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Album Years Chart

This page lists the biggest hit albums of each year in the 26 source charts. The way that the various charts are combined to reach this final list is described in the home page.

The album charts only start after 1950.

#	Artist	Album Title	Year	Chart Entries
1	Gnarls Barkley	St Elsewhere	2006	UK 1 - May 2006, Italy 55 of 2006, RYM 126 of 2006, Acclaimed 401
2	Coldplay	X & Y	2005	UK 1 - Jun 2005, Austria 1 - Jun 2005, Switzerland 1 - Jun 2005, Norway 1 - Jun 2005, Sweden 1 - Jun 2005, Italy 6 of 2005, UK Radio2 33, WXPN 295, Acclaimed 2265
3	Green Day	American Idiot	2004	UK 1 - Oct 2004, Austria 1 - Oct 2004, Switzerland 1 - Oct 2004, Norway 1 - Jan 2004, Sweden 1 - Oct 2004, US 3 of 2005, Italy 9 of 2005, UK Radio2 41, NARM 61, Defin200 61, RYM 111 of 2004, WXPN 192, Acclaimed 997
4	Outkast	Speakerboxx & The Love Below	2003	Grammy in 2004, US 2 of 2004, Norway 4 - Oct 2003, UK 8 - Jan 2004, Switzerland 11 - Feb 2004, Sweden 11 - Oct 2003, NARM 29, Defin200 29, Austria 33 - Feb 2004, RIAA 64 - 10 M claimed, Channel4 69, Acclaimed 116, RYM 171 of 2003
5	Eminem	The Eminem Show	2002	UK 1 - Jun 2002, US 1 of 2002, Austria 1 - Jun 2002, Switzerland 1 - Jun 2002, Norway 1 - Jun 2002, Sweden 1 - Jun 2002, Italy 8 of 2002, Global 34 - 20 M claimed, NARM 63, Defin200 63, Internet 83 - 15 M claimed 2002, RIAA 123 - 8 M claimed, Rolling Stone 317, Acclaimed 1049
6	Radiohead	Amnesiac	2001	UK 1 - Jun 2001, Austria 1 - Jun 2001, Norway 1 - Jun 2001, Sweden 4 - Jun 2001, Switzerland 6 - Jun 2001, RYM 67 of 2001, Italy 68 of 2001, Acclaimed 454, WXPN 586
7	Santana	Supernatural	2000	UK 1 - Dec 2000, Austria 1 - Jan 2000, Switzerland 1 - Jul 1999, Norway 1 - Jan 2000, Sweden 1 - Feb 2000, Italy 1 of 2000, Grammy in 2000, US 2 of 2000, NARM 13, Defin200 13, RIAA 18 - 15 M claimed, Global 22 - 23 M claimed, Internet 26 - 25 M claimed 1999, WXPN 257, Acclaimed 2472
8	The Backstreet Boys	Millennium	1999	US 1 of 1999, Austria 1 - May 1999, Switzerland 1 - May 1999, Norway 1 - May 1999, Sweden 1 - May 1999, UK 2 - May 1999, Internet 12 - 30 M claimed 1999, Italy 16 of 1999, Global 22 - 23 M claimed, RIAA 32 - 13 M claimed
9	Shania Twain	Come On Over	1998	UK 1 - Apr 1999, Norway 1 - Mar 1998, Global 2 - 34 M claimed, US 3 of 1999, Switzerland 4 - Mar 1998, Sweden 4 - Apr 1999, Austria 5 - Jul 1999, Internet 7 - 35 M claimed 1997, RIAA 7 - 20 M claimed, NARM 21, Defin200 21, Italy 73 of 2000, UK Radio2 97, Acclaimed 1544
