With these five I have now listed my top five albums for each year of the 1970s. Just wait and see what the 80s brings!
London Calling by The Clash
A career-defining album from the Clash demonstrating their departure from punk
This double album from the Clash features a diverse array of styles including punk, hard rock, reggae, pop, ska and rockabilly. The album has sold over five million copies worldwide and was met with widespread critical acclaim. It has retrospectively been named one of the greatest albums of all time and was even commemorated with a UK postage stamp issued by the Royal Mail.
Favourite track: “Lost In The Supermarket”
Highway To Hell by AC/DC
The glorious Highway To Hell with its original Australian issue flames artwork
Bon Scott’s final album with the band was always going to go down as a classic irrespective of his sad demise. The album for me remains their finest work and every track is exceptional. Not a weak moment on it and some of Bon’s best lyrics too.
Favourite track: “Love Hungry Man” with its funky bass line unlike anything else they have recorded either before or since
Black Rose: A Rock Legend by Thin Lizzy
Black Rose: A Rock Legend, my favourite Thin Lizzy album
After Brian Robertson’s departure Phil Lynott’s old mate Gary Moore was most definitely a fitting replacement to partner Scott Gorham. The twin guitar attack continued and four singles were released from the album. Peaking at #2 in the UK charts and it ended up being their most commercially successful album.
Favourite track: “Róisín Dubh (Black Rose): A Rock Legend” incorporating several traditional tunes along side original compositions
Dynasty by KISS
Dynasty was the most successful album in Australia for KISS
This album could have easily been dubbed “KISS does disco” but I find it quite enjoyable all the same. Each member of the band brought tracks to the sessions and the only Peter Criss contribution used is also the only track he played on for the album. It remains the weakest track on the album too, in my opinion.
Favourite track: “Sure Know Something”
The Specials by The Specials
The Elvis Costello produced debut self-titled album from the Specials
The album features a mixture of original material and several covers of classic Jamaican ska tracks. Interestingly, Trombonist Rico Rodriguez, who performed on many ’50s and ’60s Jamaican recordings before moving to London in 1962, played on the band’s version of “A Message To You, Rudy”, as he had on the original recording 15 years previously.
Favourite track: “A Message To You, Rudy”
The Slabthrower 