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. Made In Japan by Deep Purple
9. Octopus by Syd Barrett
8. II by Led Zeppelin
7. Meddle by Pink Floyd
6. Sad Wings Of Destiny by Judas Priest
5. Orexis Of Death by Necromandus
4. Outside/Inside by Blue Cheer
3. Houses Of The Holy by Led Zeppelin
2. Atom Heart Mother by Pink Floyd
1. Sabotage by Black Sabbath

10. Faust by IV
the krautrockers were twice as innovative as anyone else
9. Desertshore (1970) by Nico
i was glad to see someone else mention Nico. she deserves far more attention..
8. Rock Bottom (1974) by Robert Wyatt
robert who?
7. Veedon Fleece (1974) by Van Morrison
very, very under-rated. or maybe 'moondance' is over-rated -> the first half of moondance is incredible, the second half is *not*
6. Tea For The Tillerman (1970) by Cat Stevens
much better than albums like tapestry and sweet baby james (which has only one decent song)
5. Unknown Pleasures (1979) by Joy Division
hmmm, yeah. could've placed higher.
4. The Modern Dance (1978) by Pere Ubu
*this* is innovation
3. Blood On The Tracks (1975) by Bob Dylan
his best of the '70s. maybe his 3rd best overall
2. The Exile On Main Street (1972) by Rolling Stones
let it rock
1. Tago Mago (1971) by Can
oh yeah, paperhouse!

10. Led Zeppelin III by Led Zeppelin
9. Blank Generation by Richard Hell & The Voidoids
8. The Clash by The Clash
7. Marquee Moon by Television
6. Who's Next by The Who
5. Road To Ruin by Ramones
4. Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
3. Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin
2. London Calling by The Clash
1. Ramones by Ramones

10. The Wall by Pink Floyd
Probably the most complete album I have ever heard. It's got everything.
9. Live And Dangerous by Thin Lizzy
One of the most underated bands of the 70's. This live album captures their power and melody along with the showmanship of the sadly missed Phil Lynott.
8. The Police by Regatta de Blanc
A very talented band. This album combines great songs with great musicianship.
7. Fleetwood Mac by Rumours
For a band all in personal turmoil at the time this album was made this is a fantastic achievement. These songs will last forever.
6. A Night At The Opera by Queen
This has to be the most overblown and pretentious album ever made and I love it!!
5. Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen
A truly great selection of songs from one of the most genuine songwriters and performers of all time.
4. The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway by Genesis
A very strange concept but musically this album is fautless. Great songs with magnificent keyboards from Tony Banks.
3. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John
A supurb album which in my opinion he has never matched. Funeral for a friend/Love Lies Bleeding have to be the best opening tracks ever.
2. The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie
My all time hero (no pun intended)! This was the first album I fell in love with and the passion is just as strong today.
1. Who's Next by The Who
One of the most powerful bands ever. Keith Moon's drumming never ceases to amaze me. This has to be the band at their peak.

10. Parallel Lines (1978) by Blondie
Blondie does it all on this album. They take on old time rock and roll, new wave, disco, and pop. Each song is a classic. This is one of the 1970s most talented and experimental bands.
9. Van Halen (1978) by Van Halen
A stunning album that shows the power hard rock can have. This is not the lame hair metal of the 80s, but a rich, smoldering album that displays top notch musicianship. In the 70s, musicians truly knew how to rock hard and lead singers gave it from the gut. Roth and Van Halen were never better than this (though Van Halen II is quite good).
8. Off The Wall (1979) by Michael Jackson
Thriller sold more, but Off the Wall was the real gem. The disco sounds pulse with Don't Stop 'Till You Get Enough, but are also warm with Rock With You. Rod Temperton, David Foster and Carole Bayer Sager, Paul McCartney, and Stevie Wonder all make outstanding contributions. Quincy Jones shows why he is a master producer, as he displays the wide range of Jackson's voice. The second best dance album ever made.
7. Rocket To Russia (1977) by The Ramones
The Ramones first album is one of the most important in rock and roll history, but it is their third album that remains their best. Rocket to Russia is a perfect 14 song set that gives the listener the best insight into what this classic group was all about. They pay homage to their deranged audience with Cretin Hop and Teenage Lobotomy, romanticize with Rockaway Beach, and sing "soft" odes with Locket Love and Ramona. Rock and roll perfection.
6. Catch A Fire (1973) by Bob Marley And The Wailers
Once again I find myself struggling to choose one album from an artist during this outstanding era. Again, I pick the breakthrough album. Concrete Jungle is one of the greatest songs of the decade. Peter Tosh writes and performs two powerful anthems with 400 Years and Stop That Train. This brilliantly produced album put reggae on the map.
5. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) by Elton John
Just like David Bowie, it is very hard for me to pick just one Elton John album. Honkey Chateau, Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, Rock of the Westies, Blue Moves, and even A Single Man are all very deserving. Many of Mr. John's albums are unappreciated masterpieces. However, this is one that is highly praised and for good reason. Funeral for a Friend, Candle in the Wind, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Bennie and the Jets, Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting, and Harmony are all radio classics. John and Taupin loaded this double album with a mixture of doomed characters and tragic life situations. It is a truly great musical achievement.
4. Rumours (1977) by Fleetwood Mac
A landmark album that I believe was the first to have four hit singles. They made painful personal issues top notch art. It doesn't get much better than that.
3. Ziggy Stardust (1972) by David Bowie
David Bowie is my personal favorite artist of the 1970s. I could pick any album released in any year. It was tough to choose just one and I hate to leave off Low, but Ziggy is the breakthrough and has to be my choice. Rock 'n Roll Suicide is one of his most powerful songs.
2. Saturday Night Fever (1977) by Various-Bee Gees
One of the albums that defined the decade. It really should appear on every list. The ultimate party album which also has a message that will never die. Stayin' Alive is the song of the decade and an anthem any person at any point in time can relate to.
1. Armed Forces (1979) by Elvis Costello
This masterpiece represents the best of both worlds in the decade, as it is both an enlightening concept album with a stripped down musical approach. It follows the "emotional fascism" concept without going overboard, but is not so minimalist that it becomes cold. From Accidents Will Happen and Oliver's Army to Party Girl and Two Little Hitlers, this album never misses a beat. A perfect album released in a very special year.

