The Newt’s 300 Best Rock Albums of the 1970s

By Steve Newton

You had to be there.

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Abraxas: Santana (“Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen”, “Oye Coma Va”, “Samba Pa Ti”) 1970

A Day at the Races: Queen (“Tie Your Mother Down”, “Somebody to Love”, “Long Away”) 1976

Aerosmith: Aerosmith (“Make It”, “Dream On”, “Mama Kin”) 1973

After the Gold Rush: Neil Young (“Tell Me Why”, “Southern Man”, “When You Dance I Can Really Love”) 1971

Against the Grain: Rory Gallagher (“Bought and Sold”, “Out on the Western Plain”, “Lost at Sea”) 1975

Agents of Fortune: Blue Oyster Cult (“[Don’t Fear] the Reaper”, “Sinful Love”, “The Revenge of Vera Gemini”) 1976

AjaSteely Dan (“Peg”, “Deacon Blues”, “Josie”) 1977

Aladdin Sane: David Bowie (“Watch That Man”, “Panic in Detroit”, “Cracked Actor”) 1973

All the Young Dudes: Mott the Hoople (“Sweet Jane”, “One of the Boys”, “Mama’s Little Jewel”) 1972

All Things Must Pass: George Harrison (“My Sweet Lord”, “What is Life”, “If Not for You”) 1970

America’s Choice: Hot Tuna (“Sleep Song”, “Hit Single #1″, “Serpent of Dreams”) 1975

American BeautyThe Grateful Dead (“Box of Rain”, “Friend of the Devil”, “Sugar Magnolia”) 1970

American Stars n’ Bars: Neil Young (“Hey Babe”, “Will to Love”, “Like a Hurricane”) 1977

American Woman: The Guess Who (“American Woman”, “No Time”, “No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature”) 1970

A Million Vacations: Max Webster (“Paradise Skies”, “A Million Vacations”, “Let Go the Line”) 1979

A Night at the Opera: Queen (“Death on Two Legs”, “You’re My Best Friend”, “39”) 1975

A Nod is as Good As a Wink…: The Faces (“Miss Judy’s Farm”, “Stay With Me”, “Too Bad”) 1972

Aqualung: Jethro Tull (“Aqualung”, “Locomotive Breath”, “Cross-Eyed Mary”) 1971

ArgusWishbone Ash (“The King Will Come”, “Throw Down the Sword”, “Warrior”) 1972

A Space in TimeTen Years After (“One of These Days”, “I’d Love to Change the World”, “Baby Won’t You Let Me Rock ‘n’ Roll You?”) 1971

At Fillmore East: The Allman Brothers Band (“Statesboro Blues”, “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed”, “Whipping Post”) 1971

Atlantic Crossing: Rod Stewart (“Three Time Loser”, “Alright For an Hour”, “Stone Cold Sober”) 1975

Axe VictimBe Bop Deluxe (“Adventures in a Yorkshire Landscape”, “No Trains to Heaven”, “Rocket Cathedrals”) 1974

Bachman-Turner OverdriveBachman-Turner Overdrive (“Gimme Your Money Please”, “Hold Back the Water”, “Blue Collar”) 1973

Back in ’72: Bob Seger (“Rosalie”, “Turn the Page”, “Back in ’72”) 1974

Back on the Streets: Gary Moore (“Parisienne Walkways”, “Don’t Believe a Word”, “Flight of the Snow Moose”) 1978

Bad CompanyBad Company (“Rock Steady”, “Ready For Love”, “Movin’ On”) 1974

Bad Reputation: Thin Lizzy (“Opium Trail”, “Bad Reputation”, “Southbound”) 1977

Band of GypsysBand of Gypsys (“Hear My Train a Comin”, “Machine Gun”, “Ezy Ryder”) 1970

Band on the Run: Paul McCartney & Wings (“Band on the Run”, “Mrs Vandebilt”, “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five”) 1973

Beautiful LoserBob Seger (“Beautiful Loser, Katmandu”, “Nutbush City Limits”) 1975

The B-52sThe B-52s (“Planet Claire”, “Rock Lobster”, “Lava”) 1979

Billion Dollar Babies: Alice Cooper (“Elected”, “No More Mr. Nice Guy”, “Raped and Freezin’”) 1973

Black and Blue: The Rolling Stones (“Hand of Fate”, “Hot Stuff”, “Memory Motel”) 1976

Black Rose–A Rock LegendThin Lizzy (“Waiting for an Alibi”, “Got to Give It Up”, “Sarah”) 1979

Bloodshot: The J. Geils Band (“[Ain’t Nothin’ But a] Houseparty”, “Back to Get Ya”, “Give it to Me”) 1973

Blow By Blow: Jeff Beck (“Cause We’ve Ended as Lovers”, “Freeway Jam”, “Scatterbrain”) 1975

Blue Oyster Cult: Blue Oyster Cult (“Transmaniacon MC”, “Stairway to the Stars”, “Workshop of the Telescopes”) 1972

