Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums (2003)

Stats (by Edna Gundersen, USA TODAY)

Artists with the most entries in Rolling Stone's 500 best albums:
Beatles: 11 (+4 solo albums)
Bob Dylan: 10
Rolling Stones: 10
Bruce Springsteen: 8
The Who: 7
David Bowie: 6
Elton John: 6

5 each: The Byrds, Led Zeppelin, Neil Young, Otis Redding, U2

4 each: Madonna, Bob Marley, Elvis Costello, Grateful Dead, James Brown, Police, The Smiths, Velvet Underground, Pink Floyd, Prince, Roxy Music, Simon & Garfunkel, Sly & the Family Stone, Stevie Wonder, Talking Heads

Decade by decade breakdown:
1900-59: 29 albums (5.8%)
1960-69: 126 (25.2%)*
1970-79: 183 (36.6%)
1980-89: 88 (17.6%)
1990-99: 61 (12.2%)
2000-present: 13 (2.6%)

*the 1960s make up 55% of the top 20


Top 500:
1. Sgt. Pepper-The Beatles
2. Pet Sounds-The Beach Boys
3. Revolver-The Beatles
4. Highway 61 Revisited-Bob Dylan
5. Rubber Soul-The Beatles
6. What's Going On-Marvin Gaye
7. Exile On Main St.-Rolling Stones
8. London Calling-The Clash
9. Blonde On Blonde-Bob Dylan
10. The Beatles [White Album]
11. The Sun Sessions- Elvis Presley
12. Kind of Blue- Miles Davis
13. The Velvet Underground & Nico
14. Abbey Road- The Beatles
15. Are You Experienced?- The Jimi Hendrix Experience
16. Blood on the Tracks- Bob Dylan
*17. Nevermind- Nirvana
18. Born to Run- Bruce Springsteen
19. Astral Weeks- Van Morrison
20. Thriller- Michael Jackson
21. The Great Twenty-Eight- Chuck Berry [The Anthology]
22. Plastic Ono Band- John Lennon
23. Innervisions- Stevie Wonder
24. Live at the Apollo (1963)- James Brown
25. Rumours- Fleetwood Mac
x26. The Joshua Tree- U2
27. King of the Delta Blues Singers, Vol. 1- Robert Johnson
28. Who's Next- The Who
29. Led Zeppelin I
30. Blue- Joni Mitchell
31. Bringing It All Back Home- Bob Dylan
32. Let It Bleed- The Rolling Stones
*33. Ramones
34. Music from Big Pink- The Band
35. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust- David Bowie
36. Tapestry- Carole King
37. Hotel California- The Eagles
*38. The Anthology, 1947- 1972- Muddy Waters
39. Please Please Me- The Beatles
40. Forever Changes- Love
41. Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols
42. The Doors
43. Dark Side of the Moon- Pink Floyd
44. Horses- Patti Smith
45. The Band
46. Legend- Bob Marley and the Wailers
*47. A Love Supreme- John Coltrane
x48. It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back- Public Enemy
49. At Fillmore East- Allman Brothers Band
*50. Here's Little Richard- Little Richard [aka Georgia Peach]
51. Bridge Over Troubled Water- Simon and Garfunkel
*52. Greatest Hits- Al Green
*53. The Birth of Soul- The Complete Atlantic R&B Recordings, 1952-1959: Ray Charles [boxed set]
54. Electric Ladyland- The Jimi Hendrix Experience
55. Elvis Presley
56. Songs in the Key of Life- Stevie Wonder
57. Beggar's Banquet- The Rolling Stones
58. Trout Mask Replica- Captain Beefheart And His Magic Band
59. Meet the Beatles [CD=With The Beatles]
60. Greatest Hits- Sly and the Family Stone
x61. Appetite for Destruction- Guns N Roses
x62. Achtung Baby- U2
63. Sticky Fingers- The Rolling Stones
64. Back to Mono (1958 - 1969)- Phil Spector [boxed set]
65. Moondance- Van Morrison
66. Led Zeppelin IV- Led Zeppelin
67. The Stranger- Billy Joel
68. Off the Wall- Michael Jackson
69. Superfly- Curtis Mayfield
70. Physical Graffiti- Led Zeppelin
71. After the Gold Rush- Neil Young
72. Purple Rain- Prince
73. Back in Black- AC/DC
*74. Otis Blue- Otis Redding
75. Led Zeppelin II
76. Imagine- John Lennon
*77. The Clash
78. Harvest- Neil Young
*79. Star Time- James Brown [boxed set]
80. Odessey & Oracle- The Zombies
81. Graceland- Paul Simon
82. Axis- Bold as Love- The Jimi Hendrix Experience
83. I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You- Aretha Franklin
84. Lady Soul- Aretha Franklin
85. Born in the U.S.A.- Bruce Springsteen
86. Let It Be- The Beatles
87. The Wall- Pink Floyd
88. Live at Folsom Prison- Johnny Cash
89. Dusty in Memphis- Dusty Springfield
