Top 30 albums of the 1970's

Ever infatuated with lists, we here at the Tool Box have decided to put together our collective knowledge of good music, and give you our list of the 30 greatest albums of the 1970's. There is perhaps no greater decade as far as music goes. The 70's saw the evolution of what we now refer to as "classic rock," and its transition into other musical genre's yet to be explored: Punk, New Wave, Metal, and Funk to name a few. The following artists and albums are listed in no particular order.



Rocket To Russia by The Ramones (1977)

Although often overshadowed by The Ramones self titled first album, Rocket to Russia offers a more polished version of the Ramones revolutionary punk. It's also their strongest set of songs, and arguably their best album.

#1 Record by Big Star (1972)

Perhaps the most underappreciated band of the 70's, Big Star's first release, # 1 Record, is a power-pop gem, and the greatest testament to a band whose influence would certainly outlast their rather brief existence as a band.

Heaven Tonight by Cheap Trick (1978)

Heaven Tonight is the culmination of everything great that Cheap Trick had touched upon in their early albums. Anchored by the witty, infectious arena anthem "Surrender," Heaven Tonight embodies what Cheap Trick is/was as a band--raucous, thrilling, wry and often overlooked.

News Of The World by Queen (1977)

Best known for its tracks: "We are the Champions" and "We Will Rock You," News of the World is Queen fully embracing the arena and the anthem. But tucked between the bombast, and better known tracks are some true gems, an some quintessential Queen.

Nuggets by Various Artists (1972)

Everything you will hear after listening to the Nuggets set will sound a bit more boring and a tad derivative--it's as simple as that. Nuggets is the blueprint for Punk, Garage, Psychedelia . . . ehh just go buy it.

Sunflower by The Beach Boys (1970)

Sunflower is a return to form for the often inconsistent Beach Boys. Its lush harmonies and tight songcraft place it amongst the beach Boys best works.

Cheap Trick by Cheap Trick (1977)

Cheap Trick has never been given the respect they deserve. Their music on this self-titled debut is explosive, hook-laden, subversive, and ironic--characteristics that other bands would later ape without giving Cheap Trick their due credit.

A Night At The Opera by Queen (1975)

Sometimes it's hard to take a Queen album seriously with their genre bending, musical promiscuity, but that's exactly what makes A Night at the Opera so good. Seriously.

Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols by The Sex Pistols (1977)

Where the Ramones held the blueprint for the punk rock sound, and the Clash the social conscience that belays punk music, the Sex Pistols embodied what would become the punk rock attitude and aesthetic. This surly, brash, sloppy, "Fuck you and your mother," set of songs is everything punk should be, but rarely is.

Van Halen by Van Halen (1978)

For what it's worth, Van Halen are the Beatles of Hair Metal. Terrible analogy, but anyway, their debut is a thrilling masterpiece of guitar virtuosity, tight pants, testosterone, and good time rock and roll.

The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein by Parliment (1976)

Although not as deep as some of their earlier albums, The Clones . . . is classic Parliment funk: sci-fi, good grooves, and not really ever knowing what's going on inside King George's head.

Who's Next? by The Who (1971)

Built from the wreckage of what was to be their most ambitious album to date, Who's Next is the band expanding on what they'd done previously, while also returning to form. Who's Next rightly deserves its place among the greatest rock n roll records of all time.


Ramones by The Ramones (1976)

The Ramones debut is significant in so many ways that simply naming a few of its characteristics will do it no justice. The only way to understand the Ramones, and their importance is to listen to Ramones . . . and anyway, it will only take 29 minutes of your precious time.

Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath (1970)

Black Sabbath created metal, and still sound better and fresher than anything that has come out since their self-titled debut. Any fan of "hard" rock MUST listen to this album.

Burnin' by The Wailers (1973)

A strong call for social change underlies nearly every track on this album, but whereas songs that are confrontational in nature can be off-putting and overly self-righteous, the tracks on Burnin' tug upon the inner conscience while retaining their anthemic grooves and cohesiveness. Tracks: "Get Up Stand Up" and "I Shot the Sheriff" remain some of the best ever released under the Wailers, or Marley's name.

Slowhand by Eric Clapton (1977)

Slowhand tends to play like an Eric Clapton "Greatest Hits" album, and that's not to take anything away from it--it's one of the best rock n roll albums of the seventies, or the last 40 years for that matter.

