List of 1970s albums considered the best

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This is a list of 1970s music albums that multiple music journalists, magazines, and professional music review websites have considered to be among the best of the 1970s and of all time, separated into the years of each album's release. The albums listed here are included on at least four separate "best/greatest of the 1970s/all time" lists from different professional publications (inclusive of all genres and nationalities) as chosen by their editorial staffs or by a sample size of an entire publication's audience, and/or hall of fame awards and historical preservation measures.

List

1970

Release Date	Album	Artist	Genre(s)	Label	Notes	Accolades
January 26, 1970 (1970-01-26)	Bridge over Troubled Water	Simon & Garfunkel	Folk rock[1]	Columbia		Reception and legacy
January 27, 1970 (1970-01-27)	Moondance	Van Morrison	Rhythm and blues soul rock jazz pop Irish folk[2]	Warner Bros.	Regarded as a precursor to the 1970's adult-oriented rock and soft rock radio formats.[3]	Legacy and reappraisal
February 1, 1970 (1970-02-01)	Sweet Baby James	James Taylor	Folk rock[4]	Warner Bros.		Reception
February 13, 1970 (1970-02-13)	Black Sabbath	Black Sabbath	Heavy metal[5][6]	Vertigo	Widely regarded as the first true heavy metal album,[7] with the opening title track, "Black Sabbath" being referred to as the first doom metal song.[8]	Retrospective reviews and legacy
March 11, 1970	Déjà Vu	Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young	Folk rock[9][10]	Atlantic		Legacy
March 25, 1970 (1970-03-25)	Band Of Gypsys	Jimi Hendrix	Rock psychedelic funk[11] funk rock funk[12]	Polydor/Track (UK) Capitol (US) Barclay (France)		Influence and legacy
March 30, 1970 (1970-03-30)[13]	Bitches Brew	Miles Davis	Jazz fusion[14] avant-garde jazz[15] jazz-rock avant-funk[16] psychedelia[17]	Columbia	Considered a progenitor of the jazz rock genre, as well as a major influence on rock and '70s crossover musicians.[14]	Reception and legacy
March 1970[18]	Cold Fact	Rodriguez	Folk rock[19] psychedelic folk	Sussex		Rolling Stone Germany's Top 500 Albums of All Time: #185[citation needed] 1000 Dischi Fondamentali[20] FIP's "The 250 essential albums"[21] Alain Gardinier's "More Than 100 Albums That Have Forged The History of Music in the United States"[citation needed]
April 1970	Yeti	Amon Düül II	Krautrock progressive rock psychedelic rock avant-garde raga rock[22]	Liberty/Repertoire		Hartbeat!'s Greatest Albums Of All Time: #29[23] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #244[24] 1000 Dischi Fondamentali: "300 Imperdibilii"[20] Rolling Stone's 50 Greatest Prog Rock Albums of All Time: #41[25]
May 8, 1970 (1970-05-08)	Let It Be	The Beatles	Rock blues[26]	Apple		Legacy
May 11, 1970 (1970-05-11)	Live at Leeds	The Who	Hard rock	Track (UK) Decca (US)	Commonly ranked by music critics as one the greatest live albums and rock recordings of all time.[27][28][29]	Accolades
June 5, 1970 (1970-06-05)	Deep Purple in Rock	Deep Purple	Hard rock[30] heavy metal[31]	Harvest		Accolades
June 14, 1970 (1970-06-14)	Workingman's Dead	Grateful Dead	Roots rock folk rock country rock blues rock[32]	Warner Bros.		Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #409[33] Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums: #371[34] Grammy Hall of Fame Induction[35] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die[36]
June 1970	Third	Soft Machine	Jazz rock[37][38] progressive rock[39] electronic	CBS (UK), Columbia (USA)	Consists of four long-form suites that each take up one side of the double album.[40]	The Wire (UK)'s The 100 Most Important Records Ever Made[41] FNAC's The 1000 Best Albums of All Time: #485[42] Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[43] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die[36]
July 7, 1970	Fun House	The Stooges	Proto-punk hard rock experimental rock avant-punk punk jazz garage rock[44]	Elektra	Regarded as significant in the development of punk rock.[45][46][47]	Legacy and influence
July 8, 1970 (1970-07-08)[48]	Cosmo's Factory	Creedence Clearwater Revival	Rock	Fantasy	All six of the album's singles charted in the top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100.[49]	Grammy Hall of Fame Induction[50] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #413[33] Pitchfork's "The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s": #54[51] Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[43]
September 18, 1970[52]	Paranoid	Black Sabbath	Heavy metal[53]	Vertigo	Widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential heavy metal albums of all time, often cited as a key influence for the development of the genre and one of its earliest albums.[54][55][56]	Accolades
September 19, 1970[57]	After the Gold Rush	Neil Young	Folk rock[58] country folk[59] country rock[60]	Reprise		Accolades
September 23, 1970 (1970-09-23)[61]	Abraxas	Santana	Latin rock Chicano rock jazz fusion psychedelic rock blues rock	Columbia		Critical reception Legacy
October 5, 1970 (1970-10-05)	Led Zeppelin III	Led Zeppelin	Folk rock[62]	Atlantic		Release and reception
November 9, 1970 (1970-11-09)	Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs	Derek and The Dominos	Blues rock	Polydor, Atco	Double album.[63]	Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs
November 23, 1970	Tea for the Tillerman	Cat Stevens	Folk rock[64]	Island (UK/Europe) A&M (US/Canada)		Critical reception
November 27, 1970 (1970-11-27)	All Things Must Pass	George Harrison	Rock folk rock	Apple	Triple album.[65]	Legacy
November 1970	Loaded	The Velvet Underground	Rock pop proto-punk[66]	Cotillion		Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #242[33] Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums: #295[34] Pitchfork's "The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s": #14[51] The Guardian's "The 100 Best Albums Ever": #91[67]
November 1970 (1970-11)	American Beauty	Grateful Dead	Folk rock[68] country rock[69] psychedelic rock[70]	Warner Bros.		Reception
November 1970	Starsailor	Tim Buckley	Avant-rock psychedelia jazz fusion	Straight[71]		Reception and legacy Sunday Herald's: "The 103 Best Albums Ever, Honest"[72]
December 11, 1970 (1970-12-11)	John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band	John Lennon	Rock avant-pop[73]	Apple		Retrospective assessments and legacy
January 1970[74]	Liberation Music Orchestra	Charlie Haden	Avant-garde jazz	Impulse!		Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #163[24] Jazzwise's "100 Jazz Albums That Shook the World"[75] Blow Up's "The 600 Essential Albums"[76] Rolling Stone Germany's 100 Best Jazz Albums: #26[77]

