Rolling Stones Top 500 Albums of All Time

[Future]

I list of 500 anything is so ridiculous its not worth even doing.

 

[mldardy]

Dark Side is still one of the greatest selling albums of all time and it's only in the 40s. Haha.

I personally don't like it better than the wall but I do like Wish You Were Here better than all of them.

Yeah how could I forget about WYWH. That is their best IMO. Well I don't know I keep going back and forth between that and Animals.

 

[bigdnlaca]

Hate to say this but Outkast @ 361 shouldn't be on the list.

That album was easily forgetable with one popular single.

 

[Phoenix]

Examples?

Nah, I'm not going to give examples. Just expressing my general opinion of the list.

 

[Phoenix]

So, continuing... 250 - 201

250. Jay-Z
- Reasonable Doubt, 1996
249. R.E.M.
- Automatic for the People, 1992
248. Ornette Coleman
- The Shape of Jazz to Come, 1959
247. Grateful Dead
- Live Dead, 1969
246. The Mothers of Invention
- Freak Out!, 1966
245. Jerry Lee Lewis
- All Killer, No Filler!, 1993
244. Eminem
- The Marshall Mathers LP, 2000
243. Black Sabbath
- Black Sabbathm 1970
242. Run-D.M.C.
- Run-D.M.C., 1984
241. The Replacements
- Let It Be, 1984


240. Steely Dan
- Can't Buy a Thrill, 1972
239. Madonna
- Lika a Prayer, 1989
238. Howlin' Wolf
- Howlin' Wolf, 1962
237. The Who
- The Who Sings My Generation, 1966
236. Jackie Wilson
- Mr. Excitement!, 1992
235. Patsy Cline
- The Ultimate Collection, 2000
234. Simon and Garfunkel
- Bookends, 1968
233. The Byrds
- Mr. Tambourine Man, 1965
232. The Kinks
- The Kink Kronikles, 1972
231. Queen
- A Night at the Opera, 1975


230. Bonnie Rait
- Nick of Time, 1989
229. Aerosmith
- Toys in the Attic, 1975
228. Eric B. and Rakim
- Paid in Full, 1987
227. Pixies
- Doolittle, 1989
226. Bruce Springsteen
- Nebraska, 1982
225. Green Day
- American Idiot, 2004
224. Neil Diamond
- The Neil Diamond Collection, 1999
223. U2
- War, 1983
222. Professor Longhair
- New Orleans Piano, 1972
221. My Bloody Valentine
- Loveless, 1991


220. The Meters
- Look-Ka Py Py, 1970
219. Beastie Boys
- License to Ill, 1986
218. The Smiths
- The Queen is Dead, 1986
217. Bobby Bland
- Two Steps From the Blues, 1961
216. Bo Diddley
-Go Bo Diddley, 1990
215. New York Dolls
- New York Dolls, 1973
214. Ike and Tina Turner
- Proud Mary: The Best of Ike and Tina Turner, 1991
213. The Rolling Stones
- Tattoo You, 1981
212. Pavement
- Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, 1994
211. Pink Floyd
- Wish You Were Here, 1975


210. Neil Young With Crazy Horse
- Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, 1969
209. Pearl Jam
- Ten, 1991
208. Cat Stevens
- Tea for the Tillerman, 1970
207. Santana
- Abraxas, 1970
206. Prince
- Dirty Mind, 1980
205. Cream
- Wheels of Fire, 1968
204. Bob Dylan
- Modern Times, 2006
203. Michael Jackson
- Bad, 1987
202. Simon and Garfunkel
- Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, 1966
201. Nine Inch Nails
- The Downward Spiral, 1994

 

[AbeBeta]

Doolittle should be way higher. Any band in the "alternative" genre is going to cite that as a major influence.

 

[mldardy]

Hate to say this but Outkast @ 361 shouldn't be on the list.

That album was easily forgetable with one popular single.

Album is not easily forgettable. Should it be on this list ahead of ATliens and Aquemini? NO. But easily forgettable? NO.

 

[RS12]

Pet Sounds at two and Sgt Peppers at one exactly what I expected. Beatles said Pet Sounds and Brian Wilson was their inspiration for Sgt Peppers. Sgt Peppers has been widely acclaimed the greatest album of all time by the critics. Not saying I believe that, but that is what we have been told for decades.

 

[TheCount]

I list of 500 anything is so ridiculous its not worth even doing.

True, as is nonsense like the quote below.

Hate to say this but Outkast @ 361 shouldn't be on the list.

That album was easily forgetable with one popular single.

