Ted Nugent has added a dozen new concerts to his Summer 2026 plans.

Although he said farewell to extended touring after his 2023 Adios Mofos tour, Nugent was always clear that he would continue performing live.

“The musical dream will continue but I’m not going on tour anymore because hotels are jail,” he explained at the time. “A hotel room is jail for me.” Accordingly, the Motor City Madman played 10 concerts in 2024 and 15 last year.

Presumably Nugent’s learned about Airbnb or figured out some other workaround for the hotel thing. So far in 2026 he’s already played five shows and he’s got 18 more lined up, beginning April 25 in Bandera, Texas and currently set to conclude on July 18 in Lampe, Missouri.

You can see Nugent’s full 2026 concert schedule below.

 

A New Ted Nugent Concert Movie is On the Way

Nugent recently announced the full-length concert movie Stranglehold 50th Bash, which is currently for sale on his website with an expected May 2026 ship date. The movie captures an Aug. 31, 2025 show in Nugent’s hometown of Detroit.

Ted Nugent 2026 Concert Schedule:

April 25: Bandera, TX – 11th Street Cowboy Bar
May 1: Leander, TX – The Haute Spot
May 2: Buda, TX – Buck’s Backyard
May 9: Waco, TX – The Backyard
May 16: Corpus Christi, TX – Concrete Street Live
May 22: Poplar, Bluff, Missouri – Black River Coliseum
May 30: Saint Jo, TX – Red River Station
June 12: Grand Junction, CO – Mesa County Fairgrounds
July 7: Lexington, MI – Lexington Village Theatre
July 8: Lexington, MI – Lexington Village Theatre
July 10: Sterling Heights, MI – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre
July 11: Paw Paw, MI – Warner Vineyards
July 12: Huber Heights, OH – Rose Music Center
July 14: Des Plaines, IL – The Des Plaines Theatre
July 15: St. Charles, IL – The Arcada Theatre
July 16: Marion, IL – Marion Cultural and Civic Center
July 17: Effingham, IL – Effingham Performance Center
July 18: Lampe, MO – Black Oak Amphitheater

Vinyl Records

Ted Nugent – NUGE VAULT, VOL. 1: FREE-FOR-ALL

Top 100 Albums of the ’70s

The decade where music hit its groove.

Gallery Credit: Michael Gallucci

100. Electric Light Orchestra, Eldorado (1974)

Warner Bros.

100. Electric Light Orchestra, ‘Eldorado’ (1974)

The fourth album is where Electric Light Orchestra embraced their ambition, establishing a theme and conceptual center to Eldorado before a note of music was written. The LP is subtitled “A Symphony by the Electric Light Orchestra,” signaling its aspirations; it’s easy to hear Jeff Lynne’s Beatles adoration in songs such as “Can’t Get It Out of My Head.”

99. Lynyrd Skynyrd, Street Survivors (1977)

MCA

99. Lynyrd Skynyrd, ‘Street Survivors’ (1977)

Much of the narrative behind Lynyrd Skynyrd’s fifth and final album from the original classic lineup is on the tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of six people, including singer Ronnie Van Zant, only three days after its release. Yet Street Survivors is one of their greatest records without the backstory, a soulful and introspective look at fame, addiction and heritage.

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98. Electric Light Orchestra, Out of the Blue (1977)

Jet

98. Electric Light Orchestra, ‘Out of the Blue’ (1977)

Jeff Lynne wrote Electric Light Orchestra’s double-LP Out of the Blue in a whirlwind three-and-a-half-week period while holed away in Switzerland. From the opening “Turn to Stone” to the super-hook of “Sweet Talkin’ Woman” to the magnificent “Mr. Blue Sky,” the album is rarely burdened by its inflated length. It was their highest-charting album in the States.

97. Joe Cocker, Mad Dogs and Englishmen (1970)

A&M

97. Joe Cocker, ‘Mad Dogs and Englishmen’ (1970)

As much an ensemble record (especially for bandleader Leon Russell) as it is a Joe Cocker solo album, Mad Dogs and Englishmen is a thrilling document of the large band’s two-night March 1970 stop at New York’s Fillmore East. Rita Coolidge gets a vocal spotlight; so do Russell and Bobby Jones. Songs include covers of the Stones, the Beatles and Dylan.

96. Jackson Browne, Running on Empty (1977)

Asylum

96. Jackson Browne, ‘Running on Empty’ (1977)

Jackson Browne’s concept album about being a touring musician came together, fittingly, on the road. Browne and his band recorded new songs onstage, backstage, in hotel rooms and on their tour bus for Running on Empty. The simultaneous feeling of joy and fatigue rings throughout many of the songs, including the title track and the “The Load-Out”/”Stay” finale.

95. Thin Lizzy, Jailbreak (1976)

Mercury

95. Thin Lizzy, ‘Jailbreak’ (1976)

Thin Lizzy’s sixth album was their breakthrough after “The Boys Are Back in Town,” a song not originally intended for the LP, became a surprise hit when it began receiving radio airplay. Jailbreak arrived a year after Bruce Springsteen’s buzzworthy Born to Run, and Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott took note, shaping narratives, phrasings and riffs to match the Boss’ style.

94. Fleetwood Mac, Fleetwood Mac (1975)

Reprise

94. Fleetwood Mac, ‘Fleetwood Mac’ (1975)

Fleetwood Mac hit the big time with their 10th LP, thanks to two Americans and a new focus on songwriting. Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks famously turned the formerly British blues band into a hit-making behemoth with 1975’s Fleetwood Mac; veteran member Christine McVie contributed some of her best songs, too. Blockbuster Rumours was next.

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93. Cheap Trick, Cheap Trick at Budokan (1978)

Epic

93. Cheap Trick, ‘Cheap Trick at Budokan’ (1978)

Despite its title, Cheap Trick at Budokan was recorded in Osaka because the tapes from the famous Tokyo venue weren’t up to par. No matter. The live album, originally a Japan-only release that became a hit in import bins, catapulted the Rockford, Illinois, quartet to the top of the charts and radio playlists. Its huge success delayed the group’s fourth studio LP.

