The Rolling Stones Album Rankings
An exhaustive, chronological directory of every canonical studio album by The Rolling Stones. Spanning their 1964 R&B debut through their vibrant 2023 resurgence with Hackney Diamonds, this list tracks their evolution from London blues purists to the world's greatest rock and roll band. Capturing their legendary four-album golden era and their genre-defying experiments with disco, punk, and reggae, this serves as a definitive catalog of their unparalleled six-decade recording history.
MusicAll Studio Albums
🌍 World Ranking
▲ Top 5
#1
Sticky Fingers (1971)
A decadent, brass-heavy classic introducing the iconic tongue logo and Mick Taylor's incredibly fluid, bluesy guitar work.
+9
#2
Exile on Main St. (1972)
A sprawling, murky double-album recorded in a French villa, serving as the definitive synthesis of rock, blues, country, and soul.
+8
#3
Let It Bleed (1969)
A dark, apocalyptic masterpiece reflecting the violence and disillusionment of the late 1960s, featuring the iconic 'Gimme Shelter'.
+7
#4
It's Only Rock 'n Roll (1974)
Mick Taylor's final album with the band, returning to straightforward, punchy rock anthems and driving, unpretentious grooves.
+2
#5
Some Girls (1978)
A massive, revitalizing commercial smash directly responding to punk and disco, injecting fierce energy and biting humor back into their sound.
+2
▼ Bottom 5
#1
Black and Blue (1976)
An intensely groove-oriented, experimental album where the band auditioned replacement guitarists while deeply exploring reggae and funk.
-10
#2
Bridges to Babylon (1997)
An eclectic, modern-sounding effort featuring multiple guest producers and a heavy reliance on samples, loops, and contemporary R&B flavors.
-5
#3
Dirty Work (1986)
An aggressive, heavily synthesized 80s rock record born out of intense band conflict, serving as their most critically divisive studio effort.
-5
#4
Steel Wheels (1989)
A triumphant, highly polished comeback album that successfully repaired Jagger and Richards' relationship and launched a massive global tour.
-4
#5
Voodoo Lounge (1994)
The first album without bassist Bill Wyman, delivering a long, organic return to traditional rock and blues that won a Grammy for Best Rock Album.
-3
You should check out
Life by Keith Richards
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According to the Rolling Stones
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Exile on Main St. (2010 Remastered CD)
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Wikipedia
The Rolling Stones Discography
AllMusic
The Rolling Stones - Album Discography
Rolling Stones Official
The Rolling Stones Music Catalog
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All Items (27)
Sticky Fingers (1971) — A decadent, brass-heavy classic introducing the iconic tongue logo and Mick Taylor's incredibly fluid, bluesy guitar work.+9
Exile on Main St. (1972) — A sprawling, murky double-album recorded in a French villa, serving as the definitive synthesis of rock, blues, country, and soul.+8
Let It Bleed (1969) — A dark, apocalyptic masterpiece reflecting the violence and disillusionment of the late 1960s, featuring the iconic 'Gimme Shelter'.+7
It's Only Rock 'n Roll (1974) — Mick Taylor's final album with the band, returning to straightforward, punchy rock anthems and driving, unpretentious grooves.+2
Some Girls (1978) — A massive, revitalizing commercial smash directly responding to punk and disco, injecting fierce energy and biting humor back into their sound.+2
Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967) — The band's polarizing, self-produced answer to Sgt. Pepper, diving headfirst into heavy psychedelia and cosmic exploration.+1
Beggars Banquet (1968) — A triumphant return to gritty, acoustic-driven roots rock and country blues, kicking off their legendary four-album golden era.+1
The Rolling Stones / England's Newest Hit Makers (1964) — The raw, R&B-heavy debut capturing the band's early explosive energy, heavily featuring Chuck Berry covers.—
12 X 5 (1964) — A US-exclusive release capitalizing on their early success, expanding their Chicago blues roots with iconic tracks recorded at Chess Records.—
The Rolling Stones No. 2 (1965) — The second UK album, solidifying their bad-boy blues image while Jagger and Richards began to stretch their songwriting wings.—
The Rolling Stones, Now! (1965) — A US compilation featuring tracks from No. 2 alongside early singles, highlighting their deepening mastery of rhythm and blues.—
Out of Our Heads (1965) — A massive commercial breakthrough featuring their signature generation-defining anthem, '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction'.—
December's Children (And Everybody's) (1965) — The final US-only compilation album bridging the gap before their transition into a fully original songwriting powerhouse.—
Aftermath (1966) — A landmark achievement as the first Stones album consisting entirely of Jagger/Richards originals, marked by Brian Jones's exotic instrumentation.—
Between the Buttons (1967) — A fascinating, slightly psychedelic detour featuring complex vocal harmonies, vaudevillian influences, and a distinct British pop sensibility.—
Goats Head Soup (1973) — A murky, decadent follow-up featuring the massive ballad 'Angie' and a distinctly slower, glam-inflected funk and rock atmosphere.—
Tattoo You (1981) — A brilliantly assembled collection of studio outtakes that became one of their tightest, most beloved modern rock albums, featuring 'Start Me Up'.—
Undercover (1983) — A tense, dark, and highly political album incorporating new wave and post-punk influences amid growing internal friction between Jagger and Richards.—
Blue & Lonesome (2016) — A fierce, live-in-the-studio tribute to their Chicago blues roots, consisting entirely of blues covers played with incredible passion and grit.—
Hackney Diamonds (2023) — A surprisingly fresh, vibrant late-career triumph featuring star-studded guest appearances and serving as a poignant tribute to Charlie Watts.—
A Bigger Bang (2005) — A stripped-down, energetic return to raw blues and hard rock, recorded largely as a duo by Jagger and Richards before the rest of the band joined.-1
Emotional Rescue (1980) — A dance-heavy, falsetto-driven continuation of the disco experiments of Some Girls, blending reggae, dub, and driving New York rock.-2
Voodoo Lounge (1994) — The first album without bassist Bill Wyman, delivering a long, organic return to traditional rock and blues that won a Grammy for Best Rock Album.-3
Steel Wheels (1989) — A triumphant, highly polished comeback album that successfully repaired Jagger and Richards' relationship and launched a massive global tour.-4
Dirty Work (1986) — An aggressive, heavily synthesized 80s rock record born out of intense band conflict, serving as their most critically divisive studio effort.-5
Bridges to Babylon (1997) — An eclectic, modern-sounding effort featuring multiple guest producers and a heavy reliance on samples, loops, and contemporary R&B flavors.-5
Black and Blue (1976) — An intensely groove-oriented, experimental album where the band auditioned replacement guitarists while deeply exploring reggae and funk.-10