Top 10 Dubstep Albums From the 1970s

While the wobbly basslines and pulsating rhythms of dubstep didn’t erupt onto the scene until the late 1990s, the genre’s DNA can be traced back several decades. This list explores 10 albums from the 1970s, a time of musical innovation and experimentation, that laid the groundwork for the sonic assault of dubstep. 

Though not strictly dubstep itself, these albums from across genres like reggae, rock, electronic, and funk, share elements that would become hallmarks of the later genre. 

From the dub mixing techniques of King Tubby to the dark atmospherics of Pink Floyd, these albums showcase the diverse range of influences that helped shape the unique sound of dubstep.

1. King Tubby and Lee Perry – King Tubby Meets The Upsetters (1974)

King Tubby Meets The Upsetters is a landmark collaboration between two reggae innovators: King Tubby, the studio pioneer known for dub techniques, and Lee “Scratch” Perry, the eccentric producer. 

This album isn’t dubstep itself, but it’s a foundational reggae record. 

Side A, mixed by King Tubby, showcases how he manipulated sounds in the mixing process, emphasizing instrumental elements and using echo and reverb to create spacey soundscapes. 

These techniques would become essential tools for dubstep producers decades later.

2. Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here (1975)

Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here ventured beyond the realm of traditional rock. This progressive masterpiece featured extended instrumental passages that built tension and atmosphere. 

Tracks like “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” incorporated synthesizers and sound effects, creating a soundscape that felt both futuristic and unsettling.

These elements of experimentation with electronic textures and building sonic tension would be revisited by later dubstep producers, who took them to new extremes.

3. Stevie Wonder – Innervisions (1973)

Stevie Wonder’s 1973 masterpiece, Innervisions, wasn’t just a soul album; it was a genre-bending exploration. Wonder, a musical innovator, embraced electronic instruments like the ARP synthesizer on Innervisions. He used it to craft innovative sounds and textures, pushing the boundaries of what soul music could be. 

This spirit of experimentation with electronic sounds and their integration into a soulful soundscape would directly influence the development of dubstep sounds, where electronic production techniques became a core element.

4. Kraftwerk – Autobahn (1974)

Kraftwerk’s Autobahn wasn’t just a Krautrock album; it was a prophetic glimpse into the future of electronic dance music! This German outfit abandoned traditional instruments for synthesizers and drum machines, crafting a sound that was both robotic and strangely funky.

“Autobahn” heavily utilized sequencers, which allowed for the creation of repetitive rhythmic patterns – a technique later adopted by dubstep producers to create the genre’s signature pulsating basslines.

This album’s influence goes beyond just sound; Kraftwerk’s embrace of electronic production as a core artistic tool would pave the way for the creation of dubstep itself.

5. Funkadelic – Maggot Brain (1971)

Funkadelic’s 1971 album, Maggot Brain, wasn’t simply funk; it was a psychedelic powerhouse. The album pulsated with heavy grooves thanks to bassist Billy Nelson and drummer Tiki Fulwood. 

But it was guitarist Eddie Hazel’s scorching, extended solo on the title track that truly broke boundaries. Hazel used feedback and effects pedals to create a raw, emotional soundscape that teetered on the edge of noise. 

This willingness to push the boundaries of instrumentation and explore dissonance with effects would be echoed in the aggressive, distorted basslines that became a defining characteristic of dubstep.

6. Black Sabbath – Master of Reality (1971)

Sabbath’s Master of Reality stands as a monument of heavy metal’s influence on dubstep. This genre-defining album brought a darker, more aggressive sound to popular music. 

Tony Iommi’s detuned guitar riffs on tracks like “Sweet Leaf” were thick and menacing, while bassist Geezer Butler laid down crushing basslines that provided the foundation for the band’s sonic assault.

Master of Reality’s exploration of distortion and the sheer power of low-end frequencies would directly inspire dubstep producers, who took these elements and dialed them up to eleven to create the genre’s signature bone-rattling bass.

7. Parliament – Mothership Connection (1975)

Parliament’s Mothership Connection wasn’t just another funk album; it was a genre-bending trip. This psychedelic masterpiece incorporated elements of funk, rock, and even early electronic music.

Tracks like “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)” pulsated with a futuristic groove, thanks to Bernie Worrell’s innovative synthesizer work.

Parliament’s willingness to embrace the strange and create a dense, atmospheric soundscape resonated with later dubstep producers who would explore the boundaries of bass, electronic textures, and the overall soundscape of their music.

8. The Commodores – Machine Gun (1974)

The Commodores’ funk masterpiece, “Machine Gun,” wasn’t just a catchy album; it laid down rhythmic groundwork for dubstep. The driving basslines on “Machine Gun” pulsate with relentless energy, locking in with drummer Walter Orange to create a hypnotic groove.

This focus on a strong, rhythmic foundation anchored by a prominent bassline would become a defining feature of dubstep decades later. 

“Machine Gun” serves as a prime example of how 1970s funk helped provide the blueprint for the low-end focused, groove-driven sound of dubstep.

9. Isaac Hayes – Black Moses (1971)

Isaac Hayes’ 1971 album, Black Moses, wasn’t simply soul music; it was a sonic prophecy of dubstep’s low-end assault. Tracks like the iconic “Never Can Say Goodbye” showcased Hayes’ signature deep baritone vocals layered over a bed of thick, pulsating basslines.

These basslines, courtesy of bassist Ronnie Hudson, weren’t subtle whatsoever; they were heavy and aggressive, foreshadowing the distorted bass drops that would become a defining influence of dubstep.

Black Moses also embraced extended instrumental passages, allowing the bass and drums to build tension and create a powerful, almost hypnotic groove; a technique later adopted by dubstep producers to create atmospheric soundscapes.

10. Sly and the Family Stone – There’s a Riot Goin’ On (1971)

Sly and the Family Stone’s 1971 album, There’s a Riot Goin’ On, wasn’t just a soul record; it was a genre-bending experiment that foreshadowed the dark yet hypnotic atmosphere of dubstep.

This groundbreaking album abandoned the sunshine-pop vibes of their earlier work, instead exploring dissonance and unconventional song structures. Tracks like the title track pulsate with a sense of unease, built on distorted guitars and a brooding bassline.

While not as heavy as dubstep, this willingness to push boundaries and create unsettling soundscapes resonated with later producers who would embrace dissonance and experimentation in their own bass-driven creations.