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List by @riffiter

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 greatest
  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 myth
  3. 3The Dark Side of the Moon coverThe Dark Side of the MoonPink Floyd · 19731973 · the album as a single continuous experience
  4. 4Innervisions coverInnervisionsStevie Wonder · 19731973 · one-man-band genius at full power
  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 romanticism
  8. 8A Night at the Opera coverA Night at the OperaQueen · 19751975 · maximalism as a virtue
  9. 9Ramones coverRamonesRamones · 19761976 · punk's big bang in 29 minutes
  10. 10Songs in the Key of Life coverSongs in the Key of LifeStevie Wonder · 19761976 · a double album without a wasted minute
  11. 11Rumours coverRumoursFleetwood Mac · 19771977 · heartbreak engineered into perfect pop
  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 be
  14. 14Trans-Europe Express coverTrans-Europe ExpressKraftwerk · 19771977 · the blueprint for electronic pop
  15. 15Exodus coverExodusBob Marley & The Wailers · 19771977 · reggae's global statement
  16. 16London Calling coverLondon CallingThe Clash · 19791979 · punk outgrows itself in every direction
  17. 17Off the Wall coverOff the WallMichael Jackson · 19791979 · disco perfected on its way out the door
  18. 18Unknown Pleasures coverUnknown PleasuresJoy Division · 19791979 · post-punk's dark heart
  19. 19Fear of Music coverFear of MusicTalking Heads · 19791979 · paranoia you can dance to
  20. 20What's Going On coverWhat's Going OnMarvin Gaye · 19711971 · soul turns its eyes to the world