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: 04/25/2024 01:15
• (Created: 07/15/2015 19:04).
• Chart size: 100 albums.

There are 3 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 5 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.

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9. (=)

Blue 

 Joni Mitchell

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The incredible Joni at her most mesmerizing. Worth listening to over and over and over. In the morning, at night, good times, bad times. It's a landmark and so gorgeous. Memorable melodies and laughably good lyrics scattered all over this album. [First added to this chart: 04/24/2020]

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

1,335 charts

Rank Score:

17,358

Rank in 1971:

6

Rank in 1970s:

20

Overall Rank:

70

Average Rating:

 85 (1,454 votes)

Comments:

109

12. (=)

Untitled (Led Zeppelin IV) 

 Led Zeppelin

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Returning to Zeppelin 4 is like coming home to an old friend. This is the band at their peak simply mastering what it means to be Led Zeppelin. The warmth and the depth and the earnestness of these recordings will outlast all of us. [First added to this chart: 07/16/2015]

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

3,071 charts

Rank Score:

44,213

Rank in 1971:

1

Rank in 1970s:

4

Overall Rank:

12

Average Rating:

 90 (3,909 votes)

Comments:

301

13. (=)

Hunky Dory 

 David Bowie

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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:

1,801 charts

Rank Score:

21,831

Rank in 1971:

3

Rank in 1970s:

13

Overall Rank:

46

Average Rating:

 87 (2,381 votes)

Comments:

159

20. (=)

What's Going On 

 Marvin Gaye

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Some stunningly gorgeous and classic R&B. The highest points of this record can go toe-to-toe with anything on this list, anything on any list. [First added to this chart: 07/16/2015]

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

1,571 charts

Rank Score:

19,778

Rank in 1971:

4

Rank in 1970s:

16

Overall Rank:

53

Average Rating:

 85 (1,891 votes)

Comments:

143

21. (=)

Who's Next 

 The Who

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I think this album is slightly overrated as far as full albums go, but the high points are astronomically good. Some of the best that rock music ever had to offer. [First added to this chart: 07/16/2015]

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

2,131 charts

Rank Score:

24,004

Rank in 1971:

2

Rank in 1970s:

10

Overall Rank:

40

Average Rating:

 86 (2,492 votes)

Comments:

200

25. (=)

Tago Mago 

 Can

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[First added to this chart: 06/06/2022]

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

905 charts

Rank Score:

10,295

Rank in 1971:

8

Rank in 1970s:

39

Overall Rank:

147

Average Rating:

 83 (1,020 votes)

Comments:

77

26. (=)

Maggot Brain 

 Funkadelic

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Such a cool album. Of course it starts with one of the finest guitar-centered recordings of all time (ever ever ever), but Maggot Brain’s mastery only begins there. Nearly every song from there on sinks it’s way into your psyche with huge attitude and hilariously good grooves. [First added to this chart: 07/16/2015]

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

626 charts

Rank Score:

4,262

Rank in 1971:

19

Rank in 1970s:

100

Overall Rank:

420

Average Rating:

 82 (686 votes)

Comments:

46

28. (=)

Sticky Fingers 

 The Rolling Stones

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My favorite Stones record. Sleazy rock at its earliest (therefore obviously best) and most tuneful. Can't You Hear Me Knocking is a stand out. [First added to this chart: 07/16/2015]

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

1,596 charts

Rank Score:

18,993

Rank in 1971:

5

Rank in 1970s:

19

Overall Rank:

60

Average Rating:

 86 (1,869 votes)

Comments:

134

36. (=)

Ram 

 Paul & Linda McCartney

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Ram is absolutely adorable to be frank with you. I’m floored by this album’s track list and its flow. McCartney’s genius as a player and producer may not have ever been more prevalent. [First added to this chart: 11/22/2021]

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

556 charts

Rank Score:

5,190

Rank in 1971:

16

Rank in 1970s:

87

Overall Rank:

345

Average Rating:

 82 (725 votes)

Comments:

60

46. (=)

Fragile 

 Yes

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It's always been a little jagged of a listen for me, but the full songs on this disc are from another world, another dimension. With a little more focus, this album could have been far and away THE Yes album. [First added to this chart: 07/16/2015]

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

781 charts

Rank Score:

6,952

Rank in 1971:

11

Rank in 1970s:

60

Overall Rank:

249

Average Rating:

 84 (1,065 votes)

Comments:

56

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Total albums: 18. Page 1 of 2

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s composition

Year	Albums	%
1970	10	10%
1971	18	18%
1972	14	14%
1973	11	11%
1974	8	8%
1975	13	13%
1976	8	8%
1977	10	10%
1978	5	5%
1979	3	3%

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

Country	Albums	%
	40	40%
	40	40%
	7	7%
	7	7%
	2	2%
	1	1%
	1	1%
Show all

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s chart changes

Biggest climbers
Up 3 from 69th to 66th The Inner Mounting Flame by The Mahavishnu Orchestra With John McLaughlin
Up 2 from 74th to 72nd Curtis by Curtis Mayfield
Up 2 from 73rd to 71st Fear Of Music by Talking Heads

Biggest fallers
Down 3 from 65th to 68th I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight by Richard & Linda Thompson
Down 3 from 70th to 73rd Aqualung by Jethro Tull
Down 3 from 71st to 74th Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! by Devo

New entries
Sextant by Herbie Hancock

Leavers
Sin After Sin by Judas Priest

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s ratings

Showing all 5 ratings for this chart.

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Rating	Date updated	Member	Chart ratings	Avg. chart rating
95/100	04/21/2022 13:11	Larcx13	1,092	86/100
90/100	08/01/2020 21:31	MasterOfPuppets	175	91/100
90/100	02/28/2020 03:16	Tamthebam	556	85/100
95/100	04/24/2018 03:06	jdenny2018	103	92/100
95/100	12/02/2017 22:14	panapsal	233	93/100

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s comments

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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

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!

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

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

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