The 1970s were the golden age of the album.
More than just collections of songs, albums in this decade became fully-formed artistic statements—platforms for sonic experimentation, conceptual ambition, and personal expression. As the industry embraced stereo sound, longer playing times, and gatefold sleeves, artists responded with music that demanded to be heard as a complete journey, not just background noise or radio fodder.
This was the era when the album wasn’t just important—it was the currency of cool, the heartbeat of counterculture, and the clearest way for artists to leave their mark. Whether in the form of prog rock epics, soul odysseys, punk manifestos, or singer-songwriter confessionals, the LP became a kind of musical novel: immersive, deliberate, and deeply influential.
Across the decade, legends were made and genres were reshaped. Pink Floyd turned existential dread into platinum sales. Stevie Wonder created kaleidoscopic pop with purpose. Bowie fell to Earth as Ziggy Stardust. And The Clash proved that punk could be political and panoramic all at once.
In the list that follows, we pick one standout album from each year of the 1970s—not necessarily the best-selling or most obvious, but the one that encapsulated something essential about the musical spirit of its time. Some are landmarks. Some are outliers. All are unforgettable.
So drop the needle, turn the volume up, and take a trip through a decade when albums truly ruled the world.
Best 1970s albums - year by year
1970: Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin’s third long-player marked a bold left turn from their hard rock roots, diving into acoustic textures, folk influences, and mystical moods. From the thunderous charge of “Immigrant Song” to the gentle beauty of “That’s the Way,” this adventurous, dynamic album revealed a richer, more introspective side to Zeppelin—proving they were far more than just riff-driven rock gods.
Key track: 'Immigrant Song'
Honourable mention: Moondance (Van Morrison). A lush, jazz-inflected burst of soul and sunshine. Effortlessly elegant.
1971: What's Going On
What’s Going On is Marvin Gaye’s soul masterpiece—an introspective, politically charged concept album that shattered Motown’s commercial formula. With lush orchestration, rich harmonies, and an unmistakable groove, Gaye tackled war, racism, poverty, and environmental crisis with disarming beauty and bold sincerity. More than just an album, it’s a profoundly human plea for understanding and unity—timeless, resonant, and arguably the most important soul record ever made.
Key track: 'Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)'
Honourable mention: Blue (Joni Mitchell). Devastatingly honest, intricately written. A confessional masterpiece that changed songwriting forever.
1972: Exile on Main Street
A raw, swaggering blend of rock, blues, gospel, and soul, Exile on Main St. captures The Rolling Stones at their most gloriously unpolished. Recorded in a chaotic French villa, the album reflects a band on the edge, brimming with grit and authenticity. Its murky, dense sound adds to the mystique, creating a timeless, rebellious energy that continues to captivate listeners and influence generations of musicians.
Key track: 'Tumbling Dice' – Sleazy, soulful, and irresistibly loose.
Honourable mention: Ziggy Stardust. Bowie’s glam-rock alter ego takes flight in a concept album of theatrical brilliance.
1973: The Dark Side of the Moon
Few albums have defined a generation—and beyond—like The Dark Side of the Moon. Pink Floyd’s 1973 masterpiece fused philosophical lyrics, groundbreaking studio techniques, and lush sonic textures into a seamless, immersive experience. Themes of time, madness, greed, and mortality unfold with hypnotic precision, anchored by iconic tracks like 'Time' and 'Money'. Its impact was immediate and enduring, making it not just an album, but a cultural landmark that still resonates across decades.
Key track: 'Time': a haunting reflection on mortality with an insistent, regretful rhythm.
Honourable mention: Houses of the Holy. Genre-defying, risk-taking, and euphoric—Led Zep at their most playful.
1974: Court and Spark
Court and Spark marked a turning point for Joni Mitchell, blending her poetic songwriting with a jazz-inflected, more accessible sound. The album balances vulnerability and sophistication, showcasing Mitchell’s evolving artistry and lyrical brilliance. Songs like 'Help Me' and 'Free Man in Paris' reveal both emotional depth and sharp wit, while the lush arrangements elevate her voice to new heights. It’s a radiant, genre-blurring triumph that deepened her legend.