Book of Dreams: The Steve Miller Band (“Jet Airliner”, “Winter Time”, “Jungle Love”) 1977

Boston: Boston (“More Than a Feeling”, “Something About You”, “Rock and Roll Band”) 1976

Bridge of SighsRobin Trower (“Day of the Eagle”, “The Fool and Me”, “Lady Love”) 1974

Bring It Back AliveThe Outlaws (“Song For You”, “Hurry Sundown”, “Green Grass and High Tides”) 1978

Brothers and Sisters: The Allman Brothers Band (“Ramblin’ Man”, “Southbound”, “Jessica”) 1973

BurgersHot Tuna (“Keep on Truckin’”, “Water Song”, “99 Year Blues”) 1972

BurnDeep Purple (“Burn”, “Might Just Take Your Life”, “You Fool No One”) 1974

Calling CardRory Gallagher (“Moonchild”, “Secret Agent”, “Edged in Blue”) 1976

Candy-OThe Cars (“It’s All I Can Do”, “Got a Lot on My Head”, “Dangerous Type”) 1979

Can’t Buy a ThrillSteely Dan (“Do It Again”, “Dirty Work”, “Only a Fool Would Say That”) 1972

The Captain and Me: The Doobie Brothers (“Long Train Runnin’”, “Dark Eyed Cajun Woman”, “Ukiah”) 1973

CaravanseraiSantana (“Waves Within”, “Song of the Wind”, “Future Primitive”) 1972

The Cars: The Cars (You’re All I’ve Got Tonight”, “My Best Friend’s Girl”, “Just What I Needed”) 1978

Cheap TrickCheap Trick (“Hot Love”, “ELO Kiddies”, “Oh, Candy”) 1977

The ClashThe Clash (“White Riot”, “Career Opportunities”, “Janie Jones”) 1977

ClimbingMountain (“Mississippi Queen”, “Theme For an Imaginary Western”, “Never In My Life”) 1970

Close to the EdgeYes (“Close to the Edge”, “And You and I”, “Siberian Khatru”) 1972

Cold ChiselCold Chisel (“Juliet”, “Home and Broken Hearted”, “Northbound”) 1978

Comes a TimeNeil Young (“Human Highway”, “Lotta Love”, “Four Strong Winds”) 1978

Cosmo’s FactoryCreedence Clearwater Revival (“Travelin’ Band”, “Who’ll Stop the Rain”, “Up Around the Bend”) 1970

Countdown to EcstasySteely Dan (“Bodhissatva”, “Razor Boy”, “My Old School”) 1973

The Cry of LoveJimi Hendrix (“Ezy Ryder”, “Freedom”, “Angel”) 1971

CSNCrosby, Still & Nash (“Shadow Captain”, “Dark Star”, “Just a Song Before I Go”) 1977

Dark Side of the Moon: Pink Floyd (“Time”, “The Great Gig in the Sky”, “Money”) 1973

Deep Purple in RockDeep Purple (“Speed King”, “Bloodsucker”, “Flight of the Rat”) 1970

DeguelloZZ Top (“I Thank You”, “I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide”, “Cheap Sunglasses”) 1979

Deja VuCrosby, Stills, Nash & Young (“Teach Your Children”, “Woodstock”, “Helpless”) 1970

Derringer Live: Derringer (“Beyond the Universe”, “Let Me In”, “Still Alive and Well”) 1977

DesireBob Dylan (“Hurricane”, “Sara”, “Black Diamond Bay”) 1976

Desolation AngelsBad Company (“Evil Wind”, “Rhythm Machine”, “Gone, Gone, Gone”) 1979

DeuceRory Gallagher (“I’m Not Awake Yet”, “In Your Town”, “Used to Be”) 1971

Diamond DogsDavid Bowie (“Diamond Dogs”, “Rebel Rebel”, “1984”) 1974

Dire StraitsDire Straits (“Down to the Waterline”, “Sultans of Swing”, “Lions”) 1978

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap: AC/DC (“Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”, “Problem Child”, “Jailbreak”) 1976

Drastic PlasticBe-Bop Deluxe (“Love in Flames”, “New Mysteries”, “Panic in the World”) 1978

Draw the LineAerosmith (“Draw the Line”, “I Wanna Know Why”, “Sight for Sore Eyes”) 1977

Dreamboat AnnieHeart (“Crazy On You”, “Magic Man”, “White Lightning and Wine”) 1975

EaglesThe Eagles (“Take it Easy”, “Chug All Night”, “Peaceful Easy Feeling”) 1972

Eat a PeachThe Allman Brothers Band (“One Way Out”, “Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More”, “Blue Sky”) 1972

Electric WarriorT-Rex (“Jeepster”, “Get It On”, “Rip Off”) 1971

EnergizedFoghat (“Honey Hush”, “Home in My Hand”, “Step Outside”) 1974

Eric ClaptonEric Clapton (“After Midnight”, “Blues Power”, “Let it Rain”) 1970

Every Picture Tells a StoryRod Stewart (“Every Picture Tells a Story”, “Maggie May”, “That’s All Right”) 1971

