Top Ten Albums of the 1970s

The 1970s produced some outstanding rock and pop albums on both sides of the Atlantic. According to online music shop Amazon (which was not around in the 1970s) these are the top ten best-selling albums that were released during the decade.

What is perhaps most surprising about the list are some of the classic albums of the 1970s that didn't make the top ten, Sticky Fingers by the Rolling Stones being a good example. Elton John too is nowhere to be seen. And add to that list Paul McCartney and Bob Dylan. Led Zeppelin also had albums in the Top Ten Albums of the 1960s list.

The Wall – Pink Floyd
The Wall was released right at the end of the decade and was the band’s 11th studio album. The double LP contained 26 tracks the most famous of which is “Another Brick in The Wall”, which was the Christmas number one in 1979.

Zeppelin IV – Led Zeppelin
The band’s fourth album had no title as such with just four symbols on the sleeve, which meant some also called it Four Symbols. Released in 1971, the album contains arguably the most famous of the band’s tacks – “Stairway to Heaven”.

Rumours – Fleetwood Mac
Rumours by Fleetwood Mac was released early in 1977 and stayed top of the Billboard charts for 31 consecutive weeks. The eleven tracks included “Gold Dust Woman” and “Dreams”.

Boston – Boston
This was the debut album by Boston and was released in 1976 with all but one of the eight tracks composed by Tom Scholz. The exception was “Let Me Take You Home Tonight” by Brad Delp, who co-wrote “Smokin’” with Tom Scholz.


Hotel California – The Eagles
Released in 1976, this was the fifth album from The Eagles and as well as the title track also contained the hits singles “New Kid in Town” and “Life in the Fast Lane”.

Physical Graffiti – Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin’s sixth album was released in 1975. The double album contained 15 tracks including “Black Country Woman” and “The Wanton Song”.

Dark Side of the Moon – Pink Floyd
Dark Side of the Moon is one of the most famous albums of all time, its iconic cover became a popular poster to decorate student bedrooms. Released in 1973, it was a concept album and its tracks included “Money” and “Time”.

Bat Out of Hell – Meat Loaf
This was the album that made Meat Loaf famous and owed much of its success to writer and producer Jim Steinman. Released in 1977, its title track is one of the best known rock songs ever but the album also contained classics such as “ “You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth”, “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad” and “Paradise by the Dashboard Light”.

Houses of the Holy – Led Zeppelin
The fifth album by Led Zeppelin was released in 1973 and was banned in some parts of the USA because of its controversial cover. The best known track is “The Song Remains the Same”.

Top Ten Albums and Bubbling Under
Led Zeppelin did best with three albums in the top ten followed by Pink Floyd with two. The Led Zeppelin albums In Through the Out Door and Led Zeppelin III came in at 26 and 37, respectively, and Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here was 33rd.

Just missing out on the top ten albums list was Van Halen by Van Halen and The Stranger by Billy Joel.