Best Albums of the 1970s

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

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	2,040	259,944	Paranoid (54th)by Black Sabbath
1971	2,138	328,740	Untitled (Led Zeppelin IV) (12th)by Led Zeppelin
1972	2,177	260,098	The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stard... (9th)by David Bowie
1973	2,063	267,065	The Dark Side Of The Moon (2nd)by Pink Floyd
1974	1,951	139,560	Red (144th)by King Crimson
1975	2,105	226,036	Wish You Were Here (7th)by Pink Floyd
1976	2,100	150,182	Songs In The Key Of Life (86th)by Stevie Wonder
1977	2,112	256,051	Rumours (21st)by Fleetwood Mac
1978	2,157	145,675	Darkness On The Edge Of Town (206th)by Bruce Springsteen
1979	2,086	212,678	London Calling (20th)by The Clash
Total	20,929	2,246,029

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.

On The Beach

Neil Young

Year of Release:

1974

Appears in:

788 charts

Rank Score:

7,927

Rank in 1974:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

210

Average Rating:

84 (952 votes)

Comments:

52.

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Elton John

Year of Release:

1973

Appears in:

935 charts

Rank Score:

7,904

Rank in 1973:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

212

Average Rating:

81 (1,119 votes)

Comments:

53.

Let It Be

The Beatles

Year of Release:

1970

Appears in:

1,042 charts

Rank Score:

7,696

Rank in 1970:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

221

Average Rating:

80 (2,099 votes)

Comments:

127

54.

Ramones

Year of Release:

1976

Appears in:

1,013 charts

Rank Score:

7,490

Rank in 1976:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

224

Average Rating:

80 (1,273 votes)

Comments:

102

55.

The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway

Genesis

Year of Release:

1974

Appears in:

775 charts

Rank Score:

7,461

Rank in 1974:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

227

Average Rating:

82 (946 votes)

Comments:

56.

Fear Of Music

Talking Heads

Year of Release:

1979

Appears in:

841 charts

Rank Score:

7,280

Rank in 1979:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

235

Average Rating:

84 (1,062 votes)

Comments:

57.

The Stranger

Billy Joel

Year of Release:

1977

Appears in:

667 charts

Rank Score:

7,246

Rank in 1977:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

237

Average Rating:

82 (855 votes)

Comments:

58.

Machine Head

Deep Purple

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

778 charts

Rank Score:

7,086

Rank in 1972:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

244

Average Rating:

83 (990 votes)

Comments:

59.

Tapestry

Carole King

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

811 charts

Rank Score:

7,051

Rank in 1971:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

245

Average Rating:

82 (913 votes)

Comments:

60.

Fragile

Yes

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

780 charts

Rank Score:

6,979

Rank in 1971:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

249

Average Rating:

84 (1,064 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	100	10%
1972	102	10%
1973	108	11%
1974	97	10%
1975	99	10%
1976	90	9%
1977	91	9%
1978	107	11%
1979	99	10%

Artist	Albums	%

David Bowie	12	1%
Genesis	10	1%
Jethro Tull	9	1%
Joni Mitchell	8	1%
Pink Floyd	8	1%
Yes	8	1%
AC/DC	8	1%
Show all

Country	Albums	%

	389	39%
	371	37%
	42	4%
	37	4%
	36	4%
	24	2%
	20	2%
Show all

Compilation?	Albums	%
No	974	97%
Yes	26	3%

Live?	Albums	%
No	940	94%
Yes	60	6%

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

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