Albums of 1977
The records from 1977 that made our lists.
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1The AlbumABBA
The Album
A peak of ambitious Swedish pop, home to 'Take a Chance on Me'. Polished and tuneful. One of their best.
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2Saturday Night FeverBee Gees
Saturday Night Fever
The soundtrack that defined disco, wall-to-wall hits and falsetto. Inescapable and influential. A cultural landmark.
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3The StrangerBilly Joel
The Stranger
Joel's breakthrough of sharp, cinematic pop-rock, home to 'Scenes from an Italian Restaurant'. Polished and beloved. His defining record.
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4ExodusBob Marley and the Wailers
Exodus
Recorded in London after an assassination attempt, it balances militant roots anthems with songs of love and faith, from 'Jamming' to 'One Love'. Named album of the century by some critics. The essential Marley record.
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5Before and After ScienceBrian Eno
Before and After Science
A delicate balance of art-pop songs and ambient texture. Inventive and beloved. A high point.
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6Two Sevens ClashCulture
Two Sevens Clash
Prophetic, hooky roots reggae steeped in Rastafarian apocalypse. Warm and urgent. A 1977 landmark.
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7LowDavid Bowie
Low
The first of the Berlin-era records, split between fractured art-pop and chilly ambient instrumentals co-shaped by Brian Eno. Bleak, beautiful and decades ahead of its time, it rewired what a rock star's album could contain. A grower that becomes a favourite.
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8“Heroes”David Bowie
“Heroes”
The centrepiece of the Berlin trilogy, its title track one of the great rock anthems of yearning. Eno's textures and Fripp's guitar give it grandeur. Triumphant and strange.
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9I Remember YesterdayDonna Summer
I Remember Yesterday
A concept album whose Moroder-built closer 'I Feel Love' rewrote dance music. Bold and influential. A landmark.
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10All 'n AllEarth, Wind & Fire
All 'n All
A lavish, spiritual funk-soul peak. Polished and beloved. A high point.
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11Out of the BlueElectric Light Orchestra
Out of the Blue
A lavish, symphonic-pop double album of orchestral hooks. Polished and beloved. Their peak.
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12My Aim Is TrueElvis Costello
My Aim Is True
A sharp, tuneful debut of new-wave songcraft and barbed wit, home to 'Alison'. Clever and immediate. A great first record.
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13RumoursFleetwood Mac
Rumours
Recorded as the band members' relationships disintegrated, the tension fuels every track, turning heartbreak into impossibly hooky soft-rock. The harmonies, the songwriting balance across three writers and the crystalline production made it one of the best-selling albums ever. Comfort listening with real emotional undertow.
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14In the LightHorace Andy
In the Light
A peak of sweet, distinctive roots reggae. Beautiful and beloved. A genre highlight.
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15New Boots and Panties!!Ian Dury and the Blockheads
New Boots and Panties!!
A witty, funky pub-rock-into-new-wave debut. Sharp and beloved. A British classic.
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16Lust for LifeIggy Pop
Lust for Life
A vital, Bowie-assisted solo record, all motorik drive and dark wit, from its iconic title track. Raw and tuneful. A proto-punk classic.
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17The IdiotIggy Pop
The Idiot
A cold, Bowie-shaped art-rock debut of fractured menace. Influential and strange. A post-punk forerunner.
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18Police and ThievesJunior Murvin
Police and Thieves
Defined by its falsetto title track and Perry's production, a sweet yet urgent roots classic. Melodic and influential. Essential reggae.
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19Trans-Europe ExpressKraftwerk
Trans-Europe Express
A sleek, romantic concept album about European travel that shaped electro, hip-hop and techno. Hypnotic and forward-looking. Hugely influential.
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20Street SurvivorsLynyrd Skynyrd
Street Survivors
A strong final peak before tragedy, home to 'What's Your Name'. Tough and beloved. A poignant high point.
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21Hard AgainMuddy Waters
Hard Again
A raucous, Johnny Winter-produced comeback of electric Chicago blues. Vital and acclaimed. A late peak.
