The 24 Best Grammy Album of the Year Winners

Six decades of the Recording Academy's top prize, including the upsets people still complain about. Pick the winner that deserved it most.

1. 1
   Rumours

   Fleetwood Mac's 1977 album written while the band's couples were breaking up.
   1000pts
2. 2
   1989

   Taylor Swift's 2014 full turn to synth-pop, her second Album of the Year.
   885pts
3. 3
   24K Magic

   Bruno Mars' 2016 throwback to 1990s R&B and new jack swing.
   680pts
4. 4
   Babel

   Mumford & Sons' 2012 folk-rock album, one of the more debated winners.
   680pts
5. 5
   Morning Phase

   Beck's 2014 acoustic album, the upset winner over Beyoncé.
   624pts
6. 6
   Cowboy Carter

   Beyoncé's 2024 country album, her first Album of the Year after four losses.
   560pts
7. 7
   The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

   Lauryn Hill's 1998 solo debut, the first hip-hop album to win the top prize.
   560pts
8. 8
   Folklore

   Taylor Swift's 2020 indie-folk album made remotely during lockdown with Aaron Dessner.
   560pts
9. 9
   Midnights

   Taylor Swift's 2022 album that gave her a record fourth Album of the Year.
   560pts
10. 10
    Innervisions

    Stevie Wonder's 1973 album with Living for the City and Higher Ground.
    485pts
11. 11
    Random Access Memories

    Daft Punk's 2013 tribute to 1970s studio disco, home of Get Lucky.
    485pts
12. 12
    Tapestry

    Carole King's 1971 album of self-written songs, which spent 15 weeks at number one.
    397pts
13. 13
    When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?

    Billie Eilish's 2019 debut album, recorded in her brother's bedroom.
    397pts
14. 14
    Supernatural

    Santana's 1999 comeback album built on guest collaborations like Smooth.
    397pts
15. 15
    Thriller

    Michael Jackson's 1982 album, the best-selling record of all time, which won in 1984.
    291pts
16. 16
    The Joshua Tree

    U2's 1987 album with With or Without You.
    291pts
17. 17
    Golden Hour

    Kacey Musgraves' 2018 psychedelic-tinged country album.
    291pts
18. 18
    Fearless

    Taylor Swift's 2008 country-pop album, at the time the youngest artist's winner.
    291pts
19. 19
    Harry's House

    Harry Styles' 2022 album featuring As It Was.
    291pts
20. 20
    Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

    The Beatles' 1967 studio album, the first rock record to win Album of the Year.
    0pts
21. 21
    Songs in the Key of Life

    Stevie Wonder's 1976 double album, his third Album of the Year in four years.
    0pts
22. 22
    Graceland

    Paul Simon's 1986 album recorded with South African musicians.
    0pts
23. 23
    21

    Adele's 2011 breakup album, the best-selling album of its decade.
    0pts
24. 24
    Bridge over Troubled Water

    Simon & Garfunkel's final studio album, the 1971 winner.
    0pts

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