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92. Black Sabbath, Master of Reality (1971)

Warner Bros.

92. Black Sabbath, ‘Master of Reality’ (1971)

For their third album, Black Sabbath moved toward a darker, murkier take on their proto-metal sludge. Master of Reality introduced down-tuned instruments to their lexicon, birthing a branch of heavy music that would influence generations to come. Opener “Sweet Leaf” is one of the great songs about weed; “Into the Void” is six minutes of absolute Sabbath.

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91. Jethro Tull, Aqualung (1971)

Reprise

91. Jethro Tull, ‘Aqualung’ (1971)

Ian Anderson was so miffed that Aqualung was labeled a concept album by critics and fans that he made Jethro Tull’s next album, Thick as a Brick, a parody of one. Critics and fans have a point, though: A loose theme runs through the progressive folk group’s fourth LP, which is stamped by musical and lyrical connections. Either way, it’s their most engaging work.

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90. The Police, Outlandos dAmour (1978)

A&M

90. The Police, ‘Outlandos d’Amour’ (1978)

Pieced together over six months during other bands’ canceled sessions, the Police’s debut album diverged from punk’s rule book by incorporating jazz, reggae and classic pop styles into their music. Teetering on new wave’s spiky principles with elements of proficient musicianship, Outlandos d’Amour staked a new identity. The trio soon matured further.

89. The Police, Reggatta de Blanc (1979)

A&M

89. The Police, ‘Reggatta de Blanc’ (1979)

The Police’s second album is not much different from their first. The songs are a bit sharper, the performances slightly tighter, but mostly Reggatta de Blanc extends the group’s juggled line of new wave, jazz, pop and reggae (the LP’s title is a play on “White Reggae”). “Message in a Bottle” and “Walking on the Moon” furthered the band’s streak of U.K. Top 10s.

88. Bob Dylan and the Band, The Basement Tapes (1975)

Columbia

88. Bob Dylan and the Band, ‘The Basement Tapes’ (1975)

The release of The Bootleg Series Vol. 11: The Basement Tapes Complete in 2014 hasn’t withered the impact of 1975’s first official release of the mythical, intimate 1967 recordings made by Bob Dylan and the Band. Collecting two dozen and oft-bootlegged songs made in New York, The Basement Tapes‘ historical significance ignited a roots movement.

87. Devo, Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! (1978)

Warner Bros.

87. Devo, ‘Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!’ (1978)

Devo’s debut remains one of rock’s most subversive records, a breakdown of popular conventions and slaughtering of sacred cows (see the deconstructed take on the Rolling Stones’ “[I Can’t Get No] Satisfaction”). Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! is punk in spirit, new wave in execution and on the verge of a bold new future — exceptional.

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86. Simon and Garfunkel, Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)

Columbia

86. Simon and Garfunkel, ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ (1970)

Simon and Garfunkel’s final LP was produced while Art Garfunkel pursued a film career and Paul Simon considered solo music. Still, Bridge Over Troubled Water never betrays the duo’s splintering behind the scenes. The songs are worldly and exquisite, and among Simon’s greatest, including the gorgeous title track and the autobiographical “The Boxer.”

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85. Iggy and the Stooges, Raw Power (1973)

Columbia

85. Iggy and the Stooges, ‘Raw Power’ (1973)

The Stooges’ third album and last for nearly 35 years had a difficult gestation, arriving three years after their previous LP, with new guitarist James Williamson leading the group into harder rock territory. Iggy Pop, along with pal and coproducer David Bowie, turned the knobs to 11 on Raw Power, fulfilling the LP’s title proclamation as a pre-punk milestone.

84. Bruce Springsteen, Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978)

Columbia

84. Bruce Springsteen, ‘Darkness on the Edge of Town’ (1978)

The fame, stress and spotlight put on Bruce Springsteen after the release of 1975’s star-making Born to Run delayed the release of his fourth LP. When it finally came out in 1978, Darkness on the Edge of Town sounded like a scarred coda for its predecessor’s characters, who were even more lost and hopeless than before. There were still dreams, but now fading.

83. The Stooges, Fun House (1970)

Elektra

83. The Stooges, ‘Fun House’ (1970)

Trying to define the Stooges’ second album usually adds more chaos to the discussion. A mix of pre-punk, free jazz, experimental noise and discordant garage rock, Fun House is best experienced, not explained. The addition of saxophonist Steve Mackay to the band’s musical tangle blurs more lines, leaving the music uncertain of its next, perilous step.

82. Michael Jackson, Off the Wall (1979)

Epic

82. Michael Jackson, ‘Off the Wall’ (1979)

The run-up to Thriller brings together the essential pieces for the first time, including Quincy Jones and a flawless mix of pop, disco and R&B. Off the Road‘s massive success also foreshadowed what was to come in three years. But the multiple delights are all its own, from the glistening funk of “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” to the twinkling disco of “Rock With You.”

81. Joy Division, Unknown Pleasures (1979)

Factory

81. Joy Division, ‘Unknown Pleasures’ (1979)

Punk was still in the headlines when Joy Division’s debut was released in 1979, signaling a flood of post-punk music. Dark, gothic and sounding unlike anything at the time, Unknown Pleasures became a framework for an entire genre after singer Ian Curtis’ suicide in 1980. Joy Division’s transformation into New Order a few years later inspired more devotees.

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80. Neil Young, After the Gold Rush (1970)

Reprise

80. Neil Young, ‘After the Gold Rush’ (1970)

Neil Young’s third LP predicted his tendency to compile albums from recordings made at various sessions, sometimes with different backing musicians. After the Gold Rush songs include contributions from Crazy Horse and his then-bandmates from Crosby, Stills & Nash. The record moves among genres, including folk, country and guitar-blistered rock.

