The (modified) RS 500

It's impossible to create a definitive list, especially a rank-based one, that will satisfy everyone. As soon as one begins to rattle off album titles, even those that seem like obvious inclusions, another will have an argument against including them over their own personal favorites or those they feel are most worthy. With this in mind, it wasn't really a bad idea for Rolling Stone magazine to attempt to create a comprehensive list by surveying a wide range of artists and notable people from within the industry. That was in 2003. If that list was a distillation of a stack of ballots or lists submitted by the experts who were invited to participate, it would stand to reason such a list may not need revision as soon as 9 years later (and most definitely not a second revision only 8 years after the first), yet in 2020, the magazine famously did just that. While there is an argument that the 18 years that have passed since the original list was published have certainly produced albums worthy of inclusion, or at least consideration, to be among the 500 best of all time, the most recent list feels, at times, like a pandering over-correction, especially from different generational perspectives. However, each version of the list is the result of the votes cast by the participants. If ballots are distributed primarily to Boomers, for example, the list of 500 will be entirely different than one that would be created primarily by Millennials. 

With this in mind, and because I was curious to compare the three versions of RS's 500 lists, I decided to undertake a personal project and experiment to see if it affected the emotional response elicited by comparing the rankings themselves (rather than the more appropriate discussion of which albums should be included among the best 500 regardless of ranking), and I found that looking at the list without numbers, re-arranged alphabetically and chronologically by artist and album, definitely made for a different experience. To continue to play with the idea, I decided to combine all three versions of the list into one (without rankings) and then narrow that list down to 500 albums based on my own opinions and arguments, which already makes my own list flawed and subjective to be sure, but I still used the published RS lists as a foundation and made changes from there. 

To get to the point, scroll down to view my own personal take on the Rolling Stone 500 list. As for the nerdy details about how I made it (for music junkies like myself who may be interested in my process), to narrow the "master list" down to 500, I first removed all compilation albums (not proper LPs), and then removed albums that I personally did not feel were worthy of inclusion, especially compared to other albums that were not present and were more than deserving. That last stage became the hardest because the 500 best albums from the combined Rolling Stone lists was already very strong, but there were still about 30 albums that I could not leave off the list, requiring I remove that many from the existing list to keep the number at an even 500. While most of those cuts were very difficult calls to make, and while there are many arguments for dropping something else in lieu of some that I chose to remove, I feel this is a much stronger, better, and well-rounded list that takes the focus away from which albums are "better" than the others among the 500 best and avoids overlooking some of the strongest rock albums of the last 30 years. While I did remove some of the 21st century pop-based albums that I don't feel have yet had enough time to make such a significant historical impact (or were arguably undeserving, at least by comparison), I decided to avoid fighting the idea of dropping a few of the '80s pop contributions and albums by the jazz greats among the list as most of them have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, either as performers or as early influences, and that carries weight. However, I didn't realize until this late in the process that I hadn't considered the idea of a list of all-time great albums (period) or whether the list intends to focus on the 500 greatest Rock and Roll albums, specifically (though, in fairness, both of those lists would still be very, very similar). In either case, I feel the list I ended up with appropriately surveys at least the best LPs of the last 70 years if not 100 or more, rock or otherwise.

Having said all that, and without further ado, I present my personal variant of the RS 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

The MODIFIED RS 500

2 Pac-All Eyez on Me

50 Cent-Get Rich or Die Tryin’

AC/DC-Highway to Hell

AC/DC-Back in Black

Aerosmith-Toys in the Attic

Aerosmith-Rocks

Alice in Chains-Facelift

Alice in Chains-Dirt

The Allman Brothers Band-At Fillmore East

Tori Amos-Little Earthquakes

Fiona Apple-When the Pawn…

Arcade Fire-Funeral

Arctic Monkeys-Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not

Audioslave-Audioslave

Eric B. & Rakim-Paid in Full

The B-52’s-The B-52’s

Erykah Badu-Baduizm

The Band-The Band

The Band-Music from Big Pink

The Beach Boys-Pet Sounds

The Beach Boys-Smile

Beastie Boys-Licensed to Ill

Beastie Boys-Paul’s Boutique

Beastie Boys-Check Your Head

Beastie Boys-Ill Communication

The Beatles-Please Please Me

The Beatles-With the Beatles/Meet the Beatles

The Beatles-A Hard Day’s Night

The Beatles-Help!

