LAYMAN'S FIFTY BEST ALBUMS OF THE 70S

I'm a fan of www.pitchforkmedia.com, an opinionated and well-written web site that reviews new recordings from the world you might call "independent" rock. While I don't agree with them even half the time, the site is a great place to learn about new music that stands well outside of today's mostly-horrible Top 40.

Their recent feature "Best Albums of the 70s" fascinated me, as that much-maligned musical decade is the one on which I cut my chops.

So, here's my list of the Fifty Best Albums of the 70s. Write to me (WillLayman@comcast.net) to argue about it — because that's where it gets fun!

I have made no attempt to reach out to other cultures – no Afro-beat, no Brazilian music, no Indian ragas – or other forms of American music (no jazz, no bluegrass, etc). All the music on this list is either rock (by which I mean American popular music of the day) or music that was directly combined with rock in an integral way. For example, the “jazz fusion” on here is considered integral to rock, and the reggae was both a huge influence on rock as well as, arguably, a subcategory of rock.

I’ve made no attempt to include albums I don’t know anything about, though many of these are albums I know but don’t own.

1. Television: Marquee Moon (Elektra, 1977)

2. Bob Dylan: Blood on the Tracks (Columbia, 1974)

3. Elvis Costello: This Year’s Model

4. Bruce Springsteen: Born to Run (Columbia, 1975)

5. Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life

6. Marvin Gaye: Let’s Get It On

7. The Who: Who's Next (MCA. 1971)

8. The Rolling Stones: Exile on Main Street

9. James Brown: Sex Machine (Polydor, 1970)

10. The Stooges: Raw Power

11. Sly & the Family Stone: There’s a Riot Going On

12. The Clash: London Calling

13. The Ramones: The Ramones (1976)

14. Miles Davis: Bitches Brew (Columbia, 1970)

15. The Sex Pistols: Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols (Warner Bros., 1977)

16. Joni Mitchell: Hejira (Arista, 1975)

17. Curtis Mayfield: Superfly

18. The Band: Rock of Ages (1972)

19. Steely Dan: Katy Lied

20. Led Zeppelin: IV (Atlantic)

21. Van Morrison: Moondance

22. Neil Young: After the Gold Rush (Reprise, 1970)

23. Jimmy Cliff: The Harder They Come

24. Paul Simon: There Goes Rhymin’ Simon (Warner Bros. 1973)

25. John Lennon: Plastic Ono Band

26. Parliament: Mothership Connection (Casablanca, 1976)

27. Joe Jackson: Look Sharp

28. Frank Zappa: Overnite Sensation

29. The Allman Brothers Band: Eat a Peach (Polydor, 1972)

30. Derek and the Dominoes: Layla

31. Stevie Wonder: Innervisions (Motown, 1973)

32. David Bowie: Heroes (Virgin, 1977)

33. Elvis Costello: My Aim Is True (Rykodisc, 1977)

34. Aretha Franklin: Spirit in the Dark

35. Mahavishnu John McLaughlin/Carlos Santana: Love, Devotion, Surrender (Columbia, 1972?)

36. Randy Newman: Sail Away

37. Al Green: Call Me (The Right, 1973)

38. George Harrison: All Things Must Pass (Capitol, 1970)

39. Marvin Gaye: What's Going On (Motown, 1971)

40. Richard Hell & the Voidoids: Blank Generation (Sire, 1977)

41. Elton John: Madman Across the Water (Polygram, 1973)

42. Bruce Springsteen: Darkness on the Edge of Town (Columbia)

43. Funkadelic: Maggot Brain

44. Carole King: Tapestry (Epic/Legacy, 1971)

45. Bob Marley & the Wailers: Catch A Fire (Tuff Gong, 1973)

46. Joni Mitchell: Court and Spark (Asylum, 1974)

47. Beatles: Let It Be

48. Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon

49. Talking Heads: Talking Heads: 77 (Sire, 1977)

50. The Modern Lovers: The Modern Lovers

Are you upset? Do you want to get in your two cents? E-mail me at WillLayman@comcast.net