Exile on Main Street: The Rolling Stones (“Rip This Joint”, “Rocks Off”, “Tumbling Dice”) 1972

Excitable BoyWarren Zevon (“Werewolves of London”, “Lawyers, Guns and Money”, “Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner”) 1978

Face to Face: Angel City (“After the Rain”, “Marseilles”, “Take a Long Line”) 1978

FandangoZZ Top (“Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings”, “Balinese”, “Heard It on the X”) 1975

Fighting: Thin Lizzy (“Rosalie”, “Wild One”, “Spirit Slips Away”) 1975

Fire and WaterFree (“Fire and Water”, “Mr. Big”, “All Right Now”) 1970

First Pull Up, Then Pull DownHot Tuna (“Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning”, “Candy Man”, “John’s Other”) 1971

Fleetwood MacFleetwood Mac (“Monday Morning”, “Blue Letter”, “Landslide”) 1975

Flirtin’ with DisasterMolly Hatchet (“Flirtin’ With Disaster”, “Good Rockin’”, “Whiskey Man”) 1979

Fly Like an EagleThe Steve Miller Band (“Fly Like an Eagle”, “Take the Money and Run”, “Rock’n Me”) 1976

FoghatFoghat (“I Just Want to Make Love to You”, “Fool’s Hall of Fame”, “Maybellene”) 1972

Fool for the CityFoghat (“Fool for the City”, “Slow Ride”, “Take It or Leave It”) 1975

Force ItUFO (“Shoot Shoot”, “Too Much of Nothing”, “Love Lost Love”) 1975

For Earth BelowRobin Trower (“Shame the Devil”, “Alethea”, “Gonna Be More Suspicious”) 1975

FragileYes (“Roundabout”, “Long Distance Runaround”, “Mood For a Day”) 1971

Gamma 1Gamma (“I’m Alive”, “Razor King”, “Wish I Was”) 1979

Gasoline AlleyRod Stewart (“Gasoline Alley”, “It’s All Over Now”, “Cut Across Shorty”) 1970

George Thorogood and the Destroyers: George Thorogood and the Destroyers (“Madison Blues”, “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer”, “You Got to Lose”) 1977

Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out!The Rolling Stones (“Jumpin’ Jack Flash”, “Midnight Rambler”, “Sympathy for the Devil”) 1970

Get Your Wings: Aerosmith (“Same Old Song and Dance”, “Seasons of Wither”, “Spaced”) 1974

Give ‘Em Enough RopeThe Clash (“Safe European Home”, “English Civil War”, “Tommy Gun”) 1978

Gimme Some NeckRon Wood (“Seven Days”, “F.U.C. Her”, “Buried Alive”) 1979

Grey GhostThe Henry Paul Band (“Crossfire”, “So Long”, “Grey Ghost”) 1979

Hard AgainMuddy Waters (“I Can’t Be Satisfied”, “Mannish Boy”, “Crosseyed Cat”) 1977

HarvestNeil Young (“Heart of Gold”, “Old Man”, “The Needle and the Damage Done”) 1972

Heaven TonightCheap Trick (“Surrender”, “California Man”, “Auf Wiedersehen”) 1978

Hendrix in the WestJimi Hendrix (“Johnny B. Goode”, “Little Wing”, “Red House”) 1972

“Heroes”David Bowie (“Joe the Lion”, “Heroes”, “The Secret Life of Arabia”) 1977

Highway to HellAC/DC (“Girls Got Rhythm”, “Touch Too Much”, “Shot Down in Flames”) 1979

The HoopleMott the Hoople (“Born Late ’58”, “Golden Age of Rock ‘n’ Roll”, “Roll Away the Stone”) 1974

HoppkorvHot Tuna (“Bowlegged Woman, Knock-Kneed Man”, “Extrication Love Song”, “Song from the Strainless Cymbal”) 1976

Hot TunaHot Tuna (“Hesitation Blues”, “Know You Rider”, “Winin’ Boy Blues”) 1970

Hound Dog Taylor and the HouseRockersHound Dog Taylor (“44 Blues”, “She’s Gone”, “Phiilips’ Theme”) 1971

Houses of the HolyLed Zeppelin (“Over the Hills and Far Away”, “Dancing Days”, “No Quarter”) 1973

Hunky DoryDavid Bowie (“Changes”, “Life on Mars?”, “Queen Bitch”) 1971

Hurry SundownThe Outlaws (“Gunsmoke”, “Heavenly Blues”, “Hurry Sundown”) 1977

Ian HunterIan Hunter (“Once Bitten Twice Shy”, “3,000 Miles From Here”, “I Get So Excited”) 1975

Idlewild SouthThe Allman Brothers Band (“Midnight Rider”, “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed”, “Revival”) 1970