1971

Release Date	Album	Artist	Genre(s)	Label	Notes	Accolades
January 11, 1971 (1971-01-11)	Pearl	Janis Joplin	Blues rock soul blues[78]	Columbia		Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #259[33] FNAC's The 1000 Best Albums of All Time: #44[42] NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #207[79] Grammy Hall of Fame Inductee[80]
February 10, 1971 (1971-02-10)	Tapestry	Carole King	Soft rock[81] pop[82]	Ode A&M		Commercial performance Cultural impact
February 19, 1971	The Yes Album	Yes	Progressive rock[83]	Atlantic		Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #258[24] Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[43] Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums: #317[34] Classic Rock & Metal Hammer's The 200 Greatest Albums of the 70's[84]
February 22, 1971 (1971-02-22)	If I Could Only Remember My Name	David Crosby	Psychedelic folk freak folk folk rock[85]	Atlantic	Acclaimed for its uniquely austere mood, eclectic improvisation, and otherworldly harmony singing.[86] Considered to be a progenitor of the freak folk genre.[87][88]	Modern reception Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #95[24]
February 1971[89]	Journey in Satchidananda	Alice Coltrane	Spiritual jazz modal jazz avant-garde jazz	Impulse!		Paste's "The 300 Greatest Albums of All Time": #80[90] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #446[33] Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #30[91] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #45[24]
March 5, 1971[92]	Bryter Layter	Nick Drake	Folk[93] folk-pop[94] chamber folk[95] folk rock[96]	Island		Legacy Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #25[24]
March 19, 1971	Songs of Love and Hate	Leonard Cohen	Contemporary folk[97]	Columbia		Reception
March 19, 1971[98]	Aqualung	Jethro Tull	Hard rock folk rock progressive rock[99]	Chrysalis/Island (Europe) Reprise (America, Japan and Oceania)		Accolades
March 24, 1971 (1971-03-24)	Histoire de Melody Nelson	Serge Gainsbourg	French pop[100] avant-funk[101]	Philips	Widely considered by music critics to be one of the greatest French-language albums in popular music history.[102]	FNAC's The 1000 Best Albums of All Time: #2[42] NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #142[103] Pitchfork's "The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s": #21[51] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #42[24]
April 8, 1971	In the Land of Grey and Pink	Caravan	Progressive rock psychedelic rock Canterbury scene	Deram		Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #255[24] Rolling Stone's 50 Greatest Prog Rock Albums of All Time: #34[25] Classic Rock & Metal Hammer's The 200 Greatest Albums of the 70's[84] Ondarock's Rock Milestones List[104]
April 19, 1971 (1971-04-19)	L.A. Woman	The Doors	Blues rock psychedelic rock[105]	Elektra		Rolling Stone Germany's Top 100 Albums of All Time (2012): #56[106] Hartbeat!'s Greatest Albums Of All Time[23] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #87[24] Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[43]
April 23, 1971 (1971-04-23)[107]	Sticky Fingers	The Rolling Stones	Hard rock roots rock rock and roll country rock[108]	Rolling Stones		Legacy
May 21, 1971 (1971-05-21)	What's Going On	Marvin Gaye	Soul	Tamla	Regarded by music historians as a classic of 1970s soul, and significant to the development of progressive soul.[109][110]	Accolades
May 28, 1971	Every Picture Tells a Story	Rod Stewart	Folk rock[111] roots rock[112]	Mercury		Legacy Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #110[24]
May 1971	Stormcock	Roy Harper	Progressive folk, folk baroque	Harvest	Consists of lengthy songs with dense orchestral arrangements, inspiring several progressive folk and alternative rock acts.[113][114][115]	NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #377[116] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #129[24] Blow Up's "The 600 Essential Albums"[76] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"[117]
June 22, 1971 (1971-06-22)[118]	Blue	Joni Mitchell	Folk folk rock	Reprise	Regarded as a landmark of songwriting and composition.[119]	Accolades
July 6, 1971 (1971-07-06)[120]	At Fillmore East	The Allman Brothers Band	Blues rock Southern rock	Capricorn	Double live album, widely regarded as one of the greatest live albums of all time.[121][122]	Release and critical reception
July 12, 1971	Maggot Brain	Funkadelic	Psychedelic funk funk rock R&B acid rock psychedelic soul	Westbound	Regarded as among the most intense and best guitar records ever made, as a representation of the tumultuousness and decay of the 1970's.[123][124][125][126]	Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #136[33] Pitchfork's "The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s": #17[51] Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[43] Sunday Herald's: "The 103 Best Albums Ever, Honest"[72]
August 2, 1971 (1971-08-02)[127]	Who's Next	The Who	Hard rock arena rock[128][129][130]	Track (UK) Decca (US)		Critical reception and legacy
August 6, 1971[131]	Master of Reality	Black Sabbath	Heavy metal	Vertigo	Regarded by several music critics as the foundation of doom metal, stoner rock, and sludge metal.[132]	Reception and legacy
August 30, 1971	Surf's Up	The Beach Boys	Progressive pop psychedelic pop[133]	Brother/Reprise		Retrospective assessments
August 1971	Tago Mago	Can	Krautrock psychedelic rock experimental rock avant-funk[134]	United Artists	Consists of long-form experimental tracks blending rock and jazz improvisation, funk rhythms, and musique concrète tape editing techniques.[134] Cited as an influence by many alternative bands.[135][136][137][138]	Accolades
September 24, 1971 (1971-09-24)	Electric Warrior	T. Rex	Glam rock hard rock[139]	Fly (UK) Reprise (US)	Widely considered to be the first glam rock album, and an influence to hard rock, punk, and new wave."[140]	Accolades
October 1971	John Prine	John Prine	Folk country[141]	Atlantic		Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #149[33] Paste's "The 300 Greatest Albums of All Time": #181[90] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #162[24] 33⅓ Installment[142]
November 1, 1971	There's a Riot Goin' On	Sly and The Family Stone	Psychedelic funk avant-soul avant-pop deep funk[143]	Epic	Considered one of the most influential albums of all time, especially to funk, jazz-funk, and hip hop. Oriented around ongoing drug use and disillusionment with "the death of the Sixties".[144]	Reception and legacy
November 3, 1971[145][146]	The Inner Mounting Flame	The Mahavishnu Orchestra	Jazz fusion progressive rock	Columbia		The New York Times' "The 100 Most Important Jazz Recordings"[147] Classic Rock's 100 Greatest Albums of the 70s: #62[citation needed] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die[36] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"[117]
November 5, 1971	Meddle	Pink Floyd	Progressive rock psychedelia[148]	Harvest		Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums: #255[34] Pitchfork's "The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s": #67[51] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die[36] Classic Rock's 100 Greatest Albums of the 70s: #6[citation needed]
November 8, 1971 (1971-11-08)[149]	Led Zeppelin IV	Led Zeppelin	Hard rock heavy metal	Atlantic		Accolades
November 11, 1971 (1971-11-11)	Nilsson Schmilsson	Harry Nilsson	Rock pop[150]	RCA Victor		Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #281[33] Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #134[91] Pitchfork's "The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s": #84[51] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die[36]
November 12, 1971 (1971-11-12)	Fragile	Yes	Progressive rock[151]	Atlantic		Classic Rock's 100 Greatest Albums of All Time: #87[citation needed] Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[43] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die[36] Ondarock's Rock Milestones List[104]
November 12, 1971[152]	Pawn Hearts	Van Der Graaf Generator	Progressive rock	Charisma		Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #105[24] 1000 Dischi Fondamentali: "200 Capolavori [20] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"[117] Ondarock's Rock Milestones List[104]
December 17, 1971 (1971-12-17)	Hunky Dory	David Bowie	Art pop pop rock[153]	RCA		Rankings
December 1971	Construção	Chico Buarque	MPB samba	Philips Records	Widely regarded by music critics as one of the greatest Brazilian albums of all time. Heavily criticized the Brazilian military dictatorship, especially its censorship.[154]	Acclaim and legacy Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die[36]
1971	Pieces of a Man	Gil Scott-Heron	Soul jazz-funk progressive soul[155]	Flying Dutchman	Regarded as having influenced the development of electronic dance music and hip hop.[156]	FNAC's The 1000 Best Albums of All Time: #163[42] Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #88[91] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #205[24] Blow Up's "The 600 Essential Albums"[76] Laut's List of Milestones[157]
1971	In den Gärten Pharaos	Popol Vuh	Electronic new-age[158]	Pilz		FACT's "The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s": #5[159] Hartbeat!'s Greatest Albums Of All Time: #99[23] Blow Up's "The 600 Essential Albums"[76] Ondarock's Rock Milestones List[104]
1971	For Alto	Anthony Braxton	Jazz	Delmark Records	Generally recognized as one of the landmarks of free jazz and improvised music. The first jazz album composed solely of solo saxophone music, and regarded as among the greatest solo saxophone albums.[160][161]	The New York Times' "The 100 (+ Another 100) Most Important Jazz Recordings"[147] The Penguin Guide to Jazz "Crown"[162] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die[36] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"[117]