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79. Ramones, Ramones (1976)

Sire

79. Ramones, ‘Ramones’ (1976)

The Ramones seemed out of time in 1976. They played fast, repetitive songs that, at their core, shared more in common with 1960s girl groups and bubblegum pop than with contemporary hard rock. Yet, they sounded like a warning shot from a distant future. Punk was looming, and the Ramones album was an indication of what would soon arrive in waves.

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78. Sex Pistols, Never Mind the Bollocks – Heres the Sex Pistols (1977)

Virgin

78. Sex Pistols, ‘Never Mind the Bollocks – Here’s the Sex Pistols’ (1977)

The album that started a revolution. There are better punk albums, and others that came before, but Never Mind the Bollocks – Here’s the Sex Pistols remains a punk benchmark. The centerpieces are the singles, key moments in rock history. “Anarchy in the U.K.” and “God Save the Queen” launched a movement; the embittered Sex Pistols were gone a year later.

77. The Beach Boys, Surfs Up (1971)

Brother/Reprise/Warner Bros.

77. The Beach Boys, ‘Surf’s Up’ (1971)

Surf’s Up sounds like a requiem for the ’60s as well as for the first phase of Brian Wilson’s career. The best song, the mournful title track, picks up the pieces of the shelved Smile project; others (“Long Promised Road,” “‘Til I Die”) position the group for their second decade. The Beach Boys were a singles group, one of the best. This is one of their great albums.

76. David Bowie, Heroes (1977)

Heroes

76. David Bowie, ‘”Heroes”‘ (1977)

The second of David Bowie’s Berlin Trilogy, and the only record of the three to be fully recorded in the German city, “Heroes” follows the fabric of its predecessor, Low, with one side featuring ambient electronic tracks and the other more accessible numbers. The title song manages to fuse the two without diluting either. It may be Bowie’s crowning achievement.

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75. Nick Drake, Pink Moon (1972)

Island

75. Nick Drake, ‘Pink Moon’ (1972)

Pink Moon was recorded over two nights, with only engineer John Wood in the studio with the 23-year-old Nick Drake. The result is one of the barest and quietly poignant albums ever made. A late-night solemnity hangs over the 11 songs, leading to hints and interpretations of the singer-songwriter’s death in 1974. His final LP is his masterpiece and requiem.

74. David Bowie, Low (1977)

RCA

74. David Bowie, ‘Low’ (1977)

David Bowie had spent the first half of the ’70s remaking himself on each album — from Ziggy Stardust to Aladdin Sane to the Thin White Duke. For his 11th LP, he went to Berlin with collaborators Brian Eno and Tony Visconti and uncovered ambient soundscapes and a new center on sound. Low is sculpted, influential art-rock on the cusp of greatness.

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73. Miles Davis, Bitches Brew (1970)

Columbia

73. Miles Davis, ‘Bitches Brew’ (1970)

The roots of fusion are just the tip of Bitches Brew‘s lasting impact. Miles Davis had entered his electric phase with the previous year’s In a Silent Way; with this double LP, he discovered new ways of expression and an approach to jazz that resonated with post-Woodstock audiences. The winding set pieces are long and complex; their influence is immeasurable.

72. Elvis Costello, My Aim Is True (1977)

Stiff

72. Elvis Costello, ‘My Aim Is True’ (1977)

Because Elvis Costello’s debut arrived the year after punk broke, it’s often slotted into that category. And there are plenty of signposts throughout My Aim Is True, from quirky, jagged rhythms to songs about working-class unease and pierced vocal turns. But there’s also a sense of timeless songcraft: sharply written tunes centered on pop’s strongest foundations.

71. The Allman Brothers Band, At Fillmore East (1971)

Capricorn

71. The Allman Brothers Band, ‘At Fillmore East’ (1971)

The rare live album mentioned in the same breath as other essential rock LPs, the Allman Brothers Band’s At Fillmore East captures the sextet recorded over two nights at the New York venue. Songs from their two studio LPs uncover new purpose onstage, especially the nearly 23-minute “Whipping Post.” Duane Allman died three months after the release.

70. The Doors, Morrison Hotel (1970)

Elektra

70. The Doors, ‘Morrison Hotel’ (1970)

After the ill-fitting horns and strings of The Soft Parade, the Doors returned to the bluesy psychedelia of their earliest work for their fifth album. Morrison Hotel improves from the wilder, looser playing of the band; Jim Morrison’s strutting vocals declare renewal, too. The opener, “Roadhouse Blues,” is the highlight, a blustery, swaggering delight.

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69. Led Zeppelin, Houses of the Holy (1973)

Atlantic

69. Led Zeppelin, ‘Houses of the Holy’ (1973)

In many ways, Led Zeppelin’s fifth album is their most direct. Coming off the success of Led Zeppelin IV in 1971, Houses of the Holy skims the surface of its predecessor’s best songs and produces eight tracks that are among the group’s sturdiest — from riff-based rockers (“The Song Remains the Same”) to pastoral elegies (“Over the Hills and Far Away”).

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68. Sly and the Family Stone, Theres a Riot Goin On (1971)

Epic

68. Sly and the Family Stone, ‘There’s a Riot Goin’ On’ (1971)

Sly Stone’s post-’60s hangover album is still one of the darkest and bleakest artistic statements ever released. There’s a Riot Goin’ On, its title an answer to Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On, released the year before, was mostly recorded by an isolated and paranoid Stone at his home with a drum machine. A wary survey of American idealism rotting away.

67. Deep Purple, Machine Head (1972)

Warner Bros.

67. Deep Purple, ‘Machine Head’ (1972)

By their sixth album, 1972’s Machine Head, Deep Purple had established themselves at the intersection of blues-influenced hard rock and early heavy metal, a genre they reluctantly helped foster. “Highway Star” peels away from the outset, but it’s the eternal “Smoke on the Water” that caught fire: the riff, the hook, the Frank Zappa reference — a rock classic.

