Tuesday 18 August 2015

The Culture Fix's Top 100 Albums of the 70s



by J. Albert Barr

It has taken me much longer than I initially thought to provide an elaborate, 4-part, countdown of my Top 100 Albums of the 60s, where I have given each album a paragraph of what I think about it, and a succinct description as well about what hits came off it, if any, and what songs are considered classics or highlights, etc (the fourth and final part is still coming, I promise! - lol). So, instead of imposing that kind of work into compiling more lists of the best albums of each decade up to the millennium on myself, as I'm trying to get other articles finally written (the backlog is considerable, let me tell you!), I'm just going to give you each list in one fell swoop by providing each album cover and my favorite tracks from said album. So here we go:

(note: For those whose screens it might affect, please excuse the apparent album title misalignment. I've tried correcting it, but it doesn't seem to be working and I don't know why it's doing what it's doing, which is really wreaking havoc with my anal-retentiveness. lol)

 100. At Budokan - Cheap Trick (1979)


Favorite tracks: "Surrender:, "I Want You to Want Me" and "Hello There"









 99. The Man-Machine - Kraftwerk (1978)


Favorite tracks: "The Robots", "Metropolis" and "Neon Lights".










  98. Can't Buy a Thrill - Steely Dan (1972)


Fvaorite tracks: "Do it Again", "Reeling in the Years" and "Dirty Work".









 97. Broken English - Marianne Faithfull (1979)


Favorite tracks: "Broken English", "Guilt" and "Working Class Hero".









 96. Toys in the Attic - Aerosmith (1975)


Favorite tracks: "Toys in the Attic", "Walk This Way" and "Sweet Emotion".









 95. Off the Wall - Michael Jackson (1979)


Favorite tracks: "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough", "Rock with You" and "Working Day and Night".









 94. The Stranger - Billy Joel (1977)


Favorite tracks: "She's Always a Woman", "The Stranger" and "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)".









 93. Hotel California - The Eagles (1976)



Favorite tracks: "Hotel California", "New Kid in Town" and "Wasted Time".








 92. Grievous Angel - Gram Parsons (1974)


Favorite tracks: "Hearts on Fire", "Brass Buttons" and "In My Hour of Darkness".









 91. I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight - Richard and Linda Thompson (1974)


Favorite tracks: "I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight", "Has He Got a Friend for Me" and "The Calvary Cross".








 90. Deja Vu - Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young (1970)


Favorite tracks: "Teach Your Children", "Helpless" and "Our House".









 89. The B-52's - The B-52's (1979)


Favorite tracks: "Rock Lobster", "Planet Claire" and "6060-842"










 88. Machine Head - Deep Purple (1972)


Favorite tracks: "Smoke on the Water", "Space Truckin'" and "Highway Star".









 87. Live at the Witch Trials - The Fall (1979)


Favorite tracks: "Frightened", "Future and Pasts" and "Mother-Sister!".









 86. Hunky Dory - David Bowie (1971)


Favorite tracks: "Changes", "Life on Mars?" and "Queen Bitch".










 85. Band on the Run - Paul McCartney and Wings (1973)


Favorite tracks: "Band on the Run", "Jet" and "Let Me Roll It".










 84. Tapestry - Carole King (1971)


Favorite tracks: "It's Too Late", "So Far Away" and "You've Got a Friend".








 83. Head Hunters - Herbie Hancock (1973)


Favorite tracks: "Watermelon Man", "Chameleon" and "Vein Melter".









 82. Damn the Torpedoes - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (1979)


Favorite tracks: "Refugee", "Don't Do Me Like That" and "Here Comes My Girl".









 81. Darkness on the Edge of Town - Bruce Springsteen (1978)


Favorite tracks: "Badlands", "Adam Raised a Cain" and "Streets of Fire".









 80. #1 Record - Big Star (1972)


Favorite tracks: "Thirteen", "When My Baby's Beside Me" and "Give Me Another Chance".