1972

Release Date	Album	Artist	Genre(s)	Label	Notes	Accolades
January 31, 1972	Let's Stay Together	Al Green	Soul	Hi		Critical reaction Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die[36]
February 1, 1972 (1972-02-01)[163]	Harvest	Neil Young	Folk rock country rock	Reprise		Critical reception
February 25, 1972 (1972-02-25)	Pink Moon	Nick Drake	Folk indie folk[164][165]	Island	Recorded with just Drake on vocals, acoustic guitar and a single piano melody overdubbed onto the title track, with lyrics often attributed to Drake's ongoing battle with depression.[166]	Accolades Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #51[24]
February 1972	Something/Anything?	Todd Rundgren	Rock pop R&B psychedelia avant-pop[167]	Bearsville	Double album divided into four sections focused on different stylistic themes; the first three parts were recorded in the studio with Rundgren playing all instruments and singing all vocals in addition to producing.[168][169][170]	Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #396[33] Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #51[91] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #65[24] Classic Rock & Metal Hammer's The 200 Greatest Albums of the 70's[84]
March 30, 1972[171]	Machine Head	Deep Purple	Hard rock heavy metal	Purple	Regarded as influential in the development of heavy metal.[172]	Critical reception Accolades
March 1972	Clube da Esquina	Milton Nascimento / Lô Borges	MPB baroque pop folk	EMI-Odeon	Regarded as among the greatest albums of Brazilian music.[173][174][175]	Legacy and critical reception
April 24, 1972	#1 Record	Big Star	Power pop[176] hard rock[177] folk rock[178] Southern rock[179]	Ardent	Regarded as a seminal work in pop rock and power pop.[180]	Number 1 Record
May 12, 1972 (1972-05-12)	Exile on Main St.	The Rolling Stones	Rock and roll hard rock country[181]	Rolling Stones		Accolades
June 1, 1972	Amazing Grace	Aretha Franklin	Gospel	Atlantic	Live album.[182]	Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #154[33] Paste's "The 300 Greatest Albums of All Time": #235[90] 33⅓ Installment[183] Grammy Hall of Fame Induction[50]
June 16, 1972 (1972-06-16)	Roxy Music	Roxy Music	Glam rock art rock avant-pop[184]	Island Reprise		Critical reception
June 16, 1972 (1972-06-16)	The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars	David Bowie	Glam rock proto-punk	RCA	Recognised as one of the most important and culturally impactful rock albums.[185][186][187]	Rankings
June 1972 (1972-06)	666	Aphrodite's Child	Progressive rock psychedelic rock[188] art rock[189]	Vertigo	Double-LP concept album, ostensibly an adaptation of Biblical passages from the Book of Revelation.[190] Regarded by many music critics as among the greatest progressive rock albums of all time.[191][192]	Release and reception The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"[117]
July 11, 1972	Super Fly	Curtis Mayfield	Psychedelic soul[193] funk[194] progressive soul[195] cinematic soul[196]	Curtom	One of the pioneering soul concept albums, including socially aware lyrics about poverty and drug abuse.[197][198] Regarded as an influence to the hip hop and rap genres.[199]	Reception, sales and legacy
September 8, 1972[200]	Close to the Edge	Yes	Progressive rock	Atlantic		Reception and legacy
September 15, 1972 (1972-09-15)	Foxtrot	Genesis	Progressive rock	Charisma		Epoca's The 100 Best Albums of All Time: #4[201] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #340[24] Classic Rock & Metal Hammer's The 200 Greatest Albums of the 70's[84] Laut's List of Milestones[157]
September 1972 (1972-09)[202]	Vol. 4	Black Sabbath	Heavy metal[203]	Vertigo		Release and reception Classic Rock & Metal Hammer's The 200 Greatest Albums of the 70's[84]
October 11, 1972	On the Corner	Miles Davis	Jazz-funk avant-funk fusion psychedelic funk avant-garde jazz[204]	Columbia	Praised for its experimental style, anticipating subsequent developments in funk, jazz, post-punk, electronica, and hip hop.[205][206]	Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #55[24] Pitchfork's "The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s": #84[51] Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #56[91] FACT's "The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s": #11[159]
October 27, 1972 (1972-10-27)	Talking Book	Stevie Wonder	Progressive soul[207] funk soul rock jazz[208]	Tamla		Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #59[33] Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums: #322[34] Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #65[91] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #400[24]
November 8, 1972 (1972-11-08)	Transformer	Lou Reed	Glam rock pop rock	RCA Victor	Incorporated controversial topics of sexual orientation, gender identity, prostitution, and drug use.[209]	Critical reception
November 29, 1972	Ege Bamyasi	Can	Krautrock[210] avant-funk psychedelic rock space rock[211]	United Artists Spoon Records	Helped popularize krautrock, and inspired several later musicians, particularly the electronic and post-punk scenes.[212][213][214]	Accolades
November 1972	Can't Buy a Thrill	Steely Dan	Jazz rock pop rock soft rock[215]	ABC		Critical reception Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #297[24]
December 8, 1972	Made in Japan	Deep Purple	Hard rock heavy metal[216][217]	Purple		Accolades Classic Rock & Metal Hammer's The 200 Greatest Albums of the 70's[84]
1972	Acabou Chorare	Novos Baianos	MPB Samba rock tropicália[218]	Som Livre	Influential to many Brazilian musicians and bands due to its absence of a group hierarchy and focus on samba rhythm.[219]	Acabou Chorare Reception
1972	Neu!	Neu!	Krautrock experimental rock psychedelic rock[220]	Brain	Regarded as a seminal work of German experimental rock, and influential towards influence on subsequent ambient music and punk.[221][222]	NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #163[103] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #14[24] FACT's "The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s": #36[159] Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #83[91]
1972	Hosianna Mantra	Popol Vuh	Krautrock chamber music[223] new-age world music	Pilz[224]		Paste's "The 300 Greatest Albums of All Time": #251[90] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #307[24] Julian Cope's "50 Kosmische Classics"[225] Ondarock's Rock Milestones List[104]

