The Seventies and 1980

Below is a year-by-year listing of every '70s LP I've graded A minus or better--that is, every one I recommend (more or less) unequivocally. They appear in roughly descending order of quality, though I make no guarantee as to the permanence of the mood that pertained while I was preparing the lists. I've added a list for 1980, and omitted the grades themselves. The total number of albums to qualify each year is indicated in parentheses.

1970 (56)

• Derek & the Dominos: Layla (Atco)
• Sly & the Family Stone: Greatest Hits (Epic)
• Randy Newman: 12 Songs (Reprise)
• Van Morrison: Moondance (Warner Bros.)
• Neil Young: After the Gold Rush (Reprise)
• James Brown: Sex Machine (King)
• John Lennon: Plastic Ono Band (Apple)
• Aretha Franklin: Spirit in the Dark (Atlantic)
• John McLaughlin: Devotion (Douglas)
• The Velvet Underground: Loaded (Cotillion)
• Dolly Parton: The Best of Dolly Parton (RCA Victor)
• Al Green Gets Next to You (Hi)
• Creedence Clearwater Revival: Cosmo's Factory (Fantasy)
• The Grateful Dead: Workingman's Dead (Warner Bros.)
• The Insect Trust: Hoboken Saturday Night (Atco)
• The Beatles: Hey Jude (Apple)
• Van Morrison: His Band & the Street Choir (Warner Bros.)
• Tracy Nelson: Mother Earth Presents Tracy Nelson Country (Mercury)
• The Stooges: Fun House (Elektra)
• Miles Davis: Bitches Brew (Columbia)
• Fleetwood Mac: Kiln House (Reprise)
• Janis Joplin: Pearl (Columbia)
• Fairport Convention: Unhalfbricking (A&M)
• Delaney & Bonnie & Friends with Eric Clapton: On Tour (Atco)
• Gladys Knight & the Pips: Greatest Hits (Soul)
• Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band: Lick My Decals Off, Baby (Straight/Reprise)
• Love: False Start (Blue Thumb)
• Lee Dorsey: Yes We Can (Polydor)
• Ann Peebles: Part Time Love (Hi)
• The Doors: 13 (Elektra)
• Joni Mitchell: Ladies of the Canyon (Reprise)
• Johnnie Taylor: Johnnie Taylor's Greatest Hits (Stax)
• Bob Dylan: New Morning (Columbia)
• Jerry Butler: The Best of Jerry Butler (Mercury)
• Creedence Clearwater Revival: Pendulum (Fantasy)
• Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson: The Original Cleanhead (BluesTime)
• The Temptations: Greatest Hits Volume 2 (Gordy)
• Jerry Lee Lewis: The Best of Jerry Lee Lewis (Smash)
• Rod Stewart: Gasoline Alley (Mercury)
• Booker T. & the MGs: Greatest Hits (Stax)
• MC5: Back in the USA (Atlantic)
• Otis Redding/the Jimi Hendrix Experience: Historic Performances Recorded at the Monterey International Pop Festival (Reprise)
• The Grateful Dead: American Beauty (Warner Bros.)
• Jesse Winchester: Jesse Winchester (Ampex)
• The Beach Boys: Sunflower (Brother/Reprise)
• Ike & Tina Turner: Come Together (Liberty)
• The Beatles: Let It Be (Apple)
• Loretta Lynn: Loretta Lynn Writes 'Em and Sings 'Em (Decca)
• Canned Heat: Future Blues (Liberty)
• Mother Earth: Satisfied (Mercury)
• Delaney & Bonnie: To Bonnie from Delaney (Atco)
• James Brown: Super Bad (King)
• Nolan: No Apologies (Lizard)
• Charlie Rich: The Fabulous Charlie Rich (Epic)
• Allen Ginsberg: William Blake, Songs of Innocence and Experience (Verve/Forecast)
• Big Brother & the Holding Company: Be a Brother (Columbia)

