Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s
by
Romanelli 
- Chart updated: 4 days ago
- (Created: 12/04/2011 20:35).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
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Produced By BILL SZYMCZYK
1. One Of These Nights
2. Too Many Hands
3. Hollywood Waltz
4. Journey Of The Sorcerer
5. Lyin’ Eyes
6. Take It To The Limit
7. Visions
8. After The Thrill Is Gone
9. I Wish You Peace
Everyone remembers Hotel California…but not a lot of people remember the album that came just before it. That album would be 1975’s One Of These Nights. It was hardly a flop: in fact, three of their biggest hits are here : Glenn Frey’s seemingly endlessly long and tedious “Lyin’ Eyes”, Randy Meisner’s lovely “Take It To The Limit”, and Don Henley’s almost disco title track. It’s no surprise that an Eagles album would have two or three big hits. The question about their recording was always this: what do they have surrounding them? The band made only one change in personnel before Hotel California: trading out Bernie Leadon for Joe Walsh, a move that took them in a much less country direction. The sound is similar to that of Hotel, but with a bit less edge to it. The question has always been, do you bother with their early albums, or do you just spring for Their Greatest Hits (1971-75)?
Well, the filler is the thing. And actually, of all of the pre-Hotel California albums, this may be the strongest. The most obvious high point is “After The Thrill Is Gone”, which has to rank as one of the band’s greatest songs. Meisner’s other contribution, “Too Many Hands”, is a fine song, and “Visions” is interesting as it’s the only time you’ll hear Don Felder sing lead on an Eagles album. Leadon’s two contributions, “I Wish You Peace” and the dull instrumental “Journey Of The Sorcerer” add nothing, and “Hollywood Waltz” is a throwaway. So, how does the album do? It’s not great, but the positives do outweigh the negatives, Especially if you’re a fan, One Of These Nights is a solid addition, and a good prequel to Hotel California. [First added to this chart: 12/22/2012]
Produced By KEITH OLSEN
1. Monday Morning
2. Warm Ways
3. Blue Letter
4. Rhiannon
5. Over My Head
6. Crystal
7. Say You Love Me
8. Landslide
9. World Turning
10. Sugar Daddy
11. I’m So Afraid
12. Jam #2
13. Say You Love Me (Single Version)
14. Rhiannon (Will You Ever Win) (Single Version)
15. Over My Head (Single Version)
16. Blue Letter (Single Version)
Rumours is always cited as the crowning achievement of Fleetwood Mac, but I have a different opinion. Two years prior to Rumours, the Mac was almost over. Coming off of what was probably their worst album (Heroes Are Hard To Find) and reeling from the departure of guitarist Bob Welch, they stumbled upon the unknown duo of Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, who had one so-so album under their belts. This album propelled them to the top and set the stage for the massive success of Rumours. But don’t kid yourself that this effort was any less great. It’s always lived in the shadow of Rumours, but the reality is that it’s just as good. I might even be a bit better. This set of songs is a band discovering that they had (at least for a couple of albums) the ability to create real magic together. The addition of Buckingham and Nicks lifted Christine McVie to another level as well, and the rhythm section of Mick Fleetwood and John McVie found new life with the suddenly improved songwriting. And while Rumours was recorded amid turmoil, Fleetwood Mac was made more in celebration.
“Monday Morning” is a powerhouse opener. After that, the hits start rolling in, mostly from McVie and Nicks…and even a cover (“Blue Letter”). “Rhiannon” solidified Nicks as a mystical character, and the one holdover from Buckingham Nicks (“Crystal”) was sung by Buckingham but written by Nicks. McVie’s “Say You Love Me” is augmented by Buckingham’s nice banjo work, and “Over My Head” contains some of Lindsey’s greatest and magical guitar work. “Landslide” is one of Nicks’ prettiest songs. And then Buckingham, who really carries it all, takes over at the end. “World Turning” is maybe the best Mac song ever, and his “I’m So Afraid” may be their most underrated tune. Fleetwood Mac is a rare album with zero filler and exceptional work from everyone involved…each member shines in their newfound good fortune. Rumours sold a gazillion more units, and had the bigger hits. But, song for song, Fleetwood Mac (or The White Album, as it was called) is just as good, just as strong, and just as worthy of celebration and praise. [First added to this chart: 06/10/2018]
Produced By BOB DYLAN
1. Tangled Up In Blue
2. Simple Twist Of Fate
3. You’re A Big Girl
4. Idiot Wind
5. You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go
6. Meet Me In The Morning
7. Lily, Rosemary And The Jack Of Hearts
8. If You See Her, Say Hello
9. Shelter From The Storm
10. Buckets Of Rain
Sooner or later, almost every artist runs out of ideas and sees their run of great albums come to an end. It happened to The Rolling Stones. It happened to every individual member of The Beatles. Paul Simon. Elvis. So when Bob Dylan appeared to be winding down in the late sixties and early seventies, it seemed to be just another one biting the dust. Pretty much everything had been going downhill since Blonde On Blonde…oh, hell, it had sure been a great run, though. And then, in 1975, Dylan blew everyone away with Blood On The Tracks. Not just a decent comeback album, Blood On The Tracks is a masterpiece that’s comparable to Dylan’s best work from the 60’s. This following a period that included by far his worst album (Self Portrait), and a decreasing grasp on the pulse of the youth of the world. Blood On The Tracks is more than just a return to form…it’s a full fledged stroke of musical mastery.
