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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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]
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:
Rank Score:
3,713
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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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:
Rank Score:
463
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Comments:
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I have always taken the view that the major feature of jazz = common collective improvisation. I don't usually care about when someone left alone to play "own thing".The (Jazz) band is like a good sport team. But exceptions can be found. January 24, 1975, something happened which was later recordings of the music, was going to be established. The place was at the Cologne Opera House. Time and location has its own meaning. I believe that this musical performances have been listened to very different ears.Some listened to the presentation a) classical music for the ears, b) progressive music for the ears, c), jazz music for the ears, d) the common ears. The place is the best "for all of these for the ears", the performance took place in Central Europe, classical music the heart area. Keith Jarrett (Hungarian descent) had certainly become familiar with the time period of the German prog rock music lovers.
[First added to this chart: 06/25/2012]
Year of Release:
1975
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,964
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Comments:
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What rock music would be without Jimi Hendrix? Nothing. What would be the live rock without Jim? Nothing. During his lifetime, he published an interesting live album called "Band of Gypsys". In the 1960s a concrete changed - 1970s, the album was recorded in the New Year night, 1969. The album contains songs that have not been previously published in the studio versions. Album is considered, funk rock pioneer publication."Message to Love" is a shade of gospel-style singing behind the curtain background singers. Album's the most famous piece, "Machine Gun", which is also a good example of Hendrix's imaginative playing guitar.
[First added to this chart: 06/25/2012]
Year of Release:
1970
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,655
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Rank in 1970s:
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Average Rating:
Comments:
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[First added to this chart: 04/05/2014]
Year of Release:
1974
Appears in:
Rank Score:
391
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Rank in 1970s:
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Average Rating:
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[First added to this chart: 06/25/2012]
Year of Release:
1974
Appears in:
Rank Score:
744
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Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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[First added to this chart: 06/25/2012]
Year of Release:
1970
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,270
Rank in 1970:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
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[First added to this chart: 06/25/2012]
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[First added to this chart: 08/27/2014]
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[First added to this chart: 04/01/2018]
Total albums: 11. Page 1 of 2
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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s composition
| Year | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 13 | 13% | |
| 1971 | 18 | 18% | |
| 1972 | 15 | 15% | |
| 1973 | 14 | 14% | |
| 1974 | 12 | 12% | |
| 1975 | 4 | 4% | |
| 1976 | 6 | 6% | |
| 1977 | 5 | 5% | |
| 1978 | 7 | 7% | |
| 1979 | 6 | 6% |
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| Bob Dylan | 3 | 3% | |
| The Who | 3 | 3% | |
| Genesis | 2 | 2% | |
| The Mothers | 2 | 2% | |
| Joni Mitchell | 2 | 2% | |
| T. Rex | 2 | 2% | |
| Miles Davis | 2 | 2% | |
| Show all | |||
| 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
| Biggest climbers |
|---|
| Up 68 from 82nd to 14thÁfrica Brasil by Jorge Ben |
| Up 29 from 36th to 7thRumours by Fleetwood Mac |
| Up 23 from 38th to 15thBridge Of Sighs by Robin Trower |
| Biggest fallers |
|---|
| Down 5 from 12th to 17thInnervisions by Stevie Wonder |
| Down 5 from 13th to 18thThe Köln Concert by Keith Jarrett |
| Down 5 from 14th to 19thBop Till You Drop by Ry Cooder |
| New entries |
|---|
| Parallel Lines by Blondie |
| The Kinks Present A Soap Opera by The Kinks |
Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s similar charts
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Other decade charts by Error Finn
Error Finn has shared 6 more 1970s decade charts with the community. Browse them all here.
| Title | Source | Type | Published | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 10 Music Albums of the 2020s | Error Finn | 2020s decade chart | 2023 | |
| Top 50 Music Albums of the 2010s | Error Finn | 2010s decade chart | 2023 | |
| Top 75 Music Albums of the 2000s | Error Finn | 2000s decade chart | 2023 | |
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.
Showing latest 5 ratings for this chart. | Show all 14 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 12/17/2023 13:43 |  ilovelctr | 14 | 93/100 |
| ! | 05/15/2023 10:52 |  RevolverCB72 | 81 | 83/100 |
| ! | 04/22/2023 08:45 | Moondance | 476 | 85/100 |
| ! | 08/18/2020 17:40 | Chrispeater | 138 | 82/100 |
| ! | 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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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s comments
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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)
From 
buzzdainer 07/19/2016 15:55 | #171531
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)
From 
Decurso 11/03/2014 13:18 | #126090
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)
From 
WildHorses 11/23/2013 16:22 | #94197
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)
From 
sssvnnn 10/01/2013 22:21 | #87367
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 Johnnyo 06/12/2012 20:06 | #44311
Great, great chart. One of the best on the site.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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