Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s
by mikepen 
This "best ever list" is just my favourites, based purely on the LPs/Cassettes (CDs weren't for a few years yet) that had the most the biggest influence on me at the time (and still). So generally those that I purchased or borrowed (friends and public library) and that have had the most plays at the time or over the past 40+ yrs and that I enjoyed then and still enjoy. So without any doubt this chart is not the BEST EVER albums of the 70's, not as critically judged by originality, contribution, melody and rhythmic content, artistic ability, technical or music advancements, etc etc. I thought that there are so very many outstanding albums produced in this decade that too many well deserving ones would be left out (where you've got everything going from Sex Pistols to Abba, Elton John & Rolling Stones, Jean Michel Jarre, and from Bob Marley to likes of New York Dolls and Ramones - wow !). In the subsequent decades I've of course had the luxury of time to listen to many bands and albums I missed initially or that I "just didn't get" or appreciate (in the right mood) at the time, so it'd mean I would have to drop some of my old favs out as they might have been good or very good but there's better ones out here.
- Chart updated: 10/16/2021 03:15
- (Created: 07/05/2020 06:38).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
There are 2 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s has an average rating of 87 out of 100 (from 1 vote). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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[First added to this chart: 07/05/2020]
Year of Release:
1976
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,662
Rank in 1976:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 07/05/2020]
[First added to this chart: 07/05/2020]
Year of Release:
1977
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,078
Rank in 1977:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 07/05/2020]
[First added to this chart: 07/05/2020]
Year of Release:
1976
Appears in:
Rank Score:
794
Rank in 1976:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 07/05/2020]
Year of Release:
1977
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,053
Rank in 1977:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
We already thrashed some "Solid Gold Hits" cassettes in family car trips that had a couple of BTO tracks on them and were pretty much my favs. I think I got given this album for xmas '75 (although BEA says '76, but the phonograph copyright on my NZ pressing says '75 and Discogs shows that too) and over the next two years (as paper run money allowed) I bought all their 5 prior albums and the next "Freeways" whereupon I stopped as by then had moved more towards New Wave, Punk and Hard Rock/Heavy Metal. Still to this day, one of my most favourite bands.
[First added to this chart: 07/05/2020]
[First added to this chart: 07/05/2020]
Year of Release:
1973
Appears in:
Rank Score:
59,136
Rank in 1973:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 07/05/2020]
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,032
Rank in 1978:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 07/05/2020]
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,718
Rank in 1978:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10
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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s composition
| Year | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 5 | 5% | |
| 1971 | 11 | 11% | |
| 1972 | 3 | 3% | |
| 1973 | 11 | 11% | |
| 1974 | 8 | 8% | |
| 1975 | 5 | 5% | |
| 1976 | 13 | 13% | |
| 1977 | 15 | 15% | |
| 1978 | 14 | 14% | |
| 1979 | 15 | 15% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| David Bowie | 7 | 7% | |
| Queen | 7 | 7% | |
| Roxy Music | 6 | 6% | |
| Bachman-Turner Overdrive | 4 | 4% | |
| The Boomtown Rats | 3 | 3% | |
| The Stranglers | 3 | 3% | |
| Pink Floyd | 3 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
 |
58 | 58% | |
 |
24 | 24% | |
 |
6 | 6% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
| |
2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s chart changes
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 1 from 31st to 30thWish You Were Here by Pink Floyd |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 1 from 30th to 31stI Robot by The Alan Parsons Project |
| Down 1 from 33rd to 34thBachman-Turner Overdrive by Bachman-Turner Overdrive |
| Down 1 from 34th to 35thSlowhand by Eric Clapton |
| New entries |
|---|
| Moondance by Van Morrison |
| Leavers |
|---|
| Sky High by Jigsaw (UK) |
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s similar charts
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| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s |  RasmV | 1970s decade chart | 2023 |  |
| Top 1970s Classic Rock Albums | nas062080 | Custom chart | 2013 | |
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| Decade 1970s | fabm0 | Custom chart | 2026 |  |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s | matterhornrider | 1970s decade chart | 2025 |  |
| Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s | CoreyBairre | 1970s decade chart | 2018 | |
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Other decade charts by mikepen
| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 47 Music Albums of the 2020s | mikepen | 2020s decade chart | 2025 | |
| Top 28 Music Albums of the 2010s | mikepen | 2010s decade chart | 2025 | |
| Top 55 Music Albums of the 2000s | mikepen | 2000s decade chart | 2025 | |
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s ratings
Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AVwhere:
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).
AV = the site mean average rating.
N.B. The average rating for this chart will not be reliable as it has been rated very few times.
Showing all 1 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09/13/2020 17:59 | Goliath | 350 | 86/100 |
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s favourites
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s comments
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From Goliath 09/13/2020 17:59 | #258171
Goliath 09/13/2020 17:59 | #258171
Update:34 in common, plus Sabbath.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From Goliath 07/18/2020 10:39 | #255758
Goliath 07/18/2020 10:39 | #255758
17 in common, no Sabbath??
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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