INFINITE TIMELINE
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50 Best Music Albums in History
A curated timeline of the most influential and critically acclaimed albums across all genres and decades.
Events in this Collection
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August 17 1959
BC
Miles Davis 'Kind of Blue'
A jazz masterpiece known for its modal approach and improvisational brilliance.
A jazz masterpiece known for its modal approach and improvisational brilliance.
#jazz
#modal
#50s
×
August 30 1965
BC
Bob Dylan 'Highway 61 Revisited'
A landmark album that blended rock and folk, featuring the iconic "Like a Rolling Stone".
A landmark album that blended rock and folk, featuring the iconic "Like a Rolling Stone".
#rock
#folk
#60s
×
May 16 1966
BC
The Beach Boys 'Pet Sounds'
A groundbreaking album known for its intricate harmonies and innovative production techniques.
A groundbreaking album known for its intricate harmonies and innovative production techniques.
#pop
#rock
#60s
×
August 5 1966
BC
The Beatles 'Revolver'
A groundbreaking album that introduced innovative studio techniques and diverse musical styles, influencing generations.
A groundbreaking album that introduced innovative studio techniques and diverse musical styles, influencing generations.
#rock
#pop
#psychedelic
×
March 12 1967
BC
The Velvet Underground & Nico 'The Velvet Underground & Nico'
An avant-garde classic that challenged musical norms with its experimental sound and provocative lyrics.
An avant-garde classic that challenged musical norms with its experimental sound and provocative lyrics.
#avant-garde
#rock
#60s
×
May 26 1967
BC
The Beatles 'Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band'
A revolutionary album that redefined the possibilities of studio recording and popular music.
A revolutionary album that redefined the possibilities of studio recording and popular music.
#rock
#psychedelic
#60s
×
November 5 1967
BC
Love 'Forever Changes'
A psychedelic rock classic blending folk, rock, and orchestral elements, known for its introspective lyrics.
A psychedelic rock classic blending folk, rock, and orchestral elements, known for its introspective lyrics.
#psychedelic
#rock
#60s
×
November 22 1968
BC
The Beatles 'The Beatles'
Also known as the 'White Album', this double album showcases The Beatles' diverse musical styles and experimentation.
Also known as the 'White Album', this double album showcases The Beatles' diverse musical styles and experimentation.
#rock
#experimental
#60s
×
September 26 1969
BC
The Beatles 'Abbey Road'
A masterful album featuring iconic tracks and innovative production, marking the end of The Beatles' era.
A masterful album featuring iconic tracks and innovative production, marking the end of The Beatles' era.
#rock
#pop
#60s
×
October 10 1969
BC
King Crimson 'In the Court of the Crimson King'
A seminal progressive rock album known for its innovative sound and dark themes.
A seminal progressive rock album known for its innovative sound and dark themes.
#progressive rock
#60s
×
February 10 1971
BC
Carole King 'Tapestry'
A landmark singer-songwriter album featuring heartfelt lyrics and memorable melodies.
A landmark singer-songwriter album featuring heartfelt lyrics and memorable melodies.
#pop
#singer-songwriter
#70s
×
April 23 1971
BC
The Rolling Stones 'Sticky Fingers'
A classic rock album featuring hits like "Brown Sugar" and known for its raw sound.
A classic rock album featuring hits like "Brown Sugar" and known for its raw sound.
#rock
#blues
#70s
×
May 21 1971
BC
Marvin Gaye 'What’s Going On'
A socially conscious masterpiece blending soul and jazz, addressing issues of love and social justice.
A socially conscious masterpiece blending soul and jazz, addressing issues of love and social justice.
#soul
#R&B
#70s
×
June 22 1971
BC
Joni Mitchell 'Blue'
An intimate and confessional album that highlights Mitchell's songwriting and emotional depth.
An intimate and confessional album that highlights Mitchell's songwriting and emotional depth.
#folk
#singer-songwriter
#70s
×
December 17 1971
BC
David Bowie 'Hunky Dory'
A seminal work showcasing Bowie's eclectic style, featuring hits like "Changes" and "Life on Mars?".
A seminal work showcasing Bowie's eclectic style, featuring hits like "Changes" and "Life on Mars?".
#glam rock
#art rock
#70s
×
May 12 1972
BC
The Rolling Stones 'Exile on Main St.'
A sprawling double album blending rock, blues, and country, showcasing the band's raw energy.
A sprawling double album blending rock, blues, and country, showcasing the band's raw energy.
#rock
#blues
#70s
×
June 16 1972
BC
David Bowie 'The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars'
A concept album that introduced Bowie's alter ego, Ziggy Stardust, blending glam rock and theatricality.
