Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s
by Error Finn

Conceptual Extension - part 3, The 1970s: "Age of the Deep Classics"

I think the 1970's musical spectrum is a natural extension of the 1960s, which began development. Many so-called long-time favorite album has born in the 1970s. The 1970s have passed since the amount of time, which gives this age its own entity. And what a combination! This decade - is a my personal favorite.
Many artists and bands who started in the 1960s, refined careers in the 1970s. People who discovered (heard) this incident, received a life an incredible value.
Born in the 1960s psychedelic pop music changed in the 1970s - progressive rock; jazz became a rock fusion; folk-country-rock continued to be a singer / songwriter style as a form; hard-rock-blues developed into heavy rock; Soulpop turned into a funk, and later disco music...Punk rock and new wave, brought new attitudes of rock music in the mid 1970s.
I believe that the bands in the 1970s needed to make (good) albums, if they wanted keep up with developments. Just look at the bands' albums, although the number of publications. There were no other possibilities(no internet,no music channels, and less the record companies childish attitude towards the actual creation..). The ALBUM was appreciated!
Selected albums have been my favorite, a very different time. One of the albums I have (knowingly) listened to 25-30 years ago. Someone other hand, is already familiar to only this year. A real favorite album is one that listened to year after year.
The 1970s, the early years, "had more support" my list as the last years of the decade.I am aware of this true-matter, as I began to draw up this list.I feel that the years 1970-1973, were the music world's most advanced.
I took the list, four of my country (Finland) albums. First of all, they have equal access to the list. Second, they give this site a new (old), good music, which the majority (of members) have never heard of!
The 1970s includes two Patheon albums(= frozen albums): Led Zeppelin IV, and Pink Floyd's "Dark Side".

• Chart updated: 01/31/2023 07:45
• (Created: 06/12/2012 18:39).
• Chart size: 100 albums.

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1. (=)

At Fillmore East 
Live

 The Allman Brothers Band

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I know that many of the members of this site, don't take their charts live albums. For my part, I set the decade the number one album - a live album! Allman Brothers are (were) a so-called southern rock band. In my opinion, the best Southern rock arise only in live situations. Not in the studio. Secondly, Allman Brothers were better than a live band as the other bands of the Southern rock.Allman
Brothers were able to play nicer; they expressed skills jazz; they shaped the blues standards ("Statesboro Blues","Stormy Monday" ), the spirit of time. Also, the band's own material sounds better than ever: "Hot 'Lanta," "Whipping Post" and amazing "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed".The album showcased also the work of two master guitarist, Duane Allman and Dicky Betts.This album can't get bored! It sounds fresh every time. It is a simple, decades, remarkable album....But Robert Christgau gave At Fillmore East a B– rating... [First added to this chart: 06/25/2012]

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

600 charts

Rank Score:

3,720

Rank in 1971:

20

Rank in 1970s:

106

Overall Rank:

462

Average Rating:

 81 (720 votes)

Comments:

43

2. (=)

Bitches Brew 

 Miles Davis

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This album lost "At Filmore East" a very small margin. I think that, this album is not only the size of Miles Davis's genius.Mr. Davis was involved with this masterpiece of doing a number of the younger generation of musicians: Joe Zawinul, Chic Corea, Dave Holland, John McLaughlin, Jack DeJohnette. They had a key role in the new jazzfusion sound was developed.The band's amazing musical chemistry manifests itself (partially different players, Note! "DVD Miles Electric - A Different Kind of Blue"), when they performed at the Isle of Wight in 1970. There, "rock youth" heard something, which exceeded the limits of their imagination."The Picasso of Jazz enchanted by them. I was enchanted by this album in 1996. And still it affects the senses in a positive way. [First added to this chart: 06/25/2012]

Year of Release:

1970

Appears in:

962 charts

Rank Score:

9,245

Rank in 1970:

6

Rank in 1970s:

39

Overall Rank:

152

Average Rating:

 84 (1,202 votes)

Comments:

72

3. (=)