The Beatles-Rubber Soul

The Beatles-Revolver

The Beatles-Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

The Beatles-The Beatles (white album)

The Beatles-Let It Be

The Beatles-Abbey Road

Beck-Odelay

Beck-Sea Change

Big Brother and the Holding Company-Cheap Thrills

Big Star-#1 Record

Bjork-Post

Bjork-Homogenic

Black Flag-Damaged

Black Sabbath-Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath-Paranoid

Black Sabbath-Master of Reality

Bobby “Blue” Bland-Two Steps from the Blues

Blondie-Blondie

Blondie-Parallel Lines

Blur-Parklife

Bo Diddley-Bo Diddley

Bon Iver-For Emma, Forever Ago

Boogie Down Productions-Criminal Minded

Boston-Boston

David Bowie-Hunky Dory

David Bowie-The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

David Bowie-Station to Station

David Bowie-Scary Monsters

The Breeders-Last Splash

James Brown-Live at the Apollo

James Brown-Sex Machine

Jackson Browne-The Pretender

Jeff Buckley-Grace

Buffalo Springfield-Buffalo Springfield Again

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band-The Paul Butterfield Blues Band

The Byrds-Mr. Tambourine Man

The Byrds-Sweetheart of the Rodeo

Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band-Trout Mask Replica

The Cars-The Cars

Johnny Cash-At Folsom Prison

Johnny Cash-American Recordings

Ray Charles-The Genius of Ray Charles

Ray Charles-Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music

Tracy Chapman-Tracy Chapman

Cheap Trick-In Color

Cheap Trick-At Budokan

Chic-Risqué

Eric Clapton-461 Ocean Boulevard

Eric Clapton-Slowhand

The Clash-The Clash

The Clash-London Calling

Jimmy Cliff-The Harder They Come (sdtk)

Leonard Cohen-Songs of Leonard Cohen

Coldplay-A Rush of Blood to the Head

John Coltrane-A Love Supreme

Sam Cooke-Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963

Alice Cooper-Love It to Death

Elvis Costello-My Aim Is True

Elvis Costello-This Year’s Model

Creedence Clearwater Revival-Green River

Creedence Clearwater Revival-Willy and the Poor Boys

Creedence Clearwater Revival-Cosmo’s Factory

Cream-Disraeli Gears

Cream-Wheels of Fire

The Crickets-The Chirping Crickets

Crosby, Stills & Nash-Crosby, Stills & Nash

Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young-Déjà vu

Sheryl Crow-Sheryl Crow

The Cure-Boys Don’t Cry

The Cure-Disintegration

Daft Punk-Discovery

Daft Punk-Random Access Memories

Miles Davis-Kind of Blue

Miles Davis-Bitches Brew

De La Soul-Three Feet High and Rising

Dead Kennedys-Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables

The Dead Weather-Sea of Cowards

Def Leppard-Pyromania

Def Leppard-Hysteria

Deftones-White Pony

Depeche Mode-Violator

Derek and the Dominos-Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs

Devo-Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo

Devo-Freedom of Choice

Dire Straits-Brothers in Arms

DJ Shadow-Entroducing…..

The Doors-The Doors

The Doors-Strange Days

The Doors-L.A. Woman

Nick Drake-Pink Moon

Dr. Dre-The Chronic

Dr. John-Gris-Gris

Bob Dylan-The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan-Bringing It All Back Home

Bob Dylan-Highway 61 Revisited

Bob Dylan-Blonde on Blonde

Bob Dylan-Desire

Bob Dylan-Blood on the Tracks

Bob Dylan-Time Out of Mind

Earth, Wind & Fire-That’s the Way of the World

Eagles-Hotel California

Echo and the Bunnymen-Heaven Up Here

Eminem-The Slim Shady LP

Eminem-The Marshall Mathers LP

Brian Eno-Here Come the Warm Jets

EPMD-Strictly Business

Eurythmics-Touch

Faith No More-Angel Dust

The Flaming Lips-The Soft Bulletin

Fleetwood Mac-Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac-Rumors

Folkways Anthology of American Folk Music

Foo Fighters-The Colour and the Shape

The Four Tops-Reach Out

Aretha Franklin-I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You

Aretha Franklin-Lady Soul

Fugees-The Score

Funkadelic-Maggot Brain

Funkadelic-One Nation Under a Groove

Peter Gabriel-So

Gang of Four-Entertainment!