The first 360 I'm cool with, but number 361?! How'd that make the Top 400?! At MOST, 440, maybe 430 if we're being generous but not 361!

And for the record, Stankonia is a hell of an album. Any Top Albums list that has Thriller at 20 is dubious in my book

 

[arglebargle]

I can't get into the 'It's at #150, when it should obviously be #213!' thaing. Even if you are right...

As a list of 500 albums you should probably listen to, it seems pretty decent. Filled with recordings that I think are pretty dang good, and others that I have never heard of (but probably should give a spin).

 

[big dog cowboy]

Good Gosh... that Top 10 is atrocious...

Good grief that is a terrible top 10.

 

[Phoenix]

The next 50...

200. AC/DC
- Highway to Hell, 1979
199. The Strokes
- Is This It, 2001
198. Little Walter
- The Best Of, 1957
197. R.E.M.
- Murmers, 1983
196. Various Artists
- Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From the First Psychedelic Er, 1965-1968, 1972
195. John Mayall With Eric Clapton
- Blues Breakers, 196
194. Lou Reed
- Transformer, 1972
193. Green Day
- Dookie, 1994
192. The Flying Burrito Brothers
- The Gilded Palace of Sin, 1969
191. The Stooges
- Fun House, 1970


190. Elvis Presley
- From Elvis in Memphis, 1969
189. Quicksilver Messenger Service
- Happy Trails, 1969
188. Buffalo Springfield
- Buffalo Springfield Again, 1967
187. Peter Gabriel
- So, 1986
186. Sly and the Family Stone
- Fresh, 1973
185. The Stooges
- The Stooges, 1969
184. Madonna
- The Immaculate Collection, 1990
183. Willie Nelson
- Red Headed Stranger, 1975
182. Fleetwood Mac
- Fleetwood Mac, 1975
181. Bob Marley and the Wailers
- Natty Dread, 1974


180. The Rolling Stones
- The Rolling Stones, Now!, 1965
179. Abba
- The Definitive Collection, 2001
178. Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions
- The Anthology 1961-1977, 1992
177. Funkadelic
- One Nation Under a Groove, 1978
176. Aerosmith
- Rocks, 1976
175. The Carpenters
- Close to You, 1970
174. Bob Dylan
- Desire, 1976
173. Todd Rundgren
- Something/Anything?, 1972
172. Rod Stewart
- Every Picture Tells a Story, 1971
171. The Byrds
- The Notorious Byrd Brothers, 1968


170. The Who
- Live at Leeds, 1970
169. Bob Marley and the Wailers
- Exodus, 1977
168. Elvis Costello
- My Aim is True, 1977
167. Metallica
- Master of Puppets, 1986
166. Elvis Costello and the Attractions
- Imperial Bedroom, 1982
165. Marvin Gaye
- Let's Get It On, 1973
164. Linda Ronstadt
- The Very Best of Linda Ronstadt, 2002
163. Prince
- 1999, 1982
162. Radiohead
- OK Computer, 1997
161. Otis Redding
- The Dock of the Bay, 1968


160. T. Rex
- Electric Warrior, 1971
159. Kiss
- Alive!, 1975
158. Elton John
- Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, 1975
157. Joy Division
- Closer, 1981
156. The Beastie Boys
- Paul's Boutique, 1989
155. The Pretenders
- Pretenders, 1980
154. Howlin' Wolf
- Moanin' in the Moonlight, 1959
153. A Tribe Called Quest
- The Low End Theory, 1991
152. The B-52's
- The B-52's, 1979
151. Arcade Fire
- Funeral, 2004

 

[Phoenix]

And completing the run of the first 400 albums... #150 - #101.


150. Bruce Springsteen
- Darkness on the Edge of Town, 1978
149. Santana
- Santana, 1969
148. Led Zeppelin
- Houses of the Holy, 1973
147. Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
- Deja Vu, 1970
146. Jefferson Airplane
- Surrealistic Pillow, 1967
145. Steely Dan
- Aja, 1977
144. N.W.A.
- Straight Outta Compton, 1998
143. Dr. John
- GRIS-gris, 1968
142. Phil Spector
- A Christmas Gift for You, 1963
141. B.B. King
- Live at the Regal, 1965


140. Blondie
- Parallel Lines, 1978
139. The Meters
- Rejuvenation, 1974
138. Dr. Dre
- The Chronic, 1992
137. The Replacements
- Tim, 1985
136. Elton John
- Greatest Hits, 1974
135. Pavement
- Slanted and Enchanted, 1992
134. The Notorious B.I.G.
- Ready to Die, 1994
133. Bruce Springsteen
- The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle, 1973
132. Original Soundtrack (OST)
- Saturday Night Fever, 1977
131. Black Sabbath
- Paranoid, 1970


