That 70s List

I created this file in response to the 1970s list by Brad Luen. I've mostly followed Luen's rules, which include reverting to original releases (or at least to 1970s-vintage releases), and allowing compilations only if wholly contained and released within the decade. I did allow multiple albums from an artist (although the source list rarely went above 2 — the exceptions are Al Green with 3, and Neil Young with 5.

Luen reduced the Al Green problem by settling on Greatest Hits (1975), which in a later edition is the one I most often play these days. I've replaced many post-1970s compilations with original albums, or sometimes with earlier pre-1980 compilations. These are marked with *. I've also added a few albums (17?), marked +, that weren't in the 1,000 albums list. These include some of Luen's picks. (One such is Africa Dances, which I assume is eligible as Luen picked it, but I'm not sure the songs were recorded in the 1970s.)

I started by excerpting entries from my 1,000 Albums for a Long and Happy Life. I used grep/fgrep to compile a list of albums recorded in/released in the 1970s. I then went through the list, removed some items that violated the criteria above, and in some cases substituted alternate titles — e.g., when I initially picked a compilation, I went with an individual album, or sometimes an earlier compilation.

The listing is unranked, alphabetical by artist, then by year; except for Various Artists [VA] compilations at the end, which are alphabetized by title. * indicates a replacement album. + indicates an additional album (commented out from the 1000 album list, but which struck me as fully deserving to be included here).

It should be stressed that this is just an exercise, and not a serious attempt to create a decade list.