10	Radiohead	OK Computer	1997	UK 1 - Jun 1997, Channel4 1, RYM 1 of 1997, Melody Maker 2 of 1997, Sweden 3 - Jun 1997, Norway 4 - Jan 1997, Virgin 4, Acclaimed 14, WXPN 15, Italy 23 of 1997, UK Radio2 27, Austria 28 - Jul 1997, Switzerland 40 - Jul 1997, Defin200 111, Rolling Stone 162
11	Celine Dion	Falling Into You	1996	UK 1 - Mar 1996, Austria 1 - Apr 1996, Switzerland 1 - Mar 1996, Norway 1 - Mar 1996, Sweden 1 - Mar 1996, Grammy in 1997, US 3 of 1996, Global 10 - 26 M claimed, Internet 16 - 29 M claimed 1996, Italy 20 of 1996, RIAA 51 - 11 M claimed, NARM 97, Defin200 97
12	Alanis Morissette	Jagged Little Pill	1995	UK 1 - Aug 1995, US 1 of 1996, Sweden 1 - Oct 1995, Grammy in 1996, Switzerland 2 - Mar 1996, Austria 3 - Apr 1996, Norway 3 - Jan 1996, Italy 4 of 1996, US CashBox 8 of 1995, RIAA 12 - 16 M claimed, Channel4 16, UK Radio2 16, Internet 19 - 28 M claimed 1995, NARM 26, Defin200 26, Virgin 51, RYM 116 of 1995, WXPN 126, Rolling Stone 327, Acclaimed 364
13	Pink Floyd	The Division Bell	1994	UK 1 - Apr 1994, Austria 1 - Apr 1994, Switzerland 1 - Apr 1994, Norway 1 - Apr 1994, Sweden 1 - Apr 1994, Italy 1 of 1994, US CashBox 17 of 1994, UK Radio2 88, Global 103 - 10 M claimed
14	Mariah Carey	Music Box	1993	UK 1 - Sep 1993, Austria 1 - Oct 1993, Switzerland 1 - Sep 1993, US 2 of 1994, Norway 2 - Sep 1993, Sweden 3 - Sep 1993, Italy 4 of 1994, US CashBox 7 of 1994, Global 12 - 25 M claimed, Internet 20 - 27 M claimed 1993, RIAA 64 - 10 M claimed
15	REM	Automatic For The People	1992	UK 1 - Oct 1992, Melody Maker 1 of 1992, Austria 3 - Oct 1992, Switzerland 3 - Oct 1992, Norway 4 - Oct 1992, RYM 4 of 1992, Virgin 6, Sweden 7 - Oct 1992, Channel4 11, UK Radio2 14, US CashBox 23 of 1993, Guiness 27, Italy 28 of 1992, Acclaimed 44, WXPN 60, NARM 73, Defin200 73, Internet 83 - 15 M claimed 1992, Rolling Stone 247
16	Nirvana	Nevermind	1991	Sweden 1 - Dec 1991, Switzerland 2 - Jan 1992, Norway 2 - Dec 1991, US 3 of 1992, Austria 3 - Jan 1992, Channel4 3, Acclaimed 3, US CashBox 4 of 1992, Melody Maker 5 of 1991, UK 7 - Oct 1991, RYM 9 of 1991, NARM 10, Defin200 10, Rolling Stone 17, Virgin 17, WXPN 31, Global 41 - 19 M claimed, Italy 46 of 1992, Guiness 57, RIAA 64 - 10 M claimed, Internet 108 - 14 M claimed 1991
17	Sinead O'Connor	I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got	1990	UK 1 - Mar 1990, Austria 1 - Apr 1990, Switzerland 1 - Mar 1990, Norway 1 - Mar 1990, Sweden 1 - Mar 1990, US CashBox 9 of 1990, Melody Maker 14 of 1990, Italy 16 of 1990, RYM 55 of 1990, Acclaimed 354, Rolling Stone 406, WXPN 508
