Best Albums of 1974

Sort by

• Overall Rank
• Num. Charts
• Avg. Rating
• Num. Ratings
• Release Date
• Title
• Artist

11.

Mirage 

 Camel

Buy album

• EBAY
• APPLE MUSIC
• SPOTIFY
• AMAZON (US)
• #Sponsored

"I don't know if these guys wrote the book on prog-rock but it definitely is a complete representation of the genre. You got the quick tempo changes, the scale pornography, the flute. Everything you need for a good 'ol prog-time while remaining surprisingly jazzy. The musicianship is of course, as...""I don't know if these guys wrote the book on prog-rock but it definitely is a complete representation of the genre. You got the quick tempo changes, the scale pornography, the flute. Everything you need for a good 'ol prog-time while remaining surprisingly jazzy. The musicianship is of course, as I knew beforehand, at a very high level. Very interesting guitar-tone and synth sounds that you can tell was either inspired by or inspired Chick Correa, if it was weirder it could be a Return To Forever album. The interplay between the flute and the keys is quite something. It's a very even album, which is to be expected of this kind of instrumental noodling. But Nimrodel and Lady Fantasy stand out only because they are greater in scope. Good record."  [+]  Reply

- Medelsvensson | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +5 votes (5 helpful | 0 unhelpful) A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.

Year of Release:

1974

Appears in:

354 charts

Rank Score:

2,366

Rank in 1974:

11

Rank in 1970s:

159

Overall Rank:

729

Average Rating:

 81 (418 votes)

Comments:

22

12.

Queen II 

 Queen

Buy album

• EBAY
• APPLE MUSIC
• SPOTIFY
• AMAZON (US)
• #Sponsored

"This is a very underrated album. This is Queen's second studio album and at the time this was a huge leap from what they did in their first album. The music is written like poetry and to me this album is flawless."  Reply

- sheerheartattack | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +4 votes (4 helpful | 0 unhelpful) A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.

Year of Release:

1974

Appears in:

380 charts

Rank Score:

2,353

Rank in 1974:

12

Rank in 1970s:

161

Overall Rank:

734

Average Rating:

 78 (764 votes)

Comments:

43

13.

Radio City 

 Big Star

Buy album

• EBAY
• APPLE MUSIC
• SPOTIFY
• AMAZON (US)
• #Sponsored

"Another excellent rock'n'roll album from Big Star. Gone are the over the top vocals of the first LP. Radio city, like #1 record, it's full of fantastic rock anthems. Underrated and overlooked."  Reply

- garycottier | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +3 votes (3 helpful | 0 unhelpful) A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.

Year of Release:

1974

Appears in:

340 charts

Rank Score:

1,917

Rank in 1974:

13

Rank in 1970s:

186

Overall Rank:

906

Average Rating:

 79 (445 votes)

Comments:

19

14.

Pretzel Logic 

 Steely Dan

Buy album

• EBAY
• APPLE MUSIC
• SPOTIFY
• AMAZON (US)
• #Sponsored

"Steely Dan's third album "Pretzel Logic" is in many ways a remarkable album. Often, the album highlighted as the group's finest work, obviously in strong competition with most of the group's other excellent albums. It is also the album that contains the group's biggest single-hit "Rikki Don't Los...""Steely Dan's third album "Pretzel Logic" is in many ways a remarkable album. Often, the album highlighted as the group's finest work, obviously in strong competition with most of the group's other excellent albums. It is also the album that contains the group's biggest single-hit "Rikki Don't Lose That Number". Personally I also think that it is the group's most varied in style and funny enough also the one with the shortest playing-time. Finally, it is probably also the last album where you can talk about a group in the traditional sense, since by this time they stopped giving concerts, and subsequently mostly became a duo consisting of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" stands out from the other tracks, being both melodically and rhythmicly very catchy, and it also has an excellent guitar solo played by Jeff Baxter. The exquisite "Any Major Dude" is another favorite - also both melodic and catchy. The jazzy and funky side of the band comes out with songs like "Night By Night" and of course, Ellington's "East St. Louis." On tracks like "With a Gun" and "Barrytown" you can almost talk about country music, while "Parker's Band" and "Pretzel Logic" are more pure rock - the latter with a beautiful guitar solo by Becker. An excellent album with "Rikki Do not Lose That Number", "Any Major Dude" and "Pretzel Logic," as the immortal classics."  [+]  Reply

- Rovers | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful) A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.