Marvin Gaye-What’s Going On

Marvin Gaye-Let’s Get It On

Ghostface KIllah-Supreme Clientele

Gnarls Barkley-St. Elsewhere

The Go Go’s-Beauty and the Beat

Gorillaz-Plastic Beach

Grateful Dead-Anthem of the Sun

Grateful Dead-Live Dead

Grateful Dead-Workingman’s Dead

Grateful Dead-American Beauty

Al Green-I’m Still in Love with You

Al Green-Call Me

Green Day-Dookie

Green Day-American Idiot

Guns N’ Roses-Appetite for Destruction

Guns N’ Roses-Use Your Illusion (I & II)

GZA-Liquid Swords

Merle Haggard-Branded Man

Herbie Hancock-Head Hunters

George Harrison-All Things Must Pass

PJ Harvey-Rid of Me

PJ Harvey-To Bring You My Love

Isaac Hayes-Hot Buttered Soul

The Jimi Hendrix Experience-Are You Experienced?

The Jimi Hendrix Experience-Axis: Bold as Love

The Jimi Hendrix Experience-Electric Ladyland

Don Henley-The End of the Innocence

Lauryn Hill-The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Hole-Live Through This

Billie Holiday-Lady in Satin

Whitney Houston-Whitney Houston

Howlin’ Wolf-Moanin’ in the Moonlight

Howlin’ Wolf-Howlin’ Wolf

Husker Du-New Day Rising

Ice Cube-Amerikkka’s Most Wanted

The Isley Brothers-3+3

J Dilla-Donuts

Janet Jackson-Control

Janet Jackson-Rhythm Nation 1814

Michael Jackson-Thriller

Michael Jackson-Bad

Etta James-At Last!

Jane’s Addiction-Nothing’s Shocking

Jane’s Addiction-Ritual de lo Habitual

Jay-Z-The Blueprint

Jay-Z-The Black Album

Jefferson Airplane-Surrealistic Pillow

Jefferson Airplane-Volunteers

The Jesus and Mary Chain-Psychocandy

Jethro Tull-Aqualung

Billy Joel-The Stranger

Billy Joel-52^nd Street

Elton John-Honky Chateau

Elton John-Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Elton John-Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy

Janis Joplin-Pearl

Joy Division-Unknown Pleasures

Kid Cudi-Man on the Moon: The End of the Day

Albert King-Born Under a Bad Sign

B.B. King-Live at the Regal

Carole King-Tapestry

King Crimson-In the Court of the Crimson King

The Kinks-Something Else

The Kinks-The Village Green Preservation Society

Kiss-Destroyer

Kiss-Alive!

Korn-Korn

Kraftwerk-Trans-Europe Express

Fela Kuti-Expensive Shit

Labelle-Nightbirds

Kendrick Lamar-To Pimp a Butterfly

Cyndi Lauper-She’s So Unusual

LCD Soundsystem-Sound of Silver

Led Zeppelin-I

Led Zeppelin-II

Led Zeppelin-IV

Led Zeppelin-Houses of the Holy

Led Zeppelin-Physical Graffiti

John Lennon-Plastic Ono Band

John Lennon-Imagine

Little Richard-Here’s Little Richard

LL Cool J-Radio

Los Lobos-How Will the Wolf Survive?

Love-Forever Changes

Loretta Lynn-Coal Miner’s Daughter

Lynyrd Skynyrd-Pronounced ‘Leh-‘nerd ‘Skin-‘nerd

Madonna-Like a Prayer

Madvillain-Madvillainy

The Mamas and the Papas-If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears

(Bob Marley and) The Wailers-Burnin’

Bob Marley and The Wailers-Natty Dread

Bob Marley and The Wailers-Exodus

The Mars Volta-Frances the Mute

Massive Attack-Blue Lines

John Mayall-Blues Breakers

Curtis Mayfield-Curtis

Curtis Mayfield-Superfly

The MC5-Kick Out the Jams

The MC5-Back in the USA

Paul & Linda McCartney-Ram

Meat Loaf-Bat Out of Hell

Metallica-Master of Puppets

Metallica-Metallica (the black album)

The Meters-Look-Ka Py-Py

MGMT-Oracular Spectacular

MGMT-Congratulations

M.I.A.-Arular

Steve Miller Band-Fly Like an Eagle

Charles Mingus-Mingus Ah Um

The Minutemen-Double Nickels on the Dime

The Miracles-Going to a Go-Go

Joni Mitchell-Blue

Joni Mitchell-Court and Spark

Moby-Play

The Modern Lovers-The Modern Lovers

Alanis Morissette-Jagged Little Pill

Van Morrison-Astral Weeks

Van Morrison-Moondance

The Mothers of Invention-Freak Out!

