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. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John
Who doesnt like Elton John?
9. Fragile by Yes
A true progressive band that I think are not as popular as the should be.
8. Parinoid by Black Sabbath
A truely heavy album
7. Sticky Fingers by Rolling Stones
Its the stones, what more could you want.
6. Who's Next? by The Who
Won't get fooled again is a priceless rock anthem
5. Meddle by Pink Floyd
Pure gold. Echos is a true masterpiece
4. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
Never seemed to take off. Very underrated.
3. Zeppelin 2 by Led Zeppelin
In my opinion underrated. Ramble on is one of the greatest tracks of all time.
2. Led Zeppelin 4 (Untitled) by Led Zeppelin
A true master piece. All 8 tracks are priceless and who cannot deny that "Stairway" didnt become the anthem of the time.
1. Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
Ultimate concept album. Kind of music that will take you places if listened to in a darkened room

10. Head East Live! by Head East
Unbelievable vocals and killer keyboards, I don't really care for their studio stuff, but they took "Live" to a whole new level.
9. Obsession by UFO
Lead guitar doesn't get tastier than on this album, and some of Phil Mogg's lyrics actually made sense on this one!
8. Toys In The Attic by Aerosmith
Aerosmith was just simply the best there was in the 70's, making albums that rocked from beginning to end.
7. The Twelve Dreams Of Dr Sardonicus by Spirit
The best concept album of all time.
6. Infinity by Journey
Yea, they wimped out after this one, but Infinity will always stand out as one of the purest collections of songs ever...
5. Physical Grafitti by Led Zeppelin
Ouch!
4. Heart by Dreamboat Annie
Who says girls can't rock...and don't even get me started on what that album cover did to my 15 year old mind...
3. Aqualung by Jethro Tull
There never has been, and there never will be, another band like Jethro Tull and their live show was beyond compare.
2. Bad Company by Bad Company
Awesome vocalist, great songwriting, killer hooks and no filler...
1. Rocks by Aerosmith
The ultimate in hard rock albums, from first note to last. Does rock n roll get any better than Back In The Saddle or Last Child?

10. Who Are You? by The Who
Whooooo are you....who, who, who, who..........
9. Dust in The Wind by Kansas
....wow
8. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
The Best of The Ballads....
7. If I Can't Have You by Yvonne Ellman
What else can I say.....great song!
6. Babe by STYX
I LOVE STYX!!
5. We Are The Champions by Queen
We are the champions.....
4. Love Will Keep Us Together by Captain and Tenille
Totally 70's!
3. Layla by Eric Clapton
Awsome!
2. You Get The Best of My Love by The Eagles
Beautiful song.....
1. Strange Magic by ELO (Electric Light Orchestra)
The song EVER released!

10. YES by Going For The One
Yes, just wasn't Yes without Rick Wakeman. When he returned the band was better than ever.
9. Toys In The Attic by Aerosmith
How many times have I heard this? Well, I wore out an eight track tap and a vinyl disk before the end of the decade.
8. Alan Parsons Project by Pyramid/Eve
This is the guy who enginnered Dark Side of the Moon. Thsi band never recieved the credit it deserved. I love both of these LPs equally and just can't choose one over the other.
7. Let It Be by The Beatles
The only Beatles album released in the 70's. It won a grammy for best original score for a motion picture soundtrack. Thanks for the memories guys.
6. AJA by Steely Dan
Top Shelf performance from the most original group of the decade.
5. Led Zepplin by ZOZO/ Zepplin IV
Do I really have to explain? Like I said about Rumors, like a fine wine. Well, Zepplin is more like Scotch, served neat.
4. Breakfast In America by Supertramp
Let's face it, this album blew away everything else released in 1979, and that says alot (there was alot of good music that year).
3. Fleetwood Mac by Rumors
I'll admit, I thought this album was overrated when it first came out, but over the years it has proved to be like a fine wine. Keeps getting better with age.
2. Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
Mind bending masterpiece. What started out as an experiment ended up being one of the greatest classic rock lps of all time. 25 years on billboards top 100 list. Any Questions?
1. Bridge Over Troubled Waters by Simon and Garfunkel
Paul and Art at their best. Dark and moody (The Boxer, El Condor Pasa)bright and upbeat (Cecilia, Keep the Customer Satisfied, Baby Driver). Art Garfunkel give the performance of a lifetime on the title track. The best farewell album ever. These guys went out on top!

