Albums of 1970

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1. 1
   Ptah, the El DaoudAlice Coltrane

   Ptah, the El Daoud

   Alice Coltrane · 1970 · Jazz

   A serene, modal spiritual-jazz peak. Meditative and beloved. A high point.

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2. 2
   Indianola Mississippi SeedsB.B. King

   Indianola Mississippi Seeds

   B.B. King · 1970 · Blues

   A polished, soulful peak King himself prized. Smooth and acclaimed. A high point.

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3. 3
   ParanoidBlack Sabbath

   Paranoid

   Black Sabbath · 1970 · Metal

   The album that effectively founded heavy metal, riff after monstrous riff from 'War Pigs' to 'Iron Man'. Heavy, doom-laden and impossibly influential. Year zero for the genre.

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4. 4
   Black SabbathBlack Sabbath

   Black Sabbath

   Black Sabbath · 1970 · Metal

   The debut that effectively invented heavy metal, dark and doom-laden. Heavy and historic. Year zero for the genre.

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5. 5
   WriterCarole King

   Writer

   Carole King · 1970 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

   The first step away from her Brill Building past — intimate piano-led songs that set the template for Tapestry's warmer triumph a year later.

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6. 6
   Tea for the TillermanCat Stevens

   Tea for the Tillerman

   Cat Stevens · 1970 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

   Warm, melodic folk-pop of searching and faith, home to 'Father and Son' and 'Wild World'. Gentle and enduring. His defining record.

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7. 7
   Cosmo's FactoryCreedence Clearwater Revival

   Cosmo's Factory

   Creedence Clearwater Revival · 1970 · Rock

   A peak of swampy roots-rock hit machinery, from 'Up Around the Bend' to a sprawling 'Heard It Through the Grapevine'. Tight and tuneful. Their finest.

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8. 8
   Deja VuCrosby, Stills, Nash & Young

   Deja Vu

   Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young · 1970 · Rock

   A peak of harmony-rich folk-rock, blending four songwriters into something greater. Warm and varied. A defining 70s record.

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9. 9
   CurtisCurtis Mayfield

   Curtis

   Curtis Mayfield · 1970 · Soul & R&B

   A lush, socially conscious solo debut. Smooth and acclaimed. A genre cornerstone.

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10. 10
    The Man Who Sold the WorldDavid Bowie

    The Man Who Sold the World

    David Bowie · 1970 · Rock

    A heavy, proto-metal turn with Mick Ronson's guitar to the fore. Dark and underrated. An early sign of his range.

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11. 11
    In RockDeep Purple

    In Rock

    Deep Purple · 1970 · Rock

    The album that launched their classic hard-rock era, loud and virtuosic. Heavy and influential. A genre cornerstone.

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12. 12
    Layla and Other Assorted Love SongsDerek and the Dominos

    Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs

    Derek and the Dominos · 1970 · Rock

    Eric Clapton and Duane Allman trading guitar lines across a sprawling double album built around one of rock's most enduring title tracks.

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13. 13
    Tumbleweed ConnectionElton John

    Tumbleweed Connection

    Elton John · 1970 · Rock

    An Americana-themed peak of warm songcraft. Beautiful and beloved. A high point.

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14. 14
    Red ClayFreddie Hubbard

    Red Clay

    Freddie Hubbard · 1970 · Jazz

    A vibrant fusion-leaning post-bop peak of fiery trumpet and groove. Energetic and acclaimed. His finest hour.

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15. 15
    Free Your Mind... and Your Ass Will FollowFunkadelic

    Free Your Mind... and Your Ass Will Follow

    Funkadelic · 1970 · Soul & R&B

    A wild, psychedelic-funk landmark of acid-rock intensity. Bold and influential. A genre cornerstone.

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16. 16
    All Things Must PassGeorge Harrison

    All Things Must Pass

    George Harrison · 1970 · Rock

    A vast, generous triple album of pent-up songcraft, Spector-produced and spiritual. Lush and beloved. The best of the solo Beatles records.

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17. 17
    American BeautyGrateful Dead

    American Beauty

    Grateful Dead · 1970 · Rock

    The Dead's warmest studio record, full of country-folk songcraft like 'Box of Rain' and 'Ripple'. Mellow and beloved. An ideal entry point.

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18. 18
    Workingman's DeadGrateful Dead

    Workingman's Dead

    Grateful Dead · 1970 · Rock

    A spare, country-folk turn of warm harmony, home to 'Uncle John's Band'. Mellow and beloved. A landmark.

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19. 19
    Sex MachineJames Brown

    Sex Machine

    James Brown · 1970 · Funk & Disco

    A sprawling, groove-locked document of the Godfather of Soul at his rhythmic peak. Relentless and influential. A funk cornerstone.

