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. Pink Floyd by The Wall
David Gilmour's solo on Comfortably Numb is definitely on the list of the ten best guitar solos.
9. All Things Must Pass by George Harrison
The most underrated Beatle definitely made the best debut solo album.
8. Boston by Boston
It's just a good album.
7. Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen
This is probably the best written album of the decade. Too bad Springsteen's legacy will be "Born in the USA", this is truely his greatedt work to date.
6. A1A by Jimmy Buffett
Door Number Three
5. Changes in Attitudes, Changes in Lattitudes by Jimmy Buffett
Although Margaritaville is on this album, it is not the best track on the album. Be sure to check out "In the Shelter", and "Tampico Trauma."
4. 461 Ocean Blvd. by Eric Clapton
A blues album with a South Florida flare. It mixes the best of the Delta with the best of the Tropics. Fantastic.
3. Who's Next by The Who
Too bad for Townsend that wasn't able to finish "Lifehouse." Good for us that they released it as Who's Next instead of holding it until the album was finished.
2. Rumors by Fleetwood Mac
One word: Stevie!!!
1. Layla and Other Assorted Lovesongs by Derrick and the Dominoes
The greatest power duo of all time (Clapton and Duane Allman). This album It goes from great fun to heart wrenching all inside of 45 minutes. Magnificient.

10. American Physco by the Misfits
Who started Punk...the Misfits or the sex pistols...you decide
9. Tommy by the Who
Not sure if its 70s...but holy cow...the rock operette gives me goose bumps.
8. Music of My Mind by Stevie Wonder
One of the most talented musicians of all time. What..Hes blind?
7. Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel
Contains one of the Greatest songs ever written. Guess which one
6. Greatest hits by Rolling Stones
Another incredible band ends it career in the 70s. Heres the culmination.
5. Saturday Night Fever by mostly the Beeges
Disco...their you have it
4. Four Symbols (or IV) by Led Zeppalin
A shear masterpiece by one of the most influential bands of all time
3. Let it Be by the Beatles
The last and most introspective albums by the Beatles. RIP John
2. their Greatest hits by the Eagles
THE best selling album of all time
1. Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd
The most breathtaking mix of music ever recorded. Also, one of the best selling albums of all time.

10. Faust IV by Faust
The easiest accessable album of one of the weirdest bands ever. "Heisst das es lauft oder es kommt bald?" "Lauft!" It sure does! This is one real fun!
9. Earth by Vangelis (O. Papathanassiou)
Immeadiatly after Aphrodites Child split up, Vangelis made his solo debut. Brilliant and original.
8. New Age of Earth by Ashra
Cosmic Music at its best.
7. Hosianna Mantra by Popol Vuh
Etherical, (almost) religious music that serves so well in these beautifully atmospheric Werner Herzog Movies
6. Cluster and Eno by Cluster and Eno
Brian Eno's first collaboration with the German duo resulted in the most atmospheric record of Eno's early ambient period, für Louise!
5. Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division
The fact that most people will think this is an 80-ies album says enough. An era-breaking record.
4. Colours of Chloe by Eberhard Weber
Is it pop, is it jazz? Is it both? Either way "No motion picture" features the best piano solo ever recorded!!
3. Trance Formation by Eberhard Schoener
The final of Schoener's trilogy. A mix of gregorian chant, electronic music , Sting's piercing voice, and Andy Summers fractal guitars, made shortly before the latter two rose to fame with the Police
2. Autobahn by Kraftwerk
This album would cast it's shadow well into the 90-ties.
1. Angels Egg by Gong
This one stands for the entier Gong trilogy, from "Flying teapod" to "You", this one is probably the most genuine Gong. Hare Hare Ladies Lavatory!

