I really dig the top 7 on this list.

rogifan said:

Beyonce is the most overrated pop star ever. She has not produced any albums that have been more influential or groundbreaking than any Joni Mitchel, Aretha, Madonna, or Janet Jackson album. Hell, that Lemonade album is not even better than any of Fiona' Apple's or Janelle's albums. I could not name one song off that overrated Lemnade album if you asked me.

I would replace Lemonade with Janet's Velvet Rope and add Madonna's Ray of Light in the Top 10. Although I do think Adele's 21 is a classic it damn sure ain't above Aretha and the same goes for the Swift as well. Aretha should be in the Top 10. Industry and label propaganda at it again. These silly empty lists mean nothing.

It really is one of the best list I've seen, as far as these types of list. There are a few that seem totally out of bounds, but I have to admit that I have in my personal collection at least 85% of these albums, which is a high average compared to what I typically have in long lists of this kind. I was highly pleased with the first seven albums, so much Kate Bush and Joni, and that there was some diversity in musical styles even though there could have been much more. I was surprised no MJ Blige or Laura Marling (who is not that well know but all of her albums have been critical smashes and she is somewhat in the mode of Joni).

1971 was a hell of a year!

but the list is so-so only....

Made by or recorded by? ... big difference there. A lot of the names on the list may have sung the vocals but they didn't write or produce the album.

And the highest ranked Madonna album is her first album at No. 68 ... that's not even her best one!

And Fleetwood Mac's Rumours? Come on ... Stevie and Christine played their part sure, but remove the three lads from that album and it would be bare bones.

DaveT said:

And the highest ranked Madonna album is her first album at No. 68 ... that's not even her best one!

And Fleetwood Mac's Rumours? Come on ... Stevie and Christine played their part sure, but remove the three lads from that album and it would be bare bones.

Um, no! Most of the writing credits on Rumours belong to Stevie and Chris. The large majority anyway.

Wow.

It's hard to believe NPR audiences/readers apparently don't listen to (much) jazz. But this list is proof positive of it.

did i skim to quickly or was there NOTHING by Mary J. Blige? hell to the naw in general for this list

datdude said:

did i skim to quickly or was there NOTHING by Mary J. Blige? hell to the naw in general for this list

namepeace said:

Wow.

It's hard to believe NPR audiences/readers apparently don't listen to (much) jazz. But this list is proof positive of it.

For the most part jazz hasn't been mainstream popular since the big band days, and vocal jazz maybe since the 1950s. Probably the most mainstream successful jazz acts since then, as far as the Top 40 is concerned, have been Herb Albert, George Benson, Al Jarreau, & Kenny G and their stuff is not always straight jazz. There's R&B, adult contemporary, and pop in their music.

Personally, I would have voted for more dance music like Ace Of Base, Lisa Lisa, and Cathy Dennis. I like that album by the rapper B0$$ too.

MickyDolenz said:

namepeace said:

Wow.

It's hard to believe NPR audiences/readers apparently don't listen to (much) jazz. But this list is proof positive of it.

For the most part jazz hasn't been mainstream popular since the big band days, and vocal jazz maybe since the 1950s. Probably the most mainstream successful jazz acts since then, as far as the Top 40 is concerned, have been Herb Albert, George Benson, Al Jarreau, & Kenny G and their stuff is not always straight jazz. There's R&B, adult contemporary, and pop in their music.

Personally, I would have voted for more dance music like Ace Of Base, Lisa Lisa, and Cathy Dennis. I like that album by the rapper B0$$ too.

That's true, and obviously so. But when you're measuring greatest albums made by women, and you're polling NPR listeners/readers, it's surprising to see only 2 jazz albums made the cut.

That's because as you know, NPR has traditionally been one of the few major media outlets that provide a forum for jazz, and that's (presumably) based on their listener tastes/demands.

Empress said:

NorthC said:

but all these lists always focus on English/American pop music as if that's the only music there is.

Well since this list is by listeners votes and not magazine writers, the majority of it looks like Top 40 chart music to me, which is what the average person listens to. As far as I know, very few songs in non-english languages have ever become pop hits in the US (ig. Sukiyaki & La Bamba) like there's not that many instrumental Top 10 hits. If a list was made in Mexico from listeners there list would have more music in Spanish on it.

namepeace said:

That's true, and obviously so. But when you're measuring greatest albums made by women, and you're polling NPR listeners/readers, it's surprising to see only 2 jazz albums made the cut.

That's because as you know, NPR has traditionally been one of the few major media outlets that provide a forum for jazz, and that's (presumably) based on their listener tastes/demands.

That doesn't nessessarily mean they buy jazz albums. Some people who listen to the radio don't buy albums at all. Maybe there's not enough people who have heard any particular jazz album that voted compared to Janet Jackson's Control which is on the list.

Also the majority of famous jazz albums are by men, not women. That is the case in a lot of genres. So I'd guess that is another reason that there's 2 like you said on the list.

I like the idea of the list. I might prefer it be created by critics than fans, though. We end up with the '150 albums by the 30 women in music we can think of'. Which might be telling on it's own.

Not crazy about the fan voted list, but what's even worst is the write up under the top 50 albums....

The list was ok.....however, unless I have overlooked it, where is Chaka Khan, Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand?

Pretty good list hey, aside from the Taylor Swift overrepresentation. All of my favourites are there, and that's all that matters.

Goddess4Real said:

MarkThrust said:

I like the idea of the list. I might prefer it be created by critics than fans, though. We end up with the '150 albums by the 30 women in music we can think of'. Which might be telling on it's own.

Here you go, the original critics list that this was an answer to:

https://www.npr.org/2017/07/24/538387823/turning-the-tables-150-greatest-albums-made-by-women/


it is a slightly more interesting list; non-english speakers, Chaka Khan, Donna Summer, Mary J. Blige, Barbara Streisand, jazz albums and Madonna albums that aren't her debut all got representation although i'm sure we'll find a reason to moan that it didn't follow each of our own specific tastes

[Edited 4/12/18 5:10am]