Albums of 1976

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links below are affiliate links.

1. 1
   ArrivalABBA

   Arrival

   ABBA · 1976 · Pop

   A peak of immaculate Swedish pop craft, home to 'Dancing Queen'. Glossy and joyful. One of their finest.

   Vinyl →CD →More →
2. 2
   RocksAerosmith

   Rocks

   Aerosmith · 1976 · Rock

   A raw, swaggering hard-rock peak that influenced a generation. Tough and beloved. A genre cornerstone.

   Vinyl →CD →More →
3. 3
   King Tubbys Meets Rockers UptownAugustus Pablo

   King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown

   Augustus Pablo · 1976 · Reggae & Dub

   A landmark dub record of melodica and Tubby's mixing-desk magic. Hypnotic and influential. A genre cornerstone.

   Vinyl →CD →More →
4. 4
   BlondieBlondie

   Blondie

   Blondie · 1976 · Punk & New Wave

   A scrappy, tuneful new-wave debut. Fun and beloved. A strong start.

   Vinyl →CD →More →
5. 5
   DesireBob Dylan

   Desire

   Bob Dylan · 1976 · Rock

   A loose, romantic mid-70s record co-written with Jacques Levy, anchored by the epic 'Hurricane'. Warm and narrative. A fan favourite.

   Vinyl →CD →More →
6. 6
   Rastaman VibrationBob Marley and the Wailers

   Rastaman Vibration

   Bob Marley and the Wailers · 1976 · Reggae & Dub

   A warm, accessible roots peak that broke big in America. Tuneful and assured. A fan favourite.

   Vinyl →CD →More →
7. 7
   Night MovesBob Seger

   Night Moves

   Bob Seger · 1976 · Rock

   A warm, heartland-rock breakthrough, home to its title song. Tuneful and beloved. A high point.

   Vinyl →CD →More →
8. 8
   Stretchin' Out in Bootsy's Rubber BandBootsy's Rubber Band

   Stretchin' Out in Bootsy's Rubber Band

   Bootsy's Rubber Band · 1976 · Funk & Disco

   Bootsy Collins' cartoonish, deeply funky solo debut out of the P-Funk camp. Playful and beloved. A genre favourite.

   Vinyl →CD →More →
9. 9
   BostonBoston

   Boston

   Boston · 1976 · Rock

   A pristine, layered arena-rock debut, home to 'More Than a Feeling'. Polished and huge. A 70s landmark.

   Vinyl →CD →More →
10. 10
    Blackheart ManBunny Wailer

    Blackheart Man

    Bunny Wailer · 1976 · Reggae & Dub

    A deep, spiritual roots masterpiece from the third Wailer. Rich and acclaimed. A genre high point.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
11. 11
    Man in the HillsBurning Spear

    Man in the Hills

    Burning Spear · 1976 · Reggae & Dub

    A warm, meditative roots peak of rural imagery. Deep and beloved. A high point.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
12. 12
    Garvey's GhostBurning Spear

    Garvey's Ghost

    Burning Spear · 1976 · Reggae & Dub

    A hypnotic dub companion to Marcus Garvey. Deep and beloved. A genre highlight.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
13. 13
    Station to StationDavid Bowie

    Station to Station

    David Bowie · 1976 · Rock

    A transitional masterpiece between funk and the Berlin era, anchored by the ten-minute title track and the Thin White Duke persona. Cold, propulsive and brilliant. A pivotal record.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
14. 14
    Hotel CaliforniaEagles

    Hotel California

    Eagles · 1976 · Rock

    The band's slick, ambitious peak, its title track a perfectly crafted six-minute allegory of California excess. Polished and enormous. A 70s soft-rock landmark.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
15. 15
    A New World RecordElectric Light Orchestra

    A New World Record

    Electric Light Orchestra · 1976 · Rock

    A tight, hook-laden symphonic-pop peak. Tuneful and beloved. A high point.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
16. 16
    A Trick of the TailGenesis

    A Trick of the Tail

    Genesis · 1976 · Rock

    A confident first album of the Collins-fronted era. Tuneful and acclaimed. A strong pivot.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
17. 17
    Summertime DreamGordon Lightfoot

    Summertime Dream

    Gordon Lightfoot · 1976 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

    The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald — six minutes of nautical tragedy that became a Canadian classic.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
18. 18
    OxygeneJean-Michel Jarre

    Oxygene

    Jean-Michel Jarre · 1976 · Electronic

    A lush, melodic synthesizer landmark that brought electronic music to the masses. Atmospheric and beloved. A genre classic.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
19. 19
    HejiraJoni Mitchell

    Hejira

    Joni Mitchell · 1976 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

    A restless, jazzy travelogue of long, literate songs and Jaco's bass. Reflective and singular. A late peak.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
20. 20
    Sad Wings of DestinyJudas Priest