10. Are you kidding? by See comments belows.
There is no way I could hope to create a meaningful top ten list, it would change every day. Instead, I offer a year-by-year list of the albums that, for me, are indispensable. There is only one criterion that matters to me: an album could only make the list if I still play it with regularity.
9. 1971 List by See comments.
For me, these three albums represent the moment in the music timeline when (hard) rock became a enduring form of music; listenable, singable, and at once inspiring a generational shift to a rebellious, reckless, rowdy lifestyle . . . (alphabetical by artist) Jethro Tull > Aqualung; Led Zeppelin > IV; The Who > Who's Next . . .
8. 1972 List by See comments.
'71 was a hard act to follow . . . still, I find a few jewels . . . Emerson, Lake, and Palmer (ELP) > Trilogy; Steely Dan > Can't Buy a Thrill; Edgar Winter > They Only Come Out at Night . . .
7. 1973 List by See comments.
Lots of goodies . . . Doobie Brothers > The Captain and Me, ELP > Brain Salad Surgery; Elton John > Goodbye Yellow Brick Road; Led Zeppelin > Houses of the Holy; Lynyrd Skynyrd > Pronounced; Montrose > Montrose; Pink Floyd > Dark Side of the Moon . . .
6. 1974 List by See comments.
The transition year from high school to college (independence) . . . Bad Company > Bad Company; Blue Oyster Cult > Secret Treaties; Supertramp > Crime of the Century; Robin Trower > Bridge of Sighs . . .
5. 1975 List by See comments.
The year that hard rock began to dominate the concert circuit . . . Aerosmith > Toys in the Attic; Kansas > Masque; Ted Nugent > Ted Nugent; Queen > Night at the Opera; Styx > Equinox . . .
4. 1976 List by See comments.
The Gods arrive . . . AC/DC > High Voltage, (Dirty Deeds also recorded); Blue Oyster Cult > Agents of Fortune; Kansas > Leftoverture; Ted Nugent > Free For All; Rush > 2112 . . .
3. 1977 List by See comments.
My favorite year . . . AC/DC > Let There Be Rock; Blue Oyster Cult > Spectres; UFO > Lights Out . . .
2. 1978 List by See comments.
By this time if it didn't absolutely rock, I wouldn't listen to it . . . AC/DC > Powerage; Blue Oyster Cult > Mirrors; UFO > Obsession; Van Halen > Van Halen . . .
1. 1979 List by See comments.
American Pie got it wrong. The day (year) the music died was the year the two 'Bons' died. John Bonham and Bon Scott both choked to death on their own vomit, but not before leaving us with two of '79s best . . . AC/DC > Highway to Hell; Led Zeppelin > In Through the Out Door; Van Halen > Van Halen II . . .

10. The Cars by The Cars
The perfect "New Rock" album to end the 70's. I love the use of the synthesizer on this album. Perfect album for "intro to New Wave" classes.
9. On the Radio: Greatest Hits Vol I & II by Donna Summer
If you're talking the 70's, you need to at least give a nod to disco, and as far as disco with a lot of soul goes, Donna Summer, in my opinion was the queen. She had some hardcore shit going on with "Love to Love You Baby", "I Feel Love" and "Bad Girls". Nothing but hits, bitch!
8. II by Van Halen
This was my first Van Halen album, and my favorite until I heard "Fair Warning", which is, by far, Van Halen's best album.
7. Moondance by Van Morrison
Lots of groove, a good amount of jangle, great songwriting and excellent production make this a great album.
6. Sticky Fingers, Exile on Main St, Goat's Head Soup by Rolling Stones
These albums, in my opinion, are the best albums released by the Stones. You've got the best ballads in this collection, "Wild Horses" and "Angie" as well as my three favorite Stones songs, "Sweet Virginia", "Sway", and "Dead Flowers".
5. Self Titled by Boston
Big guitar sound on this one. This is such a classic album that I still songs from it on the radio. Almost overplayed.
4. Running on Empty by Jackson Browne
One of the first true "American Rock" albums. By "American Rock" I mean it used elements of country and rock and roll. Even shows a classic American Rock influence in the form of the cover "Stay". An interstingly produced album as well, as it was about life on the road and recorded on the road on stage, in hotel rooms, and even on a bus. Classic.
3. Physical Graffiti by Led Zeppelin
One of the few double studio albums that doesn't contain one album of killer songs, and one album of filler songs. This is Zeppelin at their best!
2. Comes Alive by Peter Frampton
Peter Frampton kicks everyone's ass with this double-live LP.
1. At Budokan by Cheap Trick
When paired with "At Budokan II" (released in the 90's but recorded from the same shows) this is the epitome of the perfect live album. These two albums have everything you will ever need from Cheap Trick off the first three albums (in my opinion, their best work) plus "Can't Hold On".

