in the 70s - Top Ten Albums of the Seventies

Top Ten Albums of the Seventies

What are your top ten favorite albums from the 70s?

We also have pages on this topic devoted to the 80s and 90s

10. Frampton Comes Alive by Peter Frampton
9. Van Halen by Van Halen
8. Rocks by Aerosmith
7. Paranoid by Black Sabbath
6. Boston by Boston
5. Hotel California by Eagles
4. Dark Side Of THe Moon by Pink Floyd
3. Led Zepplin IV by Led Zepplin
2. Toys In The Attic by Aerosmith
1. Bat Out Of Hell by Meatloaf

10. Small Change by Tom Waits
Get drunk and maudlin and listen to this with the lights off...you'll soon be smiling.
9. Paranoid by Black Sabbath
The grand-daddy of heavy rock albums.
8. Replicas by Tubeway Army
A great note to end the 70's on.
7. All Things Must Pass by George Harrison
The best solo album by any of the Beatles.
6. Never Mind The Bollocks Here's The Sex Pistols by Sex Pistols
All of the good stuff that they did is on this album.
5. Sticky Fingers by Rolling Stones
The peak of Mick Taylor's Stone's career.
4. Transformer by Lou Reed
Drug abuse, sado-masochism, transvestites - this album has the lot!
3. Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie
Musically defining a turning point of the 70's.
2. It's Alive by Ramones
Probably the best live album ever - "Hey, we're the Ramones, and this one's called Rockaway Beach, 1-2-3-4..."
1. The Raven by Stranglers
A killer album!

10. Joshua Tree by U2
Ireland's greatest band (not artist, that's Van Morrison)fulfilled their eight-year objective with a near concept album which tpped the charts for weeks.
9. Michael Jackson by Thriller
Still the best seller of all time, this rather unlikely set tried to cover all the bases, and connected with everyone from Elvis fans to Prince fans. Even its failures, such as "PYT" and "Lady in My Life," were fascinating in the context of some of Jackson's best music. "Billie Jean," "Wanna Be Startin Something" and "Human Nature" displayed a maturity and humanity which Jackson had never before, and would never again, match.
8. Graceland by Paul Simon
Paul Simon proved to be one of the Sixties strongest survivors when this album, his greatest achievement, was released in the largely lackluster mid-Eighties. His immersion in South African music did cause some controversy, but every note justified his interntions, not to mention bringing Ladysmith Black Mambazo to a world-wide audience. The songwriting sensibilities which produced "The Boxer" and "Hearts and Bones" found a new foundation in a flawless collection.
7. Daydream Nation by Sonic Youth
Before Nirvana, or even Jane's Addiction, Sonic Youth took soundscape noise to church with Daydream Nation. It is one of the ultimate statements of alienation and angst-filled purpose, marked by the aloof sexuality of Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon. As sonically sprawling as the Allman Brothers' At Fillmore East, it is also equally note-perfect.
6. Murmur by REM
The debut of the new south unfurled a pop sound which reconciled post-punk apathy with the best of springy Sixties hooks. Michael Stipe gave American rock a new voice.
5. It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back by Public Enemy
George Clinton called them the "Bob Dylan of rap," and this album best proves his point. Chuck D and Flavor Flav lead the crew through what amounts to a political convention which mixes pride with terror and stands against not only stereotypical adveraries Reagan and Bush, but also the whole hypocritical white liberal delegation as well. Public Enemy shoved a young genre to its peak before it succumed to a less political, more personal focus.
4. Remain In Light by Talking Heads
The last of the Talking Heads' collaborations with Brian Eno, and the best of David Byrne's early explorations of polyrhythmic world music, Remain in Light is the band's most simgular statement of purpose. "Once in a Lifetime" was a high point of Byrne's studied analyses of every day irony, "Wind in My Heart" showed deeply compassionate frustration, and "The Overload" took the desolate soundscapes of Fear of Music to its logical apex.
3. The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths
The best album from England's best band in the Eighties. Morrissey's balance of emotive despiar and stinging wit were rarely so well displayed as here. The title track is a lyrical show-stopper, while the music matches anyone else's toughest rock. The real triumph, though, is "I Know It's Over," after which any critics complaining about Morrissey's dour passions would prove to be missing the point.
2. Purple Rain by Prince
Half a decade of revolutionized R&B culminated in this picture perfect soundtrack album. Very nearly the successor to Sly Stone and Jimi Hendrix, Prince's guitar based sound appealled to all comers. What appealled to him was never in question, but for every licentious expression, it was spirituality which carried the day. The title track and "When Doves Cry" will still give you chills.
1. Closer by Joy Division
The grim industrial horizon of the late seventies/early eighties was never better captured than in this most emotionally bleak of albums. This collection redefined the heart and soul of rock and roll, but was too obtuse for most listeners. Closer needed no encore, and it didn't get one: singer/songwriter Ian Curtis took his life shortly after the album's release.

