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: 3 days ago
• (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 33 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.

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1. (=)

Hejira 

 Joni Mitchell

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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

Appears in:

404 charts

Rank Score:

3,857

Rank in 1976:

7

Rank in 1970s:

103

Overall Rank:

449

Average Rating:

 81 (457 votes)

Comments:

26

2. (=)

Rickie Lee Jones 

 Rickie Lee Jones

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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]

Year of Release:

1979

Appears in:

139 charts

Rank Score:

494

Rank in 1979:

56

Rank in 1970s:

549

Overall Rank:

3,057

Average Rating:

 74 (125 votes)

Comments:

7

3. (=)

"Heroes" 

 David Bowie

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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

Appears in:

878 charts

Rank Score:

6,208

Rank in 1977:

9

Rank in 1970s:

67

Overall Rank:

270

Average Rating:

 83 (1,479 votes)

Comments:

80

4. (=)

Songs In The Key Of Life 

 Stevie Wonder

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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

Appears in:

1,299 charts

Rank Score:

15,856

Rank in 1976:

1

Rank in 1970s:

21

Overall Rank:

74

Average Rating:

 85 (1,363 votes)

Comments:

90

5. (=)

Rumours 

 Fleetwood Mac

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Its now 45 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

Appears in:

2,301 charts

Rank Score:

31,090

Rank in 1977:

1

Rank in 1970s:

6

Overall Rank:

21

Average Rating:

 87 (2,635 votes)

Comments:

187

6. (=)

Electric Warrior 

 T. Rex

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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

Appears in:

763 charts

Rank Score:

4,828

Rank in 1971:

16

Rank in 1970s:

88

Overall Rank:

353

Average Rating:

 82 (839 votes)

Comments:

44

7. (=)

Simple Dreams 

 Linda Ronstadt

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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]

Year of Release:

1977

Appears in:

63 charts

Rank Score:

242

Rank in 1977:

81

Rank in 1970s:

904

Overall Rank:

5,560

Average Rating:

 73 (79 votes)

Comments:

4

8. (=)

The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars 

 David Bowie

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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

Appears in:

3,012 charts

Rank Score:

44,303

Rank in 1972:

1

Rank in 1970s:

3

Overall Rank:

7

Average Rating:

 90 (3,537 votes)

Comments:

304

9. (=)

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 

 Elton John

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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

Appears in:

990 charts

Rank Score:

7,464

Rank in 1973:

5

Rank in 1970s:

50

Overall Rank:

212

Average Rating:

 81 (1,154 votes)

Comments:

82

10. (11) 1

Aladdin Sane 

 David Bowie

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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

Appears in:

807 charts

Rank Score:

5,544

Rank in 1973:

8

Rank in 1970s:

76

Overall Rank:

311

Average Rating:

 82 (1,314 votes)

Comments:

82

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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	11	11%
1971	12	12%
1972	9	9%
1973	12	12%
1974	10	10%
1975	11	11%
1976	8	8%
1977	10	10%
1978	7	7%
1979	10	10%

Artist	Albums	%
David Bowie	10	10%
Elton John	7	7%
Stevie Wonder	5	5%
Pink Floyd	5	5%
T. Rex	5	5%
Joni Mitchell	5	5%
The Rolling Stones	5	5%
Show all

Country	Albums	%
	52	52%
	36	36%
	9	9%
	3	3%

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s chart changes

Biggest climbers
Up 1 from 29th to 28th Baby It's Me by Diana Ross
Up 1 from 11th to 10th Aladdin Sane by David Bowie

Biggest fallers
Down 1 from 10th to 11th Joan Armatrading by Joan Armatrading
Down 1 from 28th to 29th Animals by Pink Floyd

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s ratings

Showing latest 5 ratings for this chart. | Show all 33 ratings for this chart.

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Rating	Date updated	Member	Chart ratings	Avg. chart rating
80/100	03/14/2025 12:20	SomethingSpecial	1,108	85/100
85/100	02/21/2025 22:19	mrmcrook	681	92/100
85/100	11/23/2023 11:45	Larcx13	1,141	86/100
75/100	07/03/2023 17:29	dukeboxkool	2	73/100
80/100	10/10/2022 01:49	Moondance	476	85/100

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 9% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 88.0/100, a mean average of 88.6/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 88.6/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 7.8.

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s comments

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Rating:  

75/100

From dukeboxkool 07/03/2023 17:30

Overall, this is a very good chart.

#297928 | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

80/100

From Moondance 10/10/2022 02:06

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.

#290321 | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

95/100

From Rm12398 10/10/2022 00:19

Almost a third of the chart in common. Very good music taste in my opinion! Great list!

#290320 | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

95/100

From Johnnyo 10/09/2022 10:28

One of the best ‘70’s charts I’ve come across. Outstanding

#290310 | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

95/100

From seb7 12/14/2020 16:42

simply a great list

#262687 | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

85/100

From vancevisuals 07/20/2020 21:18

could not agree with you more about the 70's
No Frank Zappa?

#255886 | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

80/100

From Boltzmann 03/13/2018 21:04

Nice list, I like that you put “Heroes” above all other Bowie albums. That one seems to get a lot of hate lately.

#210851 | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

85/100

From SamNassiri98 03/13/2018 10:29

lovely!

#210807 | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

90/100

From Ulf 03/13/2018 08:02

very fine stuff would love to see some descriptions.

#210803 | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

90/100

From Ashmark 02/17/2018 00:04

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.

#208496 | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

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