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From classic rock masterpieces to groundbreaking hip-hop debuts, music history has given us some truly unforgettable records. Join us as we count down our picks for the most important, impressive, and influential albums ever made! Our countdown includes "Thriller," "Nevermind," "The Dark Side of the Moon," and more! Which album do you consider the greatest of all time? Let us know in the comments below!
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00:00We go without you, we go without you.
00:08Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 30 most important, impressive, and influential albums
00:15in the history of music.
00:24Number 30, Exile on Main Street, The Rolling Stones.
00:35While some of their bigger hits can be found elsewhere in their catalog, The Rolling Stones achieved perhaps their greatest
00:41album statement with Exile on Main Street.
00:43Recorded and performed in a raw and visceral fashion, the record has all the hallmarks of a live album.
00:48In fact, it's almost as if the band is jamming in the very room you're playing it in.
00:52You know what I'm bitchin', got my profile be the etchin', go what you know to do just a while.
00:59Initially divisive, it later gained recognition as a masterpiece of atmosphere and authenticity.
01:04On top of that, tracks like Tumbling Dice and Sweet Virginia can be held up to The Stones' very best
01:10work.
01:11Stormy winter, and it's not a friend.
01:19Number 29, Exodus, Bob Marley and the Wailers.
01:31There were many creative highs within Bob Marley and the Wailers' catalog, but for many critics, Exodus was the strongest
01:37and most cohesive set of songs they ever did.
01:40By this time, the group had truly mastered their craft, and Marley's songwriting was ascending to the level that made
01:46him a generational talent.
01:54Songs like Waiting in Vain, One Love, and Three Little Birds are as popular today as they were in the
01:591970s.
02:00Unfortunately, Marley's battle with illness would see him succumb a few years later, but the strength of his output was
02:06truly remarkable.
02:13Number 28, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Simon & Garfunkel.
02:17When you're weary, feeling small.
02:25Ask any fan, and they may be inclined to tell you that Simon & Garfunkel was a rare example of
02:31a group that got better with each passing record.
02:34Unfortunately, when the time came for Bridge Over Troubled Water to come out in 1970, they were on their last
02:39legs.
02:40Like a bridge over troubled water.
02:47That said, as far as parting statements go, Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel gave us something truly masterful with LP
02:54No. 5.
02:54The title track that kicks off the record is frequently cited in discussions over the greatest songs of all time.
03:00It doesn't hurt that the rest of the record is packed to the brim with some of their best material.
03:05It is one of the greatest final albums an artist has ever released.
03:09In his anger and his shame, I am leaving, I am leaving, but the fighter still remains.
03:18Number 27, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
03:21Lauryn Hill.
03:21Although she was already established as a force to be reckoned with due to her work with the Fugees,
03:26Lauryn Hill was about to take her legacy to another level with her solo debut.
03:30It ain't working, it ain't working, it ain't working, it ain't working.
03:36The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was an instant hit thanks to its fusion of hip-hop, soul, R&B, and
03:41reggae,
03:42unified by deeply personal songwriting.
03:44It was catchy but layered, and made Hill a star.
03:48Watch out, some guys, some girls are only about that thing.
03:55Of course, she wasn't destined to spend long in the spotlight,
03:57and to this day, this is her sole studio album.
04:01When it comes to landmark records of the 90s, though,
04:04this one is always in contention for the top spot.
04:07Everything is everything.
04:09Everything is everything.
04:12Everything is everything.
04:14Number 26, Tapestry, Carole King.
04:17I feel the earth move under my feet.
04:21I feel the sky tumbling down.
04:25Songwriters don't often come around quite as innately talented as Carole King,
04:29potent with lyrics and melody in equal measure without losing any universal appeal.
04:34On Tapestry, King delivers deeply personal performances grounded in universal themes of love,
04:39resilience, and self-discovery.
04:41I've yet to find
04:44Oh, but you're so far away
04:48Simply put, these are the types of songs that anyone can get behind,
04:53and the fact that King's work is so widely adored and covered is no accident.
