE TRACKS
158.GEORGE MICHAEL – FAITH
159.BOYZ II MEN – COOLEYHIGHHARMONY
160.DESTINY’S CHILD – WRITING’S ON THE WALL
161.JAY-Z – BLACK ALBUM
162.AVRIL LAVIGNE – LET GO
163.FUGEES – SCORE
164.MADONNA – LIKE A VIRGIN
165.LED ZEPPELIN – LED ZEPPELIN
166.STEVIE RAY VAUGHN – TEXAS FLOOD
167.STONE TEMPLE PILOTS – CORE
168.ORIGINAL CAST – PHANTOM OF THE OPERA HIGHLIGHTS
169.JETHRO TULL – AQUALUNG
170.TUPAC – ME AGAINST THE WORLD
171.DAVID BOWIE – RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST
172.SHAKIRA – LAUNDRY SERVICE
173.SOUNDTRACK – FORREST GUMP
174.AL GREEN – CALL ME
175.CURTIS MAYFIELD – SUPERFLY
176.LIVE – THROWING COPPER
177.GEORGE BENSON – BREEZIN’
178.WHITE STRIPES – WHITE BLOOD CELLS
179.LYNYRD SKYNYRD – PRONOUNCED LEH-NERD SKIN-ERD
180.SADE – DIAMOND LIFE
181.FLEETWOOD MAC – FLEETWOOD MAC
182.PAUL MCCARTNEY & WINGS – BAND ON THE RUN
183.BEYONCE – DANGEROUSLY IN LOVE
184.ANITA BAKER – RAPTURE
185.NAS – IIIMATIC
186.BARBRA STREISAND – A STAR IS BORN
187.EARTH WIND FIRE – THAT’S THE WAY OF THE WORLD
188.ANITA BAKER – RHYTHM OF LOVE
189.JAY-Z – IN MY LIFETIME VOL 1
190.LL COOL J – MAMA SAID KNOCK YOU OUT
191.STEELY DAN – AJA
192.WILLIE NELSON – STARDUST
193.ARETHA FRANKLIN – SPARKLE
194.ANDREA BOCELLI – ANDREA
195.BOB DYLAN – BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME
196.LUTHER VANDROSS – NEVER TOO MUCH
197.U2 – ALL THAT YOU CAN’T LEAVE BEHIND
198.RUSH – 2112
199.OUTKAST – AQUEMINI
200.GRAND FUNK RAILROAD – WE’RE AN AMERICAN BAND[/quote]

There are a few I'd move up, a few I'd move down, a few I'd take off the list, and add at least one that belongs in any list of Rock Albums:

Love's Forever Changes

 

[TravisR]

I think this list (like all Top 10 or 25 or 100, etc. lists) should be looked at in alphabetical order and just ignore chronological listing. No one's ever going to agree with it or like it. I have to say that they covered alot of areas of popular music though- how many times do you see Barabra Streisand on a list with Tool?

That being said, there's glaring omissions to my mind and ludicrously high and undeserving titles on there.

 

[Ryan L. Bisasky]

i think alot of those albums seem to be on their due to the amount of copies they have sold, not the quality of the album (black album, hybrid theory, Human Clay.) And I am sorry, but I like Avril and her music and what not, but more essential then Rush's 2112, and the first Led Zeppelin album??

 

[Al B. C]

171. DAVID BOWIE – RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST

One Bowie album and it comes in at #171.

Ziggy @ #171? The album a lot of music experts tout as the most influental album in the whole decade that was the 70's @ #171.

but....... at #57........

57. 50 CENT – GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN’

Me thinks this is a very flawed poll.

 

[Eric_Connelly]

Who wrote this?

From a change standpoint I would have put ...And Justice for All way above the Metallica-Metallica(Black) Album.

It was the first time a metal band was given some news in the mainstream media, which Metallica promptly ruined by most likely one of the absolute WORST TV performances...I think it was the Grammys? There performance of One was painful to watch and at the time a big disappointment to me.

Prince has 3 albums on the list although I would have moved them up a bit.

Shania Twain at 21 makes no sense to me, nor does Norah Jones as high as she is and Aerosmith as low as they are.

 

[Matt Fisher]

Santana's Supernatural in the top 15!?

And apparently music didn't really exist before 1950

 

[Luna5]

Dixie Chicks in the top 200 of all time? Not that their music is bad but as mentioned in other posts there are a lot more albums tha have stood the test of time that are not in this list. Check back in 10 or 15 years on the Chicks and we'll see were they stand in time.

 

[Eric Peterson]

I was waiting for somebody to start the discussion on this list. I have to say that I'm a lover of lists, because they're fun to debate, but this is the worst one that I've seen in a LOOOOOONG time!!

