Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s
by 
Tamthebam 
This is my favourite decade my chart is dominated by Bowie, Elton John & Stevie Wonder but hey its the 70's. Electric Warrior was the first album I ever owned, so it has a special meaning for me, I still have the original vinyl copies of 50% of these albums. I have included some iconic "Best Of" albums that are regarded very highly, I love all types of music and I loved exploring music recommended by others, I discovered Soul and Country-Rock during this decade.
- Chart updated: 10/06/2026 10:45
- (Created: 08/24/2013 13:28).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 16 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 34 votes). Please log in or create an account to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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The trio of Berlin albums (Low Heroes & Lodger) are the best set of concept albums ever recorded, by anyone. Low & Heroes were released in 1977 within 8 months of each other. Heroes is my favourite of these three it is rougher round the edges than Low, Side 2 (tracks 6-10) create an atmosphere that could be the soundtrack of a horror movie an amazing sound that is deeper than anything on Low and on top of that there is the title track and the forgotten classic Beauty & The Beast.
[First added to this chart: 08/25/2013]
Year of Release:
1977
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Rank Score:
5,813
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A road journey from place to place as well as through time is how I see this album. This is my favourite Joni album the atmosphere she creates with the tunings of her guitar throughout this album is masterful. Coyote, Amelia, Song For Sharon & Black Crow are some of her best ever compositions. The title track is Arabic for Travel.
[First added to this chart: 08/25/2013]
Year of Release:
1976
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Rank Score:
3,684
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I love this album one of the best debut albums of all time. Contains the great Chuck E's In Love, the album is also full of great observations of love & life including Young Blood, Last Chance Texaco, Danny's All Star Joint and Company. Her voice has a jazzy rock appeal, She reminds me of Tom Waits, emotional yet sometimes funny. She has made other great albums but for me this is still the best.
(First added to chart: 14/06/2012) [First added to this chart: 08/25/2013]
(First added to chart: 14/06/2012) [First added to this chart: 08/25/2013]
Year of Release:
1979
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Rank Score:
536
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One of the greatest double albums of all time and along with Innervisions two of the greatest soul/RnB albums ever. I remember there was a lot of hype before the release of this album as it was delayed time and time again before finally being released at the end of 1976. It more than lived up to the hype. I remember when I finally got my copy on my 17th bday and I listened to it for 2 days solid. Its message is more relevant today than it was back in the 70's - Love's In Need Of Love Today, Village Ghetto Land, If It's Magic, Saturn. There are also some gorgeous love songs - Knocks Me Off My Feet, Isn't she Lovely, Ordinary Pain, As and Another Star. Two great instrumentals Contusion & Easy Goin' Evening and on top of all that is Sir Duke,I Wish & Pastime Paradise amazing.
[First added to this chart: 08/25/2013]
Year of Release:
1976
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Rank Score:
15,887
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Its now 50 years since I first listened to this great album for the first time. I loved Stevie Nicks voice so much that I bought it for that reason alone.so discovering Lindsay Buckingham & Christine McVie as singers and songwriters was eye opening or ear opening ! On top of all that was the stories of the break-ups that inspired the songs & The Chain which kept them together.
[First added to this chart: 08/25/2013]
Year of Release:
1977
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Rank Score:
29,035
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The first L.P. I ever owned. I still play it today a great album every track is good. Best tracks are Get It On, Jeepster, Life's a Gas & the closing track Rip Off, the opening track Mambo Sun would have been another great single. Marc Bolan was one of my first musical heroes and like a number of artists in my Top 100 now gone forever.
[First added to this chart: 08/25/2013]
Year of Release:
1971
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Rank Score:
4,528
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A break thru album this is the album that brought Bowie to a wider audience. The first 4 tracks are legendary especially Starman & Moonage Daydream, it then tails of a little before hitting you with the last 3 tracks Ziggy, Suffragette City & Rock n Roll Suicide. It is regarded as his best album rightly so, it is just not my favourite.
[First added to this chart: 08/25/2013]
Year of Release:
1972
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Rank Score:
40,463
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Linda Ronstadt's albums of the 70's are mostly full of great cover versions of country/rock/Motown songs. She makes each song her own It's So Easy, Tumbling Dice, Blue Bayou, Poor,Poor Pitiful Me and Old Paint are good examples of that. The whole album is great nothing weakens it, her voice also seems to be at its peak. She recorded 7 great albums in the 70's this is the best.
[First added to this chart: 08/25/2013]
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This was the first Elton John album I ever heard Caribou being the first I ever owned. It was a double album so a little more expensive back then in 1974. It is without a doubt the best album he has ever released smack in the middle of his golden period 1970-76. It contains a whole load of Elton standards but the "non singles" on this album are some of his best ever songs (Bernie Taupin supplied the lyrics) including Sweet Painted Lady, All the Girls Love Alice, Grey Seal, I've Seen That Movie Too & Harmony. On top of all that is the opening 15 mins Funeral For a Friend/Love lies Bleeding a haunting opening number followed by Candle In The Wind. A truly great album.
