For some, the classic rock era is defined by the decade of the 1970s. FM radio’s classic rock format has pushed the concept that classic rock is all about bands like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd so on. If you have been a reader here at classic rock history.com you’ll understand that we don’t particularly feel that classic rock history is defined by just one decade. It’s too narrow of a view to define classic rock as just the decade of the 1970s. Nonetheless, the decade of 1970s delivered some of the greatest classic rock albums of all time.
When one starts to look back year by year and run through the release dates of all these incredible albums month by month, week by week, it’s astonishing how many fantastic albums were released every single year. Our next set of articles will look at each year in the 1970s and list what we believe were the best classic rock albums of each particular year.
1970 was a tough year for music fans because of the deaths of Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. The United States was still involved heavily in Vietnam under President Nixon. The New York Knicks won their first NBA Championship, The Beatles broke up and Elvis Presley had the number one record of the year with the song “The Wonder of You.”
# 40 – James Gang Rides Again – James Gang
# 39 – Entrance – Edgar Winter
# 38 – Trespass – Genesis
# 37 –Tumbleweed Connection – Elton John
# 36 – Mad Dogs & Englishmen – Joe Cocker
# 35 – Gasoline Alley – Rod Stewart
# 34 – In the Wake of Poseidon – King Crimson
# 33 – Silk Purse – Linda Ronstadt
# 32 – Easy Action – Alice Cooper
# 31 – American Woman – The Guess Who
# 30 – New Morning – Bob Dylan
# 29 – Benefit – Jethro Tull
# 28 – John Barleycorn Must Die – Traffic
# 27 – Emerson Lake & Palmer – Emerson Lake & Palmer
# 26 – Fire and Water – Free
# 25 – Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath
# 24 – Atom Heart Mother – Pink Floyd
# 23 – Pendulum – Creedence Clearwater Revival
# 22 – Morrison Hotel – The Doors
# 21 – Tea for the Tillerman – Cat Stevens
# 20 – Bridge over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel
# 19 – Moondance – Van Morrison
# 18 – Idlewild South – The Allman Brothers Band
# 17 – Stage Fright – The Band
# 16 – McCartney – Paul McCartney
# 15 – Live At Leeds – The Who
# 14 – American Beauty – The Grateful Dead
# 13 – Cosmo’s Factory – Creedence Clearwater Revival
# 12 – Deep Purple in Rock – Deep Purple
# 11 – After the Gold Rush – Neil Young
# 10 – Closer To Home – Grand Funk
Leading off our top 10 albums the year 1970 is Grand Funk’s masterpiece Closer To Home. The album was released on June 15th 1970. It was Grand Funk’s third album release. The album hit number six on the Billboard Hot 100 Album Chart.
# 9 – Funhouse – The Stooges
This list is not just about the best albums but also about the ones with the most impact on Classic Rock. The Stooges’ Funhouse was on of the most inspirational rock records ever released.
# 8 – Déjà Vu – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
One of the most outstanding albums of all time. Four incredible talents coming together to release a masterpiece. Every song on the records became a classic rock staple. “Our House, Helpless, Almost Cut My Hair, Woodstock, Teach Your Children, Carry On, Country Girl.” Legendary!
# 7 – John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band – John Lennon
John Lennon’s first solo album. The dawn of the decade of solo albums from the Beatles. This was an amazing start to that time period.
# 6 – Elton John – Elton John
Elton John’s brilliant self titled album remains on of his all time best. The album featured the track “Your Song,” which helped launch Elton John’s career. Every songs on every album placed on this top 10 list of albums from the year 1970 has to be great. Every song on this album is amazing.
# 5 – Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
Words cannot describe how brilliant this record is. We almost got a follow up, but many circumstances prevented that from happening. The only Derek and the Dominos album ever released. So many legendary songs and performances on this record from Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, Bobby Whitlock, Carl Radle and Jim Gordon. Tom Dowd served as producer.
# 4 – Paranoid – Black Sabbath
This great record served as the second Black Sabbath album. With songs such as “Paranoid,” “Iron Man,” and “War Pigs,” the album became instrumental in the development of the sound of heavy metal.
# 3 – Led Zeppelin III – Led Zeppelin
Almost Led Zeppelin albums released in the 1970s will always make our top 10 lists. The greatest rock and roll band of all time.
