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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5. (=)

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

 David Bowie

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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:

2,935 charts

Rank Score:

49,829

Rank in 1972:

1

Rank in 1970s:

3

Overall Rank:

9

Average Rating:

 90 (3,458 votes)

Comments:

299

7. (=)

Close To The Edge 

 Yes

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I keep listening to this album and I am merely more and more blown away by it. Something new to pick up on each spin, Yes’s masterpiece shows one of prog’s most legendary groups (at the peak of their most hallowed lineup) firing on all of the cylinders that made them great. Epics- check. Gorgeous, cathartic, grandiose melodies- check. Time enough for a few groovy ass plunky-funk riffs… check check check.

This is a crown jewel if there ever were one. [First added to this chart: 07/16/2015]

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

1,138 charts

Rank Score:

14,522

Rank in 1972:

4

Rank in 1970s:

24

Overall Rank:

90

Average Rating:

 85 (1,425 votes)

Comments:

115

8. (=)

Foxtrot 

 Genesis

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One of my favorite albums of all time. Foxtrot helped ease me into classic prog and some tricky odd-time counting. It remains a consistent listen, never too far out of reach as I know I’m going to want to hear it soon.

The ending of Supper’s Ready is legitimately one of music’s finest moments. They shoot for the heavens and they stick the landing. [First added to this chart: 07/16/2015]

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

602 charts

Rank Score:

5,946

Rank in 1972:

9

Rank in 1970s:

75

Overall Rank:

304

Average Rating:

 82 (822 votes)

Comments:

62

15. (=)

Machine Head 

 Deep Purple

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Machine Head was apart of the earliest batch of records I ever listened to. I still love it to this day. 7 mammoth rock tracks without a dud among them. Highway Star is one of the genre’s most ferocious and fun openers. [First added to this chart: 07/16/2015]

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

779 charts

Rank Score:

7,045

Rank in 1972:

7

Rank in 1970s:

59

Overall Rank:

246

Average Rating:

 83 (991 votes)

Comments:

55

30. (=)

Talking Book 

 Stevie Wonder

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One of his greatest works and it’s not just Superstition I’m talking about. The indefinably joyous You Are The Sunshine Of My Life, its polygamous, pessimistic counterpoint Maybe Your Baby, and the most underrated political rant in pop music, Big Brother flood this album with Wonder's best work by far up to that point in his young yet prolific career. [First added to this chart: 04/20/2020]

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

513 charts

Rank Score:

2,900

Rank in 1972:

16

Rank in 1970s:

143

Overall Rank:

613

Average Rating:

 81 (656 votes)

Comments:

23

35. (=)

The Grand Wazoo 

 The Mothers

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Where the fuck has THIS been all my Zappa loving life? In a catalog so deep, the riches are plenty. This maybe the most impressive Zappa record compositionally. [First added to this chart: 04/08/2021]

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

112 charts

Rank Score:

422

Rank in 1972:

60

Rank in 1970s:

615

Overall Rank:

3,478

Average Rating:

 79 (158 votes)

Comments:

7

43. (=)

Harvest 

 Neil Young

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A very favorite of mine in the singer/songwriter canon and Neil Young at his most convincing and consistent. A Man Needs a Maid and the Needle and the Damage Done are some of the most moving tracks I've ever heard. [First added to this chart: 07/16/2015]

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

1,326 charts

Rank Score:

13,171

Rank in 1972:

5

Rank in 1970s:

29

Overall Rank:

106

Average Rating:

 85 (1,672 votes)

Comments:

95

48. (=)

The Unnamables 

 Univeria Zekt

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[First added to this chart: 04/24/2024]

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

4 charts

Rank Score:

15

Rank in 1972:

441

Rank in 1970s:

4,350

Overall Rank:

43,794

Average Rating:

 74 (1 vote)

Comments:

0

49. (=)

Transformer 

 Lou Reed

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[First added to this chart: 02/14/2021]

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

1,211 charts

Rank Score:

11,024

Rank in 1972:

6

Rank in 1970s:

35

Overall Rank:

138

Average Rating:

 83 (1,511 votes)

Comments:

89

58. (=)

Paul Simon 

 Paul Simon

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It was evident early on he didn't *need* much help from anyone writing and performance wise. His writing style is quirky and varied and it works well including his dabbles into other genres. [First added to this chart: 04/24/2020]

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

320 charts

Rank Score:

1,692

Rank in 1972:

24

Rank in 1970s:

222

Overall Rank:

1,045

Average Rating:

 78 (343 votes)

Comments:

21

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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	%
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	%
	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	1,094	86/100
90/100	08/01/2020 21:31	MasterOfPuppets	175	91/100
90/100	02/28/2020 03:16	Tamthebam	558	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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