Favorite 20 Albums Of 1970

[@recordtime4923]

I like that you present your favorite albums that are meaningful to you and not necessarily the critic’s choices thereby resisting any temptation to put Harrison or Lennon higher. Very interesting choices! Now I gotta check out that Beach Boys. For me, personally, Chicago II would be right up there. Fun video, thanks!

[@michaelking8681]

Thanks for the great list. I graduated from HS in ‘71 and have enjoyed many of the same albums over these many years. Your rankings and viewers comments give me a chance to revisit some great ones that I overlooked or didn’t fully appreciate at the time (thanks to the magic of modern day streaming). Keep up the good work!

[@tomrobinson5776]

Thank you 😉

[@simonagree4070]

All good stuff. Christmas 1970 was when I got my first FM radio -- I quickly found KSAN and KSFX in San Francisco, where most of this stuff was in heavy rotation already (don't recall hearing the Stooges or Emitt Rhodes at that time). What an education it was! Also on my list from those days were Fleetwood Mac's Kiln House, the Rolling Stones' Let It Bleed and Get Yer Ya-Yas Out, and that Jimi Hendrix/Otis Redding Monterey Live album.

[@roberttee9790]

1970-1973 tough to make a greatest list for each year less than 50. Good job!

[@senatorjimdracula1603]

I'm glad to see some love for The Kinks, and especially The Stooges. Both were highly underrated at this time, although 'Lola' put the Kinks back on the charts. Fun House is the best Stooges album by far. Ron Asheton was a friend of mine, and I got to play some of those songs with him in the early 90s.

[@tomrobinson5776]

That’s awesome. 😉

[@fritty9927]

I graduated HS in 71. Between this and your 71’ list I have all but four of the albums.

[@floydturner2346]

...an interesting, transitional year. Some of my favourites: -Blood, Sweat and Tears 3 -Cat Stevens: Mona Bone Jakon -Chicago 2 -Curtis Mayfield: Curtis -Elton John: Elton John -Emerson, Lake And Palmer: Emerson, Lake and Palmer -Free: Fire And Water -Free: Highway -Genesis: Trespass -The Guess Who: American Woman -The Guess Who: Share The Land -The Isley Brothers: Get Into Something -Jimmy Webb: Words And Music -Joni Mitchell: Ladies Of The Canyon -King Crimson: In The Wake Of Poseidon -King Crimson: Lizard -Minnie Ripperton: Come To My Garden -Stevie Wonder: Signed, Sealed & Delivered

[@tomrobinson5776]

Nice! Ladies Of The Canyon is fantastic.

[@leonwaltemate6152]

I didn't have time to listen to all of them, but I believe that Hendrix "Band of Gypsys Fillmore East " was released in 1970. In spite of some recording problems in parts, this was a gem with an unsurpassed guitar solo on " Machine Gun

[@simonbarber2297]

Awesome list - Would just like to add; Bitches Brew - Miles Davis, Johnny Winter And... , If You Could Read My Mind/Sit Down Young Stranger - Gordon Lightfood, In Rock - Deep Purple, Burrito Delux - The Flying Burrito Brothers, Ecology - Rare Earth. ☮

[@syater2]

Great, great picks straight through, and your 1 and 2 could probably be mine as well, if I made a list. "Suite for 20 G" starts off like it could have been from his batch of songs from the 1968 album on Apple, but then his R&B, JT style, kicks in.

[@juliatutor8099]

Love to see you mention Emmitt Rhoads...Great list! Peace and Love, Terry and Julia Tutor

[@fitzelectricbar9268]

Good stuff, as always.

[@yajy4501]

Great list but you missed my favorite. Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel haha Still I love all the albums you picked.

[@wtcwtc9861]

Ten Years After Watt......Mountain Climbing!...CSNY Deja Vu I was 13 in 1970 and pretty much everyone I knew had a copy of both Black Sabbath Paranoid and George Harrison All Things Must Pass.

[@mariawesley7583]

My birth year had some great music. On my literal birth day "Bridge over Troubled Water" was released and John Lennon wrote and recorded "Instant Karma"!

[@tomrobinson5776]

Very cool 😉

[@gregcrowe4826]

I turned 13 in 1970. Neil Young was a HUGE influence, he's my Bob Dylan. After the Gold Rush is my favorite too. BTW, Funhouse is an all time favorite.... wow , what an album !