Year of Release:

1974

Appears in:

385 charts

Rank Score:

1,866

Rank in 1974:

14

Rank in 1970s:

192

Overall Rank:

934

Average Rating:

 79 (538 votes)

Comments:

26

15.

Autobahn 

 Kraftwerk

Buy album

• EBAY
• APPLE MUSIC
• SPOTIFY
• AMAZON (US)
• #Sponsored

"Autobahn suffers from 2112 syndrome; an amazing 20 minute epic on one side of the record, encompassing everything great the group had done up to that point, followed by a seemingly random assortment of good songs on the other side that pale in comparison to the first song/side, making for a puzzl...""Autobahn suffers from 2112 syndrome; an amazing 20 minute epic on one side of the record, encompassing everything great the group had done up to that point, followed by a seemingly random assortment of good songs on the other side that pale in comparison to the first song/side, making for a puzzling album to discern. Should it be called great just because that one song is great, or should it be called mediocre because the rest isn't up to snuff? In the case of Kraftwerk, the music they made always appealed to a specific audience (again, much like Rush) that gobbled this up, and I enjoy it greatly as well."  [+]  Reply

- teague | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +3 votes (3 helpful | 0 unhelpful) A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.

Year of Release:

1974

Appears in:

382 charts

Rank Score:

1,811

Rank in 1974:

15

Rank in 1970s:

196

Overall Rank:

962

Average Rating:

 78 (503 votes)

Comments:

26

16.

Kimono My House 

 Sparks

Buy album

• EBAY
• APPLE MUSIC
• SPOTIFY
• AMAZON (US)
• #Sponsored

"The best glam rock album I've ever heard, with the exception of Ziggy Stardust. Charismatic, inventive, and fun, everything glam rock should be."  Reply

- teague | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +4 votes (4 helpful | 0 unhelpful) A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.

Year of Release:

1974

Appears in:

278 charts

Rank Score:

1,671

Rank in 1974:

16

Rank in 1970s:

211

Overall Rank:

1,047

Average Rating:

 79 (334 votes)

Comments:

17

17.

No Other 

 Gene Clark

Buy album

• EBAY
• APPLE MUSIC
• SPOTIFY
• AMAZON (US)
• #Sponsored

"A strange album of best member of The Byrds. The songwriting of Gene Clark shines in dangerous and fragile aspects. Lisergic and ethereal. Further definitions."  Reply

- carneham | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful) A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.

Year of Release:

1974

Appears in:

251 charts

Rank Score:

1,667

Rank in 1974:

17

Rank in 1970s:

214

Overall Rank:

1,052

Average Rating:

 79 (234 votes)

Comments:

11

18.

