Dave’s Faves: My Top 100 Albums of All Time

First posted 6/16/2011; last updated 1/3/2020.

Here are my personal top 100 favorite albums. This list focuses only on studio albums; live recordings and other compilations such as box sets or greatest hits collections are not included. Links will take you to dedicated pages for albums on the DMDB blog or website. You can also check out Dave’es Faves: My Favorite Albums by Decade. Enjoy!

1. Marillion: Misplaced Childhood (1985)
2. The Beatles: Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
3. Kevin Gilbert: The Shaming of the True (1996)
4. Styx: Paradise Theater (1981)
5. Pink Floyd: The Wall (1979)
6. Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin IV (1971)
7. Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
8. Styx: The Grand Illusion (1977)
9. Tears for Fears: Songs from the Big Chair (1985)
10. The Rainmakers: The Rainmakers (1986)

11. Bruce Springsteen: Born in the U.S.A. (1984)
12. Prince & the Revolution: Purple Rain (1984)
13. Marillion: Script for a Jester’s Tear (1983)
14. The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Are You Experienced? (1967)
15. The Beatles: Abbey Road (1969)
16. The Who: Who’s Next (1971)
17. The Police: Synchronicity (1983)
18. Marillion: Clutching at Straws (1987)
19. U2: The Joshua Tree (1987)
20. Indigo Girls: Indigo Girls (1989)

21. Various Artists: Some Kind of Wonderful (soundtrack, 1987)
22. Olivia Newton-John/Electric Light Orchestra: Xanadu (soundtrack, 1980)
23. Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin II (1969)
24. The Beatles: Please Please Me (1963)
25. Eagles: Hotel California (1976)
26. Tears for Fears: The Hurting (1983)
27. Boston: Boston (1976)
28. Sting: Nothing Like the Sun (1987)
29. The Beatles: Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
30. Fleetwood Mac: Rumours (1977)

31. Peter Gabriel: So (1986)
32. Journey: Escape (1981)
33. Tori Amos: Little Earthquakes (1992)
34. The Who: Tommy (1969)
35. The Doors: The Doors (1967)
36. The Beatles: The Beatles (aka “The White Album”) (1968)
37. Billy Joel: The Stranger (1977)
38. The Police: Zenyatta Mondatta (1980)
39. Dire Straits: Brothers in Arms (1985)
40. Van Halen: Van Halen I (1978)

41. Velvet Underground & Nico: Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)
42. Terence Trent D’Arby: Introducing the Hardline (1987)
43. Tracy Chapman: Tracy Chapman (1988)
44. Alan Parsons Project: The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980)
45. Marillion: Fugazi (1984)
46. Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here (1975)
47. The Rolling Stones: Let It Bleed (1969)
48. Melissa Etheridge: Melissa Etheridge (1988)
49. Sting: The Dream of the Blue Turtles (1985)
50. David + David: Boomtown (1986)

51. Michael Jackson: Thriller (1982)
52. Crowded House: Crowded House (1986)
53. Toy Matinee: Toy Matinee (1990)
54. The Beatles: Revolver (1966)
55. Lyle Lovett: Pontiac (1988)
56. Marillion: Season’s End (1989)
57. Pearl Jam: Ten (1991)
58. Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young: Déjà Vu (1970)
59. Bruce Springsteen: Born to Run (1975)
60. Squeeze: East Side Story (1981)

61. Tears for Fears: The Seeds of Love (1989)
62. Meat Loaf: Bat Out of Hell (1977)
63. Lyle Lovett: Lyle Lovett and His Large Band (1989)
64. The Police: Outlandos D’Amour (1978)
65. U2: War (1983)
66. David Bowie: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)
67. Violent Femmes: Violent Femmes (1983)
68. Fish: Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors (1990)
69. The Rolling Stones: Sticky Fingers (1971)
70. The Beatles: Rubber Soul (1965)

71. Yes: Fragile (1971)
72. John Cougar Mellencamp: The Lonesome Jubilee (1987)
73. Genesis: Genesis (1983)
74. Led Zeppelin: Houses of the Holy (1973)
75. Sheryl Crow: Tuesday Night Music Club (1993)
76. Paul Simon: Graceland (1986)
77. Yes: 90125 (1983)
78. XTC: Skylarking (1986)
79. The Police: Regatta De Blanc (1979)
80. Alan Parsons Project: I, Robot (1977)

81. Kevin Gilbert: Thud (1995)
82. John Cougar Mellencamp: Scarecrow (1985)
83. Styx: Pieces of Eight (1978)
84. Various Artists: K-Tel: High Energy (1979)
85. Styx: Crystal Ball (1976)
86. Styx: Equinox (1975)
87. Asia: Asia (1982)
88. The Beatles: Help! (1965)
89. Pat Benatar: Crimes of Passion (1980)
90. Crowded House: Woodface (1991)

91. Toni Childs: Union (1988)
92. U2: Rattle and Hum (1988)
93. The Cars: The Cars (1978)
94. The Williams Brothers: The Williams Brothers (1991)
95. Nirvana: Nevermind (1991)
96. Alanis Morissette: Jagged Little Pill (1995)
97. Mike + the Mechanics: Mike + the Mechanics (1985)
98. David Baerwald: A Fine Mess (1999)
99. The Rainmakers: 25 On (2011)
100. Hooters: Nervous Night (1985)

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