Putting The 20 Longest Billboard Charting Albums In Order

Good mix, right, something for everyone. But, let me put them in a list from worst to best, cause that’s how I roll. So, here’s this list in order of how many weeks they’ve charted in the Billboard Top 200 with my ranking as a follow up:

1. Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon (1973) - 1,000 weeks - My ranking #1. Yeah, perfect for this monumental album that changed the game in sound production. Iconic, monumental, historic are all words I would use to describe this album.

2. Bob Marley & the Wailers – Legend (1984) - 771 weeks - My Ranking is #13. Rich kids listening to Bob Marley at parties in the late 80’s and early 90's kind of made this a love/hate album for me, and it’s not even Marley’s fault. The album was nothing but an amazing collection of songs by one of the greatest that truly lives up to its name.

3. Journey – Greatest Hits (1988) - 750 weeks - My Ranking is #18. I get why so many people like Journey. The ultimate soft rock band with songs about everyday life and love. I just think they are done better by others.

4. Metallica – Metallica (1991) - 700 weeks - My Ranking is #7 - Not my favorite Metallica album, but it is the best collection of their hits. What a year 1991 was for music, and one of the many reasons for that is this album.

5. Creedence Clearwater Revival – Chronicle (1976) - 627 weeks - My ranking is #3. Take a band like CCR which was a singles hits machine! Some great albums from this band but take the 20 gold plated singles from their 7 albums in their 5-year span and this album is pure joy.

6. Eminem – Curtain Call: The Hits (2005) - 617 weeks - My Ranking is #8, Take one of the greatest rappers of any generation, pair him with slick rhymes and style, paired with humorous lyrics, then take all his hits and put them on one record. Man, that’s good.

7. Nirvana – Nevermind (1991) - 600 weeks - My Ranking is #6. A game changer, that is why I rank so high. And, they are local, so there! Not their best work in my opinion, but maybe their most accessible.

8. Guns N’ Roses – Greatest Hits (2004) - 600 weeks - My Ranking is #9. Every great song from the best hard rock band that came out of the Sunset Strip. It took me a while to warm up to Appetite (still pass on Welcome to the Jungle whenever it comes on), but they knocked me out with Lies.

9. Bruno Mars – Doo Wops & Hooligans (2010) - 609 weeks - My Ranking is #16. Accessible combination of funk and doo-wop from a great entertainer.

10. Michael Jackson – Thriller (1982) - 559 weeks - My Ranking is #4. It’s the king of pop, man! Michael Jackson, the ultimate performer, was never at his best than on this album, unless you count Bad.

11. AC/DC – Back in Black (1980) – 553 weeks - My Ranking is #2. What a great album, that I don’t really listen to much anymore, since I’ve burned out several iterations of this album: vinyl, tape, even CD’s. Man, though, when it was fresh! I think it is here because every generation discovers it. OK, just dropped it on the turntable yet again!

12. Adele – 21 (2011) – 549 weeks - My Ranking is #11. Listening as I write this. What a voice, what a great collection of songs. No wonder it has stayed on the charts for so long.

13. Kendrick Lamar – Good Kid m.A.A.d City (2012) – 536 weeks. My Ranking is #12. Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe! Great beats and great delivery.

14. Queen – Greatest Hits (1981) – 528 weeks - My Ranking is #10. Like Queen, but never a super fan. Seen the biopics, but before that it was really only Bohemian Rhapsody and hearing them at every professional sporting event I ever went to, plus the greatest hits on the classic rock radio.

15. Drake – Take Care (2011) – 518 weeks - My Ranking is #19. Eh…OK, not a big fan of Drake. Does it show?

16. Fleetwood Mac – Rumours (1977) – 514 weeks - My Ranking is #10. I am not a big Fleetwood Mac fan, but I get it. I will not disparage anything on the album between musicianship, songwriting, production, etc. Just not my bag.

17. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Greatest Hits (1993) – 499 weeks - My ranking is #5. I can’t tell you how much I love Petty. And, what a great name for a band! Can’t afford all of The Heartbreakers, this is just a small taste of the catalog, and I encourage you to listen to every album, but this album will certainly give you a great fix as it hits all the notes.

18. Johnny Mathis – Johnny's Greatest Hits (1958) – 490 weeks - My Ranking is #14. Oh, that voice, that voice. Mom used to listen to this crooner and the family Hi-Fi a lot.

19. My Fair Lady – Cast Album (1956) – 480 weeks - My ranking is #20. So, easy for me. I’m sure it’s great, but go ask a theatre nerd, because this is not for me, unfortunately.

20. Lana Del Rey – Born to Die (2012) – 469 weeks - My Ranking is #15. A cool album, but not one I seek out often.