With the rise of the streaming era, many in the music industry have referred to the “death of the album.” It may be true that we are living in a post-album era, when people are more likely to stream individual songs or custom playlists than to sit through 50 straight minutes of a single LP. However, the album format has an undeniably long and important heritage in American pop music.
In September 2020, Rolling Stone put together an updated list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, ranking two albums by female artists – Joni Mitchell’s “Blue” and Lauryn Hill’s “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” – in the top 10. To highlight these women and the many others who have contributed outstanding albums to the treasury of popular music, 24/7 Tempo extrapolated the albums by solo female solo musicians or bands composed entirely of women on the Rolling Stone list, then ranked them according to an index we developed based on Billboard chart performance and certified U.S. unit sales.
An inverted ranking of an album’s performance on the Billboard 200 album charts – wherein a week at position No. 200 is worth one point, a week at position No. 199 two points, and so on, up to a week at position No. 1 worth 200 points – was included in the index and given full weight. Certified U.S. unit sales in the United States came from the Recording Industry Association of America and were also given full weight. Billboard performance is current through the week of August 20, 2022.
Click here to see the 50 greatest albums by female musicians
The albums that made our top 50 list represent every decade from the 1960s to the 2010s – from Etta James’s “At Last” from 1960 to Billie Eilish’s “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” from 2019. Many musicians have two albums on the list, including Taylor Swift, Madonna, Mary J. Blige, Sade, Janet Jackson, Erykah Badu, Joni Mitchell, and Fiona Apple. A few musicians with best-selling albums, on the other hand, didn’t make our top 50, including Mariah Carey, Lady Gaga, and Britney Spears. (These are the women who have won the most Grammys of all time.)
The “Queen of Soul,” Aretha Franklin, has 3 albums on the list – more than any other female artist aside from Beyoncé, who has two solo albums in the top 10, and also performed on the Destiny’s Child album “The Writing’s on the Wall,” which reached no. 29. (Beyoncé is one of many solo artists who were more successful than their bands.)
Source: Fin Costello / Redferns via Getty Images
50. Donna Summer, “Bad Girls”
> Release date: May 1, 1979
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 6 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 49
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 2 million
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Source: David Redfern / Redferns via Getty Images
49. Nina Simone, “Wild Is The Wind”
> Release date: September 16, 1966
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #110 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 9
> Certified U.S. unit sales: <500,000
48. Fiona Apple, “The Idler Wheel…”
> Release date: June 19, 2012
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #3 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 16
> Certified U.S. unit sales: <500,000
47. Anita Baker, “Rapture”
> Release date: March 10, 1986
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #11 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 157
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 5 million
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46. Robyn, “Body Talk”
> Release date: November 22, 2010
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #142 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 1
> Certified U.S. unit sales: <500,000
Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
45. Björk, “Homogenic”
> Release date: September 9, 1997
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #28 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 9
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 500,000
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44. Etta James, “At Last!”
> Release date: November 15, 1960
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #96 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 5
> Certified U.S. unit sales: <500,000
Source: Astrid Stawiarz / Stringer / Getty Images Entertainment
43. Tori Amos, “Little Earthquakes”
> Release date: February 10, 1992
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #54 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 39
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 2 million
42. Mary J. Blige, “What’s The 411?”
> Release date: July 28, 1992
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #6 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 59
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 3 million
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Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
41. Janis Joplin, “Pearl”
> Release date: March 1, 1971
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 9 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 42
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 4 million
40. PJ Harvey, “Rid Of Me”
> Release date: May 4, 1993
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #158 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 1
> Certified U.S. unit sales: <500,000
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Source: Rich Fury / Getty Images
