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Apple Music announces ranking of “Top 100 Best Albums of All Time'', opinions are divided among music lovers
Updated 15:34 May 22, 2024 GMT+1 Published 15:14 May 22, 2024 GMT+1
Apple Music has released its ranking of the “Top 100 Best Albums of All Time,” dividing opinion among music lovers.
With music lovers all having their own unique tastes, it's always difficult to compile a top 100 albums of all time without incurring a little backlash along the way, and Apple Music's compilation certainly caused a stir online.
In a statement, Apple described its 100 Best Albums list as “an updated, 21st century ranking of the greatest records of all time.”
According to the list, it was “created by Apple Music's team of experts in collaboration with hand-selected artists, songwriters, producers and industry experts.”
It added: “This list is an editorial statement and is completely independent of streaming numbers on Apple Music. It is a love letter to the records that have shaped music lovers around the world.”
But which musicians and albums make the top 10?
10. Lemonade (2016) – Beyoncé
Coming in at number 10 is Beyonce's sixth studio album, which includes bangers like “Sandcastles.”
Lemonade won Beyoncé the Best Urban Contemporary Album award at the 59th Grammy Awards in 2017 (Dan McMedan/WireImage)
9. Nevermind (1991) – Nirvana
Next up is Nevermind, a 1991 release by Nirvana, an American rock band founded by lead singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic.
Nirvana's “Nevermind” came in at No. 9. (Gatchi Kojima/Shinko Music/Getty Images)
8. Back to Black (2006) – Amy Winehouse
It definitely wouldn't be on the top 10 list of the world's best albums if Amy Winehouse wasn't on it somewhere. The late singer just saw her story adapted in the 2024 musical drama – named after her most infamous album – Black.
Amy Winehouse's “Back to Black” comes in at No. 8 (Getty Images/Chris Christoforou/Redferns)
7. Good Kid, mAd City (2012) – Kendrick Lamar
Lamar's second studio album ranked number 7 on Apple Music's top 100 albums of all time.
Kendrick Lamar's album ranked seventh. (Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images)
6. Songs in the Key of Life (1976) – Stevie Wonder
Music pioneer Wonder (real name Steveland Hardaway Morris) came in at number 6 on the list.
Stevie Wonder's 1976 album ranked sixth (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
5. Blonde (2016) – Frank Ocean
Two of Ocean's albums have already been ranked in Rolling Stone's top 500 greatest albums of all time released in 2020, so it's no surprise that he's also on Apple Music's list.
Ocean's 17-track album “Blonde” ranked fifth.
Frank Ocean takes spot #5 (Getty Images/Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
4. Purple Rain (1984) – Prince and the Revolution
This album was Prince's first album to reach number one on the Billboard 200 and remains iconic to this day.
“Purple Rain” remains an iconic album today (Ross Marino/Getty Images)
3. Abbey Road (1969) – The Beatles
If The Beatles hadn't made the top ten by coming in at number three, it definitely wouldn't have made the list of greatest albums of all time.
This British rock band consisting of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr is considered by many to be the most influential band of all time.
The Beatles ranked third (Jeff Hochberg/Getty Images)
2. Thriller (1982) – Michael Jackson
The “King of Pop” ranks second on Apple Music's list of greatest albums of all time.
Michael Jackson's “George De Sota (ID 5073478)/Redferns) Thriller” is ranked second (
1. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998) – Lauryn Hill
Hill, considered one of the greatest rappers of all time, took the number one spot.
Other artists featured in the top 100 include Wu-Tang Clan, Miles Davis, Aretha Franklin and Billie Eilish.
But Apple Music's list has divided opinion.
Lauryn Hill took the No. 1 spot (Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for Coachella)
“Beyonce is the only female artist to have two albums on Apple Music's 100 Best Albums of All Time list…she was supposed to have at least three but I'm changing that,” one X user said.
“Apple Music made a list of the 100 best albums of all time and didn't include any albums by Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston or Brandy,” another person added.
A third commented: “It's outrageous that Apple Music doesn't include a single Madonna album in their top 10 list of 'best albums of all time'.”
A fourth claimed: “So awful.”
UNILAD has reached out to Apple Music for comment.
Topics: Apple, Celebs, Music, Social Media, Twitter, Entertainment, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar