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200 Greatest Female Artists Albums

Criteria: These Female Music Artist Albums were chosen and ranked based on thier impact, influence, initial and lasting popularity, and a number of smaller criteria. This list does not include "Live" or "Greatest Hits" albums. An album was excluded if the female(s) did not dominate the album the vocally. (60%+)

Last Updated: 2023-12-02
Newly added names are in  Red 
Greatest Female Artists Albums
  1. I Never Loved A Man the Way I Love You (1967) - Aretha Franklin
  2. Rumours (1977) - Fleetwood Mac (Stevie Nicks)
  3. Blue (1971) - Joni Mitchell
  4. Tapestry (1971) - Carole King
  5. Like A Virgin (1984) - Madonna
  6. Lady Soul (1968) - Aretha Franklin
  7. Horses (1975) - Patti Smith
  8. Pearl (1971) - Janis Joplin
  9. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998) - Lauryn Hill
10. Jagged Little Pill (1995) - Alanis Morrisette
11. Dusty In Memphis (1969) - Dusty Springfield
12. At Last (1960) - Etta James
13. Court & Spark (1974) - Joni Mitchell
14. Pretenders (1979) - The Pretenders (Chrissie Hynde)
15. Cheap Thrills (1967) - Big Brother & the Holding Company (Janis Joplin)
16. 21 (2011) - Adele
17. Parellel Lines (1978) - Blondie (Debbie Harry)
18. Like A Prayer (1989) - Madonna
19. Daydream (1995) - Mariah Carey
20. Control (1986) - Janet Jackson
21. Lemonade (2016) - Beyoncé
22. Exile In Guyville (1993) - Liz Phair
23. Eli & the Thirteenth Confession (1968) - Laura Nyro
24. Heart Like A Wheel (1974) - Linda Ronstadt
25. She's So Unusual (1983) - Cyndi Lauper
26. The Fame (2008) - Lady Gaga
27. Supa Dupa Fly (1997) - Missy Elliott
28. 1989 (2014) - Taylor Swift
29. Dreamboat Annie (1975) - Heart (Ann Wilson)
30. Back to Black (2006) - Amy Winehouse
31. Private Dancer (1984) - Tina Turner
32. Anti (2016) - Rihanna
33. CrazySexyCool (1994) - TLC (Tionne Watkins)
34. Los Angeles (1980) - X (Exene Cervenka)
35. Ladies of the Canyon (1970) - Joni Mitchell
36. Aretha Now (1968) - Aretha Franklin
37. Learning to Crawl (1984) - The Pretenders
38. Nick of Time (1989) - Bonnie Raitt
39. Young, Gifted, & Black (1972) - Aretha Franklin
40. Sweet Dreams Are Made of This (1983) - Eurythmics
41. When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019) - Billie Eilish
42. Imagination (1973) - Gladys Knight & the Pips
43. Madonna (1983) - Madonna
44. Debut (1993) - Björk
45. Blondie (1976) - Blondie (Debbie Harry)
46. Hounds of Love (1985) - Kate Bush
47. Little Earthquakes (1992) - Tori Amos
48. Pieces of the Sky (1975) - Emmylou Harris
49. Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989) - Janet Jackson
50. Fetch the Bolt Cutters (2020) - Fiona Apple
51. Ctrl (2017) - SZA
52. I Hear A Symphony (1966) - The Supremes (Diana Ross)
53. 25 (2015) - Adele
54. Rickie Lee Jones (1979) - Rickie Lee Jones
55. Tracy Chapman (1988) - Tracy Chapman
56. Diamonds & Rust (1975) - Joan Baez
57. Whitney Houston (1985) - Whitney Houston
58. No Secrets (1972) - Carly Simon
59. Tuesday Night Music Club (1993) - Sheryl Crow
60. Sour (2021) - Olivia Rodrigo
61. All Hail the Queen (1989) - Queen Latifah
62. Missundaztood (2001) - Pink
63. Renaissance (2022) - Beyoncé
64. Whats the 411 (1992) - Mary J. Blige
65. Breakaway (2004) - Kelly Clarkson
66. Joan Armatrading (1976) - Joan Armatrading
67. Luck of the Draw (1991) - Bonnie Raitt
68. Lungs (2009) - Florence + the Machine (Florence Welch)
69. First Take (1969) - Roberta Flack
70. To Bring You My Love (1992) - PJ Harvey
71. Melissa Etheridge (1988) - Melissa Etheridge
72. Fumbling Towards Ecstasy (1993) - Sarah McLachlan
73. Baduizm (1997) - Erykah Badu
74. Tragic Kingdom (1995) - No Doubt (Gwen Stefani)
75. Bad Girls (1979) - Donna Summer
76. Car Wheels on A Gravel Road (1998) - Lucinda Williams
77. Golden Hour (2018) - Kacey Musgraves
78. From A Whisper to A Scream (1972) - Esther Phillips
79. Dance Party (1965) - Martha & the Vandellas (Martha Reeves)
80. Different Light (1986) - The Bangles (Susanna Hoffs, Vicki Peterson)
81. Diana (1980) - Diana Ross
82. The Queen Alone (1967) - Carla Thomas
83. Beauty & the Beat - The Go-Go's
84. Simple Dreams (1977) - Linda Ronstadt
85. Crimes of Passion (1980) - Pat Benatar
86. I Love Rock 'n' Roll (1981) - Joan Jett
87. For the Roses (1972) - Joni Mitchell
88. Norman Fucking Rockwell! (2019) - Lana Del Rey
89. Dummy (1994) - Portishead (Beth Gibbons)
90. Arrival (1976) - ABBA (Agnetha Fältskog, Anni-Frid Lyngstad)
91. Clouds (1969) - Joni Mitchell
92. Christina Aguilera (1999) - Christina Aguilera
93. Let Go (2002) - Avril Lavigne
94. A Seat at the Table (2016) - Solange
85. Blacks Magic (1990) - Salt-N-Pepa (Cheryl James, Sandra Denton)
96. Cuz I Love You (2019) - Lizzo
97. I Feel For You (1984) - Chaka Khan
98. Bella Donna (1981) - Stevie Nicks
99. Faster Than the Speed of Night (1983) - Bonnie Tyler
100. Workin' Together (1970) - Ike & Tina Turner

