My Favorite Albums of the 1970s
- Ella Schnoor
- Sep 25, 2020
- 4 min read
Included with this post is a playlist that gives a comprehensive taste of ‘70s music, as well as my music taste, with my favorite songs from each of these albums. You can access the playlist by clicking the photo below.
1970 - Led Zeppelin III, Led Zeppelin
The turn of the decade meant a turn in Zeppelin’s music style, as Led Zeppelin III includes more folk-like, acoustic elements than the classic rock style of their first two albums.¹ Continuing with Zeppelin’s previously popular sound, “Immigrant Song”, a rock song in all aspects, is still one of their most popular songs. When I was fourteen, this was my favorite album, as the listening aesthetic fit with all I wanted to be in my early teen-hood- both a soft hippie as well as a rebellious rocker. Did I succeed? No, but Led Zeppelin did.
1971- Meddle, Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd is a progressive rock group that was not afraid to break musical barriers with their own turbulent style of improv.² Known for their psychedelic sounds that were executed through the pure musicianship of the band, Pink Floyd albums make you feel something, and Meddle is no exception. As my first introduction to them was through their song “Fearless”, which is one of my mom’s lifetime favorites, Meddle stays in my heart and on this list.
1972 - Still Bill, Bill Withers
Not only is Still Bill the best album of 1972 but it’s also one of the best soul albums ever. As Rolling Stone Magazine put it shortly after its release, it is “a stone-soul masterpiece.”³ With Bill Withers passing away this year, this album has been on repeat, bringing nostalgia within me for all of the moments of life I’ve experienced with the music of Bill Withers in the background. The magazine knew then what we know now, the talent of Bill Withers will never fade, especially not when Still Bill exists.
1973 - In the Right Place, Dr. John
This wouldn’t be a favorites list for me without including some New Orleans style rhythm and blues. In the Right Place is what brought Dr. John into fame with the hit song "Right Place Wrong Time", and there is no guessing why. Produced by New Orleans legend Allen Toussaint and backed by The Meters, there was no way Dr. John wasn’t about to make a musical masterpiece of all that is New Orleans- funk and R&B.⁴
1974 - Roxy & Elsewhere, Zappa
Frank Zappa put out a LOT of albums in the 1970s and to pick a favorite is tough, but this live recording of Zappa and his band, The Mothers, wins for me. Zappa’s music spans many styles, with Roxy & Elsewhere being a collection of tunes that leans towards the more avant-garde.⁵ Zappa’s 1970 album Chunga’s Revenge is a more accurate representation of 70s-style music, however, Roxy & Elsewhere is quintessential Zappa.
1975 - The Basement Tapes, Bob Dylan & The Band
Bob Dylan and The Band- I feel like that’s all I really need to say to describe the wonder that is The Basement Tapes. The Band as we know it today started as back-up for Bob Dylan, and this album is a collection of songs they recorded through five-months in 1967. The Basement Tapes are a neat piece of music history performed by some very influential musicians.⁶
1976 - The Royal Scam, Steely Dan
The Royal Scam is my favorite album ever from my favorite musical collaboration ever- Steely Dan. Is it the quintessential Steely Dan album that not only highlights founders Becker and Fagen’s songwriting abilities but also showcases their audiophile tendencies. This is an album I’ve listened through more times than I can count, and I’ll never get enough.
1977 - Animals, Pink Floyd
Animals is a five-track record with only three songs spanning longer than two minutes, but what Animals lacks in length, it makes up for in quite literally all aspects. This is the record I reach for when I’m feeling closed off to the world and want to access my emotions. It’s both heavy lyrically, making references to politics that still hold meaning today, and heavy in instrumentation.⁷ Animals is effective in making you reflect upon yourself and the world. Plus, it was released on January 23rd, which is my birthday!
1978 - Waiting For Columbus, Little Feat
Waiting For Columbus is a live album, and although it isn’t perfectly recorded nor engineered, there is no doubt that it upholds high listening standards. It includes many of Little Feat’s best songs and was the last Little Feat album released before singer Lowell George’s death.⁸ It’s special in that it showcases the band’s spirit and passion for rock as well as their continued influence on the genre.
1979 - Breakfast in America, Supertramp
This album is Supertramp’s most popular album with three of its songs reaching the top twenty charts after its release.⁹ Breakfast in America is one of my favorite albums because of its high-quality lyrics and musicality. My favorite part is the frequent use of a Wurlitzer electric piano as the main instrument, while most progressive rock groups are usually guitar-tone focused.¹⁰ To me, the sound of a Wurlitzer is one of my favorite elements of ‘70s music.
¹Lewis, D. (2014, June 2). 25 things you didn’t know about Led Zeppelin III. Louder Sound.
²Remember a Day? Pink Floyd. https://www.pinkfloyd.com/history/biography.php
³Biography. The Official Site of Bill Withers Music. https://billwithers.com/biography/
⁴Deriso, N. (2018, February 25). How Dr. John Got Focused, Then Famous on ‘In the Right
Place’. Ultimate Classic Rock. https://ultimateclassicrock.com/dr-john-in-the-right-place/
⁵Frank Zappa Biography. Biography. https://www.biography.com/musician/frank-zappa
⁶The Basement Tapes. Bob Dylan. http://www.bobdylan.com/albums/basement-tapes/
⁷Melamed, D. (2020, January 23). The Message of Pink Floyd’s ‘Animals’ Still Resonates 43
Years Later. Live for Live Music. https://liveforlivemusic.com/news/pink-floyd-animals-43-years-later/
⁸Guarriello, J. (2015, August 28). User Reviews. All Music.
⁹Supertramp. Spotify.
¹⁰Breakfast in America. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakfast_in_America
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