I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight 

 Richard & Linda Thompson

Buy album

• EBAY
• APPLE MUSIC
• SPOTIFY
• AMAZON (US)
• #Sponsored

"When Richard Thompson released this album, his first with his wife Linda, he had already a relatively long recording career behind him. As a founder member of Fairport Convention he was the group on their first five albums. His characteristic guitarplaying style can also be heard on Sandy Denny's...""When Richard Thompson released this album, his first with his wife Linda, he had already a relatively long recording career behind him. As a founder member of Fairport Convention he was the group on their first five albums. His characteristic guitarplaying style can also be heard on Sandy Denny's early solo albums and he had released his own soloalbum "Henry the Human Fly" in 1972. During his time with Fairport Convention Thompson matured a lot as a songwriter and many of the band's early favourites were either written or co-written by Thompson. His inspiration by traditional British music also became still more clear. Many of the songs on "Henry" and "I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight" actually sound like they were traditional folk-songs. His collaboration with Linda lasted for 8 years and resulted in 6 great albums. This their first is often regarded as the strongest with Richard's songwriting extraordinary inspired and varied, and his distictive voice blends beautifully with Linda's on these great songs. The terrific opener "When I Get to the Border", sung by Richard, is catchy with optimistic lyrics. A little unsual for Thompson, whose lyrics often are dark and sad. Equally catchy ( and optimistic ) is the title track which deserved to be hit beautifully sung by Linda. Heartbreakingly beautiful is also the sad ballad "Withered and Died", sung by Linda in way that makes you think of her friend Sandy Denny. The dark side of Richard's songwriting become apprent on songs like "Down Where the Drunkards Roll", "Has He Got a Friend For Me" and especially "The End of the Rainbow" . Even the catchy "We'll Sing Hallelujah" has some pretty dismal lyrics. The budget for this album was supposedly very limited, but it does show anywhere. Great arrangements, crisp sound and best of all strong songwriting and palying from first track till the closer "The Great Valerio". The bonus-tracks found on some versions are three 1975 live-recordings - nice to have but some may find that they disturb the very consistent feel of the original album, which I won't hesitate to call a masterpiece. "  [+]  Reply

- Rovers | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +5 votes (5 helpful | 0 unhelpful) A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.

Year of Release:

1974

Appears in:

299 charts

Rank Score:

1,560

Rank in 1974:

18

Rank in 1970s:

228

Overall Rank:

1,117

Average Rating:

 79 (306 votes)

Comments:

10

19.

Safe Mode: On Certain images on this site may contain sensitive content and are flagged as 'unsafe'. BestEverAlbums.com does not display these images by default, but you may choose to show or hide these images from your profile page. If you choose to hide these images, you'll see an image with a warning message instead of the actual image. If you choose to show them, you'll see these images no differently than regular (safe) images.

Country Life 

 Roxy Music

Buy album

• EBAY
• APPLE MUSIC
• SPOTIFY
• AMAZON (US)
• #Sponsored

"Roxy Music's best album, and not just for the album cover (although that's an added bonus). Standout tracks are: Thrill of It All, All I Want Is You, Really Good Time, and Prairie Rose."  Reply

- joedec | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (2 helpful | 1 unhelpful) A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.

Year of Release:

1974

Appears in:

328 charts

Rank Score:

1,556

Rank in 1974:

19

Rank in 1970s:

229

Overall Rank:

1,123

Average Rating:

 78 (412 votes)

Comments:

14

20.

Fulfillingness' First Finale 

 Stevie Wonder

Buy album

• EBAY
• APPLE MUSIC
• SPOTIFY
• AMAZON (US)
• #Sponsored

"Wonderfully understated album. Stevie's soul permeates throughout the album, especially "they won't go when i go"."  Reply

- paladisiac | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +5 votes (5 helpful | 0 unhelpful) A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.

Year of Release:

1974

Appears in:

278 charts

Rank Score:

1,502

Rank in 1974:

20

Rank in 1970s:

233

Overall Rank:

1,162

Average Rating:

 80 (330 votes)

Comments:

16

• « prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• ...
• 99
• 100
• next »
• Goto Page: 

Total albums: 1,000. Page 2 of 100

Best Albums of 1974 composition

Top 1,000 Top 500 Top 250 Top 100

Artist	Albums	%
Various Artists	9	1%
Elvis Presley	4	0%
Johnny Cash	3	0%
Electric Light Orchestra	3	0%
Miles Davis	3	0%
Gladys Knight	3	0%
Ohio Players	3	0%
Show all

Country	Albums	%
	393	39%
	220	22%
	56	6%
	42	4%
	40	4%
	26	3%
	24	2%
Show all

Compilation?	Albums	%
No	950	95%
Yes	50	5%

Live?	Albums	%
No	958	96%
Yes	42	4%

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