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	2,039	260,244	Paranoid (54th)by Black Sabbath
1971	2,138	329,066	Untitled (Led Zeppelin IV) (12th)by Led Zeppelin
1972	2,175	260,170	The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stard... (9th)by David Bowie
1973	2,062	267,609	The Dark Side Of The Moon (2nd)by Pink Floyd
1974	1,951	139,713	Red (143rd)by King Crimson
1975	2,105	226,350	Wish You Were Here (7th)by Pink Floyd
1976	2,097	150,421	Songs In The Key Of Life (86th)by Stevie Wonder
1977	2,112	256,238	Rumours (21st)by Fleetwood Mac
1978	2,157	145,812	Darkness On The Edge Of Town (204th)by Bruce Springsteen
1979	2,085	212,868	London Calling (20th)by The Clash
Total	20,921	2,248,493

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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51.

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Elton John

Year of Release:

1973

Appears in:

935 charts

Rank Score:

7,940

Rank in 1973:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

209

Average Rating:

81 (1,118 votes)

Comments:

52.

On The Beach

Neil Young

Year of Release:

1974

Appears in:

784 charts

Rank Score:

7,890

Rank in 1974:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

212

Average Rating:

84 (952 votes)

Comments:

53.

Let It Be

The Beatles

Year of Release:

1970

Appears in:

1,042 charts

Rank Score:

7,705

Rank in 1970:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

220

Average Rating:

80 (2,099 votes)

Comments:

127

54.

Ramones

Year of Release:

1976

Appears in:

1,014 charts

Rank Score:

7,497

Rank in 1976:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

224

Average Rating:

80 (1,273 votes)

Comments:

102

55.

The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway

Genesis

Year of Release:

1974

Appears in:

775 charts

Rank Score:

7,473

Rank in 1974:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

226

Average Rating:

82 (946 votes)

Comments:

56.

The Stranger

Billy Joel

Year of Release:

1977

Appears in:

668 charts

Rank Score:

7,307

Rank in 1977:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

234

Average Rating:

82 (855 votes)

Comments:

57.

Fear Of Music

Talking Heads

Year of Release:

1979

Appears in:

842 charts

Rank Score:

7,292

Rank in 1979:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

235

Average Rating:

84 (1,061 votes)

Comments:

58.

Machine Head

Deep Purple

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

778 charts

Rank Score:

7,128

Rank in 1972:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

242

Average Rating:

83 (990 votes)

Comments:

59.

Tapestry

Carole King

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

810 charts

Rank Score:

7,057

Rank in 1971:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

246

Average Rating:

82 (913 votes)

Comments:

60.

Fragile

Yes

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

781 charts

Rank Score:

6,990

Rank in 1971:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

249

Average Rating:

84 (1,064 votes)

Comments:

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Total albums: 1,000. Page 6 of 100

Best Albums of the 1970s composition

Year	Albums	%

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

Artist	Albums	%

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

Country	Albums	%

	388	39%
	370	37%
	42	4%
	37	4%
	36	4%
	24	2%
	21	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%

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