[@neurophile]

My 20 favorite 1970 albums (in alphabetical order) : The Beach Boys - Sunflower Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Déjà vu The Delfonics - Didn't I The Four Seasons - Half And Half Emerson, Lake & Palmer - (self-titled album) Genesis - Tresspass Gentle Giant - (self-titled album) Glass Harp - (self-titled album) Harmony Grass - This Is Us Jay & The Americans - Capture The moment King Crimson - In The Wake Of Poseidon Lennon, John, & Plastic Ono Band Mashmakhan - (self-titled album) McDonald & Giles - (self-titled album) The Moody Blues - Question Of Balance Pink Floyd - Atom Heart Mother Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Waters Syrinx - (self-titled album) (Canadian) Thunderclap Newman - Hollywood Dream Yes - Time And A Word

[@resistor27]

Good picks! I own most of these.

[@patriceleformal3047]

Great selection Tom about a fantastic year ! But....starting with "immigrant song" followed by "Friends", "Celebration day", "Since i've been loving you ", "Gallows pole ", "Tangerine", "That's the way" etc.....Led Zeppelin, in my opinion, should has been there. But whatever, good choice !

[@tomrobinson5776]

That’s The Way is one of my fave Zep tunes.

[@Cap683]

My favorite LZ album. LZ3 still sounds good while the other stuff belongs in the dust bin. The acoustic guitar work is wonderful and the songs are their best effort.

[@robertharding2654]

You belong in the dustbin after a mindless comment like that. Led Zep 1&2 are two of the best rock albums ever.@@Cap683

[@Cap683]

Morrison Hotel to me is timeless. It sounds great today as it did in 1970. Jim and the gang are in top form.

[@tomrobinson5776]

I agree 100 percent 😉

[@jimward6445]

I like the way that you present your record choices: sincere and genuinely engaged with the music. I love all the albums you chose to highlight the sixties; I couldn't argue with any of your choices. A note regarding Nick Drake: I used to think 'Bryter Layter' was his best album; now I think it's very over-produced, as did Nick, and hence the stripped-back and stark 'Pink Moon.' If you haven't done so already, check Molly Drake's gently despairing songs on youtube...Nick's mother. She sings in a voice that she later lent to Nick: Nick was very much his mother's son. 'Arthur' is a brilliant Kinks' album and Procol Harum's, 'Home' is my favourite by the band. All the best.

[@ozmonaut1]

I would put "A Madcap Laughs" and "Atom Heart Mother" in my list. As with every year during the Seventies we are spoiled for choice, thanks for your videos

[@tomrobinson5776]

Thanks for watching 😉

[@GKL1954]

Hello!!!!! Woodstock!!!!!!

[@russellkroeker2822]

Three of my faves of 1970: The first May Blitz Amon Duul ll Yeti Quatermass

[@jabbahursty]

i pretty much forgot about "gasoline alley" which was one of my favorite albums for many years

[@DodgeDartSongs]

Loaded is a remarkable record. Not my first VU record but the first that really knocked me out. However, it’s not their last album, though it is the last one with Lou Reed.

[@bacarandii]

Side note: "Tea for the Tillerman" also provided the soundtrack for two landmark '70s "counterculture" movies, Jerzy Skolimowski's "Deep End" (eerie absurdist masterpiece!) and, of course, Hal Ashby's cult comedy, "Harold and Maude."

[@johnmohl7345]

No Derek and the Dominoes ''Layla''? WoW!

[@jesuschambers]

20. Bob Dylan - New Morning 19.Free - Fire And Water 18. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Deja Vu 17. Black Sabbath - Paranoid 16. Uriah Heep - Very 'Eavy...Very 'Umble 15. Van Morrison - His Band And Street Choir 14. King Crimson - Lizard 13. Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath 12. Pink Floyd - Atom Heart Mother 11. Deep Purple - In Rock 10. T. Rex - T. Rex 9. The Allman Brothers Band - Idlewild South 8. Led Zeppelin - III 7. Stephen Stills - Stephen Stills 6. King Crimson - In The Wake Of Poseidon 5. Santana - Abraxas 4. Van Morrison - Moondance 3. Taste - On The Boards 2. Wishbone Ash - Wishbone Ash 1. JETHRO TULL - BENEFIT

[@Peter-Burbank]