Major issues:
1. NO Talking Heads - Where the hell is "Remain in Light" or "Fear of Music"
2. Only one Police album and it's "Synchronicity". IMHO it's their worst.
3. Metal is left to 4 Metallica albums and Black Sabbath's Paranoid (HUH?)
4. NO RAMONES!!!!
5. NO Peter Gabriel!!!
6. RAP is almost entirely represented by artists from the mid 90s on.
7. Only one Sinatra album from his streak of brilliant capitol albums
8. Jazz is represented by one Davis & one Coltrane album.
9. THREE Dixie Chicks albums?
10. Shania Twain at 21 - Why not include Garth Brooks or Billy Ray Cyrus?
11. Where is the Cure (Disintegration anyone?)...or Depeche Mode (Violator?)

I don't have as big of an issue about older albums missing because prior to 1960, music was more of a single format. The album format was just beginning to form and didn't take off until the late 50s, so it makes sense that some early artists are missing.

However, there are still huge wholes and albums that are only present due to albums sales.

Overall, one of the most mockable lists that I've ever seen. I reviewed my personal Top 25 and only TWO are represented on this list. I know that I have fairly eclectic tastes, but most of what I've listed above is fairly mainstream.

 

[Sheldon C]

As a Metallica fan, when I noticed that the Black Album was #14 and Master of Puppets was #75 it lets me know right off the bat that quality music took a back seat to the music that sold more albums. I assume that's the method used on most of the pics.

Not that being popular is always bad, but usually the popular stuff is over-rated IMO.

 

[dany]

I've had enough of lists. How about a top ten of lists?

 

[MikeH1]

No Inxs Kick?

And as was mentioned, where's the 80s hip hop? We got a crappy band like Creed at #95 but no NWA?

Something is amiss....

 

[Dave Hahn]

I posted this because it seemed somewhat absurd.

Jazz: No Louis Armstrong?

Swing: No Benny Goodman?

Rock: No Moody Blues?

Granted, both Armstrong and Goodman were known for their singles, but in their later careers they both put out some fine albums.

And Days of Future Passed by the Moody Blues was a landmark rock album.

 

[Jay_B!]

I am not a Metallica fan but I don't see why there is still so much hate for The Black Album. 16 years on and the album continues to sell more annually than many current albums do. Apparently they did something right with that album because it's become Beatles/Floyd/Zeppelin territory in the sense that it just keeps on attracting new fans every year. Isn't that what a legendary album is supposed to be?

 

[Eric Peterson]

I dont' want to sidetrack the thread, but you answered your own question with the first four words


Most early Metallica fans saw the black album as such a drastic change in style and obvious attempt to sell more records that they still haven't forgiven them for it 15 years later. (Pretend that Led Zeppelin put out a polka album) Although, I liked the album at first I never cared for it as much as the earlier efforts. I can also honestly say that I have not played my copy of the black album for at least 10 years. It holds no interest for me. The songs are simple, basic, straight forward hard rock songs and only two of them "Sandman" & "Wherever I May Roam" have a memorable riff.

As Homer would say "BORING!"

 

[Jay_B!]

well, I know a lot of Metallica fans who hate albums like Load and St. Anger, but The Black Album has definately become a modern-day classic and a lot of people seem to classify it alongside albums like Back In Black and Zeppelin IV. Apparently there's something Black has that the other two albums Metallica's done haven't considering Black Album keeps attracting new fans year in and year out, while Load and St. Anger seem to be viewed as products of their era and only hardcore Metallica fans will buy copies of them these days to replace older copies. It's been sixteen years and it seems like you can't kill that album.

As a whole, aren't the most commercially successful albums usually hated by the diehards? Hell, I know Nirvana fans who loathe Nevermind for being too mainstream and Beatles fans who hate Sgt. Pepper and Abbey Road, preferring "Revolver". I've even encountered Michael Jackson fans who consider "Thriller" a blemish on his catalog next to his other albums. Considering all of those, wouldn't The Black Album's lack of popularity with the diehard fans be fitting?

 

[TravisR]

Actually, Straight Outta Compton comes in at 108. Although, I think Creed beating NWA is proof that god is dead.

 

[Brian Perry]

Not a lot of representation from the progressive rock genre (Genesis, Kansas, King Crimson, Dream Theater, etc.) The fact that Grand Funk is even on the list pretty much invalidates it having any merit.

 

[MikeH1]

Ahhh I missed that Travis. I even double checked the list!

Regardless, too many holes in this list IMO for it to be even close to a "Definitive 200".

 

[Brandon_T]

Totally agree. I was very disappointed not to find Genesis on there. Three Dixie Chicks, Creed and some other stuff, but no Genesis?

 

[Marc Colella]

I'm not going to argue the order of the albums on the list (with the exception of Queen's "Night at the Opera" being so low at #152) as it's never easy to place them in order.

However, there is a lot of fluff on this list. I don't have a problem with a Dixie Chicks album being on the list, but 3 of them? No jazz except for one Miles Davis and one John Coltrane album?

Then there's Creed, Shania Twain, Phil Collin's "No Jacket Required", Faith Hill, Matchbox Twenty, Top Gun Soundtrack, Footloose Soundtrack, Avril Lavigne, Shakira? (to name a few). There are albums that I dont like but understand their being on the list, but these ones are very questionable in my opinion.