Key track: 'Help Me' – Breezy, bittersweet distillation of the album’s romantic vulnerability, melodic charm, and jazz-infused sophistication.
Honourable mention: Red (King Crimson). Crushing, complex, and forward-looking—proto-metal meets abstract expressionism.
1975: Blood on the Tracks
Bob Dylan at his most emotionally raw and lyrically masterful. Often interpreted as a chronicle of heartbreak and personal turmoil, the album marries poetic introspection with stripped-back arrangements. Its songs shift between bitterness, longing, and quiet resignation, creating a portrait of love lost that feels both intimate and universal. It’s a devastatingly beautiful work—one of Dylan’s finest and most enduring achievements.
Key track: 'Tangled Up in Blue' – A masterclass in nonlinear storytelling, blending heartache, memory, and shifting perspectives.
Honourable mention: Wish You Were Here. Pink Floyd's haunting tribute to absence, loss and the music industry—richly melodic, reflective, and emotionally resonant throughout.
1976: Songs in the Key of Life
Stevie Wonder’s magnum opus is an expansive, joyous, and deeply human celebration of life in all its complexity. Blending soul, funk, jazz, and pop with dazzling musicianship and social consciousness, it covers everything from love and faith to inequality and fatherhood. Ambitious yet heartfelt, it’s a genre-defying masterpiece whose warmth, wisdom, and melodic brilliance continue to inspire and uplift across generations.
Key track: 'Sir Duke' – A jubilant tribute to musical greats, bursting with infectious horns, rhythmic brilliance, and pure joy.
Honourable mention: Station to Station. Krautrock-meets-soul in Bowie's cocaine-fuelled, genre-melting tour de force.
1977: Low
Low marked a bold reinvention for David Bowie, diving into ambient textures, fractured song structures, and stark emotional terrain. Created during his Berlin period with Brian Eno, the album’s first half blends catchy, minimalist pop with experimental edges, while the second half ventures into moody, instrumental landscapes. Daring and influential, Low shattered expectations and helped redefine the boundaries of rock, electronic, and art music for decades to come.
Key track: 'Sound and Vision' – An innovative, upbeat fusion of pop and avant-garde sounds, showcasing Bowie’s artistic reinvention.
Honourable mention: Rumours (Fleetwood Mac). Pop-rock perfection born from personal chaos. Polished, melodic, and emotionally loaded.
1978: Parallel Lines
Blondie’s breakthrough third album brilliantly blends punk energy with catchy pop hooks and New Wave flair. Its polished production and infectious songs like 'Heart of Glass' propelled the band into mainstream success. The album’s fearless genre-mixing and Deborah Harry’s charismatic vocals helped define late ’70s rock, making Parallel Lines a timeless, vibrant snapshot of a transformative musical era.
Key track: 'Heart of Glass' – A groundbreaking fusion of disco, punk, and pop that catapulted Blondie to international stardom.
Honourable mention: The Kick Inside. Theatrical vocals, poetic mysticism, and emotional depth - Kate Bush's breathtaking debut.
1979: London Calling
London Calling is The Clash’s genre-defying masterpiece—a fierce, sprawling double album fusing punk with reggae, ska, rockabilly, and soul. Brimming with political urgency and raw energy, it tackles everything from social unrest to personal disillusionment. Joe Strummer’s impassioned vocals and the band’s bold experimentation make it a landmark in punk history. Urgent yet tuneful, chaotic yet focused, it’s a thrilling document of rebellion with lasting cultural and musical impact.
Key track: 'London Calling': – A thunderous, apocalyptic anthem of political anxiety and punk defiance.
Honourable mention: Fear of Music. Jerky, paranoid, and visionary—Brian Eno helps the New York art rockers to take post-punk to the next level.