04:57For many fans, this was her finest hour,
05:00and more broadly, it helped define the singer-songwriter movement of the 1970s,
05:05shifting pop music toward introspective storytelling.
05:08It is a timeless work from one of the era's most important song crafters.
05:12You're gonna find, yes you will
05:14That you're beautiful
05:17As you feel
05:20Number 25, To Pimp a Butterfly, Kendrick Lamar
05:24Now I run the game, got the whole world talking
05:26King Cooter, everybody wanna cut the legs off him
05:28Cooter, black man taking no loss
05:30After stunning the world with the conceptual genius of his album, Good Kid, Mad City,
05:36people knew that Kendrick Lamar was a special talent
05:38that still did not prepare the world for the left turn that was To Pimp a Butterfly.
05:42Instead of striving for even more commercial success with a more accessible sound,
05:47Lamar did something very unexpected.
05:49Liberty captivity raised my cap salary, salary
05:51Telling me green is all I need
05:52Evidently all I seen was spamming raw sardines
05:55He delivered an album that stood as a celebration,
05:58not only of hip-hop, but of black musical tradition more broadly.
06:01It's a sprawling concept album that mixes hip-hop, funk, jazz, soul, and R&B together,
06:07forming something that was utterly groundbreaking.
06:10Even a quick glance at the guest musician says a lot.
06:13Kendrick took an almighty gamble and ended up crafting something special.
06:16If you hear me, if you feel me, we gon' be alright
06:18What you want, you a house, you a car, 40 acres, and a mule, a piano, a guitar, anything, see
06:23my name is Lucy
06:24Number 24, The Joshua Tree, U2
06:33After bursting onto the scene with some punchy and immediate singles and albums through the mid-1980s,
06:39U2 decided to switch things up for album number 5.
06:41With The Edge's unconventional guitar work at the core,
06:44they strove for a sound that was more detached from regular song structure with The Joshua Tree.
06:48Little did they know that their experiments would result in one of the most important rock albums of its time.
07:01With the opening seconds of Where the Streets Have No Name,
07:04it's easy to tell that this is not your regular rock album.
07:07With this LP, U2 carved out a sound for themselves that was completely new,
07:12and yet accessible enough to make them the biggest band on earth.
07:15I can't live with or without you
07:23Number 23, Jagged Little Pill, Alanis Morissette
07:34After toiling away in the early 90s with limited success as a dance pop artist,
07:39Alanis Morissette pulled off a truly inspired career U-turn with her third album, Jagged Little Pill.
07:44It was a far more raw and visceral listen than anything she had done before,
07:48but it never lost its pop sensibility.
07:51In fact, she was an unavoidable presence at the top of the charts
07:54nearly every time she put out a single from this record.
07:57You live, you learn, you love, you learn.
08:02On this album, she absolutely nailed her sound,
08:05channeling anger, vulnerability, and irony into sharply written,
08:09hook-driven songs that resonated with a huge audience.
08:12Though this was certainly her creative and commercial peak,
08:15it was nothing short of a sensational success.
08:23Number 22, OK Computer, Radiohead
08:26After officially taking off from a critical standpoint with their sophomore effort,
08:38at the Benz, Radiohead could have very easily doubled down and played it safe with album number three.
08:51Instead, 1997's OK Computer took rock and roll to a place that many fans could never have imagined.
08:56The end result is an epic 12-track saga that is filled to the brim with paranoia,
09:01anxiety, pessimism, and some of the best songwriting of the 1990s.
09:05Tom York and the boys may have already proven their skills with their last album,
09:09but on OK Computer, they officially shot into the stratosphere.
09:13Of course, they would immediately pivot in an entirely different direction with album number four, Kid A,
09:18but this record made them living legends.
09:27Number 21, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Elton John
09:31During his prime years, the hits never really stopped flowing for Elton John.
