Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s
by AAL2014

I view the 1970's as popular music's finest decade. There are great acts that spawned in the 60's, 80's, 90's, and 00's of course, but pound for pound, year after year, album after album, looking at the output from the 1970's makes me feel nostalgic even though I wasn't around.

• Chart updated: 04/14/2025 04:45
• (Created: 07/15/2015 19:04).
• Chart size: 100 albums.

There are 4 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s has an average rating of 89 out of 100 (from 6 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 David Bowie. (Remove this filter)

Sort by

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

5. (=)

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

 David Bowie

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• #Sponsored

If we’re talking about the straight up best records from start to finish of all time, make room for this album towards the top of the list.

Ziggy Stardust is an amazing set of songs telling a story I feel is more successful at being succinct than many of the decade’s classic double concept records, clocking in at just under 39 minutes.

Bowie’s performances here are top notch and along with the genius aid of Mick Ronson adding in his sharp riffs and orchestral brilliance, they take these songs into another dimension.

This album demonstrates a tremendous balance between grace and power, love and fear, self-empowerment and self-loathing. It’s Ziggy Stardust, one of this life’s most unconquerable and incomparable albums. [First added to this chart: 07/16/2015]

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

3,012 charts

Rank Score:

44,451

Rank in 1972:

1

Rank in 1970s:

3

Overall Rank:

7

Average Rating:

 90 (3,535 votes)

Comments:

304

13. (=)

Hunky Dory 

 David Bowie

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• #Sponsored

My love for this album has travelled back with me for some time now. I loved it before my first listen was anywhere near over, I knew this was going to be a special record for me. Turns out it’s not the only Bowie record I feel that way about, but Hunky Dory has its very own set of magic traits. Here we see Bowie conquering songwriting in a few realms. Folk, baroque, rock, and early glam are all taken to the stratosphere on this record. [First added to this chart: 07/16/2015]

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

1,855 charts

Rank Score:

19,632

Rank in 1971:

3

Rank in 1970s:

14

Overall Rank:

46

Average Rating:

 87 (2,442 votes)

Comments:

159

18. (=)

Station To Station 

 David Bowie

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• #Sponsored

Station to Station is relatively new to this list, especially with its placement so high. But god damn, what an album and what a terrific moment in Bowie’s starry sky of tremendousness. These days, I can listen to this album over and over again which wasn’t the case on my first couple run throughs with it. Bowie’s band is fiery and tight, and the man himself gives vocal performances as good as any in his catalog. A triumphant, brilliant, and endlessly fun record that will likely be moving up this chart even more as time goes by. [First added to this chart: 07/05/2021]

Year of Release:

1976

Appears in:

1,097 charts

Rank Score:

12,169

Rank in 1976:

2

Rank in 1970s:

30

Overall Rank:

106

Average Rating:

 85 (1,547 votes)

Comments:

97

57. (56) 1

Low 

 David Bowie

Buy album

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• #Sponsored

See "Heroes" but burnt orange vibe. [First added to this chart: 04/24/2020]

Year of Release:

1977

Appears in:

1,539 charts

Rank Score:

17,281

Rank in 1977:

4

Rank in 1970s:

18

Overall Rank:

62

Average Rating:

 86 (2,079 votes)

Comments:

168

Total albums: 4. 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	9	9%
1971	18	18%
1972	15	15%
1973	11	11%
1974	10	10%
1975	13	13%
1976	7	7%
1977	10	10%
1978	4	4%
1979	3	3%

Artist	Albums	%
David Bowie	4	4%
Joni Mitchell	4	4%
Stevie Wonder	3	3%
Pink Floyd	3	3%
Black Sabbath	3	3%
Yes	3	3%
The Who	3	3%
Show all

Country	Albums	%
	43	43%
	38	38%
	7	7%
	5	5%
	3	3%
	1	1%
	1	1%
Show all

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s chart changes

Biggest climbers
Up 3 from 45th to 42nd Harvest by Neil Young
Up 3 from 36th to 33rd Ram by Paul & Linda McCartney
Up 2 from 61st to 59th Exodus by Bob Marley & The Wailers

Biggest fallers
Down 4 from 37th to 41st Physical Graffiti by Led Zeppelin
Down 3 from 41st to 44th Animals by Pink Floyd
Down 3 from 42nd to 45th John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band by John Lennon

New entries
Get Up With It by Miles Davis

Leavers
Brain Salad Surgery by Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s similar charts

Title	Source	Type	Published	Country
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s	0129114	1970s decade chart	2021
Top 99 Music Albums of the 1970s	Tidus1997	1970s decade chart	2024
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s	flyingcitrus	1970s decade chart	2018
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s	Madrocker	1970s decade chart	2019
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s	Space-Dementia	1970s decade chart	2019
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s	juanr1096	1970s decade chart	2025
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s	Dakatalbum	1970s decade chart	2019
Top 99 Music Albums of the 1970s	TheNowhereGuy	1970s decade chart	2020
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s	Glitterboiii	1970s decade chart	2024
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 AAL2014

Title	Source	Type	Published	Country
Top 100 Music Albums of the 2020s	AAL2014	2020s decade chart	2025
Top 100 Music Albums of the 2010s	AAL2014	2010s decade chart	2025
Top 100 Music Albums of the 2000s	AAL2014	2000s decade chart	2025
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990s	AAL2014	1990s decade chart	2025
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s	AAL2014	1980s decade chart	2025
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s	AAL2014	1970s decade chart	2025
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1960s	AAL2014	1960s decade chart	2025
Top 61 Music Albums of the 1950s	AAL2014	1950s decade chart	2025

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s ratings

Showing latest 5 ratings for this chart. | Show all 6 ratings for this chart.

Sort ratings

• Rating
• Date updated
• Member

Rating	Date updated	Member	Chart ratings	Avg. chart rating
95/100	06/12/2025 05:30	Johnnyo	2,524	80/100
95/100	04/21/2022 13:11	Larcx13	1,141	86/100
90/100	08/01/2020 21:31	MasterOfPuppets	174	91/100
90/100	02/28/2020 03:16	Tamthebam	631	85/100
95/100	04/24/2018 03:06	jdenny2018	102	91/100

• 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 comments

Showing all 4 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:  

95/100

From Johnnyo 06/12/2025 05:31

Finest decade indeed and a damn fine representation you have of the decade here. One of the best 70’s charts on the site. Great job

#309472 | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

95/100

From jdenny2018 04/24/2018 05:51

AAL, Blood on the tracks, Made in japan, and most of your 41-50 were the new listens. Thanks for the welcome, still getting used to posting in forums and what not

#213530 | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

From AAL2014 04/24/2018 05:23

jdenny, thanks for your comments and ratings on these charts. I actually haven't touched this chart in over a year, maybe longer. Although the albums closer to the top would probably remain the same or close to it, there's a lot of work to be done yet with this chart.

Inner Mounting Flame will definitely be here when I get around to updating it. I had yet to even listen to it when I compiled this chart initially.

May I ask what future listens you took from this?

Welcome to the site!

#213529 | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

95/100

From jdenny2018 04/24/2018 03:07

Solid list. Definitely gave me a couple ideas for future listens. Definitely would've chosen Inner mounting flame over birds of fire

#213526 | 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!