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.