10. The Cars by The Cars
Groundbreaking!....the first new wave band!
9. London Calling by The Clash
Non stop fun!
8. Desolation Boulevard by Sweet
The power pop of Sweet was one of a kind! They grew up on this album
7. Animals by Pink Floyd
A very pleasing musical journey from Floyd!
6. Aja by Steely Dan
FM radio was all over this one for good reason...from black cow to peg to josie to deacon blues....what can you say?
5. A Night At The Opera by Queen
Bohemian Rhapsody defines the mood of this wonderful album!
4. My Aim Is True by Elvis Costello
Costello is simply the best song writer of our time!
3. Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie
Bowie was something we hadnt quite seen yet..and this album is Epic!
2. Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd
this is the 70's soundtrack!
1. Led Zeppelin 4 by Led Zeppelin
Has to be #1! the ultimate Rock and Roll Album!

10. The Wall by Pink Floyd
'nuff said.
9. Toys in the Attic by Aerosmith
Another "breakthrough" album, it helped change the direction of rock into something harder and edgier.
8. American Beauty by The Grateful Dead
My favorite album by the most commercially underrated band in history.
7. Who's Next by The Who
6. Van Halen by Van Halen
These guys created an all-new sound and persona for rock-and-roll bands. By doing so, they paved the way for great bands in the '80s and '90s like G&R, Def Leppard, and Metallica.
5. Boston by Boston
4. Paradise Theater by Styx
3. Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd
Amazing studio work...if the band weren't so talented, the effects could have overwhelmed the music.
2. Hotel California by The Eagles
I love the sound that these guys invented - definitely my favorite "mellow" album.
1. Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin
My first three picks are so close, but I feel that Zep 4 sums up the music and the attitude of the '70s.

10. Harvest by Neil Young
Not fair to have Neil at # 10 really. A great offering from a great artist....and let's remember - he's STILL out there!
9. Tales of Mystery and Imagination by The Alan Parsons Project
Their first offering. Anyone who loves Poe's work repackaged inside great music should have this one.
8. Schools's Out by Alice Cooper
Hey.....remember the Coop!
7. Who's Next by The Who
"Won't Get Fooled Again" was an anthem.
6. The Captain and Me by Doobie Brothers
5. IV by Led Zeppelin
"When the Levee Breaks" is great white-boy blues. The whole album defines 70's rock for me.
4. Point of Know Return by Kansas
If for no other reason than "Dust In the Wind". Leftoverture was a great album too.
3. Aqualung by Jethro Tull
Locomotive Breath ROCKS!
2. Seventh Sojourn by Moody Blues
The first Moodies album I ever heard - now I've got them all and love them all still.
1. The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd
It's all been said by others - this music will live forever.

10. Bat Out of Hell by Meatloaf
Another great one (Otherwise it wouldn't be here I guess.) "Paradise By The Dashboard Lights" and "You took the Words Right Out Of My Mouth"...they bring me back. And the best line on the entire album? "I bet you say that to all the boys!" It's classic.
9. Toys In The Attic by Aerosmith
OK, so there's a trend towards bands from Boston. This album rocks. My best friend and I wore out the 8-track listening to it so much.
8. A New World's Record by Electric Light Orchestra
Their best album. So Fine, Do Ya and Rockaria are timeless.
7. The Cars by The Cars
This album is summer to me. Innovative (for the time). More local boys who made it.
6. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John
His masterpiece. I could listen to this over and over. Favorites: Grey Seal and Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding.
5. Led Zeppelin by II & IV
I was hard pressed to choose between the two. The first is great rock and roll from start to finish, but the other has Stairway to heaven.
4. A Night At The Opera by Queen
And no synthesizers. My favorite cuts: The Prophet's Song and I'm In Love WIth My Car.
3. Boston by Boston
A great crank-it-up rock album. 1976: My first day of college (Umass/Amherst '80), we pull up to the dorms and "More Than A Feeling" is blaring from just about every window, followed by "Don't Fear the Reaper". To this day, those two songs are married in my mind. Hometown boys do good.
2. Who's Next by The Who
Baba O'Reilly is one of, if not, the best rock and roll song ever made. And this one also has Won't Get Fooled Again AND Behind Blue Eyes, which were the two sides of the first 45 I ever bought, by the way.
1. Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd
Absolute Perfection! Time? Aaaah.