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.

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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:
Rank Score:
15,687
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Buy album United States
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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:
Rank Score:
3,724
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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:
Rank Score:
6,775
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Buy album United States
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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:
Rank Score:
461
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Buy album United States
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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:
Rank Score:
262
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Buy album United States
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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:
Rank Score:
5,132
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Buy album United States
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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:
Rank Score:
34,396
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Buy album United States
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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:
Rank Score:
5,976
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Buy album United States
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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:
Rank Score:
8,005
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Buy album United States
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One of the best albums of all time & Neil Young's best. Southern Man, After the Gold Rush, Don't Let It Bring You Down are some of his best songs. Then there are the ballads Birds & Only Love Can Break Your Heart and the brilliant When You Dance.......... oh 'Till the Morning Comes .....ah. [First added to this chart: 08/25/2013]
Year of Release:
1970
Appears in:
Rank Score:
16,353
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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 10 10%
1973 14 14%
1974 10 10%
1975 8 8%
1976 8 8%
1977 9 9%
1978 7 7%
1979 11 11%
Country Albums %


United Kingdom 51 51%
United States 38 38%
Canada 8 8%
Mixed Nationality 3 3%
Compilation? Albums %
No 99 99%
Yes 1 1%
Live? Albums %
No 98 98%
Yes 2 2%

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s chart changes

Biggest climbers
Climber Up 6 from 78th to 72nd
Surrender
by Diana Ross
Climber Up 4 from 54th to 50th
Stevie Wonder's Journey Through "The Secret Life Of Plants"
by Stevie Wonder
Climber Up 3 from 64th to 61st
Let It Be
by The Beatles
Biggest fallers
Faller Down 7 from 48th to 55th
Blue
by Joni Mitchell
Faller Down 2 from 45th to 47th
Show Some Emotion
by Joan Armatrading
Faller Down 2 from 60th to 62nd
Wish You Were Here
by Pink Floyd

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s ratings

Average Rating: 
88/100 (from 31 votes)
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07/03/2023 17:29 dukeboxkool  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 175/100
  
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10/10/2022 01:49 Moondance  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 45084/100
  
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10/10/2022 00:19 Rm12398  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 9889/100
  
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10/09/2022 10:27 Johnnyo  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 2,00579/100

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This chart is rated in the top 7% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 88.3/100, a mean average of 89.0/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 89.0/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 7.9.

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s comments

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Rating:  
75/100
From 07/03/2023 17:30
Overall, this is a very good chart.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
80/100
From 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.
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Rating:  
95/100
From 10/10/2022 00:19
Almost a third of the chart in common. Very good music taste in my opinion! Great list!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
95/100
From 10/09/2022 10:28
One of the best ‘70’s charts I’ve come across. Outstanding
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
95/100
From 12/14/2020 16:42
simply a great list
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
85/100
From 07/20/2020 21:18
could not agree with you more about the 70's
No Frank Zappa?
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
80/100
From 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.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
85/100
From 03/13/2018 10:29
lovely!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 03/13/2018 08:02
very fine stuff would love to see some descriptions.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 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.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

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