When I first thought of this blog, I thought “Oh man, this will be easy.” Turned out it was actually difficult. There was a lot of good music in the 70s from all genres. There are albums I overlooked, but this list is my own personal list.
10. Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On (1971)
This album showed a new side of Marvin, already a popular artist when he released What’s Going On. He incorporated in it all the social issues of the time including poverty, drug abuse, and war.
9. Van Halen – Van Halen (1978)
This album shows why Van Halen just was not Van Halen without David Lee Roth. It includes three of Van Halen’s greatest songs: “You Really Got Me,” “Jamie’s Cryin’,” and “Runnin’ With the Devil.”
8. Michael Jackson – Off the Wall (1979)
Now he is a freak of nature, but in 1979, he was the young lead singer of the Jackson 5 just striking out on his own. Off the Wall produced the hits “Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough” and “Rock With You” and sent Michael on his way to becoming a superstar.
7. Queen – A Day at the Races (1976)
Released after their blockbuster album, A Night at the Opera, which had You’re My Best Friend and Bohemian Rhapsody on it, A Day at the Races produced no major hits. But, it was my first Queen album and when Freddie sang Somebody to Love, he touched my heart. Queen became and stayed my all time favorite band.
6. Blondie – Parallel Lines (1978)
Deborah Harry kicked down the door to the land of New Wave with the release of Parallel Lines. I spent many nights in my bedroom listening to this one over and over and over again.
5. Sex Pistols – Never Mind the Bullocks (1977)
Many think they were a joke and their musical ability was certainly questionable, but for good or bad, the Sex Pistols epitomized both the energy and frustration of the punk rock movement of the late 70s.
4. Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack (1978)
This was one of the best selling albums ever. Hit after hit came off this one and not just from the Bee Gees (although they scored with Stayin’ Alive, How Deep is Your Love, Night Fever, You Should be Dancing, More Than a Woman and Jive Talkin’). It also contains Yvonne Elliman’s If I Can’t Have You, KC and the Sunshine Band’s Boogie Shoes, The Trammp’s Disco Inferno, and who can forget Fifth of Beethoven by Walter Murphy?
3. Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell (1977)
I remember cruising around in my best friend’s car, listening to Meatloaf ask if I would offer my throat to the wolf with the red roses. Indeed I did, like a bat out of hell.
2. Carole King – Tapestry (1971)
This album was the one has inspired many a young girl to pick up a pen and write a song. It set Carole up as THE female songwriter of the 70s, staying on the charts for almost six years and selling over 11 million copies.
1. Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
If you wonder why I chose Dark Side of the Moon as number 1 (other than the fact that I personally love this album), let me quote you a few statistics:
- Spent 741 consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200 charts (that is over 14 years)
- Sales worldwide total over 40 million as of 2004 (that is an average of 8,000 per week)
- Estimates say that one out of every 14 people under the age of 50 own this album.
Now, let me know what I missed!