One Hundred Favorite Albums of the 1970s
(A companion to my One Hundred Favorite Albums of the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s, with the same rules, i.e. (1) the albums are ranked in something like my order of preference; (2) the decade is marked from January 1, 1970, to December 31, 1979; and (3) I’ve allowed myself multiple albums per artist when I thought it was warranted. I’ve also forbidden myself from choosing compilations unless the material was mostly unavailable on earlier albums, as with #38 and #91.)
Songs in the Key of Life by Stevie Wonder
Quiet Life by Japan
Good Old Boys by Randy Newman
What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye
The Muppet Movie: Original Soundtrack Recording by The Muppets
English Garden by Bruce Woolley and the Camera Club
Black Devil Disco Club by Black Devil Disco Club
Bryter Layter by Nick Drake
Small Change by Tom Waits
For Your Pleasure by Roxy Music
Songs of Love and Hate by Leonard Cohen
Sail Away by Randy Newman
The Man in the Bowler Hat by Stackridge
Love You by The Beach Boys
Nilsson Schmilsson by Harry Nilsson
#1 Record by Big Star
Pink Moon by Nick Drake
Innervisions by Stevie Wonder
Total Destruction to Your Mind by Swamp Dogg
It’s Too Late to Stop Now by Van Morrison
Manifesto by Roxy Music
Between the Lines by Janis Ian
Killing Me Softly by Roberta Flack
Pussy Cats by Harry Nilsson
Third by Big Star
Mondo Deco by The Quick
The Stranger by Billy Joel
Sound-on-Sound by Bill Nelson’s Red Noise
Fear of Music by Talking Heads
These Foolish Things by Bryan Ferry
Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division
No. 1 in Heaven by Sparks
Off the Wall by Michael Jackson
The Cars by The Cars
Live by Donny Hathaway
The Kick Inside by Kate Bush
Drums and Wires by XTC
Wanted: The Fame Recordings by James Govan
London Calling by The Clash
Jesus of Cool by Nick Lowe
Get the Knack by The Knack
The Pleasure Principle by Gary Numan
The Age of Plastic by The Buggles
Real Life by Magazine
Willie Nelson with Leon Russell: The Capitol Theater, Passaic, New Jersey, April 1, 1979 by Willie Nelson and Leon Russell *
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars by David Bowie
Fulfillingness’ First Finale by Stevie Wonder
Starsailor by Tim Buckley
Squeezing Out Sparks by Graham Parker and the Rumour
Niagara by Niagara
Low by David Bowie
Fabulous Flamenco! by Paco Peña
Off White by James White and the Blacks
Here, My Dear by Marvin Gaye
Koukotsu no Sekai by Reiko Ike
Three Imaginary Boys by The Cure
Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! by Devo
Press Color by Lizzy Mercier Descloux
Red Headed Stranger by Willie Nelson
Jaco Pastorius by Jaco Pastorius
At Budokan by Cheap Trick
La Planète Sauvage by Alain Goraguer
Signed, Sealed & Delivered by Stevie Wonder
Night Moves by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
The Scream by Siouxsie and the Banshees
The Undertones by The Undertones
20 Jazz Funk Greats by Throbbing Gristle
Heaven Tonight by Cheap Trick
John Prine by John Prine
Outlandos d’Amour by The Police
Suicide by Suicide
Stateless by Lene Lovich
Kimono My House by Sparks
Little Criminals by Randy Newman
Don’t Throw Stones by The Sports
David Mallett by David Mallett
Look Sharp! by Joe Jackson
Closing Time by Tom Waits
Marquee Moon by Television
Blue by Joni Mitchell
Trans-Europe Express by Kraftwerk
Before and After Science by Brian Eno
Voyage: A Journey into Discoid Funk by Brian Bennett
Takes You Higher by Ganymed
Let’s Stay Together by Al Green
Tapestry by Carole King
Out of the Blue by “Blue” Gene Tyranny
Visions of Sodal Ye by Mar-Vista
Nighthawks on the Radio (WNEW-FM, New York, NY, December 14, 1976) by Tom Waits *
Blood on the Tracks by Bob Dylan
Mirror Stars by The Fabulous Poodles
Finally, His First Album by Kazuki Tomokawa
Tupelo Honey by Van Morrison
Graffiti Crimes by Mi-Sex
20/20 by 20/20
Visions of Dune by Z
Jonathan Edwards by Jonathan Edwards
Nostalrock by Adriano Celentano
Silverbird by Leo Sayer
Freakin' at the Freakers Ball by Shel Silverstein
* bootleg live recordings
— March 3, 2026