101. Homogenic (1997) - Björk
102. I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (1990) - Sinead O'Connor
103. Diamond Life (1984) - Sade
104. Born This Way (2011) - Lady Gaga
105. True Blue (1986) - Madonna
106. Butterfly (1997) - Mariah Carey
107. Killing Me Softly (1973) - Roberta Flack
108. janet. (1993) - Janet Jackson
109. Gypsys, Tramps, & Thieves (1971) - Cher
110. I Am...Sasha Fierce (2008) - Beyoncé
111. Sheryl Crow (1996) - Sheryl Crow
112. Yes I Am (1993) - Melissa Etheridge
113. Where Did Our Love Go (1964) - The Supremes
114. Lavern Baker (1957) - Lavern Baker
115. The Emancipation Of Mimi (2005) - Mariah Carey
116. The Marvelettes (1967) - The Marvelettes (Wanda Young, Gladys Horton)
117. Give It Up (1972) - Bonnie Raitt
118. Sweetener (2018) - Ariana Grande
119. Tell Mama (1968) - Etta James
120. Soul 69' (1969) - Aretha Franklin
121. Midnights (2022) - Taylor Swift
122. Kaleidoscope (1980) - Siouxsie Sioux & the Banshees
123. Melodrama (2017) - Lorde
124. Heart (1985) - Heart (Ann Wilson)
125. Pieces of You (1995) - Jewel
126. My Life (1997) - Mary J. Blige
127. Diva (1992) - Annie Lennox
128. Tidal (1996) - Fiona Apple
129. Wanda Jackson (1958) - Wanda Jackson
130. Ray of Light (1998) - Madonna
131. Good Girl Gone Bad (2007) - Rihanna
132. Easter (1978) - Patti Smith
133. The Wild Heart (1983) - Stevie Nicks
134. The Kick Inside (1978) - Kate Bush
135. Future Nostalgia (2020) - Dua Lipa
136. Under the Pink (1994) - Tori Amos
137. Red (2012) - Taylor Swift
138. New York Tendaberry (1999) - Laura Nyro
139. Brenda Lee (1960) - Brenda Lee
140. Under Construction (2002) - Missy Elliott
141. St. Vincent (2014) - St. Vincent
142. Rapture (1986) - Anita Baker
143. Touch (1983) - Eurythmics
144. Mary Wells Sings My Guy (1964) - Mary Wells
145. It's My Way (1964) - Buffy Saint-Marie
146. A Song For You (1972) - The Carpenters (Karen Carpenter)
147. Happier Than Ever (2021) - Billie Eilish
148. Warrior (1984) - Scandal featuring Patty Smyth
149. Solitude Standing (1987) - Suzanne Vega
150. Chelsea Girl (1967) - Nico
151. The Truth About Love (2012) - Pink
152. The Hissing of Summer Lawns (1975) - Joni Mitchell
153. Luxury Liner (1976) - Emmylou Harris
154. All Four One (1982) - The Motels (Martha Davis)
155. Beyoncé (2013) - Beyoncé
156. Songs In A Minor (2001) - Alicia Keys
157. Surfacing (1997) - Sarah McLachlan
158. Kala (2007) - M.I.A.
159. Straight From the Heart (1971) - Ann Peebles
160. Little Queen (1977) - Heart (Ann Wilson)
161. The Divine Miss M (1972) - Bette Midler
162. Lavern Sings Bessie Smith (1958) - Lavern Baker
163. Teenage Dream (2010) - Katy Perry
164. Garbage (1995) - Garbage (Shirley Manson)
165. Rid of Me (1993) - PJ Harvey
166. Come Away With Me (2002) - Norah Jones
167. Chaka (1978) - Chaka Khan
168. Promise (1985) - Sade
169. Phoebe Snow (1974) - Phoebe Snow
170. Wrecking Ball (1995) - Emmylou Harris
171. Aaliyah (2001) - Aaliyah
172. Let It Loose (1987) - Gloria Estefan & the Miami Sound Machine
173. No Need to Argue (1994) - The Cranberries (Dolores O'Riordan)
174. Acoustic Soul (2001) - India.Arie
175. In My Life (1966) - Judy Collins
176. Dirty Computer (2018) - Janelle Monáe
177. Love Deluxe (1992) - Sade
178. Prisoner In Disguise (1975) - Linda Ronstadt