18	Madonna	Like A Prayer	1989	UK 1 - Apr 1989, Austria 1 - Apr 1989, Switzerland 1 - Apr 1989, Norway 1 - Apr 1989, Sweden 1 - Apr 1989, US CashBox 7 of 1989, Italy 7 of 1989, Channel4 8, UK Radio2 35, RYM 41 of 1989, Global 82 - 12 M claimed, Internet 108 - 14 M claimed 1989, Rolling Stone 237, Acclaimed 363
19	U2	Rattle & Hum	1988	UK 1 - Oct 1988, Austria 1 - Nov 1988, Switzerland 1 - Oct 1988, Norway 1 - Oct 1988, France Best 1 of 1988, Sweden 2 - Oct 1988, Italy 7 of 1988, US CashBox 39 of 1988, UK Radio2 61, Global 75 - 13 M claimed, RYM 184 of 1988, RIAA 277 - 5 M claimed, WXPN 340, Acclaimed 1280
20	U2	The Joshua Tree	1987	UK 1 - Mar 1987, Austria 1 - Apr 1987, Switzerland 1 - Mar 1987, Sweden 1 - Mar 1987, Grammy in 1988, US CashBox 2 of 1987, France Best 2 of 1987, Channel4 2, UK Radio2 3, Norway 4 - Mar 1987, Italy 4 of 1987, NARM 5, Defin200 5, WXPN 7, RYM 11 of 1987, Global 19 - 24 M claimed, Virgin 25, Rolling Stone 26, Acclaimed 36, Fox101 37, Guiness 48, Internet 55 - 18 M claimed 1987, RIAA 64 - 10 M claimed
21	Paul Simon	Graceland	1986	UK 1 - Sep 1986, Switzerland 1 - Oct 1986, Grammy in 1987, US 2 of 1987, Austria 3 - Mar 1987, US CashBox 4 of 1987, RYM 4 of 1986, Norway 13 - Sep 1986, Sweden 13 - Sep 1986, Italy 15 of 1987, France Best 15 of 1986, WXPN 18, UK Radio2 23, Virgin 43, Acclaimed 67, Rolling Stone 81, NARM 83, Defin200 83, Channel4 84, Guiness 93, RIAA 277 - 5 M claimed
22	Dire Straits	Brothers In Arms	1985	UK 1 - May 1985, Austria 1 - Jun 1985, Switzerland 1 - May 1985, Norway 1 - May 1985, Sweden 1 - May 1985, Global 4 - 29 M claimed, US 5 of 1986, France Best 6 of 1985, US CashBox 7 of 1985, UK Radio2 12, Italy 22 of 1985, Internet 26 - 25 M claimed 1985, RYM 46 of 1985, Channel4 47, Guiness 68, Fox101 83, NARM 89, Defin200 89, RIAA 100 - 9 M claimed, WXPN 172, Rolling Stone 351, Acclaimed 566
23	Bruce Springsteen	Born In The USA	1984	UK 1 - Jun 1984, US CashBox 1 of 1985, US 1 of 1985, Austria 1 - Jul 1984, Switzerland 1 - Jun 1984, Norway 1 - Apr 1984, Sweden 1 - Jun 1984, Italy 3 of 1985, France Best 3 of 1984, Global 7 - 27 M claimed, Melody Maker 9 of 1984, RIAA 18 - 15 M claimed, Fox101 25, Internet 31 - 24 M claimed 1984, UK Radio2 34, RYM 39 of 1984, NARM 56, Defin200 56, Guiness 70, WXPN 80, Rolling Stone 85, Acclaimed 148
24	The Police	Synchronicity	1983	UK 1 - Jun 1983, US CashBox 3 of 1983, US 3 of 1983, Norway 3 - Jun 1983, Sweden 4 - Jun 1983, Italy 6 of 1983, Melody Maker 8 of 1983, Austria 11 - Aug 1983, Switzerland 15 - Nov 1983, RYM 35 of 1983, Fox101 52, Channel4 65, Global 68 - 14 M claimed, WXPN 75, Virgin 91, Defin200 119, RIAA 123 - 8 M claimed, Acclaimed 217, Rolling Stone 455