    Sad Wings of Destiny

    Judas Priest · 1976 · Metal

    An early, ambitious landmark that helped define metal's template. Dramatic and influential. A cornerstone.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
21. 21
    PresenceLed Zeppelin

    Presence

    Led Zeppelin · 1976 · Rock

    A leaner, guitar-forward record made under duress, home to 'Achilles Last Stand'. Heavy and underrated. A fan favourite.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
22. 22
    I Want YouMarvin Gaye

    I Want You

    Marvin Gaye · 1976 · Soul & R&B

    A lush, sensual concept album of slow-burning soul. Smooth and beloved. A high point.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
23. 23
    War ina BabylonMax Romeo and the Upsetters

    War ina Babylon

    Max Romeo and the Upsetters · 1976 · Reggae & Dub

    A heavy, prophetic roots record produced by Lee Perry, militant and melodic. Deep and acclaimed. A 70s reggae cornerstone.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
24. 24
    Legalize ItPeter Tosh

    Legalize It

    Peter Tosh · 1976 · Reggae & Dub

    A defiant, deeply rootsy solo debut from the Wailers' firebrand, uncompromising and heavy. Militant and brilliant. Essential roots reggae.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
25. 25
    A Day at the RacesQueen

    A Day at the Races

    Queen · 1976 · Rock

    A lush, varied companion to A Night at the Opera, home to 'Somebody to Love'. Tuneful and beloved. A strong record.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
26. 26
    RisingRainbow

    Rising

    Rainbow · 1976 · Rock

    A bombastic, Dio-fronted hard-rock peak. Powerful and beloved. A genre highlight.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
27. 27
    RamonesRamones

    Ramones

    Ramones · 1976 · Punk & New Wave

    Fourteen songs, under half an hour, year zero for punk: buzzsaw guitars, bubblegum hooks and no solos. Simple, joyful and revolutionary. The blueprint everyone copied.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
28. 28
    Everybody Loves the SunshineRoy Ayers

    Everybody Loves the Sunshine

    Roy Ayers · 1976 · Funk & Disco

    A warm, mellow jazz-funk peak whose title track became eternal. Smooth and beloved. A genre highlight.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
29. 29
    2112Rush

    2112

    Rush · 1976 · Rock

    A bold concept record whose side-long title suite saved their career. Ambitious and heavy. A prog-rock landmark.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
30. 30
    The Royal ScamSteely Dan

    The Royal Scam

    Steely Dan · 1976 · Rock

    A darker, guitar-forward peak. Sophisticated and beloved. A high point.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
31. 31
    Songs in the Key of LifeStevie Wonder

    Songs in the Key of Life

    Stevie Wonder · 1976 · Soul & R&B

    A double album of staggering range and generosity, the centrepiece of Wonder's golden run. Funk, jazz, ballads and social commentary all sit comfortably together. Exhaustive, joyous and essential.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
32. 32
    Satta MassaganaThe Abyssinians

    Satta Massagana

    The Abyssinians · 1976 · Reggae & Dub

    A foundational roots-harmony landmark of spiritual depth. Beautiful and influential. A genre cornerstone.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
33. 33
    Trenchtown Mix UpThe Gladiators

    Trenchtown Mix Up

    The Gladiators · 1976 · Reggae & Dub

    A harmony-rich roots peak of melodic warmth. Tuneful and beloved. A high point.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
34. 34
    Right TimeThe Mighty Diamonds

    Right Time

    The Mighty Diamonds · 1976 · Reggae & Dub

    A harmony-rich roots landmark of sweet vocals and message. Warm and beloved. A genre classic.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
35. 35
    Disco InfernoThe Trammps

    Disco Inferno

    The Trammps · 1976 · Funk & Disco

    Twelve minutes of escalating intensity built around one of the genre's most enduring grooves.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
36. 36
    Super ApeThe Upsetters

    Super Ape

    The Upsetters · 1976 · Reggae & Dub

    A landmark dub record produced by Lee Perry, hazy and inventive. Deep and influential. A genre cornerstone.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
37. 37
    JailbreakThin Lizzy

    Jailbreak

    Thin Lizzy · 1976 · Rock

    A twin-guitar hard-rock peak, home to 'The Boys Are Back in Town'. Tuneful and beloved. Their finest.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
38. 38
    Small ChangeTom Waits

    Small Change

    Tom Waits · 1976 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

    A boozy, jazzy peak of late-night ballads and barroom poetry. Warm and acclaimed. A high point.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
39. 39
    Reggae Got SoulToots and the Maytals

    Reggae Got Soul

    Toots and the Maytals · 1976 · Reggae & Dub

    A warm, soul-infused reggae peak of Toots's gospel voice. Joyful and beloved. A high point.

    Vinyl →CD →More →
40. 40
    Warren ZevonWarren Zevon

    Warren Zevon

    Warren Zevon · 1976 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

    A sharp, literate singer-songwriter peak of dark wit. Clever and acclaimed. His breakthrough.

    Vinyl →CD →More →