09:43However, for most, the most impressive full album he ever made was 1973's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
09:50As a double album, it spans glam rock, piano ballads, theatrical pop, and cabaret-inflected storytelling,
09:57demonstrating rare stylistic range without losing cohesion.
10:06Of course, the hits are just as strong as ever,
10:09with the title track, Candle in the Wind, Benny and the Jets,
10:13and Saturday Night's All Right for Fighting being some of his best.
10:16The production is lush and keeps John and his piano at the center of it all.
10:20To this day, it is regarded as a benchmark for pop rock studio album Greatness.
10:31Number 20, A Night at the Opera, Queen
10:34A Night at the Opera captures all of the wonder of Queen's musical greatness.
10:45Their unique hold on rock music couldn't be more apparent than on this 1975 album.
10:49Combining massive arena sound and theatrical production,
10:52the four-piece comes to life in this track list.
10:55I'm just a poor boy and nobody loves me.
10:58He's just a poor boy from a poor family.
11:01The most memorable moment comes with the epic and operatic movements on Bohemian Rhapsody.
11:05Both heart-wrenching and triumphant,
11:07this suite juggles diverse influences in one climactic performance.
11:11Freddie Mercury's vocal skills really stand out throughout this iconic release.
11:15His incredible range shines on everything from the catchy You're My Best Friend
11:19to the romantic highs on Love of My Life.
11:22Love of my life
11:25Love of my life
11:27Number 19, Enter the Wu-Tang Clan
11:3036 Chambers, Wu-Tang Clan
11:37Rap groups were never more fully loaded or talented than this one.
11:41Wu-Tang Clan came together for this influential debut,
11:44throwing out the textbook of hip-hop samples for something fresher.
11:51Producer and performer RZA uses his love of martial arts films
11:54in sounds that hadn't been heard on any album before,
11:57essentially creating a new genre.
11:59On top of this foundation, MCs like Raekwon, Ghostface Killa, and Method Man introduce themselves.
12:05It's the Method Man for short, Mr. Map
12:07Just when you think a track has enough rappers,
12:09even more emerge for extensive verses and iconic rhymes.
12:13The singles like Protect Ya Neck and Cream are just the tip of this iceberg.
12:17Guys, you don't shut everything around me
12:19Cream, get the money
12:20Dollar, dollar bill, yo
12:24Number 18, Paranoid, Black Sabbath
12:33Following an impressive debut,
12:35Black Sabbath was more than ready to unleash havoc with their second release.
12:39Paranoid is one of the heaviest records of its time,
12:42bringing heavy metal to the mainstream.
12:44This includes the searing War Pigs,
12:46setting the stage for an inventive and gritty journey.
12:50Politicians hide themselves away
12:53Tony Iommi's guitar riffs take over on Paranoid and the anthemic track Iron Man.
12:59Has he lost his might
13:02Daisy or is he blind
13:05With Ozzy Osbourne on vocals,
13:07the group launches offensives on listeners with a deadly combination of music and lyrics.
13:12The band's work here wouldn't be complete without the rhythm section of Geezer Butler and Bill Ward.
13:17It's an unforgettable album that hasn't lost any of its intensity.
13:27Number 17, Dreaming of You, Selena
13:36Popularizing the Tejano style of music,
13:38the late Selena Quintanilla Perez delivered a successful and historic album in 1995.
13:44Dreaming of You delights both pop and Latin music fans with its engaging production.
13:57The track list is full of crossover hits that range from upbeat tunes to emotional ballads,
14:02showcasing her one-of-a-kind voice.
14:04These songs helped to break down barriers between English and Spanish language music.
14:15The fact that it was a posthumous release puts into perspective the impact of her brief career.
14:20In an album that transcends her tragic story,
14:22the vocalist proves herself as a solo artist with an enduring legacy.
14:27I could fall in love with you
14:35Number 16, Songs in the Key of Life
14:38Stevie Wonder
14:39As both a songwriter and vocalist,
14:45Stevie Wonder was on fire in the 1970s.