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20. 20
    Sweet Baby JamesJames Taylor

    Sweet Baby James

    James Taylor · 1970 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

    A gentle, intimate landmark of the singer-songwriter era, home to 'Fire and Rain'. Warm and beloved. A genre cornerstone.

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21. 21
    Plastic Ono BandJohn Lennon

    Plastic Ono Band

    John Lennon · 1970 · Rock

    A raw, stripped-bare primal-scream record of startling honesty. Spare and powerful. His most uncompromising work.

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22. 22
    Ladies of the CanyonJoni Mitchell

    Ladies of the Canyon

    Joni Mitchell · 1970 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

    A warm bridge between folk and her jazzier turn, home to 'Big Yellow Taxi'. Tuneful and beloved. A favourite.

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23. 23
    KristoffersonKris Kristofferson

    Kristofferson

    Kris Kristofferson · 1970 · Country & Americana

    The debut that announced a songwriter's songwriter — Me and Bobby McGee, Help Me Make It Through the Night.

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24. 24
    Led Zeppelin IIILed Zeppelin

    Led Zeppelin III

    Led Zeppelin · 1970 · Rock

    A surprising acoustic-leaning turn toward folk and Celtic textures alongside the riffs. More varied than expected. A grower among fans.

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25. 25
    Bitches BrewMiles Davis

    Bitches Brew

    Miles Davis · 1970 · Jazz

    The album that birthed jazz-fusion, a dense, electric, studio-assembled brew of rock rhythm and free improvisation. Divisive on release and now revered. Demanding, hypnotic and unlike anything before it.

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26. 26
    After the Gold RushNeil Young

    After the Gold Rush

    Neil Young · 1970 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

    A fragile, beautiful set balancing piano ballads and ragged electric rock, more haunted than Harvest. A quiet favourite among devotees. Timeless.

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27. 27
    Bryter LayterNick Drake

    Bryter Layter

    Nick Drake · 1970 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

    A lusher, jazz-touched record of bittersweet beauty. Warm and understated. A quiet classic.

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28. 28
    AbraxasSantana

    Abraxas

    Santana · 1970 · Rock

    A sublime fusion of Latin rhythm and rock guitar, home to 'Black Magic Woman' and 'Oye Como Va'. Hypnotic and warm. Their masterpiece.

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29. 29
    Bridge over Troubled WaterSimon & Garfunkel

    Bridge over Troubled Water

    Simon & Garfunkel · 1970 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

    Their final and biggest album, balancing the soaring title hymn with lighter, worldlier songs. Immaculately produced and hugely popular. A perfect send-off.

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30. 30
    SunflowerThe Beach Boys

    Sunflower

    The Beach Boys · 1970 · Rock

    A warm, underrated post-Pet Sounds gem of lush harmony and gentle craft. Overlooked on release and quietly beloved since. A grower for devotees.

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31. 31
    Let It BeThe Beatles

    Let It Be

    The Beatles · 1970 · Rock

    Their troubled final release, rooftop-concert energy wrestling with Phil Spector's overdubs, yet home to 'Let It Be' and 'The Long and Winding Road'. Ragged but moving. A fitting, complicated farewell.

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32. 32
    Morrison HotelThe Doors

    Morrison Hotel

    The Doors · 1970 · Rock

    A bluesy, back-to-basics peak after experimental detours. Tough and beloved. A strong late record.

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33. 33
    Band of GypsysThe Jimi Hendrix Experience

    Band of Gypsys

    The Jimi Hendrix Experience · 1970 · Rock

    A funky, heavy live peak with a new trio, home to 'Machine Gun'. Powerful and beloved. A landmark.

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34. 34
    Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part OneThe Kinks

    Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One

    The Kinks · 1970 · Rock

    A witty, melodic peak, home to 'Lola'. Sharp and beloved. A high point.

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35. 35
    Fun HouseThe Stooges

    Fun House

    The Stooges · 1970 · Punk & New Wave

    A raw, saxophone-scorched proto-punk landmark of pure energy. Wild and primal. Hugely influential.

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36. 36
    Live at LeedsThe Who

    Live at Leeds

    The Who · 1970 · Rock

    Widely held to be one of the greatest live rock albums, ferocious and loud. Powerful and beloved. A landmark.

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37. 37
    MoondanceVan Morrison

    Moondance

    Van Morrison · 1970 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

    Warmer and more song-based than Astral Weeks, all joy and swing, from the title track to 'Into the Mystic'. Soulful and beloved. A perfect record.

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38. 38
    Just Another Diamond DayVashti Bunyan

    Just Another Diamond Day

    Vashti Bunyan · 1970 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

    A fragile, pastoral folk gem ignored on release and later revered. Beautiful and beloved. A cult treasure.

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