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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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:

151 charts

Rank Score:

1,054

Rank in 1972:

34

Rank in 1970s:

309

Overall Rank:

1,618

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:

651

Rank in 1972:

42

Rank in 1970s:

452

Overall Rank:

2,441

Average Rating:

 76 (153 votes)

Comments:

13

13. (11) 2

Exile On Main St. 

 The Rolling Stones

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"Exile On The Main St." does not have a big blockbusters (Ok," Tumbling Dice" was a Top 10 hit on both sides of the Atlantic), unlike the Rolling Stone's albums are frequently the case.I bought EOTMS's in good condition, used on vinyl in August 1990. My attention was focused on the album lesser-known songs ("Sweet Virginia", "Loving Cup", "Soul Survivor" ..).EOTMS is special, the American album (compare U2's Rattle and Hum). Double album encompassing rock & roll, blues, soul, and country. Perhaps it was the presence of country music being sickened by some of the Stones fans ... but for me this is their best album! [First added to this chart: 06/25/2012]

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

1,968 charts

Rank Score:

19,635

Rank in 1972:

2

Rank in 1970s:

13

Overall Rank:

45

Average Rating:

 85 (2,353 votes)

Comments:

211

16. (24) 8

Caravanserai 

 Santana

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This album has a lot in common, as RTF's album "Light As A Feather": rock, salsa, and jazz (Coltrane soul mate!)encounter there, which I personally consider a concept album. I hear the traveling caravan somewhere, sometimes ...even though this is a brilliant album has been 15 years collections, why it only found in five charts? Hello BEA's members, please take, "Caravanserai" to Your Favorites! [First added to this chart: 06/25/2012]

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

180 charts

Rank Score:

1,093

Rank in 1972:

31

Rank in 1970s:

300

Overall Rank:

1,556

Average Rating:

 80 (201 votes)

Comments:

15

34. (32) 2

The Grand Wazoo 

 The Mothers

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

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

122 charts

Rank Score:

404

Rank in 1972:

63

Rank in 1970s:

630

Overall Rank:

3,632

Average Rating:

 78 (168 votes)

Comments:

7

40. (=)

Machine Head 

 Deep Purple

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

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

820 charts

Rank Score:

6,404

Rank in 1972:

7

Rank in 1970s:

60

Overall Rank:

254

Average Rating:

 82 (1,032 votes)

Comments:

57

45. (=)

The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars 

 David Bowie

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

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

3,021 charts

Rank Score:

43,252

Rank in 1972:

1

Rank in 1970s:

3

Overall Rank:

7

Average Rating:

 90 (3,547 votes)

Comments:

304

51. (=)

The Slider 

 T. Rex

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[First added to this chart: 02/25/2013]

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

301 charts

Rank Score:

1,442

Rank in 1972:

26

Rank in 1970s:

246

Overall Rank:

1,206

Average Rating:

 80 (407 votes)

Comments:

16

59. (=)

Music Of Another Present Era 

 Oregon

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

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

15 charts

Rank Score:

35

Rank in 1972:

317

Rank in 1970s:

3,001

Overall Rank:

26,155

Average Rating:

 75 (14 votes)

Comments:

1

60. (=)

Harvest 

 Neil Young

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

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

1,384 charts

Rank Score:

12,420

Rank in 1972:

5

Rank in 1970s:

27

Overall Rank:

99

Average Rating:

 85 (1,729 votes)

Comments:

96

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Total albums: 15. Page 1 of 2

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

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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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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!

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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)

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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