90. Talking Book- Stevie Wonder
91. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road- Elton John
92. 20 Golden Greats- Buddy Holly
*93. Sign 'o' the Times- Prince
94. Bitches Brew- Miles Davis
95. Green River- Creedence Clearwater Revival
96. Tommy- The Who
97. The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan- Bob Dylan
98. This Year's Model- Elvis Costello
99. There's a Riot Going On- Sly and the Family Stone
100. In the Wee Small Hours- Frank Sinatra
101. Fresh Cream- Cream
*102. Giant Steps- John Coltrane
103. Sweet Baby James- James Taylor
104. Modern Sounds in Country & Western Music- Ray Charles
*105. Rocket to Russia- Ramones
*106. Portrait of a Legend- Sam Cooke
107. Hunky Dory- David Bowie
108. Aftermath- The Rolling Stones
109. Loaded- The Velvet Underground
*110. The Bends- Radiohead
111. Court and Spark- Joni Mitchell
112. Disraeli Gears- Cream
113. The Who Sell Out
114. Out of Our Heads- The Rolling Stones
115. Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs- Derek and the Dominos
*116. At Last- Etta James
117. Sweetheart of the Rodeo- The Byrds
118. Stand!- Sly and the Family Stone
119. The Harder They Come Soundtrack- Various Artists
*120. Raising Hell- Run-DMC
121. Moby Grape
122. Pearl- Janis Joplin
*123. Catch a Fire-Bob Marley and the Wailers
124. Younger Than Yesterday-The Byrds
125. Raw Power-The Stooges
*126. Remain in Light-Talking Heads
127. If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears-The Mamas and the Papas
*128. Marquee Moon-Television
*129. 40 Greatest Hits-Hank Williams
130. Paranoid-Black Sabbath
131. Saturday Night Fever
132. The Wild, The Innocent and the E Street Shuffle-Bruce Springsteen
x133. Ready to Die-The Notorious B.I.G.
x134. Slanted and Enchanted-Pavement
135. Greatest Hits-Elton John
*136. Tim-The Replacements
137. The Chronic-Dr. Dre
*138. Rejuvenation-The Meters
x139. All That You Can't Leave Behind-U2
*140. Parallel Lines-Blondie
141. Live at the Regal-B.B. King
142. A Christmas Gift For You-Phil Spector [included in #64]
*143. Gris-Gris-Dr. John [Out of print]
x144. Straight Outta Compton-NWA
145. Aja-Steely Dan
146. Surrealistic Pillow-Jefferson Airplane
147. Dreams to Remember- The Otis Redding Anthology
148. Deja Vu-Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
149. Houses of the Holy-Led Zeppelin
150. Santana [1969]
151. Darkness on the Edge of Town-Bruce Springsteen
*152. The B-52's
*153. Moanin' in the Moonlight-Howlin' Wolf
x154. The Low End Theory-A Tribe Called Quest
*155. The Pretenders
156. Paul's Boutique-Beastie Boys
*157. Closer-Joy Division
158. Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy-Elton John
159. Alive-Kiss
160. Electric Warrior-T. Rex
*161. The Dock of the Bay-Otis Redding
*162. OK Computer-Radiohead
163. 1999-Prince
164. Heart Like a Wheel-Linda Ronstadt
165. Let's Get it On-Marvin Gaye
166. Imperial Bedroom-Elvis Costello
167. Master of Puppets-Metallica
168. My Aim Is True-Elvis Costello
*169. Exodus-Bob Marley
170. Live at Leeds-The Who
171. The Notorious Byrd Brothers-The Byrds
172. Every Picture Tells a Story-Rod Stewart
173. Something/Anything?-Todd Rundgren
174. Desire-Bob Dylan
175. Close to You-The Carpenters
176. Rocks-Aerosmith
*177. One Nation Under A Groove-Funkadelic
178. The Byrds' Greatest Hits
179. The Anthology 1961 - 1977-Curtis Mayfield
180. The Definitive Collection-Abba
181. The Rolling Stones Now!
*182. Natty Dread-Bob Marley and the Wailers
183. Fleetwood Mac (1975)
184. Red Headed Stranger-Willie Nelson
185. The Stooges
186. Fresh-Sly and the Family Stone
*187. So-Peter Gabriel
188. Buffalo Springfield Again
189. Happy Trails-Quicksilver Messenger Service
190. From Elvis In Memphis-Elvis Presley
191. Funhouse-The Stooges
192. The Gilded Palace of Sin-The Flying Burrito Brothers
193. Dookie-Green Day
194. Transformer-Lou Reed
195. Bluesbreakers - John Mayall with Eric Clapton
196. Nuggets- Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era 1965 - 1968 [boxed set]
*197. Murmur-R.E.M.