  • Air: Lore (1979, Novus) [jazz-60s]
  • Amazing Rhythm Aces: Stacked Deck (1975, ABC) [rock-70s]
  • Kevin Ayers: Whatevershebringswesing (1972, Harvest) [rock-60s]
  • Gato Barbieri: Chapter One: Latin America (1973, Impulse): * [jazz-60s]
  • The B-52's: The B-52's (1979, Warner Brothers) [rock-70s]
  • Jorge Ben: África Brasil (1976, Polygram): + [brazil]
  • Big Star: Radio City (1974, Ardent) [rock-70s]
  • Big Youth: Screaming Target (1973, Trojan/Sanctuary) [reggae]
  • Black Oak Arkansas: Black Oak Arkansas (1971, MCA) [rock-70s]
  • Blondie: Parallel Lines (1978, Chrysalis) [rock-70s]
  • Blue Oyster Cult: Agents of Fortune (1976, Columbia) [rock-70s]
  • Arthur Blythe: Lenox Avenue Breakdown (1978 [1998], Koch) [jazz-60s]
  • David Bowie: Hunky Dory (1971, Virgin) [rock-60s]
  • David Bowie: Station to Station (1976, Virgin) [rock-60s]
  • Anthony Braxton: Creative Orchestra Music 1976 (1976, Arista) [jazz-60s]
  • James Brown: Sex Machine (1970, Polydor): + [rock-50s]
  • Burning Spear: Harder Than the Best (1979, Mango): * [reggae]
  • The Buzzcocks: Singles Going Steady (1979, IRS): + [rock-70s]
  • John Cale: Paris 1919 (1973, Reprise) [rock-60s]
  • John Cale: Guts (1974-77 [1977], Island): * [rock-60s]
  • Robert Calvert: Lucky Leif and the Longships (1975, United Artists) [rock-70s]
  • Captain Beefheart: Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) (1978, Bizarre/Straight) [rock-60s]
  • The Clash: The Clash (1977, CBS [UK]) [rock-70s]
  • The Clash: London Calling (1979, Epic) [rock-70s]
  • Joe Cocker: Mad Dogs and Englishmen (1970, A&M) [rock-60s]
  • Ornette Coleman: Dancing in Your Head (1973-75 [1977], Verve) [jazz-40s]
  • Ornette Coleman: Of Human Feelings (1979, Antilles): + [jazz-40s]
  • Bootsy's Rubber Band: Stretchin' Out in Bootsy's Rubber Band (1976, Warner Brothers) [rock-70s]
  • Bootsy's Rubber Band: Ahh . . . The Name Is Bootsy, Baby! (1977, Warner Brothers) [rock-70s]
  • Jimmy Cliff: The Harder They Come (1972, Mango): + [reggae]
  • Alice Cooper: Greatest Hits (1971-73 [1974], Warner Brothers) [rock-60s]
  • Elvis Costello: Armed Forces (1979, Rykodisc) [rock-70s]
  • Count Ossie & Mystic Revelation of Rastafari: Tales of Mozambique (1975, Dynamic Sounds): + [reggae]
  • Creedence Clearwater Revival: Cosmo's Factory (1970, Fantasy) [rock-60s]
  • Culture: Two Sevens Clash (1977, Joe Gibbs): * [reggae]
  • Miles Davis: A Tribute to Jack Johnson (1970 [2005], Columbia/Legacy) [jazz-40s]
  • Miles Davis: Dark Magus: Live at Carnegie Hall (1974, Columbia) [jazz-40s]
  • Derek and the Dominos: Layla (1970, Polydor) [rock-70s]
  • Hazel Dickens/Alice Gerrard: Hazel and Alice (1973, Rounder) [bluegrass]
  • Vic Dickenson: Plays Bessie Smith: Trombone Cholly (1976, Gazell): + [jazz-40s]
  • The Dictators: Go Girl Crazy (1975, Epic) [rock-70s]
  • Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band: Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band (1976, RCA) [rock-70s]
  • Dr. John: Dr. John's Gumbo (1972, Atco) [rock-60s]
  • Ducks Deluxe: Taxi to the Terminal Zone (1975, RCA): * [rock-70s]
  • Earth, Wind & Fire: The Best of Earth Wind & Fire Vol. I (1978, Columbia): * [rock-70s]
  • Eastern Rebellion: Eastern Rebellion (1975, Timeless) [jazz-60s]
  • Dave Edmunds: Repeat When Necessary (1979, Swan Song) [rock-70s]
  • Joe Ely: Honky Tonk Masquerade (1978, MCA) [country]
  • Brian Eno: Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) (1974, EG) [rock-70s]
  • Brian Eno: Another Green World (1975, EG) [rock-70s]
  • John Fahey: Of Rivers and Religion (1972 [2001], Collectors' Choice) [folk]
  • John Fahey: After the Ball (1973 [2001], Collectors' Choice) [folk]
  • Marianne Faithfull: Broken English (1979, Island) [rock-60s]
  • Bryan Ferry: These Foolish Things (1973, Reprise) [rock-70s]
  • Fleetwood Mac: Rumours (1977, Reprise) [rock-60s]
  • Funkadelic: Let's Take It to the Stage (1975, Westbound) [rock-70s]
  • Gang of Four: Entertainment! (1979, Warner Brothers) [rock-70s]
  • Jan Garbarek/Bobo Stenson: Witchi-Tai-To (1973 [1974], ECM) [jazz-60s]
  • Al Green: I'm Still in Love With You (1972 [2003], Right Stuff/Hi) [rock-60s]
  • Al Green: Call Me (1973 [2004], The Right Stuff/Hi) [rock-60s]
  • Al Green: The Belle Album (1977, Motown) [rock-60s]
  • Tom T. Hall: In Search of a Song (1971, Mercury): + [country]
  • Hawkwind: Quark, Strangeness and Charm (1977, Sire) [rock-70s]
  • The Heartbreakers: L.A.M.F. (1977, Track Record) [rock-70s]
  • John Hiatt: Overcoats (1975, Epic) [rock-70s]
