Beatles' Revolver shoots to top of poll

The Beatles with MBE in the year Revolver was released

The Beatles' 1966 Revolver album has been voted the rock 'n' roll favourite of critics and musicians including Britney Spears, Jackson Browne, Elvis Costello and Carole King.

The album, including the classics Eleanor Rigby, I'm Only Sleeping and She Said, She Said topped the list of the 100 greatest rock albums compiled by the cable music channel VH1.

VH1's top five

1. Revolver: The Beatles

2. Nevermind: Nirvana

3. Pet Sounds: Beach Boys

4. What's Going On: Marvin Gaye

5. Are You Experienced: Jimi Hendrix

It helped pave the way for the groundbreaking Sgt Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band album with its influences of pop, Motown, chamber music and Indian instruments.

Although it is 30 years since they broke up, The Beatles are currently topping the charts around the world with a compilation of their number one hits.

Five other albums by the band featured in the VH1 list.

Rubber Soul was at number six, Abbey Road at number eight, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band at number 10 and The Beatles, better known as the White Album at number 11.

Lauryn Hill: The most contemporary performer on the list

Revolver knocked the more recent album Nevermind by Nirvana into the number two spot, but the top five was dominated by older classics.

Many performers from The Beatles' era feature in the top 100.

Bob Dylan has four albums in the list as does The Beatles' great rival on the UK rock scene The Rolling Stones.

The most recent release on the list is Lauryn Hill's Grammy-winning The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill from 1998 which figured at number 37.