Opening with the stunning “Tangled Up In Blue” gives notice that Dylan is back, and with a vengeance. And there’s not a weak moment afterward. The songs here are simply gorgeous and perfect…not even the almost nine minutes of “Lily, Rosemary And The Jack Of Hearts” disappoints, although some give weak arguments for its failure. “Simple Twist Of Fate”, “If You See Her, Say Hello” and “”Shelter From The Storm” can stand with the best of his 60’s output. “Idiot Wind” is powerful and against the gentle grain of most of the rest of the album…and it works perfectly. And as a whole, this set of songs is a perfect listening experience. Dylan not only proves he wasn’t dead yet…he proves that he’s still a major force to be reckoned with. Blood On The Tracks is maybe the best comeback album ever made, and it stands as one of Dylan’s best works. How many artists can boast of that fourteen albums into their careers? This one can. [First added to this chart: 12/07/2011]
Produced By DAVID KERSHENBAUM & JOAN BAEZ
1. Diamonds & Rust
2. Fountain Of Sorrow
3. Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer
4. Children And All That Jazz
5. Simple Twist Of Fate
6. Blue Sky
7. Hello In There
8. Jesse
9. Winds Of The Old Days
10. Dida
11. I Dream Of Jeannie/Danny Boy
Joan Baez is blessed with a stunning voice, and she was one of the leading lights in the 60's folk scene. Here she comes back from a period of obscurity with what may be her best songwriting moment. The title track is a beautiful tune, and was even covered successfully by none other than Judas Priest. Her choice of covers is smart...Jackson Browne ("Fountain Of Sorrow"), John Prine ("Hello In There"), Janis Ian ("Jesse"), as well as songs from Stevie Wonder and The Allman Brothers Band. And when she slips into Dylan voice on "Simple Twist Of Fate"...priceless.
The lows are her own songs outside of the title track. "Dida" and "Children And All That Jazz" are unlistenable, even as good as her voice is. Otherwise, this would rate much higher...but it's hard to get past those terrible pieces of filler. Still, skip past them and you have a very interesting album with several high points. [First added to this chart: 12/08/2011]
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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s composition
| Year | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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|
| 1970 | 17 | 17% | |
| 1971 | 9 | 9% | |
| 1972 | 8 | 8% | |
| 1973 | 10 | 10% | |
| 1974 | 5 | 5% | |
| 1975 | 9 | 9% | |
| 1976 | 6 | 6% | |
| 1977 | 13 | 13% | |
| 1978 | 10 | 10% | |
| 1979 | 13 | 13% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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|
| Led Zeppelin | 5 | 5% | |
| Pink Floyd | 3 | 3% | |
| Eagles | 3 | 3% | |
| Electric Light Orchestra | 3 | 3% | |
| The Allman Brothers Band | 3 | 3% | |
| Queen | 3 | 3% | |
| Neil Young | 2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s chart changes
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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s ratings

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Showing latest 5 ratings for this chart. | Show all 67 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
100/100 | 04/24/2024 01:21 | ![]() | 95/100 | |
90/100 | 04/23/2024 09:39 | Moondance | ![]() | 85/100 |
90/100 | 09/20/2023 19:55 | ![]() | 90/100 | |
75/100 | 01/23/2022 16:11 | ![]() | 95/100 | |
95/100 | 04/04/2021 11:42 | MasterOfPuppets | ![]() | 91/100 |
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This chart is rated in the top 4% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 89.1/100, a mean average of 88.7/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 89.6/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 10.9.
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Hell yeah.
Very solid chart. Would have liked to have seen a bit more international diversity.
Very well done. I enjoyed reading the commentary and your thoughts about certain albums.
Sick top 10!
Interesting chart with lot of personality.
For some reason, this chart just makes me feel good. A lot of albums on here just bring back a lot of memories!
Very nice chart be sure to fix the comments jazz and moondance they seem to fit the wrong album
Too much emphasis on classic rock for a higher rating than 80 sorry. Not a single German album in a decade that was defining for the German music scene??
Isn't it weird how you never see Allman Brothers' Brothers and Sisters and Laid Back ever?
36 in common.
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