If You Want Blood You’ve Got ItAC/DC (“Riff Raff”, “Whole Lotta Rosie”, “Let There Be Rock”) 1978

Imagine: John Lennon (“Imagine”, “Jealous Guy”, “How Do You Sleep?”) 1971

I’m ReadyMuddy Waters (“I’m Ready”, “Good Morning, Little Schoolgirl”, “That’s Alright”) 1978

In City DreamsRobin Trower (“Somebody Calling”, “Sweet Wine of Love”, “Smile”) 1977

In ColorCheap Trick (“Clock Strikes Ten”, “Southern Girls”, “Come On, Come On”) 1977

Indianola Mississippi Seeds: B.B. King (“Nobody Loves Me But My Mother”, “King’s Special”, “Hummingbird”) 1970

InfinityJourney (“Wheel in the Sky”, “WInds of March”, “Lights”) 1978

In the Skies: Peter Green (“A Fool No More”, “Proud Pinto”, “Slabo Day”) 1979

In Through the Out DoorLed Zeppelin (“In the Evening”, “Hot Dog”, “All My Love”) 1979

Irish Tour ’74Rory Gallagher (“Cradle Rock”, “A Million Miles Away”, “Tattoo’d Lady”) 1974

JailbreakThin Lizzy (“Jailbreak”, “Cowboy Song”, “Romeo and the Lonely Girl”) 1976

James Gang Rides AgainThe James Gang (“Funk 49″, “Tend My Garden”, “Ashes, the Rain and I”) 1970

Jeff Beck with the Jan Hammer Group LiveJeff Beck (“Freeway Jam”, “Scatterbrain”, “Blue Wind”) 1977

The J. Geils BandThe J. Geils Band (“Homework”, “Hard Drivin’ Man”, “First I Look at the Purse”) 1970

Johnny the Fox: Thin Lizzy (“Johnny”, “Don’t Believe a Word”, “Fool’s Gold”) 1976

Johnny Winter AndJohnny Winter (“Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo”, “Prodigal Son”, “Funky Music”) 1970

Katy LiedSteely Dan (“Black Friday”, “Rose Darling”, “Doctor Wu”) 1975

KillerAlice Cooper (“Halo of Flies”, “Desperado”, “Under My Wheels”) 1971

Kiss: Kiss (“Strutter”, “Deuce”, “Black Diamond”) 1975

The Lamb Lies Down on BroadwayGenesis (“In the Cage”, “The Carpet Crawlers”, “In the Rapids”) 1974

Larry CarltonLarry Carlton (“Room 335″, “Don’t Give It Up”, “Point It Up”) 1978

The Last WaltzThe Band (“The Shape I’m In” “Baby, Let Me Follow You Down”, “Mystery Train”) 1978

L.A. WomanThe Doors (“Love Her Madly”, “L.A. Woman”, “Riders On the Storm”) 1971

Layla and Other Assorted Love SongsDerek & the Dominos (“I Looked Away”, “Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad”, “Little Wing”) 1970

Leave HomeThe Ramones (“California Sun”, “I Remember You”, “Swallow My Pride”) 1977

Led Zeppelin IIILed Zeppelin (“Immigrant Song”, “Celebration Day”, “Gallows Pole”) 1970

Led Zeppelin 4Led Zeppelin (“Black Dog”, “Rock and Roll”, “Stairway to Heaven”) 1971

Let It BeThe Beatles (“Two Of Us”, “Don’t Let Me Down”, “Get Back”) 1970

Let There Be RockAC/DC (“Whole Lotta Rosie”, “Hell Ain’t a Bad Place to Be”, “Problem Child”) 1977

Lights OutUFO (“Too Hot to Handle”, “Lights Out”, “Love to Love”) 1977

Live and DangerousThin Lizzy (“Still in Love With You”, “Cowboy Song”, “Suicide”) 1978

Live at LeedsThe Who (“Young Man Blues”, “Substitute”, “Summertime Blues”) 1970

“Live” Full House: J. Geils Band (“First I Look at the Purse”, “Hard Drivin’ Man”, “Homework”) 1972

Live! Go For What You KnowThe Pat Travers Band (“Stevie”, “Heat in the Street”, “Boom Boom [Out Go the Lights]”) 1979

Live in EuropeRory Gallagher (“Messin’ With the Kid”, “Going to My Home Town”, “Bullfrog Blues”) 1972

Live Johnny Winter And: Johnny Winter (“Jumpin’ Jack Flash”, “Mean Town Blues”, “Johnny B. Goode”) 1971

Live RustNeil Young & Crazy Horse (“The Needle and the Damage Done”, “Cortez the Killer”, “Like a Hurricane”) 1979

Loading ZoneRoy Buchanan (“Ramon’s Blues”, “Green Onion”, “Adventures of Brer Rabbit and Tar Baby”) 1977

London CallingThe Clash (“Train in Vain”, “Lost in the Supermarket”, “Clampdown”) 1979