179. Album (1983) - Joan Jett
180. Gonna Take A Miracle (1971) - Laura Nyro (with Labelle)
181. Music Box (1993) - Mariah Carey
182. Alannah Myles (1989) - Alannah Myles
183. Lyte As A Rock (1988) - MC Lyte
184. Nightbirds (1974) - Labelle
185. Funky Divas (1992) - En Vogue (T. Ellis, C. Herron, M. Jones, D. Robinson)
186. Me Myself I (1980) - Joan Armatrading
187. Music (1971) - Carole King
188. Big Science (1982) - Laurie Anderson
189. Physical (1981) - Olivia Newton John
190. Last Splash (1993) - The Breeders (Kim Deal)
191. Tigerlily (1995) - Natalie Merchant
192. Post (1995) - Björk
193. Frank (2003) - Amy Winehouse
194. Starchild - (1984) Teena Marie
195. Dig Me Out (1997) - Sleater-Kinney
196. Broken English (1979) - Marianne Faithful
197. The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003) - Alicia Keys
198. Ingenue (1992) - k.d. lang
199. Mama's Gun (2000) - Erykah Badu
200. Eye to the Telescope (2004) - KT Tunstall
I Never Loved A Man the Way I Love You album cover
I Never Loved A Man
the Way I Love You
Rumours album cover
Rumours
Blue album cover
Blue
Tapestry album cover
Tapestry
Like A Virgin album cover
Like A Virgin
Lady Soul album cover
Lady Soul
Horses album cover
Horses
Pearl album cover
Pearl
Honorable Mentions
Very Necessary (1993) - Salt-N-Pepa (Cheryl James, Sandra Denton)
New Beginning (1995) - Tracy Chapman
Believe (1998) - Cher
Happy Nation (1992) - Ace of Base
In Blue (2000) - The Corrs (Andrea Corr)
Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (2000) - PJ Harvey
Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (1998) - Alanis Morrisette
True Colors (1986) - Cyndi Lauper
Prism (2013) - Katy Perry
Dilate (1996) - Ani DiFranco
4 (2011) - Beyoncé
Born to Die (2012) - Lana Del Rey
Back to Basics (2006) - Christina Aguilera
Walk Under Ladders (1981) - Joan Armatrading
Bananarama (1984) - Bananarama (S. Dallin, K. Woodward, S. Fahey)
The Runaways (1976) - The Runaways (Joan Jett, Cherie Currie)
Carla (1966) - Carla Thomas
Bad Animals (1987) - Heart (Ann Wilson)
Divinyls (1991) - Divinyls (Chrissy Amphlett)
This Fire (1996) - Paula Cole
Precious Time (1981) - Pat Benatar
SOS (2022) - SZA
Giving You the Best That I Got (1988) - Anita Baker
Anticipation (1971) - Carly Simon
You Don't Have To Say You Love Me (1966) - Dusty Springfield
Imagine (2002) - Eva Cassidy
Candles in the Rain- (1970) Melanie
Sweet Old World (1992) - Lucinda Williams
What a Feelin' (1983) - Irene Cara
A Few Small Repairs (1996) - Shawn Colvin
10 Albums With Significant Female Input
Surrealistic Pillow (1967) - Jefferson Airplane (Grace Slick)
If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears (1966) - Mamas & Papas (Cass Elliott & Michelle Phillips)
The B-52s (1979) - The B-52s
Tusk (1979) - Fleetwood Mac (Stevie Nicks & Christine McVie)
Fleetwood Mac (1975) - Fleetwood Mac (Stevie Nicks & Christine McVie)
After Bathing at Baxters (1967) - Jefferson Airplane (Grace Slick)
Remain In Light (1980) - Talking Heads (Tina Weymouth)
Doolittle (1989) - The Pixes (Kim Deal)
Sister (1987) - Sonic Youth (Kim Gordon)
Daydream Nation (1988) - Sonic Youth (Kim Gordon)
Surrealistic Pillow album cover




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