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. Highway To Hell by AC/DC
good but not great albulm
9. Band Of Gypsys by Jimi Hendrix
Quality funk!
8. Toys In The Attic by Aerosmith
Great CD BUT they shouldnt mix rock and rap...
7. Atom Heart Mother by Pink Floyd
Truly amazing, could of been # 5 but I remembered those two albulms.
6. Hotel California by The Eagles
Perfect for a chill mood.
5. The Meddle by Pink Floyd
Overall great CD!!!
4. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
Wish you Were Here is not only one of my favorite albulms but one of my favorite songs too.
3. Animals by Pink Floyd
Perfect for pissed off people
2. Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
Money, Dark Side of the Moon, Time, and Eclipse....Enough said.
1. The Wall by Pink Floyd
with songs like "another brick in the wall", "comfortabley numb" and "run like hell" who wouldnt put this as the best albulm of not just the 70s but of all time? HISTORIC!

10. Who's Next? by The Who
9. Frampton Comes Alive by Peter Frampton
8. Aqualung by Jethro Tull
7. Physical Graffiti by Led Zeppelin
6. Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd by Lynyrd Skynyrd
5. II by Led Zeppelin
4. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
3. I by Led Zeppelin
2. Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
1. IV by Led Zeppelin

10. The Pleasure Principal by Gary Numan
Cutting edge keyboards and vocals and one of the poster children of the New Wave movement in the late 70's. Numan's odd appearance and unusual sound paved the way for many of the groups who followed in the 80's.
9. Led Zeppelin 2 by Led Zeppelin
It would be remiss not to have an entry for the 70's without a Led Zeppelin album. These guys were awesome and this one is their best.
8. Trans Europe Express by Kraftwerk
Expanding on the genius of their earlier "Autobahn" the boys from Dusseldorf created another work of art. This one hugely influenced the early rap scene and licks from this album can still be heard in today's hip hop. One wonders where music would be today if not for Kraftwerk. So sad they were not very commercially popular so many folks don't know who they are or their profound influence on modern music.
7. Styx by The Grand Illusion
Made before these guys got really bad, this album has some great keyboards and really cool tunes. When you hear this album it's hard to believe these guys later did such trash as "Mr. Roboto"!
6. Queen by News Of The World
OK, OK, I know, we're all sick of the "We are the Champions" track but the rest of this album has some really cool stuff on it that should not be overlooked.
5. Changes by David Bowie
Another remarkable work from the great Bowie. This one also has a number of hits mixed in with some lesser known but just as cutting edge songs.
4. Who Are You? by The Who
Full of hits and probably The Who at their best. A must have.
3. Nilsson Schmilsson by Harry Nilsson
A great all around musical experience. Nilsson goes from serious balads to the goofy "Put the lime in the coconut". Who wouldn't enjoy this album?
2. More Songs About Building And Food by Talking Heads
Taking a ride on thwe "new wave" the heads showed that popular music didn't have to be bubble gum or hard rock. David Byrne and crew used innovative sounds and rythms in this great album.
1. Autobahn by Kraftwerk
A virtual masterpiece. Kraftwerk changed the way pop music sounded forever and gave way to electronic music of the future. No collection should be without this one.

