# Artist you own the most albums by **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 3, 2020, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artist-you-own-the-most-albums-by/853049 "2020-05-03T03:03:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artist-you-own-the-most-albums-by/853049/21 "2020-05-03T12:41:29Z")
It’s be the Bonzo Dog Band, but they only released four albums (not counting the dozens of compilations). I’d guess The Who, then. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artist-you-own-the-most-albums-by/853049/22 "2020-05-03T13:12:59Z")
> [@epbrown01](#): > > This thread is wild for me. I typically like a band or artist for one or two albums, with only two groups going to three, and that was decades ago. The Police (Outlandos D’amour, Zenyatta Mendatta, Synchronicity) and the Art of Noise (Who’s Afraid, In No Sense? Nonsense!, Below the Waste). There’s nobody I’ve liked for their entire career, or even close to it. Indeed. I have 17 Church albums, but virtually nothing made post-2000 (when they seriously overhauled their sound, where all crystal clear hooks and dynamics fled and were replaced by endless plodding sludge). I have 10 Nightwish albums, but took a recent listen to their latest, released 2 weeks ago, and have no desire to ever listen to it again. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artist-you-own-the-most-albums-by/853049/23 "2020-05-03T13:24:49Z")
For me it’s a close call between Van Morrison and the Monkees. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artist-you-own-the-most-albums-by/853049/24 "2020-05-03T13:40:24Z")
I believe I have an equal number of Beatles and Doors albums. This would include all the original studio Doors albums; yes they released some after Jim’s death, which really don’t count, in my opinion. I love the Beatles, and they’re no doubt my favourite band, but I don’t own everything they’ve recorded. To be honest, in the last couple of decades I don’t listen to much music anymore. I occasionally get in a mood for it, but otherwise I enjoy news radio in the car or silence at home. ---
**Author:** ![LoneRhino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lonerhino/32/1311_2.png) [@LoneRhino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LoneRhino)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artist-you-own-the-most-albums-by/853049/25 "2020-05-03T13:44:52Z")
> [@installLSC](#): > > [This article ranks all 143(!!) albums Willie Nelson has recorded.](https://www.texasmonthly.com/interactive/big-list-willie-nelson-albums-ranked/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Web+Social&utm_content=WillieAlbumsRanked&fbclid=IwAR0IbetZAhhUTISycT4DawqxOkgwTuXuaxXxbWqFdFFC6MovHX9TeogUq9c) Now I know nobody owns all these albums, but what artist do you own the most CDs/LPs/tapes/whatever by? Thanks to the wonder of the internet I would be shocked if there weren’t people that “owned” all of them. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artist-you-own-the-most-albums-by/853049/26 "2020-05-03T14:33:46Z")
Not really sure, but possibly Thelonious Monk. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artist-you-own-the-most-albums-by/853049/27 "2020-05-03T15:05:43Z")
About 40 by the Who including live and other stuff. Also around 15 from Townshend , Daltrey, Entwistle and even 1 by Moon. Second probably 10,000 maniacs. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artist-you-own-the-most-albums-by/853049/28 "2020-05-03T15:12:58Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > Springsteen. This. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artist-you-own-the-most-albums-by/853049/29 "2020-05-03T15:18:52Z")
Guitarist known as Buckethead has put out 308 albums since 1992, sometimes more than 1 per day. He wears a mask and a bucket on his head. Real name Brian Carroll. > **[Buckethead](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckethead)** > > Brian Patrick Carroll (born May 13, 1969), known professionally as Buckethead, is an American guitarist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He has received critical acclaim for his innovative electric guitar playing. His music spans several genres, including progressive metal, funk, blues, bluegrass, ambient, and avant-garde music. He performs primarily as a solo artist, although he has collaborated with a wide variety of artists such as Bill Laswell, Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrell, Iggy P ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artist-you-own-the-most-albums-by/853049/30 "2020-05-03T15:27:05Z")
Springsteen would have been my answer if the OP had specified Rock. Every official issue and a buttload of bootlegs. Back in the mid-1970s Deustche Grammaphon issued a Beethoven box set that was von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic doing every single piece of music that Beethoven ever wrote, including the folk songs and the obscene beer hall ditties. Technically, it’s _one_ release (album.) 17 boxes, but 1 album. I have no idea how to count it. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artist-you-own-the-most-albums-by/853049/31 "2020-05-03T15:52:26Z")