 79. Phaedra - Tangerine Dream (1974)


Favorite tracks: "Phaedra" and "Mysterious Semblance at the Strain of Nightmares".









 78. Van Halen - Van Halen (1978)


Favorite tracks: "Runnin' with the Devil", "Jamie's Cryin'" and "You Really Got Me".









 77. Electric Warrior - T.Rex (1971)


Favorite tracks: "Cosmic Dancer", "Get it On" and "Rip Off".










 76. Rust Never Sleeps - Neil Young & Crazy Horse (1979)


Favorite tracks: "Powderfinger", "Pocahontas" and "Welfare Mothers".









 75. Transformer - Lou Reed (1972)


Favorite tracks: "Perfect Day", "Vicious" and "Satellite of Love".










 74. Station to Station - David Bowie (1976)


Favorite tracks: "Station to Station", "Golden Years" and "Wild is the Wind".









 73. A Night at the Opera - Queen (1975)


Favorite tracks: "Bohemian Rhapsody", "I'm in Love with My Car" and "You're My Best Friend".









 72. Another Green World - Brian Eno (1975)


Favorite tracks:"In Dark Trees", "I'll Come Running" and "Golden Hours".









 71. Close to the Edge - Yes (1972)


Favorite tracks:"Close to the Edge" and "And You and I".










 70. All Mod Cons - The Jam (1978)


Favorite tracks: "Mr. Clean", "English Rose" and "'A' Bomb on Wardour Street".









 69. Lust for Life - Iggy Pop (1977)


Favorite tracks: "Lust for Life", "The Passenger", and "Sixteen".










 68. Paranoid - Black Sabbath (1971)


Favorite tracks: "Paranoid", "Iron Man" and "Planet Caravan".










 67. For Your Pleasure - Roxy Music (1973)


Favorite tracks: "Do the Strand", "Beauty Queen" and "For Your Pleasure".









 66. New York Dolls - New York Dolls (1973)


Favorite tracks: "Personality Crisis". "Lookin' for a Kiss" and "Trash".









 65. Entertainment! - Gang of Four (1979)


Favorite tracks: "Damaged Goods", "I Found That Essence Rare" and "At Home He's a Tourist".









 64. Innervisions - Stevie Wonder (1973)


Favorite tracks: "Higher Ground", "All in Love is Fair" and "Living for the City".









 63. Histoire de Melody Nelson - Serge Gainsbourg (1971)


Favorite tracks: "Melody", "Ah! Melody" and "Cargo Culte".










 62. Irrlicht - Klaus Schulze (1972)


Favorite tracks: "1. Satz: Ebene" and "Dungeon"









 61. Katy Lied - Steely Dan (1975)


Favorite tracks: "Black Friday", "Bad Sneakers" and "Everyone's Gone To the Movies".









 60. Suicide - Suicide (1977)


Favorite tracks: "Ghost Rider", "Johnny" and "I Remember".










 59. L.A. Woman - The Doors (1971)


Favorite tracks: "Riders on the Storm", "L.A. Woman" and "Hyacinth House".









 58. My Aim is True - Elvis Costello (1977)


Favorite tracks: "Alison", "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes" and "Less Than Zero".









 57. Outlandos d'Amour - The Police (1978)


Favorite tracks: "Can't Stand Losing You", "Next to You", "So Lonely".









 56. Cosmo's Factory - Creedence Clearwater Revival (1970)


Favorite tracks: "Who'll Stop the Rain", "Run Through the Jungle" and "Lookin' Out My Back Door".









 55. Raw Power - Iggy and the Stooges (1973)


Favorite tracks: "Search and Destroy", "Shake Appeal" and "Gimme Danger".









 54. Unknown Pleasures - Joy Division (1979)


Favorite tracks: "She's Lost Control", "Day of the Lords" and "Shadowplay".









