Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s by Error Finn

Conceptual Extension - part 3, The 1970s: "Age of the Deep Classics"

I think the 1970's musical spectrum is a natural extension of the 1960s, which began development. Many so-called long-time favorite album has born in the 1970s. The 1970s have passed since the amount of time, which gives this age its own entity. And what a combination! This decade - is a my personal favorite.
Many artists and bands who started in the 1960s, refined careers in the 1970s. People who discovered (heard) this incident, received a life an incredible value.
Born in the 1960s psychedelic pop music changed in the 1970s - progressive rock; jazz became a rock fusion; folk-country-rock continued to be a singer / songwriter style as a form; hard-rock-blues developed into heavy rock; Soulpop turned into a funk, and later disco music...Punk rock and new wave, brought new attitudes of rock music in the mid 1970s.
I believe that the bands in the 1970s needed to make (good) albums, if they wanted keep up with developments. Just look at the bands' albums, although the number of publications. There were no other possibilities(no internet,no music channels, and less the record companies childish attitude towards the actual creation..). The ALBUM was appreciated!
Selected albums have been my favorite, a very different time. One of the albums I have (knowingly) listened to 25-30 years ago. Someone other hand, is already familiar to only this year. A real favorite album is one that listened to year after year.
The 1970s, the early years, "had more support" my list as the last years of the decade.I am aware of this true-matter, as I began to draw up this list.I feel that the years 1970-1973, were the music world's most advanced.
I took the list, four of my country (Finland) albums. First of all, they have equal access to the list. Second, they give this site a new (old), good music, which the majority (of members) have never heard of!
The 1970s includes two Patheon albums(= frozen albums): Led Zeppelin IV, and Pink Floyd's "Dark Side".

• Chart updated: 01/31/2023 07:45
• (Created: 06/12/2012 18:39).
• Chart size: 100 albums.

There are 9 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s has an average rating of 88 out of 100 (from 14 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.

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1. (=)

At Fillmore East 
Live

 The Allman Brothers Band

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I know that many of the members of this site, don't take their charts live albums. For my part, I set the decade the number one album - a live album! Allman Brothers are (were) a so-called southern rock band. In my opinion, the best Southern rock arise only in live situations. Not in the studio. Secondly, Allman Brothers were better than a live band as the other bands of the Southern rock.Allman
Brothers were able to play nicer; they expressed skills jazz; they shaped the blues standards ("Statesboro Blues","Stormy Monday" ), the spirit of time. Also, the band's own material sounds better than ever: "Hot 'Lanta," "Whipping Post" and amazing "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed".The album showcased also the work of two master guitarist, Duane Allman and Dicky Betts.This album can't get bored! It sounds fresh every time. It is a simple, decades, remarkable album....But Robert Christgau gave At Fillmore East a B– rating... [First added to this chart: 06/25/2012]

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

571 charts

Rank Score:

4,184

Rank in 1971:

20

Rank in 1970s:

103

Overall Rank:

429

Average Rating:

 82 (707 votes)

Comments:

43

2. (=)

Bitches Brew 

 Miles Davis

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This album lost "At Filmore East" a very small margin. I think that, this album is not only the size of Miles Davis's genius.Mr. Davis was involved with this masterpiece of doing a number of the younger generation of musicians: Joe Zawinul, Chic Corea, Dave Holland, John McLaughlin, Jack DeJohnette. They had a key role in the new jazzfusion sound was developed.The band's amazing musical chemistry manifests itself (partially different players, Note! "DVD Miles Electric - A Different Kind of Blue"), when they performed at the Isle of Wight in 1970. There, "rock youth" heard something, which exceeded the limits of their imagination."The Picasso of Jazz enchanted by them. I was enchanted by this album in 1996. And still it affects the senses in a positive way. [First added to this chart: 06/25/2012]

Year of Release:

1970

Appears in:

927 charts

Rank Score:

10,135

Rank in 1970:

6

Rank in 1970s:

40

Overall Rank:

153

Average Rating:

 84 (1,154 votes)

Comments:

72

3. (=)

Let My Children Hear Music 

 Charles Mingus

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The 1970s, jazz is considered (at least in the developed rock point of view) often the power of fusion jazz period. But the so-called, non-fusion jazz, were there. Acoustic jazz, didn't die in the 1970s (and it is not, fortunately, still not dead). One strong proof of its vitality, is a jazz master's brush cut, called LET MY CHILDREN HEAR MUSIC (great name of the album). I heard this album for the first time in 1994, and I wonder, how a high level of music I had heard. "Adagio Ma Non Troppo", is crystal clear, jazz piece, with its magnificent string backgrounds. "Hobo Ho," is as offensive orchestra, captain of the saxophonist, James Moody. Stravinsky style of "The Chill Of Death" was written by Mingus at age seventeen. From his deathbed in Mexico in 1979 he sent a message to Sy Johnson (who was responsible for many of the arrangements on the album), saying that "Let My Children Hear Music" was the record he liked most from his career. [First added to this chart: 06/25/2012]

