Best Albums of 1978
Explore the best albums of 1978, based on over 2 million album rankings across 61,000 charts
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Last updated: 53 minutes ago
"This album if full of energy. You listen to it and you feel the power of the sound. Songs like Badlands, Adam Raised a Cain, Racing in the Street, Prove it All Night. This is a 5 star standard bearer for the heart of RockNRoll." Reply
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,938
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Comments:
"However cheesy you might think some of the songs are (and some very well might be), frankly, this record is irresistible." Reply
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,161
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"the soundtrack to the 80's... released in 1978? ahead of its time for sure, and underrated. "bye bye love," "let the good times roll," "just what I needed," and "my best friend's girl" get all of the play on the jukebox/radio, but "you're all I've got tonight," "all mixed up," and "moving in ster..." Reply
Year of Release:
1978
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Rank Score:
5,437
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"I dismissed Elvis Costello as a wuss that bohemian girls liked, but nobody else would, until I dated a super-hot bohemian girl who insisted I give him a fair try. Was it my hormones or my brain that convinced me I was wrong? I'd say it was somewhere in my gut. This album should win anyone over." Reply
Year of Release:
1978
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Rank Score:
4,970
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"My favourite Kraftwerk album. The man machine, features beautiful soundscapes combined with a pop mentality. The model, even became a no:1 hit in the U.K. a few years down the line. Perfect late night chill out music. They were so ahead of their time." Reply
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,377
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"It's one of those albums that blows your mind. How could these guys write so many standout songs for their first album. For many bands, the first album is an experiment of sorts, one in which they attempt to find exactly what they're going for and what they will eventually stick with. For Van Hal..." Reply
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,302
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"Despite being divided into multiple 'sections', Reich's minimalist masterpiece is performed in one take, and so has the curious property of being seemingly immobile and yet constantly washing over you. Listening to the strings undercut the vocals on Section VII has a desperate urgency that is dif..." Reply
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,314
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"Kate Bush's debut album is an excellent collection of slightly quirky songs from one of music's most unique artists. There is a beautiful innocence to some tracks, especially on the lovely, the man with the child in his eyes. Other highlights include, them heavy people, saxophone song, and the ab..." Reply
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,118
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"Muscular and lean, this album packed a lot of punch in a short amount of time. The first Stones album that I loved at first listen. I still have the original vinyl cover with the celebrities photos before they had to redesign the cover." Reply
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,983
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"No other album has ever simultaneously made me think and made me wanna move as this one." Reply
Year of Release:
1978
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,710
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Total albums: 1,000. Page 1 of 100
Best Albums of 1978 composition
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Various Artists | 14 | 1% | |
| Sun Ra | 4 | 0% | |
| Vangelis | 4 | 0% | |
| Elvis Presley | 3 | 0% | |
| Bob Dylan | 3 | 0% | |
| Culture | 3 | 0% | |
| Woody Shaw | 3 | 0% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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|
380 | 38% | |
|
204 | 20% | |
|
43 | 4% | |
|
42 | 4% | |
|
40 | 4% | |
|
30 | 3% | |
|
29 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
Best Albums of 1978 chart changes
| Biggest climbers Biggest climbers in top 100 since last month |
|---|
Up 3 from 79th to 76th |
Up 3 from 57th to 54th |
Up 3 from 30th to 27th |
| Biggest fallers Biggest fallers in top 100 since last month |
|---|
Down 8 from 75th to 83rd |
Down 5 from 62nd to 67th |
Down 1 from 7th to 8th |
Recognised
Year Charts (2025)