I’ll blacken your Christmas And piss on your Door You’ll cry out for Mercy Still, there’ll be More! I’m my top ten lyrics list

[@bert0522]

I have 16 of them. Jim

[@Fastnbulbous1969]

Yeah for years I just had a CD compilation of not quite all of each of their albums, so was a bit late in fully appreciating Spirit's 12 dreams. The Stooges - Fun House Black Sabbath - Paranoid Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band - Lick My Decals Off Baby Curtis Mayfield - Curtis Tim Buckley - Starsailor Van Morrison - Moondance Funkadelic - Funkadelic Miles Davis - Bitches Brew Alice Coltrane - Journey In Satchidananda Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin III The Pretty Things - Parachute Amon Düül II - Yeti Free - Fire And Water Bob Andy - Song Book Creedence Clearwater Revival - Cosmo’s Factory Stray - Stray Neil Young - After The Gold Rush T2 - It’ll All Work Out In Boomland Donny Hathaway - Everything Is Everything The Velvet Underground - Loaded Spirit - The Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus T. Rex - T. Rex Tim Buckley - Lorca Funkadelic - Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow Traffic - John Barleycorn Must Die Free - Highway Soft Machine - Third Ahmad Jamal - The Awakening The Maytals - Monkey Man

[@TheDunc1]

Let It Be was also out that year. Despite the production problems it is a fine piece of work.

[@luciosette8307]

GEORGE HARRISON💙AllThings Must Pass

[@leesnider4363]

Finally, someone who gets Procol Harum!

[@tomrobinson5776]

Life long fan here 😉

[@TheDunc1]

Great to hear about so many artists and bands I do not know much about. Glad you featured Plastic Ono Band and All Things Must Pass. With Band On The Run, they are the greatest Beatle solo albums.

[@tomrobinson5776]

I agree.

[@patrick2420]

Pretty Things "Parachute" David Bowie "Man Who Sold..." Flamin' Groovies "Flamingo" Lou Donaldson "Pretty Things" Amon Duul II "Yeti"

[@jamestomkin8784]

So many to choose from. Idlewild South Allman Brothers would have been in my top 5.

[@brucevair-turnbull8082]

Some interesting choices here. I agree with you about 'Loaded' by VU. I tried to like the earlier albums but what with Nico's atonal drawl, I gave up. Did you consider 'If I Could Do It All Over Again, I'd Do It All Over You' by Caravan?

[@tomrobinson5776]

I’ve never owned that album. Ever heard The Rotters Club by another Canterbury band called Hatfield and the North?A phenomenal album. Released in 1975.

[@demonsbutterfly]

Bridge over Troubled Water Cosmos Factory Get yer Ya Ya’s Out Live at Leeds Bitches Brew Not a mention….?

[@tomrobinson5776]

I focused on studio albums, but Live At Leeds, Get Yer Ya Ya’s out are 2 of my fave live rock albums ever. I thought Bridge Over Troubled Water was ‘69. Ooops…

[@ericwhite6912]

Good, no, great choices! Do you like Left of the Dial? Thats all alt 80s weirdness. You have great taste brother!

[@tomrobinson5776]

I have the Left Of The Dial box set. Great 4 disc compilation with a great overview of the alt 80’s. I mentioned it in my Most Played Box Sets video.

[@MrCherryJuice]

The difference between the artwork on the Beach Boys' 'Sunflower and Grateful Dead's 'American Beauty' is a reminder of how the former were really let down by most of their album covers. Their look was so outdated that their uncool image got in the way and portrayed them as irrelevant. 'Pet Sounds' was another. Compare those to 'Revolver' or 'Sgt. Pepper's' and it is obvious that despite Brian Wilson aiming to outdo the Beatles on the music front, he missed the mark by a thousand miles with the album covers. Mind, the Capitol label was notorious for lousy covers (remember their version of 'A Hard Day's Night' and the 'butcher block' one?). The concept of album cover as culture-signalling art seemed to be lost on so many record companies. Spirit's '12 Dreams' is surely one of the greatest rock albums of all time. Their previous three were excellent in so many ways, though this one should be in everyone's collection.

[@floydturner2346]

Inclusion of the Nick Drake LP raises an interesting question: should these records be categorized by "year(s) recorded" or "year released". The recording of an album could, conceivably, span years, whereas the release date is more-definitive. While it's true that "Bryter Layter" was recorded in 1970, it wasn't released until March of 1971. It's a small, pedantic point, but maybe worth considering.

