The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Check out the full 100 Collection countdown

The 100 Collection
Author: Scott ColothanPublished 4th Feb 2021
Last updated 6th Feb 2021

Since the start of 2021 on The Dave Berry Breakfast Show, our astute Absolute Radio listeners have been helping us cherry-pick the greatest records of all time in The 100 Collection.

With Dave Berry’s sprawling record collection getting seriously out of the hand, the burning question we put to you is ‘what 100 records are worthy of keeping for eternity?!’

In association with our friends at Wickes and Banquet Records, Dave and the team have been asking listeners and some experts to help pick 10 records to keep for posterity from each respective decade from the 1960s to the 2010s, alongside four specialist categories.

We haven't allowed the same artist more than once in any particular category, but come do appear more than once across categories. For example, The Beatles are only allowed to appear once in the 60s, David Bowie once in the 70s, The Smiths once in the 80s, Oasis once in the 90s, and so on….

What are the 100 Greatest Albums of All Time?

Below are the 100 greatest albums of all time divided into 10 separate categories, which are as follows:

The 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, Classic Rock, Movie Soundtracks, The Best Difficult Second Album and The Best of the Best Of. Check out the full list below:

The 100 Collection - The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time:

The Velvet Underground – ‘The Velvet Underground & Nico’ (1967)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

The Beatles – ‘Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band’ (1967)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

The Beach Boys – ‘Pet Sounds’ (1966)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Aretha Franklin – ‘I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You’ (1967)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Jimi Hendrix – ‘Electric Ladyland’ (1968)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Johnny Cash – ‘At Folsom Prison’ (1968)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

The Rolling Stones – ‘Let It Bleed’ (1969)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

The Doors – ‘The Doors’ (1967)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Bob Dylan – ‘Highway 61 Revisited’ (1965)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Van Morrison – ‘Astral Weeks’ (1968)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Marvin Gaye – ‘What’s Going On’ (1971)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Stevie Wonder – ‘Songs In The Key of Life’ (1976)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

The Clash – ‘London Calling’ (1979)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Eagles – ‘Hotel California’ (1976)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Pink Floyd – ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ (1973)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Fleetwood Mac – ‘Rumours’ (1977)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Joy Division – ‘Unknown Pleasures’ (1979)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Blondie – ‘Parallel Lines’ (1978)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

David Bowie – ‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars’ (1972)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

The Sex Pistols – ‘Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols’ (1977)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

The Human League – ‘Dare!’ (1981)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Paul Simon – ‘Graceland’ (1986)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Tracy Chapman – ‘Tracy Chapman’ (1988)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Kate Bush – ‘Hounds of Love’ (1985)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

The Smiths – ‘The Queen is Dead’ (1986)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

U2 – ‘The Joshua Tree’ (1987)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Prince – ‘1999’ (1982)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

The Stone Roses – ‘The Stone Roses’ (1989)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Bruce Springsteen – ‘Born in the USA’ (1984)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Duran Duran – ‘Rio’ (1982)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Blur – ‘Parklife’ (1994)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Lauryn Hill – ‘The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill’ (1998)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Massive Attack – ‘Blue Lines’ (1991)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Nirvana – ‘Nevermind’ (1991)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Oasis – ‘Definitely Maybe’ (1994)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Paul Weller – ‘Stanley Road’ (1995)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Primal Scream – ‘Screamadelica’ (1991)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Pulp – ‘A Different Class’ (1995)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Radiohead – ‘OK Computer’ (1997)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

The Verve – ‘Urban Hymns’ (1997)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Arctic Monkeys – ‘Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not’ (2006)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Franz Ferdinand – ‘Franz Ferdinand’ (2004)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

The Strokes – ‘Is This It’ (2001)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Amy Winehouse – ‘Back to Black’ (2006)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

The White Stripes – ‘Elephant’ (2003)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Beyoncé – ‘Dangerously in Love’ (2003)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Coldplay – ‘A Rush of Blood to the Head’ (2002)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

The Libertines – ‘Up the Bracket’ (2002)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

The Killers – ‘Hot Fuss’ (2004)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Kings of Leon – ‘Aha Shake Heartbreak’ (2004)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Adele – ‘21’ (2011)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Drake – ‘Take Care’ (2011)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Lana Del Rey – ‘Born to Die’ (2012)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Royal Blood – ‘Royal Blood’ (2014)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Wolf Alice – ‘Visions of a Life’ (2017)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Arctic Monkeys – ‘AM’ (2013)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Liam Gallagher – ‘As You Were’ (2017)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds – ‘Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds’ (2011)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

BIffy Clyro – ‘Opposites’ (2013)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

David Bowie – ‘Blackstar’ (2016)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Guns N’ Roses – ‘Appetite For Destruction’ (1987)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Muse – ‘Absolution’ (2003)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Thin Lizzy – ‘Jailbreak’ (1976)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Metallica – ‘Metallica’ (‘The Black Album’) (1991)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Meat Loaf – ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ (1977)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Queen – ‘A Night At The Opera’ (1975)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Dire Straits – ‘Brothers In Arms’ (1985)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

AC/DC – ‘Back In Black’ (1980)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Bon Jovi – ‘Slippery When Wet’ (1986)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Led Zeppelin – ‘Led Zeppelin IV’ (1971)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Prince and The Revolution – ‘Purple Rain’ (1984)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

The Blues Brothers: Original Soundtrack Recording (1980)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Music from the Motion Picture Pulp Fiction (1994)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Trainspotting: Music from the Motion Picture (1996)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Saturday Night Fever (1977)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

The Who – ‘Quadrophenia’ (1979)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Star Wars (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1977)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Goodfellas Music from the Motion Picture (1990)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Drive – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2011)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

The Beatles – ‘Help!’ (1965)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Black Sabbath – ‘Paranoid’ (1970)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Foo Fighters – ‘The Colour and the Shape’ (1997)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Arctic Monkeys – ‘Favourite Worst Nightmare’ (2007)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Oasis – ‘(What’s the Story?) Morning glory’ (1995)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Radiohead – ‘The Bends’ (1995)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Dr. Dre – ‘2001’ (1999)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Daft Punk – ‘Discovery’ (2001)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Led Zeppelin – ‘Led Zeppelin II’ (1969)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Muse – ‘Origin of Symmetry’ (2001)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Pixies – ‘Doolittle’ (1989)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

The Beatles – ‘1967-1970’ (The Blue Album) (1973)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Blur – ‘The Best Of’ (2000)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Bob Marley & The Wailers – ‘Legend’ (1984)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

David Bowie – ‘The Best of David Bowie 1969/1974’ (1997)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Green Day – ‘International Superhits!’ (2001)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Madonna – ‘The Immaculate Collection’ (1990)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Pulp – ‘Hits’ (2002)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Queen – ‘Greatest Hits II’ (1991)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

The Rolling Stones – ‘Hot Rocks 1964-1971’ (1971)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

Stereophonics – ‘Decade in the Sun: Best of Stereophonics’ (2002)

The 100 Collection on Absolute Radio: The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

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