My Top 10 Rock Albums: The 70's

I've already posted my favorite albums from the new millennium, the 90's and the 80's. Now the fourth part is here, and we're going to explore the 70's. This is the decade where new sounds were forged and legends were made. The decade of classic rock. I'll come clean though, I hated classic rock when I was a kid. But when I reached my teens, I'd frequent my older cousins' and uncles' -their friends'- houses, rummage through their dusty bookcases and find their forgotten tape collection of rock music. Those were fun times.

10. Who's Next
by The Who
During my childhood, my dad tried to inculcate me with rock music by playing The Beatles, The Who and The "What-Nots" in our living room stereo, day in and out. I got sick and tired of it, of course. So I got myself a louder music, hoping to drown out his. But I guess he was successful, in a way, since the arena rock of The Who in Who's Next got stuck within me.


9. The Inner Mounting Flame
by The Mahavishnu Orchestra
I was getting into classic rock when my older cousin's friend introduced me to this band. He just handed me an old and tattered cassette tape and said "Listen to this". I did and, after an hour of listening to the album, it's jazz-rock fusion sound left me with the cannabis effect. The guitar and violin dual assaults, especially, will leave you naturally high.


8. Overkill
by Motorhead
Ace of Spades may be the album that turned Motorhead into legends of rock. But, to me, Overkill is still my personal favorite. The first time I heard this album, I was at awe. Especially at Lemmy's rusty and alcohol fueled vocals and Eddie Clarke's fast and creamy guitar solos. The song "Metropolis" is still the best head-nodding, beer song for me.


7. Wish You Were Here
by Pink Floyd
Music critics and musicians will probably hang me for putting this album here instead of Dark Side of the Moon. Objectively, I agree with them. I just chose this album because of its significance to me. But, sentimentality aside, Wish You Were Here rocks too. Especially Gilmoure's solos and jazzy riffs, and the mesmerizing soundscapes throughout the album.


6. Fragile
by Yes
Besides from The Who, Yes is another band from my dad's repertoire that I listen too. Back then, as a fledgling guitarist, who just formed an upstart band, I just can't help but marvel at the musicianship and the carnival of sounds Fragile presented. From the synths to the drums to the lyrics. But it was Steve Howe's guitarsmanship that did this album for me.


5. Abraxas
by Santana
Most people my age would probably tell you that they love Santana...and Rob Thomas when they did that song "Smooth". In fairness, it was a fun song. But before Santana became a pop icon in the late 90's, they were the kings of Latin Jam in the early 70's, and Abraxas was their jeweled crown. This album is just a dangerous fusion of jazz, blues, rock and latin.


4. Houses of the Holy
by Led Zeppelin
Besides albums I-IV, I've never head any other Led Zeppelin albums. So when I heard Houses of the Holy, eight years ago, I was tantalized by its musical diversity. From the dance rock sounds of the reggae-ish "D'Yer Mak'er" and the shuffle of "Dancing Days", the funky beats of "The Crunge" and "The Ocean", and to the doom and gloom of "No Quarter".


3. Paranoid
By Black Sabbath
There's only one thing I can say about this album: It started metal. With it's low-tuned and crunchy guitar riffs, out of this world bass lines, deranged vocal stylings, and dark themed lyrics, it earned the ire of music critics back then. But now, this sole album has created legions of followers, bands and fans a like. Oh, how I'd love to see the faces of those critics.


2. Led Zeppelin IV
by Led Zeppelin
This album is epic, majestic. If Lord of the Rings is the monolith of fantasy books, Led Zeppelin IV is its counterpart in rock albums. Hard rock, folk and blues coalesces together in this album, and gives more substance to Plant's sublime voice and fantastic lyrics. But if that doesn't get you sold. This is the album that contains the song "Stairway to Heaven".


1. Red
By King Crimson
Late 60's and early 70's was the time of heavy experimentation in music, and King Crimson was always at the forefront. While all the bands (mentioned above) during that era came up with great sounds, King Crimson's Red was just a different kind of monster. It was so different that its sound wasn't replicated until Tool made Aenima, 20 years later.


That's a total four decades now. One more to go! Wow, I can't believe this series is about to end. So stick around with me for the last decade.

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My Top 10 Rock Albums: The 60's
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My Top 10 Rock Albums: The 90's
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