• Miles Davis: Jack Johnson (Columbia)
• Ray Charles: A 25th Anniversary in Show Business Salute to Ray Charles (ABC)
• Rod Stewart: Every Picture Tells a Story (Mercury)
• Sly & the Family Stone: There's a Riot Goin' On (Epic)
• John Lennon: Imagine (Apple)
• The Rolling Stones: Sticky Fingers (Rolling Stones)
• The Who: Who's Next (Decca)
• Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin IV (Atlantic)
• Joni Mitchell: Blue (Reprise)
• Jimi Hendrix: The Cry of Love (Reprise)
• Wilson Pickett: The Best of Wilson Pickett--Vol. II (Atlantic)
• Joy of Cooking: Joy of Cooking (Capitol)
• John Prine: John Prine (Atlantic)
• The Mahavishnu Orchestra with John McLaughlin: The Inner Mounting Flame (Columbia)
• Nils Lofgren/Grin: 1+1 (Spindizzy)
• Tom T. Hall: In Search of a Song (Mercury)
• Stevie Wonder: Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (Tamla)
• Delaney & Bonnie: Motel Shot (Atco)
• Nilsson: Nilsson Schmilsson (RCA Victor)
• Crazy Horse: Crazy Horse (Reprise)
• Hound Dog Taylor & the HouseRockers: Hound Dog Taylor & the HouseRockers (Alligator)
• Jackson 5: Greatest Hits (Motown)
• Clarence Carter: The Best of Clarence Carter (Atlantic)
• Bonnie Raitt: Bonnie Raitt (Warner Bros.)
• Helen Reddy: Helen Reddy (Capitol)
• Van Morrison: Tupelo Honey (Warner Bros.)
• The Who: Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy (Decca)
• Howlin' Wolf: The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions (Chess)
• Faces: A Nod is as Good as a Wink . . . to a Blind Horse (Warner Bros.)
• The Stylistics: The Stylistics (Avco)
• Carole King: Tapestry (Ode)
• The Doors: LA Woman (Elektra)
• The Move: Message from the Country (Capitol)
• Jimi Hendrix: Rainbow Bridge (Reprise)
• B.B. King: Live in Cook County Jail (ABC)
• Michael Hurley & Pals: Armchair Boogie (Raccoon)
• Miles Davis: Live Evil (Columbia)
• The Chi-Lites: (For God's Sake) Give More Power to the People (Brunswick)
• Ray Charles: Volcanic Action of My Soul (ABC)
• David Bowie: Hunky Dory (RCA Victor)
• Sir Douglas Qunitet: The Return of Doug Saldana (Philips)
• Dolly Parton: Coat of Many Colors (RCA Victor)
• Leonard Cohen: Songs of Love & Hate (Columbia)
• Bill Withers: Just as I Am (Sussex)

• Rolling Stones: Exile on Main St. (Rolling Stones)
• Paul Simon: Paul Simon (Columbia)
• Manfred Mann's Earth Band: Manfred Mann's Earth Band (Polydor)
• Bonnie Raitt: Give It Up (Warner Bros.)
• Joni Mitchell: For the Roses (Asylum)
• The Kinks: The Kink Kronikles (Reprise)
• Aretha Franklin: Young, Gifted and Black (Atlantic)
• The Wailers: Catch a Fire (Island)
• Steely Dan: Can't Buy a Thrill (ABC)
• Stevie Wonder: Talking Book (Tamla)
• Mississippi John Hurt: Last Sessions (Vanguard)
• Bob Dylan: Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Vol. II (Columbia)
• Bill Withers: Still Bill (Sussex)
• The Chi-Lites: Greatest Hits (Brunswick)
• Delaney & Bonnie: The Best of Delaney & Bonnie (Atco)
• Mott the Hoople: All the Young Dudes (Columbia)
• Al Green: I'm Still in Love with You (Hi)
• Curtis Mayfield: Superfly (Curtom)
• Rod Stewart: Never a Dull Moment (Mercury)
• Howard Tate: Howard Tate (Atlantic)
• Van Morrison: Saint Dominic's Preview (Warner Bros.)
• James Brown: There It Is (Polydor)
• Richard Thompson: Henry the Human Fly (Reprise)
• Ann Peebles: Straight from the Heart (Hi)
• Johnny Shines: Johnny Shines (Blue Horizon)
• Jimi Hendrix: Hendrix in the West (Reprise)
• Buddy Guy & Junior Wells: Buddy Guy & Junior Wells Play the Blues (Atco)
• Chris Smither: Don't It Drag On (Poppy)
• Elton John: Honky Chateau (Uni)
• Randy Newman: Sail Away (Reprise)
• John Prine: Diamonds in the Rough (Atlantic)
• Joy of Cooking: Castles (Capitol)
• Al Green: Let's Stay Together (Hi)
• Peter Townshend: Who Came First (Track)
• Dr. John: Gumbo (Atco)
• Grin: All Out (Spindizzy)
• Loudon Wainwright III: Album III (Columbia)
• Brinsley Schwarz: Nervous on the Road (United Artists)
• Manu Dibango: Soul Makossa (Atlantic)
• Conway Twitty's Greatest Hits Vol. I (MCA)
• Janis Joplin: Joplin in Concert (Columbia)
• Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: Will the Circle Be Unbroken (United Artists)
• Paul Pena: Paul Pena (Capitol)
• Charlie Rich: The Best of Charlie Rich (Epic)
• The Paul Butterfield Blues Band: Golden Butter: The Best of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band (Elektra)
• Todd Rundgren: Something/Anything? (Bearsville)

