Apple Music has officially ranked what they consider to be the 100 greatest albums in music history. This prestigious list spans multiple decades and genres, featuring groundbreaking works that have shaped the course of popular music. From timeless classics to contemporary masterpieces, these albums represent the pinnacle of artistic achievement according to Apple Music’s curators.
Below is the complete list for our readers to explore, debate, and use as a guide for essential listening.
- The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill – Lauryn Hill
- Thriller – Michael Jackson
- Abbey Road – The Beatles
- Purple Rain – Prince & The Revolution
- Blonde – Frank Ocean
- Songs in the Key of Life – Stevie Wonder
- Good Kid, M.A.A.D City – Kendrick Lamar
- Back to Black – Amy Winehouse
- Nevermind – Nirvana
- Lemonade – Beyoncé
- Rumours – Fleetwood Mac
- OK Computer – Radiohead
- The Blueprint – Jay-Z
- Highway 61 Revisited – Bob Dylan
- 21 – Adele
- Blue – Joni Mitchell
- What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye
- 1989 (Taylor’s Version) – Taylor Swift
- The Chronic – Dr. Dre
- Pet Sounds – The Beach Boys
- Revolver – The Beatles
- Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen
- Discovery – Daft Punk
- The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars – David Bowie
- Kind of Blue – Miles Davis
- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – Kanye West
- Led Zeppelin II – Led Zeppelin
- The Dark Side of the Moon – Pink Floyd
- The Low End Theory – A Tribe Called Quest
- When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? – Billie Eilish
- Jagged Little Pill – Alanis Morissette
- Ready to Die – Notorious B.I.G.
- Kid A – Radiohead
- It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back – Public Enemy
- London Calling – The Clash
- Beyoncé – Beyoncé
- Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) – Wu-Tang Clan
- Tapestry – Carole King
- Illmatic – Nas
- I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You – Aretha Franklin
- Aquemini – OutKast
- Control – Janet Jackson
- Remain in Light – Talking Heads
- Innervisions – Stevie Wonder
- Homogenic – Björk
- Exodus – Bob Marley & The Wailers
- Take Care – Drake
- Paul’s Boutique – Beastie Boys
- The Joshua Tree – U2
- Hounds of Love – Kate Bush
- Sign o’ the Times – Prince
- Appetite for Destruction – Guns N’ Roses
- Exile on Main Street – The Rolling Stones
- A Love Supreme – John Coltrane
- Anti – Rihanna
- Disintegration – The Cure
- Voodoo – D’Angelo
- (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? – Oasis
- AM – Arctic Monkeys
- The Velvet Underground and Nico – The Velvet Underground & Nico
- Love Deluxe – Sade
- All Eyez on Me – 2Pac
- Are You Experienced? – The Jimi Hendrix Experience
- Baduizm – Erykah Badu
- 3 Feet High and Rising – De La Soul
- The Queen Is Dead – The Smiths
- Dummy – Portishead
- Is This It – The Strokes
- Master of Puppets – Metallica
- Straight Outta Compton – N.W.A
- Trans-Europe Express – Kraftwerk
- SOS – SZA
- Aja – Steely Dan
- The Downward Spiral – Nine Inch Nails
- Supa Dupa Fly – Missy Elliott
- Un Verano Sin Ti – Bad Bunny
- Like a Prayer – Madonna
- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Elton John
- Norman Fucking Rockwell! – Lana Del Rey
- The Marshall Mathers LP – Eminem
- After the Gold Rush – Neil Young
- Get Rich or Die Tryin’ – 50 Cent
- Horses – Patti Smith
- Doggystyle – Snoop Dogg
- Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves
- My Life – Mary J. Blige
- Blue Lines – Massive Attack
- I Put a Spell on You – Nina Simone
- The Fame Monster – Lady Gaga
- Back in Black – AC/DC
- Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 – George Michael
- Flower Boy – Tyler, the Creator
- A Seat at the Table – Solange
- Untrue – Burial
- Confessions – Usher
- Pure Heroine – Lorde
- Rage Against the Machine – Rage Against the Machine
- Astroworld – Travis Scott
- Hotel California – Eagles
- Body Talk – Robyn
A Diverse Musical Landscape
This impressive collection spans over 60 years of recorded music, from the cool jazz of Miles Davis’ “Kind of Blue” (1959) to contemporary works like SZA’s “SOS” (2022). Hip-hop and R&B feature prominently, with Lauryn Hill’s masterpiece claiming the top spot, while rock, pop, and electronic music are also well-represented.
The list shows Apple Music’s appreciation for both commercial success and critical acclaim, featuring mainstream blockbusters alongside influential cult classics. It serves as both a celebration of music’s past and a reflection of current tastes.
For deeper dives into many of these albums, check out our other features and artist spotlights here on the Music Magnet blog.