A concept album that introduced Bowie's alter ego, Ziggy Stardust, blending glam rock and theatricality.
#glam rock
#art rock
#70s
×
September 13 1972
BC
Yes 'Close to the Edge'
A progressive rock classic known for its intricate compositions and musicianship.
A progressive rock classic known for its intricate compositions and musicianship.
#progressive rock
#70s
×
August 3 1973
BC
Stevie Wonder 'Innervisions'
A socially conscious album blending soul, funk, and jazz, showcasing Wonder's musical genius.
A socially conscious album blending soul, funk, and jazz, showcasing Wonder's musical genius.
#soul
#funk
#70s
×
October 13 1973
BC
Genesis 'Selling England by the Pound'
A landmark progressive rock album featuring complex arrangements and poetic lyrics.
A landmark progressive rock album featuring complex arrangements and poetic lyrics.
#progressive rock
#70s
×
January 20 1975
BC
Bob Dylan 'Blood on the Tracks'
A deeply personal album exploring themes of love and heartbreak, showcasing Dylan's lyrical prowess.
A deeply personal album exploring themes of love and heartbreak, showcasing Dylan's lyrical prowess.
#folk rock
#singer-songwriter
#70s
×
August 25 1975
BC
Bruce Springsteen 'Born to Run'
A rock anthem capturing the spirit of youth and escape, featuring powerful storytelling.
A rock anthem capturing the spirit of youth and escape, featuring powerful storytelling.
#rock
#heartland rock
#70s
×
September 12 1975
BC
Pink Floyd 'Wish You Were Here'
A tribute to former band member Syd Barrett, blending rock and progressive elements with introspective lyrics.
A tribute to former band member Syd Barrett, blending rock and progressive elements with introspective lyrics.
#progressive rock
#70s
×
November 10 1975
BC
Patti Smith 'Horses'
A groundbreaking fusion of punk rock and poetry, establishing Smith as a key figure in the genre.
A groundbreaking fusion of punk rock and poetry, establishing Smith as a key figure in the genre.
#punk
#rock
#70s
×
September 28 1976
BC
Stevie Wonder 'Songs in the Key of Life'
A double album blending soul, funk, and pop, showcasing Wonder's musical genius.
A double album blending soul, funk, and pop, showcasing Wonder's musical genius.
#soul
#R&B
#70s
×
January 14 1977
BC
David Bowie 'Low'
A pioneering album that melded rock and electronic music, known for its experimental soundscapes.
A pioneering album that melded rock and electronic music, known for its experimental soundscapes.
#art rock
#electronic
#70s
×
February 4 1977
BC
Fleetwood Mac 'Rumours'
A classic rock album filled with harmonies and personal lyrics, exploring themes of love and heartbreak.
A classic rock album filled with harmonies and personal lyrics, exploring themes of love and heartbreak.
#rock
#pop
#70s
×
April 8 1977
BC
The Clash 'The Clash'
A debut album that defined punk rock with its raw energy and political lyrics.
A debut album that defined punk rock with its raw energy and political lyrics.
#punk
#rock
#70s
×
October 28 1977
BC
The Sex Pistols 'Never Mind the Bollocks'
A raw and aggressive punk rock album that challenged societal norms and defined a generation.
A raw and aggressive punk rock album that challenged societal norms and defined a generation.
#punk
#rock
#70s
×
December 14 1979
BC
The Clash 'London Calling'
A genre-defying album blending punk, reggae, and rock, known for its socially conscious lyrics.
A genre-defying album blending punk, reggae, and rock, known for its socially conscious lyrics.
#punk
#rock
#70s
×
July 18 1980
BC
Joy Division 'Closer'
A haunting post-punk album known for its dark themes and atmospheric sound, solidifying Joy Division's legacy.
A haunting post-punk album known for its dark themes and atmospheric sound, solidifying Joy Division's legacy.
#post-punk
#rock
#80s
×
June 16 1986
BC
The Smiths 'The Queen Is Dead'
A landmark album blending jangly guitars and poignant lyrics, cementing The Smiths as icons of indie rock.
A landmark album blending jangly guitars and poignant lyrics, cementing The Smiths as icons of indie rock.
#indie rock
#alternative
#80s
×
June 28 1988
BC
Public Enemy 'It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back'
A revolutionary hip-hop album that combined powerful lyrics with innovative production, addressing social issues.
A revolutionary hip-hop album that combined powerful lyrics with innovative production, addressing social issues.
#hip hop
#political
#80s
×
April 2 1989
BC
The Stone Roses 'The Stone Roses'
A landmark debut that fused rock and dance music, known for its anthemic tracks and cultural impact.
