Top 200 Albums of the 70s


In the vibrant musical landscape of the 1970s, a plethora of groundbreaking albums emerged, shaping the era’s sonic identity. These seminal records, comprising the top 200 albums of the decade, represent a diverse array of genres and styles that continue to resonate with audiences today.

From iconic rock anthems to soulful ballads and experimental compositions, these albums reflect the cultural zeitgeist and enduring creativity of the era.

1. What’s Going On (1971) – Marvin Gaye
2. Dark Side Of The Moon (1973) – Pink Floyd
3. London Calling (1979) – The Clash
4. Born To Run (1975) – Bruce Springsteen
5. Exile On Main Street (1972) – Rolling Stones
6. Innervisions (1973) – Stevie Wonder
7. Led Zeppelin IV (1971) – Led Zeppelin
8. Who’s Next (1971) – The Who
9. Songs In The Key Of Life (1976) – Stevie Wonder
10. Rumours (1977) – Fleetwood Mac

11. Blue (1971) – Joni Mitchell
12. Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders From Mars (1972) – David Bowie
13. There’s A Riot Goin’ On (1971) – Sly And The Family Stone
14. Tapestry (1971) – Carole King
15. Paranoid (1970 )- Black Sabbath
16. The Wall (1979) – Pink Floyd
17. Blood On The Tracks (1975) – Bob Dylan
18. Never Mind The Bollocks Here’s The Sex Pistols (1977) – Sex Pistols
19. Hotel California (1976) – The Eagles
20. Off the Wall (1979) – Michael Jackson

21. Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970) – Simon & Garfunkel
22. After The Goldrush (1970) – Neil Young
23. Ramones (1976) – Ramones
24. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) – Elton John
25. The Clash (1977) – The Clash
26. Plastic Ono Band (1970) – John Lennon
27. Talking Book (1972) – Stevie Wonder
28. This Year’s Model (1978) – Elvis Costello & The Attractions
29. Sticky Fingers (1971) – Rolling Stones
30. Moondance(1970) – Van Morrison

31. A Night At The Opera (1975) – Queen
32. Van Halen (1978) – Van Halen
33. Horses (1975) – Patti Smith
34. Machine Head (1972) – Deep Purple
35. Harvest (1972) – Neil Young
36. My Aim Is True (1977) – Elvis Costello
37. Live at Leeds (1970) – The Who
38. Marquee Moon (1977) – Television
39. Black Sabbath (1970) – Black Sabbath
40. Unknown Pleasures (1979) – Joy Division

41. Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack (1977) – The Bee Gees
42. DéjàVu (1970) – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
43. Superfly (1972) – Curtis Mayfield
44. Low (1978) – David Bowie
45. Wish You Were Here (1975) – Pink Floyd
46. All Things Must Pass (1970) – George Harrison
47. Quadrophenia (1973) – The Who
48. Live at the Fillmore East (1971) – The Allman Brothers Band
49. Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs (1970) – Derek & The Dominos
50. Imagine (1971) – John Lennon

51. Physical Graffiti (1975) – Led Zeppelin
52. Abraxas (1970) – Santana
53. Cosmo’s Factory (1970) – Creedence Clearwater Revival
54. Pearl (1971) – Janis Joplin
55. American Beauty (1970) – Grateful Dead
56. Fun House (1970) – Iggy Pop & the Stooges
57. Tumbleweed Connection (1970) – Elton John
58. Hunky Dory (1972) – David Bowie
59. Exodus (1977) – Bob Marley & the Wailers
60. Court and Spark (1974) – Joni Mitchell

61. In Rock (1970) – Deep Purple
62. The Stranger (1977) – Billy Joel
63. Fragile (1971) – Yes
64. Toys In The Attic (1975) – Aerosmith
65. Pronounced Leh’-nerd Skin-‘nerd (1973) – Lynyrd Skynyrd
66. Aqualung (1971) – Jethro Tull
67. One Nation Under The Groove (1978) – Funkadelic
68. Let’s Get It On (1973) – Marvin Gaye
69. Aja (1977) – Steely Dan
70. Boston (1976) – Boston