1973

Release Date	Album	Artist	Genre(s)	Label	Notes	Accolades
February 7, 1973 (1973-02-07)	Raw Power	Iggy and The Stooges	Proto-punk hard rock garage rock punk rock[226]	Columbia	Credited with pioneering punk rock, and being one, of if not the first punk rock album by some music critics.[227][228]	Paste's "The 300 Greatest Albums of All Time": #90[90] NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #80[229] Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #45[91] Pitchfork's "The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s": #83[51]
February 25, 1973 (1973-02-25)	Paris 1919	John Cale	Art pop[230] baroque pop[231][232]	Reprise	Highly regarded for its orchestral-influenced style and evocative lyrical imagery of various aspects of early 20th century Western Europe culture and history.[233]	Legacy Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #47[24] Rolling Stone Germany's The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: #82[234]
February 1973 (1973-02)	Solid Air	John Martyn	Folk rock[235] folk jazz[236] folk[237] psychedelia[238]	Island		Reception Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #61[24]
March 1, 1973 (1973-03-01)	The Dark Side of the Moon	Pink Floyd	Progressive rock psychedelic rock[239]	Harvest Capitol	Regarded as a pivotal point in the history of rock music, and by many publications as its greatest album.[240][241][242]	Rankings
March 2, 1973 (1973-03-02)	A Wizard, a True Star	Todd Rundgren	Progressive pop psychedelia avant-pop R&B[243]	Bearsville	Produced, engineered, and largely performed by Rundgren alone, who envisioned the album as a hallucinogenic-inspired "flight plan" with all the tracks segueing seamlessly into each other.[244]	NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #189[103] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #73[24] Blow Up's "The 600 Essential Albums"[76] Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[43]
March 6, 1973 (1973-03-06)	Closing Time	Tom Waits	Folk jazz blues[245]	Asylum		NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #341[116] Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #88[91] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #396[24] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die[36]
March 23, 1973	Larks' Tongues in Aspic	King Crimson	Progressive rock avant-garde metal[246] free improvisation	Island Atlantic		Reception and legacy
March 23, 1973 (1973-03-23)	For Your Pleasure	Roxy Music	Art rock[247]	Island Warner Bros.	Regarded as one of the greatest glam rock and art rock albums of all time.[248]	Critical reception
March 28, 1973[249]	Houses Of the Holy	Led Zeppelin	Hard rock art rock[250]	Atlantic		Release and reception
April 13, 1973	Catch a Fire	The Wailers	Reggae reggae rock[251] roots reggae[252]	Tuff Gong/Island	Regarded as one of the top reggae albums of all time.[253][254]	Critical reception Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #106[24] FNAC's The 1000 Best Albums of All Time: #129[42]
April 19, 1973 (1973-04-19)	Aladdin Sane	David Bowie	Glam rock hard rock[255]	RCA		Legacy
May 6, 1973 (1973-05-06)	Mekanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh	Magma	Zeuhl	A&M (most of the world) Vertigo (original French release) Mercury (French reissues)		Rolling Stone France's 33rd greatest French Rock album[102] Classic Rock's 100 Greatest Albums of the 70s: #96[citation needed] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #350[24] Rolling Stone's 50 Greatest Prog Rock Albums of All Time: #24[256]
May 25, 1973 (1973-05-25)	Tubular Bells	Mike Oldfield	Progressive rock[257][258] instrumental rock[259] new-age music[260]	Virgin	Consists of two mostly instrumental tracks written by 19 year old Mike Oldfield, who played almost all the instruments.[261]	Reception
July 27, 1973 (1973-07-27)	New York Dolls	New York Dolls	Hard rock proto-punk glam rock punk rock	Mercury	Regarded as a foundation for the late 1970s punk rock movement.[262][263]	Professional rankings
July 1973	Countdown to Ecstasy	Steely Dan	Rock[264] jazz rock[265] pop[266]	ABC		NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #310[116] Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums: #295[34] Classic Rock's 100 Greatest Albums of the 70s: #27[citation needed] Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[43]
August 1, 1973	Future Days	Can	Krautrock space rock ambient electronic progressive rock[267]	United Artists		#Legacy|Legacy
August 3, 1973	Innervisions	Stevie Wonder	Progressive soul[268] funk soul rock jazz[269]	Tamla	Significantly influential on the sound of commercial soul and black music.[270]	Legacy Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999[271]
August 13, 1973 (1973-08-13)	(pronounced 'lĕh-'nérd 'skin-'nérd)	Lynyrd Skynyrd	Southern rock hard rock blues rock	MCA		Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #381[33] Classic Rock & Metal Hammer's The 200 Greatest Albums of the 70's[84] Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[43] Ondarock's Rock Milestones List[104]
August 28, 1973 (1973-08-28)	Let's Get It On	Marvin Gaye	Soul R&B[272]	Tamla	Influenced the development of contemporary R&B and slow jams by incorporating vocal multi-tracking and complex instrumentation.[273][272]	Accolades
September 21, 1973	Faust IV	Faust	Krautrock[274]	Virgin		Pitchfork's "The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s": #69[51] Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #111[91] Julian Cope's "50 Kosmische Classics"[225] Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[43]
September 28, 1973	Selling England by the Pound	Genesis	Progressive rock[275]	Charisma Atlantic		Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #206[24] Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #115[91] FACT's "The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s": #37[159] Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[43]
October 5, 1973	Goodbye Yellow Brick Road	Elton John	Pop rock[276] glam rock[277]	DJM	Double album.[276]	Legacy
October 5, 1973 (1973-10-05)	Berlin	Lou Reed	Rock art rock orchestral rock[278]	RCA Victor	Rock opera about a doomed couple, addressing themes of drug use, prostitution, depression, domestic violence and suicide.[279]	Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #60[24] Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2012): #344[280] NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #498[281] Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[43]
October 26, 1973 (1973-10-26)[282]	Quadrophenia	The Who	Hard rock[283][130] art rock[284]	Track (UK) Track/MCA (US)	Double concept album, regarded as influential towards the mod revival movement of the late 1970s.[285]	Reception
October 26, 1973 (1973-10-26)	Head Hunters	Herbie Hancock	Jazz-funk jazz fusion[286]	Columbia	Considered to have brought jazz-funk fusion to mainstream attention.[286]	Paste's "The 300 Greatest Albums of All Time": #130[90] Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #36[91] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #90[24] Grammy Hall of Fame Induction[50] Library of Congress' National Recording Registry[287]
October 1973 (1973-10)	Artaud	Pescado Rabioso	Art rock folk	Talent-Microfón	Considered to be among most influential albums in Spanish-language rock music, and frequently ranked as the best greatest album in the history of Argentine rock.[288][289][290][291]	Legacy
October 1973	Marjory Razorblade	Kevin Coyne	Rock[292]	Virgin	Double album.	Hartbeat!'s Greatest Albums Of All Time: #90[23] FACT's "The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s": #83[159] Blow Up's "The 600 Essential Albums"[76] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"[117]
November 5, 1973 (1973-11-05)[293][294]	The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle	Bruce Springsteen	Rock	Columbia		Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #345[33] Classic Rock's 100 Greatest Albums of the 70s: #27[citation needed] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #221[24] The Guardian Writers' Favourite Albums Ever[295]
November 30, 1973	Band on the Run	Paul McCartney & Wings	Rock pop rock[296]	Apple		Critical reception NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #333[229]
1973	Conference of the Birds	Dave Holland	Avant-garde jazz free jazz post-bop	ECM	Considered to be among the greatest avant-garde jazz releases.[297][298]	The Penguin Guide to Jazz's "Core Collection"[299] The New York Times' "The 100 (+ Another 100) Most Important Jazz Recordings"[147] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"[117] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die[36]