14:47From Grammys to hit albums,
14:49the artist capped off an impressive streak of success with this album.
15:00It includes many of his most notable songs in richly layered productions.
15:05Bursting with pure joy,
15:06Wonder's killer melodies are better than ever on the likes of Isn't She Lovely.
15:18There are also deeper tracks like Summer Soft,
15:21which could be mega hits on a lesser performer's record.
15:24This collection of classic music feels like an effective victory lap for a singer at the top of his game.
15:38Number 15, At Last, Etta James
15:41With this debut album,
15:52the amazing Etta James kicked off a long and influential career which landed her in the Rock and Roll Hall
15:57of Fame.
15:58Her crowning achievement on this classic album is her brilliant rendition of the title track.
16:02At last
16:08In just a few seconds, the song reveals the incredible power of her voice and joyous musicality.
16:15I found a dream
16:18That I could speak to
16:24Legendary in the blues and R&B community,
16:26Her work on this release influenced a host of R&B legends to cover songs like At Last.
16:31Anyone looking for a classic, soulful album should look no further than this stunning achievement.
16:47Number 14, Purple Rain, Prince and the Revolution
16:58For the soundtrack of his hit film, Prince doesn't waste any time getting people ready to dance.
17:04Let's Go Crazy is a jolt of musical joy that finds the artist in top form.
17:08I'm gonna let me get a bit of break
17:11I'm gonna let's go
17:13Not to be outdone, the ballad mega-hit Purple Rain is another fantastic side of this performer's eclectic sound.
17:20It's a love song that hasn't lost any of its luster, much like the rest of this perfect collection.
17:25Purple Rain, Purple Rain
17:32From funk to rock, the artist shines as a vocalist and musician on every single track.
17:38Whether you love watching the movie or listening to the record, this music ranks as some of the best of
17:43the 1980s.
17:44This is what it sounds like when the girls cry
17:49Number 13, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, David Bowie
18:04While his career can't be boiled down to one album, David Bowie became an icon with the artistry on The
18:09Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust.
18:11His legendary character brings science fiction elements and human-like vulnerability to these songs.
18:16We got five years
18:18Stuck on by
18:21Five years
18:23The glam rock numbers such as Suffragette City bring both serious energy and sonic excellence.
18:28I'll need army members
18:30You can't afford the tickets
18:32Back from Suffragette City
18:34Beyond all the incredible myth-making, Bowie's songwriting talents are on full display in Starman and the title track.
18:41He both embraces the rock star lifestyle and pokes fun at it.
18:44And this album pushed the boundaries of what an artist can do with their persona.
18:49Take me to the sun, come and do the time
18:54Number 12, London Calling, The Clash
18:57London calling through the faraway towns
19:00Now war is declared and battle come down
19:03Released in the UK at the tail end of the decade, this all-time amazing album by The Clash kept
19:09them at the forefront of punk and post-punk music.
19:12They brought together all of their influences into an incredibly musically diverse record.
19:16Politically charged, but in an accessible way, the group blends reggae and rock together seamlessly with strong messages.
19:23Cause London is brown and I live by the river
19:28London Calling still works as an anthem for both Londoners and citizens of the world to enjoy.
19:34The band members do not hold their creativity back, unafraid of breaking from their more aggressive beginnings.
19:45There's also, of course, the track Train in Vain, which is a timeless rock classic.
19:58Number 11, Pet Sounds, The Beach Boys
20:00Growing artistically from their wonderful surfer-themed hits, The Beach Boys became much more than just a surf band.
20:14Their producer and chief songwriter Brian Wilson decided to push their careers into uncharted territory in the mid-1960s.
20:20His studio techniques and melodic sensibilities created pet sounds.
20:31It also revealed the finer elements of Wilson's songwriting, deeply influenced by and influencing bands such as the Beatles.
20:39This album includes songs such as God Only Knows, with its incredible chord progressions.
20:51The sunshine of Wouldn't It Be Nice gives way to a mix of pop tunes, ballads and even instrumentals.
