The Best Pop Music Albums of All Time

Looking for a great pop album to add to your collection? Check out our list of the best pop albums of all time! From classic records to modern hits, there’s something for everyone on this list.

Michael Jackson – Thriller

Few albums have captured the public imagination and stayed there like Michael Jackson’s Thriller. The album, which was released in 1982, is not only the best-selling album of all time, but it is also one of the most influential. Jackson’s blend of pop, R&B, and dance music was unlike anything that had come before, and Thriller changed the sound of pop music for years to come. If you’re looking for a pop music classic, Thriller is the album for you.

Madonna – Like a Virgin

Like a Virgin is the second studio album by American singer Madonna, released on November 12, 1984, by Sire Records. The album was re-released worldwide in 1985 to include the single “Crazy for You”, which peaked at number one in several countries outside North America. Because of the success of the title track, which topped the charts in multiple countries including the United States, Like a Virgin became Madonna’s first album to topping the Billboard 200 and it spent three consecutive weeks at number one on the chart. It was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of over 10 million copies in the United States. Globally, Like a Virgin has sold more than 21 million copies.

Critical reception towards Like a Virgin was initially mixed; some reviewers praised Madonna’s flexibility while others criticized her for trying to emulate other pop acts such as Cyndi Lauper and Prince. Commercially, Like a Virgin peaked at number one in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand and Zealand while reaching top-five positions in Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway and United Kingdom. The album has been credited with introducing Latin pop music to mainstream audiences and helping to redefine pop music in general. Additionally, it sparked controversy due to its sexual overtones and caused debate among music critics about whether or not it was misogynistic.

Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston

Released in 1985, Whitney Houston’s self-titled debut album became an instant classic. The record featured hits like “Saving All My Love For You” and “How Will I Know,” and helped to establish Houston as one of the most successful pop artists of all time. More than 30 years later, the album still holds up as one of the best pop albums ever released.

Mariah Carey – Music Box

Mariah Carey’s third studio album, Music Box, was released on August 31, 1993, by Columbia Records. The album comprised ballads primarily written by Diane Warren and synth-based pop tracks produced by Walter Afanasieff, with whom Carey had previously worked on Emotions (1991). Throughout the course of the album’s development, Carey bonded with Afanasieff over their mutual love for music; he agreed to work with her on an extensive basis. Together they wrote and produced most of Music Box’s material.

Critics praised the album for its mature songwriting and production. Music Box debuted atop the Billboard 200 chart in the United States and became Carey’s best-selling album in the country; it has sold over fifteen million copies there. It produced five singles that attained chart success: “Dreamlover”, “Without You”, “Hero”, “Anytime You Need a Friend”, and “All I Want for Christmas Is You”. The last was released as an extended play (EP) prior to Music Box’s release; it did not enter the Billboard Hot 100 but peaked at number twelve on the Holiday Songs airplay chart.

Celine Dion – Falling Into You

Falling Into You is the fourth English-language studio album by Canadian singer Celine Dion, released on 8 March 1996, by Columbia/Epic Records. The follow-up to her successful album The Colour of My Love (1993) and French-language debut D’eux (1995), Falling into You showed a further progression of Dion’s music. Throughout the project, she collaborated with Jim Steinman, who wrote both “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” and “Because You Loved Me”. Generally, Dion worked with many outside producers on Falling into You; seven in total. Producers David Foster and Patrick Leonard were responsible for most of the album’s tracks. Other producers included John Jones, Walter Afanasieff, Christopher Neil and Jean-Jacques Goldman.

Falling Into You won many awards around the world. The album went Diamond in France with 1.4 million sales there becoming one of the best-selling albums of all time in that country; it was also certified 12× Platinum in Canada[1] and 11× Platinum in the US.[2] In 1996, Dion won three Grammy Awards for Falling into You: Album of the Year, Best Pop Album and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.[3][4] At the American Music Awards of 1996 she became the first artist ever to win three American Music Awards in one night.[5] Falling Into You remains one of pop music’s all-time greatest albums;[6][7][8] Q included it among their list of 100 Greatest Albums Ever,[9] while Blender named it their fourth favourite album ever made by a woman.[10][11]

Britney Spears – …Baby One More Time

…Baby One More Time is the debut studio album by American singer Britney Spears. It was released on January 12, 1999, by Jive Records. In June 1997, while Spears negotiated with her manager at the time, Lou Pearlman, to join female pop group Innosense, producer Eric Foster White contacted her agent and proposed recording a demo tape with Spears in mind. After hearing the recording, president Clive Calder ordered a full album.

…Baby One More Time is a pop record that incorporates dance-pop and teen pop genres. Its lyrics refer to a young woman’s feelings after a break-up with her lover. The album received mixed reviews from critics; some commended its catchy sound and teenage appeal, while others criticized its lyrical content. It became an international success, reaching the top-five in fifteen countries; in the United States, it peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 and has been certified seven times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Commercially, …Baby One More Time is one of the bestselling albums of all time.

The album was promoted with appearances on television shows such as Saturday Night Live and Top of the Pops. Five singles were released from …Baby One More Time: “…Baby One More Time”, “Sometimes”, “(You Drive Me) Crazy”, “Born to Make You Happy”, and “From the Bottom of My Broken Heart”. In support of the album, Spears embarked on her first headlining concert tour, …Baby One More Time Tour.

Lady Gaga – The Fame

Lady Gaga’s 2008 debut album was a game-changer for pop music. It put her on the map as one of the most talented and unique artists of her generation and established her as a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. The Fame is an eccentric and catchy pop album that features some of Gaga’s most well-known songs, including “Just Dance,” “Poker Face,” and “LoveGame.” If you’re a fan of pop music, this is an album that you need to own.

Adele – 21

Adele’s mega-hit album 21 is not only the best pop album of all time, but one of the greatest albums ever made, period.chronicling the end of a relationship, it’s a record of raw emotion that is both incredibly relatable and beautifully composed. Adele’s voice is stunning throughout, hitting powerful notes with ease on hits like “Rolling in the Deep” and “Someone Like You.” 21 is a timeless album that will be cherished by fans for generations to come.

Beyonce – Lemonade

Beyonce’s “Lemonade” is one of the best pop music albums of all time. The album was released in 2016 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. “Lemonade” is a response to Beyonce’s husband’s infidelity and is widely considered to be one of the most personal and intimate albums ever released by a pop star. The album features some of Beyonce’s best work, including the singles “Formation” and “Sorry”.