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The Mercury Prize is arguably the most illustrious award a musician can obtain in Britain and Ireland. Indeed, the annual award is given for the best album released in the United Kingdom each year.
Since its inception in 1992, a weird and wonderful collection of iconic stars and up-and-coming artists have scooped the prize. From Primal Scream and Suede in the early 1990s to Skepta and Dave in the late 2010s, the Mercury Prize has been awarded to plenty of noteworthy acts.
But who are the best Mercury Prize winners in history?
At the time of writing, 30 artists have claimed the award. But since certain albums made more of an impact than others, I thought it would be good to rank the top 10 Mercury Prize winners.
Of course, this is a highly subjective topic. The chances are that my music taste differs from yours, meaning our lists won’t be the same. That said, I have tried to keep things fair across the board – basing my rankings on musical talent, the success of each album, and other important factors.
So, join me as I share my take on the best Mercury Music Prize winners of all time.
Coming in at number ten, Franz Ferdinand kicks off my list of the best Mercury Prize winners.
The Mercury Prize judges are renowned for making bold and forward-thinking decisions when it comes to picking the album of the year. But the judges went for a relatively conservative choice in 2004.
That said, the conservative choice was not a bad choice on this occasion. Franz Ferdinand’s self-titled debut album was hugely popular then, with hit singles such as “Take Me Out” and “The Dark of the Matinée” dominating the airwaves.
As you can see, the Scottish indie rockers received rave reviews from many reputable sources. The album obtained perfect scores from The Guardian and Uncut, while NME dished out a generous 9/10 rating.
Franz Ferdinand has released four albums since 2004 – You Could Have It So Much Better (2005), Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (2009), Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action (2013), and Always Ascending (2018).
However, their self-titled debut record is what puts them among the top Mercury Prize winners.
In 2016, all the top entertainment betting sites favored the late David Bowie to win the Mercury Prize. Blackstar was released following Bowie’s death in January, with many believing that he was destined to scoop the award.
But the Mercury Prize judging panel had other ideas.
Instead, Skepta’s Konnichiwa was named album of the year. In addition to beating Bowie to the award, the hard-hitting grime album was selected ahead of entries from notable artists like Michael Kiwanuka, The 1975, and Radiohead.
Although Skepta had released three studio albums before Konnichiwa, his Mercury Prize-winning record put him on the map.
Not only did he feature grime legends such as JME, Wiley, and D Double E on the album, but he also roped in Pharrell Williams for a special appearance.
To this day, iconic tracks like “Shutdown,” “That’s Not Me,” and “Man” remains grime anthems. Naturally, that makes Skepta one of the top Mercury Award winners in history.
As we know, the Mercury Prize judges are not afraid to hand out the prestigious award to budding artists. Many of the best Mercury Prize winners claimed the honor on the back of their debut album.
When art rockers Alt-J were nominated for the award in 2012, they faced competition from established acts such as The Maccabees and Plan B. Still, An Awesome Wave came out on top.
Alt-J’s debut record still hits the spot a decade after its release.
“Bloodflood,” the album’s first single, set the wheels in motion before “Matilda” and “Breezeblocks” (my personal favorite) cemented the record’s status as one of the greatest of its generation.
Alt-J is undoubtedly among the most talented Mercury Prize winners. An Awesome Wave boasts an intriguing fusion of genres, mixing conventional instruments and unorthodox electronics to portray a fascinating sound.
We have to go all the way back to the award’s second year for the next of my top 10 Mercury Prize winners.
The year is 1993. Meat Loaf’s “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” is the most popular song on the UK Singles Charts. Meanwhile, Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” can be heard on just about every radio station worldwide.
The 1990s are famous for a lot of things. Google was born, Friends debuted on NBC, and Beanie Babies were everywhere! But let’s not forget that the 90s are also famous for Britpop.
Suede is widely regarded as one of the founding members of the Britpop scene. The Londoners took glam rock and made it British, with singles such as “The Drowners” and “Metal Mickey” firing their self-titled album into the spotlight.
High-profile artists like Sting, New Order, and East 17 were also nominated for the award that year, but Suede outshone the other nominees to become one of the best winners of the Mercury Prize.
“Dave” is arguably the most British name you will ever hear. However, David Orobosa Omoregie is not your average British musician.
Born in London to Nigerian parents, Dave endured a tough upbringing in the nation’s capital. Fast-forward to today – the multi-talented rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, pianist, and guitarist is one of the best Mercury Prize winners of all time.
Put simply, Dave’s debut record, Psychodrama, is a masterpiece.
Oh, and the music is damn good, too! Although Psychodrama is predominantly a rap record, it features strings, harps, and keys from start to finish. Dave’s day-one fans can also enjoy heavy basslines and flowing drum beats.