1974

Release Date	Album	Artist	Genre(s)	Label	Notes	Accolades
January 17, 1974	Court and Spark	Joni Mitchell	Pop soft rock jazz pop[300] jazz-rock[301]	Asylum		Paste's "The 300 Greatest Albums of All Time": #208[90] Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #68[91] 33⅓ Installment[302] Grammy Hall of Fame Induction[50]
January 1974	Grievous Angel	Gram Parsons	Country country rock[303]	Reprise		NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #317[116] Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums: #324[34] Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #425[33] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"[117]
February 8, 1974 (1974-02-08)	Here Come the Warm Jets	Brian Eno	Art rock[304][305] avant-pop glam rock[306] experimental pop art pop[306] pop rock[307]	Island		Critical reception NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #427[281] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #72[24] Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #77[91]
February 20, 1974[308]	Radio City	Big Star	Power pop	Ardent	Recognized as a milestone album in the history of power pop music, and regarded by several music critics as its definitive album.[309][310]	Reception
February 20, 1974	Pretzel Logic	Steely Dan	Jazz rock pop rock[311]	ABC		Critical reception Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #127[24]
February 20, 1974 (1974-02-20)	Phaedra	Tangerine Dream	Electronic[312] kosmische[313] ambient[312] space music[314] progressive electronic[315]	Virgin	Considered to have greatly influenced the Berlin School genre.[316]	FACT's "The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s": #49[159] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #238[24] Epoca's The 100 Best Albums of All Time[201] Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[43]
April 30, 1974	I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight	Richard & Linda Thompson	Folk rock singer-songwriter[235]	Island		Reception Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #37[24]
May 1, 1974 (1974-05-01)	Kimono My House	Sparks	Glam rock art rock	Island		Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #476[33] Laut's Best Albums of the 1970's: #41[317] Blow Up's "The 600 Essential Albums"[76] Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[43]
May 24, 1974 (1974-05-24)	Diamond Dogs	David Bowie	Glam rock art rock proto-punk soul	RCA	Cited as an influence on the 1970s punk revolution and on future goth and industrial acts due due to its nihilistic lyrical content and raw guitar style.[318][319]	Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #93[24] NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #447[281] Classic Rock & Metal Hammer's The 200 Greatest Albums of the 70's[84] 33⅓ Installment[320]
July 19, 1974 (1974-07-19)[321]	On the Beach	Neil Young	Country rock blues rock	Reprise		Reception
July 26, 1974 (1974-07-26)	Rock Bottom	Robert Wyatt	Art rock Canterbury scene progressive rock psychedelic rock[322]	Virgin		FNAC's The 1000 Best Albums of All Time: #217[42] NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #358[116] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #34[24] Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #145[91]
October 6, 1974	Red	King Crimson	Progressive rock progressive metal heavy metal[323]	Island Atlantic	Regarded as being highly influential to the development of avant-garde metal and math rock.[324][325]	Legacy Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #379[24]
October 25, 1974	Crime of the Century	Supertramp	Art rock[326] progressive rock[327] pop[328][329]	A&M		Reception
October 25, 1974	Natty Dread	Bob Marley & The Wailers	Reggae reggae rock[330]	Island/Tuff Gong		NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #141[103] Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2012): #181[280] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #385[24] Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[43]
November 1, 1974	Autobahn	Kraftwerk	Electronic pop electroacoustic kosmische	Philips	Regarded as one of the most influential and significant records in the history of electronic music. Features a 22-minute suite titled "Autobahn", reflecting a trip emulating the sounds of motor vehicle on the highway.[331][332]	Rolling Stone's "40 Most Groundbreaking Albums of All Time"[333] FACT's "The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s": #21[159] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #137[24] Grammy Hall of Fame Induction[50]
November 22, 1974[334]	The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway	Genesis	Progressive rock art rock	Charisma Atco		Legacy Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #94[91] Classic Rock & Metal Hammer's The 200 Greatest Albums of the 70's[84]
November 1974	Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)	Brian Eno	Art rock[335] art pop[336] avant-pop[337] experimental rock[338]	Island	Loose concept album that references themes of geopolitical intrigue ranging from espionage to the Chinese Communist Revolution.[339]	Wiener's "100 Best Records of the [20th] Century": #64[340] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #330[24] Treble's Best 100 Albums of the 70s[341] FNAC's 300+ Best Albums in the History of Rock[342]
1974	Zuckerzeit	Cluster	Electronic avant-pop kosmische electronic pop krautrock[343]	Brain	Influential on future electronic releases in part due to its lo-fi approach.[344][345]	FACT's "The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s": #13[159] Pitchfork's "The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s": #63[51] Julian Cope's "50 Kosmische Classics"[225] The World's Greatest Ever Electronic Music Albums[346]

1975

Release Date	Album	Artist	Genre(s)	Label	Notes	Accolades
January 20, 1975 (1975-01-20)	Blood on the Tracks	Bob Dylan	Folk[347] folk rock	Columbia		Paste's "The 300 Greatest Albums of All Time": #30[90] NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #36[229] Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #42[91] Classic Rock & Metal Hammer's The 200 Greatest Albums of the 70's[84]
February 24, 1975 (1975-02-24)	Physical Graffiti	Led Zeppelin	Hard rock	Swan Song	Double album.[348]	Release and critical reception
February 1975	Neu! '75	Neu!	Krautrock kosmische musik[349] experimental rock psychedelic rock proto-punk[350]	Brain United Artists	Regarded as a landmark in German experimental rock due to side one's electronic ambient tracks and side two's proto-punk.[222][349]	NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #163[103] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #267[24] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die[36] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"[117]
May 1975	Red Headed Stranger	Willie Nelson	Country outlaw country	Columbia		Legacy
June 20, 1975	Tonight's the Night	Neil Young	Country rock blues rock[351]	Reprise		Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #302[33] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #243[24] Ondarock's Rock Milestones List[104] Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[43]
June 26, 1975 (1975-06-26)	The Basement Tapes	Bob Dylan & The Band	Roots rock[352] Americana alternative country	Columbia	Considered a significant influence on Americana and alternative country due to its home-brew, unpolished recording distinct from contemporary acts in the 1960's.[353]	Legacy Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #335[33] Grammy Hall of Fame Induction[50]
August 25, 1975 (1975-08-25)	Born to Run	Bruce Springsteen	Rock and roll pop rock R&B folk rock	Columbia	Highly regarded for its Wall of Sound production and cinematic storytelling attributed with capturing the ideals of a generation of American youths during a decade of political turmoil, war, and issues for the working class.[354][355][356]	Rankings
September 12, 1975	Wish You Were Here	Pink Floyd	Progressive rock[357] art rock[358] experimental rock[359]	Harvest Columbia		Reception
November 10, 1975 (1975-11-10)	Horses	Patti Smith	Punk rock art punk garage rock[360]	Arista	Regarded as a seminal recording in the history of punk, and later rock movements such as new wave, alternative rock, indie rock, and grunge.[361][362][363]	Legacy and influence
November 14, 1975[364]	Another Green World	Eno	Art pop ambient art rock minimalist ambient pop avant-pop[365]	Island	Regarded as a landmark and pioneering release for ambient and art-pop music due to its unorthodox use of the recoding studio, directed improvisations, electronic effects.[366]	Legacy Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #20[91]
November 28, 1975 (1975-11-28)	A Night at the Opera	Queen	Progressive rock pop heavy metal hard rock avant-pop	EMI Elektra	Highly regarded for its elaborate production and incorporation of a vast range of styles, such as ballads, music hall, sea shanties, dixieland, hard rock and progressive rock influences.[367][368][369]	Accolades
November 30, 1975 (1975-11-30)	The Köln Concert	Keith Jarrett	Jazz	ECM	The best-selling piano recording and the best-selling solo album in jazz history.[370][371]	Legacy FNAC's The 1000 Best Albums of All Time: #93[42] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #469[24] Grammy Hall of Fame Induction[50]
November 1975	The Hissing of Summer Lawns	Joni Mitchell	Folk jazz[372] art rock[373] jazz pop[374] avant-pop[375]	Asylum		Accolades
December 15, 1975	Mothership Connection	Parliament	Funk R&B[376] funk rock[377] disco[378] progressive soul[379]	Casablanca Def Jam		Reception
1975	Bogalusa Boogie	Clifton Chenier	Zydeco[380]	Arhoolie Records		Grammy Hall of Fame Induction[50] Library of Congress' National Recording Registry[287] Stereophile's "40 Essential Albums"[381] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die[36]