20:58This became known as one of the most critically regarded albums of all time.
21:09Number 10, Ready to Die, The Notorious B.I.G.
21:19In a bold debut, The Notorious B.I.G. stakes his claim for rap supremacy.
21:25The album charts his life from birth to fame, with more extensive details than some full-length biographies.
21:31Born sinner, the opposite of a winner. Remember when I used to eat sardines for dinner?
21:35Biggie Smalls shows off his flow on memorable songs like Juicy, and his verses and rhymes still stand out as
21:41some of the best of any decade.
21:43Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, when I was dead broke, man, I couldn't picture this.
21:48Full of attitude and embracing the hardcore life, this bad boy release shows the artist's honest look at his complicated
21:54life, kicking off his short and incredible career.
21:57Smalls never sounded better than on this fully loaded and free-spirited record.
22:01Lyrically, I'm supposed to represent. I'm not only the client, I'm the player president.
22:06Number 9, At Folsom Prison, Johnny Cash.
22:09Hello, I'm Johnny Cash.
22:14For this live album, Johnny Cash reinvented himself and reclaimed his earlier success.
22:19The country star came off some turbulent years with substance use to perform at Folsom Prison.
22:24I'm stuck in Folsom Prison, and time keeps dragging on.
22:30In one of the most unconventional venues imaginable, the performer became even more of a legendary figure in music history.
22:37With both original songs and covers, Cash provides all the raw power of an artist with nothing to lose.
22:43He uses his backing band and June Carter to great effect on tracks like Jackson.
22:48With his unmistakably deep voice, the singer conjures up all of his magic for the performance of a lifetime.
23:01You could cite other country recordings alongside this one, but few can match the unique circumstances of this classic.
23:07She walks these hills in a long black veil.
23:14Number 8, Blue, Joni Mitchell.
23:17I am on a lonely road and I am traveling, traveling, traveling, traveling.
23:24On her fourth album, Joni Mitchell poured her heart and soul into 10 fantastic tracks.
23:29All I really, really want is love to do.
23:35These include references to high-profile relationships that shaped her life in the early 1970s.
23:40From the folksy all I want to the heartbreaking river, Mitchell doesn't hold back in describing her state of mind.
23:46I wish I had a river I could skate away on.
23:54The artist's brutal honesty sets the stage for a perfect snapshot of her inner thoughts.
23:59To deliver her vulnerable lyrics, Mitchell creates exceptional compositions that feel fresh and dynamic all these years later.
24:06She more than earns her status as one of the best singer-songwriters and guitarists with this incredible release.
24:12I could drink a case of you.
24:20Number 7, What's Going On?
24:22Marvin Gaye.
24:23My mother, there's too many of you crying.
24:29Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
24:33Synonymous with the wonders of Motown, Marvin Gaye represents the best of R&B and soul music.
24:39His career-defining work on What's Going On includes many of his greatest tracks.
24:43Talk to me, sister.
24:45So you can see, sister.
24:47Oh, what's going on?
24:49What's going on?
24:50It also includes some of his most socially conscious lyrics, discussing the pressing issues of the early 1970s.
24:56Gaye reveals his feelings about civil rights and the Vietnam War in profound statements.
25:01He also talks about the environment in the memorable Mercy, Mercy Me, The Ecology.
25:10Blending social commentary and musical excellence, this record reveals the breadth and depth of the singer's artistry.
25:21Number 6, Rumors, Fleetwood Mac.
25:26Isn't the right thing to do?
25:30Much more than a breakup album, Rumors often receives attention for its troubled origins.
25:36But the result transcends any one relationship or marriage.
25:40You can go your own way.
25:44Go your own way.
25:46Fleetwood Mac came together to create a timeless list of classic songs from multiple writers.
25:51Lindsey Buckingham's underrated guitar parts provide the perfect energy for second-hand news and go your own way.
25:57Christine McVie delivers moving love songs that include the piano ballad Songbird and the upbeat You Make Loving Fun.
