Best Albums of the 1970s

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Explore the best albums of the 1970s, based on over 2 million album rankings across 60,000 charts. Last updated: 8 hours ago

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1970s decade summaryThe best artists of the 1970s were Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Neil Young, The Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath, The Clash, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Wonder and The Who.

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Collector's summary (top 1,000) Log in or create an account to discover the great albums that are missing from your music collection!

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301.

Transa

Caetano Veloso

"I just did not quite got this, sorry folks" Reply

Jboy56 | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 0

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

148 charts

Rank Score:

1,057

Rank in 1972:

Rank in 1970s:

301

Overall Rank:

1,620

Average Rating:

80 (167 votes)

Comments:

302.

I Robot

The Alan Parsons Project

"Anybody that can engineer an all time classic like "dark Side of the moon" Can have a classic himself ....... and that is "I robot"." Reply

- Kuzh69 | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 3

Year of Release:

1977

Appears in:

206 charts

Rank Score:

1,054

Rank in 1977:

Rank in 1970s:

302

Overall Rank:

1,626

Average Rating:

79 (259 votes)

Comments:

303.

Call Me

Al Green

""Jesus Is Waiting" indeed. Naked, on the bed. Glorious closer to a very good album." Reply

Norman Bates | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 4

Year of Release:

1973

Appears in:

223 charts

Rank Score:

1,048

Rank in 1973:

Rank in 1970s:

303

Overall Rank:

1,636

Average Rating:

79 (249 votes)

Comments:

304.

One Size Fits All

Frank Zappa And The Mothers Of Invention

"As stated in many reviews this is one of the more accessible Zappa albums. Inca Roads is a masterpiece in its own right with some superb guitar work. As with a lot of Zappa works, I hear something different with every listen." Reply

- Junomoogmello | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 3

Year of Release:

1975

Appears in:

201 charts

Rank Score:

1,041

Rank in 1975:

Rank in 1970s:

304

Overall Rank:

1,644

Average Rating:

80 (285 votes)

Comments:

305.

The Harder They Come
Soundtrack compilation

Various Artists

"THE LIFE OF A REPOMAN IS ALWAYS INTENSE Many rivers to cross And it's only my will that keeps me alive I've been licked, washed up for years And I merely survive because of my pride - Many Rivers to Cross Life can throw a lot at you. Sometimes it can just get plain crazy. Ridiculous even. To the ...""THE LIFE OF A REPOMAN IS ALWAYS INTENSE Many rivers to cross And it's only my will that keeps me alive I've been licked, washed up for years And I merely survive because of my pride - Many Rivers to Cross Life can throw a lot at you. Sometimes it can just get plain crazy. Ridiculous even. To the point where you cannot even believe it’s really happening to YOU. This shit only happens to other people, right? RIGHT?! Call it bad karma. Call it a Job-ian test from the Gods. Call it whatever you will. But some of us have to go through a lot more shit than the rest of you lucky fucks. Put simply - life just sometimes sucks. And it can seem totally unfair. And you can do one of of two things when this happens. You can give up! Hurl your fists at the heavens. Cry out to the Gods that this is not even close to a fair fight anymore. That you’ve had enough. That this is inhuman. Numb yourself with scripts, alcohol and whatever drugs you can get your hands on. Curl up on the couch and binge on bad tv and tubs of Chubby Hubby. And say “I’ve had it. Fuck this! Fuck that! I’m out of here.” And I honestly don’t blame anyone who does this. No one but us really knows how frickin’ bad things can really, really get. If you judge these people, I have four words for you - YOU DON’T GET IT! You’ve never been there! You can’t even begin to imagine what they’re going through. But there’s another option. To rise above! To cross those swollen rivers. To swim on & on. To keep searching for a way across. To try and build a better boat. Despite the impossibilities. Despite the doubters and naysayers. No matter how improbable your situation may seem. Really believe that you are going to cross those rivers. That you are going to build that boat and make it to the other shore. Out of duct tape, spit, willpower and faith. Lots & lots of faith.And that’s where this album comes in. Because no album ever made has such great anthems as this little number. It has THREE anthems that can stare down any others in recorded history and not bat an eye. You can get it if you really want But you must try, try and try, try and try You'll succeed at last, mmh, yeah Opposition will come your way But the harder the battle, you see Is the sweeter the victory now - You Can Get It If you Really Want It On its surface this is just a wonderfully catchy Motown influenced number that can stuck in your head like cotton candy. But it really nails all the key components you’re going to face in building that boat. In crossing that river. In doing something others say is impossible. First, you are going to face the two Os - obstacles & opposition. Whether it be doctors, family members, a flare in your disease, a broken leg … whatever. Opposition & obstacles are inevitable. Setbacks are going to occur. And they can wear you down. But the key is to keep trying. Keep going. And believing. That you really can get there. But you must believe. But no one completely believes at first either. Especially if you’ve been through the ringer one too many times. And that’s why you must try, try and try, try and try! So as sure as the sun will shine I'm gonna get my share now of what's mine And then the harder they come The harder they'll fall, one and all - The Harder They Come Again, notice the positivity. The belief. This is the commonality of all successful people. Whether it be Tom Brady or Ivanhoe "Ivan" Martin. The belief in themselves. The belief that no matter how hard the obstacle, that you can and will overcome it. As sure as the sun will shine! Grade: A+. I never realized how influential Motown was on Jamaican music until I heard this album. This album has given me a whole different perspective on Jamaican music and music in general. Music can be such a weapon. To fire you up and change your attitude. And even though I highlighted those three legendary anthems, this album hardly stops there. In fact my favorite is actually by some artist I’ve never even heard of before - Scotty. It reminds me of Operation Ivy. I just love the guitar lick and verbal mumbo jumbo that starts it off. This is proto-punk rock at its finest. This is easily one of the greatest soundtracks of all time and if you can splurge for the deluxe two cd version definitely do it. It further showcases the massive influence that the Motown sound had on Jamaican music with the highlight perhaps being my favorite cover of “I Can See Clearly Now”. That single is worthy of an essay all on its own. It’s going to be a bright, bright sunshiny day! " Reply