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66. Dire Straits, Dire Straits (1978)

Vertigo

66. Dire Straits, ‘Dire Straits’ (1978)

Dire Straits came out of relative nowhere in 1978 and notched a Top album and song (with “Sultans of Swing”) in both the U.S. and U.K. Within a year, leader Mark Knopfler would be recording with Bob Dylan. Dire Straits remains the group’s most angular record, though hints of bigger aspirations (best realized on 1985’s Brothers in Arms) surface throughout.

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65. Funkadelic, Maggot Brain (1971)

Westbound

65. Funkadelic, ‘Maggot Brain’ (1971)

Funkadelic’s third LP is forever anchored by its breathtaking 11-minute title track, a slow-simmering guitar showcase for Eddie Hazel, instructed by George Clinton to play as if he had just learned of his mother’s death. Under the influence of LSD, Hazel did exactly that. The rest of Maggot Brain follows suit, mending Vietnam scars with psychedelia and funk.

64. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Deja Vu (1970)

Atlantic

64. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, ‘Deja Vu’ (1970)

Crosby, Stills & Nash added Stephen Stills’ former Buffalo Springfield bandmate Neil Young for their first album as a quartet, and the result is even better than the debut. At times, Deja Vu comes off like four solo records, but when the group pulls together on Nash’s “Teach Your Children” and Young’s “Helpless,” their union is extraordinary.

63. Fleetwood Mac, Tusk (1979)

Warner Bros.

63. Fleetwood Mac, ‘Tusk’ (1979)

Following Rumours‘ enormous success, Fleetwood Mac handed over their creative control to singer and guitarist Lindsey Buckingham, who secluded himself in the studio for two years and emerged with the most expensive record produced at the time. Tusk, two LPs of weird and sublime pop, couldn’t live up to its predecessor. Nothing could. But it comes close.

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62. Queen, A Night at the Opera (1975)

EMI

62. Queen, ‘A Night at the Opera’ (1975)

Queen’s fourth LP, their global breakthrough, fine-tuned their blend of operatic pop, progressive glam and period-chiseled hard rock. A Night at the Opera throws out several things, and the ambition paid off. Look no further than the classic “Bohemian Rhapsody”: six minutes of zigzagging art-pop, separated into six distinct sections, each gloriously over the top.

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61. Bad Company, Bad Co. (1973)

Swan Song

61. Bad Company, ‘Bad Co.’ (1973)

Collecting refugees from Free, King Crimson and Mott the Hoople, Bad Company had a legacy before they recorded their first notes. Led Zeppelin swiftly signed them for their new Swan Song imprint, with Bad Co. becoming one of its first releases. It was an immediate hit, going to No. 1 in the U.S., with the lead single “Can’t Get Enough” reaching the Top 5.

60. Genesis, Selling England by the Pound (1973)

Charisma

60. Genesis, ‘Selling England by the Pound’ (1973)

Genesis’ fifth was their first Top 10 in the U.K., a political concept album that also included their first chart hit, the relatively compact “I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe).” The extended pieces — “Dancing With the Moonlit Knight,” “Firth of Fifth,” “The Battle of Epping Forest” and “The Cinema Show” — fortify Selling England by the Pound‘s progressive core.

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59. Patti Smith, Horses (1975)

Arista

59. Patti Smith, ‘Horses’ (1975)

Patti Smith’s debut arrived a year before punk broke, but Horses‘ influence on the genre is monumental. From her mix of modernist poetry and ’60s music foundations to her great band’s updating of garage-rock standards (see her reworking of “Gloria”), Smith sounded unlike any of her contemporaries. Horses continues to inspire outside-thinking artists.

58. Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin III (1970)

Atlaantic

58. Led Zeppelin, ‘Led Zeppelin III’ (1970)

After two albums of rewired electric blues, Led Zeppelin went pastoral for their third, mostly acoustic LP. Led Zeppelin III begins with one of the band’s fiercest, mountain-scaling tracks, the hammering “Immigrant Song.” But from there, they unplug and settle in for the pretty “Tangerine” and “That’s the Way” and the traditional folk stomp “Gallows Pole.”

57. Big Star, Third/Sister Lovers (1978)

PVC

57. Big Star, ‘Third/Sister Lovers’ (1978)

The tangled history of Big Star’s third album begins with its recording in 1974. The record, alternately titled Third and Sister Lovers, sat unreleased for four years before receiving a limited release on PVC. It wasn’t until a 1992 reissue, complete with bonus tracks and a reconfigured track listing, that the Memphis power pop band’s bleak, late-night LP received its due.

56. ZZ Top, Tres Hombres (1973)

London

56. ZZ Top, ‘Tres Hombres’ (1973)

ZZ Top’s third is the one that took them to the Top 10 for the first time. It was also their first fully realized album, with songs such as “Waitin’ for the Bus,” “Jesus Just Left Chicago,” “Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers” and “La Grange” coloring the lines between boogie and the blues. ZZ Top refined Tres Hombres‘ design over the years, but they were rarely as on point.

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55. Grateful Dead, American Beauty (1970)

Warner Bros.

55. Grateful Dead, ‘American Beauty’ (1970)

Released five months after spiritual kin Workingman’s Dead, American Beauty continued down similar country and folk paths. Some of Grateful Dead’s best and most accessible songs are here: “Friend of the Devil,” “Ripple,” “Truckin’.” After this, the band focused more on the live performances that defined them, reluctantly returning to the studio.

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54. Van Halen, Van Halen II (1979)

Warner Bros.

54. Van Halen, ‘Van Halen II’ (1979)

From a popular cover song to extravagant displays of late-’70s FM radio rock to an instrumental showcase for guitar wizard Eddie Van Halen, Van Halen’s second LP traces the template from its platinum-selling debut. Van Halen II does add springy pop to the mix: “Dance the Night Away,” their highest-charting single at the time. Their first Top 10 album, too.

