Albums of 1978
The records from 1978 that made our lists.
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1Ice Pickin'Albert Collins
Ice Pickin'
A sharp, stinging Texas-blues comeback of cold-guitar fire. Tough and acclaimed. A genre highlight.
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2East of the River NileAugustus Pablo
East of the River Nile
A hypnotic melodica-and-dub peak of meditative beauty. Deep and beloved. A genre classic.
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352nd StreetBilly Joel
52nd Street
A jazzy, sophisticated peak, home to 'My Life'. Polished and Grammy-winning. A strong follow-up to The Stranger.
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4Parallel LinesBlondie
Parallel Lines
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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5KayaBob Marley and the Wailers
Kaya
A gentle, love-and-herb-focused record of mellow grooves. Warm and tuneful. A softer side of Marley.
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6Babylon by BusBob Marley and the Wailers
Babylon by Bus
A vibrant double live album of peak-era performances. Electric and beloved. A strong document.
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7Ambient 1: Music for AirportsBrian Eno
Ambient 1: Music for Airports
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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8Darkness on the Edge of TownBruce Springsteen
Darkness on the Edge of Town
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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9Social LivingBurning Spear
Social Living
A deep, meditative roots peak. Powerful and acclaimed. A high point.
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10Another Music in a Different KitchenBuzzcocks
Another Music in a Different Kitchen
A buzzing punk-pop debut of speed and melody. Tuneful and beloved. A genre cornerstone.
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11C'est ChicChic
C'est Chic
A peak of sophisticated disco, home to 'Le Freak'. Sleek and huge. A genre cornerstone.
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12Visions of Dennis BrownDennis Brown
Visions of Dennis Brown
A warm, soulful roots peak from the 'Crown Prince of Reggae'. Smooth and beloved. A high point.
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13Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!Devo
Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!
A jerky, satirical new-wave debut of de-evolution theory and herky-007 rhythms. Quirky and influential. A cult landmark.
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14Dire StraitsDire Straits
Dire Straits
A laid-back debut of bar-band cool, home to 'Sultans of Swing'. Tuneful and acclaimed. A strong start.
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15This Year's ModelElvis Costello
This Year's Model
A taut, angry peak with the Attractions, all nervy energy and hooks. Sharp and propulsive. Often called his best.
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16One Nation Under a GrooveFunkadelic
One Nation Under a Groove
A joyous, danceable funk peak of communal energy. Tight and influential. A genre high point.
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17Cool RulerGregory Isaacs
Cool Ruler
A smooth lovers-rock peak of Isaacs's cool delivery. Warm and beloved. A signature record.
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18The Same SongIsrael Vibration
The Same Song
A harmony-rich roots peak of spiritual warmth. Beautiful and beloved. A high point.
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19EquinoxeJean-Michel Jarre
Equinoxe
A lush, melodic synthesizer peak. Atmospheric and beloved. A genre highlight.
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20The Kick InsideKate Bush
The Kick Inside
A startling, theatrical debut, home to 'Wuthering Heights'. Singular and acclaimed. A landmark first record.
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21The GamblerKenny Rogers
The Gambler
A blockbuster of narrative country-pop, home to its iconic title song. Tuneful and huge. A crossover landmark.
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22The Man-MachineKraftwerk
The Man-Machine
Pristine, melodic electro-pop of robots and cities, home to 'The Model'. Clean and iconic. A peak of their catalogue.
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23Roast Fish Collie Weed & Corn BreadLee Perry
Roast Fish Collie Weed & Corn Bread
A quirky, inventive Lee Perry solo peak. Bold and beloved. A cult favourite.
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24Return of the Super ApeLee Perry and the Upsetters
Return of the Super Ape
A wild, inventive dub peak from Lee Perry. Bold and beloved. A genre highlight.
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25Dread Beat an' BloodLinton Kwesi Johnson
Dread Beat an' Blood
A landmark dub-poetry debut of political fire. Sharp and influential. A singular British record.
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26Real LifeMagazine
Real Life
A cerebral, keyboard-driven post-punk debut. Sharp and influential. A cult landmark.
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27Here, My DearMarvin Gaye
Here, My Dear
A raw, sprawling divorce concept album of startling candour. Bold and reappraised. A cult favourite.
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28EasterPatti Smith
Easter
A bolder, rockier follow-up to Horses, home to 'Because the Night'. Powerful and acclaimed. A commercial peak.
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29The Modern DancePere Ubu
The Modern Dance
An avant-garde post-punk debut of industrial unease. Bold and influential. A cult landmark.
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30Bush DoctorPeter Tosh
Bush Doctor
A polished, star-guested peak of militant reggae. Bold and acclaimed. A strong record.
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31Road to RuinRamones
Road to Ruin
A slightly polished peak, home to 'I Wanna Be Sedated'. Fun and beloved. A high point.
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32HemispheresRush
Hemispheres
A dense, ambitious prog peak of side-long suites. Bold and beloved. A high point.
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33The ScreamSiouxsie and the Banshees
The Scream
A stark, influential post-punk debut that shaped goth. Sharp and acclaimed. A cornerstone.
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34Handsworth RevolutionSteel Pulse
Handsworth Revolution
Sharp, soulful British roots reggae with real political bite. Polished and powerful. A UK reggae cornerstone.
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35More Songs About Buildings and FoodTalking Heads
More Songs About Buildings and Food
An Eno-produced step toward funk and groove. Tuneful and inventive. A pivotal record.
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36AdventureTelevision
Adventure
A melodic, cleaner follow-up to Marquee Moon. Tuneful and acclaimed. A high point.
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37The CarsThe Cars
The Cars
A near-perfect new-wave debut, hook after hook of sleek power-pop. Tight and timeless. A 70s staple.
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38All Mod ConsThe Jam
All Mod Cons
The album where the Jam matured into sharp social commentary and mod-pop craft. Tuneful and sharp. Their breakthrough.
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39Some GirlsThe Rolling Stones
Some Girls
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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40Live and DangerousThin Lizzy
Live and Dangerous
One of the great live hard-rock albums, electric and tight. Powerful and beloved. A landmark.
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41Blue ValentineTom Waits
Blue Valentine
A noir-ish, late-night peak of barroom ballads. Warm and acclaimed. A high point.
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42Van HalenVan Halen
Van Halen
A debut that reinvented rock guitar via Eddie's fretboard fireworks. Explosive and fun. A hard-rock landmark.
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43StardustWillie Nelson
Stardust
A surprising, beloved collection of pop standards in Willie's warm phrasing. Smooth and acclaimed. A crossover classic.
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44Chairs MissingWire
Chairs Missing
A more textured, art-rock follow-up to Pink Flag. Inventive and acclaimed. A post-punk cornerstone.
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45Germfree AdolescentsX-Ray Spex
Germfree Adolescents
A vibrant punk landmark of saxophone and Poly Styrene's roar. Sharp and influential. A cult classic.