Albums of 1978

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1. 1
   Ice Pickin'Albert Collins

   Ice Pickin'

   Albert Collins · 1978 · Blues

   A sharp, stinging Texas-blues comeback of cold-guitar fire. Tough and acclaimed. A genre highlight.

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2. 2
   East of the River NileAugustus Pablo

   East of the River Nile

   Augustus Pablo · 1978 · Reggae & Dub

   A hypnotic melodica-and-dub peak of meditative beauty. Deep and beloved. A genre classic.

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3. 3
   52nd StreetBilly Joel

   52nd Street

   Billy Joel · 1978 · Rock

   A jazzy, sophisticated peak, home to 'My Life'. Polished and Grammy-winning. A strong follow-up to The Stranger.

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4. 4
   Parallel LinesBlondie

   Parallel Lines

   Blondie · 1978 · Punk & New Wave

   New-wave pop perfection, balancing punk attitude with disco and pure hooks on 'Heart of Glass' and 'One Way or Another'. Tight and irresistible. A definitive late-70s record.

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5. 5
   KayaBob Marley and the Wailers

   Kaya

   Bob Marley and the Wailers · 1978 · Reggae & Dub

   A gentle, love-and-herb-focused record of mellow grooves. Warm and tuneful. A softer side of Marley.

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6. 6
   Babylon by BusBob Marley and the Wailers

   Babylon by Bus

   Bob Marley and the Wailers · 1978 · Reggae & Dub

   A vibrant double live album of peak-era performances. Electric and beloved. A strong document.

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7. 7
   Ambient 1: Music for AirportsBrian Eno

   Ambient 1: Music for Airports

   Brian Eno · 1978 · Electronic

   The album that named and defined ambient music, designed to be as ignorable as it is interesting. Calm and revolutionary. A genre's foundation.

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8. 8
   Darkness on the Edge of TownBruce Springsteen

   Darkness on the Edge of Town

   Bruce Springsteen · 1978 · Rock

   Lean, hard-bitten songs of work, fathers and thwarted dreams, recorded after a long legal exile. Tougher than Born to Run. A favourite among devotees.

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9. 9
   Social LivingBurning Spear

   Social Living

   Burning Spear · 1978 · Reggae & Dub

   A deep, meditative roots peak. Powerful and acclaimed. A high point.

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10. 10
    Another Music in a Different KitchenBuzzcocks

    Another Music in a Different Kitchen

    Buzzcocks · 1978 · Punk & New Wave

    A buzzing punk-pop debut of speed and melody. Tuneful and beloved. A genre cornerstone.

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11. 11
    Love BitesBuzzcocks

    Love Bites

    Buzzcocks · 1978 · Punk & New Wave

    Ever Fallen in Love here — Pete Shelley's two-minute punk-pop perfection.

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12. 12
    C'est ChicChic

    C'est Chic

    Chic · 1978 · Soul & R&B

    A peak of sophisticated disco, home to 'Le Freak'. Sleek and huge. A genre cornerstone.

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13. 13
    Visions of Dennis BrownDennis Brown

    Visions of Dennis Brown

    Dennis Brown · 1978 · Reggae & Dub

    A warm, soulful roots peak from the 'Crown Prince of Reggae'. Smooth and beloved. A high point.

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14. 14
    Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!Devo

    Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!

    Devo · 1978 · Punk & New Wave

    A jerky, satirical new-wave debut of de-evolution theory and herky-007 rhythms. Quirky and influential. A cult landmark.

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15. 15
    Dire StraitsDire Straits

    Dire Straits

    Dire Straits · 1978 · Rock

    A laid-back debut of bar-band cool, home to 'Sultans of Swing'. Tuneful and acclaimed. A strong start.

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16. 16
    This Year's ModelElvis Costello

    This Year's Model

    Elvis Costello · 1978 · Punk & New Wave

    A taut, angry peak with the Attractions, all nervy energy and hooks. Sharp and propulsive. Often called his best.

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17. 17
    One Nation Under a GrooveFunkadelic

    One Nation Under a Groove

    Funkadelic · 1978 · Soul & R&B

    A joyous, danceable funk peak of communal energy. Tight and influential. A genre high point.

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18. 18
    Love TracksGloria Gaynor

    Love Tracks

    Gloria Gaynor · 1978 · Funk & Disco

    The album that gave the world I Will Survive — and still holds up beyond that one inescapable track.

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19. 19
    Cool RulerGregory Isaacs

    Cool Ruler

    Gregory Isaacs · 1978 · Reggae & Dub

    A smooth lovers-rock peak of Isaacs's cool delivery. Warm and beloved. A signature record.

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20. 20
    The Same SongIsrael Vibration

    The Same Song

    Israel Vibration · 1978 · Reggae & Dub

    A harmony-rich roots peak of spiritual warmth. Beautiful and beloved. A high point.

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21. 21
    EquinoxeJean-Michel Jarre

    Equinoxe

    Jean-Michel Jarre · 1978 · Electronic

    A lush, melodic synthesizer peak. Atmospheric and beloved. A genre highlight.

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22. 22
    The Kick InsideKate Bush

    The Kick Inside

    Kate Bush · 1978 · Rock

    A startling, theatrical debut, home to 'Wuthering Heights'. Singular and acclaimed. A landmark first record.

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23. 23
    The GamblerKenny Rogers

    The Gambler

    Kenny Rogers · 1978 · Country & Americana

    A blockbuster of narrative country-pop, home to its iconic title song. Tuneful and huge. A crossover landmark.

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24. 24
    The Man-MachineKraftwerk

    The Man-Machine

    Kraftwerk · 1978 · Electronic

    Pristine, melodic electro-pop of robots and cities, home to 'The Model'. Clean and iconic. A peak of their catalogue.