Abraxas by Santana (1970)

Although both of the hits off Abraxas were covers "Black Magic Woman" and " Oye Como Va," Santana proved to be a band unlike any other. Their blending of genres and appreciation of worldly sounds has yet to be topped.

Talking Book by Stevie Wonder (1972)

Fusing the motown sound he was known for with a greater social consciousness, Talking Book is one of Stevie Wonder's finest works. Between the subtle calls for change, are also two of Wonder's number one singles, the sunny, yet tender "You are the Sunshine of My Life," and the funk-a-fied, groove-heavy "Superstition."

Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkle (1970)

This, the fifth album from Simon and Garfunkle remains one of the prettiest albums ever recorded. There is perhaps no greater testament to friendship than the title track, which is ironic, in that Simon and Garfunkle would begin to split after Bridge Over . . . Be glad they made it through this one though.

What's Going On? by Marvin Gaye (1970)

It is rare that you find a top whatever list of anything that doesn't contain this album, which can of course, turn one off to What's Going On? But look past the hyperbole, because this album IS one of the greatest albums of all time, and with known hits, "Mercy Mercy Me (the Ecology)" and the title track, one can get schooled in music history, and not even realize it.

Blood on the Tracks by Bob Dylan (1975)

By '75 Dylan had crashed his bike, become a Christian, become a recluse, got into drugs, made a few bad albums, and got divorced, so it is not surprising that Blood on the Tracks are some of Dylan's most wrenching and introspective songs. "If You See Her, Say Hello" is Dylan's call to a past lover, and perhaps the best song he ever wrote.

Rumours by Fleetwood Mac (1977)

Both a critical and commercial success, Rumours is the product of a band falling apart, while falling in love (with each other). It is said that pain precedes art, and at the essence of these songs, some of which you would never know by simply listening to them, is the subtle and sometimes not so subtle sound of heart being broken.

Moondance by Van Morrison (1970)

Moondance is quintessential Van Morrison-- a fusion of jazz, soul, blues, folk and celtic mysticism. More accessable than Astral Weeks, Moondance is a perfect introduction to Morrison's unique songcraft.

Imagine by John Lennon (1971)

At times seething with anger and resentment, as well as joviality and sweetness, Imagine is captures Lennon at this best (post-Beatles). Everyone's heard the title track, it's one of the best songs ever written, but there are so many gems on this album ("Jealous Guy" and "Oh Yoko!" to name a few) that one would be foolish to simply listen to track one and move on.

Harvest by Neil Young (1972)

Harvest captures the talents of Young, as both a songwriter and musician better than any of his other works. It had a notable hit with "Heart of Gold" but it's "The Needle and the Damage Done" as well as the other tracks on the album that make it so effective. Young's wobbly croon drips with anger and melancholy throughout the album--leaving a haunting impression that stays with the listener long after the songs have stopped.

Pink Moon by Nick Drake (1972)

Nick Drake sang with a delicate, hushed whisper that makes his music perfect for a Sunday afternoon. His delicate finger picking on Pink Moon is often over-looked, as are his lyrics, which despite comming forth in a fragile timbre, speak of a tortured soul, whom would soon take his own life.

L.A. Woman by The Doors (1971)

L.A. Woman is a return to form of sorts for the Doors, who would again embrace the blues driven rock that they had captured audiences with years before. Faint echos of Jim Morisson beginning to lose himself can be heard in the tracks, but it still provides for some notable hits, including "Love Her Madly" and the rather frightening "Riders on the Storm."

Grievous Angel by Gram Parsons (1973)

More rock than country, but more country than rock, Gram Parsons is hard to place, but what he did with Grievous Angel has yet to be replicated. He sings with the voice of a wounded soul, and the accompaniment of Emmylou Harris makes for even more lovelorn sounds. Without this album it's likely that you may have never heard from the likes of the Jayhawks, Wilco, or Ryan Adams.

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John (1973)

John's double LP masterwork embodies everything that makes him the genius that he is. The album is sprawling in both scope and sound, but the real magic is within the individual songs, which are some of the richest and most notable that John and Taupin ever created.

Contributers: Chris Hoelscher, Joe Serra, and Brandon Tessoff