10. Imagine by John Lennon
the album itself is really just represented by the title track within it which not only is a great song on its own but gives a message of a marxist paradise most people can only dream about. imagine is probably the greatest song ever written by man
9. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
when youve just created the greatest album of all time as voted by the rolling stone magasine charts what do you do, you write an equally good album that most floyd fans consider superior
8. Bat Out Of Hell by Meatloaf
Meatloafs bat out of hell is by far this heavy metal gods greatest album containing some of the seventies most beloved songs
7. Zeppelin 4(symbols) by Led Zeppelin
Thhis band pretty much started a new genre of music (hard rock/metal) and with this album they continued with their godlike ability to rock out with amazin riffs and lyrics
6. Let It Be by Beatles
I consider this the last real beatles album which ends an era of music, for between 1962 and 1969 there were 3 months in total where the beatles did not have a number 1 hit or album
5. Van Halen by Van Halen
Obviously van halen made it big in the eighties but there debut and also their greatest album came out in 1978
4. Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
Dark Side of the Moon is the current longest lasting album on the charts it came in at number1 in 1973 and got off 741 weeks later in the late 90s
3. Rumors by Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac is One of the greatest bands of the 1970s and there whole carreer can be summed up in this one album
2. Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack by Beegee's
I am not a fan of disco but this album is probably the Most influencial and most likely the best disco album ever
1. The Wall by Pink Floyd
This album is the third highest grossing album ever in any genre and is the highest grossing concept or progressive Rock album ever

10. Van Halen by Van Halen
This changed the direction of hard rock for the next 5 or 6 years. Then Diamond Dave left.
9. Highway To Hell by AC/DC
This is hard blues rock as it was supposed to be played
8. The Wall by Pink Floyd
A very wierd crazy album that proves Pink Floyd were or are severe drug abusers. Truly classic.
7. Led Zeppelin III by Led Zeppelin
Proved that a band could play acoustic and heavy and not seem corny or weak.
6. Let It Be by The Beatles
Their last great work together.
5. Houses of the Holy by Led Zeppelin
An amazingly fun album with something for everybody.
4. Who's Next by The Who
Definitely The Who's true masterpiece.
3. Physical Graffiti by Led Zeppelin
Solidified what hard rock was all about.
2. The Darkside Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
Simply awesome.
1. Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin
Undoubtedly not only the best album of the 70's, but the greatest album of all time. Pure electric magic.

10. One Of These Nights (1975) by The Eagles
To me, I think "Hotel California" is overrated. This is the one to define the sound of the Eagles. Great from beginning to end.
9. Dreamboat Annie (1976) by Heart
Funny no one mentioned this one. This is the one that introduced the world to the "female Robert Plant," Ann Wilson. This broad has the vocal chops to outrock and outsing any male in hard rock.
8. Horses (1975) by Patti Smith
Punk classic. Proved that women can kick ass even in the male-dominated world of punk-rock.
7. Diamonds And Rust (1975) by Joan Baez
This is an album that helped keep Joan Baez relevant in the 1970's. It was also the first time she so openly sang of her turbulent relationship with Bob Dylan so beautifully. Listen to the title track. Let it be noted she does her covers some justice as well.
6. Street Legal (1978) by Bob Dylan
Most critics and Dylanphiles pan this album, but I like it! To me, it is a Highway 61 for the Seventies.
5. Some Girls (1978) by The Rolling Stones
Their second-to-last masterpiece (the last was 1981's Tattoo You). Features the best Rolling Stones song ever, "Beast of Burden"
4. Abraxas (1970) by Santana
The greatest guitarist making the greatest album of his career. A mixture of Latin Funk, African Rhythms, and Rock. This album also features the most under-rated instrumental in history, "Samba Pa Ti."
3. Led Zeppelin IV (1971) by Led Zeppelin
Zep's greatest mixture or hard rock, Celtic folk, and blues. Every song on this one is a keeper!! If you don't believe me, listen to the album. Again.....and again.....and again.....and again.
2. Born To Run (1975) by Bruce Springsteen
When Bruce became "The Boss." "Balls-to-the-wall" rock and roll is mixed with such street-wise, but literate poetry. This record stopped all comparisons to Dylan and proved that Springsteen was a force all his own.
1. Rumours (1977) by Fleetwood Mac
Truly the greatest album of the seventies. This record serves that out of the personal turmoils the band went through, great music will rise. Throughout Mick Fleetwood and John McVie's thumping rhythms, Christine McVie's saving grace, Lindsey Buckingham's subtle anger, and Stevie Nicks's mystical poetry, the band gels and creates the ultimate pop/rock classic.

10. Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones
Brown Sugar is a fun song, and Wild Horses is incredibly moving. A great album.
9. Saturday Night Fever by Various Artists
I say 'Various Artists' to be fair, but this album is predominantly BeeGees, and it is really good.
8. Brothers And Sisters by The Allman Brothers Band
Music would not be the same without the Allman Brothers, and on this album, which includes Jessica, Ramblin' Man, and Southbound, they do some of their best work.
7. The Wall by Pink Floyd
The album that closed the 70s (certainly timewise; released December 1979) is a great one. The songs (and movie to follow) follow a strung out rocker, and their psychedelic elements are strong in the key numbers Hey You and Comfortably Numb (the best guitar solo possibly ever). Songs such as Young Lust and Run Like Hell set the tone for the decade to follow.
6. Hotel California by The Eagles
The addition of Joe Walsh for this album was a key one - it is by far their best. Wasted Time and New Kid In Town are great, Life In The Fast Lane is awesome, and there's not much you can say for the legendary song Hotel California.
5. Boston by Boston
One of the best debut albums I've ever seen. A good chunk of their best is on this one awesome album. I really love it.
4. Who's Next by The Who
Won't Get Fooled Again, Behind Blue Eyes, and Going Mobile are all gret songs, but the standout has to be Baba O'Riley. Such an emotional song. Wow.
3. Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin
Almost a mini-Greatest Hits album for Zep - including Black Dog, Going To California, Rock and Roll, and, of course, Stairway To Heaven. Zeppelin reached their peak on this album - it's incredible.
2. Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen
The album that pushed the Boss into superstardom. Born To Run and Thunder Road are probably among the top 25 or so best rock songs of all time. Jungleland is another great one, though very underrated. Great album.
1. Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
Great group of some of Floyd's best: Time, Money, Breathe, Us And Them. Incredibly striking sound elements as well as some of the best songs of all time.

10. Bad Company by Bad Company
9. Meatloaf by Meatloaf
8. 2112 by Rush
7. The Stranger by Billy Joel
6. Some Girls by Stones
5. Foreigner by Foreigner
4. Darkness On The Edge Of Town by The Boss
3. Boston by Boston
2. Crime Of The Century by Supertramp
1. Grand Illlusion by Styx

10. Led Zeppelin I by Led Zeppelin
9. The White Album by The Beatles
8. Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys
7. Beggar's Banquet by The Rolling Stones
6. Who's Next by The Who
5. Seargent Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles
4. Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones
3. Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
2. Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin
1. Abbey Road by The Beatles

10. Peter Frampton Comes Alive by Peter Frampton
What the Hell! It was a fun album, and Do You Feel Like We Do is still a hypnotic tune. Other than that, Frampton's musical genious, to the extent he had one, pretty much ended after his original band Humble Pie broke up in 1974.
9. Truth 1972 by Jeff Beck
Great Jazz and Blues mix. Rod Stewart sounds better than usual on vocals
8. Let It Bleed 1970/69 by Rolling Stones
Great way to kick off the 70s. Along with Sticky Fingers (1971), and to a lesser extent Exile on Main Street (1972) and It's Only Rock and Roll )1974), Bleed is one of the few Stones albums worth listening to in the last 35 years.
7. I'm A Man 1976 by Muddy Waters
Muddy's last stand--classic blues done with passion
6. Zeppelin II 1970 by Led Zeppelin
defining album combining innovative heavy blues and introspective acoustic work.
5. Dark Side Of The Moon 1973 by Pink Floyd
Self-explanatory
4. In Rock 1970 by Deep Pruple
Thier most art rock album
3. Thick As A Brick 1971 by Same as Yes
2. The Yes Album 1970 by Yes
Best Produced, most innovative of their career
1. Eat A Peach 1971 by Allman Brothers
Southern Blues with a psychadelic twist