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

129 charts

Rank Score:

1,044

Rank in 1972:

35

Rank in 1970s:

325

Overall Rank:

1,639

Average Rating:

 82 (140 votes)

Comments:

6

4. (8) 4

666 

 Aphrodite's Child

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In my hometown cathedral wall, are painted with images of the four horsemen.These frighteningly harsh images came to mind to me, when I listened to Aphrodite's Child's album on 666 ..How could anyone do such a musical work? Perhaps the decision to book the Bible, Revelation of John, gave rise to the Greek young hippies, music and visual awakenings.If you listen to only the parts or individual songs from the album, the work may seem almost like a joke.Some of the tracks are short and slow, and therefore un-commercial.77:58 in length, it required multiple listening time. And courageous! I think this album is just another planet, as worshipers of Satan ritual of heavy rock, which does not interest me at all. Album is also connected to the special manner, linkage to their own time ("Altamont"), a fine Vangelis sound field ("Sea Aegian"), and Roussos on tenor. A truly ambitious album! [First added to this chart: 06/25/2012]

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

121 charts

Rank Score:

779

Rank in 1972:

41

Rank in 1970s:

407

Overall Rank:

2,117

Average Rating:

 76 (141 votes)

Comments:

11

5. (6) 1

Waiting For Columbus 
Live

 Little Feat

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I saw Little Feat, Pori Jazz Festival in 1994 - and I was tremendously disappointed. The band played in my opinion flatly.I've heard similar comments, the band's then current gigs. Three years later, however, I bought their live album, and the perception of the band changed. What I heard on this expanded version of their 1978 release, is a band at their peak. Lowell George's (his the last album) incendiary slide guitar playing, Bill Payne's (As Joe Zawinul, and Garth Hudson, a cross between!) rollicking keyboards, the funk of the Tower of Power horn section, and the band's backlog of material make for a stunning live performance. [First added to this chart: 06/25/2012]

Year of Release:

1978

Appears in:

102 charts

Rank Score:

603

Rank in 1978:

51

Rank in 1970s:

485

Overall Rank:

2,587

Average Rating:

 78 (141 votes)

Comments:

6

6. (10) 4

Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols 

 Sex Pistols

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This rock classic was familiar to me, in the spring of 1982. It was then less than five years old, and the music of my knowledge - thinnest possible class.It may be that this album was for me, pedagogy quote - tabula rasa. When I heard this album, I started to wait for music to something. Simple as that.In the early 1980s, punk rock had already been through, their short history.Its influence was left.Sex pistols and "Never Mind the Bollocks..." had submitted their heritage. Well, "Never Mind the Bollocks ..." is a real rock festival... "We're pretty A pretty vacant" [First added to this chart: 06/25/2012]

Year of Release:

1977

Appears in:

1,343 charts

Rank Score:

11,810

Rank in 1977:

5

Rank in 1970s:

34

Overall Rank:

125

Average Rating:

 80 (1,819 votes)

Comments:

145

7. (36) 29

Rumours 

 Fleetwood Mac

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[First added to this chart: 04/01/2018]

Year of Release:

1977

Appears in:

2,198 charts

Rank Score:

34,117

Rank in 1977:

1

Rank in 1970s:

6

Overall Rank:

21

Average Rating:

 87 (2,540 votes)

Comments:

183

8. (4) 4

Unknown Pleasures 

 Joy Division

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Post Punk gave new opportunities for new rock music-makers. The fourth best album of the decade is not the work of skilled musicians(such as the three previous).However the Album's an intimate atmosphere is unbelievable.This album can not come up with the machine. It can only arise from the experience of life resulted."She's Lost Control", "I Remember Nothing","Candidate","Shadowplay", and others represent the turn of the decade's best rock music moments. Also album cover art is one of the best all-time. [First added to this chart: 06/25/2012]

Year of Release:

1979

Appears in:

1,920 charts

Rank Score:

25,093

Rank in 1979:

3

Rank in 1970s:

9

Overall Rank:

37

Average Rating:

 87 (2,274 votes)

Comments:

189

9. (5) 4

Die Mensch·Maschine [The Man-Machine] 

 Kraftwerk

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Kraftwerk founder Ralf Hütter, has been told he had intended to do from a German-sounding music - just like The Beach Boys sounds like California did. I think his band have succeeded a dream. Their music, they discussed the technology and the interaction existing between the people and their symbiotic life together. The idea of a good illustration of the album "The Man Machine" name.
This album had a tremendous impact on pop of Britain's later new romantic movement (= Human League, OMD, Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys...). [First added to this chart: 06/25/2012]

