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.
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As a young aphorism, ABBA were one of the first…
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Syd Barrett was the creative force behind the original Pink…
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Formed around former Box Tops lead singer Alex Chilton and…
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Karla Bonoff was born in Santa Monica, California. She played…
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Born David Jones, and changing his name to avoid confusion…
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Jackson Browne is the archetypal 1970s singer-songwriter. From California, he…
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English folk-singer Vashti Bunyan has enjoyed a unique career trajectory,…
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While his former Velvet Underground bandmate Lou Reed enjoyed a…
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The experimental band Can were formed in Cologne in 1968.…
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David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash all started their…
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After recording 1969’s landmark folk-rock album Liege & Lief, Fairport…
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A gentle-sounding English folk-artist, Nick Drake hardly made a ripple…
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The Eagles achieved stratospheric success in the 1970s, effectively bridging…
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Brian Eno started his musical career as a member of…
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Fleetwood Mac formed as a blues band in 1967, when…
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In the mid-1980s, Genesis and its spin-off projects – Phil…
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Emmylou Harris started as a folkie – born in Alabama,…
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As he helpfully informs us in his song ‘Leningrad’, Billy…
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Sir Elton Hercules John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight, in…
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Born in Kent, Nic Jones grew up listening to Ray…
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Born Carol Klein, Carole King was the most successful female…
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Originating from an unsuccessful 1968 album, The Cheerful Insanity of…
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Düsseldorf’s Kraftwerk helped to popularise electronic music in the 1970s.…
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Led Zeppelin was hastily formed by Yardbirds’ guitarist Jimmy Page…
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John Martyn was born Iain David McGeachy, the son of…
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Curtis Mayfield was born in Chicago, where he sang in…
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Joni Mitchell isn’t always given the respect she deserves. In…
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Van Morrison began his career as the vocalist for the…
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L.A.’s Randy Newman was born into the music business. His…
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Gram Parsons, or as 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before…
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Rock and roll’s perpetual underdog, Thomas Earl Petty was born…
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Pink Floyd are one of classic rock’s most renowned bands.…
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Bassist and vocalist Tim Staffell quit trio Smile, but not…
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Roxy Music were formed in 1971 by vocalist and keyboardist…
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Philadelphia-born Todd Rundgren is outrageously talented. He’s a skilled musician…
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1970s singer-songwriter Judee Sill was the first artist signed to…
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It wasn’t surprising that Paul Simon launched a successful solo career after…
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Ron and Russell Mael grew up in Pacific Palisades, where…
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Based on his radio hits I once classed Bruce Springsteen as…
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Steely Dan were the quiet achievers of the 1970s, recording…
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His birth certificate says Steven Demetre Georgiou and he later…
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With his warm voice, pretty guitar-picking, and introspective songwriting, James Vernon…
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Richard Thompson left Fairport Convention after 1970’s Full House, his…
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Born into a high-profile Texas oil family, Townes Van Zandt…
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In New Zealand we have a sporting cliche, “a game…
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Jimmy Webb wasn’t the only prominent person to enjoy success…
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It’s difficult to discuss this enduring 1970s acoustic soul singer…
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Stevie Wonder is one of the most outrageously talented figures…
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The grandson of a Titanic survivor, Haruomi Hosono was the…
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With their dazzling instrumental chops, lengthy songs, and lush harmonies,…
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Neil Young was born in Canada in 1945, where his…
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Warren Zevon was born in Chicago, the son of a…
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This page collects odds and ends from the 1970s: AC/DC | Aerosmith | Bread | The…
Read about the discographies of musical acts from the 1960s to the present day. Browse this site's review archives or enjoy these random selections:
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