Best albums of 1978
Punk's speed ran out quickly and post-punk started before anyone had finished mourning: the same energy, stranger shapes, considerably more space in the recordings. Arena rock was simultaneously having its most profitable year, which the punk histories tend to leave out.
According to Riffiter listeners, the best album of 1978 is The Man·Machine by Kraftwerk, rated 4.9/5 by 5 listeners.
- 2
To the LimitJoan Armatrading · 19784.3 score · 4.7 avg · 5 ratings4.34.7 avg · 5 ratings
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Van HalenVan Halen · 19784.3 score · 4.4 avg · 21 ratings4.34.4 avg · 21 ratings
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Modern ManStanley Clarke · 19784.3 score · 4.8 avg · 4 ratings4.34.8 avg · 4 ratings
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Ambient 1: Music for AirportsBrian Eno · 19784.2 score · 4.4 avg · 8 ratings4.24.4 avg · 8 ratings
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Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?Chris Rea · 19784.1 score · 4.2 avg · 5 ratings4.14.2 avg · 5 ratings
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We Came to PlayTower of Power · 19784.1 score · 4.2 avg · 6 ratings4.14.2 avg · 6 ratings
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DestinyThe Jackson 5 · 19784.0 score · 4.2 avg · 3 ratings4.04.2 avg · 3 ratings
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999999 · 19784.0 score · 4.1 avg · 5 ratings4.04.1 avg · 5 ratings
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Darkness on the Edge of TownBruce Springsteen · 19784.0 score · 4.1 avg · 8 ratings4.04.1 avg · 8 ratings
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The Kick InsideKate Bush · 19784.0 score · 4.0 avg · 5 ratings4.04.0 avg · 5 ratings
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Natural HighCommodores · 19784.0 score · 4.0 avg · 5 ratings4.04.0 avg · 5 ratings
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TotoToto · 19784.0 score · 4.0 avg · 3 ratings4.04.0 avg · 3 ratings
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VivaLa Düsseldorf · 19784.0 score · 4.0 avg · 3 ratings4.04.0 avg · 3 ratings
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"X"Klaus Schulze · 19783.9 score · 3.9 avg · 4 ratings3.93.9 avg · 4 ratings
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JazzQueen · 19783.9 score · 3.8 avg · 3 ratings3.93.8 avg · 3 ratings
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Love TracksGloria Gaynor · 19783.9 score · 3.8 avg · 6 ratings3.93.8 avg · 6 ratings
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Killing MachineJudas Priest · 19783.9 score · 3.8 avg · 8 ratings3.93.8 avg · 8 ratings
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Separates999 · 19783.8 score · 3.7 avg · 3 ratings3.83.7 avg · 3 ratings
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Central HeatingHeatwave · 19783.8 score · 3.7 avg · 5 ratings3.83.7 avg · 5 ratings
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Hot StreetsChicago · 19783.8 score · 3.6 avg · 4 ratings3.83.6 avg · 4 ratings
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Stained ClassJudas Priest · 19783.8 score · 3.8 avg · 14 ratings3.83.8 avg · 14 ratings
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Dire StraitsDire Straits · 19783.8 score · 3.8 avg · 26 ratings3.83.8 avg · 26 ratings
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PowerageAC/DC · 19783.8 score · 3.8 avg · 40 ratings3.83.8 avg · 40 ratings
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Give 'Em Enough RopeThe Clash · 19783.8 score · 3.5 avg · 3 ratings3.83.5 avg · 3 ratings
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Golden Time of DayMaze · 19783.7 score · 3.6 avg · 6 ratings3.73.6 avg · 6 ratings
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Parallel LinesBlondie · 19782 ratings2 ratings
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AdventureTelevision · 19782 ratings2 ratings
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So AloneJohnny Thunders · 19782 ratings2 ratings
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2 Hot!Peaches & Herb · 19782 ratings2 ratings
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After the HeatBrian Eno · 19782 ratings2 ratings
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The Only OnesThe Only Ones · 19782 ratings2 ratings
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Reed SeedGrover Washington, Jr. · 19782 ratings2 ratings
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Never Say Die!Black Sabbath · 19782 ratings2 ratings
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Shot of LoveLakeside · 19782 ratings2 ratings
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Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!DEVO · 19782 ratings2 ratings
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EasterPatti Smith · 19782 ratings2 ratings
- 38
Some GirlsThe Rolling Stones · 19781 rating1 rating
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Outlandos d'AmourThe Police · 19781 rating1 rating
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Long Live Rock 'n' RollRainbow · 19781 rating1 rating
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The GamblerKenny Rogers · 19781 rating1 rating
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HemispheresRush · 19781 rating1 rating
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Nightflight to VenusBoney M. · 19781 rating1 rating
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Don't Look BackBoston · 19781 rating1 rating
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Bush DoctorPeter Tosh · 19781 rating1 rating
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Here, My DearMarvin Gaye · 19781 rating1 rating
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"But Seriously, Folks..."Joe Walsh · 19781 rating1 rating
- 48
Chairs MissingWire · 19781 rating1 rating
- 49
Street HassleLou Reed · 19781 rating1 rating
- 50
Back on the StreetsGary Moore · 19781 rating1 rating
Disagree with the ranking?
Rate these albums and the chart reshuffles around the community. Or collect your own pick of them into a list or tier.
Build a list or tier of your ownBest albums of 1978 by genre
The genres that carried the period here, each with what listeners rate highest inside it.
Best Rock albums of 1978
278 albums from 1978
Best Jazz albums of 1978
158 albums from 1978
Best Pop albums of 1978
124 albums from 1978
Best Disco albums of 1978
100 albums from 1978
Best Soul albums of 1978
87 albums from 1978
The artists of 1978
Everyone who put a record out then, ordered by how listeners rate their catalog rather than by that one release.
1978, month by month
Not everything that came out, just where the weight fell. Some months carried a year; some were quiet and worth knowing about.
FAQ
- What are the best albums of 1978?
- On Riffiter, the highest-rated album of 1978 is The Man·Machine by Kraftwerk (4.9/5). The ranking below orders the year's releases by community rating.
- How is the 1978 ranking decided?
- By Riffiter listeners. Each album's community rating sets its place. Until a release has enough ratings, its popularity stands in, and the order shifts as more people rate.
- Does the best-of-1978 list change?
- Yes. It's built from live community ratings, so the order updates as people rate 1978 releases. The page refreshes a few times a day.



