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22Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo SyndromeParliament
Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome
A cosmic P-Funk peak, home to 'Flash Light'. Funky and beloved. A high point.
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23Equal RightsPeter Tosh
Equal Rights
A militant, uncompromising roots landmark of protest. Heavy and powerful. One of reggae's great political records.
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24AnimalsPink Floyd
Animals
A bleak, Orwellian concept album of long, simmering tracks and Gilmour's searing guitar. Angrier and more political than Dark Side. A favourite among devotees.
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25News of the WorldQueen
News of the World
Leaner and harder than its predecessor, opening with the inescapable one-two of 'We Will Rock You' and 'We Are the Champions'. Anthemic and stadium-ready. A crowd-pleasing classic.
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26Rocket to RussiaRamones
Rocket to Russia
A peak of bubblegum-punk hooks and speed. Fun and beloved. One of their best.
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27A Farewell to KingsRush
A Farewell to Kings
An intricate prog peak, home to 'Closer to the Heart'. Ambitious and beloved. A high point.
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28Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex PistolsSex Pistols
Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols
The only studio album from the band that detonated UK punk, snarling and tighter than its reputation suggests. Its cultural shockwave dwarfs its 38 minutes. A historical necessity.
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29SlaveSlave
Slave
A heavy, horn-led funk debut, home to 'Slide'. Tight and beloved. A genre favourite.
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30AjaSteely Dan
Aja
Immaculate jazz-rock of obsessive studio polish and cryptic lyrics, played by session legends. Smooth on the surface, deep underneath. An audiophile favourite and their masterpiece.
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31SuicideSuicide
Suicide
A confrontational, minimalist electronic-punk debut of pulsing menace. Stark and influential. Far ahead of its time.
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32Talking Heads: 77Talking Heads
Talking Heads: 77
A nervy, arty debut of angular new wave and 'Psycho Killer'. Quirky and tuneful. A great beginning.
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33Marquee MoonTelevision
Marquee Moon
Twin-guitar interplay and lean songwriting that pushed punk toward art-rock, peaking in the ten-minute title track. Precise and thrilling. A foundational record.
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34Right on TimeThe Brothers Johnson
Right on Time
A polished, Quincy Jones-produced funk peak, home to 'Strawberry Letter 23'. Smooth and beloved. A genre highlight.
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35The ClashThe Clash
The Clash
A furious, tuneful debut of UK punk with reggae undertones and political fire. Raw and vital. A genre cornerstone.
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36Heart of the CongosThe Congos
Heart of the Congos
A deep, harmony-rich roots reggae masterpiece produced by Lee Perry, hazy and spiritual. Lush and acclaimed. A cult classic.
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37Damned Damned DamnedThe Damned
Damned Damned Damned
The first UK punk album, fast, raw and fun. Vital and historic. A genre landmark.
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38Party TimeThe Heptones
Party Time
A harmony-rich rocksteady-into-roots peak produced by Lee Perry. Warm and beloved. A genre gem.
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39In the CityThe Jam
In the City
A sharp, punky mod debut of youthful energy. Vital and beloved. A strong start.
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40Rattus NorvegicusThe Stranglers
Rattus Norvegicus
A punchy debut blending punk attitude with keyboard-driven menace. Tuneful and dark. A new-wave staple.
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4196 Degrees in the ShadeThird World
96 Degrees in the Shade
A polished, soulful roots peak of crossover appeal. Smooth and acclaimed. A genre favourite.
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42Heavy WeatherWeather Report
Heavy Weather
The most accessible jazz-fusion record, home to the ubiquitous 'Birdland' and Jaco's bass. Polished and joyful. A fusion landmark.
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43Pink FlagWire
Pink Flag
A brilliant, minimalist punk debut of short, jagged art-songs. Sharp and influential. Far ahead of its time.
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44Going for the OneYes
Going for the One
A tighter, more focused prog peak. Tuneful and acclaimed. A strong late record.