As part of their Greatest of All Time issue, Billboard has named the 200 “Greatest” Albums of All Time.
The new, first time ever, list is based on the Billboard 200 Albums from the chart of August 17, 1963, when the magazine combined their separate mono and stereo album charts, through October 10, 2015. An inverse point system was used with number 1 getting the greatest points through the lowest at position 200.
Adjustments were made in point values for different years based on changing chart methodologies. In reviewing the list, remember that this is based on Billboard chart positions and NOT on sales, so there is quite a significant difference between this tally and the RIAA’s list of the best selling albums of all-time.
Adele’s 21 tops the list based on its amazing run in the top twenty albums for more than a year at a time when most albums would hit the upper reaches of the charts and be gone within a couple of weeks. It was 21 that ushered in the era of major British artists hanging for long periods near the top of the charts including Ed Sheeran (X at number 113) and Sam Smith (In the Lonely Hour at number 99).
The Sound of Music soundtrack is at number 2, another album that stayed at the top or near number 1 for a couple of years in the mid-60’s. It is one of 17 soundtrack albums, including a few single artist soundtrack albums, along with three Broadway Original Cast albums in the top two hundred.
Michael Jackson’s Thriller, one of the two biggest selling albums of all-time according to the RIAA, is at number 3. Interestingly, the other, the Eagles’ Greatest Hits didn’t make the list even though The Long Run and One of These Nights are included.
Speaking of Greatest Hits, only three are included, John Denver’s Greatest Hits at 86, the Beatles’ 1 at 131 and Diana Ross and the Supremes’ Greatest Hits at 171.
The Beatles are on the list five times with Sgt. Pepper (#54), A Hard Day’s Night Soundtrack (#105), 1 (#131), Abbey Road (#135) and Meet the Beatles! (#187) but the Rolling Stones have none.
Taylor Swift has four as do Led Zeppelin, although the highest Zeppelin album is Led Zeppelin II at 146. Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, Elton John, Janet Jackson and Nickelback each have three while a host of artists have two.
Here’s the top 100:
21 – Adele
The Sound of Music – Soundtrack
Thriller – Michael Jackson
Fearless – Taylor Swift
Born in the U.S.A. – Bruce Springsteen
Ropin’ the Wind – Garth Brooks
Jagged Little Pill – Alanis Morissette
Doctor Zhivago – Soundtrack
All the Right Reasons – Nickelback
Tapestry – Carole King
Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston
The Fame – Lady Gaga
Whipped Cream & Other Delights – Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass
Come on Over – Shania Twain
Rumours – Fleetwood Mac
Confessions – Usher
Frozen – Soundtrack
Taylor Swift – Taylor Swift
Forever Your Girl – Paula Abdul
Some Gave All – Billy Ray Cyrus
Falling Into You – Celine Dion
Some Hearts – Carrie Underwood
The Bodyguard – Whitney Houston
Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em – M.C. Hammer
Hysteria – Def Leppard
Come Away With Me – Norah Jones
Daughtry – Daughtry
[Hybrid Theory] – Linkin Park
No Fences – Garth Brooks
Cracked Rear View – Hootie and the Blowfish
The Dark Side of the Moon – Pink Floyd
Fallen – Evanescence
Slippery When Wet – Bon Jovi
Human Clay – Creed
Mary Poppins – Soundtrack
Supernatural – Santana
Night Visions – Imagine Dragons
Frampton Comes Alive – Peter Frampton
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Elton John
Metallica – Metallica
…Baby One More Time – Britney Spears
Backstreet Boys – Backstreet Boys
Saturday Night Fever – Soundtrack
Going Places – Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass
Ten – Pearl Jam
4 – Foreigner
Escape – Journey
Can’t Slow Down – Lionel Richie
Spice – Spice Girls
Mariah Carey – Mariah Carey
High School Musical – Soundtrack
The Emancipation of Mimi – Mariah Carey
Blood Sweat & Tears – Blood Sweat & Tears
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band – Beatles
Unorthodox Jukebox – Bruno Mars
The Eminem Show – Eminem
Time, Love & Tenderness – Michael Bolton
Let’s Go – Avril Lavigne
Jesus Christ Superstar – Various Artists
Dirty Dancing – Soundtrack
II – Boyz II Men
In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida – Iron Butterfly
Rock N Roll Jesus – Kid Rock
1989 – Taylor Swift
Appetite For Destruction – Guns N Roses
Hi Infidelity – REO Speedwagon
Tragic Kingdom – No Doubt
Need You Now – Lady Antebellum
Breakfast in America – Supertramp
Millennium – Backstreet Boys
Hannah Montana 2 / Meet Miley Cyrus – Miley Cyrus
Control – Janet Jackson
American Idiot – Green Day
Fleetwood Mac – Fleetwood Mac
Girl You Know It’s True – Milli Vanilli
Here’s to the Good Times – Florida Georgia Line
Breakaway – Kellie Clarkson
My World 2.0 – Justin Bieber
Unplugged – Eric Clapton
The Lion King – Soundtrack
Faith – George Michael
Don’t Be Cruel – Bobby Brown
Hotshot – Shaggy
Wilson Phillips – Wilson Phillips
Country Grammar – Nelly
John Denver’s Greatest Hits – John Denver
Music Box – Mariah Carey
Hangin’ Tough – New Kids on the Block
Chicago II – Chicago
Hello, Dolly! – Original Cast
The Sign – Ace of Base
The Wall – Pink Floyd
Recovery – Eminem
Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814 – Janet Jackson
Asia – Asia
The E.N.D. – The Black Eyed Peas
FutureSex/LoveSounds – Justin Timberlake
Brothers in Arms – Dire Straits
In the Lonely Hour – Sam Smith
The Dutchess – Fergie
The full list of 200 can be seen at Billboard.com.
The magazine also totaled all of the points each artist earned for their entire catalog, compiling a list of the 100 biggest album artists 1963 to today.
The Beatles top the list based on all of their charted albums followed by the previously mentioned Rolling Stones who have charted many albums, just not any long enough to make the previous list. Barbra Streisand is at three followed by Garth Brooks and Elton John.
Here’s the top 40:
Beatles
Rolling Stones
Barbra Streisand
Garth Brooks
Elton John
Mariah Carey
Herb Alpert
Taylor Swift
Chicago
Michael Jackson
Led Zeppelin
Bruce Springsteen
Rod Stewart
Eminem
Whitney Houston
Billy Joel
Madonna
Santana
Eagles
Fleetwood Mac
Bob Dylan
Stevie Wonder
Celine Dion
Eric Clapton
Neil Diamond
John Denver
Pink Floyd
Janet Jackson
Prince
Carole King
Miley Cyrus
Nickelback
Tim McGraw
Van Halen
Beach Boys
U2
Adele
Elvis Presley
Britney Spears
Usher
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