#10 Lauryn Hill, 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill' (1998)

Not only is this a major leap for Lauryn Hill, it’s a major leap for women in general. Last time around, the highest placed record by a female solo artist was ‘Blue’ by Joni Mitchell at #30. Now, not only has a woman smashed through the glass ceiling of #10, but it’s a woman of colour, something that the last Top 10 severely lacked too (Marvin Gaye was the only black artist in the last Top 10). Hill’s debut, and in fact, only record.