130. Television
- Marquee Moon, 1977
129. Talking Heads
- Remain in Light, 1980
128. Iggy and the Stooges
- Raw Power, 1973
127. The Byrds
- Younger Than Yesterday, 1967
126. Bob Marley and the Wailers
- Catch A Fire, 1973
125. Janis Joplin
- Pearl, 1971
124. Moby Grape
- Moby Grape, 1967
123. Run-DMC
- Raising Hell, 1986
122. Original Soundtrack (OST)
- The Harder They Come, 1973
121. Sly and the Family Stone
- Stand!, 1969


120. The Byrds
- Sweetheart of the Rodeo, 1968
119. Etta James
- At Last!, 1961
118. Kanye West
- Late Registration, 2005
117. Derek and the Dominos
- Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, 1970
116. The Rolling Stones
- Out of Our Heads, 1965
115. The Who
- The Who Sell Out, 1968
114. Cream
- Disraeli Gears, 1967
113. Joni Mitchell
- Court and Spark, 1974
112. The Mamas and the Papas
- If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears, 1966
111. Radiohead
- The Bends, 1995


110. The Velvet Underground
- Loaded, 1970
109. The Rolling Stones
- Aftermath, 1966
108. David Bowie
- Hunky Dory, 1971
107. Sam Cooke
- Portrait of a Legend, 2003
106. Ramones
- Rocket to Russia, 1977
105. Ray Charles
- Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, 1962
104. James Taylor
- Sweet Baby James, 1970
103. John Coltrane
- Giant Steps, 1960
102. Cream
- Fresh Cream, 1966
101. Frank Sinatra
- In the Wee Small Hours, 1955

 

[RS12]

I have no problem with the top three, gets dicey after that. Keith Richards too high. Most Stones fans will tell you the best guitarist they ever had was Mick Taylor. Tony Iommi, Billy Gibbons, and Ritchie Blackmore way too low. Where are Allen Collins, Kenny Wayne Shepard, and Randy California on this list? Randy California amazed Jimi.

 

[Phoenix]

Getting down to just 50 left...


100. The Zombies
- Odessey and Oracle, 1969
99. Sly and the Family Stone
- There's a Riot Goin' On, 1971
98. Elvis Costello
- This Year's Model, 1978
97. Bob Dylan
- The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, 1963
96. The Who
- Tommy, 1969
95. Miles Davis
- *****es Brew, 1970
94. Hank Williams
- 40 Greatest Hits, 1978
93. Prince
- Sign 'o' the Times, 1987
92. Buddy Holly
- 20 Golden Greats, 1978
91. Elton John
- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, 1973


90. Stevie Wonder
- Talking Book, 1972
89. Dusty Springfield
- Dusty in Memphis, 1969
88. Johnny Cash
- At Folsom Prison, 1968
87. Pink Floyd
- The Wall, 1979
86. Bruce Springsteen
- Born in the U.S.A., 1984
85. Aretha Franklin
- Lady Soul, 1968
84. Aretha Franklin
- I Never Loved a Man the Way I Loved You, 1967
83. The Jimi Hendrix Experience
- Axis: Bold as Love, 1968
82. Neil Young
- Harvest, 1972
81. The Clash
- The Clash, 1979


80. John Lennon
- Imagine, 1971
79. Led Zeppelin
- Led Zeppelin II, 1969
78. Otis Redding
- Otis Blue, 1965
77. AC/DC
- Back in Black, 1980
76. Prince and the Revolution
- Purple Rain, 1984
75. James Brown
- Star Time, 1991
74. Neil Young
- After the Gold Rush, 1970
73. Led Zeppelin
- Physical Graffiti, 1975
72. Curtis Mayfield
- Superfly, 1972
71. Paul Simon
- Graceland, 1986


70. Billy Joel
- The Stranger, 1977
69. Led Zeppelin
- Led Zeppelin IV, 1971
68. Michael Jackson
- Off the Wall, 1979
67. Radiohead
- Kid A, 2000
66. Van Morrison
- Moondance, 1970
65. Phil Spector
- Back to Mono (1958-1969), 1991
64. The Rolling Stones
- Sticky Fingers, 1971
63. U2
- Achtung Baby, 1991
62. Guns N' Roses
- Appetite for Destruction, 1987
61. Sly and the Family Stone
- Greatest Hits, 1970


60. Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band
- Trout Mask Replica, 1969
59. Creedence Clearwater Revival
- Chronicle Vol. 1, 1976
58. The Rolling Stones
- Beggars Banquet, 1968
57. Stevie Wonder
- Songs in the Key of Life, 1976
56. Elvis Presley
- Elvis Presley, 1956
55. The Jimi Hendrix Experience
- Electric Ladyland, 1968
54. Ray Charles
- The Birth of Soul: The Complete Atlantic Recordings, 1991
53. The Beatles
- Meet the Beatles!, 1964
52. Al Green
- Greatest Hits, 1975
51. Simon and Garfunkel
- Bridge Over Troubled Water, 1970

 

[Phoenix]

To wrap this up...