# 2 – Let It Be – The Beatles
While Led Zeppelin my be the greatest rock and roll band of all time, The Beatles were the greatest musical group. There is a difference! All Beatles albums will always make our top 10s. There no denying this groups impact on not just music but life itself. Let It Be was the last original Beatles studio album ever released, although it was recorded before Abbey Road which was released first.
# 1 – All Things Must Pass – George Harrison
When you listen to this album, you cant help but ask yourself why The Beatles did not record more George Harrison originals during the Beatles years? Possible the greatest solo Beatles album ever released. A dazzling three record set that blew us all away when it was first released.
Rest Of The Best Classic Rock Albums Released in 1970
These are listed in chronological order in which they came out throughout the year,
There were thousands of rock albums released in 1970. These are some of the best!
Best Rock Albums – January 1970
Magic Christian Music –Badfinger
Back in the USA – MC5
A Brand New Me – Dusty Springfield
Chicago II – Chicago
Argent – Argent
That’s the Way Love Is – Marvin Gaye
This Girl’s in Love with You – Aretha Franklin
The Madcap Laughs -Syd Barrett
Best Rock Albums – February 1970
Sweet Baby James – James Taylor
Atomic Rooster – Atomic Rooster
Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy – The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Burnt Weeny Sandwich – The Mothers Of Invention
Nilsson Sings Newman – Harry Nilsson
Shazam – The Move
Best Rock Albums – March 1970
Ladies of the Canyon – Joni Mitchell
Vintage Violence – John Cale
Climbing! – Mountain
Time and a Word – Yes
Leon Russell – Leon Russell
Band of Gypsys – Jimi Hendrix
Bloodrock – Bloodrock
Travelin’ – Tommy James and the Shondells
Best Rock Albums – April 1970
Live Cream – Cream
Eric Burdon Declares “War” – Eric Burdon & War
Candles in the Rain – Melanie
12 Songs – Randy Newman
Cucumber Castle – Bee Gees
Open – Blues Image
Best Rock Albums – May 1970
Come Together – Ike & Tina Turner
Poco – Poco
Woodstock: Music from the Original Soundtrack and More
Hot Tuna – Hot Tuna
Writer – Carole King
Best Rock Albums – June 1970
Third – Soft Machine
Self Portrait – Bob Dylan
… Very ‘Eavy … Very ‘Umble – Uriah Heep
Workingman’s Dead – The Grateful Dead
Alone Together – Dave Mason
Blood, Sweat & Tears 3 – Blood, Sweat & Tears
Runt – Todd Rundgren
Changes – The Monkees
Vehicle – Ides of March
Hark! The Village Wait – Steeleye Span
Best Rock Albums – July 1970
Full House – Fairport Convention
Humble Pie – Humble Pie
Supertramp – Supertramp
Best Rock Albums – August 1970
A Question of Balance – The Moody Blues
Hawkwind – Hawkwind
Eric Clapton – Eric Clapton
Sunflower – The Beach Boys
Easy Does It – Al Kooper
Barrel – Lee Michaels
Mongrel – The Bob Seger System
Best Rock Albums – September 1970
Untitled – The Byrds
Abraxas – Santana
Beaucoups of Blues – Ringo Starr
Death Walks Behind You – Atomic Rooster
Johnny Winter And – Johnny Winter
Mad Shadows – Mott the Hoople
Kiln House – Fleetwood Mac
Best Rock Albums – October 1970
Chunga’s Revenge – Frank Zappa
Looking In – Savoy Brown
Share the Land – The Guess Who
UFO 1 – UFO
Best Rock Albums – November 1970
The Man Who Sold The World – David Bowie
No Dice – Badfinger
His Band and the Street Choir – Van Morrison
The J. Geils Band – The J. Geils Band
Live Album – Grand Funk Railroad
Naturally – Three Dog Night
Loaded – The Velvet Underground
Stephen Stills – Stephen Stills
Christmas and the Beads of Sweat – Laura Nyro
Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One – The Kinks
Confessions of the Mind – The Hollies
I Walk The Line – Johnny Cash
Best Rock Albums – December 1970
Wishbone Ash – Wishbone Ash
Lizard – King Crimson
Ginger Baker’s Air Force 2 – Ginger Baker’s Air Force
T. Rex – T. Rex
The Black-Man’s Burdon – Eric Burdon and War
False Start – Love
Watt – Ten Years After
Lick My Decals Off, Baby – Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band