• Al Green: Call Me (Hi)
• New York Dolls: New York Dolls (Mercury)
• Jimmy Cliff et al.: The Harder They Come (Mango)
• Wilson Pickett: Wilson Pickett's Greatest Hits (Atlantic)
• Lynyrd Skynyrd: Pronounced Leh-nerd Skeh-nerd (Sounds of the South/MCA)
• John Prine: Sweet Revenge (Atlantic)
• Sly & the Family Stone: Fresh (Epic)
• Africa Dances (Authentic)
• Janis Joplin: Janis Joplin's Greatest Hits (Columbia)
• Al Green: Livin' for You (Hi)
• Steely Dan: Countdown to Ecstasy (ABC)
• Stevie Wonder: Innervisions (Tamla)
• Neil Young: Time Fades Away (Reprise)
• Alseep at the Wheel: Comin' Right at Ya (United Artists)
• Bruce Springsteen: The Wild the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle (Columbia)
• Bill Withers Live at Carnegie Hall (Sussex)
• Slade: Slayed? (Polydor)
• Mahavishnu Orchestra: Birds of Fire (Columbia)
• The Move: Split Ends (United Artists)
• Coulson, Dean, McGuinness, Flint: Lo and Behold (Sire)
• Bonnie Raitt: Takin' My Time (Warner Bros.)
• Led Zeppelin: Houses of the Holy (Atlantic)
• Tom T. Hall: The Rhymer & Other Five and Dimers (Mercury)
• Spinners: Spinners (Atlantic)
• Roy Brown: Hard Times (BluesWay)
• The Who: Quadrophenia (Track)
• The Kinks: The Great Lost Kinks Album (Reprise)
• Mott the Hoople: Mott (Columbia)
• Laura Lee: The Best of Laura Lee (Hot Wax)
• James Brown: Soul Classics Volume II (Polydor)
• Marvin Gaye: Let's Get It On (Tamla)
• The Hollies: The Hollies' Greatest Hits (Epic)
• The Allman Brothers Band: Brothers & Sisters (Capricorn)
• Manfred Mann's Earth Band: Get Your Rocks Off (Polydor)
• Elliott Murphy: Aquashow (Polydor)
• Frederic Rzewski: Coming Together; Attica; Moutons de Panurge (Opus One)
• Roy Wood: Boulders (United Artists)
• Howlin' Wolf: The Back Door Wolf (Chess)
• Charles Bevel: Meet "Mississippi Charles" Bevel (A&M)
• Marlo Thomas: Free to Be . . . You and Me (Bell)
• Derek & the Dominos: In Concert (Atco)
• Miles Davis: Miles Davis in Concert (Columbia)
• Loudon Wainwright III: Attempted Mustache (Columbia)
• Mike Seeger: The Second Annual Farewell Reunion (Mercury)
• Esther Phillips: Black Eyed Blues (Kudu)
• Swamp Dogg: Gag a Maggott (Stone Dogg)
• Taj Mahal: Ooh So Good 'n Blues (Columbia)

