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 create an account to leave a comment or assign a rating.
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Available from 
[First added to this chart: 07/05/2020]
Year of Release:
1976
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,661
Rank in 1976:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Available from
[First added to this chart: 07/05/2020]
Available from
[First added to this chart: 07/05/2020]
Year of Release:
1977
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,069
Rank in 1977:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Available from
[First added to this chart: 07/05/2020]
Available from
[First added to this chart: 07/05/2020]
Year of Release:
1976
Appears in:
Rank Score:
733
Rank in 1976:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Available from
[First added to this chart: 07/05/2020]
Year of Release:
1977
Appears in:
Rank Score:
5,817
Rank in 1977:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Available from
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]
Available from
[First added to this chart: 07/05/2020]
Year of Release:
1973
Appears in:
Rank Score:
55,856
Rank in 1973:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Available from
[First added to this chart: 07/05/2020]
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,012
Rank in 1978:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Available from
[First added to this chart: 07/05/2020]
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,643
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 |
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Up 1 from 31st to 30th |
| Biggest fallers |
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Down 1 from 30th to 31st |
Down 1 from 33rd to 34th |
Down 1 from 34th to 35th |
| New entries |
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Other decade charts by mikepen
| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 48 Music Albums of the 2020s | mikepen | 2020s decade chart | 2026 | |
| Top 28 Music Albums of the 2010s | mikepen | 2010s decade chart | 2025 | |
| Top 57 Music Albums of the 2000s | mikepen | 2000s decade chart | 2026 | |
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s ratings
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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 | 352 | 86/100 |
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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s comments
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From
Goliath 07/18/2020 10:39 | #255758
Goliath 07/18/2020 10:39 | #255758
17 in common, no Sabbath??
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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.
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