1970s Album Reviews

The 1970s are beloved by music nerds. Artists in various genres cranked out a 40-minute album every year. The late 1960s staked out the territory for many genres; the 1970s was when they were explored more fully.

Artists like Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder broke free from the Motown singles machine and made album-length statements. Solo geniuses like Joni Mitchell and David Bowie followed their own idiosyncratic paths through the decade. Monstrous rock bands like Led Zeppelin and Yes roamed the earth.

As a result, the 1970s are full of great records. I’ve covered a lot of 1970s acts, but there are plenty of omissions – Marvin Gaye, Black Sabbath, and Earth, Wind and Fire are among notable acts on my to-do list.

Note that there’s a separate punk and new wave section for acts like The Clash and Talking Heads.