Best Albums of the 1970s

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Listed below are the best albums of the 1970s as calculated from their overall rankings in over 53,000 greatest album charts.

Best albums by year or decade

Decade:

Year:

1970s decade summary

Year	Albums The number of albums from each year featuring in the greatest album charts.	Score Total rank score for each year (made up of the total rank score from all albums in that year)	Top Ranked Album The top ranked album from each year and where it ranks in the overall chart.
1970	2,033	259,317	Paranoid (56th)by Black Sabbath
1971	2,129	329,085	Untitled (Led Zeppelin IV) (12th)by Led Zeppelin
1972	2,157	259,423	The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stard... (9th)by David Bowie
1973	2,057	266,621	The Dark Side Of The Moon (2nd)by Pink Floyd
1974	1,943	139,206	Red (144th)by King Crimson
1975	2,101	226,443	Wish You Were Here (8th)by Pink Floyd
1976	2,089	150,490	Songs In The Key Of Life (86th)by Stevie Wonder
1977	2,105	256,210	Rumours (21st)by Fleetwood Mac
1978	2,142	145,341	Darkness On The Edge Of Town (202nd)by Bruce Springsteen
1979	2,069	212,849	London Calling (20th)by The Clash
Total	20,825	2,244,986

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

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51.

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Elton John

Year of Release:

1973

Appears in:

931 charts

Rank Score:

7,939

Rank in 1973:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

210

Average Rating:

81 (1,112 votes)

Comments:

52.

On The Beach

Neil Young

Year of Release:

1974

Appears in:

785 charts

Rank Score:

7,931

Rank in 1974:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

211

Average Rating:

84 (949 votes)

Comments:

53.

Let It Be

The Beatles

Year of Release:

1970

Appears in:

1,042 charts

Rank Score:

7,717

Rank in 1970:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

219

Average Rating:

80 (2,093 votes)

Comments:

127

54.

Ramones

Year of Release:

1976

Appears in:

1,010 charts

Rank Score:

7,459

Rank in 1976:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

224

Average Rating:

80 (1,267 votes)

Comments:

102

55.

The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway

Genesis

Year of Release:

1974

Appears in:

773 charts

Rank Score:

7,439

Rank in 1974:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

226

Average Rating:

82 (942 votes)

Comments:

56.

Fear Of Music

Talking Heads

Year of Release:

1979

Appears in:

840 charts

Rank Score:

7,305

Rank in 1979:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

234

Average Rating:

84 (1,058 votes)

Comments:

57.

The Stranger

Billy Joel

Year of Release:

1977

Appears in:

667 charts

Rank Score:

7,250

Rank in 1977:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

238

Average Rating:

82 (851 votes)

Comments:

58.

Machine Head

Deep Purple

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

777 charts

Rank Score:

7,101

Rank in 1972:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

244

Average Rating:

83 (985 votes)

Comments:

59.

Tapestry

Carole King

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

809 charts

Rank Score:

7,083

Rank in 1971:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

246

Average Rating:

82 (912 votes)

Comments:

60.

Fragile

Yes

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

781 charts

Rank Score:

7,030

Rank in 1971:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

248

Average Rating:

84 (1,061 votes)

Comments:

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Total albums: 1,000. Page 6 of 100

Best Albums of the 1970s composition

Year	Albums	%

1970	107	11%
1971	101	10%
1972	100	10%
1973	108	11%
1974	97	10%
1975	99	10%
1976	93	9%
1977	91	9%
1978	105	11%
1979	99	10%

Artist	Albums	%

David Bowie	11	1%
Genesis	10	1%
Jethro Tull	9	1%
Elton John	8	1%
The Rolling Stones	8	1%
Wishbone Ash	8	1%
Joni Mitchell	8	1%
Show all

Country	Albums	%

	387	39%
	372	37%
	42	4%
	38	4%
	36	4%
	25	3%
	21	2%
Show all

Compilation?	Albums	%
No	973	97%
Yes	27	3%

Live?	Albums	%
No	941	94%
Yes	59	6%

Soundtrack?	Albums	%
No	988	99%
Yes	12	1%

« View best albums of the 1960sView best albums of the 1980s »

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6. The Low End Theory by A Tribe Called Quest
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