Best Albums of the 1970s

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

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	2,033	259,240	Paranoid (56th)by Black Sabbath
1971	2,129	329,134	Untitled (Led Zeppelin IV) (12th)by Led Zeppelin
1972	2,157	259,406	The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stard... (9th)by David Bowie
1973	2,056	266,553	The Dark Side Of The Moon (2nd)by Pink Floyd
1974	1,942	139,231	Red (144th)by King Crimson
1975	2,101	226,488	Wish You Were Here (8th)by Pink Floyd
1976	2,089	150,495	Songs In The Key Of Life (86th)by Stevie Wonder
1977	2,105	256,216	Rumours (21st)by Fleetwood Mac
1978	2,142	145,359	Darkness On The Edge Of Town (202nd)by Bruce Springsteen
1979	2,069	212,772	London Calling (20th)by The Clash
Total	20,823	2,244,894

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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171.

Sabbath Bloody Sabbath

Black Sabbath

Year of Release:

1973

Appears in:

393 charts

Rank Score:

2,350

Rank in 1973:

Rank in 1970s:

171

Overall Rank:

762

Average Rating:

81 (674 votes)

Comments:

172.

Curtis

Curtis Mayfield

Year of Release:

1970

Appears in:

351 charts

Rank Score:

2,330

Rank in 1970:

Rank in 1970s:

172

Overall Rank:

769

Average Rating:

80 (369 votes)

Comments:

173.

Outlandos D'Amour

The Police

Year of Release:

1978

Appears in:

435 charts

Rank Score:

2,315

Rank in 1978:

Rank in 1970s:

173

Overall Rank:

772

Average Rating:

78 (611 votes)

Comments:

174.

Chairs Missing

Wire

Year of Release:

1978

Appears in:

355 charts

Rank Score:

2,311

Rank in 1978:

Rank in 1970s:

174

Overall Rank:

775

Average Rating:

81 (408 votes)

Comments:

175.

Toys In The Attic

Aerosmith

Year of Release:

1975

Appears in:

417 charts

Rank Score:

2,304

Rank in 1975:

Rank in 1970s:

175

Overall Rank:

777

Average Rating:

77 (639 votes)

Comments:

176.

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!

Devo

Year of Release:

1978

Appears in:

394 charts

Rank Score:

2,296

Rank in 1978:

Rank in 1970s:

176

Overall Rank:

780

Average Rating:

79 (464 votes)

Comments:

177.

Argus

Wishbone Ash

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

270 charts

Rank Score:

2,291

Rank in 1972:

Rank in 1970s:

177

Overall Rank:

784

Average Rating:

80 (278 votes)

Comments:

178.

Countdown To Ecstasy

Steely Dan

Year of Release:

1973

Appears in:

295 charts

Rank Score:

2,253

Rank in 1973:

Rank in 1970s:

178

Overall Rank:

795

Average Rating:

80 (411 votes)

Comments:

179.

The Modern Dance

Pere Ubu

Year of Release:

1978

Appears in:

305 charts

Rank Score:

2,251

Rank in 1978:

Rank in 1970s:

179

Overall Rank:

798

Average Rating:

78 (398 votes)

Comments:

180.

Desertshore

Nico

Year of Release:

1970

Appears in:

250 charts

Rank Score:

2,238

Rank in 1970:

Rank in 1970s:

180

Overall Rank:

802

Average Rating:

78 (282 votes)

Comments:

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Total albums: 1,000. Page 18 of 100

Best Albums of the 1970s composition

Year	Albums	%

1970	107	11%
1971	101	10%
1972	100	10%
1973	108	11%
1974	97	10%
1975	99	10%
1976	93	9%
1977	91	9%
1978	107	11%
1979	99	10%

Artist	Albums	%

David Bowie	11	1%
Genesis	10	1%
Jethro Tull	9	1%
Yes	8	1%
Elton John	8	1%
AC/DC	8	1%
The Rolling Stones	8	1%
Show all

Country	Albums	%

	387	39%
	372	37%
	42	4%
	38	4%
	36	4%
	25	2%
	21	2%
Show all

Compilation?	Albums	%
No	975	97%
Yes	27	3%

Live?	Albums	%
No	943	94%
Yes	59	6%

Soundtrack?	Albums	%
No	990	99%
Yes	12	1%

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