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25. 25
    Roast Fish Collie Weed & Corn BreadLee Perry

    Roast Fish Collie Weed & Corn Bread

    Lee Perry · 1978 · Reggae & Dub

    A quirky, inventive Lee Perry solo peak. Bold and beloved. A cult favourite.

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26. 26
    Return of the Super ApeLee Perry and the Upsetters

    Return of the Super Ape

    Lee Perry and the Upsetters · 1978 · Reggae & Dub

    A wild, inventive dub peak from Lee Perry. Bold and beloved. A genre highlight.

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27. 27
    Dread Beat an' BloodLinton Kwesi Johnson

    Dread Beat an' Blood

    Linton Kwesi Johnson · 1978 · Reggae & Dub

    A landmark dub-poetry debut of political fire. Sharp and influential. A singular British record.

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28. 28
    Real LifeMagazine

    Real Life

    Magazine · 1978 · Punk & New Wave

    A cerebral, keyboard-driven post-punk debut. Sharp and influential. A cult landmark.

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29. 29
    Here, My DearMarvin Gaye

    Here, My Dear

    Marvin Gaye · 1978 · Soul & R&B

    A raw, sprawling divorce concept album of startling candour. Bold and reappraised. A cult favourite.

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30. 30
    EasterPatti Smith

    Easter

    Patti Smith · 1978 · Punk & New Wave

    A bolder, rockier follow-up to Horses, home to 'Because the Night'. Powerful and acclaimed. A commercial peak.

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31. 31
    The Modern DancePere Ubu

    The Modern Dance

    Pere Ubu · 1978 · Punk & New Wave

    An avant-garde post-punk debut of industrial unease. Bold and influential. A cult landmark.

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32. 32
    Bush DoctorPeter Tosh

    Bush Doctor

    Peter Tosh · 1978 · Reggae & Dub

    A polished, star-guested peak of militant reggae. Bold and acclaimed. A strong record.

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33. 33
    Road to RuinRamones

    Road to Ruin

    Ramones · 1978 · Punk & New Wave

    A slightly polished peak, home to 'I Wanna Be Sedated'. Fun and beloved. A high point.

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34. 34
    HemispheresRush

    Hemispheres

    Rush · 1978 · Rock

    A dense, ambitious prog peak of side-long suites. Bold and beloved. A high point.

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35. 35
    The ScreamSiouxsie and the Banshees

    The Scream

    Siouxsie and the Banshees · 1978 · Punk & New Wave

    A stark, influential post-punk debut that shaped goth. Sharp and acclaimed. A cornerstone.

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36. 36
    Handsworth RevolutionSteel Pulse

    Handsworth Revolution

    Steel Pulse · 1978 · Reggae & Dub

    Sharp, soulful British roots reggae with real political bite. Polished and powerful. A UK reggae cornerstone.

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37. 37
    Step IISylvester

    Step II

    Sylvester · 1978 · Funk & Disco

    You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) — the hi-NRG touchstone that influenced house music directly.

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38. 38
    More Songs About Buildings and FoodTalking Heads

    More Songs About Buildings and Food

    Talking Heads · 1978 · Punk & New Wave

    An Eno-produced step toward funk and groove. Tuneful and inventive. A pivotal record.

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39. 39
    AdventureTelevision

    Adventure

    Television · 1978 · Punk & New Wave

    A melodic, cleaner follow-up to Marquee Moon. Tuneful and acclaimed. A high point.

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40. 40
    The CarsThe Cars

    The Cars

    The Cars · 1978 · Rock

    A near-perfect new-wave debut, hook after hook of sleek power-pop. Tight and timeless. A 70s staple.

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41. 41
    All Mod ConsThe Jam

    All Mod Cons

    The Jam · 1978 · Punk & New Wave

    The album where the Jam matured into sharp social commentary and mod-pop craft. Tuneful and sharp. Their breakthrough.

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42. 42
    Outlandos d'AmourThe Police

    Outlandos d'Amour

    The Police · 1978 · Punk & New Wave

    Roxanne and So Lonely on the debut — reggae-tinged new wave with Sting's most unguarded writing.

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43. 43
    Some GirlsThe Rolling Stones

    Some Girls

    The Rolling Stones · 1978 · Rock

    A lean, punchy late-70s comeback that absorbed disco and punk energy without losing the swagger. 'Miss You' and 'Beast of Burden' lead it. Their last truly great album.

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44. 44
    Live and DangerousThin Lizzy

    Live and Dangerous

    Thin Lizzy · 1978 · Rock

    One of the great live hard-rock albums, electric and tight. Powerful and beloved. A landmark.

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45. 45
    Blue ValentineTom Waits

    Blue Valentine

    Tom Waits · 1978 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

    A noir-ish, late-night peak of barroom ballads. Warm and acclaimed. A high point.

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46. 46
    Van HalenVan Halen

    Van Halen

    Van Halen · 1978 · Rock

    A debut that reinvented rock guitar via Eddie's fretboard fireworks. Explosive and fun. A hard-rock landmark.

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47. 47
    StardustWillie Nelson

    Stardust

    Willie Nelson · 1978 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

    A surprising, beloved collection of pop standards in Willie's warm phrasing. Smooth and acclaimed. A crossover classic.

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48. 48
    Chairs MissingWire

    Chairs Missing

    Wire · 1978 · Punk & New Wave

    A more textured, art-rock follow-up to Pink Flag. Inventive and acclaimed. A post-punk cornerstone.

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49. 49
    Germfree AdolescentsX-Ray Spex

    Germfree Adolescents

    X-Ray Spex · 1978 · Punk & New Wave

    A vibrant punk landmark of saxophone and Poly Styrene's roar. Sharp and influential. A cult classic.

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