25	Michael Jackson	Thriller	1982	UK 1 - Dec 1982, US CashBox 1 of 1983, US 1 of 1983, Sweden 1 - Dec 1982, Italy 1 of 1983, Global 1 - 50 M claimed, Internet 1 - 54 M claimed 1982, Grammy in 1984, RIAA 2 - 27 M claimed, UK Radio2 2, Austria 3 - Feb 1983, NARM 3, Defin200 3, Switzerland 4 - Nov 1983, Channel4 4, Norway 6 - Dec 1982, Melody Maker 7 of 1982, Guiness 14, RYM 15 of 1982, Rolling Stone 20, Acclaimed 33, Virgin 64, WXPN 127
26	Phil Collins	Face Value	1981	UK 1 - Feb 1981, Sweden 1 - Mar 1981, Austria 3 - Apr 1981, Norway 5 - Mar 1981, Italy 21 of 1981, US CashBox 33 of 1981, Global 51 - 17 M claimed, Guiness 71, RYM 149 of 1981, RIAA 277 - 5 M claimed, Acclaimed 1676
27	AC/DC	Back In Black	1980	UK 1 - Aug 1980, Internet 2 - 42 M claimed 1980, Fox101 4, RIAA 5 - 21 M claimed, RYM 5 of 1980, Austria 7 - Sep 1980, Norway 8 - Sep 1980, Sweden 12 - Aug 1980, Global 12 - 25 M claimed, NARM 17, Defin200 17, US CashBox 21 of 1980, UK Radio2 45, Italy 48 of 1981, Rolling Stone 73, Acclaimed 107, WXPN 143
28	Pink Floyd	The Wall	1979	US CashBox 1 of 1980, US 1 of 1980, Austria 1 - Jan 1980, Norway 1 - Dec 1979, Sweden 1 - Dec 1979, Italy 2 of 1980, UK 3 - Dec 1979, RIAA 3 - 23 M claimed, Fox101 6, RYM 9 of 1979, Internet 11 - 20 M claimed 1979, NARM 25, Defin200 25, Global 28 - 21 M claimed, WXPN 29, Virgin 30, Rolling Stone 87, Acclaimed 154
29	Bee Gees	Saturday Night Fever	1978	UK 1 - Mar 1978, US CashBox 1 of 1978, US 1 of 1978, Austria 1 - Apr 1978, Norway 1 - Mar 1978, Sweden 1 - Mar 1978, Grammy in 1979, Internet 4 - 40 M claimed 1977, Global 5 - 28 M claimed, RIAA 18 - 15 M claimed, NARM 40, Defin200 40, Channel4 80, Rolling Stone 131, Acclaimed 132
30	Fleetwood Mac	Rumours	1977	UK 1 - Feb 1977, US CashBox 1 of 1977, US 1 of 1977, Grammy in 1978, Fox101 2, UK Radio2 4, Global 7 - 27 M claimed, RIAA 8 - 19 M claimed, Internet 12 - 30 M claimed 1977, RYM 12 of 1977, Norway 17 - Apr 1977, Guiness 17, Sweden 19 - Feb 1977, NARM 24, Defin200 24, Austria 25 - Nov 1977, Rolling Stone 25, Virgin 31, WXPN 36, Acclaimed 53, Channel4 62
31	Stevie Wonder	Songs In The Key Of Life	1976	Grammy in 1977, RYM 1 of 1976, UK 2 - Oct 1976, US 2 of 1977, US CashBox 4 of 1976, Norway 6 - Oct 1976, Sweden 9 - Oct 1976, Italy 9 of 1977, Austria 15 - Aug 1977, NARM 23, Defin200 23, Acclaimed 41, Guiness 45, WXPN 54, Rolling Stone 56, RIAA 64 - 10 M claimed, Channel4 74, Virgin 89
32	Pink Floyd	Wish You Were Here	1975	UK 1 - Sep 1975, Italy 1 of 1976, Austria 2 - Oct 1975, Norway 2 - Sep 1975, RYM 2 of 1975, UK Radio2 5, US CashBox 14 of 1975, Sweden 14 - Nov 1975, Fox101 38, Virgin 38, WXPN 51, NARM 79, Defin200 79, Global 96 - 11 M claimed, Internet 119 - 13 M claimed 1975, Acclaimed 166, RIAA 201 - 6 M claimed, Rolling Stone 209