Let My Children Hear Music 

 Charles Mingus

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The 1970s, jazz is considered (at least in the developed rock point of view) often the power of fusion jazz period. But the so-called, non-fusion jazz, were there. Acoustic jazz, didn't die in the 1970s (and it is not, fortunately, still not dead). One strong proof of its vitality, is a jazz master's brush cut, called LET MY CHILDREN HEAR MUSIC (great name of the album). I heard this album for the first time in 1994, and I wonder, how a high level of music I had heard. "Adagio Ma Non Troppo", is crystal clear, jazz piece, with its magnificent string backgrounds. "Hobo Ho," is as offensive orchestra, captain of the saxophonist, James Moody. Stravinsky style of "The Chill Of Death" was written by Mingus at age seventeen. From his deathbed in Mexico in 1979 he sent a message to Sy Johnson (who was responsible for many of the arrangements on the album), saying that "Let My Children Hear Music" was the record he liked most from his career. [First added to this chart: 06/25/2012]

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

150 charts

Rank Score:

1,051

Rank in 1972:

34

Rank in 1970s:

309

Overall Rank:

1,621

Average Rating:

 82 (154 votes)

Comments:

6

4. (8) 4

666 

 Aphrodite's Child

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In my hometown cathedral wall, are painted with images of the four horsemen.These frighteningly harsh images came to mind to me, when I listened to Aphrodite's Child's album on 666 ..How could anyone do such a musical work? Perhaps the decision to book the Bible, Revelation of John, gave rise to the Greek young hippies, music and visual awakenings.If you listen to only the parts or individual songs from the album, the work may seem almost like a joke.Some of the tracks are short and slow, and therefore un-commercial.77:58 in length, it required multiple listening time. And courageous! I think this album is just another planet, as worshipers of Satan ritual of heavy rock, which does not interest me at all. Album is also connected to the special manner, linkage to their own time ("Altamont"), a fine Vangelis sound field ("Sea Aegian"), and Roussos on tenor. A truly ambitious album! [First added to this chart: 06/25/2012]

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

134 charts

Rank Score:

652

Rank in 1972:

42

Rank in 1970s:

452

Overall Rank:

2,441

Average Rating:

 76 (153 votes)

Comments:

13

5. (6) 1

Waiting For Columbus 
Live

 Little Feat

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I saw Little Feat, Pori Jazz Festival in 1994 - and I was tremendously disappointed. The band played in my opinion flatly.I've heard similar comments, the band's then current gigs. Three years later, however, I bought their live album, and the perception of the band changed. What I heard on this expanded version of their 1978 release, is a band at their peak. Lowell George's (his the last album) incendiary slide guitar playing, Bill Payne's (As Joe Zawinul, and Garth Hudson, a cross between!) rollicking keyboards, the funk of the Tower of Power horn section, and the band's backlog of material make for a stunning live performance. [First added to this chart: 06/25/2012]

Year of Release:

1978

Appears in:

105 charts

Rank Score:

465

Rank in 1978:

63

Rank in 1970s:

572

Overall Rank:

3,228

Average Rating:

 77 (145 votes)

Comments:

6

6. (10) 4

Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols 

 Sex Pistols

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This rock classic was familiar to me, in the spring of 1982. It was then less than five years old, and the music of my knowledge - thinnest possible class.It may be that this album was for me, pedagogy quote - tabula rasa. When I heard this album, I started to wait for music to something. Simple as that.In the early 1980s, punk rock had already been through, their short history.Its influence was left.Sex pistols and "Never Mind the Bollocks..." had submitted their heritage. Well, "Never Mind the Bollocks ..." is a real rock festival... "We're pretty A pretty vacant" [First added to this chart: 06/25/2012]

Year of Release:

1977

Appears in:

1,381 charts

Rank Score:

10,571

Rank in 1977:

5

Rank in 1970s:

33

Overall Rank:

123

Average Rating:

 80 (1,854 votes)

Comments:

145

7. (36) 29

Rumours 

 Fleetwood Mac

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[First added to this chart: 04/01/2018]

Year of Release:

1977

Appears in:

2,312 charts

Rank Score:

30,783

Rank in 1977:

1

Rank in 1970s:

6

Overall Rank:

21

Average Rating:

 87 (2,644 votes)

Comments:

188

8. (4) 4

Unknown Pleasures 

 Joy Division

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Post Punk gave new opportunities for new rock music-makers. The fourth best album of the decade is not the work of skilled musicians(such as the three previous).However the Album's an intimate atmosphere is unbelievable.This album can not come up with the machine. It can only arise from the experience of life resulted."She's Lost Control", "I Remember Nothing","Candidate","Shadowplay", and others represent the turn of the decade's best rock music moments. Also album cover art is one of the best all-time. [First added to this chart: 06/25/2012]