10. School's Out by Alice Cooper
9. Pieces Of Eight by Styx
Renegade & Blue Collar Man
8. Aqualung by Jethro Tull
7. Everyn Picture Tells A Story by Rod Stewart
Back when Rod was a rocker.
6. Excitable Boy by Warren Zevon
5. One More From The Road by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Original ass kickin' southern rock
4. Hotel California by The Eagles
3. Live Bullet by Bob Seger
Three words: Turn the Page
2. The Wall by Pink Floyd
1. Bat Out Of Hell by Meat Loaf
Wore it out on eight-track, vinyl, & Cassette, Thank God for CD's. (It must be #1, we all have it)

10. Plastic Ono Band by John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
A brilliant and refreshing departure from the Beatle era. "Working Class Hero" was a stroke of genius.
9. African Herbsman by Bob Marley
This is the real deal for Marley fanatics. The Marley/Lee Perry combination was for reggae, what Lennon/McCartney was for rock.
8. Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars by David Bowie
Hunky Dory and Aladdin Sane are right there too, but this has more of the stripped down feel that would influence bands for generations to come.
7. What's Going On by Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye at his greatest...America's equivolent to Bob Marley.
6. Maggot Brain by Funkadelic
The New Testament of funk.
5. Led Zeppelin III by Led Zeppelin
Maybe not the most revered by Zeppelin freaks, but has a "White Album" feel to it because the tracks are so varied. "Hats off to Roy Harper" still sends shivers down my spine. Page at his best on the slide.
4. Funhouse by The Stooges
Because if it weren't for this album, the next 2 albums would not have existed.
3. The Ramones by The Ramones
Today this album is still as funny, fresh, catchy and new as it was when it first debuted. The antidote for corporate rock.
2. Never Mind The Bollocks by Sex Pistols
Never has one band achieved such legendary status from recording only one album. Punk bands today could base their whole career from any one of these songs. They managed to offend everyone that they were fed up with in 11 tracks. "Bodies", "Pretty Vacant", "EMI", "Holidays In The Sun" are even more relavent today. The 70's version of the Velvet Underground's "Banana" album.
1. Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones
The way rock should be defined. Dirty, smutty, kinky, funky...I could go on and on but what's the point. At this point the Stones could do no wrong. Everyone talks about the Beatles progression from "She Loves You" to Sgt. Pepper, but what gets lost is the Stones progression from "Satanic Majesties Request" to Sticky Fingers. And the Stones even had a member of the group die on them. Who needs drugs? Just listen to this album.

10. Razors Edge by AC/DC
slicin
9. Back In Black by AC/DC
great band
8. Four Wheel Drive by Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Kills
7. Physical Graffiti by Led Zeppelin
It grand
6. 16 Greatest Hits by Steppen Wolf
They are all Great Hits
5. Eliminator by ZZ Top
Real Good
4. Sloppy Seconds by Dr. Hook
Its all good!!
3. American Graffiti by Soundtrack
RIPPIN
2. The Wall by Pink Floyd
SMOKIN
1. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
Its RAD, all of their albums are good, they are my favorite!!