10. Breakfast In America by Supertramp
Call it Commercial Pop, AM top 40, call it what you like. 1979 produced a lot of great albums including The Wall, London Calling, etc etc. Breakfast in America blew them all away. It came out of the blocks strong, and stayed strong. It's too bad that some radio stations play certain songs to death like Goodbye Stranger. However, that song set a record for staying at NO.1 on Great American for 26, count 'em 26 consecutive weeks. That half a year dude. Weather you liked it or not, Breakfast in America was hands down the most successful album of 1979.
9. Chicago I/ Chicago Transit Authority by Chicago
The Band Actually got sued by the city of Chicago for using the name Chicago Transit Authority without the cities permission. The city should have been flattered. What a breath of fresh air from all of the Beatles wanna bees from the 60's. Beginnings is still my favorite Chicago tune and Question 67 and 68 is their most underrated song. A truely ground breaking album.
8. Boston by Boston
And the Rookie Of the Decade, of All Time Goes To... The boys from MIT! The biggest selling debute album of all time, say no more! More Than A Feeling is still one of my all time favorites, STAYING POWER BABY!
7. Queen by Night At The Opera
I really took a ribbing in high school for this one. "Don't You Know Those Guys are GAY"? Well DUH! Queen, Get it? I listen to what I like, and these guys had talent. It's the deep tracks that put this album on my list. Prophets Song, 39, and Sweet Lady. This, and the next album on my list are what saved the mid seventies from being totally swallowed up by the Dreaded Disco Craze. LONG LIVE ROCK!
6. Toys In The Attic by Aerosmith
Let me see, how many times have I listened to this album? I wore out an eight track tape and a vinyl disc before the decade ended. 9 out of 10 cars in the high school parking lot had Toys cranked up on the stereo every morning waiting for class to begin. Uncle Salty and You See Me Crying push this album up from good to great.
5. AJA by Steely Dan
While most groups in the 70's were trying to fill stadiums and concert halls, Steely Dan stayed true to the studio, and to their own unique style. Aja is by far their best overall album. It is such a complete work that I really can't pick any track as a favorite. Aja holds the listener from beginning to end.
4. Led Zepplin IV ZOSO by Led Zepplin
Talk about staying power. Did you ever think that Cadillac would use Rock&Roll as an advertising theme? Stairway To Heaven, never released as a single, and yet is the most requested song in the history of radio. If Rumors is like a fine wine, this album is a double malt Scotch, served neat. What the Beatles did for record sales, Zepplin did for concert tickets. Like them or not, they were the Super Group of the decade.
3. Rumors by Fleetwood Mac
I have to admit, I thought this album was totally over rated when it first came out. It has proved to be like a fine wine. It just gets better with age.
2. Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
A mind bending masterpiece! This recording was only intended to be an experiment in sound effects and recording techniques. It ended up as one of the best and most popoular albums of all time. 25 years on billboards top 100 chart. David Gillmore Proves that he stands equal with the likes of Page and Clapton on Any Colour You Like. Claire Torre's vocals on Great Gig in the Sky has been called the best simulation of a female orgasm ever recorded.
1. Bridge Over Troubled Waters by Simon and Garfunkel
Recorded in Nov and Dec of 1969, The album was released in Jan 1970. It was the perfect album to exit the 60's and enter the 70's. This collection covers every style and mood imaginable. Paul Simon is at his best as a composer, while Art Garfunfel gives the performance of a lifetime on the title track. Two #1 singles, Four top 10 singles, Six Grammy Awards, including song of the year and album of the year. These guys knew how to go out on top. What makes this such a great album though, are the songs that didn't hit the charts; Baby Driver, Keep the Customer Satisfied, Only Living Boy in New York, and a closing tribute to the group that influenced "Tom and Jerry" The Everly Bros. Bye Bye Love. Hands Down, the best farewell album of all time.