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53. Neil Young, Harvest (1972)

Reprise

53. Neil Young, ‘Harvest’ (1972)

Neil Young’s fourth album marked a dramatic shift from the preceding After the Gold Rush and Everybody Knows It’s Nowhere, both made with Crazy Horse and plugged-in bursts of raging guitar anthems. Harvest takes a lower-key approach, pulling out acoustic instruments, calling in Crosby, Stills & Nash and Linda Ronstadt, and heading to the country.

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52. Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band, Night Moves (1976)

Capitol

52. Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band, ‘Night Moves’ (1976)

Fifteen years and nine albums into his career, Bob Seger finally scored his first Top 10 hit in 1976. A live album, released six months earlier, helped inch the Detroit singer closer to mainstream appeal, but it was Night Moves that pushed him from the FM airwaves into the Top 40, thanks to songs such as “Rock and Roll Never Forgets” and the nostalgic title tune.

51. Elton John, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)

DJM

51. Elton John, ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ (1973)

It’s almost a rite of passage for artists to follow their biggest successes with a double album of varied musical cues. Bonus points if the record is autobiographical. Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road tracks this approach faultlessly. The LP features some of his best songs (“Bennie and the Jets,” “Candle in the Wind”) and is also his tour de force.

50. Jackson Browne, Late for the Sky (1974)

Asylum

50. Jackson Browne, ‘Late for the Sky’ (1974)

Jackson Browne found his footing on his third album, securing the smart, adult-aimed singer-songwriter material that accelerated its pace during the first half of the ’70s. Late for the Sky sounds epochal from the first notes of the opening title track. “Fountain of Sorrow” and “After the Deluge” survey Los Angeles’ period landscapes, both political and personal.

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49. Alice Cooper, Billion Dollar Babies (1973)

Warner Bros.

49. Alice Cooper, ‘Billion Dollar Babies’ (1973)

Alice Cooper’s only No. 1 was the penultimate release from the original group, the most realized conception of their glam-dazed ’70s hard rock. While the shock factor is turned up in “Sick Things,” “I Love the Dead” and the title track (with Donovan on backing vocals), Billion Dollar Babies is best when the band seizes a pop moment in “No More Mr. Nice Guy.”

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48. Carole King, Tapestry (1971)

Ode

48. Carole King, ‘Tapestry’ (1971)

Carole King was already a well-known songwriter (cowriting hits such as “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” “The Loco-Motion” and “[You Make Me Feel Like] A Natural Woman”) when her second solo record was released in early 1971. Tapestry set a standard for singer-songwriters, topping the charts for a record-breaking number of weeks and welcoming a new era.

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47. AC/DC, Powerage (1978)

Albert

47. AC/DC, ‘Powerage’ (1978)

AC/DC had been slowly building a fan base with their unfussy style of bues-boogie rock ‘n’ roll. Native Australia was first, followed by European countries. But by 1978’s Powerage, their fifth LP, others were catching on, including the U.S. and the U.K. They were still a year away from the breakthrough Highway to Hell, but Powerage planted the blooming seeds.

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46. Television, Marquee Moon (1977)

Elektra

46. Television, ‘Marquee Moon’ (1977)

Shuttled into the nascent punk scene mainly because of their NYC base, Television was more widely reaching and willfully confident than many of their contemporaries. Marquee Moon is a staggering work of classicists who saw the new dividing lines not as borders but as points to be crossed. The guitar interplay between Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd still thrills.

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45. Peter Frampton, Frampton Comes Alive! (1976)

A&M

45. Peter Frampton, ‘Frampton Comes Alive!’ (1976)

Peter Frampton’s multiplatinum concert album from 1976 helped set the stage for other hugely selling live records of the ’70s. Frampton Comes Alive! still matters, though, because of the star-making moment surrounding the artist at its center. Frampton, then 25, had his life changed forever after this; he and his talk box made history in 78 minutes.

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44. The Cars, The Cars (1978)

Elektra

44. The Cars, ‘The Cars’ (1978)

The Cars’ self-titled debut from 1978 was between worlds, initially finding a home on both AM pop and FM rock radio with its spunky new wave. Their dismantling of conventions — their use of electronics and synthesizers was ahead of its time — worked in their favor; not knowing where to program The Cars meant that it easily fit in almost anywhere.

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43. Derek and the Dominos, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (1970)

Polydor

43. Derek and the Dominos, ‘Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs’ (1970)

Eric Clapton was nursing a broken heart (in love with Pattie Boyd, the wife of his best friend, George Harrison) when he made Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs in 1970. The emotional scarring is evident throughout the two LPs, as the short-lived Derek and the Dominos, featuring Duane Allman, mended multiple scars. Clapton was never better.

42. Montrose, Montrose (1973)

Warner Bros.

42. Montrose, ‘Montrose’ (1973)

Guitarist Ronnie Montrose made his name playing on records by Van Morrison and the Edgar Winter Group; in 1973, he formed his own self-named group featuring a young singer named Sammy Hagar. Their debut, also titled Montrose, is radio-made mid-’70s rock ‘n’ roll, with little pretension found in its eight songs. Hagar stuck around for one more.

41. Kiss, Destroyer (1976)

Casablanca

41. Kiss, ‘Destroyer’ (1976)

Kiss’ first album after Alive! went Top 10 remains their best studio LP, thanks, in part, to the maximized polish of Alice Cooper and Lou Reed producer Bob Ezrin. The band contributed several of its best songs to Destroyer, including “Detroit Rock City,” “Shout It Out Loud” and “Beth,” a hit ballad sung by drummer Peter Criss that reached No. 7 in 1976.

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40. ZZ Top, Deguello (1979)

Warner Bros.

40. ZZ Top, ‘Deguello’ (1979)

The early steps toward Eliminator‘s 1980s makeover begin here, on ZZ Top’s sixth. Keyboards, studio tinkering and punk’s still-looming shadow went into the making of Deguello, all of which would be refined and perfected on 1983’s MTV-sanctioned hit. “Cheap Sunglasses” and a cover of Sam & Dave’s 1968 hit “I Thank You” link the group’s past and future.

