Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s by AAL2014

I view the 1970's as popular music's finest decade. There are great acts that spawned in the 60's, 80's, 90's, and 00's of course, but pound for pound, year after year, album after album, looking at the output from the 1970's makes me feel nostalgic even though I wasn't around.

• Chart updated: 04/25/2024 01:15
• (Created: 07/15/2015 19:04).
• Chart size: 100 albums.

There are 3 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s has an average rating of 88 out of 100 (from 5 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.

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21. (=)

Who's Next 

 The Who

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I think this album is slightly overrated as far as full albums go, but the high points are astronomically good. Some of the best that rock music ever had to offer. [First added to this chart: 07/16/2015]

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

2,129 charts

Rank Score:

23,922

Rank in 1971:

2

Rank in 1970s:

10

Overall Rank:

40

Average Rating:

 86 (2,494 votes)

Comments:

200

22. (=)

Cosmo's Factory 

 Creedence Clearwater Revival

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An album loaded with classic rock bangers and excellent deep cuts. I love it more the more I return to it. What a great album cover too. [First added to this chart: 04/24/2020]

Year of Release:

1970

Appears in:

868 charts

Rank Score:

8,881

Rank in 1970:

9

Rank in 1970s:

45

Overall Rank:

182

Average Rating:

 85 (947 votes)

Comments:

55

23. (=)

Van Halen 

 Van Halen

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Van Halen 1 is a triumph. A glorious barrage of rock solid rock from four young guys trying to take over the world (and succeeding). While this is an incredibly special album and band for me, the track-listing simply speaks for itself. Hits galore and when there’s not, there’s an even better and heavier deep cut to carry the load. [First added to this chart: 07/16/2015]

Year of Release:

1978

Appears in:

660 charts

Rank Score:

4,757

Rank in 1978:

5

Rank in 1970s:

93

Overall Rank:

375

Average Rating:

 80 (857 votes)

Comments:

67

24. (=)

Another Green World 

 Brian Eno

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Another Green World resides in its own little auditory world. When you visit this world, things are different. The angular and quirky Sky Saw welcomes us to this ceiling on the floor world of abstractness.

Oh yeah, and the Big Ship is such an incredible and moving piece. One of my favorites ever. [First added to this chart: 02/15/2021]

Year of Release:

1975

Appears in:

801 charts

Rank Score:

9,159

Rank in 1975:

6

Rank in 1970s:

43

Overall Rank:

177

Average Rating:

 83 (1,012 votes)

Comments:

55

25. (=)

Tago Mago 

 Can

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[First added to this chart: 06/06/2022]

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

906 charts

Rank Score:

10,267

Rank in 1971:

8

Rank in 1970s:

39

Overall Rank:

149

Average Rating:

 83 (1,021 votes)

Comments:

77

26. (=)

Maggot Brain 

 Funkadelic

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Such a cool album. Of course it starts with one of the finest guitar-centered recordings of all time (ever ever ever), but Maggot Brain’s mastery only begins there. Nearly every song from there on sinks it’s way into your psyche with huge attitude and hilariously good grooves. [First added to this chart: 07/16/2015]

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

626 charts

Rank Score:

4,254

Rank in 1971:

19

Rank in 1970s:

100

Overall Rank:

419

Average Rating:

 82 (687 votes)

Comments:

46

27. (=)

A Night At The Opera 

 Queen

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Queen reaches their apex in terms of what it means to be Queen with this one. This album is all over the place in a number of ways but man, as a whole, there’s nothing like this, only imitators in its wake. [First added to this chart: 07/16/2015]

Year of Release:

1975

Appears in:

1,384 charts

Rank Score:

13,300

Rank in 1975:

5

Rank in 1970s:

27

Overall Rank:

101

Average Rating:

 83 (1,885 votes)

Comments:

129

28. (=)

Sticky Fingers 

 The Rolling Stones

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My favorite Stones record. Sleazy rock at its earliest (therefore obviously best) and most tuneful. Can't You Hear Me Knocking is a stand out. [First added to this chart: 07/16/2015]