• New York Dolls: In Too Much Too Soon (Mercury)
• Steely Dan: Pretzel Logic (ABC)
• Big Star: Radio City (Ardent)
• The Wailers: Burnin' (Island)
• Randy Newman: Good Old Boys (Reprise)
• Andy Fairweather Low: Spider Jiving (A&M)
• Gram Parsons: Grievous Angel (Reprise)
• Van Morrison: It's Too Late to Stop Now (Warner Bros.)
• Joni Mitchell: Court and Spark (Asylum)
• Eric Clapton: 461 Ocean Boulevard (RSO)
• Eno: Here Come the Warm Jets (Island)
• Thomas Jefferson Kaye: First Grade (ABC/Dunhill)
• Richard & Linda Thompson: Hokey Pokey (Island)
• Bob Dylan/the Band: Before the Flood (Asylum)
• The Wild Magnolias: The Wild Magnolias (Polydor)
• Velvet Underground: 1969 Velvet Underground Live (Mercury)
• Miles Davis: Get Up with It (Columbia)
• Lynyrd Skynyrd: Second Helping (MCA)
• Labelle: Nightbirds (Epic)
• Stevie Wonder: Fulfillingness' First Finale (Tamla)
• Millie Jackson: Caught Up (Spring)
• Miles Davis: Big Fun (Columbia)
• Hound Dog Taylor and the Houserockers: Natural Boogie (Alligator)
• Lou Reed: Rock n Roll Animal (RCA Victor)
• Bob Dylan: Planet Waves (Asylum)
• King Crimson: Red (Atlantic)
• Raspberries: Starting Over (Capitol)
• Bryan Ferry: "These Foolish Things" (Atlantic)
• Willie Nelson: Phases & Stages (Atlantic)
• Parliament: Up for the Down Stroke (Casablanca)
• Linda Ronstadt: Heart Like a Wheel (Capitol)
• Loretta Lynn: Loretta Lynn's Greatest Hits Vol. II (MCA)
• John Cale: Fear (Island)
• Alice Cooper: Alice Cooper's Greatest Hits (Warner Bros.)
• Leonard Cohen: New Skin for the Old Ceremony (Columbia)
• Average White Band: Average White Band (Atlantic)
• Betty Wright: Danger High Voltage (Alston)
• The Mighty Clouds of Joy: It's Time (ABC)
• Neil Young: On the Beach (Reprise)
• Mary McCaslin: Way Out West (Philo)
• Gladys Knight & the Pips: Claudine (Buddah)
• Moe Bandy: I Just Started Hating Cheating Songs Today (GRT)
• Earth Wind & Fire: Open Our Eyes (Columbia)
• Shirley Brown: Woman to Woman (Truth)
• Ry Cooder: Paradise & Lunch (Reprise)

• Bob Dylan/The Band: The Basement Tapes (Columbia)
• Dolly Parton: Best of Dolly Parton (RCA Victor)
• Al Green's Greatest Hits (Hi)
• James Talley: Got No Bread, No Milk, No Money, but We Sure Got a Lot of Love (Capitol)
• Neil Young: Tonight's the Night (Reprise)
• Patti Smith: Horses (Arista)
• Bonnie Raitt: Home Plate (Warner Bros.)
• Bob Marley & the Wailers: Natty Dread (Island)
• Bob Dylan: Blood on the Tracks (Columbia)
• Bruce Springsteen: Born to Run (Columbia)
• Steely Dan: Katy Lied (ABC)
• Eno: Taking Tiger Mountain (by Strategy) (Island)
• Fleetwood Mac: Fleetwood Mac (Warner Bros.)
• Funkadelic: Funkadelic's Greatest Hits (Westbound)
• The Staple Singers: The Best of the Staple Singers (Stax)
• Elton John: Rock of the Westies (MCA)
• The Stylistics: The Best of the Stylistics (H&L)
• Toots & the Maytals: Funky Kingston (Island)
• Roxy Music: Siren (Atlantic)
• Andy Fairweather Low: La Booga Rooga (A&M)
• Lynyrd Skynyrd: Nuthin' Fancy (MCA)
• The Meters: Cissy Strut (Island)
• Gary Stewart: Out of Hand (RCA Victor)
• Funkadelic: Let's Take It to the Stage (Westbound)
• Beserkely Chartbusters Volume 1 (Beserkley)
• Leonard Cohen: The Best of (Columbia)
• Parliament: Mothership Connection (Casablanca '76)
• Loudon Wainwright III: Unrequited (Columbia)
• Barry White: Barry White's Greatest Hits (20th Century)
• The Allman Brothers Band: The Road Goes on Forever (Capricorn)
• Bill Withers: The Best of Bill Withers (Sussex)
• Neil Young: Zuma (Reprise)
• John Cale: Slow Dazzle (Island)
• John Prine: Common Sense (Atlantic)
• Amazing Rhythm Aces: Stacked Deck (ABC)
• Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here (Columbia)
• Terry Garthwaite: Terry (Arista)
• Stoney Edwards: Mississippi You're on My Mind (Capitol)
• Spinners: Pick of the Litter (Atlantic)
• Bobby Bare: Cowboys and Daddys (RCA Victor)