10. Tago Mago by Can
9. Country Life by Roxy Music
8. Never Mind The Bollocks,here's The Sex Pistols by Sex Pistols
7. Pink Flag by Wire
6. Talking Heads '77 by Talking Heads
5. Yeti by Amon Duul 2
4. The Clash Uk by The Clash
3. Trans-europe Express by Kraftwerk
2. Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division
1. London Calling by The Clash

10. Boston by Boston
Yeah, it's Corporate Rock, but it's the best damn Corporate Rock ever!
9. Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen
Bruce picked up Bob Dylan left off, and became the new Voice of Rock. This album made rock seem new again. Thanks, Bruce.
8. Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars by David Bowie
David Bowie is a Genius. No one else has been as adventurous, or as compelling, an artist as him, and this album shows the peak of his powers.
7. Paranoid by Black Sabbath
The birth of heavy metal can be witnessed here. Few albums have ever been as heavy, or as dark. Apocalptic fun for all.
6. London Calling by The Clash
This album proved that punk could be as powerful, and say as much,as anything from mainstream rock. A true classic.
5. L.A. Woman by The Doors
The Doors' swan song is their best. "Riders on the Storm" sends chills down my spine. We miss you, Jim.
4. Exile On Main St. by The Rolling Stones
The Stones' prime, captured on disc. A Masterpiece.
3. Untitled (Led Zeppelin IV) by Led Zeppelin
Pure Magic. Would be #1, if the band had not topped itself with their two subsequent releases. "Stairway to Heaven is still the best song of all-time.
2. Houses Of The Holy by Led Zeppelin
Simply Fantastic. No band since has even come close to the musical growth and diversity that Led Zeppelin has achieved. This album proves it.
1. Physical Grafitti by Led Zeppelin
The Best Album ever made.

10. Let It Bleed by Rolling Stones
9. 2,3,4 by Led Zeppelin
8. Destroyer by KISS
7. Morrison Hotel by The Doors
6. Red And Blue Albums by Beatles
very good
5. Rumours And Self-titled by Fleetwood Mac
Its a hard choice between these two but i went with their 1975 release.
4. Greatest Hits by Elton John
Daniel has to be one of the best songs ever made
3. Boston by Boston
Classic rock at its pinnacle
2. The Stranger by Billy Joel
An album of perfection. fav pick: "She's Always a Woman"
1. Bat Out Of Hell by Meat Loaf
Too good this album is one everyone should own, save yourself from todays modern pop radio

10. Houses Of The Holy by Led Zepplin
9. Bitches Brew by Miles Davis
8. The Payback by James Brown
7. America Eats Its Young by Funkadelic
6. The Clash by The Clash
5. Return Of The Super Ape by The Upsetters
4. London Calling by The Clash
3. Burnin' by The Wailers
2. Inspiration Information by Shuggie Otis
1. Theres A Riot Going On by Sly And The Family Stone

10. Atom Heart Mother by Pink Floyd
9. Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs by Derrick And The Dominos
8. Desire by Bob Dylan
7. Exodus by Bob Marley And The Wailers
6. III by Led Zeppelin
When I first heard III by Zeppelin i wasn't sure what to think with all the acoustic songs, but after hearing it a few more times i realized that this album is completly amazing. From acoustic tracks such as, Friends, That's the way, Thank you, and Tangerine, to traditional Zeppelin in Immigrant Song, Out on the Tiles, and Celebration Day, and finally the classic blues song, Since I've Been Loving You
5. The Wall by Pink Floyd
Such a Classic double CD and songs such as Mother, One of my Turns, In the Flesh, and Outside the Wall are amazing.
4. Blood On The Tracks by Bob Dylan
3. Raw Power by The Stooges
Possibly the finest album produced by Iggy and the Stooges. I'm not a hardcore punk fan, but this album is sweet.
2. IV by Led Zeppelin
The Princes of Rock finest rock album, from the heavy sounds of black dog and Rock N' Roll, to the Folk sounds of Going to California, then to the epic sounds of Stairway to Heaven and When the Levee Breaks, this album is just awesome.
1. Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
Without a shadow of a doubt, the best album ever produced in the 70's, 80's, 90's and possibly all time.