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. Sticky Fingers by Rolling Stones
9. Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen
8. Hotel California by Eagles
7. Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
6. Frampton Comes Alive by Peter Frampton
5. Tapestry by Carole King
4. Saturday Night Fever by Various (Bee Gees)
I know - but give credit where credit's due.
3. Rumors by Fleetwood Mac
2. Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie
1. Quadrophenia by The Who

10. Marquee Moon by Television
9. The Clash/ Nevermind The Bollocks by The Clash/ The Sex Pistols
couldn`t decide....both bloody good
8. Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones
it`s only rock`n`roll but i like it...
7. Led Zeppelin Iii by Led Zeppelin
woah....shocked, my favourite led zepp lp, well it`s kinda obvious....
6. Desire by Bob Dylan
5. Ramones by Ramones
their first. their the best one.
4. Exodus by The Wailers
reggae, reggae, reggae
3. The Wall/ Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
brilliant. from in the flesh to outside the wall, well couldn`t decide on this one either
2. London Calling by The Clash
amazing what the Clash have done
1. Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
just PERFECT! nothing else to say...

10. Wish You Were Here/dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
This one is a tie. I simply cannot choose. The beatiful, resonant Wish You Were Here against the very complete Dark Side of the Moon. I still cannot choose.
9. Queen II by Queen
Great cross between prog and glam by a great 70's band that would become unbelievably crappy in the 80's.
8. Fragile by Yes
Yes' best album. Close to the Edge is great too. But there's more diversity here, especially considering that each member has a solo track. 'Roundabout', 'Heart of the Sunrise', 'Long Distance Runaround', 'The Fish', 'South Side of the Sky', and the very beautiful and underrated Howe piece 'Mood For a Day' should all be heard.
7. Ramones by The Ramones
The 'rock-out' vibe is here in its entirety, making for one solid album by four punks who knew what they were doing.
6. Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin
First off, I would like to say that this is not my favorite Zep album (the debut will always hold that spot for me), but it's definitely the quintessential Zep record if you're to have one.
5. Raw Power by The Stooges
The title says it all. This is raw, unadulterated power put on record. I prefer the newer mix, though I understand it's hated by many longtime Stooges fans.
4. Pink Moon by Nick Drake
This isn't even his best album, but you need to hear this tragic human being at least once to believe that all he used in this album is his acoustic guitar (piano for one track).
3. Selling England By The Pound by Genesis
Oh, how I love this album. It's fresh everytime I listen to it, with lush, rich, descriptive lyrics and arrangements from Mr. Gabriel and Co.
2. Quadrophenia by The Who
Eclipsing Tommy completely, this one has everything. Elaborate arrangements, horns, synths, interesting story, guitarwork, emotional resonance, and all of it add up to make The Who's best album.
1. Animals by Pink Floyd
The most versatile album from the best band ever is also their best and most underrated. All five (or four, as one is reprised at the end) have to be heard to be believed.

10. Rumours by Fleetwood Mac
Love the album. An absolute classic, no bad songs on it at all
9. Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin
The inclusion of Stairway To Haaven makes it worthy of this postition though I love a few of the other songs too
8. Songs In The Key Of Life by Stevie Wonder
Stevie's best album. Two, count them two cd's of matsterpieces. Isn't She Lovely, despite not a single will always be one of my favourites.
7. Star Wars by John Williams
Most people haven't mentioned this but look at what John Williams did for this film (as well as dozens of others. The first multi-million selling score soundtrack makes it worth a mention here alone.
6. Main Course by The Bee Gees
I love this album, a mixture of 60's folk and soul tunes. My second favourite Bee Gees album of the 70's
5. The Wall by Pink Floyd
I loved Another Brick In The Wall, it was one of the first records I ever bought!
4. Band On The Run by Wings
This is my favourite Wings album. I like Let Me Roll It and Band On The Run. Much better than the mediocre 1970 Beatles release Let It Be!
3. Tapestry by Carole King
Folk/ pop music at it's best! Full of classic songs.
2. The Eagles Greatest Hits by The Eagles
I love the music of the Eagles. From Hotel California to One Of These Nights to Life In The Fast Lane. The best rock band of the era
1. Saturday Night Fever by Various
The Bee Gees were by far the best band of this decade. All the songs are classics, Stayin' Alive, How Deep Is Your Love, More Than A Woman, If I Can't Have You, etc! Plus they still play them all in clubs and on radio today.