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39. Talking Heads, Talking Heads: 77 (1977)

Sire

39. Talking Heads, ‘Talking Heads: 77’ (1977)

While Talking Heads would refine their sound on later albums, their debut introduced concepts and ideas that the band would further develop throughout their career, from oddball song themes to David Byrne’s mannered vocal style. Talking Heads: 77 also introduced art-school eccentricities to the mid-’70s music landscape, foreshadowing new wave.

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38. Stevie Wonder, Innervisions (1973)

Tamla

38. Stevie Wonder, ‘Innervisions’ (1973)

Stevie Wonder’s ’70s albums, starting with 1972’s Music of My Mind, represent one of pop music’s great runs. A key LP in that development, 1973’s Innervisions, clouded the line between artist and star. No record helped seal a legacy in the ’70s as Innervisions did with Wonder. “Higher Ground” and “Living for the City” are among the LP’s many jewels.

37. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Damn the Torpedoes (1979)

Backstreet

37. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, ‘Damn the Torpedoes’ (1979)

It’s not only that Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ third album was released at the right time; Damn the Torpedoes features, from top to bottom, many of the group’s best songs (“Refugee,” “Here Comes My Girl,” “Even the Losers”). It was an instant commercial hit and kept from the No. 1 spot in late 1979 and early 1980 by Pink Floyd’s The Wall.

36. Black Sabbath, Black Sabbath (1970)

Warner Bros.

36. Black Sabbath, ‘Black Sabbath’ (1970)

Black Sabbath’s 1970 debut drew inspiration from other heavy music of the period. But more importantly, it discovered new ways of presenting it, going darker and deeper in tone. The result is one of the first records to include the core foundations of heavy metal. Black Sabbath‘s “N.I.B.” and “Black Sabbath,” each exceeding six minutes, sound ahead of their time.

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35. John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (1970)

Apple

35. John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, ‘John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band’ (1970)

After three experimental noise-collage albums made with Yoko Ono, John Lennon released his first proper solo LP eight months after the breakup of the Beatles. Primal and cathartic, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band reflects on Lennon’s childhood, marriage and the Beatles. It’s an intensely personal work, defined by his half-confident steps toward his next stage.

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34. Paul and Linda McCartney, Ram (1971)

Apple

34. Paul and Linda McCartney, ‘Ram’ (1971)

Paul McCartney’s junk-shop stitching on McCartney, his 1970 solo debut, revealed an even wider palette on the following year’s Ram, made with wife Linda. Musical and erratic, McCartney’s LP laid the groundwork for his future, from bedroom dallying to Beatles-like melodies and perhaps the oddest single to ever top the charts, “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey.”

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33. The Who, Quadrophenia (1973)

Track/MCA

33. The Who, ‘Quadrophenia’ (1973)

The Who’s second rock opera is more personal than Tommy, drawing from the four members’ individual sides and exploring more ambitious musical territory. Quadrophenia was also a validation for Pete Townshend, who struggled to get the even more ambitious Lifehouse made earlier in the ’70s. The songs (“5:15,” “Love, Reign O’er Me”), too, are great.

32. Pink Floyd, Wish You Were Here (1975)

Harvest

32. Pink Floyd, ‘Wish You Were Here’ (1975)

The Dark Side of the Moon was a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon, a No. 1 on its way to becoming one of the longest-charting albums in history. So anticipation was high for Wish You Were Here, Pink Floyd’s loving tribute to band cofounder Syd Barrett, who left the band in 1968. It also reached No. 1, making Pink Floyd one of the biggest groups in the world. Again.

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31. Kiss, Alive! (1975)

Casablanca

31. Kiss, ‘Alive!’ (1975)

The album that made Kiss stars wasn’t entirely recorded live. Vocals, instruments and even audience sounds were mixed in after the fact. Yet, Alive! is the best representation of the band, in their element onstage, working through a set of songs culled from their three LPs. “Deuce,” “Strutter” and “Rock and Roll All Nite” thrive in their new environment.

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30. Genesis, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (1974)

Charisma

30. Genesis, ‘The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway’ (1974)

Genesis’ sixth album was their last with Peter Gabriel, their most complex and ambitious LP, a double concept record that retained its prog roots while pointing to the band’s future commercial success in the ’80s. Like many progressive concept albums from the period, its storyline is a bit hazy. But the music is their most focused and assured; a fitting farewell.

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29. Billy Joel, The Stranger (1977)

Columbia

29. Billy Joel, ‘The Stranger’ (1977)

Five albums into a career that started in 1965 and included a stop in the psychedelic rock duo Attila, Billy Joel finally had a hit album with 1977’s The Stranger. 1973’s “Piano Man” offered a taste of the Top 40, but with The Stranger, he climbed into the Top 10 and produced the hit singles “Movin’ Out,” “Just the Way You Are” and “Only the Good Die Young.”

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28. The Allman Brothers Band, Brothers and Sisters (1973)

Capricorn

28. The Allman Brothers Band, ‘Brothers and Sisters’ (1973)

The Allman Brothers Band’s first full album after guitarist Duane Allman died in 1971, Brothers and Sisters, from 1973, regrouped following the part-live/part-studio leftovers set Eat a Peach. The result was the group’s only No. 1 album and their biggest single, Dickey Betts’ “Ramblin’ Man.” The guitarist and singer also contributed the lovely instrumental “Jessica.”

27. Billy Joel, 52nd Street (1978)

Family Productions/Columbia

27. Billy Joel, ’52nd Street’ (1978)

The year before Billy Joel released 52nd Street in 1978, he was being heralded as one of the best new voices in music, despite having made solo albums since 1971. 52nd Street is both an extension and a progression from The Stranger, using similar musical styles to weave stories and piano-driven pop songs into the Top 10. It was his first No. 1.