[@TheAnarchitek]

My list for 1970, by the numbers: 01 Morrison Hotel 02 Idlewild South 03 After the Gold Rush 04 Moondance 05 Alone Together 06 Mona Bone Jakon 07 Tumbleweed Connection 08 Stage Fright 09 American Beauty 10 Leon Russell 11 Gasoline Alley 12 Twelve Dreams of Dr Sardonicus 13 Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs 14 Lola 15 Cosmo's Factory 16 Benefit 17 Loaded 18 John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band 19 All Things Must Pass 20 Ladies of the Canyon 21 Bridge Over Troubled Waters 22 Deja Vu 23 J Geils Band 24 Pearl 25 Atom Heart Mother Van had two great albums that year, Moondance and Street Band and Choir, but Duane Allman's srtunning guitars on Idlewyld South defined the times. The Dead put out two great albums in a row, Workingman's Dead and American Beauty, the former a little looser and rawer, the latter polished and smooth, both classics of the era. Former Traffic in-and-out member Dave Mason's first solo album was a tour de force, from beginning to end, with swirly vinyl and a fold-put cover that could be hung up. Rod Stewart delivered on the promise of his first solo album with Gasoline Alley, a pattern that would define his best work. Creedence hit their peak in 1970, Cosmo's Factory their career-best LP; Spirit had their finest moment with Twe;ve Dreams of Dr Sardonicus and broke up, fistfights onstage and cancelled shows in their wake. Leon Russell came out of the shadows after Mad Dogs and Englishmen, supporting Joe Cocker (an excellent album almost making this list), with his eponymous first solo LP, delivering what would be the first of two stellar albums. Jethro Tull stumbled a bit, on Benefit, came roaring back, with Aqualung early the next year, against stiff competition. Benefit feels like a sophomore effort, instead of the third album from an important and inventive band. Velvet Underground finally made a meaningful rock 'n' roll record, and Derek stepped into the limelight, jammin' with Duane and an all-star rhythm section, recording the heartbreaking Layla and a credible version of Jimi Hendrix' Little Wing. The Doors had been buffeted, in the press and on the concert trail, so it was great to hear them blast out with "Woke up this mornin', got myself a be-er!" The album is confident and well-produced. the band's best. Cat Stevens' first solo album is stronger than Tea for the Tillerman, an impressive outing for the former popstar. Elton's second album announces a new talent, with a tight band and a more intimate feel than his debut album, also a 1970 release. The other albums speak for themselves, 1970 was another banner year for rock.

[@gregcrowe4826]

Benefit is my favorite Tull album by a mile. Jethro Tull are like YES to me in that they each had two consecutive perfect killer albums : Benefit -Aqualung / The Yes Album - Close to the Edge and the rest of their discography was spotty… that’s just me of course 🤓

[@TheAnarchitek]

Agreed and agreed, except Aqualung was Tull's 3rd excellent, and 2nd great album. Stand Up has more of my favorite tracks, from A New Day Yesterday, to For a Thousand Mothers, Stand Up is the articulately rendered progenitor to Aqualung, an undeniable triumph, expressed through the prism of changes that happened between Summer 1969, and March 1971. It was a wild ride. The world was spinning madly, no cell phones, no computers, smart phones, laptops, faxes, modems or answering machines, but a lotta great music, almost every day. A time of ch-ch-ch-changes ... @@gregcrowe4826 .

[@jimalaimo8467]

My favorite album of 1970 in three words: Jesus Christ Superstar .

[@OSIRIS1980WHS]

AMERICAN BEAUTY is a beautiful album. BOX OF RAIN jerks tears. FUN HOUSE examples well the best of American punk. Never mind LOADED is loaded. NEW AGE is a great short story. Shame LR quit the band. Shame LR is gone. AFTER THE GOLD RUSH is timeless and examples why he didn’t need CSN.

[@tomrobinson5776]

Great synopsis. I agree 100 percent. 😉

[@pikebishop215]

So, Morrison Hotel doesn't make the top 20?

[@tomrobinson5776]

I put it at number 4.

[@bristolfashion4421]

aren't blokes strange... ?! they all think they know lots of things and that they're good at outting them in order. I wonder why they think that...