10. Who's Next by The Who
Just so bloody great. The best by The Who, and that's saying alot.
9. Made In Japan by Deep Purple
I seriously have no idea how to describe this in a fulfilling way... Really!
8. 2112 by Rush
Gotta love Neil Peart and his skills on the drums!
7. Dire Straits by Dire Straits
If I didn't mention this one, I'd be a traitor to the concept of "guitar".
6. Led Zeppelin III by Led Zeppelin
First album I ever got a Led-out to.
5. Flick Of The Switch by AC/DC
Honestly, this is just... Yar! "Yar" is the only thing that can describe this.
4. Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
Truly a musical masterpiece. I can't wait to see it live by Roger Waters at Roskilde-Festival in Denmark, here in july 2006!
3. Paranoid by Black Sabbath
Great energy. It's ozzy without all the fuss.
2. Van Halen by Van Halen
This just set a new standard in guitar-music... Eruption will most likely never be beaten.
1. The Wall by Pink Floyd
It might be a bit mainstream to put it as number one, but honestly... Who could argue against it? This record was made by grinding up faeries, to get the magic out, and then mixing that with pure, bottled genious.

10. Innervisions by Stevie Wonder
Taking the Challenge from Marvin Gaye finally making a "meaningful" album, Stevie goes him about 10 better and in the process makes pedestrian white people feel like helping too. It seems only Stevie could do that while making you love him at the same time. Every track works.
9. Rumours by Fleetwood Mac
I don't care if your a head bang'n AC/DC die hard or a Rap only ghetto fighter. You listen to this and your going to be humm'n along. Thanks folks for hanging you're dirty laundry in a most entertaining way.
8. Machine Head by Deep Purple
Give it up! Applaud. They deserve it. Yeah they were great musicians, maybe the best, but not that smart, right? Well this morose, rock'n, bluesy, fun, anthemic, and imminently creative masterpiece put the five guys who "shouldn't" in the five guys who "did" category. It's an adolesent, working class, hard rocking kids ticket out of mediocrity. And it still works for me.
7. London Calling by The Clash
It's punk's "Exile On Main Street". It's everything and the kitchen sink and it all works. With this they could have easily followed it up with another and become the new Beatles but they went for something else. Like the man said, kinda of, it would have been phoney.
6. Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
This isn't even my favorite Pink Floyd album but I know it's their best and they're one of my favorite bands . . .so it's on the list. Make sense.
5. Blood On The Tracks by Bob Dylan
Almost as personal as Plastic Ono Band and maybe even smarter considering it's use of allegories, metaphores and minimalistic americana. The only thing it lacks is in that it still makes it impossible to know what he's really thinking. That's one of Bob's best suits but it also gives him the potential to slip in a song that might not be worthy. Not that he did. I think.
4. Who's Next by The Who
This whole album is like one giant anthem asking the youth of the world to shed it's sweet but misguided sense of community and find freedom for their own individual self and in turn that that will save the world. Very believable.
3. Plastic Ono Band by John Lennon and the Plastic Ono band
Many an artist made many great personal statements in their work prior to this album but nothing before ever approached the complete and unobstructed view into a single soul as this album offers. It would be absolutley heartbreaking if it weren't for the tracks that John sings with pure innocent love to his soul mate. They are the hope in the darkness at just the right times.
2. Exile On Main Street by The Rolling Stones
A lot of albums are like desert but this is the Main course. Sloppy, tight, bluesy, country, universal and utterly personal. This is what you get when the shadow of the Beatles finally lifted and these five guys knew they didn't have to compete with anyone but themselves.
1. Cosmo's Factory by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Stephen King states emphatically that this is the greatest rock'n'roll album ever and I aggree. The only thing I will add is that this is John Fogerty's masterwork in a career of just slightly lesser masterworks as leader of CCR. Thank you John!

10. Who's Next by The Who
This is the Who at their creative best. Baba o'riley or (teenage wasteland) and wont get fooled again are arena rock at it's best.
9. Physical Grafitti by Led Zeppelin
Besides their first album this is some of the best hard rock ever created.Kashmir is amazing.
8. Rumours by Fleetwood Mac
Awesome easy going album. Great singing on all the songs. Go your own way is a great song.
7. Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs. by Derek And The Dominos
Some of the best guitar playing ever. Clapton and Allman. Layla and why does love got to be so sad are awesome songs.
6. Hotel California by The Eagles
All around, the best album by the eagles. Hotel California and life in the fast lane are great songs.
5. The Wall by Pink Floyd
From start to finish no other album takes you on a journey quite like this one. Another brick in the wall and comfortably numb are amazing songs.
4. Blood On The Tracks by Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is the greatest songwriter of all time and this album is some of the best writing in rock history. Tangled up in blue, Simple twist of faith and Idiot wind are the standout songs.
3. Exile On Main Street by The Rolling Stones
It may be the Stones best album. Great all around album, the stones doing what their best at, playing blues influenced rock. This album has a bit of everything. Tumbling Dice, Happy and Rocks off are great songs.
2. 4 by Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin's untitled fourth album is their best. Period. All the songs are awesome and Stairway to heaven and When the levee breaks are amazing songs.
1. Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
Besides Sargeant Peppers by the Beatles, this is quite possibly the best album of all time. No matter how many times you listen to it you always find something new. Listen to the whole thing. What a trip.

10. Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath
In my opinion, the greatest debut album of all time.
9. Thick As A Brick by Jethro Tull
I don't care what others think abou Jethro Tull. They were a great band, and Thick As A Brick just happens to be their best.
8. Love It To Death by Alice Cooper
At times, I just can't stop listening to the last four tracks of this album. Hallowed By My Name, Second Coming, Ballad of Dwight Fry, and Sun Arise.
7. Magician's Birthday by Uriah Heep
Reminds me of Demons and Wizards. Therefore it belongs about right here.
6. Secret Treaties by Blue Öyster Cult
Once again, an album that was put together with greatness. About as good as their previous album, but not quite.
5. Tyranny And Mutation by Blue Öyster Cult
The way this album was put together is what makes this album great. Also,I think Blue Öyster Cult had the perfect guitar sound. Between this album and Secret Treaties, this album wins because of one reason. Wings Wetted Down.
4. Demons And Wizards by Uriah Heep
Excellent album! I just wish there were more people that have listened to this album, or even this band.
3. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
I love the guitar in this album, from beginning to end. The singing along with the two guitars at the beginning of the song Wish You Were Here are what makes that song one of Pink Floyd's greatest.
2. Fragile by Yes
I guess what I like the most about this album is how they put the album together. I am also a big fan of Rick Wakeman's keyboarding skills.
1. Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
Anybody that says this album isn't the greatest album of all time is either lying, or just stupid.

10. Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath
In my opinion, the greatest debut album of all time.
9. Thick As A Brick by Jethro Tull
I don't care what others think abou Jethro Tull. They were a great band, and Thick As A Brick just happens to be their best.
8. Love It To Death by Alice Cooper
At times, I just can't stop listening to the last four tracks of this album. Hallowed By My Name, Second Coming, Ballad of Dwight Fry, and Sun Arise.
7. Magician's Birthday by Uriah Heep
Reminds me of Demons and Wizards. Therefore it belongs about right here.
6. Secret Treaties by Blue Öyster Cult
Once again, an album that was put together with greatness. About as good as their previous album, but not quite.
5. Tyranny And Mutation by Blue Öyster Cult
The way this album was put together is what makes this album great. Also,I think Blue Öyster Cult had the perfect guitar sound. Between this album and Secret Treaties, this album wins because of one reason. Wings Wetted Down.
4. Demons And Wizards by Uriah Heep
Excellent album! I just wish there were more people that have listened to this album, or even this band.
3. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
I love the guitar in this album, from beginning to end. The singing along with the two guitars at the beginning of the song Wish You Were Here are what makes that song one of Pink Floyd's greatest.
2. Fragile by Yes
I guess what I like the most about this album is how they put the album together. I am also a big fan of Rick Wakeman's keyboarding skills.
1. Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
Anybody that says this album isn't the greatest album of all time is either lying, or just stupid.

10. Blood On The Tracks by Bob Dylan
Not his best album but probably the best of the seventies and certainly better than anything he pulled together in the eighties.
9. Solid Air by John Martyn
The man has never really made a bad album but this is probably his crowning glory.
8. The Dark Side of The Moon by Pink Floyd
Played to death at the time but a classic album none the less.
7. For Your Pleasure by Roxy Music
For me, Glam rock was the interlude between blues rock and punk when there was nothing in the charts worth listening to. Roxy was the exception.
6. Armed Forces by Elvis Costello
The acceptable face of punk? Perhaps now, but at the time he was on the leading edge.
5. Derel And The Dominoes by Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs
Clapton proving that - when he's good, he's very good.
4. Jethro Tull by Aqualung
They were different and they were good but they lost their way a little bit after this and became a self parody but the early stuff still stands out from the crowd.
3. Joni Mitchell by Blue
I love this album. Her voice is beautiful and she's just such a perfect weaver of words.
2. Led Zepplin IV by Led Zepplin
You got to have a bit of Zep in there eh? They defined rock as we know it today. Either this or Led Zep III for me but Physical Graffiti is pretty good too.
1. Highway by Free
This was Free at their best, the perfect blend of blues, soul, rock and pop. Here, they make it sound, as all great music should, like it was as natural as making love and almost as good. The first 2 Bad Comapny albums were good, strong albums but they never got close to this.