*198. The Best-Little Walter
199. Highway to Hell-AC/DC
x200. The Downward Spiral-Nine Inch Nails
201. Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme -Simon and Garfunkel
202. Bad-Michael Jackson
203. Wheels of Fire-Cream
*204. Dirty Mind-Prince
205. Abraxas-Santana
206. Tea for the Tillerman- Cat Stevens
x207. Ten-Pearl Jam
208. Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere-Neil Young with Crazy Horse
209. Wish You Were Here- Pink Floyd
*210. Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain-Pavement
211. Tattoo You-The Rolling Stones
*212. Proud Mary- The Best of Ike and Tina Turner
*213. New York Dolls
*214. Bo Diddley/Go Bo Diddley
*215. Two Steps from the Blues-Bobby Bland
*216. The Queen Is Dead-The Smiths
217. Licensed to Ill-Beastie Boys
*218. Look-Ka Py Py-The Meters
*219. Loveless-My Bloody Valentine
*220. New Orleans Piano-Professor Longhair
x221. War-U2
222. The Neil Diamond Collection
*223. Howlin' Wolf
224. Nebraska-Bruce Springsteen
*225. The Complete Hank Williams
226. Doolittle-Pixies
*227. Paid in Full-Eric B. & Rakim
228. Toys in the Attic-Aerosmith
*229. Nick of Time-Bonnie Raitt
230. A Night at the Opera-Queen
231. The Kink Kronikles-The Kinks
232. Mr. Tambourine Man-The Byrds
233. Bookends-Simon and Garfunkel
*234. The Ultimate Collection-Patsy Cline
*235. Mr. Excitement!-Jackie Wilson
236. The Who Sings My Generation
x237. Like a Prayer-Madonna
238. Can't Buy a Thrill-Steely Dan
*239. Let It Be-The Replacements
*240. Run-DMC
241. Black Sabbath
242. All Killer No Filler- The Jerry Lee Lewis Anthology
243. Freak Out!-Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention
244. Live/Dead-Grateful Dead
*245. Bryter Layter-Nick Drake
*246. The Shape of Jazz to Come-Ornette Coleman
x247. Automatic for the People-R.E.M.
x248. Reasonable Doubt-Jay-Z
*249. Low-David Bowie
250. The River-Bruce Springsteen
*251. The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul
252. Metallica
*253. Trans-Europe Express-Kraftwerk
x254. Whitney Houston
255. Village Green Preservation Society-The Kinks
x256. The Velvet Rope-Janet Jackson
257. Stardust-Willie Nelson
258. American Beauty-Grateful Dead
259. Crosby, Stills & Nash (1969)
*260. Buena Vista Social Club Soundtrack-Various Artists
x261. Tracy Chapman
262. Workingman's Dead-Grateful Dead
*263. The Genius of Ray Charles
264. Child Is Father to the Man-Blood, Sweat & Tears
265. Cosmo's Factory-Creedence Clearwater Revival
266. Quadrophenia-The Who
267. There Goes Rhymin' Simon-Paul Simon
x268. Psychocandy-The Jesus and Mary Chain
269. Some Girls-The Rolling Stones
270. The Beach Boys Today!-The Beach Boys
*271. Going to a Go-Go-Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
*272. Nightbirds-Labelle
x273. The Slim Shady LP-Eminem
274. Mothership Connection-Parliament
x275. Rhythm Nation 1814-Janet Jackson
276. Anthology of American Folk Music-Various Artists
277. Aladdin Sane-David Bowie
x278. The Immaculate Collection-Madonna
x279. My Life-Mary J. Blige
280. Folk Singer-Muddy Waters
*281. Can't Get Enough-Barry White
x282. The Cars
*283. Five Leaves Left-Nick Drake
284. Music of My Mind-Stevie Wonder
*285. I'm Still in Love With You-Al Green
*286. Los Angeles-X
287. Anthem of the Sun-Grateful Dead
288. Something Else by the Kinks
*289. Call Me-Al Green
290. Talking Heads- 77
291. The Basement Tapes-Bob Dylan and The Band
292. White Light/White Heat-The Velvet Underground
293. Greatest Hits-Simon and Garfunkel
294. Kick Out the Jams-MC5
*295. Meat Is Murder-The Smiths
296. We're Only In It For the Money-Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention
*297. Weezer (Blue Album)