 53. More Songs About Buildings and Food - Talking Heads (1978)


Favorite tracks : "Take Me to the River", "Warning Sign" and "The Girls Want to Be With the Girls".









 52. Singles Going Steady - Buzzcocks (1979)


Favorite tracks: "Ever Fallen in Love", "Everybody's Happy Nowadays" and "Autonomy".









 51. Imagine - John Lennon (1971)


Favorite tracks: "Imagine", "Gimme Some Truth" and "Jealous Guy".









 50. Sticky Fingers - The Rolling Stones (1971)


Favorite tracks: "Brown Sugar", "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" and "Wild Horses".









 49. Future Days - Can (1973)


Favorite tracks: "Future Days", "Moonshake" and "Bel Air".










 48. Saturday Night Fever - Soundtrack (1977)


Favorite tracks: "Stayin' Alive", "Night Fever" and "How Deep is Your Love".









 47. Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd (1975)


Favorite tracks: "Shine on You Crazy Diamond", "Wish You Were Here" and "Have a Cigar".









 46. After the Gold Rush - Neil Young (1970)


Favorite tracks: "Southern Man", "After the Gold Rush" and "When You Dance I Can Really Love".









 45. Pink Flag - Wire (1977)


Favorite tracks: "Pink Flag", "Three Girl Rhumba" and "Fragile".










 44. Morrison Hotel - The Doors (1970)


Favorite tracks: "Roadhouse Blues", "Peace Frog" and "Blue Sunday".









 43. There a Riot Goin' On - Sly and the Family Stone (1971)


Favorite tracks: "Runnin' Away", "Family Affair" and "Poet".










 42. Exodus - Bob Marley and the Wailers (1977)


Favorite tracks: "Jammin'", "Natural Mystic" and "Waiting in Vain".










 41. Houses of the Holy - Led Zeppelin (1973)



Favorite tracks: "The Rain Song", "Dancing Days" and "The Ocean".









 40. Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! - Devo (1978)


Favorite tracks: "Uncontrollable Urge", "Jocko Homo" and "Shrivel-Up".









 39. Regatta de Blanc - The Police (1979)


Favorite tracks: "Message in a Bottle", "Walking on the Moon" and "Bring on the Night".









 38. Drums and Wires - XTC (1979)


Favorite tracks: "Making Plans for Nigel", "Ten Feet Tall" and "Complicated Game".









 37. Armed Forces - Elvis Costello and the Attractions (1979)


Favorite tracks: "Accidents Will Happen", "Party Girl" and "Green Shirt".









 36. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John (1973)


Favorite tracks: "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", "Bennie and the Jets" and "Sweet Painted Lady".









 35. The Modern Lovers - The Modern Lovers (1976)


Favorite tracks: "Roadrunner", "Old World" and "She Cracked".










 34. All Things Must Pass - George Harrison (1970)


Favorite tracks: "My Sweet Lord", "Let it Down" and "All Things Must Pass".









 33. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars - David Bowie (1972)


Favorite tracks: "Ziggy Stardust", "Suffragette City" and "Starman".










 32. What's Going On - Marvin Gaye (1971)


Favorite tracks: "What's Going On", "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" and "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)".









 31. Let it Be - The Beatles (1970)


Favorite tracks: "Across the Universe", "Let it Be" and "Get Back".










 30. Fun House - The Stooges (1970)


Favorite tracks: "Down on the Street", "Loose" and "1970".










 29. Parallel Lines - Blondie (1978)


Favorite tracks: "Heart of Glass", "One Way or Another" and "Picture This"









 28. Countdown to Ecstasy - Steely Dan (1973)


Favorite tracks: "Show Biz Kids", "Your Gold Teeth" and "King of the World".









 27. Catch a Fire - Bob Marley and the Wailers (1973)


Favorite tracks: "Slave Driver", "Stir it up" and "Kinky Reggae".