The Mothers of Invention-We’re Only in It for the Money

Motorhead-Ace of Spades

Mott the Hoople-All the Young Dudes

Mr. Bungle-California

My Bloody Valentine-Loveless

My Morning Jacket-Z

Nas-Illmatic

Willie Nelson-Red Headed Stranger

Willie Nelson-Stardust

New Order-Power, Corruption & Lies

New York Dolls-New York Dolls

Randy Newman-Good Old Boys

Harry Nilsson-Nilsson Schmilson

Nine Inch Nails-Pretty Hate Machine

Nine Inch Nails-The Downward Spiral

Nirvana-Nevermind

Nirvana-In Utero

Nirvana-Unplugged in New York

No Doubt-Tragic Kingdom

The Notorious B.I.G.-Ready to Die

Nuggets (v/a)

N.W.A.-Straight Outta Compton

Laura Nyro-Eli and the 13^th Confession

Sinead O’Connor-I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got

The O’Jays-Back Stabbers

Oasis-Definitely Maybe

Oasis-Morning Glory

The Offspring-Smash

Outkast-Aquemini

Outkast-Stankonia

Outkast-Speakerboxxx/The Love Below

Pantera-Vulgar Display of Power

Parliament-The Mothership Connection

Gram Parsons-Grievous Angel

Pavement-Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain

Pearl Jam-Ten

Pearl Jam-Vs.

Pearl Jam-Vitalogy

A Perfect Circle-Mer de Noms

Pet Shop Boys-Actually

Phil Spector-A Christmas Gift for You

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers-Damn the Torpedoes

Tom Petty-Full Moon Fever

Tom Petty-Wildflowers

Liz Phair-Exile in Guyville

The Pharcyde-Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde

Pink Floyd-Piper at the Gates of Dawn

Pink Floyd-Meddle

Pink Floyd-The Dark Side of the Moon

Pink Floyd-Wish You Were Here

Pink Floyd-The Wall

Pink Floyd-The Division Bell

Pixies-Surfer Rosa

Pixies-Doolittle

The Pogues-Rum Sodomy and The Lash

The Police-Outlandos D’Amour

The Police-Ghost in the Machine

The Police-Synchronicity

Portishead-Dummy

Elvis Presley-Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley-From Elvis in Memphis

The Pretenders-Pretenders

Primus-Sailing the Seas of Cheese

Prince-1999

Prince & The Revolution-Purple Rain

Prince-Sign O’ the Times

John Prine-John Prine

Public Enemy-It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back

Public Enemy-Fear of a Black Planet

Public Image Ltd.-Metal Box

Queen-A Night at the Opera

Queens of the Stone Age-Rated R

Queens of the Stone Age-Songs for the Deaf

Quicksilver Messenger Service-Happy Trails

Radiohead-The Bends

Radiohead-OK Computer

Radiohead-Kid A

Radiohead-Amnesiac

Radiohead-In Rainbows

Raekwon-Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

Rage Against the Machine-Rage Against the Machine

Rage Against the Machine-The Battle of Los Angeles

Bonnie Raitt-Nick of Time

Ramones-Ramones

Ramones-Rocket to Russia

Red Hot Chili Peppers-Blood Sugar Sex Magik

Red Hot Chili Peppers-Californication

Red Hot Chili Peppers-Stadium Arcadium

Otis Redding-Dictionary of Soul

Otis Redding-Otis Blue

Lou Reed-Transformer

Lou Reed-Berlin

R.E.M.-Murmur

R.E.M.-Document

R.E.M.-Automatic for the People

R.E.M.-Monster

The Replacements-Tim

The Replacements-Let It Be

The Rolling Stones-Out of Our Heads

The Rolling Stones-Aftermath

The Rolling Stones-Beggars Banquet

The Rolling Stones-Let It Bleed

The Rolling Stones-Sticky Fingers

The Rolling Stones-Exile on Main Street

The Rolling Stones-Some Girls

The Rolling Stones-Tattoo You

The Ronettes-Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes

Linda Ronstadt-Heart Like a Wheel

The Roots-Things Fall Apart

Diana Ross-Diana

Roxy Music-Avalon

Rufus-Ask Rufus

Run-DMC-Run-DMC

Run-DMC-Raising Hell

Todd Rundgren-Something/Anything?