298. Master of Reality-Black Sabbath
*299. Coat of Many Colors-Dolly Parton
x300. Fear of a Black Planet-Public Enemy
301. John Wesley Harding-Bob Dylan
x302. The Marshall Mathers LP-Eminem
*303. Grace-Jeff Buckley
*304. Car Wheels on a Gravel Road-Lucinda Williams
305. Odelay-Beck
306. Songs for Swingin' Lovers-Frank Sinatra
*307. Avalon-Roxy Music
308. The Sun Records Collection-Various Artists
309. Nothing's Shocking-Jane's Addiction
310. Blood Sugar Sex Magik-Red Hot Chili Peppers
x311. Unplugged in New York-Nirvana
x312. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
313. Damn the Torpedoes-Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
314. The Velvet Underground
315. Surfer Rosa-The Pixies
x316. Rock Steady-No Doubt
x317. The Eminem Show
*318. Back Stabbers-The O'Jays
*319. Burnin'-Bob Marley and the Wailers
*320. Pink Moon-Nick Drake
321. Sail Away-Randy Newman
*322. Ghost in the Machine-The Police
323. Station to Station-David Bowie
324. The Very Best of Linda Ronstadt
325. Slowhand-Eric Clapton
*326. Disintegration-The Cure
x327. Jagged Little Pill-Alanis Morissette
x328. Exile in Guyville-Liz Phair
*329. Daydream Nation-Sonic Youth
*330. In the Jungle Groove-James Brown
331. Tonight's the Night-Neil Young
332. Help!-The Beatles
333. Shoot Out the Lights-Richard & Linda Thompson
*334. Wild Gift-X
*335. Squeezing Out Sparks-Graham Parker
*336. Superunknown-Soundgarden
337. Aqualung-Jethro Tull
338. Cheap Thrills-Big Brother & the Holding Company
*339. The Heart of Saturday Night-Tom Waits
*340. Damaged-Black Flag
*341. Play-Moby
*342. Violator-Depeche Mode
343. Bat Out of Hell-Meat Loaf
344. Berlin-Lou Reed
*345. Stop Making Sense-Talking Heads
*346. 3 Feet High and Rising-De La Soul
347. The Piper at the Gates of Dawn-Pink Floyd
*348. At Newport 1960-Muddy Waters
349. Roger the Engineer (aka Over Under Sideways Down)-The Yardbirds
350. Rust Never Sleeps-Neil Young
351. Brothers in Arms-Dire Straits
352. 52nd Street-Billy Joel
*353. Having a Rave-Up w/ the Yardbirds-The Yardbirds
354. 12 Songs-Randy Newman
355. Between the Buttons-The Rolling Stones
356. Sketches of Spain-Miles Davis
357. Honky Chateau-Elton John
*358. Singles Going Steady-Buzzcocks
x359. Stankonia-Outkast
360. Siamese Dream-The Smashing Pumpkins
*361. Substance-New Order
362. L.A. Woman-The Doors
x363. Ray of Light-Madonna
*364. American Recordings-Johnny Cash
*365. Louder Than Bombs-The Smiths
366. Mott-Mott the Hoople
x367. Is This It-The Strokes
368. Rage Against the Machine
369. Regatta de Blanc-The Police
370. Volunteers-Jefferson Airplane
*371. Siren-Roxy Music
372. Late for the Sky-Jackson Browne
373. Post-Bjork
374. The Eagles
*375. The Ultimate Collection (1948 - 1990)-John Lee Hooker
x376. (What's the Story) Morning Glory?-Oasis
x377. CrazySexyCool-TLC
*378. Funky Kingston-Toots and the Maytals
379. Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ-Bruce Springsteen
380. Sunflower-The Beach Boys
*381. Modern Lovers
382. More Songs About Buildings and Food-Talking Heads
383. A Quick One (Happy Jack)-The Who
384. Pyromania-Def Leppard
385. Pretzel Logic-Steely Dan
x386. Enter the Wu (36 Chambers)-Wu-Tang Clan
*387. Country Life-Roxy Music
388. A Hard Day's Night-The Beatles
x389. The End of the Innocence-Don Henley
x390. Elephant-The White Stripes
391. The Pretender-Jackson Browne
392. Willy and the Poor Boys-Creedence Clearwater Revival
393. Good Old Boys-Randy Newman
*394. For Your Pleasure-Roxy Music
*395. Blue Lines-Massive Attack
396. Eliminator-ZZ Top
*397. Raindogs-Tom Waits
398. The Best of The Tempatations-The Temptations
