Looking to give your vinyl collection a boost? Check to see if you’re missing any of these very important rock albums of the 1970s. All six of these stellar records are essential listening for any 1970s rock music fan!
1. ‘Horses’ by Patti Smith
The first release of Horses by Patti Smith wasn’t entirely successful back in 1975. In the years that followed, though, the album became a legacy item in Smith’s discography. It inspired generations of punk New Yorkers that followed in her footsteps, and it also put Smith’s particular brand of alternative rock on the map. It’s punk rock poetry at its finest, and few have been able to release such a perfect debut quite like Smith did with this album.
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2. ‘The Dark Side Of The Moon’ by Pink Floyd
This would not be a list of the most important rock albums of the 1970s without including the 1973 Pink Floyd classic The Dark Side Of The Moon. Some would argue that it’s the greatest rock album of all time. Others would say it changed the game when it came to how bands that followed recorded and produced their own works. Either way, nothing hits quite like putting this vinyl on and listening to it all in one go.
3. ‘Unknown Pleasures’ by Joy Division
Joy Division is far from underrated, but they do deserve to be considered essential artists to have in all rock album collections. Unknown Pleasures is a dark and moody piece of work that reflects the pain Ian Curtis was dealing with at the time of its writing. From Curtis’ vocal style to Peter Hook’s killer bass riffs to Bernard Sumner’s stellar guitar work, nothing beats this trailblazing alternative rock album.
4. ‘Sticky Fingers’ by The Rolling Stones
Sticky Fingers was a massive hit upon its release in 1971. It’s by far The Rolling Stones’ grittiest and most raw album of their career. Hits like “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” and “Wild Horses” blended rock and roll with other genres quite beautifully. While it may not be the best Stones album to some, it’s definitely up there. Nobody was doing rock quite like them in the early 1970s.
5. ‘Pearl’ by Janis Joplin
Jan Joplin’s voice was unlike anyone else’s, and it defined the 1960s like no other. Joplin passed away in 1970 before she had a chance to enchant audiences in the new decade. The 1971 album Pearl was released posthumously and peaked at no. 1 on the Billboard 200 for weeks. It’s a polished, well-produced, and bittersweet piece of work that closed a career that we wish could have continued on for years. It’s one of the most important rock albums of the 1970s by someone who didn’t get to see it shine.
6. ‘Let It Be’ by The Beatles
Let It Be was released in 1970 and is the very last album to be released by The Beatles. Despite the fact that it came out a few months after the band’s very public breakup and involved quite a bit of drama during the recording process, it’s still one of the Fab Four’s best albums. “Across The Universe” and “Let It Be” remain two of the most popular rock songs of all time.
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives
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