The London Howlin’ Wolf SessionsHowlin’ Wolf (“Built For Comfort”, “Highway 49″, “The Red Rooster”) 1971

Long Live Rock ‘n’ RollRainbow (“L.A. Connection”, “Gates of Babylon”, “Kill the King”) 1978

Long May You RunThe Stills-Young Band (“Long May You Run”, “Midnight On the Bay”, “Let it Shine”) 1976

Long Misty DaysRobin Trower (“Same Rain Falls”, “Pride”, “Caledonia”) 1976

The Long RunThe Eagles (“I Can’t Tell You Why”, “King of Hollywood”, “In the City”) 1979

Look Sharp!: Joe Jackson (“Got the Time”, “Is She Really Going Out WIth Him?”,  “Sunday Papers”) 1979

Loud ‘N’ ProudNazareth (“Go Down Fighting”, “Turn on Your Receiver”, “This Flight Tonight”) 1973

Love It to DeathAlice Cooper (“Caught In a Dream”, “I’m Eighteen”, “The Ballad of Dwight Fry”) 1971

LowDavid Bowie (“Always Crashing in the Same Car”, “Speed of Life”, “Be My Wife”) 1977

Machine Head: Deep Purple (“Highway Star”, “Smoke On the Water”, “Space Truckin’”) 1972

The Magician’s BirthdayUriah Heep (“Blind Eye”, “Rain”, “Echoes in the Dark”) 1972

Master of RealityBlack Sabbath (“Sweet Leaf”, “Children of the Grave”, “After Forever”) 1971

McCartneyPaul McCartney (“Maybe I’m Amazed”, “Every Night”, “That Would Be Something”) 1970

MeddlePink Floyd (“One of These Days”, “Fearless”, “Echoes”) 1971

Mirrors: Blue Oyster Cult (“I Am the Storm”, “The Vigil”, “In Thee”) 1979

MontroseMontrose (“Rock the Nation”, “Rock Candy”, “Make It Last”) 1973

MoondanceVan Morrison (“And It Stoned Me”, “Crazy Love”, “Into the Mystic”) 1970

MoonflowerSantana (“I’ll Be Waiting”, “She’s Not There”, “Bahia”) 1977

Morrison HotelThe Doors (“Roadhouse Blues”, “Peace Frog”, “Ship of Fools”) 1970

MottMott the Hoople (“All the Way from Memphis”, “Honaloochie Boogie”, “Drivin’ Sister”) 1973

Move It On OverGeorge Thorogood and the Destroyers (“Cocaine Blues”, “It Wasn’t Me”, “Move It On Over”) 1978

Muddy “Mississippi” Waters–LiveMuddy Waters (“She’s Nineteen Years Old”, “Mannish Boy”, “Nine Below Zero”) 1979

Muscle of LoveAlice Cooper (“Big Apple Dreamin’ [Hippo]”, “Working Up a Sweat”, “Teenage Lament ’74”) 1973

Nantucket SleighrideMountain (“Don’t Look Around”, “Nantucket Sleighride”, “The Great Train Robbery”) 1971

NaturallyJ.J. Cale(“Call Me the Breeze”, “Crazy Mama”, “After Midnight”) 1971

Never a Dull MomentRod Stewart (“You Wear It Well”, “Twisting the Night Away”, “Los Paraguayos”) 1972

New York DollsThe New York Dolls (“Personality Crisis”, “Vietnamese Baby”, “Frankenstein”) 1973

Night MovesBob Seger (“Night Moves”, “Fire Down Below”, “Ship of Fools”) 1976

Not FragileBachman Turner Overdrive (“Blue Moanin’”, “Roll On Down the Highway”, “Second Hand”) 1974

Nothin’ But the Blues: Johnny Winter (“TV Mama”, “Mad Blues”, “Tired of Tryin’”) 1977

Nuthin’ FancyLynyrd Skynyrd (“Saturday Night Special”, “Am I Losin’”, “Railroad Song”) 1975

Obsession: UFO (“One More for the Rodeo”, “Only You Can Rock Me”, “Hot ‘n’ Ready”) 1978

OkieJ.J. Cale (“Cajun Moon”, “I’ll Be There If You Ever Want Me”, “Anyway the Wind Blows”) 1974

On the BeachNeil Young (“Walk On”, “For the Turnstiles”, “Revolution Blues”) 1974

On the BorderThe Eagles (“Already Gone”, “James Dean”, “Good Day in Hell”) 1974

One More From the Road: Lynyrd Skynyrd (“Call Me the Breeze”, “Crossroads”, “Searching”) 1976

Oneness–Silver Dreams, Golden RealityCarlos Santana (“Song for Devadip”, “Arise Awake”, “Oneness”) 1979

Oops! Wrong PlanetTodd Rundgren (“Love in Action”, “Love is the Answer”, “Trapped”) 1977

Open FireRonnie Montrose (“Town Without Pity”, “Heads Up”, “My Little Mystery”) 1978