1976

Release Date	Album	Artist	Genre(s)	Label	Notes	Accolades
January 5, 1976 (1976-01-05)	Desire	Bob Dylan	Folk rock	Columbia		NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #143[103] Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2012): #174[280] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #142[24] Classic Rock & Metal Hammer's The 200 Greatest Albums of the 70's[84]
January 23, 1976 (1976-01-23)	Station to Station	David Bowie	Art rock funk R&B	RCA		Rankings
March 1976 (1976-03)	2112	Rush	Progressive rock[382][383][384][385] progressive metal[386][387]	Mercury		Reception
March 1976 (1976-03)	Bright Size Life	Pat Metheny	Jazz jazz fusion americana[388]	ECM		Library of Congress' National Recording Registry[287] The New York Times' "The 100 Most Important Jazz Recordings"[147] NPR's Basic Jazz Record Library[389] Jazzwise's "100 Jazz Albums That Shook the World"[75]
April 23, 1976 (1976-04-23)	Ramones	Ramones	Punk rock	Sire	Critically considered as having established the musical genre of punk rock, while influencing additional genres such as heavy metal, thrash metal,[390] indie pop, grunge, and post-punk.[391]	Paste's "The 300 Greatest Albums of All Time": #123[90] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #16[24] Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #52[91] Classic Rock & Metal Hammer's The 200 Greatest Albums of the 70's[84]
August 25, 1976	Boston	Boston	Hard rock arena rock[392]	Epic	Regarded as having led the transition of mainstream American rock from blues-based proto-metal to power pop alongside advanced production values.[393][394]	Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's "Definitive 200": #43[395] Classic Rock & Metal Hammer's The 200 Greatest Albums of the 70's[84] Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #139[91] Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[43]
August 1976	The Modern Lovers	The Modern Lovers	Proto-punk[396] garage rock[397] art rock[398]	Beserkley	Considered a significant inspiration for punk rock.[399]	Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #288[33] NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #289[400] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #21[24] 33⅓ Installment[401]
September 28, 1976 (1976-09-28)	Songs in the Key of Life	Stevie Wonder	R&B[402] soul[403] pop[403] progressive soul[268] soul jazz[404]	Tamla		Legacy and influence
October 11, 1976	Arrival	ABBA	Pop euro disco[405]	Polar Epic[406]		Rolling Stone Germany's Top 500 Albums of All Time: #245[citation needed] NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #441[281] Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[43] Library of Congress' National Recording Registry[287]
November 22, 1976	Hejira	Joni Mitchell	Folk rock[407] folk jazz[408]	Asylum		Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #133[33] Paste's "The 300 Greatest Albums of All Time": #249[90] Wiener's "100 Best Records of the [20th] Century": #44[340] Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[43]
December 8, 1976	Hotel California	Eagles	Rock	Asylum		Accolades
December 1976	Oxygène	Jean-Michel Jarre	Electronic ambient synth-pop[409] space music[410] new-age[411] electropop[412]	Disques Motors/Polydor	Regarded as having popularized the rise of synthesizers in music.[413][414]	Accolades
1976	King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown	Augustus Pablo	Dub reggae[415]	*Yard International *Clocktower	Regarded as one of the best and most influential dub albums	Critical reception
1976	Music from the Penguin Cafe	Penguin Cafe Orchestra	Pop[416]	E.G.		Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s"[24] Blow Up's "The 600 Essential Albums"[76] Le Mot et le Reste [fr]'s Musiques, Traverses & Horizons en 400 Disques[417] Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[43]

1977

Release Date	Album	Artist	Genre(s)	Label	Notes	Accolades
January 14, 1977 (1977-01-14)	Low	David Bowie	Art rock avant-pop electronic ambient experimental rock	RCA	Highly acclaimed for its acclaimed for its originality and cited as an influence on the post-punk and post-rock genres.[418][419][420]	Rankings
February 4, 1977 (1977-02-04)	Rumours	Fleetwood Mac	Pop rock soft rock[421]	Warner Bros.		Legacy
February 8, 1977	Marquee Moon	Television	Rock post-punk art punk new wave punk rock garage rock	Elektra	Regarded a foundational record of alternative rock, due to its innovative instrumentation involving rock and jazz-inspired interplay, melodic lines, and counter-melodies. Strongly influenced subsequent post-punk, new wave, and indie rock movements of the 1980s, and rock guitar playing in general.[422][423][424]	Reappraisal
February 18, 1977	Damned Damned Damned	The Damned	Punk rock garage rock[425]	Stiff	The first full-length album released by a UK punk group.[426]	Laut's Best Albums of the 1970's: #89[427] Classic Rock & Metal Hammer's The 200 Greatest Albums of the 70's[84] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die[36] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"[117]
February 21, 1977	(I'm) Stranded	The Saints	Punk rock[428]	EMI (Australia) Harvest (original UK release) Sire (original US release)		Accolades
March 18, 1977 (1977-03-18)	The Idiot	Iggy Pop	Art rock post-punk	RCA Victor	Regarded as a significant influence on post-punk, industrial, and gothic rock artists.[429]	NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #467[281] Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #88[91] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #101[24] Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[43]
March 1977	Heavy Weather	Weather Report	Jazz fusion[430]	Columbia		Legacy Jazzwise's "100 Jazz Albums That Shook the World"[75]
March 1977 (1977-03)	Trans-Europa Express	Kraftwerk	Electronic synth-pop experimental pop avant-garde[431]	Kling Klang	Regarded as one of the most influential and significant albums of all time due to its use of minimalistic arrangements, mechanized rhythms, and custom-built sequencers, influencing subsequent electronic, hip-hop, post-punk, and other genres of music.[432][433][434]	Accolades
April 8, 1977	The Clash	The Clash	Punk rock[435]	CBS		Reception
April 15, 1977 (1977-04-15)	Rattus Norvegicus	The Stranglers	Punk rock[436] new wave[437] pub rock[437] art punk[436]	United Artists (UK) A&M (US)		Reception and legacy
June 3, 1977	Exodus	Bob Marley & the Wailers	Reggae	Island		Critical reception Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #125[24]
July 22, 1977 (1977-07-22)	My Aim Is True	Elvis Costello	New wave pub rock punk rock power pop[438]	Stiff Columbia		Rankings
September 9, 1977 (1977-09-09)	Lust for Life	Iggy Pop	Garage rock hard rock proto-punk new wave[439]	RCA		Aftermath and legacy
September 16, 1977 (1977-09-16)	Talking Heads: 77	Talking Heads	New wave[440][441] art rock[442] art-punk[443]	Sire		Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2012): #291[280] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #109[24] Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[43] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die[36]
September 23, 1977	Aja	Steely Dan	Jazz rock pop rock yacht rock blue-eyed soul	ABC	Lauded by critics and audiophiles as among the most well-produced albums.[444]	Accolades
September 29, 1977	The Stranger	Billy Joel	Rock soft rock[445] pop rock[446]	Columbia		Reception
October 3, 1977	L.A.M.F.	The Heartbreakers	Punk rock rock and roll	Track		Rolling Stone Germany's Top 500 Albums of All Time (2004): #267[447] NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #396[116] Classic Rock's 100 Greatest Albums of the 70s: #96[citation needed] Musikexpress's 33 1/3 Best Punk Albums[448]
October 14, 1977 (1977-10-14)	"Heroes"	David Bowie	Art rock experimental rock electronic ambient	RCA		Legacy
October 21, 1977 (1977-10-21)	Bat Out of Hell	Meat Loaf	Wagnerian rock	Cleveland International Epic	Regarded as the first Wagnerian rock album due to its elaborate compositions, as well as its dense Wall of Sound-inspired production by Todd Rundgren.[449][450]	Legacy
October 24, 1977[451]	Out of the Blue	Electric Light Orchestra	Progressive pop[452] orchestral pop[453] art rock[454]	Jet United Artists CBS		Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums: #346[34] Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #109[91] Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[43] Classic Rock & Metal Hammer's The 200 Greatest Albums of the 70's[84]
October 28, 1977 (1977-10-28)	Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols	Sex Pistols	Punk rock	Virgin (UK) Warner Bros. (US)	Regarded as one of, if not the most influential punk rock albums due to its energy and vocal delivery.[455]	Legacy
November 4, 1977 (1977-11-04)	Rocket to Russia	Ramones	Punk rock pop punk[456] surf punk[457]	Sire		Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2012): #106[280] Pitchfork's "The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s": #59[51] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #154[24] Ondarock's Rock Milestones List[104]
November 1977 (1977-11)	Pink Flag	Wire	Punk rock[458] art punk[459] post-punk[460]	Harvest	Regarded as a landmark in the development of post-punk, hardcore, alternative rock, and Britpopmusic.[461][462]	Legacy
November 15, 1977 (1977-11-15)	Saturday Night Fever	Various Artists	Disco	RSO Records	Double soundtrack album to Saturday Night Fever, regarded as having epitomized the disco phenomenon.[463]	Reception and legacy
December 28, 1977 (1977-12-28)	Suicide	Suicide	Synth-punk electronic rock synth-pop electronic minimalist	Red Star	Considered a uniquely "monolithic" album due to its minimalist electronics and harsh, repetitive rhythms, especially on the song Frankie Teardrop.[464][465]	Reception
December 1977 (1977-12)	Before and After Science	Brian Eno	Art rock art pop avant-pop[466] experimental pop[467]	Island Polydor		Rolling Stone Germany's Top 500 Albums of All Time: #266[citation needed] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #75[24] Pitchfork's "The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s": #100[51] Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die[36]
1977	Zombie	Fela Kuti & Africa 70	Afrobeat[468]	Coconut		Critical reception FNAC's The 1000 Best Albums of All Time: #224[42]
1977	Heart of the Congos	The Congos	Roots reggae[469]	Black Ark		NME's "100 Best Albums of All Time": #99[470] Rolling Stone Germany's Top 500 Albums of All Time: #309[citation needed] Pitchfork's "The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s": #46[51] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #204[24]