71. Call Me (1973) – Al Green
72. Mothership Connection (1976) – Parliament
73. Let It Be (1970) – The Beatles
74. Catch A Fire (1973) – Bob Marley & The Wailers
75. Fulfillingness’ First Finale (1974) – Stevie Wonder
76. Heart Like A Wheel (1974) – Linda Ronstadt
77. Rocks (1976) – Aerosmith
78. Every Picture Tells A Story (1971) – Rod Stewart
79. Sweet Baby James (1970) – James Taylor
80. Bat Out Of Hell (1977) – Meat Loaf

81. Frampton Comes Alive (1976) – Peter Frampton
82. Parallel Lines (1979) – Blondie
83. Highway To Hell (1979) – AC/DC
84. Something/Anything (1972) – Todd Rundgren
85. Rocket To Russia (1977) – Ramones
86. Tea For The Tillerman (1971) – Cat Stevens
87. Trans-Europe Express (1977) – Kraftwerk
88. Eat A Peach (1972) – Allman Brothers Band
89. Band On The Run (1973) – Paul McCartney & Wings
90. Dreamboat Annie (1976) – Heart

91. The Cars (1978) – The Cars
92. Electric Warrior (1971) – T-Rex
93. Darkness On The Edge Of Town (1978) – Bruce Springsteen
94. Alive! (1975) – KISS
95. New York Dolls (1973) – New York Dolls
96. Running On Empty (1978) – Jackson Browne
97. Fleetwood Mac (1975) – Fleetwood Mac
98. Damn The Torpedoes (1979) – Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
99. Rust Never Sleeps (1979) – Neil Young & Crazy Horse
100. Close To You (1970) – The Carpenters

101. For Your Pleasure (1973) – Roxy Music
102. I’m Still in Love With You (1972) – Al Green
103. Honky Chateau (1972) – Elton John
104. Workingman’s Dead (1970) – Grateful Dead
105. Maggot Brain (1971) – Funkadelic
106. Close To The Edge (1972) – Yes
107. Houses Of The Holy (1973) – Led Zeppelin
108. The B-52’s (1979) – The B-52’s
109. Natty Dread (1974) – Bob Marley & The Wailers
110. L.A. Woman (1970) – The Doors

111. Sad Wings of Destiny (1976) – Judas Priest
112. Talking Heads: 77 (1977) – Talking Heads
113. Transformer (1972 )- Lou Reed
114. Sheer Heart Attack (1974) – Queen
115. Nightbirds (1974) – Labelle
116. Can’t Get Enough (1974) – Barry White
117. There Goes Rhymin’ Simon (1973) – Paul Simon
118. Aladdin Sane (1973) – David Bowie
119. Outlandos D’Amour (1978) – The Police
120. Music of My Mind (1971) – Stevie Wonder

121. Pretzel Logic (1974) – Steely Dan
122. More Songs About Buildings and Food (1978) – Talking Heads
123. The Basement Tapes (1975) – Bob Dylan and the Band
124. Fresh (1973) – Sly and the Family Stone
125. Master Of Reality (1971) – Black Sabbath
126. Some Girls (1978) – Rolling Stones
127. Tubular Bells (1973) – Mike Oldfield
128. Al Green Gets Next to You (1971) – Al Green
129. The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle (1973) – Bruce Springsteen
130. Led Zeppelin III (1970) – Led Zeppelin

131. Desire (1976) – Bob Dylan
132. Grievous Angel (1973) – Gram Parsons
133. Station to Station (1976) – David Bowie
134. Night Moves (1976) – Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band
135. 461 Ocean Boulevard (1974) – Eric Clapton
136. That’s the Way of the World (1975) – Earth, Wind & Fire
137. Curtis (1970) – Curtis Mayfield
138. Queen II (1974) – Queen
139. Bryter Layter (1970) – Nick Drake
140. Another Green World (1975) – Brian Eno