OutlawsThe Outlaws (“Green Grass & High Tides”, “There Goes Another Love Song”, “Cry No More”) 1975

Outlandos d’AmourThe Police (“So Lonely”, “Roxanne”, “Can’t Stand Losing You”) 1978

Paper MoneyMontrose (“Underground”, “The Dreamer”, “I Got the Fire”) 1974

Parallel LinesBlondie (“Hanging on the Telephone”, “One Way or Another”, “Heart of Glass”) 1978

ParanoidBlack Sabbath (“War Pigs”, “Iron Man”, “Paranoid”) 1970

Pat TraversPat Travers (“Makes No Difference”, “Hot Rod Lincoln”, “As My Life Flies”) 1976

Peter GabrielPeter Gabriel (“Solsbury Hill”, “Slowburn”, “Here Comes the Flood”) 1977

PhenomenonUFO (“Doctor Doctor”, “Rock Bottom”, “Too Young to Know”) 1974

Photo-FinishRory Gallagher (“Shin Kicker”, “Cloak & Dagger”, “Shadow Play”) 1978

Physical GraffitiLed Zeppelin (“The Rover”, “In the Light”, “In My Time of Dying”) 1975

PowerageAC/DC (“Rock ‘n’ Roll Damnation”, “Sin City”, “Gone Shootin’”) 1978

Power in the DarknessThe Tom Robinson Band (“Up Against the Wall”, “Long Hot Summer”, “The Winter of ’79”) 1978

PresenceLed Zeppelin (“Achilles Last Stand”, “Nobody’s Fault But Mine”, “Tea For One”) 1976

Pretzel LogicSteely Dan (“Night By Night”, “Barrytown”, “Any Major Dude Will Tell You”) 1974

Pronounced ‘Leh-nerd Skin-nerd’Lynyrd Skynyrd (“I Ain’t the One”, “Poison Whiskey”, “Free Bird”) 1973

QuadropheniaThe Who (“The Real Me”, “5:15″, “Doctor Jimmy”) 1973

QueenQueen (“Keep Yourself Alive”, “Doing All Right”, “The Night Comes Down”) 1973

Queen 2Queen (“White Queen (As It Began)”, “Ogre Battle”, “The March of the Black Queen”) 1974

Rainbow RisingRainbow (“A Light in the Black”, “Tarot Woman”, “Stargazer”) 1976

RazamanazNazareth (“Razamanaz”, “Woke Up This Morning”, “Bad Bad Boy”) 1973

Reggatta de BlancThe Police (“Message in a Bottle”, “Bring on the Night”, “Walking on the Moon”) 1979

Rio Grande MudZZ Top (“Francine”, “Just Got Paid”, “Ko Ko Blue”) 1972

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from MarsDavid Bowie (“Ziggy Stardust”, “Moonage Daydream”, “Hang on to Yourself”) 1972

Ritchie Blackmore’s RainbowRainbow (“Man on the Silver Mountain”, “Black Sheep of the Family”, “Sixteenth Century Greensleeves”) 1975

Rock & Roll Music to the WorldTen Years After (“You Give Me Loving”, “Choo Choo Mama”, “Tomorrow I’ll Be Out of Town”) 1972

Rock n Roll AnimalLou Reed (“White Light/White Heat”, “Rock ‘n’ Roll”, “Sweet Jane”) 1974

RocksAerosmith (“Back in the Saddle”, “Lick and a Promise”, “Sick as a Dog”) 1976

Rory GallagherRory Gallagher (“Laundromat”, “Sinner Boy”, “I Fall Apart”) 1971

Roy BuchananRoy Buchanan (“Sweet Dreams”, “The Messiah Will Come Again”, “John’s Blues”) 1972

The Royal ScamSteely Dan (“Kid Charlemagne”, “Don’t Take Me Alive”, “The Fez”) 1976

RumoursFleetwood Mac (“Go Your Own Way”, “Dreams”, “The Chain”) 1977

Run With the PackBad Company (“Honey Child”, “Silver, Blue & Gold”, “Sweet Lil’ Sister”) 1976

RushRush (“Finding My Way”, “In the Mood”, “Working Man”) 1974

Rust Never SleepsNeil Young & Crazy Horse (“Powderfinger”, “Pocahontas”, “My My, Hey Hey [Out of the Blue]”) 1979

Sabbath Bloody SabbathBlack Sabbath (“Sabbra Cadabra”, “Killing Yourself to Live”, “Looking for Today”) 1973

Saints & SinnersJohnny Winter (“Stone County”, “Boney Moronie”, “Feedback on Highway 101″) 1974

School’s OutAlice Cooper (“School’s Out”, “Looney Tune”, “Public Animal #9) 1972

Second HelpingLynyrd Skynyrd (“Don’t Ask Me No Questions”, “The Needle and the Spoon”, “Call Me the Breeze”) 1974