Year of Release:

1978

Appears in:

615 charts

Rank Score:

4,554

Rank in 1978:

6

Rank in 1970s:

96

Overall Rank:

394

Average Rating:

 83 (707 votes)

Comments:

29

10. (29) 19

Selling England By The Pound 

 Genesis

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[First added to this chart: 06/25/2012]

Year of Release:

1973

Appears in:

976 charts

Rank Score:

11,856

Rank in 1973:

4

Rank in 1970s:

33

Overall Rank:

124

Average Rating:

 84 (1,242 votes)

Comments:

92

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s composition

Year	Albums	%
1970	13	13%
1971	18	18%
1972	15	15%
1973	14	14%
1974	12	12%
1975	4	4%
1976	6	6%
1977	5	5%
1978	7	7%
1979	6	6%

Artist	Albums	%
The Who	3	3%
Bob Dylan	3	3%
Weather Report	2	2%
Deep Purple	2	2%
David Bowie	2	2%
Kraftwerk	2	2%
John Lennon	2	2%
Show all

Country	Albums	%
	45	45%
	33	33%
	6	6%
	4	4%
	3	3%
	3	3%
	1	1%
Show all

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s chart changes

Biggest climbers
Up 68 from 82nd to 14th África Brasil by Jorge Ben
Up 29 from 36th to 7th Rumours by Fleetwood Mac
Up 23 from 38th to 15th Bridge Of Sighs by Robin Trower

Biggest fallers
Down 5 from 12th to 17th Innervisions by Stevie Wonder
Down 5 from 13th to 18th The Köln Concert by Keith Jarrett
Down 5 from 14th to 19th Bop Till You Drop by Ry Cooder

New entries
Parallel Lines by Blondie
The Kinks Present A Soap Opera by The Kinks

Leavers
Escalator Over The Hill by Carla Bley / Paul Haines
Les Porches by Maneige

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s similarity to your chart(s)

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s ratings

Showing latest 5 ratings for this chart. | Show all 14 ratings for this chart.

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Rating	Date updated	Member	Chart ratings	Avg. chart rating
90/100	12/17/2023 13:43	ilovelctr	13	93/100
80/100	05/15/2023 10:52	RevolverCB72	88	84/100
90/100	04/22/2023 08:45	Moondance	455	84/100
80/100	08/18/2020 17:40	Chrispeater	138	82/100
100/100	03/12/2020 23:55	DJENNY	4,408	100/100

Rating metrics: Outliers can be removed when calculating a mean average to dampen the effects of ratings outside the normal distribution. This figure is provided as the trimmed mean. A high standard deviation can be legitimate, but can sometimes indicate 'gaming' is occurring. Consider a simplified example* of an item receiving ratings of 100, 50, & 0. The mean average rating would be 50. However, ratings of 55, 50 & 45 could also result in the same average. The second average might be more trusted because there is more consensus around a particular rating (a lower deviation).
(*In practice, some charts can have several thousand ratings)
This chart is rated in the top 7% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 88.3/100, a mean average of 90.0/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 90.0/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 7.3.

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s comments

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Rating:  

90/100

From Moondance 04/22/2023 08:47

Excellent chart ~ the comments are greatly appreciated. I was surprised that we only had 25 albums in common (I was expecting more) ~ which goes to show the depth of quality albums that flowed from the greatest decade ever ~ the 70's!

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Rating:  

100/100

From buzzdainer 07/19/2016 15:55

I really love this list! You have a number of fantastic albums here, especially Innervisions, Rumours, Desire, and Blood on the Tracks. I also appreciate your notes and comments to go with your entries, as these are very thoughtful and provide helpful context for your selections. Great work overall!

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Rating:  

75/100

From Decurso 11/03/2014 13:18

Pretty different. I dig the notes and wholeheartedly agree with your assessment of the 70s. It was a time when artists were allowed almost complete creative control, which made for some groundbreaking music.

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Rating:  

95/100

From WildHorses 11/23/2013 16:22

A wonderful vision of the 70's. Great chart!

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

95/100

From sssvnnn 10/01/2013 22:21

again a briliant Chart - you reminded me of some albums that should be on my list or are very close to my top 100.

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From Error Finn 06/17/2012 15:15

This of the 1970s band NOT found in BEA's rankings: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppZ0HUFBc88

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From Error Finn 06/16/2012 22:42

Here is one of the list heroes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsR91OKuMsA

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From Error Finn 06/13/2012 18:26

Thank you, Johnnyo. For me, the 1970s, the list is more pleasing (easier) to make the example of the 2010s list. 1970s, seems to still live. 2010s? what?

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Rating:  

90/100

From Johnnyo 06/12/2012 20:06

Great, great chart. One of the best on the site.

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