• Michael Hurley/the Unholy Modal Rounders/Jeffrey Fredericks & the Clamtones: Have Moicy! (Rounder)
• Eno: Another Green World (Island)
• The Wild Tchoupitoulas: The Wild Tchoupitoulas (Island)
• Ramones: Ramones (Sire)
• Creedence Clearwater Revival: Chronicle (Fantasy)
• Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band: Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band (RCA Victor)
• David Bowie: Station to Station (RCA Victor)
• Kate & Anna McGarrigle: Kate & Anna McGarrigle (Warner Bros.)
• Graham Parker: Howlin Wind (Mercury)
• David Bowie: Changesonebowie (RCA Victor)
• Graham Parker: Heat Treatment (Mercury)
• Miles Davis: Agharta (Columbia)
• Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life (Tamla)
• The Modern Lovers: The Modern Lovers (Home of the Hits)
• Burning Spear: Marcus Garvey (Island)
• Arlo Guthrie: Amigo (Warner Bros.)
• Mighty Diamonds: Right Time (Virgin)
• Ohio Players: Gold (Mercury)
• War: Greatest Hits (United Artists)
• Mott the Hoople: Greatest Hits (Columbia)
• New York Shakespeare Festival: Threepenny Opera (Columbia)
• Patti Smith Group: Radio Ethiopia (Arista)
• Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band: Night Moves (Capitol)
• K.C. & the Sunshine Band: K.C. & the Sunshine Band (T.K.)
• Funkadelic: Hardcore Jollies (Warner Bros.)
• Aerosmith: Rocks (Columbia)
• Hound Dog Taylor & the Houserockers: Beware of the Dog (Alligator)
• Al Green: Full of Fire (Hi)
• Billy Swan: Billy Swan (Monument)
• Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson: It's Your World (Arista)
• Ike & Tina Turner: Greatest Hits (United Artists)
• Fairport Convention: Fairport Chronicles (A&M)
• Son Seals: Midnight Son (Alligator)
• Grin: The Best of Grin Featuring Nils Lofgren (Epic)
• The Rolling Stones: Black & Blue (Rolling Stones)
• Hot Chocolate: Man to Man (Big Tree)
• Lynyrd Skynyrd: One More for the Road (MCA)
• Raspberries: Raspberries' Best Featuring Eric Carmen (Capitol)
• Bob Marley & the Wailers: Live! (Island)
• George Jones: Alone Again (Epic)
• Hi Rhythm: On the Loose (Hi)
• Esther Phillips: Confessin' the Blues (Atlantic)
• Boz Scaggs: Silk Degrees (Columbia)
• Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes: Collectors' Item (Philadelphia International)
• Gasolin': Gasolin' (Epic)
• Bunny Wailer: Blackheart Man (Island)
• James Talley: Tryin' Like the Devil (Capitol)

