Top 100 Music Albums of 1978
by Johnnyo 
The rules; I have to own it & I don't include best of's, greatest hits the occasional compilation or soundtrack
- Chart updated: 02/05/2026 10:15
- (Created: 06/17/2012 13:44).
- Chart size: 100 albums.
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I can’t put my figure on precisely why this is my favourite album of all time. Maybe it’s got something to do with the fact that it has four 100/100 tracks on it, Adam Raised A Cain, Candy’s Room, Racing In The Street & Factory.
Maybe it’s because it flows seamlessly from one fabulous track to another. It’s not that there’s no filler here, it’s that there’s not even an average track on the album. Every, and I mean every, track is at least a 90/100.
How do you follow up your breakthrough album? Born To Run has been described as a “Wall Of Sound” album, and although I think that it’s a great album, it’s way too over produced for my liking. DOTEOT is leaner. Some say angrier. Not sure about that but it’s certainly more, lyrically anyway, in your face. There’s something of the punk sensibility to the album with it’s raw energy
I think that I warm to the characters depicted so eloquently by Springsteen on the album, their struggles and their fights.
It feels real to me. What I think sounds like, The real New Jersey but, not coming from there, I might be way off the mark.
So many songs were written for the album that didn’t fit the albums narrative that Springsteen famously “gave them away” to other artists
• "Hearts of Stone" & "Talk to Me" to Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes;
• "Because the Night" to Patti Smith;
• "Fire" to Robert Gordon;
• "Rendezvous" to Greg Kihn;
• "Don't Look Back" to the Knack;
• "This Little Girl" to Gary U.S. Bonds
You have more guitar solos and less sax (although it’s still there) than on his previous albums, which I prefer. [First added to this chart: 07/05/2012]
Maybe it’s because it flows seamlessly from one fabulous track to another. It’s not that there’s no filler here, it’s that there’s not even an average track on the album. Every, and I mean every, track is at least a 90/100.
How do you follow up your breakthrough album? Born To Run has been described as a “Wall Of Sound” album, and although I think that it’s a great album, it’s way too over produced for my liking. DOTEOT is leaner. Some say angrier. Not sure about that but it’s certainly more, lyrically anyway, in your face. There’s something of the punk sensibility to the album with it’s raw energy
I think that I warm to the characters depicted so eloquently by Springsteen on the album, their struggles and their fights.
It feels real to me. What I think sounds like, The real New Jersey but, not coming from there, I might be way off the mark.
So many songs were written for the album that didn’t fit the albums narrative that Springsteen famously “gave them away” to other artists
• "Hearts of Stone" & "Talk to Me" to Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes;
• "Because the Night" to Patti Smith;
• "Fire" to Robert Gordon;
• "Rendezvous" to Greg Kihn;
• "Don't Look Back" to the Knack;
• "This Little Girl" to Gary U.S. Bonds
You have more guitar solos and less sax (although it’s still there) than on his previous albums, which I prefer. [First added to this chart: 07/05/2012]
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
7,165
Rank in 1978:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Simply one of the greatest live albums ever
[First added to this chart: 07/05/2012]
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
984
Rank in 1978:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Tom 's best album by quite a way. A Classic.
[First added to this chart: 07/05/2012]
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
971
Rank in 1978:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 07/05/2012]
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
374
Rank in 1978:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 06/01/2019]
The last truely great Stones album.
[First added to this chart: 07/05/2012]
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,141
Rank in 1978:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 07/05/2012]
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
665
Rank in 1978:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 11/10/2013]
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
743
Rank in 1978:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 07/05/2012]
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,383
Rank in 1978:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
[First added to this chart: 08/09/2012]
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,321
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 1978 composition
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
| The Ozark Mountain Daredevils | 2 | 2% | |
| Barclay James Harvest | 2 | 2% | |
| Kate Bush | 2 | 2% | |
| Blondie | 2 | 2% | |
| AC/DC | 2 | 2% | |
| Bob Dylan | 2 | 2% | |
| Johnny Winter | 1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|||
 |
49 | 49% | |
| |
38 | 38% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
3 | 3% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
 |
2 | 2% | |
 |
1 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
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Top 100 Music Albums of 1978 ratings
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| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/28/2020 22:38 | DJENNY | 4,338 | 100/100 |
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From Johnnyo 01/09/2026 09:20 | #312541
I can’t put my figure on precisely why this is my favourite album of all time. Maybe it’s got something to do with the fact that it has four 100/100 tracks on it, Adam Raised A Cain, Candy’s Room, Racing In The Street & Factory.
Maybe it’s because it flows seamlessly from one fabulous track to another. It’s not that there’s no filler here, it’s that there’s not even an average track on the album. Every, and I mean every, track is at least a 90/100.
How do you follow up your breakthrough album? Born To Run has been described as a “Wall Of Sound” album, and although I think that it’s a great album, it’s way too over produced for my liking. DOTEOT is leaner. Some say angrier. Not sure about that but it’s certainly more, lyrically anyway, in your face. There’s something of the punk sensibility to the album with it’s raw energy
I think that I warm to the characters depicted so eloquently by Springsteen on the album, their struggles and their fights.
It feels real to me. What I think sounds like, The real New Jersey but, not coming from there, I might be way off the mark.
So many songs were written for the album that didn’t fit the albums narrative that Springsteen famously “gave them away” to other artists
• "Hearts of Stone" & "Talk to Me" to Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes;
• "Because the Night" to Patti Smith;
• "Fire" to Robert Gordon;
• "Rendezvous" to Greg Kihn;
• "Don't Look Back" to the Knack;
• "This Little Girl" to Gary U.S. Bonds
You have more guitar solos and less sax (although it’s still there) than on his previous albums, which I prefer.
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