 26. The Clash - The Clash (1977)


Favorite tracks: "White Riot", "Janie Jones" and "Deny".










  25. Plastic Ono Band - John Lennon (1970)


Favorite tracks: "Working Class Hero", "Isolation" and "Hold On".










 24. Talking Book - Stevie Wonder (1972)


Favorite tracks: "Superstition", "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" and "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)".









 23. Trans-Europe Express - Kraftwerk (1977)


Favorite tracks: "Europe Endless", "The Hall of Mirrors" and "Trans-Europe Express".









 22. Blue - Joni Mitchell (1971)


Favorite tracks: "Carey", "California", "River".










 21. Moondance - Van Morrison (1970)


Favorite tracks: "Moondance", "Into the Mystic" and "Everyone".










 20. Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel (1970)


Favorite tracks: "Bridge Over Troubled Water", "The Boxer" and "El Condor Pasa (If I Could)".








 19. Harvest - Neil Young (1972)


Favorite tracks: "Heart of Gold", "Old Man" and "The Needle and the Damage Done".









 18. The Wall - Pink Floyd (1979)


Favorite tracks: "Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)", "Comfortably Numb" and "Goodbye Blue Sky".









 17. Rumours - Fleetwood Mac (1977)


Favorite tracks: "Dreams", "Don't Stop" and "The Chain".










 16. Who's Next - The Who (1971)


Favorite tracks: "Baba O'Riley", "Won't Get Fooled Again" and "Behind Blue Eyes".









 15. Low - David Bowie (1977)


Favorite tracks: "Speed of Life", "Always Crashing in the Same Car" and "Warszawa".









 14. Exile on Main Street - The Rolling Stones (1972)


Favorite tracks: "Rocks Off", "Rip This Joint" and "Ventilator Blues".









 13. The Ramones - The Ramones (1976)


Favorite tracks: "Blitzkrieg Bop", "Judy is a Punk" and "53rd and 3rd".









 12. Marquee Moon - Television (1977)


Favorite tracks: "Marquee Moon", "Venus" and "Friction".










 11. Bryter Layter - Nick Drake (1970)


Favorite tracks: "At the Chime of a City Clock", "One of These Things First" and "Poor Boy".









 10. Loaded - The Velvet Underground (1970)


Favorite tracks: "Rock and Roll", "Sweet Jane" and "Cool It Down".









 9. Led Zeppelin IV - Led Zeppelin (1971)


Favorite tracks: "Rock and Roll", "Black Dog" and "When the Levee Breaks".









 8. This Year's Model - Elvis Costello and the Attractions (1978)


Favorite tracks: "Pump It Up", "Radio Radio" and "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea".









 7. Blood on the Tracks - Bob Dylan (1975)


Favorite tracks: "Tangled Up in Blue", "Shelter from the Storm" and "Idiot Wind".









 6. Fear of Music - Talking Heads (1979)


Favorite tracks: "Cities", "Air" and "Drugs".










 5. Bitches Brew - Miles Davis (1970)


Favorite tracks: "Pharaoh's Dance", "Bitches Brew" and "Miles Runs the Voodoo Down".









 4. Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols - The Sex Pistols (1977)


Favorite tracks: "Anarchy in the U.K", "God Save the Queen" and "Holidays in the Sun".









 3. Horses - Patti Smith (1975)


Favorite tracks: "Gloria", "Redondo Beach" and "Birdland".










 2. London Calling - The Clash (1979)


Favorite tracks: "London Calling", "Spanish Bombs" and "Clampdown".









 1. The Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd (1973)


Favorite tracks: "Money", "Us and Them" and "The Great Gig in the Sky".











Well, there you have it, people! Next up will be my Top 100 Albums of the 80s via the "fast-track" like I did here with the 70s. I do still have my overdue Part 4, and final, segment to my Top 100 Albums of the 60s to come,...as soon as possible. So stay tuned, I promise! :-)

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