  • Earl Hines: Tour de Force (1972, Black Lion) [jazz-20s]
  • Dave Holland: Conference of the Birds (1972, ECM) [jazz-60s]
  • Hot Chocolate: 10 Greatest Hits (1974-76 [1977], Big Tree): * [rock-70s]
  • Freddie Hubbard: Straight Life (1970 [1997], CTI) [jazz-60s]
  • Michael Hurley/Unholy Modal Rounders/Jeffrey Frederick and the Clamtones: Have Moicy! (1976 [1991], Rounder) [folk]
  • Michael Jackson: Off the Wall (1979, Epic) [rock-70s]
  • Willis Jackson: Bar Wars (1977, Muse): + [jazz-40s]
  • Keith Jarrett: Belonging (1974, ECM) [jazz-60s]
  • Elton John: Greatest Hits (1970-74 [1974], Polydor): + [rock-60s]
  • Linton Kwesi Johnson: Forces of Victory (1979, Mango) [reggae]
  • Tom Johnson: An Hour for Piano (1979, Lovely Music) [avant]
  • Joy of Cooking: Joy of Cooking (1970, Capitol) [rock-70s]
  • Kraftwerk: Trans-Europe Express (1977, Capitol) [rock-70s]
  • Ronnie Lane & Slim Chance: One for the Road (1976, Island) [rock-70s]
  • Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin III (1970, Atlantic) [rock-60s]
  • Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin IV (1971, Atlantic) [rock-60s]
  • Lene Lovich: Stateless (1978, Stiff) [rock-70s]
  • John Lennon: John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band (1970, Capitol) [rock-70s]
  • John Lennon: Imagine (1971, Capitol) [rock-70s]
  • Nick Lowe: Pure Pop for Now People (1978, Columbia) [rock-70s]
  • Mahavishnu Orchestra: The Inner Mounting Flame (1971, Columbia) [jazz-60s]
  • Manfred Mann: Manfred Mann's Earth Band (1972, Polydor) [rock-60s]
  • Michael Mantler/Robert Wyatt: The Hapless Child and Other Inscrutable Stories (1975 [1976], Watt) [jazz-60s]
  • Bob Marley and the Wailers: Natty Dread (1974, Island) [reggae]
  • Hirth Martinez: Hirth from Earth (1975, Warner Brothers) [rock-70s]
  • Hirth Martinez: Big Bright Street (1977, Warner Brothers) [rock-70s]
  • Curtis Mayfield: Super Fly (1972, Curtom): + [rock-60s]
  • Kate and Anna McGarrigle: Kate and Anna McGarrigle (1976, Hannibal) [folk]
  • Kate and Anna McGarrigle: Dancer With Bruised Knees (1977, Hannibal) [folk]
  • Joe McPhee: Nation Time (1971, CjRecord) [jazz-60s] +
  • Charles McPherson: Beautiful! (1975, Xanadu) [jazz-60s]
  • Bette Midler: The Divine Miss M (1972, Atlantic) [rock-70s]
  • Charles Mingus: Mingus at Carnegie Hall (1974, Atlantic) [jazz-40s]
  • Charles Mingus: Changes One (1974, Atlantic): * [jazz-40s]
  • The Miracles: City of Angels (1975, Motown) [rock-70s]
  • Joni Mitchell: Blue (1971, Asylum): + [rock-60s]
  • Joni Mitchell: Court and Spark (1974, Asylum) [rock-60s]
  • The Modern Lovers: The Modern Lovers (1971 [1976], Rhino) [rock-70s]
  • Van Morrison: Moondance (1970, Warner Brothers) [rock-60s]
  • Van Morrison: Into the Music (1979, Warner Brothers) [rock-60s]
  • Mott the Hoople: Mott (1973, Columbia) [rock-60s]
  • Tracy Nelson: Mother Earth Presents Tracy Nelson Country (1970, Warner Brothers) [blues]
  • Willie Nelson: Stardust (1978 [1999], Columbia/Legacy) [country]
  • New York Dolls: New York Dolls (1973, Mercury) [rock-70s]
  • New York Dolls: In Too Much, Too Soon (1974, Mercury) [rock-70s]
  • Randy Newman: 12 Songs (1970, Reprise) [rock-60s]
  • Randy Newman: Good Old Boys (1974, Reprise) [rock-60s]
  • Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: Will the Circle Be Unbroken (1972, EMI) [folk]
  • Ohio Players: Gold (1976, Mercury): * [rock-60s]
  • Augustus Pablo: East of the River Nile (1977, Shanachie) [reggae]
  • Graham Parker: Howlin' Wind (1976, Mercury) [rock-70s]
  • Graham Parker: Heat Treatment (1976, Mercury) [rock-70s]
  • Parliament: Mothership Connection (1976, Casablanca): * [rock-70s]
  • Parliament: The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein (1976, Casablanca): * [rock-70s]
  • Gram Parsons: Grievous Angel (1973, Reprise): * [rock-60s]
  • Dolly Parton: The Best of Dolly Parton Vol. 2 (1971-75 [1975], RCA): + [country]
  • Annette Peacock: X-Dreams (1978, Aura): * [vocal-50]
  • Art Pepper: Living Legend (1975, Contemporary) [jazz-40s]
  • Art Pepper: Straight Life (1979, Galaxy) [jazz-40s]
  • Pere Ubu: The Modern Dance (1978, Blank) [rock-70s]
  • Pere Ubu: Dub Housing (1979, Chrysalis) [rock-70s]
  • Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon (1973 [1994], Capitol) [rock-60s]
  • Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here (1975 [1992], Capitol) [rock-60s]
  • Iggy Pop: Lust for Life (1977, Virgin): + [rock-70s]
  • John Prine: John Prine (1971, Atlantic): * [folk]
