Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s
by Romanelli

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Produced by Pink Floyd. One of my favorite front to back listens ever. To me, this album puts all progressive rock records to shame. Shine On You Crazy Diamond is a monster of a track, and throughout the album David Gilmour proves more than ever that you don't have to play a million notes on the guitar to be brilliant. The title track is one of the most beautiful songs ever, and the overall mood of the album is as strong as anything you'll ever hear. This and Dark Side alternate as my Floyd favorites. I love this album. [First added to this chart: 12/04/2011]
Year of Release:
1975
Appears in:
Rank Score:
45,334
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Average Rating:
Comments:
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1975-ASYLUM
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]
Year of Release:
1975
Appears in:
Rank Score:
982
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Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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Produced by Jimmy Page. Amazing that half of the songs on Physical Graffiti were actually outtakes from previous albums. But it's the stuff that was recorded specifically for this that make it an absolute legend. This would be a top album of all time just for "Kashmir" alone...maybe the best rock song ever recorded. "Trampled Underfoot", "Houses Of The Holy", "In My Time Of Dying"...this is an amazing double album that shows how really exceptional Zeppelin was. Amazing music from an amazing band at their peak. [First added to this chart: 12/05/2011]
Year of Release:
1975
Appears in:
Rank Score:
12,348
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Buy album United States
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1975-REPRISE
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]
Year of Release:
1975
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,576
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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[First added to this chart: 12/04/2011]
Year of Release:
1975
Appears in:
Rank Score:
15,593
Rank in 1975:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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1975 – COLUMBIA
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]
Year of Release:
1975
Appears in:
Rank Score:
21,131
Rank in 1975:
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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[First added to this chart: 04/11/2015]
Year of Release:
1975
Appears in:
Rank Score:
128
Rank in 1975:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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1975-A&M
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]
Year of Release:
1975
Appears in:
Rank Score:
104
Rank in 1975:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album United States
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[First added to this chart: 12/08/2011]
Year of Release:
1975
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,261
Rank in 1975:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 9. Page 1 of 1

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s composition

Year Albums %


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%
Country Albums %


United Kingdom 44 44%
United States 43 43%
Mixed Nationality 6 6%
Canada 6 6%
Jamaica 1 1%
Live? Albums %
No 92 92%
Yes 8 8%

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s chart changes

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TitleSourceTypePublishedCountry
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s StefanR101970s decade chart2020
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970sJeffN9991970s decade chart2021
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s jhuik1970s decade chart2025
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s MetalMan671970s decade chart2025
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970sjon54171970s decade chart2019
Top 1970s Classic Rock Albumsnas062080Custom chart2013
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s 2nd-Impressions1970s decade chart2020
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970sRivera1970s decade chart2025
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970sDakatalbum1970s decade chart2019Unknown
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970smatterhornrider1970s decade chart2025Unknown

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s ratings

Average Rating: 
89/100 (from 67 votes)
  Ratings distributionRatings distribution Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AV
where:
av = trimmed mean average rating an item has currently received.
n = number of ratings an item has currently received.
m = minimum number of ratings required for an item to appear in a 'top-rated' chart (currently 10).
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04/24/2024 01:21 HoldenM  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 47995/100
  
90/100
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04/23/2024 09:39 Moondance  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 47685/100
  
90/100
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09/20/2023 19:55 MetalMan67  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 290/100
  
75/100
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01/23/2022 16:11 IlMala  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 17895/100
  
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04/04/2021 11:42 MasterOfPuppets  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 17491/100

Rating metrics: Outliers can be removed when calculating a mean average to dampen the effects of ratings outside the normal distribution. This figure is provided as the trimmed mean. A high standard deviation can be legitimate, but can sometimes indicate 'gaming' is occurring. Consider a simplified example* of an item receiving ratings of 100, 50, & 0. The mean average rating would be 50. However, ratings of 55, 50 & 45 could also result in the same average. The second average might be more trusted because there is more consensus around a particular rating (a lower deviation).
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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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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s comments

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Rating:  
100/100
From 04/24/2024 01:21
Hell yeah.
#303154 | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 04/23/2024 09:39
Very solid chart. Would have liked to have seen a bit more international diversity.
#303138 | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 09/20/2023 19:56
Very well done. I enjoyed reading the commentary and your thoughts about certain albums.
#299186 | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 10/06/2020 10:16
Sick top 10!
#259050 | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
85/100
From 04/24/2018 22:26
Interesting chart with lot of personality.
#213571 | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | -1 votes (0 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 04/24/2018 12:59
For some reason, this chart just makes me feel good. A lot of albums on here just bring back a lot of memories!
#213545 | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | -1 votes (0 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
Rating:  
95/100
From 04/24/2018 08:18
Very nice chart be sure to fix the comments jazz and moondance they seem to fit the wrong album
#213537 | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (1 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
Rating:  
80/100
From 04/24/2018 08:14
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??
#213536 | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | -1 votes (0 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 08/20/2017 23:32
Isn't it weird how you never see Allman Brothers' Brothers and Sisters and Laid Back ever?
#196430 | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | -1 votes (0 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
Rating:  
95/100
From 02/02/2017 03:58
36 in common.
#184745 | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | -1 votes (0 helpful | 1 unhelpful)

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