Best Albums of the 1970s

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Listed below are the best albums of the 1970s as calculated from their overall rankings in over 53,000 greatest album charts.

Best albums by year or decade

Decade:

Year:

1970s decade summary

Year	Albums The number of albums from each year featuring in the greatest album charts.	Score Total rank score for each year (made up of the total rank score from all albums in that year)	Top Ranked Album The top ranked album from each year and where it ranks in the overall chart.
1970	2,041	258,925	Paranoid (54th)by Black Sabbath
1971	2,141	327,811	Untitled (Led Zeppelin IV) (12th)by Led Zeppelin
1972	2,182	259,490	The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stard... (9th)by David Bowie
1973	2,068	266,167	The Dark Side Of The Moon (2nd)by Pink Floyd
1974	1,955	139,623	Red (141st)by King Crimson
1975	2,110	225,312	Wish You Were Here (6th)by Pink Floyd
1976	2,104	149,933	Songs In The Key Of Life (86th)by Stevie Wonder
1977	2,122	255,496	Rumours (21st)by Fleetwood Mac
1978	2,167	145,374	Darkness On The Edge Of Town (206th)by Bruce Springsteen
1979	2,097	212,157	London Calling (20th)by The Clash
Total	20,987	2,240,287

The best artists of the 1970s were Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Neil Young, The Rolling Stones, The Clash, Fleetwood Mac, Black Sabbath, The Who and Genesis.

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331.

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

AC/DC

Year of Release:

1976

Appears in:

234 charts

Rank Score:

1,019

Rank in 1976:

Rank in 1970s:

331

Overall Rank:

1,672

Average Rating:

77 (406 votes)

Comments:

332.

Eat To The Beat

Blondie

Year of Release:

1979

Appears in:

199 charts

Rank Score:

1,018

Rank in 1979:

Rank in 1970s:

332

Overall Rank:

1,674

Average Rating:

77 (249 votes)

Comments:

333.

Billion Dollar Babies

Alice Cooper

Year of Release:

1973

Appears in:

199 charts

Rank Score:

1,017

Rank in 1973:

Rank in 1970s:

333

Overall Rank:

1,677

Average Rating:

79 (314 votes)

Comments:

334.

The Who By Numbers

The Who

Year of Release:

1975

Appears in:

184 charts

Rank Score:

1,012

Rank in 1975:

Rank in 1970s:

334

Overall Rank:

1,681

Average Rating:

75 (325 votes)

Comments:

335.

The Grand Illusion

Styx

Year of Release:

1977

Appears in:

141 charts

Rank Score:

1,001

Rank in 1977:

Rank in 1970s:

335

Overall Rank:

1,697

Average Rating:

77 (181 votes)

Comments:

336.

Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus

Spirit

Year of Release:

1970

Appears in:

166 charts

Rank Score:

1,000

Rank in 1970:

Rank in 1970s:

336

Overall Rank:

1,699

Average Rating:

79 (209 votes)

Comments:

337.

Easter

Patti Smith Group

Year of Release:

1978

Appears in:

228 charts

Rank Score:

996

Rank in 1978:

Rank in 1970s:

337

Overall Rank:

1,712

Average Rating:

79 (264 votes)

Comments:

338.

Tales From Topographic Oceans

Yes

Year of Release:

1973

Appears in:

202 charts

Rank Score:

995

Rank in 1973:

Rank in 1970s:

338

Overall Rank:

1,714

Average Rating:

74 (410 votes)

Comments:

339.

Late For The Sky

Jackson Browne

Year of Release:

1974

Appears in:

180 charts

Rank Score:

990

Rank in 1974:

Rank in 1970s:

339

Overall Rank:

1,717

Average Rating:

76 (195 votes)

Comments:

340.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Year of Release:

1970

Appears in:

195 charts

Rank Score:

987

Rank in 1970:

Rank in 1970s:

340

Overall Rank:

1,723

Average Rating:

78 (280 votes)

Comments:

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Total albums: 1,000. Page 34 of 100

Best Albums of the 1970s composition

Year	Albums	%

1970	107	11%
1971	100	10%
1972	102	10%
1973	108	11%
1974	99	10%
1975	98	10%
1976	89	9%
1977	90	9%
1978	109	11%
1979	98	10%

Artist	Albums	%

David Bowie	12	1%
Genesis	10	1%
Jethro Tull	9	1%
Elton John	8	1%
The Rolling Stones	8	1%
Wishbone Ash	8	1%
Miles Davis	8	1%
Show all

Country	Albums	%

	387	39%
	371	37%
	42	4%
	37	4%
	37	4%
	24	2%
	20	2%
Show all

Compilation?	Albums	%
No	974	97%
Yes	26	3%

Live?	Albums	%
No	940	94%
Yes	60	6%

Soundtrack?	Albums	%
No	988	99%
Yes	12	1%

« View best albums of the 1960sView best albums of the 1980s »

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Best Albums of 1979
1. London Calling by The Clash
2. The Wall by Pink Floyd
3. Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division
4. Fear Of Music by Talking Heads
5. Breakfast In America by Supertramp
6. Entertainment! by Gang Of Four
7. Off The Wall by Michael Jackson
8. Rust Never Sleeps by Neil Young & Crazy Horse
9. Highway To Hell by AC/DC
10. Tusk by Fleetwood Mac
11. Reggatta De Blanc by The Police
12. Damn The Torpedoes by Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
13. Metal Box by Public Image Ltd.
14. The B-52's by The B-52's
15. Specials by The Specials
16. Armed Forces by Elvis Costello And The Attractions
17. Singles Going Steady by Buzzcocks
18. 154 by Wire
19. Setting Sons by The Jam
20. Y by The Pop Group