  • John Prine: Common Sense (1975, Atlantic): * [folk]
  • Dudu Pukwana & Spear: In the Townships (1973, Caroline) [jazz-60s]
  • Bonnie Raitt: Give It Up (1972, Warner Brothers) [rock-70s]
  • The Ramones: The Ramones (1976, Sire) [rock-70s]
  • The Ramones: Rocket to Russia (1977, Sire) [rock-70s]
  • The Raspberries: Starting Over (1974, Capitol) [rock-70s]
  • Lou Reed: Berlin (1973, RCA) [rock-70s]
  • Terry Riley: A Rainbow in Curved Air (1971, Columbia) [avant]
  • Tom Robinson: Power in the Darkness (1978, Razor & Tie) [rock-70s]
  • The Rolling Stones: Exile on Main Street (1972, Virgin) [rock-60s]
  • The Rolling Stones: Some Girls (1978, Virgin) [rock-60s]
  • Roxy Music: Stranded (1974, Reprise) [rock-70s]
  • Roxy Music: Country Life (1974, Reprise) [rock-70s]
  • Roswell Rudd: Flexible Flyer (1975, Arista/Freedom) [jazz-60s]
  • Todd Rundgren: Something / Anything? (1972, Bearsville) [rock-70s]
  • Jimmy Rushing: The You and Me That Used to Be (1971, RCA) [vocal-20]
  • Leon Russell: Leon Russell (1970, Capitol) [rock-70s]
  • Brinsley Schwarz: New Favourites of Brinsley Schwarz (19774, United Artists) [rock-70s]
  • Bob Seger: Night Moves (1976, Capitol) [rock-60s]
  • Sex Pistols: Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols (1977, Warner Brothers) [rock-70s]
  • Archie Shepp/Horace Parlan: Goin' Home (1977, Steeplechase) [jazz-60s]
  • Silver Convention: Love in a Sleeper (1978, MCA) [rock-70s]
  • Paul Simon: Paul Simon (1972, Warner Brothers) [rock-70s]
  • Zoot Sims: Zoot Sims and the Gershwin Brothers (1975, Pablo) [jazz-40s]
  • The Slits: Cut (1979, Antilles) [rock-70s]
  • Sly and the Family Stone: There's a Riot Goin' On (1971, Epic) [rock-60s]
  • Patti Smith: Horses (1975, Arista) [rock-70s]
  • Steely Dan: Pretzel Logic (1974, MCA) [rock-70s]
  • Steely Dan: Katy Lied (1975, MCA) [rock-70s]
  • Gary Stewart: Out of Hand (1975, RCA) [country]
  • Rod Stewart: Every Picture Tells a Story (1971, Mercury) [rock-60s]
  • Sonny Stitt: Tune-Up! (1972, Cobblestone) [jazz-40s]
  • The Stooges: Raw Power (1973, Columbia) [rock-60s]
  • Donna Summer: Bad Girls (1979, Casablanca) [rock-70s]
  • Swamp Dogg: Total Destruction to Your Mind (1970, Canyon) [rock-60s]
  • Talking Heads: More Songs About Buildings and Food (1978, Sire) [rock-70s]
  • James Talley: Got No Bread, No Milk, No Money, But We Sure Got a Lot of Love (1975, Capitol) [country]
  • Cecil Taylor: One Too Many Salty Swift and Not Goodbye (1978, Hat Art) [jazz-40s]
  • Hound Dog Taylor: Hound Dog Taylor and the Houserockers (1971, Alligator): * [blues]
  • Television: Marquee Moon (1977 [2003], Elektra/Rhino) [rock-70s]
  • Richard and Linda Thompson: Pour Down Like Silver (1975, Island): + [celtic]
  • Johnny Thunders: So Alone (1978, Warner Brothers) [rock-70s]
  • Toots and the Maytals: Funky Kingston (1973, Mango) [reggae]
  • Pete Townshend/Ronnie Lane: Rough Mix (1977, Atco) [rock-70s]
  • The Velvet Underground: Loaded (1970, Warner Brothers) [rock-60s]
  • The Vibrators: Pure Mania (1977, Columbia) [rock-70s]
  • Loudon Wainwright III: Unrequited (1975 [1998], Columbia/Legacy) [folk]
  • Muddy Waters: Hard Again (1977, Blue Sky) [blues]
  • Kurt Weill: Threepenny Opera: Original Cast Recording -- New York Shakespeare Festival Production (1976, Columbia) [classical]
  • Barry White: Barry White's Greatest Hits (1973-75 [1975], Casablanca): * [rock-70s]
  • The Who: Who's Next (1971, MCA) [rock-60s]
  • The Wild Magnolias: The Wild Magnolias (1974, Polygram) [rock-70s]
  • The Wild Tchoupitoulas: The Wild Tchoupitoulas (1976, Island) [rock-70s]
  • Tony Wilson: I Like Your Style (1976, Bearsville) [rock-70s]
  • Wire: Pink Flag (1977-79, Enigma): * [rock-70s]
  • Bill Withers: Still Bill (1972 [2003], Columbia/Legacy) [rock-70s]
  • Stevie Wonder: Innervisions (1973, Motown) [rock-60s]
  • Stevie Wonder: Fulfillingness' First Finale (1974, Motown) [rock-60s]
  • Robert Wyatt: Ruth Is Stranger than Richard (1975, Caroline) [rock-70s]
  • X-Ray Spex: Germ Free Adolescents (1978, Blue Plate): * [rock-70s]
  • Neil Young: After the Goldrush (1970, Reprise) [rock-60s]
  • Neil Young: On the Beach (1974, Reprise) [rock-60s]
  • Neil Young: Tonight's the Night (1975, Reprise) [rock-60s]
  • Neil Young: Comes a Time (1978, Reprise) [rock-60s]
  • Neil Young: Rust Never Sleeps (1979, Reprise) [rock-60s]
  • Warren Zevon: Excitable Boy (1978, Asylum) [rock-70s]
  • ZZ Top: Deguello (1979, Warner Brothers) [rock-70s]
  • [VA]: Africa Dances (1972, Original): + [african]