• Television: Marquee Moon (Elektra)
• Kate & Anna McGarrigle: Dancer with Bruised Knees (Warner Bros.)
• Fleetwood Mac: Rumours (Warner Bros.)
• Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols (Warner Bros.)
• Ramones: Rocket to Russia (Sire)
• Andy Fairweather Low: Be Bop 'n' Holla (A&M)
• Parliament: Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome (Casablanca)
• Ornette Coleman: Dancing in Your Head (Horizon)
• Al Green: The Belle Album (Hi)
• Hot Chocolate: 10 Greatest Hits (Big Tree)
• Funkadelic: The Best of the Early Years Volume One (Westbound)
• The Beach Boys: Love You (Brother/Reprise)
• The Beatles: The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl (Capitol)
• Ramones: Ramones Leave Home (Sire)
• Roxy Music: Greatest Hits (Atlantic)
• John Cale: Guts (Island)
• Lynyrd Skynyrd: Street Survivors (MCA)
• Paul Simon: Greatest Hits, etc. (Columbia)
• Muddy Waters: Hard Again (Blue Sky)
• Richard Hell and the Voidoids: Blank Generation (Sire)
• Ray Charles: True to Life (Atlantic)
• George Jones & Tammy Wynette: Greatest Hits (Epic)
• Talking Heads: 77 (Sire)
• Johnny Shines: Too Wet to Plow (Blue LAbor)
• Freddy Fender: The Best of Freddy Fender (ABC/Dot)
• Moe Bandy: The Best of Moe Bandy (Columbia)
• George Jones: All-Time Greatest Hits--Volume 1 (Epic)
• Iggy Pop: Lust for Life (RCA Victor)
• Richard & Linda Thompson: Live (More or Less) (Island)
• Johnnie Taylor: Chronicle--The Twenty Greatest Hits (Stax)
• Joe Cocker: Joe Cocker's Greatest Hits (A&M)
• Lou Reed: Walk on the Wild Side--The Best of Lou Reed (RCA Victor)
• Bizarros/Rubber City Rebels: From Akron (Clone)
• The Jam: In the City (Polydor)
• Fela and Afrika 70: Zombie (Mercury)
• Taj Mahal: The Taj Mahal Anthology Volume One (Columbia)
• Merle Haggard and the Strangers: Songs I'll Always Sing (Capitol)
• Elvin Bishop: Raisin' Hell (Capricorn)
• Al Green: Greatest Hits Volume II (Hi)
• Joe Ely: Joe Ely (MCA)
• Asleep at the Wheel: The Wheel (Capitol)
• Brian Eno: Discreet Music (Antilles)
• Bette Midler: Live at Last (Atlantic)
• Garland Jeffreys: Ghost Writer (A&M)
• Gary Stewart: Your Place or Mine (RCA Victor)
• Tavares: The Best of Tavares (Capitol)
• The Scruffs: Wanna Meet the Scruffs? (Power Play)
• Merle Haggard and the Strangers: A Working Man Can't Get Nowhere Today (Capitol)
• The Guess Who: The Greatest of the Guess Who (RCA Victor)
• Graham Parker and the Rumour: Stick to Me (Mercury)
• Peter Townshend-Ronnie Lane: Rough Mix (MCA)
• Philip Glass: North Star (Virgin)
• Kraftwerk: Trans-Europe Express (Capitol)
• Bonnie Raitt: Sweet Forgiveness (Warner Bros.)
• Ashford & Simpson: So So Satisfied (Warner Bros.)
• Iggy Pop: The Idiot (RCA Victor '76)

