"It's timeless": Apple Music reveals best albums of all time
Apple Music has compiled their list of the top 100 albums of all time, with the number one spot dividing music lovers.
Said to be “a modern 21st-century ranking of the greatest records ever made,” the list was compiled by Apple Music’s team of experts “alongside a select group of artists, songwriters, producers, and industry professionals.”
“The list is an editorial statement,” the streaming giant said in a press release, “fully independent of any streaming numbers on Apple Music - a love letter to the records that have shaped the world music lovers live and listen in.”
Taking out the number one spot, which has divided music lovers, is Lauryn Hill’s 1998 magnum opus The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
The album beat out other iconic works such as Abbey Road by The Beatles and Thriller by Michael Jackson for the top spot, as well as newer records such as Back to Black by Amy Winehouse and Blonde by Frank Ocean.
Following the big reveal, Apple Music’s global creative director, Zane Lowe, described Hill’s album as one that “has not dated, not even a fraction”.
“In fact, it feels more fresh and more relevant the more you listen to it … There are a lot of young artists hearing it, and it’s becoming part of their artistic DNA,” he said.
“It’s inspiring and influencing them … It’s timeless.”
While The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is certainly popular after selling over 20 million copies and making it one of the best-selling albums of all time, not everyone was so sure it deserved top spot on the list.
“Album is fire but no way this gets #1 of all albums,” one user wrote on X, formerly Twitter, while another account declared simply: “BLASPHEMY.”
“The most overrated album in history. I’m not saying it’s not good but come on,” a user wrote.
Many people also insisted Jackson’s “Thriller” deserved to be number one.
“That album had no miss, but Michael Jackson thriller is no 1,” an X user said.
“I feel like Michael got snubbed,” another agreed.
Check out the top 20 of the coveted list below. You can see the top 100 list in its entirety here.
20. Pet Sounds – The Beach Boys
19. The Chronic – Dr. Dre
18. 1989 (Taylor’s Version) – Taylor Swift
17. What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye
16. Blue – Joni Mitchell
15. 21 – Adele
14. Highway 61 Revisited – Bob Dylan
13. The Blueprint – Jay-Z
12. OK Computer – Radiohead
11. Rumours – Fleetwood Mac
10. Lemonade – Beyoncé
9. Nevermind – Nirvana
8. Back to Black – Amy Winehouse
7. good kid, m.A.A.d city (Deluxe Version) – Kendrick Lamar
6. Songs in the Key of Life – Stevie Wonder
5. Blonde – Frank Ocean
4. Purple Rain – Prince & The Revolution
3. Abbey Road - The Beatles
2. Thriller - Michael Jackson
1. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill – Lauryn Hill
Image credits: Ruffhouse Records / Apple Records / Epic Records