Year of Release:

1979

Appears in:

1,989 charts

Rank Score:

21,780

Rank in 1979:

3

Rank in 1970s:

9

Overall Rank:

38

Average Rating:

 86 (2,337 votes)

Comments:

190

9. (5) 4

Die Mensch·Maschine 

 Kraftwerk

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Kraftwerk founder Ralf Hütter, has been told he had intended to do from a German-sounding music - just like The Beach Boys sounds like California did. I think his band have succeeded a dream. Their music, they discussed the technology and the interaction existing between the people and their symbiotic life together. The idea of a good illustration of the album "The Man Machine" name.
This album had a tremendous impact on pop of Britain's later new romantic movement (= Human League, OMD, Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys...). [First added to this chart: 06/25/2012]

Year of Release:

1978

Appears in:

640 charts

Rank Score:

4,467

Rank in 1978:

6

Rank in 1970s:

93

Overall Rank:

376

Average Rating:

 82 (734 votes)

Comments:

29

10. (29) 19

Selling England By The Pound 

 Genesis

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[First added to this chart: 06/25/2012]

Year of Release:

1973

Appears in:

1,007 charts

Rank Score:

10,564

Rank in 1973:

4

Rank in 1970s:

34

Overall Rank:

124

Average Rating:

 84 (1,270 votes)

Comments:

94

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Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s composition

Country	Albums	%
	45	45%
	32	32%
	7	7%
	4	4%
	3	3%
	3	3%
	1	1%
Show all

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s chart changes

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s similar charts

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s similarity to your chart(s)

Other decade charts by Error Finn

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Top 10 Music Albums of the 2020s	Error Finn	2020s decade chart	2023
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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1990s	Error Finn	1990s decade chart	2022
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1980s	Error Finn	1980s decade chart	2024

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s ratings

Showing latest 5 ratings for this chart. | Show all 14 ratings for this chart.

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Rating	Date updated	Member	Chart ratings	Avg. chart rating
90/100  !	12/17/2023 13:43	ilovelctr	14	93/100
80/100  !	05/15/2023 10:52	RevolverCB72	81	83/100
90/100  !	04/22/2023 08:45	Moondance	476	85/100
80/100  !	08/18/2020 17:40	Chrispeater	138	82/100
100/100  !	03/12/2020 23:55	DJENNY	4,365	100/100

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).
(*In practice, some charts can have several thousand ratings)
This chart is rated in the top 7% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 88.3/100, a mean average of 90.0/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 90.0/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 7.3.

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Johnnyo

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s comments

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Rating:  

90/100

From Moondance 04/22/2023 08:47 | #296281

Excellent chart ~ the comments are greatly appreciated. I was surprised that we only had 25 albums in common (I was expecting more) ~ which goes to show the depth of quality albums that flowed from the greatest decade ever ~ the 70's!

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

100/100

From buzzdainer 07/19/2016 15:55 | #171531

I really love this list! You have a number of fantastic albums here, especially Innervisions, Rumours, Desire, and Blood on the Tracks. I also appreciate your notes and comments to go with your entries, as these are very thoughtful and provide helpful context for your selections. Great work overall!

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

75/100

From Decurso 11/03/2014 13:18 | #126090

Pretty different. I dig the notes and wholeheartedly agree with your assessment of the 70s. It was a time when artists were allowed almost complete creative control, which made for some groundbreaking music.

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

95/100

From WildHorses 11/23/2013 16:22 | #94197

A wonderful vision of the 70's. Great chart!

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

95/100

From sssvnnn 10/01/2013 22:21 | #87367

again a briliant Chart - you reminded me of some albums that should be on my list or are very close to my top 100.

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

From Error Finn 06/17/2012 15:15 | #44609

This of the 1970s band NOT found in BEA's rankings: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppZ0HUFBc88

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From Error Finn 06/16/2012 22:42 | #44569

Here is one of the list heroes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsR91OKuMsA

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From Error Finn 06/13/2012 18:26 | #44356

Thank you, Johnnyo. For me, the 1970s, the list is more pleasing (easier) to make the example of the 2010s list. 1970s, seems to still live. 2010s? what?

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

90/100

From Johnnyo 06/12/2012 20:06 | #44311

Great, great chart. One of the best on the site.

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