# Rock albums that define the 1970s **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [January 14, 2024, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-albums-that-define-the-1970s/996078 "2024-01-14T18:22:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2024, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-albums-that-define-the-1970s/996078/21 "2024-01-14T21:32:00Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Rumours (Fleetwood Mac) Yeah, I heard a song off this album the other day, and I was thinking how I really couldn’t fit it into any other decade, it was so of its time. (And absolutely wonderful.) ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2024, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-albums-that-define-the-1970s/996078/22 "2024-01-14T21:35:25Z")
It would be hard to imagine the 1970s without at least some kind of reference to the Eagles, so - _Hotel California._ ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2024, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-albums-that-define-the-1970s/996078/23 "2024-01-14T21:38:40Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > I’d go with _Toys in the Attic_ in 1975 and _Rocks_ in 1976. But those awful power ballads they shoehorned in are strictly unnecessary. What awful power ballads? Aerosmith certainly released their share of those in later years, but I love those two albums from top to bottom. ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2024, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-albums-that-define-the-1970s/996078/24 "2024-01-14T22:23:21Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > What awful power ballads? Aerosmith certainly released their share of those in later years, but I love those two albums from top to bottom. “You See Me Crying” was one of them; I can’t remember the other. Each was at the end of side two of its album. If you don’t want to call them power ballads I won’t argue terminology, but they’re close enough in my book. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2024, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-albums-that-define-the-1970s/996078/25 "2024-01-14T22:25:36Z")
These immediately came to mind: - _Fool for the City_ - Foghat - _Jailbreak_ - Thin Lizzy - _Cat Scratch Fever_ - Ted Nugent ---
**Author:** ![tuesdayweld](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@tuesdayweld](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tuesdayweld)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2024, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-albums-that-define-the-1970s/996078/26 "2024-01-14T22:30:38Z")
Mad Dogs & Englishmen/Joe Cocker, Leon Russell (etc…) Totally agree with Frampton and Cheap Trick defining the 70’s. Honorable mentions: God Save the Queen/Sex Pistols This is the Modern World/The Jam ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2024, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-albums-that-define-the-1970s/996078/27 "2024-01-14T23:05:52Z")
1970s junior high had **(The) Sweet** who had a mess of hits and were everywhere for a time in the middle of the decade. Picking a single album would be tough as there were several different track listings between UK and American album releases (and later added bonus tracks). And though not a rock album, **John Denver’s Greatest Hits** was a different take on defining the '70s. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2024, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-albums-that-define-the-1970s/996078/28 "2024-01-14T23:11:14Z")
Gotta be _Frampton Comes Alive!_. Everybody owned it and listened to it exactly once. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2024, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-albums-that-define-the-1970s/996078/29 "2024-01-14T23:13:35Z")
3 albums that were a big part of my 70s experience: Rock ‘n’ Roll Animal - Lou Reed Aja - Steely Dan The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle - Bruce Springsteen ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2024, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-albums-that-define-the-1970s/996078/30 "2024-01-14T23:23:09Z")
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2024, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-albums-that-define-the-1970s/996078/31 "2024-01-14T23:26:56Z")
The Ramones, self-titled Roxy Music, self-titled Agents of Fortune, BOC Joe’s Garage, Frank Zappa Easter, Patti Smith Group Brain Salad Surgery, ELP ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2024, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-albums-that-define-the-1970s/996078/32 "2024-01-14T23:26:58Z")
Okay, I’ll buy that. ---
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2024, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-albums-that-define-the-1970s/996078/33 "2024-01-15T00:04:26Z")
Best of the Doobies - The Doobie Brothers Physical Graffiti - Led Zeppelin Aqualung - Jethro Tull ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2024, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-albums-that-define-the-1970s/996078/34 "2024-01-15T00:53:11Z")
Eagles - Greatest hits. Best selling album of the 70’s, I believe. Warren Zevon - Excitable Boy Lynyrd Skynyrd - Street Survivors George Harrison - All Things Must Pass Definitely Dark Side of the Moon. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2024, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-albums-that-define-the-1970s/996078/35 "2024-01-15T01:00:04Z")
Queen - A Night at the Opera Rush - 2112 Billy Joel - The Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2024, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-albums-that-define-the-1970s/996078/36 "2024-01-15T02:04:44Z")
_Saturday Night Fever_ ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2024, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-albums-that-define-the-1970s/996078/37 "2024-01-15T02:27:02Z")
I fucked that up, didn’t I? _Thats Disco!_ Let’s say, **Yes** _Fragile_ ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2024, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-albums-that-define-the-1970s/996078/38 "2024-01-15T02:53:51Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Cheap Trick - Live at Budokon My kid loves '70s and '80s rock. He once asked me “Hey, every Cheap Trick song I’ve ever heard was live. So… did they only play live?” . And let’s not forget the wussier side of rock… the “Singer/Songwriter” movement of the '70s. Albums like _Sweet Baby James,_ and _Tapestry,_ and _Blood On The Tracks,_ and _Court and Spark…_ A track off any of these immediately takes me back to high school and college (1970-1977). ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2024, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-albums-that-define-the-1970s/996078/39 "2024-01-15T03:15:46Z")
_Cheap Trick at Budokan_ is a great album, but it’s tame compared to the _Live At The Whisky 1977_ set released last year. One review described it as “…the power-pop icons at their most manic and muscular, sounding more like hungry punks than arena-ready heartthrobs.” ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2024, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-albums-that-define-the-1970s/996078/40 "2024-01-15T03:40:05Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I fucked that up, didn’t I? _Thats Disco!_ I think you’re fine. You can’t talk about 1970s music without mentioning disco. Besides, it was an era of Top 40 radio, which would play anything if it pulled in listeners who would buy records and products advertised on-air. Didn’t matter what genre the music or artists belonged to, if it gathered listeners and charted, they’d play it. John Denver, KISS, Carly Simon, Aerosmith, Carole King, the Eagles, Elton John, Bachman-Turner Overdrive; and yes, the BeeGees and Donna Summer and the Trammps and disco—they all got airplay. So I think your selection of _Saturday Night Fever_ belongs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-albums-that-define-the-1970s/996078.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-albums-that-define-the-1970s/996078.md?page=3)