Best albums of all time revealed

After plenty of hype, Apple Music has finally unveiled its coveted list of best albums of all time – and number one may surprise you.

The 100 best albums of all time have officially been named.

Apple Music has closed out its ultimate album list, which was chosen by a committee made up of its employees, artists, and industry insiders, with “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” in the number one spot.

The 1998 solo project beat Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”, which landed in second place, and The Beatles’ “Abbey Road.”

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Picture: Supplied

“Purple Rain” by Prince landed in fourth spot, followed by Frank Ocean’s “Blonde”, “Songs in the Key of Life” by Stevie Wonder, “good kid, m.A.A.d city (Deluxe Version)” by Kendrick Lamar, Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black”, “Nevermind” by Nirvana, with “Lemonade” by Beyoncé rounding out the top 10.

Among the top 20 was also Taylor Swift’s “1989 (Taylor’s Version),” Jay-Z’s “The Blueprint” and Adele’s “21”.

Jackson’s “Thriller” album landed in second place. Picture: Pongsak Chaiyanuwong/AFP

Swift’s “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” was in the top 20. Picture: Michael Campanella/TAS24/Getty Images

Meanwhile, 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 – it sold over 20 million copies, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time – not everyone was so sure it deserved top spot on the coveted 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.

Lauryn Hill at the Grammy Hall of Fame Gala and Concert. Picture: Sarah Morris/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

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.

“U gave her just because MJ isn’t alive. It’s all about show to y’all!!” one account posted.

In a statement prior to the big reveal, Apple described its Album compilation as “a love letter to the records that have shaped the world we live and listen in.”

Hip-hop was the biggest winner of the music genres, with 22 albums in its category making the list. R&B and Soul was second with 19, and Rock and Alternative tied with 15.

Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums

100. Body Talk – Robyn

99. Hotel California – The Eagles

98. ASTROWORLD – Travis Scott

97. Rage Against The Machine – Rage Against The Machine

96. Pure Heroine – Lorde

95. Confessions – USHER

94. Untrue – Burial

93. A Seat at the Table – Solange

92. Flower Boy – Tyler, The Creator

91. Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 – George Michael

90. Back in Black – AC/DC

89. The Fame Monster (Deluxe Edition) – Lady Gaga

88. I Put a Spell on You – Nina Simone

87. Blue Lines – Massive Attack

86. My Life – Mary J Blige

85. Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves

84. Doggystyle – Snoop Dogg

83. Horses – Patti Smith

82. Get Rich or Die Tryin’ – 50 Cent

81. After the Gold Rush – Neil Young

80. The Marshall Mathers LP – Eminem

79. Norman F****** Rockwell! – Lana Del Rey

78. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Elton John

77. Like A Prayer – Madonna

76. Un Verano Sin Ti – Bad Bunny

75. Supa Dupa Fly – Missy Eliott

74. Downward Spiral – Nine Inch Nails

73. Aja – Steely Dan

72. SOS – SZA

71. Trans-Europe Express – Kraftwerk

70. Straight Outta Compton – N.W.A

69. Master of Puppets (Remastered) – Metallica

68. Is this It – The Strokes

67. Dummy – Portishead

66. The Queen Is Dead – The Smiths

65. 3 Feet High and Rising – De La Soul

64. Baduizm – Erykah Badu

63. Are You Experienced? – The Jimi Hendrix Experience

62. All Eyez on Me – 2Pac

61. Love Deluxe – Sade

60. The Velvet Underground and Nico (45th Anniversary Edition) – Velvet Underground & Nico

59. AM – Arctic Monkeys

58. (What’s The Story) Morning Glory – Oasis

57. Voodoo – D’Angelo

56. Disintegration (Remastered) – The Cure

55. ANTI – Rihanna

54. A Love Supreme – John Coltrane

53. Exile on Main Street (2010 Remaster) – The Rolling Stones

52. Appetite for Destruction – Guns ‘N Roses

51. Sign O’The Times – Prince

50. Hounds of Love (2018 Remaster) – Kate Bush

49. The Joshua Tree – U2

48. Paul’s Boutique – Beastie Boys

47. Take Care (Deluxe Version) – Drake

46. Exodus ((2013 Remaster) – Bob Marley & The Wailers

45. Homogenic – Björk

44. Innervisions – Stevie Wonder

43. Remain in Light – Talking Heads

42. Control – Janet Jackson

41. Aquemini – OutKast

40. I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You – Aretha Franklin

39. Illmatic – Nas

38. Tapestry – Carole King

37. Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) [Expanded Edition] – Wu-Tang Clan

36. BEYONCÉ – Beyoncé

35. London Calling – The Clash

34. It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back – Public Enemy

33. Kid A – Radiohead

32. Ready to Die (The Remaster) – Notorious B.I.G.

31. Jagged Little Pill (Remastered) – Alanis Morissette

30. WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? – Billie Eilish

29. The Low End Theory – A Tribe Called Quest

28. The Dark Side of the Moon – Pink Floyd

27. Led Zeppelin II – Led Zeppelin

26. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – Kanye West

25. Kind of Blue – Miles Davis

24. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars – David Bowie

23. Discovery – Daft Punk

22. Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen

21. Revolver – The Beatles

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

09. Nevermind – Nirvana

08. Back to Black – Amy Winehouse

07. good kid, m.A.A.d city (Deluxe Version) – Kendrick Lamar

06. Songs in the Key of Life – Stevie Wonder

05. Blonde – Frank Ocean

04. Purple Rain – Prince & The Revolution

03. Abbey Road – The Beatles

02. Thriller – Michael Jackson

01. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill – Lauryn Hill