26. Rush, 2112 (1976)

Mercury

26. Rush, ‘2112’ (1976)

Rush’s breakthrough album, their fourth, split the difference between the era’s hard rock and their more naturally inclined progressive leanings. 2112 divides its sides as such, with one half incorporating the radio-friendly “A Passage to Bangkok” and “The Twilight Zone.” But it’s Side 1’s seven-part, time-shifting “2112” that prepped the stage for their arrival.

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25. The Beatles, Let It Be (1970)

Apple

25. The Beatles, ‘Let It Be’ (1970)

The Beatles’ last released album was mostly recorded in 1969, before Abbey Road, during tense sessions for a record that aimed to restore the group camaraderie absent on the White Album. The music sat on the shelf for a year before the disinterested Beatles handed over the tapes to Phil Spector for an occasionally overbaked but affecting LP.

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24. AC/DC, Let There Be Rock (1977)

ATCO

24. AC/DC, ‘Let There Be Rock’ (1977)

AC/DC didn’t change up much on their fourth LP; their stay-the-course nature has always been much of their appeal. But by 1977, the band felt stuck, worsened by their U.S. label’s rejection of 1976’s Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap. So they put a renewed focus on guitar — part Chuck Berry, part British blues — and Let There Be Rock helped stage their next era.

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23. Joni Mitchell, Blue (1971)

Reprise

23. Joni Mitchell, ‘Blue’ (1971)

With Blue, Joni Mitchell helped draft the plans for the singer-songwriter movement that was a big part of the culture during the first half of the ’70s. Spare, mostly acoustic songs framed by confessional, diary-like entries were common after Blue. Mitchell, though, soon grew tired of the route and began moving toward jazzier and more experimental paths.

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22. Black Sabbath, Paranoid (1970)

Vertigo

22. Black Sabbath, ‘Paranoid’ (1970)

Released seven months after their debut, Black Sabbath’s Paranoid showed a band developing new means of expression with each song. Heavy metal has its origins here; the songs — “War Pigs,” “Iron Man” and the brisk but powerful title track, especially — are among the band’s best. They continued to move music forward, but they were rarely as direct.

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21. Boston, Boston (1976)

Epic

21. Boston, ‘Boston’ (1976)

Boston famously recorded much of their blockbuster debut album in leader Tom Scholz’s Massachusetts home. The music — overlaid guitars underlining Brad Delp’s soaring vocals and songs chiseled to FM radio perfection — was made to sound big and played in front of adoring audiences. Boston quickly became the best-selling debut LP of all time.

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20. The Who, Whos Next (1971)

Decca

20. The Who, Who’s Next’ (1971)

For the follow-up to Tommy, Pete Townshend wanted to go even bigger. But after months of stalled recording, he abandoned the Lifehouse project for the scaled-back Who’s Next. The result is the Who’s best and meatiest LP, an exciting and innovative work of synthesizer-aided experiments (“Baba O’Riley”) and operatic rock ‘n’ roll (“Won’t Get Fooled Again”).

19. Steely Dan, Aja (1977)

ABC

19. Steely Dan, ‘Aja’ (1977)

The audiophile’s record of choice is an impeccable-sounding work of ultra-schooled jazz fans writing and performing at their peak. But Aja also remains an album of subtle tonal shifts and some of the rotating group’s most accessible songs. “Peg” and “Deacon Blues” add depth and richness to mid- and late-’70s pop, blending sophistication with rare openness.

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18. Paul McCartney and Wings, Band on the Run (1973)

Apple

18. Paul McCartney and Wings, ‘Band on the Run’ (1973)

Paul McCartney’s fifth post-Beatles LP, and third with Wings, includes his best set of songs since Abbey Road. And Band on the Run has much in common with the Beatles’ last-recorded LP. From sheer pop majesty (the title track) to full-throated rock songs (“Jet”) to a lengthy suite brimming with ideas (“Picasso’s Last Words [Drink to Me]”), it’s one of his best.

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17. Led Zeppelin, Physical Graffiti (1975)

Swan Song

17. Led Zeppelin, ‘Physical Graffiti’ (1975)

Led Zeppelin’s sixth album was partially pieced together from leftovers from their earlier LPs. A handful of the songs were new — including “Custard Pie,” “Trampled Under Foot” and “Kashmir” — and they’re the nucleus of Physical Graffiti. The band had recently started its own Swan Song label, allowing more freedom. The double LP brims with control.

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16. George Harrison, All Things Must Pass (1970)

Apple

16. George Harrison, ‘All Things Must Pass’ (1970)

Like former bandmate John Lennon, George Harrison had released solo albums before his proper 1970 debut, but they were experimental works with limited audience appeal. All Things Must Pass was built on Harrison’s growing reputation as a songwriter (see his two excellent songs on the Beatles’ Abbey Road). This three-LP set is proudly all over the place.

15. Aerosmith, Rocks (1976)

Columbia

15. Aerosmith, ‘Rocks’ (1976)

Aerosmith’s fourth album followed the success of both 1975’s Toys in the Attic and the rerelease of the debut’s “Dream On,” their first Top 10 hit. Rocks at times feels like a sequel to Attic, with the same producer and mix of slippery mid-’70s hard rock and blues-borrowed riffs. But the key tracks here (“Back in the Saddle” and “Last Child”) reveal more command.

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14. Marvin Gaye, Whats Going On (1971)

Tamla

14. Marvin Gaye, ‘What’s Going On’ (1971)

Like his fellow artists on Motown’s roster at the dawn of the ’70s, Marvin Gaye was itching for artistic autonomy. In 1971, he was granted it and proceeded to make What’s Going On, a concept album about the Vietnam War, race tensions and the plight of inner cities. It’s a solemn report from the front lines and a plea for understanding. The message still matters.

13. The Rolling Stones, Sticky Fingers (1971)

Rolling Stones

13. The Rolling Stones, ‘Sticky Fingers’ (1971)

In many ways, Sticky Fingers is the most characteristic of all Rolling Stones albums. Killer riffs, blaring horns somewhere between soul and the swamp, a bit of controversy and turn-of-the-decade self-absorption only a band of the Stones’ stature could get away with — they’re all here. The seamless follow-up to Let It Bleed and ramp-up to Exile on Main St.