Secret TreatiesBlue Oyster Cult (“Career of Evil”, “ME262″, “Astronomy”) 1974

Selling England By the PoundGenesis (“I Know What I Like [In Your Wardrobe]”, “Firth of Fifth”, “The Cinema Show”) 1973

SevenBob Seger (“Get Outta Denver”, “Long Song Comin’”, “Schoolteacher”) 1974

SirenRoxy Music (“Love Is the Drug”, “Both Ends Burning”, “She Sells”) 1975

Slayed?Slade (“How D’You Ride”, “Gudbuy T’Jane”, “Mama Weer All Crazee Now”) 1972

The SliderT-Rex (“Rock On”, “Telegram Sam”, “Baby Boomerang”) 1972

SlowhandEric Clapton (“Wonderful Tonight”, “Lay Down Sally”, “Cocaine”) 1977

Smokin’Humble Pie (“30 Days in the Hole”, “Hot ‘N’ Nasty”, “C’mon Everybody”) 1972

Some GirlsThe Rolling Stones (“When the Whip Comes Down”, “Respectable”, “Shattered”) 1978

Songs in the Key of LifeStevie Wonder (“Love’s in Need of Love Today”, “Isn’t She Lovely”, “Another Star”) 1976

SpectresBlue Oyster Cult (“Golden Age of Leather”, “Searching for Celine”, “Fireworks”) 1977

Station to StationDavid Bowie (“Station to Station”, “Wild is the Wind”, “TVC 15″) 1976

StarzStarz (“Live Wire”, “Over and Over”, “Detroit Girls”) 1976

Stick to MeGraham Parker and the Rumour (“I’m Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down”, “Heat in Harlem”, “Stick to Me”) 1977

Sticky FingersThe Rolling Stones (“Brown Sugar”, “Dead Flowers”, “Bitch”) 1971

Still Alive and WellJohnny Winter (“Can’t You Feel It”, “All Tore Down”, “Still Alive and Well”) 1973

Straight ShooterBad Company (“Good Lovin’ Gone Bad”, “Deal With the Preacher:”, “Feel Like Making Love”) 1975

Straight UpBadfinger (“Baby Blue”, “Day After Day”, “Suitcase”) 1971

Stranger in TownBob Seger (“Still the Same”, “Till it Shines”, “Feel Like a Number”) 1978

Strangers in the NightUFO (“Doctor Doctor”, “Lights Out”, “Rock Bottom”) 1979

Street SurvivorsLynyrd Skynyrd (“That Smell”, “I Know a Little”, “You Got that Right”) 1977

StormbringerDeep Purple (“”Lady Double Dealer”, “The Gypsy”, “Soldier of Fortune”) 1974

StrikesBlackfoot (“I Got a Line on You”, “Wishing Well”, “Train, Train”) 1979

Sunburst FinishBe-Bop Deluxe (“Sleep That Burns”, “Ships in the Night”, “Blazing Apostles”) 1976

Talking BookStevie Wonder (“You Are the Sunshine of My Life”, “You’ve Got it Bad Girl”, “Superstition”) 1972

TanxT-Rex (“Rapids”, “Electric Slim and the Factory Hen”, “The Street and Babe Shadow”) 1973

TapestryCarole King (“I Feel the Earth Move”, “It’s Too Late”, “So Far Away”) 1971

TattooRory Gallagher (“Tattoo’d Lady”, “Who’s That Coming”, “A Million Miles Away”) 1973

TeaserTommy Bolin (“Dreamer”, “Wild Dogs”, “Savannah Woman”) 1975

Ted NugentTed Nugent (“Stormtroopin’”, “Snakeskin Cowboys”, “Just What the Doctor Ordered”) 1975

Tejas: ZZ Top (“Pan Am Highway Blues”, “Ten Dollar Man”, “She’s a Heartbreaker”) 1976

There’s the RubWishbone Ash (“Persephone”, “Don’t Come Back”, “F.U.B.B.”) 1974

They Only Come Out a NightThe Edgar Winter Group (“Free Ride”, “Frankenstein”, “Round and Round”) 1972

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (“Breakdown”, “American Girl”, “Anything That’s Rock and Roll”) 1976

Tonight’s the NightNeil Young (“Tonight’s the Night”, “Tired Eyes”, “World on a String”) 1975

Too Much Too SoonThe New York Dolls (“Babylon”, “Who Are the Mystery Girls?”, “Human Being”) 1974

Top PriorityRory Gallagher (“Follow Me”, “Wayward Child”, “Bad Penny”) 1979

Toulouse StreetThe Doobie Brothers (“Listen to the Music”, “Jesus Is Just Alright”, “Disciple”) 1972

Toys in the AtticAerosmith (“Sweet Emotion”, “No More No More”, “Walk This Way”) 1975

Tres HombresZZ Top (“Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers”, “Master of Sparks”, “Move Me on Down the Line”) 1973

2112Rush (“2112″, “A Passage to Bangkok”, “Something for Nothing”) 1976

Twice Removed From YesterdayRobin Trower (“I Can’t Wait Much Longer”, “Man of the World”, “Twice Removed From Yesterday”) 1973