[First added to this chart: 08/25/2013]
Year of Release:
1973
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Rank Score:
7,176
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This was the first Bowie album I owned and still to this day a favourite. It was labelled as the "Ziggy Goes To America " album as the sound and atmosphere created was heavier and darker than anything he had done before. I unlike so many others like his reworking of Lets Spend The Night Together it fits this album. There are so many classic Bowie tracks here all of Side 1 (1-5) and Time ,The Jean Genie & Lady Grinning Soul make this a Classic must have album.
[First added to this chart: 08/25/2013]
Year of Release:
1973
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Rank Score:
5,349
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Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10
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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s composition
| Year | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 8 | 8% | |
| 1971 | 10 | 10% | |
| 1972 | 11 | 11% | |
| 1973 | 14 | 14% | |
| 1974 | 11 | 11% | |
| 1975 | 9 | 9% | |
| 1976 | 10 | 10% | |
| 1977 | 11 | 11% | |
| 1978 | 7 | 7% | |
| 1979 | 9 | 9% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| David Bowie | 9 | 9% | |
| Elton John | 7 | 7% | |
| Neil Young | 5 | 5% | |
| Joni Mitchell | 5 | 5% | |
| The Rolling Stones | 5 | 5% | |
| Stevie Wonder | 5 | 5% | |
| T. Rex | 5 | 5% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
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Up 10 from 92nd to 82nd |
| Biggest fallers |
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Down 1 from 82nd to 83rd |
Down 1 from 83rd to 84th |
Down 1 from 84th to 85th |
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Other decade charts by Tamthebam
| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 90 Music Albums of the 2020s | Tamthebam | 2020s decade chart | 2026 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 2010s | Tamthebam | 2010s decade chart | 2026 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 2000s | Tamthebam | 2000s decade chart | 2026 | |
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s ratings
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Showing latest 3 ratings for this chart. | Show all 34 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 12/15/2025 11:14 | Exist-en-ciel | 165 | 97/100 |
| ! | 03/14/2025 12:20 |  SomethingSpecial | 1,088 | 86/100 |
| ! | 02/21/2025 22:19 | mrmcrook | 909 | 92/100 |
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This chart is rated in the top 10% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 87.9/100, a mean average of 88.5/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 88.5/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 7.7.
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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s forum mentions
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From 
BestEverAlbums 08/22/2024 08:00 in Chart of the day (#4684): By Tamthebam
BestEverAlbums 08/22/2024 08:00 in Chart of the day (#4684): By Tamthebam“Today's chart of the day Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s by Tamthebam () 1. Songs In The Key Of Life by Stevie Wonder (1976) 2. Hejira by Joni Mitchell (1976) 3. "Heroes" by David Bowie (1977) 4. Simple Dreams by Linda Ronstadt (1977) 5. Rickie Lee Jones by Rickie Lee Jones (1979) 6. Electric…”
(4 mentions across Chart of the Day topics)View latest topic →
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s comments
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From
Moondance 10/10/2022 02:06 | #290321
We both have the 70's as our favourite decade and the number of exceptional albums to choose from is simply outrageous. That said, we have 25 albums in common ~ interestingly your #100: Dylan's Blood On The Tracks is my #1 ~ and that, better than anything, explains where our personal musical journey takes a different route. I was surprised to see some classic, in my mind, 70's UK artists missing ~ Jethro Tull, Cat Stevens, The Who, The Clash (to name but a few). Overall a nice chart that I enjoyed wandering through. (Edited)
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From
CharlieBarley 01/04/2017 20:01 | #181739
CharlieBarley 01/04/2017 20:01 | #181739
Excellent 70s chart. 39 albums in common. The 70s are also my favourite decade for music even though I was only born in the mid-70s. Its partly nostalgia for early childhood and also because many of my favourite artists were big in the 70s. Great chart man!
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From
buzzdainer TOP 100 COMMENTER 07/13/2016 17:42 | #171235
buzzdainer TOP 100 COMMENTER 07/13/2016 17:42 | #171235
Outstanding! Pretty tough to disagree with Songs in the Key of Life in the #1 slot--it is in many ways a perfect representation of the seventies. Also glad to see Closing Time on here, as well as Hejira in your top ten. Great work!
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From
Ashmark 02/17/2018 00:04 | #208496
This is a phenomenal list. Almost every album is deep on substance. Then there are some that are just great to listen to. Their substance comes from just how damn great they sound and make you feel (Rumours for example). Awesome.
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From
hahol 11/06/2014 21:22 | #126364
Stevie Wonder ruled in the mid-70s. I think you have good taste and a stunning collection from the 50's to the 80's! Don't agree with everything, but really enjoy going through your eclectic collection! Your father was wise man!
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