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: 10/30/2025 09:45
• (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 33 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.

• Summary
• Composition
• Ratings
• Favourites
• Comments
• Your feedback

View the complete list of 57,000 charts on BestEverAlbums.com from The Charts page.

This chart is currently filtered to only show albums from 1977. (Remove this filter)

Sort by

• Overall Rank
• Num. Charts
• Avg. Rating
• Num. Ratings
• Release Date
• Title
• Artist
• Date Added

3. (=)

"Heroes" 

 David Bowie

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• #Sponsored

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:

876 charts

Rank Score:

6,197

Rank in 1977:

9

Rank in 1970s:

67

Overall Rank:

271

Average Rating:

 83 (1,478 votes)

Comments:

80

5. (=)

Rumours 

 Fleetwood Mac

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• #Sponsored

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:

2,299 charts

Rank Score:

31,061

Rank in 1977:

1

Rank in 1970s:

6

Overall Rank:

21

Average Rating:

 87 (2,634 votes)

Comments:

187

7. (=)

Simple Dreams 

 Linda Ronstadt

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• #Sponsored

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:

900

Overall Rank:

5,553

Average Rating:

 73 (79 votes)

Comments:

4

25. (=)

Low 

 David Bowie

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• #Sponsored

An amazing album so far ahead of its time. The instrumentals on Side 1 which open & close Side 1 are brilliant and there is Sound & Vision & Be My Wife I don't think Side 2 on low is as good as "side 2" on heroes and that pulls the album below Heroes. [First added to this chart: 09/26/2013]

Year of Release:

1977

Appears in:

1,538 charts

Rank Score:

17,236

Rank in 1977:

4

Rank in 1970s:

18

Overall Rank:

62

Average Rating:

 86 (2,078 votes)

Comments:

168

28. (29) 1

Baby It's Me 

 Diana Ross

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• #Sponsored

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]

Year of Release:

1977

Appears in:

11 charts

Rank Score:

51

Rank in 1977:

231

Rank in 1970s:

2,514

Overall Rank:

20,177

Average Rating:

 71 (25 votes)

Comments:

1

29. (28) 1

Animals 

 Pink Floyd

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• #Sponsored

Pigs, Dogs, Sheep & more pigs ........... a brilliant album especially the track Dogs this was and is now my 2nd favourite Floyd album it hasn't aged as much as say some of their early albums from the sixties. It seamlessly runs one track into another and like The Wall and Dark Side of the Moon is best listened to as a whole. [First added to this chart: 08/25/2013]

Year of Release:

1977

Appears in:

1,755 charts

Rank Score:

22,799

Rank in 1977:

2

Rank in 1970s:

8

Overall Rank:

35

Average Rating:

 88 (2,792 votes)

Comments:

202

39. (=)

Show Some Emotion 

 Joan Armatrading

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• #Sponsored

The 4th Joan Armatrading album is a little more upbeat than the self titled "Joan Armatrading" album that preceded it. It doesn't quite hit the heights that album did but is a good album none the less. Side 1 is brilliant (1-5) especially Woncha Come On Home, & Never Is Too Late. Side 2 is not as good but contains the classic Willow a concert staple, I also love the song Opportunity a tale of a robbery gone wrong. [First added to this chart: 09/26/2013]

Year of Release:

1977

Appears in:

48 charts

Rank Score:

155

Rank in 1977:

112

Rank in 1970s:

1,217

Overall Rank:

8,015

Average Rating:

 75 (55 votes)

Comments:

2

40. (=)

Foot Loose & Fancy Free 

 Rod Stewart

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• #Sponsored

I've grown to love this album above all the other Rod Stewart albums. Every Picture & Never a Dull Moment are also right up there but somehow this album just tops everything he has ever done. Hot Legs & You're Insane start the album at an amazing pace then the first ballad You're In My Heart slows it down only for it to pick up again and then slows right down for the last three tracks every one of which is 90/100.His cover of You Keep Me Hangin' On at 8 mins long takes the song somewhere else one of the best Motown covers I've heard and there are a lot. [First added to this chart: 09/26/2013]

Year of Release:

1977

Appears in:

58 charts

Rank Score:

130

Rank in 1977:

129

Rank in 1970s:

1,374

Overall Rank:

9,282

Average Rating:

 70 (88 votes)

Comments:

4

62. (=)

Don Juan's Reckless Daughter 

 Joni Mitchell

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• #Sponsored

[First added to this chart: 09/27/2025]

Year of Release:

1977

Appears in:

99 charts

Rank Score:

482

Rank in 1977:

54

Rank in 1970s:

552

Overall Rank:

3,109

Average Rating:

 76 (140 votes)

Comments:

11

97. (=)

All 'N All 

 Earth, Wind & Fire

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• #Sponsored

[First added to this chart: 08/25/2013]

Year of Release:

1977

Appears in:

116 charts

Rank Score:

427

Rank in 1977:

58

Rank in 1970s:

608

Overall Rank:

3,461

Average Rating:

 75 (96 votes)

Comments:

2

Total albums: 10. Page 1 of 1

Don't agree with this chart? Create your own from the My Charts page!

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%
Joni Mitchell	5	5%
The Rolling Stones	5	5%
Stevie Wonder	5	5%
Pink Floyd	5	5%
T. Rex	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

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s similar charts

Title	Source	Type	Published	Country
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s	2nd-Impressions	1970s decade chart	2020
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s	tim0505	1970s decade chart	2025
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s	Pastiche	1970s decade chart	2025
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s	Nowhereman1965	1970s decade chart	2018
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s	henriknaess	1970s decade chart	2018
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s	mjbreuer	1970s decade chart	2016
Top 99 Music Albums of the 1970s	elton229	1970s decade chart	2012
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s	22erik22	1970s decade chart	2018
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s	infinitejester	1970s decade chart	2020
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s	StefanR10	1970s decade chart	2020

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s similarity to your chart(s)

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 1990s	Tamthebam	1990s decade chart	2025
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s	Tamthebam	1980s decade chart	2025
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s	Tamthebam	1970s decade chart	2025
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1960s	Tamthebam	1960s decade chart	2025
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1950s	Tamthebam	1950s decade chart	2025

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s ratings

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

Sort ratings

• Rating
• Date updated
• Member

Rating	Date updated	Member	Chart ratings	Avg. chart rating
80/100	03/14/2025 12:20	SomethingSpecial	1,106	85/100
85/100	02/21/2025 22:19	mrmcrook	682	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.

• Related links:
• Top charts

Please log in or register if you want to be able to leave a rating

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s favourites

Showing all 1 members who have added this chart as a favourite

seb7

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s comments

Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 16 comments |
Most Helpful First | Newest First | Maximum Rated First | Longest Comments First
(Only showing comments with -2 votes or higher. You can alter this threshold from your profile page. Manage Profile)

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)

Please log in or register if you want to be able to add a comment

Your feedback for Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s

Let us know what you think of this chart by adding a comment or assigning a rating below!