THE FIFTY BEST ALBUMS OF ALL TIME

Is this list the universally valid ranking of the aesthetic artworks of twentienth century music or simply fifty of my favourite albums? Personally, I'd venture that it is neither. I am not going to philosophise extensively here about the possibility of assessing art objectively but, personally, I think there is some truth in the position. There must be something within the art itself that we like and that makes it good. When we talk we talk of "good" music, we rarely just resort to "favourite" music. I don't even know what my favourite albums are. On the other hand, I don't think there are any rigorous standards so that an omniscient being would be able to "know" what the best albums ever are. There is no correct list up in heaven. There is no true answer. There is something, however, that is more than just a list of favourites. Thus, this list is an attempt by me to rank those albums that I own in order of their quality. Obviously I am biased to what I like so personal favourites do figure ahead of critically acclaimed classics but this list has to be personal and I honestly do believe, for example, that LAMF is better than Forever Changes. My belief might be wrong but it is mine nonetheless. As with the top twenty bands list I'm only going on what I know so please don't berate me for not including albums that I don't own. That said, you might like to note that, yes, I do own Nevermind. Also, like the bands list, the list will change as I buy more classic albums - it is an on-going project.

Last Updated: 21.3.05

Jack Feeny's Fifty Best Albums of All Time:

  1. Highway 61 Revisited (1965) - Bob Dylan
  2. Abbey Road (1969) - The Beatles
  3. Blonde on Blonde (1966) - Bob Dylan
  4. Astral Weeks (1968) - Van Morrison
  5. Electric Ladyland (1968) - Jimi Hendrix Experience
  6. Blood on the Tracks (1975) - Bob Dylan
  7. The Beatles (1968) - The Beatles
  8. OK Computer (1997) - Radiohead
  9. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) - The Beatles
  10. Let it Bleed (1969) - The Rolling Stones
  11. The Modern Lovers (1976) - The Modern Lovers
  12. The Queen Is Dead (1986) - The Smiths
  13. Kind of Blue (1959) - Miles Davis
  14. Revolver (1966) - The Beatles
  15. Marquee Moon (1977) - Television
  16. A Love Supreme (1964) - John Coltrane
  17. London Calling (1979) - The Clash
  18. Rain Dogs (1985) - Tom Waits
  19. Dark Side of the Moon (1973) - Pink Floyd
  20. Closer (1980) - Joy Division
  21. Exile on Main Street (1972) - The Rolling Stones
  22. Fun House (1970) - The Stooges
  23. What's Going On (1971) - Marvin Gaye
  24. Trout Mask Replica (1969) - Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band
  25. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995) - The Smashing Pumpkins
  26. Led Zeppelin IV (1971) - Led Zeppelin
  27. Bringing it all Back Home (1965) - Bob Dylan
  28. The Holy Bible (1994) - Manic Street Preachers
  29. Pet Sounds (1966) - The Beach Boys
  30. Rubber Soul (1965) - The Beatles
  31. L.A.M.F. (1977) - Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers
  32. Ride the Lightning (1984) - Metallica
  33. Sign 'O' the Times (1987) - Prince
  34. On the Beach (1974) - Neil Young
  35. The Velvet Underground and Nico (1967) - The Velvet Underground and Nico
  36. Are You Experienced? (1967) - Jimi Hendrix Experience
  37. Grace (1994) - Jeff Buckley
  38. The Ramones (1976) - The Ramones
  39. Appetite for Destruction (1987) - Guns n'Roses
  40. Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978) - Bruce Springsteen
  41. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972) - David Bowie
  42. Forever Changes (1967) - Love
  43. Paranoid (1971) - Black Sabbath
  44. Source Tags & Codes (2002) - ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead
  45. Rage Against the Machine (1992) - Rage Against the Machine
  46. In a Silent Way (1969) - Miles Davis
  47. Sticky Fingers (1971) - The Rolling Stones
  48. The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967) - Pink Floyd
  49. Pink Moon (1972) - Nick Drake
  50. At Folsom Prison (1968) - Johnny Cash

From: Grant Snider

After reading your fifty greatest albums list, I wanted to put in my two cents. Here are some of the best albums that I have heard in my first 17 years of life. Most are mainstream rock, and The Beatles, Radiohead, and Pink Floyd are already on your list. As for the rest, I prefer Evil Empire to Rage's debut album because it is less refined and less repetitive. So Much for the Afterglow is familiar-sounding pop rock, but I've owned it for years and it never gets old. Aenima is arguably the best hard-rock album of the 90's, with disturbing vocals and incredible drumming, and Tom Petty's Greatest Hits [I think that's cheating - JF] is classic rock at its best. If you have any interest in rap "music", then Wu-Tang's debut album is the place to start. I'd be interested to see your review for a rap album, considering you review primarily rock and jazz. Liquid Swords and The Low End Theory are, in my opinion, the best rap/hip-hop records ever made.

From: DeanOfDallas@aol.com

Where's nervans bro...Jeezz I do think sgt. pepers is by far the best...But nevermind changed alot of things for my generation!!

From: Mark Corcoran

Good list and furthermore good site. That said, I think you may be overlooking Hip-Hop (something I did for years) and it's ultimate influence on culture and music worldwide. I also question picking Miles Davis Kind of Blue over Bitches Brew >> An album that is not only disturbingly dark but unimaginably influential as well.

From: Sudio Sudarsan

You may want to call your list 50 albums of the modern rock era. There are some glaring misses - Robert Johnson, The King of the Delta Blues Singers; Mahavishnu Orchestra, Inner Mounting Flame; Hawkwind, Space Ritual; Duke Ellington, Masterpiece; Louis Armstrong, Satchmo at Symphony Hall Volume 1 and 2; Count Basie, Live at Birdland; John Lee Hooker, I am; Charley Patton, Founder of the Delta Blues; Howlin' Wolf, Evil; Hank Williams, Hank Williams Sings; Little Richard, Here's Little Richard; Chuck Berry, One Dozen Berries; Ray Charles, The Genius of Ray Charles; Shakti, Shakti.
Where are other genres of music? Punk (The Clash, Radio Birdman, The Damned, Discharge) Protopunk, Glam, Goth, Rap, Soul, Rhythm and Blues, Hard Bop. The Beatles is over hyped and so is Metallica. No Motorhead, Diamond Head there can be no Metallica. Ask Lars.

From: Trevor Evans-Young

thank you! you actually included The Holy Bible AND Forever Changes on your list. It is nice to know other people have good taste out there :) Based on your taste, there are some things i think you would like: Sonic Youth(daydream nation), The Tragically Hip(fully completely), Husker Du(warehouse:songs and stories). But anyway, i aprove of your favorites.
-Doxxman (aka. paradoxx75@msn.com)

From: Anthony Carr

It is hard to believe Joni Mitchell's Blue is not on your list! There is not one artist by a woman on it! No Janis, No Marianne Faithfull.....

From: Dan Rosenberg

I love your site, and enjoy reading your reviews. I frequently find myself agreeing with them, especially in my areas of expertise - namely Springsteen, the Beatles and Neil Young. Regarding your list of the top-50 albums - mostly I agree with your choices. But I find it a bit worriesome that 8 of the top 10 came out in the 1960s. Does that mean rock n' roll peaked early? I'd guess so. But it's sad that more top-flight material hasn't come out since then. Or maybe we're just too close to the newer stuff to get an historical angle on it.

 

Email me at: jackfeeny@yahoo.co.uk