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12. Eagles, Hotel California (1976)

Asylum

12. Eagles, ‘Hotel California’ (1976)

Turning the mirror toward themselves, Eagles take a long look at the reflection of L.A. decadence staring back at them on their masterpiece. Hotel California is about excess: the cars, the women, the drugs. The group knows enough to concede to the image, but most of the time, they won’t heed the warnings — a desolate look into music’s darkest sides.

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11. David Bowie, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars (1972)

RCA

11. David Bowie, ‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars’ (1972)

David Bowie finally became David Bowie on his fifth album. 1971’s Hunky Dory presented an artist honing his vision; the next year’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars was a towering execution of its themes. Adapting new personas, Bowie and his band play up glam stereotypes, turn them inside out and display their masterpiece.

10. Aerosmith, Toys in the Attic (1975)

Columbia

10. Aerosmith, ‘Toys in the Attic’ (1975)

The third album from Aerosmith became their breakthrough after “Sweet Emotion” and, later, “Walk This Way,” helped outline the Boston band’s sinewy brand of mid-’70s music. Toys in the Attic established itself as a model of the era’s FM radio and arena-made hard rock — from razor-sharp riffs to Steven Tyler’s vocal acrobatics. A standard was now set.

9. Bob Dylan, Blood on the Tracks (1975)

Columbia

9. Bob Dylan, ‘Blood on the Tracks’ (1975)

Bob Dylan has long insisted that Blood on the Tracks is not a breakup album. But how else to interpret caustic songs such as “You’re a Big Girl Now,” “If You See Her, Say Hello” and the truly venomous “Idiot Wind”? Either way, Dylan’s 15th LP is one of his best and timeless, an outstanding work by an artist renewed in his musical faith, and not for the last time.

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8. The Clash, London Calling (1979)

CBS

8. The Clash, ‘London Calling’ (1979)

The history of rock ‘n’ roll, told over two LPs and 65 minutes, by one of the greatest rock bands ever. London Calling swings through jazz, pop, R&B, rockabilly, ska and punk with an effortless ease that reveals just how focused the Clash could be. Encouraged by the success, they made a triple-album, more wide-ranging, the next year. This is the masterpiece.

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7. Van Halen, Van Halen (1978)

Warner Bros.

7. Van Halen, ‘Van Halen’ (1978)

Van Halen’s debut marked a shift in ’70s hard rock. With a colossal rhythm section and the most innovative guitarist since Jimi Hendrix, the quartet seized the bridge between rock fundamentals and shaking foundations. Van Halen has powerful originals (“Runnin’ With the Devil”), a classic cover (“You Really Got Me”) and a rep-making instrumental (“Eruption”).

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6. Bruce Springsteen, Born to Run (1975)

Columbia

6. Bruce Springsteen, ‘Born to Run’ (1975)

Bruce Springsteen’s bar-band instincts evolved into a new studio perfectionism, prompting him to revisit Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound and commit to epic storytelling for an album that could have collapsed under its own weight. Instead, Born to Run made Springsteen a household name; its legend was instantaneous. A star is born along with a classic.

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5. The Rolling Stones, Exile on Main St. (1972)

Rolling Stones

5. The Rolling Stones, ‘Exile on Main St.’ (1972)

The Rolling Stones continued their exalted run started on 1968’s Beggars Banquet with 1972’s Exile on Main St., their 10th LP and their masterpiece. Famously recorded mostly near Paris under a drug- and alcohol-fueled haze, the double album reflects the chaotic surroundings and nature of the late-night sessions. Decades later, its influence remains.

4. Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin IV (1971)

Atlantic

4. Led Zeppelin, ‘Led Zeppelin IV’ (1971)

Following the part-acoustic offerings in Led Zeppelin III, the band’s fourth LP stated its purpose in the second song: “It’s been a long time since I rock and rolled.” Led Zeppelin IV is as much back-to-basics as it is a reflection of the band’s evolution over the past couple of years. There’s no filler — from the lean “Black Dog” to the majestic “Stairway to Heaven.”

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3. Fleetwood Mac, Rumours (1977)

Warner Bros.

3. Fleetwood Mac, ‘Rumours’ (1977)

1975’s Fleetwood Mac was just a test run for one of the ’70s’ best and biggest-selling albums. Rumours was released as the band members were falling out, their personal and romantic relationships strained by the events of the past two years of new success and fame. The result is a breakup LP celebrating the comfort and joy of songs. It’s one for the ages.

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2. Stevie Wonder, Songs in the Key of Life (1976)

Tamla

2. Stevie Wonder, ‘Songs in the Key of Life’ (1976)

Few artists in popular music were as big as Stevie Wonder in 1976. Multiple Grammy wins, guaranteed No. 1s and a creative run matched by only a few others greeted his double-LP-plus-EP masterpiece Songs in the Key of Life. More Grammys and No. 1s followed. Over 103 flawless minutes, elegant love songs are braided into Black and music history.

1. Pink Floyd, The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)

Harvest

1. Pink Floyd, ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ (1973)

The Dark Side of the Moon was more than just a hit album; it became a phenomenon that went on to be one of the best-selling LPs of all time and a record holder for its enduring chart presence. More than that, though, Pink Floyd’s eighth LP set a stage for a new era of rock records and the way they were presented. The Dark Side of the Moon reflected the group’s evolution over the past half-decade; its songs and themes aren’t that far removed from what they had been moving toward since the start of the ’70s. But it sounds more expansive, and its 10 tracks piece together a loose concept of madness and mortality. The album reaches the pinnacle of 1970s rock music, with its cover art and title as iconic as anything released before or after. With The Dark Side of the Moon, Pink Floyd achieved greatness and, in turn, the immortality they strived for.