A landmark debut that fused rock and dance music, known for its anthemic tracks and cultural impact.
#alternative
#indie
#80s
×
April 17 1989
BC
Pixies 'Doolittle'
An influential album blending punk, surf rock, and surreal lyrics, paving the way for alternative rock.
An influential album blending punk, surf rock, and surreal lyrics, paving the way for alternative rock.
#alternative
#punk
#80s
×
July 25 1989
BC
Beastie Boys 'Paul’s Boutique'
A groundbreaking hip-hop album known for its innovative sampling and eclectic sound.
A groundbreaking hip-hop album known for its innovative sampling and eclectic sound.
#hip hop
#rap
#80s
×
September 24 1991
BC
Nirvana 'Nevermind'
A landmark grunge album that brought alternative rock to the mainstream, featuring the iconic "Smells Like Teen Spirit".
A landmark grunge album that brought alternative rock to the mainstream, featuring the iconic "Smells Like Teen Spirit".
#grunge
#rock
#90s
×
July 27 1993
BC
Smashing Pumpkins 'Siamese Dream'
A critically acclaimed album blending alternative rock and shoegaze, featuring lush instrumentation and emotional depth.
A critically acclaimed album blending alternative rock and shoegaze, featuring lush instrumentation and emotional depth.
#alternative rock
#grunge
#90s
×
September 21 1993
BC
Nirvana 'In Utero'
A raw and unfiltered follow-up to 'Nevermind', reflecting Kurt Cobain's struggles and artistic vision.
A raw and unfiltered follow-up to 'Nevermind', reflecting Kurt Cobain's struggles and artistic vision.
#grunge
#rock
#90s
×
November 9 1993
BC
Wu-Tang Clan 'Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)'
A groundbreaking hip-hop album known for its gritty production and complex lyricism.
A groundbreaking hip-hop album known for its gritty production and complex lyricism.
#hip hop
#rap
#90s
×
April 25 1994
BC
Blur 'Parklife'
A defining Britpop album blending catchy melodies with social commentary.
A defining Britpop album blending catchy melodies with social commentary.
#Britpop
#alternative
#90s
×
August 29 1994
BC
Oasis 'Definitely Maybe'
A defining Britpop album characterized by anthemic choruses and a raw, energetic sound.
A defining Britpop album characterized by anthemic choruses and a raw, energetic sound.
#Britpop
#rock
#90s
×
September 13 1994
BC
The Notorious B.I.G. 'Ready to Die'
A seminal hip-hop album that tells a vivid story of struggle and triumph.
A seminal hip-hop album that tells a vivid story of struggle and triumph.
#hip hop
#rap
#90s
×
October 30 1995
BC
Pulp 'Different Class'
A Britpop masterpiece blending social commentary with catchy hooks, featuring the hit 'Common People'.
A Britpop masterpiece blending social commentary with catchy hooks, featuring the hit 'Common People'.
#Britpop
#alternative
#90s
×
May 21 1997
BC
Radiohead 'OK Computer'
A critically acclaimed album exploring themes of technology and alienation, known for its experimental sound.
A critically acclaimed album exploring themes of technology and alienation, known for its experimental sound.
#alternative rock
#electronic
#90s
×
July 30 2001
BC
The Strokes 'Is This It'
A defining album of the early 2000s garage rock revival, known for its raw sound and catchy melodies.
A defining album of the early 2000s garage rock revival, known for its raw sound and catchy melodies.
#garage rock
#indie
#2000s
×
September 14 2004
BC
Arcade Fire 'Funeral'
An emotionally charged debut blending indie rock with orchestral elements, exploring themes of loss and community.
An emotionally charged debut blending indie rock with orchestral elements, exploring themes of loss and community.
#indie rock
#baroque pop
#2000s
×
October 27 2006
BC
Amy Winehouse 'Back to Black'
A soulful album blending jazz and R&B, known for its raw emotion and Winehouse's distinctive voice.
A soulful album blending jazz and R&B, known for its raw emotion and Winehouse's distinctive voice.
#soul
#R&B
#2000s
×
November 22 2010
BC
Kanye West 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy'
A critically acclaimed album blending hip-hop, orchestral elements, and introspective lyrics.
A critically acclaimed album blending hip-hop, orchestral elements, and introspective lyrics.
#hip hop
#experimental
#2010s
×
February 14 2011
BC
PJ Harvey 'Let England Shake'
A politically charged album blending folk and rock, exploring themes of war and national identity.
A politically charged album blending folk and rock, exploring themes of war and national identity.
#alternative
#folk rock
#2010s
×