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.

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1. (=)

Songs In The Key Of Life 

 Stevie Wonder

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The greatest album in my collection, the greatest album of the 70’s, the greatest record of all time.

I love Songs in the Key of Life. I love its songs, its production, its album cover. I love As and Another Star, Sir Duke and I Wish, Saturn and Ebony Eyes. I love the timeless vision and Stevie’s flawless execution of it for this project.

But perhaps above all, I love that it reminds me to love. It reminds me that while there’s evil in this world and it can rear it’s ugly head far too often, we have love to combat it. It’s a powerful thing, love. And it needs love too. It needs us to remember that real strength is real love. And if it takes an incredible arrangement and memorable melody to drive that point home, I’m here for the dozens of them that this album has to offer.

? [First added to this chart: 07/16/2015]

Year of Release:

1976

Appears in:

1,297 charts

Rank Score:

15,833

Rank in 1976:

1

Rank in 1970s:

21

Overall Rank:

75

Average Rating:

 85 (1,364 votes)

Comments:

90

18. (=)

Station To Station 

 David Bowie

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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:

12,161

Rank in 1976:

2

Rank in 1970s:

30

Overall Rank:

106

Average Rating:

 85 (1,547 votes)

Comments:

97

81. (80) 1

Romantic Warrior 

 Return To Forever

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The playing on this album is absolutely ridiculous and too good to ignore. Romantic Warrior has fusion for brains but prog for biceps. [First added to this chart: 03/14/2021]

Year of Release:

1976

Appears in:

91 charts

Rank Score:

407

Rank in 1976:

60

Rank in 1970s:

627

Overall Rank:

3,592

Average Rating:

 74 (112 votes)

Comments:

4

83. (82) 1

The Modern Lovers 

 The Modern Lovers

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[First added to this chart: 03/01/2023]

Year of Release:

1976

Appears in:

536 charts

Rank Score:

3,674

Rank in 1976:

9

Rank in 1970s:

107

Overall Rank:

472

Average Rating:

 82 (606 votes)

Comments:

34

91. (90) 1

Transformation (The Speed Of Love) 

 David Sancious & Tone

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[First added to this chart: 01/23/2023]

Year of Release:

1976

Appears in:

5 charts

Rank Score:

6

Rank in 1976:

619

Rank in 1970s:

6,236

Overall Rank:

69,003

Average Rating:

 74 (1 vote)

Comments:

0

96. (95) 1

Hejira 

 Joni Mitchell

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Joni enlists some of the finest musicians in the business to produce some of the finest music of her career. Auditory bliss. [First added to this chart: 04/24/2020]

Year of Release:

1976

Appears in:

404 charts

Rank Score:

3,863

Rank in 1976:

7

Rank in 1970s:

103

Overall Rank:

449

Average Rating:

 81 (456 votes)

Comments:

26

100. (=)

Boston 

 Boston

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Boston’s debut secures a spot on this list for how many memorable and anthemic moments there are. I can’t imagine classic rock radio without hearing one of this album’s six or so smash hits every 20 minutes. [First added to this chart: 06/27/2020]

Year of Release:

1976

Appears in:

754 charts

Rank Score:

5,770

Rank in 1976:

5

Rank in 1970s:

71

Overall Rank:

292

Average Rating:

 78 (948 votes)

Comments:

86

Total albums: 7. Page 1 of 1

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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%
Pink Floyd	3	3%
Black Sabbath	3	3%
Yes	3	3%
The Who	3	3%
Genesis	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

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s ratings

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

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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

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s comments

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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)

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