10. Patti Smith by Horses
9. Iggy And The Stooges by Fun House
8. Genesis by Foxtrot
7. Caravan by In The Land Of Grey And Pink
6. Can by Tago Mago
5. Herbie Hancock by Head Hunters
4. The Who by Live At Leeds
3. Black Sabbath by Paranoid
2. The Undisputed Truth by Face To Face With The Truth
1. The Temptations by Masterpiece

10. Propaganda by Sparks
9. Singles Going Steady by Buzzcocks
8. Secondhand Daylight by Magazine
7. Real Life by Magazine
6. Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) by Brian Eno
5. Oxygène by Jean-Michel Jarre
4. Paris 1919 by John Cale
3. Kimono My House by Sparks
2. The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spider by David Bowie
1. Electric Warrior by T-Rex

10. Sleeping Gypsy by Michael Franks
This is a fantastic jazz album.
9. Who's Next? by The Who
8. Muddy Mississip Waters Live by Muddy Waters
If you buy one blues album -- get it!
7. Journey To Love by Stanley Clark
Concerto for Jazz/Rock Orchestra is one of the best pieces I've heard!
6. Court And Spark by Joni Mitchel
5. Rust Never Sleeps/ Live Rust by Neil Young
Not necessarily my favorite Neil album, but I sure played these two a lot!!
4. Close To The Edge by Yes
3. IV by Led Zeppelin
2. Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
Mesmerizing.
1. Aja by Steely Dan
This album is simply a masterpiece of concept and form and finish. It's perfect

10. Bat Out Of Hell by Meatloaf
This album had wonderful songs that you would listen to over and over again.
9. Hotel California by Eagles
Most likely there greatest album ever made.
8. Dirk Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
Do I have to say anything........
7. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
Wish You Were Here is great and I loved it, every CD I burn has that song on it.
6. Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin
Once I heard Stairway to Heaven I was hooked on the Zeppelin.
5. Pices Of Eight by Styx
RENEGADE ROCKS!!!!!! That is all.
4. The Wall by Pink Floyd
Some of the most disturbing songs ever thought of but they still rock.
3. Highway To Hell by AC/DC
Most likely one of the bands greatest songs ever made is on this album, Highway To Hell ROCKS!!!!!! ALL HAIL ANGUS!!!
2. Dirty Deeds by AC/DC
This is all so a great album. Big Balls is the funniest song ever thought of. ALL HAIL ANGUS!!!
1. High Voltage by AC/DC
COME ON!!!!!! Could there ever be a greater album ever created. It is all about TNT and It Is A Long Way To The Top. ALL HAIL ANGUS!!!

10. Who's Next by The Who
Great album from a great band.
9. Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen
The Boss's best album and without a doubt diserves to be in the top 10.
8. London Calling by The Clash
Punk at its best
7. The Wall by Pink Floyd
Proberly the most epic album ever. Gies the name "concept album" a whole new meaning. The Wall is truely a masterpiece by the genius who is Roger Waters
6. Untitled (Led Zeppelin IV) by Led Zeppelin
While this is not their most defining album (Led Zeppelin II is) it is still a truely great album from a hugely talented band, and one of the greatest bands ever that still influences music to this date.
5. Paranoid by Black Sabbath
Greatest Heavy Metal album of all time, while they had earlier albums this is their best. Sabbath invented the whole genre.
4. Blood On The Tracks by Bob Dylan
Proberly one of the best albums from the greatist lyricist of all time. Beautiful.
3. Van Halen by Van Halen
This album practically invented the 80s style of music and introduced a whole new way of how a guitar can be played.
2. Machine Head by Deep Purple
A truely amazing album from a underrated band who defined Hard Rock and Speed Metal, A milestone in the history of music. Not to mention amazing guitarwork from Richie Blackmore and equally amazing keyboard work from John Lord.
1. The Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
Without a doubt the best album ever made, Dark Side is on a completely different level creativily and musically to everything else. Pink Floyd are the greatest band of all time.