Twin PeaksMountain (“Never in My Life”, “Nantucket Sleighride”, “Mississippi Queen”) 1974

Tyranny and MutationBlue Oyster Cult (“O.D.’d on Life Itself”, “Hot Rails to Hell”, “Baby Ice Dog”) 1973

You’re Never Alone with a ShizophrenicIan Hunter (“Just Another Night”, “Cleveland Rocks”, “Bastard”) 1979

Vagabonds of the Western WorldThin Lizzy (“Slow Blues”, “The Rocker”, “Little Girl in Bloom”) 1973

Van HalenVan Halen (“Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love”, “Eruption”, “Little Dreamer”) 1978

Van Halen IIVan Halen (“Dance the Night Away”, “D.O.A.”, “Beautiful Girls”) 1979

Venus and MarsPaul McCartney & Wings (“Rock Show”, “Letting Go”, “Medicine Jar”) 1975

Vol. 4Black Sabbath (“Supernaut”, “Snowblind”, “Tomorrow’s Dream”) 1972

The WallPink Floyd (“In the Flesh?”, “Another Brick in the Wall Part 1″, “Comfortably Numb”) 1979

Warren ZevonWarren Zevon (“Frank and Jesse James”, “Hasten Down the Wind”, “Poor Poor Pitiful Me”) 1976

What Were Once Vices Are Now HabitsThe Doobie Brothers (“Black Water” “Eyes of Silver”, “Another Park, Another Sunday”) 1974

White, Hot and BlueJohnny Winter (“Divin’ Duck Blues”, “E.Z. Rider”, “Messin’ WIth the Kid”) 1978

The Who By NumbersThe Who (“Slip Kid”, “Squeeze Box”, “How Many Friends”) 1975

Who’s NextThe Who (“Going Mobile”, “Behind Blue Eyes”, “Won’t Get Fooled Again”) 1971

Wired: Jeff Beck (“Come Dancing”, “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat”, “Blue Wind”) 1976

Wishbone AshWishbone Ash (“Blind Eye”, “Lady Whiskey”, “Phoenix”) 1970

Wish You Were HerePink Floyd (“Shine On You Crazy Diamond”, “Welcome to the Machine”, “Wish You Were Here”) 1975

Workingman’s DeadThe Grateful Dead (“Uncle John’s Band”, “New Speedway Boogie”, “Casey Jones”) 1970

The Yes AlbumYes (“Yours Is No Disgrace”, “Starship Trooper”, “I’ve Seen All Good People”) 1971

Young AmericansDavid Bowie (“Young Americans”, “Fascination”, “Fame”) 1975

You’re Gonna Get ItTom Petty and the Heartbreakers (“When the Time Comes”, “Magnolia”, “Listen to Her Heart”) 1978

ZumaNeil Young & Crazy Horse (“Don’t Cry No Tears”, “Cortez the Killer”, “Lookin’ For a Love”) 1975

ZZ Top’s First AlbumZZ Top (“Brown Sugar”, “Goin’ Down to Mexico”, “Certified Blues”) 1971

Did I leave any out?

15 thoughts on “The Newt’s 300 Best Rock Albums of the 1970s

  1. Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush – What’s Next, Roy Buchanan – Loading Zone and Bugs Henderson – At Last… to name a few!

  2. Wow – Khe Sanh didn’t make your top three off “Cold Chisel”. It’s virtually a national anthem here in Oz. And only one Jethro Tull album? Their folk rock albums from 75-79 were, while hardly mainstream, very good.

  3. Sabotage-Black Sabbath, On Your Feet On Your Knees-Blue Oyster Cult, Some Enchanted Evening-Blue Oyster Cult, Night In The Ruts-Aerosmith, Double Live Gonzo-Ted Nugent, Free For All-Ted Nugent, Call Of The Wild-Ted Nugent & Amboy Dukes, Tooth, Fang & Claw-Ted Nugent & Amboy Dukes, Midnight Lightning-Jimi Hendrix, Rainbow Bridge-Jimi Hendrix, Crash Landing-Jimi Hendrix

  4. You can hate Kiss but it was Frampton and KISS that made all the other groups release live albums, thier contribution can not be overstated and to ignore them is wrong. Was surprised to see Starz and happy to see UFO.

  5. Alice Cooper had two left out here-Welcome To My Nightmare and in my opinion his best album, From the Inside. Sabotage-Black Sabbath definitely belongs. The Scorpions had three or four as well.

  6. Can’t believe Rampant by Nazareth isn’t on there, no Mahogany Rush, there are way too many great ones to leave it at 300!! Good job though, I have 60-70% of the albums on that list in my collection.

  7. Where is Little Feat? Waiting for Columbus may be the best live album of all time. Plus Dixie Chicken, Time Loves a Hero, Feats Don’t Fail Me Now, Sailing Shoes, and their eponymous album.

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