141. Sail Away (1972) – Randy Newman
142. Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975) – Elton John
143. Look-Ka Py Py (1970) – The Meters
144. Berlin (1973) – Lou Reed
145. Tonight’s the Night (1975) – Neil Young
146. 2112 (1976) – Rush
147. Roxy Music (1972) – Roxy Music
148. Back Stabbers (1972) – The O’Jays
149. Pink Moon (1972) – Nick Drake
150. The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway (1974) – Genesis

151. Reggatta de Blanc (1979) – The Police
152. Autobahn (1974) – Kraftwerk
153. Late for the Sky (1974) – Jackson Browne
154. 52nd Street (1978) – Billy Joel
155. Animals (1977) – Pink Floyd
156. Burnin’ (1973) – Bob Marley and the Wailers
157. Raw Power (1973) – Iggy And The Stooges
158. Fear of Music (1977) – Talking Heads
159. Paul Simon (1972) – Paul Simon
160. Entertainment! (1979) – Gang of Four

161. The Eagles (1972) – The Eagles
162. Loaded (1970) – The Velvet Underground
163. Modern Lovers (1976) – Modern Lovers
164. Country Life (1974) – Roxy Music
165. 12 Songs (1970) – Randy Newman
166. The Pretender (1976) – Jackson Browne
167. Armed Forces (1979) – Elvis Costello and the Attractions
168. Can’t Buy a Thrill (1972) – Steely Dan
169. Good Old Boys (1974) – Randy Newman
170. Radio City (1972) – Big Star

171. Pink Flag (1977) – Wire
172. Here, My Dear (1978) – Marvin Gaye
173. Slowhand (1977) – Eric Clapton
174. Thick As A Brick (1972) – Jethro Tull
175. At Budokan (1978) – Cheap Trick
176. Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! (1978) – Devo
177. Back In The USA (1970) – MC5
178. Mott (1973) – Mott the Hoople
179. Here Come the Warm Jets (1973) – Brian Eno
180. Metal Box (1979) – Public Image Ltd

181. Heroes (1977) – David Bowie
182. #1 Record (1972) – Big Star
183. I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight (1974) – Richard and Linda Thompson
184. Tago Mago (1971) – Can
185. In Color (1977) – Cheap Trick
186. Bad Company (1974) – Bad Company
187. Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. (1973) – Bruce Springsteen
188. The World Is a Ghetto (1972) – War
189. Elton John (1970) – Elton John
190. The Specials (1979) – The Specials

191. Bad Girls (1979) – Donna Summer
192. Brothers And Sisters (1973) – Allman Brothers Band
193. Risque (1979) – Chic
194. The Modern Dance (1978) – Pere Ubu
195. Suicide (1977) – Suicide
196. Fly Like An Eagle (1976) – Steve Miller Band
197. Breakfast In America (1979) – Supertramp
198. Funky Kingston (1973) – Toots and the Maytals
199. Destroyer (1976) – KISS
200. Die Mensch Maschine (1978) – Kraftwerk

Compiled in regards to popularity in 2013 and is not indicative of original sales or airplay during it’s initial release.

Who sold the most albums in the 70s?

Determining the artist who sold the most albums in the 1970s involves considering various factors such as sales data, popularity, and critical acclaim. One prominent artist who achieved significant commercial success during this decade is Led Zeppelin. Their iconic albums, including “Led Zeppelin IV” and “Physical Graffiti,” contributed to their immense popularity and album sales throughout the 70s.

Which five Elton John albums were released in the 1970s?

Elton John, a prolific artist in the 1970s, released several acclaimed albums during that decade. Five notable albums from Elton John in the 1970s include:

  1. “Elton John” (1970)
  2. “Tumbleweed Connection” (1970)
  3. “Madman Across the Water” (1971)
  4. “Honky Château” (1972)
  5. “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” (1973)

These albums contributed significantly to Elton John’s success and solidified his status as one of the era’s most influential artists.

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