1978

Release Date	Album	Artist	Genre(s)	Label	Notes	Accolades
February 10, 1978 (1978-02-10)	Van Halen	Van Halen	Hard rock heavy metal glam metal[471][472]	Warner Bros.	Regarded by some critics as the progenitor of glam metal, with the instrumental "Eruption" helping to popularize two-handed tapping.[473][474][475]	Legacy
February 17, 1978 (1978-02-17)	The Kick Inside	Kate Bush	Art pop progressive pop baroque pop art rock progressive rock[476]	EMI (UK) Harvest (US & Canada) Sonopresse (France) Portrait (Israel)		NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #209[400] Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #89[91] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #99[24] Classic Rock & Metal Hammer's The 200 Greatest Albums of the 70's[84]
February 1978 (1978-02)	The Modern Dance	Pere Ubu	Art punk post-punk experimental rock[477]	Blank		Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #324[24] Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #149[91] FACT's "The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s": #31[159] Ondarock's Rock Milestones List[104]
March 17, 1978 (1978-03-17)	This Year's Model	Elvis Costello	New wave power pop punk rock pop rock garage rock	Radar Columbia	Acclaimed as an influential album regarding the evolution of punk rock towards new wave.[478][479]	Rankings
March 18, 1978	Third	Big Star	Power pop[480] alternative rock	PVC	Has become a cult album due to its "starkly personal, often experimental, and by turns beautiful and haunting songs", while documenting the band's deterioration as well as the declining mental state of singer and songwriter Alex Chilton in part due to the band's lack of commercial success.[481][482]	Third/Sister Lovers Accolades
March 1978	Ambient 1: Music for Airports	Brian Eno	Ambient minimalist electronic	E.G. Polydor PVC	Credited with coining the term "ambient music" and defining the genre.[483][484]	Legacy
April 28, 1978 (1978-04-28)[485]	Die Mensch-Maschine	Kraftwerk	Synth-pop electropop[486][487] new wave[488]		Broad concept album of themes from the Cold War, Germany's fascination with manufacturing, and humankind's increasingly symbiotic relationship with machines.[489] Critically regarded as the catalyst for the synth-pop "revolution" that followed its release and early new wave electro-pop.[490][491]	NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #57[281] Laut's Best Albums of the 1970's: #1[427] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #26[24] Wiener's "100 Best Records of the [20th] Century": #48[340]
April 1978 (1978-04)	Music for 18 Musicians	Steve Reich	Minimalism	ECM New Series	Regarded as one of the best works of minimalism and modern classical music.[492][493]	FACT's "The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s": #35[159] Pitchfork's "The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s": #46[51] Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #61[91] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #397[24]
April 1978	The Only Ones	The Only Ones	Power pop new wave punk rock[494]	Columbia		Uncut's "200 Greatest Albums Of All Time": #109[24] Hartbeat!'s Greatest Albums Of All Time: #36[23] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"[117] Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[43]
June 2, 1978 (1978-06-02)	Darkness on the Edge of Town	Bruce Springsteen	Rock hard rock heartland rock[495]	Columbia		Rankings
June 6, 1978 (1978-06-06)[496]	The Cars	The Cars	New wave power pop synth-rock	Elektra		Reception and legacy Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #306[24]
June 9, 1978 (1978-06-09)	Some Girls	The Rolling Stones	Rock[497]	Rolling Stones		Critical reception and legacy
June 9, 1978 (1978-06-09)[498]	Dire Straits	Dire Straits	Blues rock[499] pub rock[499]	Vertigo Warner Bros. Mercury		Rolling Stone Germany's Top 500 Albums of All Time (2004): #376[447] Classic Rock & Metal Hammer's The 200 Greatest Albums of the 70's[84] Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[43] Ondarock's Rock Milestones List[104]
June 1978	Real Life	Magazine	Post-punk new wave art rock	Virgin	Considered a pioneering post-punk album.[500]	Legacy
July 14, 1978 (1978-07-14)[501]	More Songs About Buildings and Food	Talking Heads	New wave[502] art punk[503] avant-pop[504] post-punk[505] psychedelic funk[506]	Sire		Reception
August 28, 1978 (1978-08-28)	Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!	Devo	New wave[507] post-punk[508] art rock[508] punk rock[509]	Warner Bros. (US) Virgin (UK)		Legacy Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #98[91]
September 8, 1978 (1978-09-08)	Chairs Missing	Wire	Post-punk art punk avant-pop	Harvest	Regarded as a crucial landmark in the evolution of punk into post-punk and goth, and a seminal avant-pop release.[510][511]	Paste's "The 300 Greatest Albums of All Time": #271[90] NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #394[116] Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #136[91] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #362[24]
September 8, 1978	Parallel Lines	Blondie	New wave pop rock power pop disco[512]	Chrysalis		Reception and legacy
November 3, 1978	All Mod Cons	The Jam	New wave[513][514] mod revival[515] punk rock[516] power pop[517]	Polydor		Reception Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #235[24]
November 10, 1978 (1978-11-10)	Germfree Adolescents	X-Ray Spex	Punk rock new wave[518]	EMI		Paste's "The 300 Greatest Albums of All Time": #167[90] NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #180[103] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #381[24] Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #140[91]
November 13, 1978 (1978-11-13)	The Scream	Siouxsie and the Banshees	Post-punk[519]	Polydor	Acclaimed as a pioneering post-punk album and a landmark of the genre[519][520][521] [522]	Robert Dimery's "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" (Updated 2018): #no order[523] Gary Mulholland's "261 Greatest Albums Since Punk and Disco" (2006): #no order[524] Mojo's - "Mojo 1000, the Ultimate CD Buyers Guide" (2001)[525] NME's "All Times Top 100 Albums" (1985): #57[526] Sounds's - "The 100 Best Albums of All Time" (1985): #34[527]
1978	No New York	Contortions Teenage Jesus and the Jerks Mars DNA	No wave avant-garde	Antilles	Compiled by Brian Eno to document the No wave scene in New York City, naming and helping to define the movement.	FACT's "The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s": #68[159] Blender's "The 100 Greatest Indie-Rock Albums Ever": #65[528] Ondarock's Rock Milestones List[104] Blow Up's "The 600 Essential Albums"[76]

