Apple Music's “100 Greatest Albums of All Time'' list features Lauryn Hill, Michael Jackson, and the Beatles in the top 10 albums.
The streaming giant's experts worked with hand-picked artists, songwriters, producers, and industry experts to create the list, which has nothing to do with Apple Music's streaming numbers.
The former's only solo album to reach No. 1 was the timeless 1998 classic The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
Lauryn accepted the honor, saying: “This is my award, but this is a rich and deep story, involving so many people, so much sacrifice, so much time, and so much collective love.'' ” he said.
Few albums can match the late King of Pop's legendary 1982 LP Thriller in terms of influence and dominance, and this record sits in second place.
Zane Lowe of Apple Music said, “Not only did we surpass everything in our first year, we surpassed everything in our second year. We're changing the way people create, release, distribute, and market music. No one could catch up.” That set the bar very high. ”
“When Michael released this record the world changed for me,” said CHIC legend Nile Rodgers. “It was a seismic shift. A black artist making a 'Thriller' level music video just changed the world.”
Coming in third is The Beatles' 1969 studio album, “Abbey Road.” A timeless cultural giant.
Niall said, “There's always been something really magical about The Beatles to me. Believe it or not, the first song I actually learned to play on guitar was a Beatles song. At that moment I knew I was going to be a guitar player. Before that I played the clarinet.”
Zayn said: “As people go through life, there are so many songs that are played on anniversaries, weddings, funerals, when you fall in love, when you break up. There's a whole songbook that speaks to different moments in life. I think The Beatles have a songbook for life.”
Rounding out the list are Prince and the Revolution's “Purple Rain,” Frank Ocean's “Blonde,” Stevie Wonder's “Songs in the Key of Life,” Kendrick Lamar's “Good Kid Marred City (Deluxe Version),” Amy Winehouse's “Back to Black,” Nirvana's “Nevermind,” and Beyoncé's “Lemonade.”
Listen now on Apple Music: https://100best.music.apple.com/us.
Apple Music's 100 Best Albums (Top 10):
10. Lemonade – Beyonce
9. Nevermind – Nirvana
8. Back to Black – Amy Winehouse
7. Good Kid Marred City (Deluxe Version) – Kendrick Lamar
6. Songs in the Key of Life – Stevie Wonder
5. Blonde – Frank Ocean
4. Purple Rain – Prince and the Revolution
3. Abbey Road – The Beatles
2. Thriller – Michael Jackson
1. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill – Lauryn Hill
Photo courtesy of Irma Mucherishvili (c)