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 54,000 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	2,087	255,367	Paranoid (53rd)by Black Sabbath
1971	2,182	323,997	Untitled (Led Zeppelin IV) (12th)by Led Zeppelin
1972	2,247	255,832	The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stard... (9th)by David Bowie
1973	2,127	261,506	The Dark Side Of The Moon (2nd)by Pink Floyd
1974	2,035	138,323	Red (139th)by King Crimson
1975	2,161	220,552	Wish You Were Here (5th)by Pink Floyd
1976	2,173	149,573	Songs In The Key Of Life (83rd)by Stevie Wonder
1977	2,177	252,118	Rumours (21st)by Fleetwood Mac
1978	2,230	145,491	Darkness On The Edge Of Town (209th)by Bruce Springsteen
1979	2,153	208,645	London Calling (20th)by The Clash
Total	21,572	2,211,403

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 Stevie Wonder.

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51.

Darkness On The Edge Of Town

Bruce Springsteen

Year of Release:

1978

Appears in:

877 charts

Rank Score:

7,798

Rank in 1978:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

209

Average Rating:

82 (1,147 votes)

Comments:

52.

On The Beach

Neil Young

Year of Release:

1974

Appears in:

808 charts

Rank Score:

7,786

Rank in 1974:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

210

Average Rating:

84 (968 votes)

Comments:

53.

Let It Be

The Beatles

Year of Release:

1970

Appears in:

1,048 charts

Rank Score:

7,565

Rank in 1970:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

Average Rating:

Comments:

54.

Year of Release:

1979

Appears in:

858 charts

Rank Score:

7,351

Rank in 1979:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

226

Average Rating:

84 (1,076 votes)

Comments:

55.

Ramones

Year of Release:

1976

Appears in:

1,028 charts

Rank Score:

7,342

Rank in 1976:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

Average Rating:

Comments:

56.

Year of Release:

1977

Appears in:

684 charts

Rank Score:

7,280

Rank in 1977:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

230

Average Rating:

82 (866 votes)

Comments:

57.

The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway

Genesis

Year of Release:

1974

Appears in:

779 charts

Rank Score:

7,111

Rank in 1974:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

235

Average Rating:

82 (952 votes)

Comments:

58.

Tapestry

Carole King

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

826 charts

Rank Score:

7,018

Rank in 1971:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

241

Average Rating:

82 (926 votes)

Comments:

59.

Machine Head

Deep Purple

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

792 charts

Rank Score:

7,018

Rank in 1972:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

242

Average Rating:

83 (999 votes)

Comments:

60.

Band On The Run

Paul McCartney & Wings

Year of Release:

1973

Appears in:

799 charts

Rank Score:

6,929

Rank in 1973:

Rank in 1970s:

Overall Rank:

249

Average Rating:

82 (1,015 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	97	10%
1972	102	10%
1973	109	11%
1974	99	10%
1975	100	10%
1976	89	9%
1977	90	9%
1978	109	11%
1979	99	10%

Artist	Albums	%

David Bowie	12	1%
Genesis	10	1%
Jethro Tull	9	1%
Elton John	8	1%
AC/DC	8	1%
The Rolling Stones	8	1%
Miles Davis	8	1%
Show all

Country	Albums	%

	386	39%
	369	37%
	42	4%
	37	4%
	36	4%
	24	2%
	21	2%
Show all

Compilation?	Albums	%
No	977	98%
Yes	24	2%

Live?	Albums	%
No	941	94%
Yes	60	6%

Soundtrack?	Albums	%
No	989	99%
Yes	12	1%

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

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