Psychodrama received 5/5 ratings from Complex, The Guardian, The Independent, and NME. But regardless of all the accolades, the album is more about the message it portrays.
There is no denying that Dave is among the top Mercury Prize winners.
Only three previous Mercury Prize winners were before Portishead – M People, Suede, and Primal Scream. Still, almost three decades later, Portishead remains one of the top Mercury Award winners.
The 1995 Mercury Prize shortlist featured a host of noteworthy acts, including Oasis, Supergrass, and Van Morrison. But Portishead ended up stealing the show and securing the silverware with their debut studio album.
Often credited for popularizing the trip-hop genre, Dummy is a timeless classic. The record is filled with hip-hop production techniques like sampling and looping, but it also features downbeat drums and dreamy vocals from Beth Gibbons.
Interestingly, Gibbons features on Kendrick Lamar’s 2022 release “Mother I Sober”. That tells you everything you need to know about her timeless vocals.
When it comes to discussing the best Mercury Music Prize winners, Portishead is always among the first artists to be mentioned.
Funnily enough, one of the best Mercury Prize winners is also the very first recipient of the award.
Nobody was quite sure who would claim the inaugural Mercury Prize. High-profile bands such as U2 and Simply Red were expected to mount a serious challenge for the title, but the judges set a precedent for the future.
The band’s first two albums, Sonic Flower Groove and Primal Scream are largely indie rock records. However, Screamadelica takes influences from the house music scene – making it a vibrant dance-oriented album.
Even today, tracks like “Loaded” and “Come Together” are played all over the world. Screamadelica made a huge impact when it dropped in the early 90s and still has a significant effect on current-day listeners.
Primal Scream was also nominated for the Mercury Prize in 1994 and 1997, with Give Out But Don’t Give Up and Vanishing Point gaining recognition. However, Screamadelica is what makes the iconic band one of the most impressive Mercury Prize winners.
In 2002, Ms. Dynamite paved the way for rappers to win the Mercury Prize. In 2003, Dizzee Rascal took things to a different level.
Thanks to Boy in Da Corner, Dylan Mills thrusted grime music into the UK charts. Dizzee became the nation’s first true rap superstar, taking his underground sound to the mainstream.
Remarkably, Mills was just 19 when he became one of the best Mercury Prize winners in history. But there is no denying that he deserved the accolade. The mature album is full of clever lyrics and smart production, in addition to big beats and heavy basslines.
“I Luv U,” “Fix Up, Look Sharp,” and “Jus’ a Rascal” will forever be remembered as grime classics. If it weren’t for songs like these, Skepta’s Konnichiwa might have sounded a whole lot different.
It is worth noting that Dizzee Rascal fended off competition from Coldplay and Radiohead to scoop the award in 2003. That makes him one of the top Mercury Prize winners ever.
What can I say about Arctic Monkey’s debut studio album that hasn’t already been said?
Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not catapulted the band into the public eye in 2006. The record became the fastest-selling debut album in British music history, selling more than 360,000 copies in the first week.
To this day, it remains the fastest-selling debut album by a UK band and the second-fastest selling independent record label debut album in the US.
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Of course, the Mercury Prize judges are renowned for going against the grain. But they couldn’t select any other album in 2006. The judges had no choice, with classics such as “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor” and “When the Sun Goes Down” commanding the airwaves.
Arctic Monkeys might not be the most talented Mercury Prize winners, but they certainly know how to write the perfect indie banger. Led by enigmatic frontman Alex Turner, they are arguably one of the most influential British bands of all time.
So, who is the best Mercury Prize winner ever? It’s time to find out.
Britpop pioneers Pulp found themselves on three Mercury Prize shortlists in the mid-late 90s. His ‘n’ Hers (1994) and This is Hardcore (1998) failed to clinch the award, but Different Class (1996) made them the best Mercury Prize winners in history.
The band’s fifth studio album is a work of art. Widely regarded as one of the greatest records in UK history, the 12-track classic depicts 90s Britain in all its glory.
Headlined by the Britpop anthem,” the album is stacked with timeless classics that you still hear today. “Mis-Shapes,” “Disco 2000”, and “Something Changed” also helped propel Pulp to nationwide stardom.
There have been plenty of top Mercury Award winners over the years. But Pulp’s Different Class is arguably the pick of the bunch.
That concludes my take on the top 10 Mercury Prize winners. Do you agree with my selections? Or have I missed your favorite? Be sure to let me know your top Mercury Prize winners in the comments section below.
Did you know that you can also wager on the winner of the Mercury Prize? If you’re wondering where to bet on the Mercury Prize, allow me to point you in the direction of the best Mercury Prize betting sites.
When it is time to crown the next Mercury Prize winner, you can stick with us for the latest odds, analysis, and predictions. Just be sure to bookmark our entertainment betting blog.
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