10. Quadrophenia by The Who
One reason The Who should be thought of as a better band is that they are the only band to pull of a rock opera, and they did it twice.
9. Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen
You cannot argue with Springsteen's Bossness.
8. Songs In The Key Of Life by Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder is just great.
7. Hotel California by The Eagles
The Eagles were at their best when Joe Walsh was in the group. He gave them a hard rock edge to go with their vocal abilities.
6. Exile On Main Street by The Rolling Stones
The Stones weren't old yet in 1972. You have to admit that this album is great. Keith Richards and Mick Taylor are great on guitar.
5. What's Going On by Marvin Gaye
Motown's crowning achievement. Marvin Gaye has one of the greatest voices ever.
4. Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin
Every song is great. Shows off Zeppelin's amazing flexibility. "Stairway" and "Rock and Roll" are anthems. "The Battle of Evermore" is great.
3. The Wall by Pink Floyd
Very depressing, but still great. Not quite as good as Dark Side because of its over-the-topness. You can't argue its greatness, though.
2. Who's Next by The Who
The best studio album by one of the most underappreciated bands ever. The Who were the first great hard rock band.
1. Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
No other album flows like Dark Side. It's basically one long song. Roger Waters is the greatest lyricist ever, albeit a little morbid.

10. II by Led Zeppelin
9. Who's Next by The Who
8. Slowhand by Eric Clapton
7. Wheels Of Fire by Cream
6. Rust Never Sleeps by Neil Young
5. Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs by Derek And The Dominos
4. Blood On The Tracks by Bob Dylan
3. Morrison Hotel by The Doors
2. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
1. IV by Led Zeppelin

10. My Aim Is True by Elvis Costello
GREAT STYLE. GREAT ALBUM. GREAT SONGWRITER. GREAT CHOICE
9. Frampton Comes Alive by Peter Frampton
GOOD ALBUM. PLUS HIS GUITAR TALKS
8. La Woman by The Doors
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A DOORS ALBUM ON HERE, AND THIS WAS THE BEST FROM THE SEVENTIES
7. IV by Led Zeppelin
STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN. THAT SOLELY LANDS THE ALBUM.
6. American Beauty by The Grateful Dead
i htinkthis album os from the sevetnites. not positive,. great song wirting though
5. The Wall by Pink Floyd
over 20 numbing piritaully intesifying tracks.
4. Whos Next by The Who
its The who
3. Exodus by Bob Marley
AN AWEOSME EXPRESSION OF mARLEYS FEELINGS HTROUGH REGGAE, LANDED THIS ONE AT NUMBER 3
2. Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
AMAZINGLY WRITTEN ALBUM. 14 YEARS IN BILLBOARD CHARTS. ENOGUH SAID
1. Houses Of The Holy by Led Zeppelin
AWESOME FUSIOIN OF ROCK, REGGAE, AND FOLK. DYER MAKER!!!NEED I SAY MORE???

10. A Night At The Opera by Queen
From start to finish, this album is smashing.
9. Seventeen Seconds by The Cure
A great album... the only truly great album they made. The Top (in 1984) was also good, but it couldn't top this.
8. Odds & Sods by The Who
With such classic tracks as Glow Girl, Postcard, Long Live Rock and Naked Eye, how could this NOT be on my list? Okay... so most of the tracks were made in the late '60s, but weren't released until this album came out in 1974. The inclusion of We Close Tonight (a Quadrophenia holdout) on the '95 rerelease made it even better.
7. Public Image - First Issue by Public Image Ltd.
This album, full of songs Johnny was writing during the Sex Pistols' ill-fated US tour, is far superior to anything the Pistols ever did. It's the album that's keeping the Pistols off of this list.
6. Morrison Hotel by The Doors
Their first album in the '70s (and the second to last of their career) is far superior to LA Woman.
5. Songs From The Wood by Jethro Tull
Narrowly beats Passion Play as my fav Tull album. Unfortunately, much of their music went downhill from here.
4. The Scream by Siouxsie And The Banshees
Such a mature album for a debut release... or a band that couldn't play their instruments just two short years earlier!
3. Let It Be by The Beatles
So it was recorded in 1969... but it was RELEASED in 1970! Oh the technicalities!
2. Another Music In A Different Kitchen by The Buzzcocks
No other band in the '70s had a debut album that was this good.
1. Quadrophenia by The Who
Still relevant today with an insurrection of Mod culture.