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

1,596 charts

Rank Score:

19,074

Rank in 1971:

5

Rank in 1970s:

19

Overall Rank:

60

Average Rating:

 86 (1,870 votes)

Comments:

134

29. (=)

Bridge Over Troubled Water 

 Simon & Garfunkel

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One of the great records of its kind and perhaps the tallest of trees in a catalog akin to the Redwood Forest. They were born to make music together, that's just it. Even if it was only for a short time, the fruits of their often troubled labor will last forever. [First added to this chart: 04/20/2020]

Year of Release:

1970

Appears in:

1,237 charts

Rank Score:

13,054

Rank in 1970:

4

Rank in 1970s:

31

Overall Rank:

108

Average Rating:

 84 (1,491 votes)

Comments:

95

30. (=)

Talking Book 

 Stevie Wonder

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One of his greatest works and it’s not just Superstition I’m talking about. The indefinably joyous You Are The Sunshine Of My Life, its polygamous, pessimistic counterpoint Maybe Your Baby, and the most underrated political rant in pop music, Big Brother flood this album with Wonder's best work by far up to that point in his young yet prolific career. [First added to this chart: 04/20/2020]

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

513 charts

Rank Score:

2,900

Rank in 1972:

16

Rank in 1970s:

143

Overall Rank:

613

Average Rating:

 81 (656 votes)

Comments:

23

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s composition

Year	Albums	%
1970	10	10%
1971	18	18%
1972	14	14%
1973	11	11%
1974	8	8%
1975	13	13%
1976	8	8%
1977	10	10%
1978	5	5%
1979	3	3%

Artist	Albums	%
David Bowie	4	4%
Joni Mitchell	4	4%
Stevie Wonder	3	3%
Pink Floyd	3	3%
Black Sabbath	3	3%
Yes	3	3%
The Who	3	3%
Show all

Country	Albums	%
	40	40%
	40	40%
	7	7%
	7	7%
	2	2%
	1	1%
	1	1%
Show all

Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s chart changes

Biggest climbers
Up 3 from 69th to 66th The Inner Mounting Flame by The Mahavishnu Orchestra With John McLaughlin
Up 2 from 74th to 72nd Curtis by Curtis Mayfield
Up 2 from 73rd to 71st Fear Of Music by Talking Heads

Biggest fallers
Down 3 from 65th to 68th I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight by Richard & Linda Thompson
Down 3 from 70th to 73rd Aqualung by Jethro Tull
Down 3 from 71st to 74th Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! by Devo

New entries
Sextant by Herbie Hancock

Leavers
Sin After Sin by Judas Priest

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s ratings

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Rating	Date updated	Member	Chart ratings	Avg. chart rating
95/100	04/21/2022 13:11	Larcx13	1,094	86/100
90/100	08/01/2020 21:31	MasterOfPuppets	175	91/100
90/100	02/28/2020 03:16	Tamthebam	558	85/100
95/100	04/24/2018 03:06	jdenny2018	103	92/100
95/100	12/02/2017 22:14	panapsal	233	93/100

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Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s comments

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Rating:  

95/100

From jdenny2018 04/24/2018 05:51

AAL, Blood on the tracks, Made in japan, and most of your 41-50 were the new listens. Thanks for the welcome, still getting used to posting in forums and what not

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

From AAL2014 04/24/2018 05:23

jdenny, thanks for your comments and ratings on these charts. I actually haven't touched this chart in over a year, maybe longer. Although the albums closer to the top would probably remain the same or close to it, there's a lot of work to be done yet with this chart.

Inner Mounting Flame will definitely be here when I get around to updating it. I had yet to even listen to it when I compiled this chart initially.

May I ask what future listens you took from this?

Welcome to the site!

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

Rating:  

95/100

From jdenny2018 04/24/2018 03:07

Solid list. Definitely gave me a couple ideas for future listens. Definitely would've chosen Inner mounting flame over birds of fire

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

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