Let the debate begin: What are the best music albums ever?
Apple Music certainly has an idea. On Wednesday, the music streaming giant announced its 10 greatest albums of all time, with Lauryn Hill’s iconic The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill from 1998 claiming the top spot. The record, Hill’s debut, outranked other classics from Beyoncé, the Beatles, Michael Jackson, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Kendrick Lamar, Amy Winehouse, Frank Ocean and Nirvana.
“This is my award, but it’s a rich, deep narrative, and involves so many people, and so much sacrifice, and so much time, and so much collective love,” Hill said after receiving the news.
The top 10 albums culminated Apple Music’s inaugural 100 best albums list, which started with a 10-day countdown last week. Just five artists have more than one album on the full list, including the Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Radiohead and Beyoncé.
Canadians crack top 100
While there are no Canadians in the top 10, a bit further down the list are a couple of names bound to be familiar to Canadian audiences.
Neil Young’s After the Gold Rush managed to crack the top 100 at No. 81, while Alanis Morissette and Joni Mitchell made their way closer to the top: Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill sits at No. 31, and Mitchell’s iconic Blue album at No. 16.
And, in an almost painful allusion to the rap stars’ explosive recent feud, Toronto artist Drake’s Take Care barely made it over the halfway mark, at No. 47. Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city, meanwhile, is far above, at No. 7.
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The list-making process
The process in creating the list started several months ago, when Apple Music’s team of editors and music experts — including Zane Lowe, global creative director and lead anchor for Apple Music 1, and Ebro Darden, global editorial head of hip-hop and R&B — generated a list of candidates from the past 65 years.
“This list isn’t a popularity contest,” Darden said. “We challenged everyone to not vote based on your favourites. You’re invited into the panel because you have music knowledge beyond what you listen to when you’re on the elliptical machine.”
Members from Apple Music’s internal team submitted their personal lists of albums through the company’s voting micro site. The votes were weighted according to an album’s placement — the higher the ranking, the more votes assigned.
Apple Music used the same voting methodology for a select group external voters that included artists, songwriters, producers and some media.
The full top 10 list is as follows:
- Lauryn Hill, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)
- Michael Jackson, Thriller (1982)
- The Beatles, Abbey Road (1969)
- Prince and the Revolution, Purple Rain (1984)
- Frank Ocean, blond (2016)
- Stevie Wonder, Songs in the Key of Life (1976)
- Kendrick Lamar, good kid, m.A.A.d city (2012)
- Amy Winehouse, Back to Black (2006)
- Nirvana, Nevermind (1991)
- Beyoncé, Lemonade (2016)