50. Little Richard
- Here's Little Richard, 1957
49. The Allman Brothers Band
- At Fillmore East, 1971
48. Public Enemy
- It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, 1988
47. John Coltrane
- A Love Supreme, 1964
46. Bob Marley and the Wailers
- Legend, 1984
45. The Band
- The Band, 1969
44. Patti Smith
- Horses, 1975
43. Pink Floyd
- The Dark Side of the Moon, 1973
42. The Doors
- The Doors, 1967
41. The Sex Pistols
- Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, 1977


40. Love
- Forever Changes, 1967
39. The Beatles
- Please Please Me, 1963
38. Muddy Waters
- The Anthology, 2001
37. The Eagles
- Hotel California, 1976
36. Carole King
- Tapestry, 1971
35. David Bowie
- The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, 1972
34. The Band
- Music From Big Pink, 1968
33. Ramones
- Ramones, 1976
32. The Rolling Stones
- Let It Bleed, 1969
31. Bob Dylan
- Bringing It All Back Home, 1965


30. Joni Mitchell
- Blue, 1971
29. Led Zeppelin
- Led Zeppelin, 1969
28. The Who
- Who's Next, 19971
27. U2
- The Joshua Tree, 1987
26. Fleetwood Mac
- Rumors, 1977
25. James Brown
- Live at the Apollo, 1963
24. Stevie Wonder
- Innervisions, 1973
23. John Lennon
- Plastic Ono Band, 1970
22. Robert Johnson
- The Complete Recordings, 1990
21. Chuck Berry
- The Great Twenty-Eight, 1982


20. Michael Jackson
- Thriller, 1982
19. Van Morrison
- Astral Weeks, 1968
18. Bruce Springsteen
- Born to Run, 1975
17. Nirvana
- nevermind, 1991
16. Bob Dylan
- Blood on the Tracks, 1975
15. The Jimi Hendrix Experience
- Are You Experienced?, 1967
14. The Beatles
- Abbey Road, 1969
13. The Velvet Underground and Nico
- The Velvet Underground, 1967
12. Miles Davis
- Kind of Blue, 1959
11. Elvis Presley
- The Sun Sessions, 1999


10. The Beatles
- The White Album, 1968
9. Bob Dylan
- Blonde on Blonde, 1966
8. The Clash
- London Calling, 1980
7. The Rolling Stones
- Exile on Main Street, 1972
6. Marvin Gaye
- What's Going On, 1971
5. The Beatles
- Rubber Soul, 1965
4. Bob Dylan
- Highway 61 Revisited, 1965
3. The Beatles
- Revolver, 1966
2. The Beach Boys
- Pet Sounds, 1966
1. The Beatles
- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1967

 

[Phoenix]

Wow, I actually owned approximately 83 of those 500 albums.

 

[AbeBeta]

What is super weird about this list is that there are several compilations/greatest hits albums.

 

[Phoenix]

I thought that a little strange as well. And way too much hip hop / rap from my point of view. Also grunge. There are vast swaths of musical genres not even considered in any of this entire list, which is unfortunate, not to mention many very influential & talented artists who had monster albums, even if it wasn't in the USA. This whole list was totally, and I mean TOTALLY geared to "today's" Rolling Stone magazine male / age range target demographic.

In essence, I found it to be very shallow, way too opinionated and not opened to the musical world except the little 1/8 pie slice that they focused on.

 

[AbeBeta]

I thought that a little strange as well. And way too much hip hop / rap from my point of view. Also grunge. There are vast swaths of musical genres not even considered in any of this entire list, which is unfortunate, not to mention many very influential & talented artists who had monster albums, even if it wasn't in the USA. This whole list was totally, and I mean TOTALLY geared to "today's" Rolling Stone magazine male / age range target demographic.

In essence, I found it to be very shallow, way too opinionated and not opened to the musical world except the little 1/8 pie slice that they focused on.

examples?