Rush-Moving Pictures

Sade-Diamond Life

Santana-Santana

Santana-Abraxas

Saturday Night Fever-sdtk/VA

The Sex Pistols-Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols

Simon & Garfunkel-Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme

Simon & Garfunkel-Bookends

Simon & Garfunkel-Bridge over Troubled Water

Paul Simon-Paul Simon

Paul Simon-Graceland

Nina Simone-Wild Is the Wind

Frank Sinatra-Songs for Swingin’ Lovers!

Frank Sinatra-In the Wee Small Hours

Sleater-Kinney-Dig Me Out

The Slits-Cut

Sly & The Family Stone-Stand!

Sly & The Family Stone-There’s a Riot Goin’ On

Smashing Pumpkins-Siamese Dream

Smashing Pumpkins-Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

Elliot Smith-Either/Or

Patti Smith-Horses

The Smiths-The Queen Is Dead

Snoop Doggy Dogg-Doggystyle

Sonic Youth-Daydream Nation

Sonic Youth-Goo

Soundgarden-Badmotorfinger

Soundgarden-Superunkown

Sparks-Kimono My House

Dusty Springfield-Dusty in Memphis

Bruce Springsteen-Born to Run

Bruce Springsteen-Nebraska

Bruce Springsteen-Born in the U.S.A.

Bruce Springsteen-Tunnel of Love

Steely Dan-Can’t Buy a Thrill

Steely Dan-Aja

Cat Stevens-Tea for the Tillerman

Rod Stewart-Every Picture Tells a Story

The Stone Roses-The Stone Roses

Stone Temple Pilots-Core

Stone Temple Pilots-Purple

The Stooges-The Stooges

The Stooges-Fun House

The Stooges-Raw Power

The Strokes-Is This It?

Sublime-40 oz. to Freedom

System of a Down-Toxicity

Donna Summer-Bad Girls

T. Rex-Electric Warrior

Talking Heads-‘77

Talking Heads-More Songs About Buildings and Food

Talking Heads-Remain in Light

Talking Heads-Stop Making Sense

James Taylor-Sweet Baby James

Television-Marquee Moon

Temple of the Dog-Temple of the Dog

Them Crooked Vultures-Them Crooked Vultures

They Might Be Giants-Flood

Tool-Aemima

Tool-10,000 Days

Toots and the Maytals-Funky Kingston

A Tribe Called Quest-The Low-End Theory

A Tribe Called Quest-Midnight Marauders

U2-War

U2-The Joshua Tree

U2-Achtung Baby

Vampire Weekend-Vampire Weekend

Van Halen-Van Halen

Van Halen-1984

The Velvet Underground-The Velvet Underground and Nico

The Velvet Underground-White Light/White Heat

The Velvet Underground-Loaded

Tom Waits-Rain Dogs

Tom Waits-Mule Variations

War-The World Is a Ghetto

Muddy Waters-At Newport 1960

Muddy Waters-Folk Singer

Ween-Chocolate and Cheese

Weezer-Weezer (blue album)

Weezer-Pinkerton

Kanye West-The College Dropout

Kanye West-Late Registration

Kanye West-My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Kanye West-Yeezus

Barry White-Can’t Get Enough

The White Stripes-White Blood Cells

The White Stripes-Elephant

The Who-Tommy

The Who-Live at Leeds

The Who-Who’s Next

The Who-Quadrophenia

Wilco-Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

Lucinda Williams-Car Wheels on a Gravel Road

Brian Wilson-Smile

Amy Winehouse-Back to Black

Wings-Band on the Run

Wire-Pink Flag

Bill Withers-Just as I Am

Bill Withers-Still Bill

Stevie Wonder-Innervisions

Stevie Wonder-Songs in the Key of Life

Stevie Wonder-Talking Book

Wu-Tang Clan-Enter the Wu-Tang

X-Los Angeles

Weird Al Yankovic-Dare to Be Stupid

The Yardbirds-Having a Rave Up with the Yardbirds

The Yardbirds-Roger the Engineer

Yeah Yeah Yeahs-Fever to Tell

Yes-Close to the Edge

Neil Young-Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere

Neil Young-After the Gold Rush

Neil Young-Harvest

Neil Young-Rust Never Sleeps

The Zombies-Odyssey and Oracle

ZZ Top-Tres Hombres

ZZ Top-Eliminator