26:08At the center of it all, Stevie Nicks steals the show with iconic compositions that include dreams.
26:15Few groups can provide that kind of eclectic artistry in one pristine collection of rock.
26:20A trend only happens when it's raining.
26:27Number 5, Nevermind, Nirvana.
26:30Come as you are, as you were.
26:34Few albums better capture the start of a decade than Nevermind.
26:38Nirvana's breakthrough didn't create grunge, but it did widely introduce the genre to the world.
26:43Kurt Cobain's sharp lyrics and snarling vocals spoke to a new generation of kids looking for a savior.
26:55With a mixture of rock and punk styles, the band created a cocktail that crossed musical boundaries.
27:00The work of bassist Chris Novoselic and drummer Dave Grohl rounded out the singer's visionary music.
27:06Laying a template for 1990s rock, anthems such as Smells Like Teen Spirit altered the landscape of pop culture.
27:16Number 4, Led Zeppelin 4, Led Zeppelin.
27:28Although officially untitled, the album more commonly known as Led Zeppelin 4 is widely regarded as the closest that Robert
27:36Plant & Company came to rock and roll perfection.
27:38From the opening bars of Black Dog to the final moments of When the Levee Breaks, it does not drop
27:43its momentum for a second.
27:53Side one closer Stairway to Heaven is frequently called the greatest rock song of all time.
27:58But there are seven other tracks here that consistently rank among Zeppelin fans' favorites.
28:03In terms of content, production and performance, it rarely got any better than this.
28:21The best-selling album ever by most metrics.
28:25Thriller also ranks among the greatest examples of pop music on record.
28:29The not-yet-controversial Michael Jackson was well into his solo career by 1982 and headed for even greater heights
28:36with this release.
28:40Co-produced by Quincy Jones, the album's cutting-edge sound forever changed music.
28:46The title song hits hard all these years later with a production that blends funky grooves and horror movie references.
28:58The hit singles didn't stop there because the track list is full of them.
29:02Jackson delivers a famously energetic performance on Beat It as well as the iconic Billie Jean.
29:07This is a true landmark album.
29:17Number two, The Dark Side of the Moon, Pink Floyd.
29:27With their eighth album, the progressive group stretch their talents to imaginative heights.
29:32The Dark Side of the Moon ranks among the most successful and acclaimed releases of all time.
29:45Pink Floyd manages to make sounds that feel like you're heading to space and back, creating a soundtrack for a
29:51sci-fi film that doesn't exist.
29:53Few albums can reach the soaring highs of The Great Gig in the Sky and the groovy bass lines of
29:59Money all in one collection.
30:06Once experimental and now a confirmed classic, the atmospheric record never fails to inspire with its brilliant lyrics and music.
30:14It was far from the band's final masterwork either, who ended the 1970s with The Wall.
30:27Before we continue, be sure to check out WatchMojo's 24-hour livestream.
30:31All of your favorite videos in one place, 24-7.
30:35Always on, always live.
30:37Are you not entertained?
30:39Number one, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles.
30:43It was 20 years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play.
30:49After the band stopped touring, The Beatles' best work came out in stellar albums, including this masterpiece.
30:55The experimental record features a revolutionary mixture of rock and pop, which all comes together like a spectacular show.
31:02Lucy in the sky, we dive on.
31:07It includes everything from orchestral numbers to traditional Indian music-inspired pieces.
31:12Each group member contributes mightily themselves, with even Ringo getting one of the album's most triumphant moments on with a
31:18little help from my friends.
31:23It all comes down to the final number, A Day in the Life, which stands as one of John and
31:28Paul's finest collaborations.
31:30We'd love to tell you.
31:35And while Sgt. Pepper's might be their crowning achievement, that doesn't discount their giant achievements on later classics like Abbey
31:42Road.
31:42What do you consider to be the top five greatest albums of all time?
31:46Let us know in the comments.
31:49Sgt. Pepper's might be your checkout, or half?
31:53We'll see you next time.