39. Billie Eilish, “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?”
> Release date: March 29, 2019
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 176
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 3 million
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Source: Francois Nel / Getty Images
38. Janet Jackson, “Rhythm Nation 1814”
> Release date: September 8, 1989
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 4 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 108
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 6 million
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
37. Aretha Franklin, “Amazing Grace”
> Release date: June 1, 1972
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #7 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 23
> Certified U.S. unit sales: <500,000
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Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
36. Alicia Keys, “The Diary Of Alicia Keys”
> Release date: December 2, 2003
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 87
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 5 million
Source: David Redfern / Redferns via Getty Images
35. Erykah Badu, “Mama’s Gun”
> Release date: November 21, 2000
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #11 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 25
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 1 million
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34. Sade, “Love Deluxe”
> Release date: October 26, 1992
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #3 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 103
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 4 million
33. Tracy Chapman, “Tracy Chapman”
> Release date: March 28, 1988
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 61
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 6 million
Source: Win McNamee / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
32. Madonna, “Ray Of Light”
> Release date: March 3, 1998
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #2 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 78
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 4 million
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31. Lucinda Williams, “Car Wheels On A Gravel Road”
> Release date: June 30, 1998
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #65 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 20
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 500,000
30. Fiona Apple, “When The Pawn…”
> Release date: November 9, 1999
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #13 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 20
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 1 million
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Source: Frank Micelotta / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
29. Destiny’s Child, “The Writing’s On The Wall”
> Release date: July 23, 1999
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #5 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 99
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 8 million
28. Sade, “Diamond Life”
> Release date: February 27, 1985
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #5 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 81
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 4 million
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
27. Joni Mitchell, “Court And Spark”
> Release date: January 17, 1974
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #2 (for 4 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 64
> Certified U.S. unit sales: <500,000
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Source: Bennett Raglin / Getty Images
26. Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott, “Supa Dupa Fly”
> Release date: July 15, 1997
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #3 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 37
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 1 million
25. Liz Phair, “Exile In Guyville”
> Release date: May 24, 1993
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #196 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 1
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 500,000
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Source: Ser Baffo / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
24. Mary J. Blige, “My Life”
> Release date: November 29, 1994
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #7 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 46
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 3 million
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23. Kate Bush, “Hounds Of Love”
> Release date: September 16, 1985
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #12 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 38
> Certified U.S. unit sales: <500,000
22. Patti Smith, “Horses”
> Release date: November 10, 1975
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #47 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 17
> Certified U.S. unit sales: <500,000
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Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
21. Aretha Franklin, “Lady Soul”
> Release date: January 22, 1968
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #2 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 52
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 500,000
Source: David Redfern / Redferns via Getty Images
20. Cyndi Lauper, “She’s So Unusual”
> Release date: January 25, 1984
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #4 (for 4 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 97
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 6 million
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19. Erykah Badu, “Baduizm”
> Release date: February 11, 1997
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #2 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 58
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 3 million
Source: Christopher Polk / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
18. Rihanna, “ANTI”
> Release date: January 28, 2016
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 327
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 3 million
Source: Christopher Polk / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
17. Taylor Swift, “1989”
> Release date: October 27, 2014
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 11 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 399
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 9 million
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Source: Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images
16. Joni Mitchell, “Blue”
> Release date: June 1, 1971
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #15 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 28
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 1 million
Source: Ron Wolfson / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
15. The Chicks, “Fly”
> Release date: August 31, 1999
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 131
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 11 million
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Source: Scott Gries / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
14. TLC, “CrazySexyCool”
> Release date: November 15, 1994
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #3 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 119
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 12 million
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
13. Aretha Franklin, “I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You”
> Release date: March 10, 1967
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #2 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 79
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 500,000
Source: Christopher Polk / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
12. Janet Jackson, “Control”
> Release date: January 27, 1986
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 106
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 5 million
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Source: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
11. Beyoncé, “Beyoncé”
> Release date: December 13, 2013
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 3 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 186
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 2 million
10. Beyoncé, “Lemonade”
> Release date: April 22, 2016
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 87
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 3 million
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Source: Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images
9. Whitney Houston, “Whitney Houston”
> Release date: February 21, 1985
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 14 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 176
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 13 million
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Moviepix via Getty Images
8. Madonna, “The Immaculate Collection”
> Release date: November 13, 1990
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #2 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 148
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 10 million
7. Taylor Swift, “Red”
> Release date: October 22, 2012
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 7 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 185
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 7 million
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Source: Roger Kisby / Getty Images
6. Amy Winehouse, “Back To Black”
> Release date: March 13, 2007
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #2 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 173
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 2 million
Source: Rick Friedman / Corbis Entertainment via Getty Images
5. Shania Twain, “Come On Over”
> Release date: November 4, 1997
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #2 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 151
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 20 million
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Source: Andrew H. Walker / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
4. Lauryn Hill, “The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill”
> Release date: August 18, 1998
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 4 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 91
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 10 million
Source: Sonia Recchia / Getty Images
3. Alanis Morissette, “Jagged Little Pill”
> Release date: June 13, 1995
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 12 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 127
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 16 million
Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
2. Carole King, “Tapestry”
> Release date: January 30, 1971
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 15 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 318
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 13 million
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Source: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
1. Adele, “21”
> Release date: February 22, 2011
> Peak position on Billboard 200: #1 (for 24 weeks)
> Total weeks on Billboard 200: 540
> Certified U.S. unit sales: 14 million
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