33	Wings	Band On The Run	1974	UK 1 - Dec 1973, Norway 1 - Jan 1974, Australia Goset 1 - Feb 1974, US CashBox 2 of 1974, US 3 of 1974, UK Radio2 20, RYM 30 of 1973, Italy 57 of 1974, Defin200 182, Acclaimed 397, Rolling Stone 418, WXPN 479
34	Pink Floyd	Dark Side Of The Moon	1973	US CashBox 1 of 1973, Austria 1 - Apr 1973, Fox101 1, RYM 1 of 1973, UK 2 - Mar 1973, Norway 2 - Apr 1973, NARM 2, Defin200 2, Italy 3 of 1973, Australia Goset 3 - Jun 1973, WXPN 3, Channel4 5, Guiness 6, Internet 7 - 35 M claimed 1973, Virgin 9, Global 12 - 25 M claimed, Sweden 16 - May 2005, RIAA 18 - 15 M claimed, Acclaimed 20, Rolling Stone 43
35	Neil Young	Harvest	1972	UK 1 - Mar 1972, US 1 of 1972, Norway 1 - Feb 1972, Australia Goset 2 - Apr 1972, US CashBox 3 of 1972, RYM 23 of 1972, UK Radio2 39, WXPN 43, Italy 56 of 1972, Rolling Stone 78, Fox101 87, Virgin 93, NARM 98, Defin200 98, Acclaimed 118
36	Led Zeppelin	Four Symbols (Led Zeppelin 4)	1971	UK 1 - Nov 1971, RYM 1 of 1971, Australia Goset 2 - Jan 1972, Norway 3 - Nov 1971, Fox101 3, RIAA 4 - 22 M claimed, NARM 4, Defin200 4, US CashBox 10 of 1972, Global 12 - 25 M claimed, Internet 12 - 30 M claimed 1971, UK Radio2 15, Channel4 17, WXPN 28, Acclaimed 28, Guiness 38, Virgin 42, Rolling Stone 66
37	Simon & Garfunkel	Bridge Over Troubled Water	1970	UK 1 - Feb 1970, US 1 of 1970, Norway 1 - Mar 1970, Australia Goset 1 - May 1970, Grammy in 1971, US CashBox 3 of 1970, UK Radio2 7, Italy 8 of 1970, RYM 17 of 1970, Channel4 25, Internet 26 - 25 M claimed 1970, Rolling Stone 51, Virgin 66, WXPN 83, Guiness 97, Acclaimed 98, Defin200 112, RIAA 123 - 8 M claimed
38	The Beatles	Abbey Road	1969	UK 1 - Oct 1969, Norway 1 - Oct 1969, RYM 1 of 1969, WXPN 1, Italy 2 of 1970, US 4 of 1970, US CashBox 5 of 1970, UK Radio2 8, Virgin 8, Fox101 11, Australia Goset 12 - Jun 1970, NARM 12, Defin200 12, Rolling Stone 14, Internet 16 - 29 M claimed 1969, Acclaimed 24, Global 28 - 21 M claimed, RIAA 37 - 12 M claimed, Guiness 58
39	The Beatles	The Beatles (The White Album)	1968	UK 1 - Dec 1968, Norway 1 - Dec 1968, RYM 1 of 1968, US CashBox 4 of 1969, Virgin 5, WXPN 6, RIAA 8 - 19 M claimed, Fox101 8, Rolling Stone 10, UK Radio2 10, Channel4 12, Guiness 15, Acclaimed 15, NARM 39, Defin200 39, Global 51 - 17 M claimed, Internet 55 - 18 M claimed 1968
40	The Beatles	Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band	1967	UK 1 - Jun 1967, Norway 1 - Jun 1967, Italy 1 of 1967, Grammy in 1968, Rolling Stone 1, Guiness 1, UK Radio2 1, NARM 1, Defin200 1, WXPN 2, Virgin 3, RYM 3 of 1967, US CashBox 5 of 1967, Fox101 5, Acclaimed 5, Channel4 7, Internet 9 - 32 M claimed 1967, Austria 14 - Sep 1978, Global 19 - 24 M claimed, RIAA 51 - 11 M claimed