• Blondie: Parallel Lines (Chrysalis)
• Wire: Pink Flag (Harvest)
• Talking Heads: More Songs About Buildings and Food (Sire)
• The Rolling Stones: Some Girls (Rolling Stones)
• Nick Lowe: Pure Pop for Now People (Columbia)
• Elvis Costello and the Attractions: This Years Model (Columbia)
• The Clash: Give 'Em Enough Rope (Epic)
• Neil Young: Comes a Time (Reprise)
• The Vibrators: Pure Mania (Columbia)
• Neil Young: Decade (Reprise)
• Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band: Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) (Warner Bros.)
• Funkadelic: One Nation Under a Groove (Warner Bros.)
• Ramones: Road to Ruin (Sire)
• Joe Ely: Honky Tonk Masquerade (MCA)
• Lee Dorsey: Night People (ABC)
• Television: Adventure (Elektra)
• Ashford & Simpson: Is It Still Good to Ya (Warner Bros.)
• Pere Ubu: The Modern Dance (Blank)
• Willie Nelson: Stardust (Columbia)
• Bob Marley: Kaya (Island)
• Steve Reich: Music for 18 Musicians (ECM)
• Willie Nelson: Face of a Fighter (Lone Star)
• Parliament: Motor-Booty Affair (Casablanca)
• Dave Edmunds: Tracks on Wax 4 (Swan Song)
• David Johansen: David Johansen (Blue Sky '77)
• The Steve Miller Band: Greatest Hits 1974-78 (Capitol)
• Billy Swan: At His Best (Monument)
• David Behrman: On the Other Ocean/Figure in a Clearing (Lovely)
• The Trammps: The Best of the Trammps (Atlantic)
• Ducks Deluxe: Don't Mind Rockin' Tonite (RCA Victor)
• Professor Longhair: Live on the Queen Mary (Harvest)
• Ian Dury: New Boots and Panties!! (Stiff)
• Merle Haggard and the Strangers: The Way It Was in '51 (Capitol)
• The Marshall Tucker Band: Greatest Hits (Capricorn)
• Spinners: The Best of Spinners (Atlantic)
• Max Romeo: Open the Iron Gate (United Artists)
• Al Green: Truth n' Time (Hi)
• Earth, Wind & Fire: The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. I (Columbia)
• Raydio: Raydio (Arista)
• Big Star: Third (PVC)
• Albert Collins: Ice Pickin' (Alligator)
• Shoes: Black Vinyl Shoes (PVC)
• Johnny Paycheck: Greatest Hits Volume II (Epic)
• Pablo Moses: I Love I Bring (United Artists)
• Tom Robinson Band: Power in the Darkness (Harvest)
• Warren Zevon: Excitable Boy (Asylum)
• Michael Mantler: Movies (Watt)
• Brian Eno: Before & After Science (Island)
• Patti Smith Group: Easter (Arista)
• Loleatta Holloway: Queen of the Night (Gold Mind)
• The Yankees: High 'n' Inside (Big Sound)
• Steppin' Out: Disco's Greatest Hits (Polydor)
• Son Seals: Live and Burning (Alligator)
• Robert Ashley: Private Parts (Lovely)
• The Carla Bley Band: European Tour 1977 (Watt)
• Ornette Coleman: Body Meta (Artists House)
• Mary McCaslin & Jim Ringer: The Bramble and the Rose (Philo)
• McKinley Mitchell: McKinley Mitchell (Chimneyville)
• Residents: Duck Stab/Buster & Glen (Ralph)
• Steve Gibbons Band: Down in the Bunker (Polydor)
• Tapper Zukie: Man ah Warrior (Mer)
• Rodney Crowell: Ain't Living Long Like This (Warner Bros.)

• The Clash: The Clash (Epic)
• Pere Ubu: Dub Housing (Chrysalis)
• Neil Young & Crazy Horse: Rust Never Sleeps (Reprise)
• Lynyrd Skynyrd: Gold and Platinum (MCA)
• Van Morrison: Into the Music (Warner Bros.)
• Nick Lowe: Labour of Lust (Columbia)
• Arthur Blythe: Lenox Avenue Breakdown (Columbia)
• Air: Air Lore (Arista Novus)
• Michael Jackson: Off the Wall (Epic)
• Donna Summer: On the Radio: Greatest Hits Volumes I & II (Casablanca)
• The B-52's: The B-52's (Warner Bros.)
• Burning Spear: Harder Than the Best (Mango)
• The Roches: The Roches (Warner Bros.)
• Graham Parker & the Rumour: Squeezing Out Sparks (Arista)
• Donna Summer: Bad Girls (Casablanca)
• Tom Verlaine: Tom Verlaine (Elektra)
• Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band: James Monroe High School Presents Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band Goes to Washington (Elektra)
• Talking Heads: Fear of Music (Sire)
• Marianne Faithfull: Broken English (Island)
• Buzzcocks: Singles Going Steady (I.R.S.)
• Chic: Risque (Atlantic)
• XTC: Drums & Wires (Virgin)
• Pretenders: Pretenders (Sire)
• Wreckless Eric: The Whole Wide World (Stiff)
• The Only Ones: Special View (Epic)
• Shoes: Present Tense (Elektra)
• Neil Young & Crazy Horse: Live Rust (Reprise)
• Cory Daye: Cory & Me (New York International)
• Steel Pulse: Tribute to the Martyrs (Mango)
• Linton Kwesi Johnson: Forces of Victory (Mango)
• Si Kahn: Home (Flying Fish)
• Chic: Les Plus Grands Succes de Chic/Chic's Greatest Hits (Atlantic)
• Dave Edmunds: Repeat When Necessary (Swan Song)
• Fashion: Product Perfect (I.R.S.)
• The Best of Don Williams Volume II (MCA)
• Living Chicago Blues Volume I (Alligator)
• Millie Jackson: Live & Uncensored (Spring)
• Culture: International Herb (Virgin International)
• Roxy Music: Manifesto (Atco)
• Ian Hunter: Shades of Ian Hunter: The Ballad of Ian Hunter & Mott the Hoople (Columbia)
• Mutiny: Mutiny on the Mamaship (Columbia)
• Lene Lovich: Stateless (Stiff/Epic)
• Terry Allen: Lubbock (on Everything) (Fate)
• Henry Cow: Unrest (Red)
• James Brown: The Original Disco Man (Polydor)
• The Brides of Funkenstein: Never Buy Texas from a Cowboy (Atlantic)
• Smokey Robinson: Where There's Smoke . . . (Tamla)
• David Bowie: Lodger (RCA Victor)
• Blondie: Eat to the Beat (Chrysalis)
• Elvis Costello and the Attractions: Armed Forces (Columbia)
• Heartbreakers: Live at Max's Kansas City (Max's Kansas City)
• Taana Gardner: Taana Gardner (West End)
• Tom Robinson Band: TRB 2 (Harvest)
• ZZ Top: Deguello (Warner Bros.)
• Irakere: Irakere (Columbia)
• James Blood: Tales of Captain Black (Artists House)
• Midnight Rhythm: Midnight Rhythm (Atlantic)
• Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson: Kidney Stew is Fine (Delmark)
• George Jones: My Very Special Friends (Epic)