There’s plenty of ambiguity in the question: what counts as an “album,” and what counts as “by”? Do albums that were only released digitally, and never on a physical medium, count? Do EPs count? Do compilations (Greatest Hits, etc.) count? Do bootlegs count? Does it matter whether they were released or sanctioned by the artist themselves? If an album is re-released in a new version (e.g. remastered and with bonus tracks), does the re-release count as another album? What if it has a whole nother disc of bonus material—does that disc count as another album? How do you count box sets (like the Beethoven box set **silenus** mentioned)? Do albums of a composer’s music count as “by” that composer (e.g. Mozart or Beethoven), even though they don’t perform on the album? Can albums by bands be counted together with albums by their members? (For example, if you say “The Beatles” could you include all their solo albums? Or if you say “George Harrison” could you include the Beatles albums and Traveling Wilburys albums along with his solo albums?) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artist-you-own-the-most-albums-by/853049/32 "2020-05-03T15:59:44Z")
Without actually counting, I’m guessing it’s Elvis Costello. He’s been around for decades, I’m a big fan, and he’s released a continuous stream of work. According to Wikipedia, he’s released thirty-two studio albums, six live albums, and sixteen compilations. And that’s not counting the different versions of some of his albums. In an extreme example, I’ve bought _My Aim Is True_ four times over the years; on vinyl, on CD, on the Rykodisc CD (with bonus material), and on the Rhino CD (with additional bonus material). ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artist-you-own-the-most-albums-by/853049/33 "2020-05-03T16:04:00Z")
The Who. If you count the solo efforts by Pete, Roger and John, something like 65 CDs, cassette tapes, bootleg LPs, VHS tapes and DVDs. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artist-you-own-the-most-albums-by/853049/34 "2020-05-03T16:27:04Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > There’s plenty of ambiguity in the question: what counts as an “album,” and what counts as “by”? Not the OP, but I’d say whatever you want. I came here to hear about people’s musical tastes/obsessions > [@](#): > > Do albums that were only released digitally… Sure. > [@](#): > > Do EPs count? Sure. > [@](#): > > Do compilations (Greatest Hits, etc.) count? Sure. > [@](#): > > Do bootlegs count? Sure. > [@](#): > > If an album is re-released… Sure. > [@](#): > > How do you count box sets (like the Beethoven box set **silenus** mentioned)? If you’re a huge Beethovan fan, 17. if you’d be happier with your Throbbing Gristle collection coming in first, count it as one. > [@](#): > > Do albums of a composer’s music count as “by” that composer (e.g. Mozart or Beethoven), even though they don’t perform on the album? Sure. > [@](#): > > Can albums by bands be counted together with albums by their members? Hell, yeah. When I counted my Neil Finn albums, that included Crowded House, Finn Brothers and Split Enz. Come to think of it, it gets messy; there are Ringo albums with all four Beatles in the studio. Oh, and Little Village would count as a great John Hiatt or Ry Cooder album. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artist-you-own-the-most-albums-by/853049/35 "2020-05-03T16:33:59Z")
Hands down, it’s Dylan for me. I have all his studio albums except the last three standards albums, all official live albums and the complete Bootleg Series, all on CD. That’s more than 50 releases, but given that all of the Bootleg Series were multi-volumes, sometimes up to six CDs for a single release, and some of the regular releases were also double albums, those add up to over 70 individual discs. Next one is either Neil Young, Van Morrison or the Stones, all with about 30 albums. My biggest vinyl collection is Pink Floyd, I think 17 albums (every regular album up to and including “A Momentary Lapse Of Reason” and some compilations). ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artist-you-own-the-most-albums-by/853049/36 "2020-05-03T16:35:17Z")
Hands down, it’s Dylan for me. I have all his studio albums except for the last three standards albums, all official live albums and the complete Bootleg Series, all on CD. That’s more than 50 releases, but given that all of the Bootleg Series were multi-volumes, sometimes up to six CDs for a single release, and some of the regular releases were also double albums, those add up to over 70 individual discs. Next one is either Neil Young, Van Morrison or the Stones, all with about 30 albums. My biggest vinyl collection is Pink Floyd, I think 17 albums (every regular album up to and including “A Momentary Lapse Of Reason” and some compilations). ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artist-you-own-the-most-albums-by/853049/37 "2020-05-03T16:42:37Z")
Depending on the criteria and how you count, I suspect (though I haven’t done a thorough count) that my answer is either The Kinks, Terry Scott Taylor (if you include albums by his bands Daniel Amos, The Swirling Eddies, and The Lost Dogs), or some classical composer (Mozart or Beethoven?). ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artist-you-own-the-most-albums-by/853049/38 "2020-05-03T17:01:35Z")
Tull. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artist-you-own-the-most-albums-by/853049/39 "2020-05-03T17:12:40Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Tull. The problem is that I have 15 or 20 albums by a lot of artists when solo projects are included, but I never went completist on any of them. Tull is one, Pink Floyd, Costello, the Who, Nick Cave, Sonic Youth, Mountain Goats…one of these I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artist-you-own-the-most-albums-by/853049/40 "2020-05-03T17:21:23Z")
Tom Petty (& the Heartbreakers): I have eight or nine albums, plus their Greatest Hits, plus the Mudcrutch album (Mudcrutch was a predecessor band to TP&tH). Kesha: Four albums, two EPs, and a remix album Eminem: six albums [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artist-you-own-the-most-albums-by/853049.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artist-you-own-the-most-albums-by/853049.md?page=3)