1979

Release Date	Album	Artist	Genre(s)	Label	Notes	Accolades
January 5, 1979	Armed Forces	Elvis Costello and The Attractions	New wave post-punk	Radar Columbia		Rankings
February 2, 1979	Inflammable Material	Stiff Little Fingers	Punk rock	Rough Trade	Much of the album details the grim reality of life in Northern Ireland in times of polarisation and conflict, with songs containing themes such as teenage boredom, deprivation, sectarian violence and police brutality.[529][530]	FACT's "The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s": #57[159] Rolling Stone Germany's Top 500 Albums of All Time (2004): #412[447] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"[117] Blow Up's "The 600 Essential Albums"[76]
February 28, 1979	Rickie Lee Jones	Rickie Lee Jones	Rock R&B[531] jazz[531]	Warner Bros.		Rolling Stone Germany's Top 500 Albums of All Time (2004): #273[447] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #345[24] NPR's "The 150 Greatest Albums Made By Women"[532] 1000 Dischi Fondamentali: "300 Imperdibili"[20]
March 16, 1979	Breakfast in America	Supertramp	Progressive pop art rock soft rock[533]	A&M		Accolades
April 20, 1979	Y	The Pop Group	Post-punk avant-funk dub experimental[534]	Radar		Accolades
May 1979	The Undertones	The Undertones	Punk rock pop punk[535][536]	Sire		Accolades
June 15, 1979	Unknown Pleasures	Joy Division	Post-punk[537] new wave[538] punk rock[539][540]	Factory	Significantly influential on post-punk and related genres due to its uniquely gothic, bleak, and "claustrophobic" essence.[541][542]	Accolades
June 22, 1979 (1979-06-22)[543]	Rust Never Sleeps	Neil Young & Crazy Horse	Folk rock hard rock[544] proto-grunge[545]	Reprise	Live album. Widely considered a precursor of grunge music, with the bands Nirvana and Pearl Jam having cited Young's heavily distorted and abrasive guitar style on the B side to this album as an inspiration.[546]	Critical reception
July 6, 1979	The B-52's	The B-52's	New wave post-punk dance-rock[547] surf rock[548] college rock[549]	Warner Bros. (US, Canada, Australia) Island (EU, Japan)		Critical reception
July 27, 1979 (1979-07-27)[550]	Highway to Hell	AC/DC	Hard rock blues rock	Albert Atlantic	Generally considered one of the greatest hard rock albums ever made.[551][552]	Reception
August 3, 1979[553]	Fear of Music	Talking Heads	New wave post-punk art rock[554] psychedelic funk[555]	Sire		Accolades
August 10, 1979[556]	Off the Wall	Michael Jackson	Disco funk pop R&B	Epic CBS	Regarded as a landmark release of the disco era.[557][558]	Rankings
August 17, 1979	Drums and Wires	XTC	New wave art pop art rock	Virgin	Highly regarded for its use of "clever humor... powerful rhythms, and angular, mainly minimalistic arrangements".[559]	Critical reception Tom Moon's 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die[36] Blow Up's "The 600 Essential Albums"[76]
September 7, 1979	Cut	The Slits	Post-punk dub-reggae art pop[560]	Island		Accolades
September 25, 1979	Solid State Survivor	Yellow Magic Orchestra	Electronic synth-pop	Alfa	Considered an early example of synth-pop, and a pioneering release in the development of techno.[561][562]	Rolling Stone Japan's "100 Greatest Japanese Rock Albums": #4[563] Bookoff Online's "100 Japanese Music Masterpieces": #93[564] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"[117] Ondarock's Rock Milestones List[104]
September 25, 1979	Entertainment!	Gang of Four	Post-punk dance-punk art punk funk-punk	EMI Warner Bros.	Considered a seminal album in the post-punk movement, and key album in the genres of dance-punk,[565] art punk[566] and funk-punk.[567]	Reception
September 1979 (1979-09)	154	Wire	Post-punk[568] art punk[569] avant-pop[570]	Harvest	Greatly influential due to its abstract, complex, and experimental arrangements of guitar effects, synthesizers and electronics. "The 15th" is regarded as one of the earliest and most crucial examples of shoegaze.[571][572][573]	Pitchfork's "The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s": #85[51] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #172[24] Ondarock's Rock Milestones List[104] Blow Up's "The 600 Essential Albums"[76]
September 1979	This Heat	This Heat	Experimental rock post-punk[574]	Piano	Regarded as a seminal work integral in shaping the genres of post-punk, avant rock and post-rock.[575][574]	Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #169[24] Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #110[91] The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die"[117] Blow Up's "The 600 Essential Albums"[76]
October 5, 1979 (1979-10-05)	Reggatta de Blanc	The Police	New wave reggae rock post-punk[576]	A&M		Reception and legacy Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #108[91]
October 12, 1979	Tusk	Fleetwood Mac	Pop rock avant-pop[577]	Warner Bros.	Double album.	NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #445[281] Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #67[91] Uncut's "The 500 Greatest Albums Of The 1970s": #170[24] Classic Rock & Metal Hammer's The 200 Greatest Albums of the 70's[84]
October 19, 1979[578]	One Step Beyond...	Madness	2 Tone ska[579] rocksteady[580] new wave[581] R&B[579]	Stiff (Europe) Sire (North America)	Considered to be instrumental in popularizing 2 tone music in the United Kingdom.[582]	Rolling Stone Germany's Top 500 Albums of All Time (2004): #412[447] FNAC's The 1000 Best Albums of All Time: #159[42] Laut's Best Albums of the 1970's: #82[583] 33⅓ Installment[582]
October 19, 1979 (1979-10-19)	The Specials	The Specials	Ska reggae 2 Tone punk rock new wave[584]	2 Tone	Regarded by several critics as some as a defining album of the UK ska scene.[585][586]	Legacy
October 19, 1979 (1979-10-19)	Damn the Torpedoes	Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers	Heartland rock rock and roll[587]	Backstreet		Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #231[33] Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums: #537[34] Laut's Best Albums of the 1970's: #89[583] Ultimate Classic Rock's "Top 100 ’70s Rock Albums"[588]
October 1979	(GI)	Germs	Punk rock hardcore punk[589][590]	Slash	Often considered the first full-length hardcore punk album.[591]	NME's "101 Albums to Hear Before You Die": #90[592] Paste's "The 300 Greatest Albums of All Time": #227[90] 1000 Dischi Fondamentali: "200 Capolavori"[20] Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die[593]
November 21, 1979	The Raincoats	The Raincoats	Post-punk experimental rock art punk folk punk	Rough Trade	Considered influential in setting the groundwork for the riot grrrlmovement, and in shaping the use of lo-fi in recordings.[594][595]	Reception 33⅓ Installment[596]
November 23, 1979 (1979-11-23)	Metal Box	Public Image Ltd.	Post-punk[597] experimental rock[598] dub avant-garde dance	Virgin	Regarded as among the best post-punk albums characterized by John Lydon's cryptic lyrics, propulsive dub-inspired rhythms led by bassist Jah Wobble, and an abrasive, "metallic" guitar sound developed by guitarist Keith Levene.[599][600]	Critical reception
November 30, 1979 (1979-11-30)	The Wall	Pink Floyd	Progressive rock[601] art rock[602] progressive pop[603]	Harvest/EMI Columbia/CBS	Double album rock opera surrounding the life of a fictional jaded rock star, as he constructs a psychological "wall" of social isolation. One of the best known concept albums.[604]	Release and reception
December 14, 1979	London Calling	The Clash	Punk rock new wave post-punk[605]	CBS Epic		Reappraisal and legacy
December 1979	20 Jazz Funk Greats	Throbbing Gristle	Industrial[606] synth-pop[607] experimental pop[608] electropop[609]	Industrial	Considered to be one of the best industrial music albums of all time.[610][611]	NME's "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time": #401[281] FACT's "The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s": #1[159] Treble's "The Top 150 Albums of the ’70s": #43[91] 33⅓ Installment[612]

See also

• List of 1980s albums considered the best
• List of 1990s albums considered the best
• List of best-selling albums
• Lists of fastest-selling albums