41	The Beatles	Revolver	1966	UK 1 - Aug 1966, Virgin 1, RYM 1 of 1966, Acclaimed 2, Rolling Stone 3, Italy 4 of 1966, Guiness 5, UK Radio2 6, WXPN 9, Channel4 10, Norway 14 - Jan 1967, US CashBox 41 of 1966, NARM 42, Defin200 42, Fox101 50, RIAA 277 - 5 M claimed
42	The Beatles	Rubber Soul	1965	UK 1 - Dec 1965, Italy 1 of 1966, US 4 of 1966, RYM 4 of 1965, Rolling Stone 5, Guiness 10, WXPN 10, UK Radio2 11, US CashBox 16 of 1966, Acclaimed 27, Virgin 34, Global 96 - 11 M claimed, Defin200 110, RIAA 201 - 6 M claimed
43	John Coltrane	Love Supreme	1964	RYM 1 of 1965, Guiness 40, Rolling Stone 47, Acclaimed 68, NARM 78, Defin200 78, WXPN 79, Channel4 82, Virgin 85
44	Bob Dylan	The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan	1963	UK 1 - May 1964, RYM 2 of 1963, US CashBox 68 of 1964, Guiness 80, UK Radio2 85, Rolling Stone 97, WXPN 130, Acclaimed 172
45	Original Soundtrack	West Side Story	1962	UK 1 - Mar 1962, US CashBox 1 of 1962, US 1 of 1962, Guiness 55, Acclaimed 1420
46	Elvis Presley	Blue Hawaii	1961	UK 1 - Dec 1961, US CashBox 3 of 1962, US 3 of 1962, RYM 56 of 1961
47	Bob Newhart	The Button-Down Mind Of Bob Newhart	1960	Grammy in 1961, UK 2 - Oct 1960, US CashBox 2 of 1960, US 3 of 1960, RYM 50 of 1960, Acclaimed 2637
48	Miles Davis	Kind of Blue	1959	RYM 1 of 1959, Rolling Stone 12, Virgin 14, WXPN 14, Guiness 28, NARM 34, Defin200 34, Acclaimed 37, Norway 40 - Jan 2003
49	Henry Mancini	The Music from Peter Gunn	1958	US 1 of 1959, Grammy in 1959, RYM 36 of 1958, Acclaimed 1593
50	Nat King Cole	Love Is The Thing	1957	UK 1 - May 1957, US CashBox 3 of 1957, RYM 24 of 1957, Acclaimed 2136
51	Frank Sinatra	Songs For Swingin' Lovers	1956	RYM 1 of 1956, UK 20 - Apr 1960, Guiness 22, Channel4 43, Virgin 100, Acclaimed 210, Rolling Stone 306, WXPN 406
52	Frank Sinatra	In the Wee Small Hours	1955	RYM 2 of 1955, Rolling Stone 100, Defin200 140, Acclaimed 224, WXPN 434
53	Frank Sinatra	Swing Easy	1954	UK 5 - Oct 1960, RYM 9 of 1954, Guiness 56, Acclaimed 2217
54	Peggy Lee	Black Coffee	1953	RYM 2 of 1953, UK 20 - Oct 1961
55	Thelonious Monk	Genius of Modern Music, Vol 2	1952	RYM 1 of 1952, Guiness 91, Acclaimed 714
56	Thelonious Monk	Genius of Modern Music	1951	RYM 1 of 1951, Guiness 91, Acclaimed 458
57	Pablo Casals	Brandenburg Concertos	1950	RYM 1 of 1950
58	Alan Jackson	A Lot About Livin' (And A Little 'Bout Love)	unknown	Global 164 - 6 M claimed, RIAA 201 - 6 M claimed