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List by @riffiter · 20 albums

Best albums of the 1970s

The albums that defined the 1970s, from soul's social awakening to punk's year zero — 20 essentials, in chronological order.

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  1. 1Exile on Main St. coverExile on Main St.The Rolling Stones · 19721972 · the Stones at their loosest and greatest4.9
  2. 2The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars coverThe Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From MarsDavid Bowie · 19721972 · rock's defining reinvention myth4.9
  3. 3The Dark Side of the Moon coverThe Dark Side of the MoonPink Floyd · 19731973 · the album as a single continuous experience4.7
  4. 4Innervisions coverInnervisionsStevie Wonder · 19731973 · one-man-band genius at full power4.7
  5. 5Blood on the Tracks coverBlood on the TracksBob Dylan · 19751975 · the breakup album all others answer to
  6. 6Horses coverHorsesPatti Smith · 19751975 · poetry plugs into rock and roll
  7. 7Born to Run coverBorn to RunBruce Springsteen · 19751975 · widescreen rock romanticism4.4
  8. 8A Night at the Opera coverA Night at the OperaQueen · 19751975 · maximalism as a virtue4.3
  9. 9Ramones coverRamonesRamones · 19761976 · punk's big bang in 29 minutes4.5
  10. 10Songs in the Key of Life coverSongs in the Key of LifeStevie Wonder · 19761976 · a double album without a wasted minute4.5
  11. 11Rumours coverRumoursFleetwood Mac · 19771977 · heartbreak engineered into perfect pop4.6
  12. 12Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols coverNever Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex PistolsSex Pistols · 19771977 · the most confrontational record of its era
  13. 13Marquee Moon coverMarquee MoonTelevision · 19771977 · twin guitars rewrite what punk could be4.5
  14. 14Trans-Europe Express coverTrans-Europe ExpressKraftwerk · 19771977 · the blueprint for electronic pop4.8
  15. 15Exodus coverExodusBob Marley & The Wailers · 19771977 · reggae's global statement
  16. 16London Calling coverLondon CallingThe Clash · 19791979 · punk outgrows itself in every direction4.6
  17. 17Off the Wall coverOff the WallMichael Jackson · 19791979 · disco perfected on its way out the door4.5
  18. 18Unknown Pleasures coverUnknown PleasuresJoy Division · 19791979 · post-punk's dark heart4.8
  19. 19Fear of Music coverFear of MusicTalking Heads · 19791979 · paranoia you can dance to4.0
  20. 20What's Going On coverWhat's Going OnMarvin Gaye · 19711971 · soul turns its eyes to the world4.9

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