The best rock albums of the 1970s

Sire
The best rock albums of the 1970s
Black and white image of the Ramones.
A&M Records
#50. ‘Tapestry’ by Carole King
Carole King seated next to a cat near a porthole.
SCS
#49. “The Stranger” by Billy Joel
Billy Joel in a bed next to a mask on a pillow.
Atlantic
#48. ‘Fragile’ by Yes
Abstract drawing of earth from space with rising trees and plants.
Apple Folders
#47. The Beatles’ “Let It Be”
Individual square images from each Beatles show.
Sire
#46. ‘Ramones’ by Ramones
Black and white image of the Ramones.
Charisma
#45. “The Lamb Lays Down on Broadway” by Genesis
A white cover with three separate black and white images of shirtless men standing in a waterfall, sitting in a chair and looking at the other images on the page.
Cover records
#44. “On the Beach” by Neil Young
Neil Young standing on the beach in a yellow blazer staring at the ocean and everything on the beach is also yellow, including a table and chairs with an umbrella.
DJM discs
#43. “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” by Elton John
A cartoon of Elton John wearing platform ruby slippers and walking into a brick wall where the yellow brick road begins and leads to Oz.
Electra
#42. Stooges ‘Fun House’
A distorted red image of a man and a woman passing each other.
Fancy
#41. ‘Cosmo’s Factory’ by Creedence Clearwater Revival
CCR seated in a room near instruments and a man on a bicycle.
SCS
#40. “Darkness on the Edge of Town” by Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen standing in front of blinds and floral wallpaper.
Electra
#39. ‘LA Woman’ by the doors
Black and white image of The Doors with brown frame.
Arista
#38. “Horses” by Patti Smith
Black and white image of Patti Smith.
ABC records
#37. “Aja” by Steely Dan
Black cover with a faint image of a person’s face visible through.
Warner Bros Records
#36. “Moondance” by Van Morrison
Reel of photos of various Van Morrison close-ups.
Atlantic
#35. ‘Led Zeppelin III’ by Led Zeppelin
White cover dotted with tiny images of butterflies etc.
Track record
#34. ‘Quadrophenia’ by The Who
Black and white image of a man on a back scooter with images of the band members’ faces in each rear view mirror of the bike.
Island Records
#33. Red by King Crimson
Black cover with images of each band member in white.
United Artists Records
#32. ‘Tago Mago’ by Can
An abstract drawing of a head with brain showing
Harvest
#31. “Meddle” by Pink Floyd
A photo image of an ear, underwater, picking up sound waves (represented by ripples in the water).
Apple Folders
#30. ‘John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band’ by John Lennon
John Lennon and Yoko Ono seated under a tree.
RCA
#29. “Transformer” by Lou Reed
Black cover with an outline of Lou Reed’s face in white.
Virgin
#28. ‘Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols’ by Sex Pistols
Yellow cover with pink writing at the bottom and black at the top.
Apple Folders
#27. “All Must Pass” by George Harrison
George Harrison sits in a chair in a field surrounded by gnome-like figures lying on the ground.
RCA
#26. From Station to Station by David Bowie
David Bowie looks through a hole in a wall.
Cover records
#25. ‘Harvest’ by Neil Young
Beige cover with an orange moon behind the album and the name of the artist.
swan song
#24. “Physical Graffiti” by Led Zeppelin
Old image of a tall building with each of the letters of the album name written in red in a window of the building.
Atlantic
#23. “Houses of the Saint” by Led Zeppelin
Naked children climbing on stones on a hill.
NDE
#22. Queen’s “A Night at the Opera”
A colored semicircle with a swan, two lions and fairies.
Atlantic
#21. ‘Close to the Edge’ by Yes
Green cover.
Cover records
#20. “After the Gold Rush” by Neil Young
Black and white image of Neil Young walking.
Cover records
#19. “Blue” by Joni Mitchell
Dark blue close-up of Joni Mitchell.
Colombia
#18. “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen
Black and white image of Bruce Springsteen standing with his guitar.
fear of heights
#17. “Paranoid” by Black Sabbath
A blurred man in a short neon suit with a helmet and a sword.
Rolling Stones Records
#16. The Rolling Stones “Sticky Fingers”
A black and white close up of the zipper on blue jeans.
Victor
#15. “Low” by David Bowie
Side profile of David Bowie with orange background.
Electra
#14. ‘Marquee Moon’ by TV
Photo of a group standing in a V with a black border.
RCAVictor
#13. ‘Hunky Dory’ by David Bowie
David Bowie looking up holding his head.
Rolling Stones Records
#12. ‘Exile on Main St.’ by the Rolling Stones
Collage of black and white photos.
Colombia
#11. “Blood on the Rails” by Bob Dylan
Abstract blurred profile view of Bob Dylan with shaggy hair.
Track record
#ten. ‘Who’s Next’ by The Who
The Who standing in front of a large rectangular stone.
Harvest
#9. Pink Floyd “Animals”
Dark image of a factory.
Plant
#8. Joy Division’s “Unknown Pleasures”
Black cover.
Harvest
#7. Pink Floyd’s “The Wall”
White brick wall with album name in the middle.
Warner Bros Records
#6. “Rumors” by Fleetwood Mac
Stevie Nicks and Mick Fleetwood hold hands and look ready to dance.
SCS
#5. “London Calling” by The Clash
Black and white image of band member slamming guitar on stage with pink and green writing to the side.
Atlantic
#4. “Led Zeppelin IV” by Led Zeppelin
Painting of an older man carrying a bundle of sticks on his back.
RCAVictor
#3. “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders of Mars” by David Bowie
Painting of David Bowie standing in a street with a guitar and one leg on a box.
Harvest
#2. “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd
Two men shaking hands, one of them on fire.
Harvest
#1. “Dark Side of the Moon” by Pink Floyd
Triangle with rainbow of light coming out from one side on black background.