• The Clash: London Calling (Epic)
• Talking Heads: Remain in Light (Sire)
• Prince: Dirty Mind (Warner Bros.)
• Tom Robinson: Sector 27 (I.R.S.)
• Wanna Buy a Bridge? (Rough Trade)
• John Lennon/Yoko Ono: Double Fantasy (Geffen)
• Jon Hassell/Brian Eno: Fourth World Vol. I: Possible Musics (Editions E.G.)
• Chic: Real People (Atlantic)
• Bruce Springsteen: The River (Columbia)
• Professor Longhair: Crawfish Fiesta (Alligator)
• Gang of Four: Entertainment! (Warner Bros.)
• Alberta Hunter: Amtrak Blues (Columbia)
• Robert Ashley: Perfect Lives (Private Parts): The Bar (Lovely)
• Public Image Ltd.: Second Edition (Island)
• The Jacksons: Triumph (Epic)
• Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band: Doc at the Radar Station (Virgin)
• Feelies: Crazy Rhythms (Stiff)
• John Prine: Storm Windows (Asylum)
• Michael Hurley: Snockgrass (Rounder)
• Stevie Wonder: Hotter Than July (Tamla)
• Robert Jr. Lockwood & Johnny Shines: Hangin' On (Rounder)
• The English Beat: I Just Can't Stop It (Sire)
• The Psychedelic Furs: The Psychedelic Furs (Columbia)
• Dollar Brand: African Marketplace (Elektra)
• Pere Ubu: The Art of Walking (Rough Trade)
• Henry Cow: Western Culture (Interzone)
• The Undertones: Hypnotised (Sire)
• Joy Division: Unknown Pleasures (Factory)
• Aerosmith: Aerosmith's Greatest Hits (Columbia)
• Rap's Greatest Hits (Sugarhill)
• Joe "King" Carrasco and the Crowns: Joe "King" Carrasco and the Crowns (Hannibal)
• Neil Young: Hawks and Doves (Reprise)
• Rockers (Mango)
• Smokey Robinson: Warm Thoughts (Tamla)
• X: Los Angeles (Slash)
• Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson: 1980 (Arista)
• Steel Pulse: Reggae Fever (Mango)
• The Clash: Black Market Clash (Epic Nu-Disk)
• Bootsy: Ultra Wave (Warner Bros.)
• Popeye (Boardwalk)
• T-Bone Burnett: Truth Decay (Takoma)
• Donna Summer: The Wanderer (Geffen)
• The Brains: The Brains (Mercury)
• B.T. Express: Greatest Hits (Columbia)
• Rockpile: Seconds of Pleasure (Columbia)
• The Suburbs: In Combo (Twin/Tone)
• Lydia Lunch: Queen of Siam (ZE)
• Bunny Wailer: Bunny Wailer Sings the Wailers (Mango)
• Teddy Pendergrass: TP (Philadelphia International)

Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the '70s, 1980

Basic Record Library: '50s/'60s

Acknowledgments