I dropped several compilations (*replaced by alternate albums): Gato Barbieri*, Cedric Im Brooks, Burning Spear*, Charlie Burton, John Cale*, Ducks Deluxe*, Earth Wind & Fire*, Dave Edmunds*, Etoile de Dakar, Funkadelic*, The Gap Band, The Go-Betweens, Holy Modal Rounders, Hot Chocolate*, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Larry Levan, Bob Marley*, Marian McPartland, Charles Mingus*, Mott the Hoople*, Youssou N'Dour, Niney and Friends, Ohio Players*, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Parliament*, Annette Peacock, Art Pepper, The Police, John Prine*, Tabu Ley Rochereau, Sonny Rollins, Brinsley Schwarz*, Shalamar, Squeeze, Ralph Stanley, Donna Summer*, Hound Dog Taylor, Koko Taylor, Bunny Wailer, Papa Wemba, Barry White*, The Wild Magnolias*, Don Williams, Mary Lou Williams, Wire*, X-Ray Spex*, Warren Zevon. In some cases I replaced "twofer" albums with one or both originals. In some cases I switched to earlier compilations. I reverted to earlier editions of some albums (didn't keep track, but Culture was one; also Joe Cocker and Jimmy Cliff, which I had in extended Deluxe Editions).

Some other artists who would (or could) have been represented by compilations but they didn't quite fit the criteria: King Sunny Adé, Johnny Cash, Chic, Ian Dury, Franco, Marvin Gaye, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Fela Kuti, Loretta Lynn, Taj Mahal, Ann Peebles, Professor Longhair, Rochereau.

Total number of albums listed: 198.