Repo | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 0

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

216 charts

Rank Score:

1,040

Rank in 1972:

Rank in 1970s:

305

Overall Rank:

1,645

Average Rating:

80 (198 votes)

Comments:

306.

Caravanserai

Santana

"Cool atmospheric album. Kinda like a Spanish Pink Floyd!" Reply

- YoungPunk | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 4

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

187 charts

Rank Score:

1,031

Rank in 1972:

Rank in 1970s:

306

Overall Rank:

1,658

Average Rating:

80 (209 votes)

Comments:

307.

Obscured By Clouds

Pink Floyd

"This is most definitely a Floyd album with one foot in the past and one in the future. Burning Bridges sounds like it came out of a Meddle session, and the opening drum pattern for Childhood's End is well established as having been inspirational (if not just copied and pasted) for Time on DSOM. I..." Reply

- | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 3

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

297 charts

Rank Score:

1,031

Rank in 1972:

Rank in 1970s:

307

Overall Rank:

1,659

Average Rating:

74 (743 votes)

Comments:

308.

You Don't Mess Around With Jim

Jim Croce

"Almost feels like a greatest hits album because many of the songs that made Mr. Croce famous are here. High quality songs and songwriting throughout. A classic." Reply

- | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 3

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

117 charts

Rank Score:

1,025

Rank in 1972:

Rank in 1970s:

308

Overall Rank:

1,666

Average Rating:

78 (124 votes)

Comments:

309.

Tres Hombres

ZZ Top

"By far the best album by that li'l ol' band from Texas. Lone Star blues rockin' at it's finest." Reply

Fischman | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 2

Year of Release:

1973

Appears in:

308 charts

Rank Score:

1,024

Rank in 1973:

Rank in 1970s:

309

Overall Rank:

1,668

Average Rating:

78 (331 votes)

Comments:

310.

Overkill

Motörhead

"Ahhhhhh what an opening track!! And still this album doesn't slow down as it goes! One of the most influential albums to the thrash metal genre and all of rock n roll for that matter (Since Motorhead ARE rock n roll) ;)" Reply

Jasonconfused | Helpful? (Log in to vote) · 6

Year of Release:

1979

Appears in:

213 charts

Rank Score:

1,024

Rank in 1979:

Rank in 1970s:

310

Overall Rank:

1,669

Average Rating:

80 (255 votes)

Comments:

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Total albums: 1,000. Page 31 of 100

Best Albums of the 1970s composition

Year	Albums	%

1970	111	11%
1971	100	10%
1972	97	10%
1973	113	11%
1974	95	10%
1975	96	10%
1976	90	9%
1977	91	9%
1978	104	10%
1979	103	10%

Artist	Albums	%

Frank Zappa	11	1%
Neil Young	11	1%
David Bowie	11	1%
Genesis	9	1%
Bob Marley	9	1%
Paul McCartney	9	1%
Yes	9	1%
Show all

Country	Albums	%

	385	39%
	375	38%
	42	4%
	39	4%
	38	4%
	20	2%
	20	2%
Show all

Compilation?	Albums	%
No	976	98%
Yes	24	2%

Live?	Albums	%
No	946	95%
Yes	54	5%

Soundtrack?	Albums	%
No	987	99%
Yes	13	1%

Best Albums of the 1970s chart changes

Biggest climbers Biggest climbers in top 100 since last month
Up 2 from 75th to 73rd Bryter Layter by Nick Drake
Up 1 from 94th to 93rd Van Halen by Van Halen
Up 1 from 88th to 87th Breakfast In America by Supertramp

Biggest fallers Biggest fallers in top 100 since last month
Down 1 from 28th to 29th Physical Graffiti by Led Zeppelin
Down 1 from 39th to 40th Bitches Brew by Miles Davis
Down 1 from 47th to 48th Fun House by The Stooges

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