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: 12/20/2025 18:15
- (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 register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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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
Appears in:
Rank Score:
490
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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:
15,635
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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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My favourite Blondie album bought it when I was 17 it is more punky/raw compared to Parallel Lines not as much "Pop" here. Harry's voice gets full reign on some of the tracks Detroit 442, Love At the Pier, I'm On E & I Didn't Have The Nerve.... being good examples. Denis & Touched By Your Presence Dear were the singles released but the album is full of wannabe singles. A great 70's album before they went mainstream.
[First added to this chart: 08/25/2013]
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
525
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It's like you walk into a bar and a guys playing the piano and singing. That's what this album is like, the opening 3 tracks are brilliant and you can't wait for more. Martha & Rosie are also strong as is Lonely & Grapefruit Moon. A late night listen with a glass of wine and Relax. Small Change & Heart of Saturday Night his nxt 2 albums are similar to this but not as strong.
[First added to this chart: 08/25/2013]
Year of Release:
1973
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,144
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Probably Stevie Wonder's most perfect record. Innervisions, is not my favourite Wonder LP, and you may not even think it's his best, but it is his one album that ticks all the boxes. It doesn't feel indulgent or overlong, there's no filler, no weak tracks or any missteps, it's simply Stevie Wonder firing on all cylinders, making a tight, cohesive and unforgettable LP. Great songs are, Living for the City, Higher Ground, He's Mistra Know It All and Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing - simply breathtaking
[First added to this chart: 08/25/2013]
Year of Release:
1973
Appears in:
Rank Score:
12,538
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The first of Stevie's albums under his 2nd Motown contract. His previous album Where I'm Coming From was the first time he had delivered an album to Motown already finished. This was the follow up. This album is much under rated and deserves to be up there with Innervisions and Songs In The Key.... better than Talking Book and Fullfillingness... its tracks are diverse and more experimental than anything before. The stand out tracks being the first 3 tracks, and Girl Blue, Keep On Running and Seems So Long.
[First added to this chart: 08/25/2013]
Year of Release:
1972
Appears in:
Rank Score:
608
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A great Stevie Wonder album contains Smile Please, Boogie On Reggae Woman, Creepin', It Ain't No Use, Please Don't Go and the fantastic You Haven't Done Nothin' which was a dig at Richard Nixon. I prefer this album to Talking Book but not as much as Music Of My Mind
[First added to this chart: 08/25/2013]
Year of Release:
1974
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Rank Score:
1,543
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First heard this album when I was 17 and I still listen to it today its just special a Richard Perry produced album it has become a favourite all 10 tracks are good and Diana Ross sounds so soulful. Released just as Disco was happening so it contains a couple of dance tracks but mostly its a soul/RnB masterpiece.
[First added to this chart: 08/25/2013]
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[First added to this chart: 08/25/2013]
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,135
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Total albums: 36. Page 1 of 4
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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s composition
| Year | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 10 | 10% | |
| 1971 | 11 | 11% | |
| 1972 | 11 | 11% | |
| 1973 | 12 | 12% | |
| 1974 | 10 | 10% | |
| 1975 | 11 | 11% | |
| 1976 | 9 | 9% | |
| 1977 | 10 | 10% | |
| 1978 | 6 | 6% | |
| 1979 | 10 | 10% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| David Bowie | 10 | 10% | |
| T. Rex | 6 | 6% | |
| Elton John | 6 | 6% | |
| Stevie Wonder | 5 | 5% | |
| Pink Floyd | 5 | 5% | |
| Joni Mitchell | 5 | 5% | |
| The Rolling Stones | 4 | 4% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 1 from 23rd to 22ndExile On Main St. by The Rolling Stones |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 1 from 22nd to 23rdMusic Of My Mind by Stevie Wonder |
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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 | 2025 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 2010s | Tamthebam | 2010s decade chart | 2025 | |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 2000s | Tamthebam | 2000s decade chart | 2025 | |
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s ratings
Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AVwhere:
av = trimmed mean average rating an item has currently received.
n = number of ratings an item has currently received.
m = minimum number of ratings required for an item to appear in a 'top-rated' chart (currently 10).
AV = the site mean average rating.
Showing latest 5 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 | 147 | 98/100 |
| ! | 03/14/2025 12:20 |  SomethingSpecial | 1,104 | 85/100 |
| ! | 02/21/2025 22:19 | mrmcrook | 764 | 92/100 |
| ! | 11/23/2023 11:45 |  Larcx13 | 1,145 | 86/100 |
| ! | 07/03/2023 17:29 | dukeboxkool | 2 | 73/100 |
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 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 comments
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From dukeboxkool 07/03/2023 17:30 | #297928
Overall, this is a very good chart.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Rm12398 10/10/2022 00:19 | #290320
Almost a third of the chart in common. Very good music taste in my opinion! Great list!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Johnnyo 10/09/2022 10:28 | #290310
One of the best ‘70’s charts I’ve come across. Outstanding
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
seb7 12/14/2020 16:42 | #262687
seb7 12/14/2020 16:42 | #262687
simply a great list
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From vancevisuals 07/20/2020 21:18 | #255886
could not agree with you more about the 70's
No Frank Zappa?
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
Boltzmann 03/13/2018 21:04 | #210851
Boltzmann 03/13/2018 21:04 | #210851
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)
From SamNassiri98 03/13/2018 10:29 | #210807
lovely!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Ulf 03/13/2018 08:02 | #210803
very fine stuff would love to see some descriptions.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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