*399. Californication-Red Hot Chili Peppers
*400. Illmatic-Nas
401. Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd-Lynyrd Skynyrd
*402. Gumbo-Dr. John
403. Radio City-Big Star
*404. Sandinista!-The Clash
x405. Rid of Me-PJ Harvey
x406. I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got-Sinead O' Connor
407. Strange Days-The Doors
408. Time Out of Mind-Bob Dylan
409. 461 Ocean Boulevard-Eric Clapton
*410. Pink Flag-Wire
*411. Double Nickels on the Dime-Minutemen
*412. Mezzanine-Massive Attack
*413. Beauty and the Beat-Go-Go's
414. Greatest Hits-James Brown
415. Van Halen I
*416. The Mule Variations-Tom Waits
417. Boy-U2
418. Band on the Run-Wings
*419. Dummy-Portishead
420. With the Beatles [This is essentially #59, with even MORE songs!!]
*421. The Chirpin' Crickets-Buddy Holly & the Crickets
*422. The Best of the Girl Groups, Vols. I & II-Various Artists
423. Greatest Hits-The Mamas and the Papas
424. King of the Delta Blues Singers, Vol. 2-Robert Johnson
425. ChangesOne-David Bowie
426. The Battle of Los Angeles-Rage Against the Machine
*427. Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes
*428. Kid A-Radiohead
429. Grievous Angel-Gram Parsons
430. Live at Budokan-Cheap Trick
431. Anthology-The Supremes
*432. Sleepless-Peter Wolf
*433. Another Green World-Brian Eno
*434. Outlandos D'Amour-The Police
*435. To Bring You My Love-PJ Harvey
*436. Here Come the Warm Jets-Brian Eno
437. All Things Must Pass-George Harrison
438. #1 Record-Big Star
x439. In Utero-Nirvana
*440. Sea Change-Beck
x441. Tragic Kingdom-No Doubt
*442. Boys Don't Cry-The Cure
*443. Live at the Harlem Square Club-Sam Cooke
*444. Criminal Minded-Boogie Down Productions
*445. Rum, Sodomy & the Lash-The Pogues
*446. Suicide
*447. Q- Are We Not Men? A- We Are Devo-Devo
*448. In Color-Cheap Trick
449. The World Is a Ghetto-WAR
450. Fly Like an Eagle-Steve Miller
451. Back in the USA-MC5
x452. Music-Madonna
*453. Ritual de lo Habitual-Jane's Addiction
454. Getz/Gilberto-Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto
455. Synchronicity-The Police
456. Sister Lovers/Third-Big Star
*457. For Everyman-Jackson Browne
458. John Prine
459. Strictly Business-EPMD
460. Love It to Death-Alice Cooper
*461. How Will the Wolf Survive?-Los Lobos
*462. Here, My Dear-Marvin Gaye
463. Tumbleweed Connection-Elton John
x464. The Blueprint-Jay-Z
*465. Golden Hits-The Drifters
x466. Live Through This-Hole
467. Love and Theft-Bob Dylan
468. Elton John
*469. Metal Box-Public Image Ltd.
*470. Document-R.E.M.
*471. Heaven Up Here-Echo & the Bunnymen
472. Hysteria-Def Leppard
*473. A Rush of Blood to the Head-Coldplay
*474. Live in Europe-Otis Redding
475. Tunnel of Love-Bruce Springsteen
476. Paul Butterfield Blues Band
x477. The Score-Fugees
x478. Radio-LL Cool J
479. I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight-Richard and Linda Thompson
x480. Faith-George Michael
*481. The Smiths
482. Armed Forces-Elvis Costello
x483. Life After Death-The Notorious B.I.G.
*484. Branded Man-Merle Haggard
*485. All Time Greatest Hits-Loretta Lynn
486. Maggot Brain-Funkadelic
*487. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness-The Smashing Pumpkins
*488. Voodoo-D'Angelo
*489. Guitar Town-Steve Earle
*490. Entertainment!-Gang of Four
491. All the Young Dudes-Mott the Hoople
x492. Vitalogy-Pearl Jam
493. That's the Way of the World-Earth, Wind & Fire
*494. She's So Unusual-Cyndi Lauper
*495. New Day Rising-Husker Du
496. Destroyer-Kiss
x497. Yo! Bum Rush the Show-Public Enemy
498. Tres Hombres-ZZ Top
*499. Born Under a Bad Sign-Albert King
*500. Touch-Eurythmics