Previous: 1976

As I did with 1969, I have selected 20 songs. Quite simply, there’s too much good stuff. 1977 might actually be my favorite year in rock music: the birth of the Clash, Cohen working with Spector, two game-changing albums from Bowie and Costello’s debut album. Even Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours, an album I feel like I should hate, is pop perfection.

20. Billy Joel- Just the Way You Are (Listen)

19. The Clash- Complete Control (Listen)

18. The Damned- Neat Neat Neat (Listen)

17. Parliament- Flash Light (Listen)

16. Richard Hell and the Voidoids- Blank Generation (Listen)

15. Leonard Cohen- Memories (Listen)

14. The Clash- Janie Jones (Listen)

13. Ramones- Sheena is a Punk Rocker (Listen)

12. Bob Marley- Natural Mystic (Listen)

11. Bee Gees- How Deep Is Your Love (Listen)

10. Talking Heads- Psycho Killer (Listen)

9. Television- Venus (Listen)

8. The Jam- Away from the Numbers (Listen)

7. Sex Pistols- Holidays in the Sun (Listen)

6. Paul Simon- Slip Slidin’ Away (Listen)

5. David Bowie- “Heroes” (Listen)

4. Fleetwood Mac- Dreams (Listen)

3. David Bowie- Sound and Vision (Listen)

2. Elvis Costello- Alison (Listen)

1. Neil Young- Like a Hurricane (Listen)

Next: 1978

See Also: Top 10 Albums of 1977

Previous: 1973

Despite a handful of highlights, 1974 was not a particularly strong year for music. I don’t particularly like Queen, so their presence alone is a sign, though “Killer Queen” is admittedly one of their great recordings. “Late for the Sky” used to be my all-time favorite song, but I think I’ve listened to it far too many times during break-ups and other emo moments. (Either that, or I’ve seen Taxi Driver too many times, which has coincidentally dropped off my all-time 10 favorite movies list.) And yes, I adore Abba.

10. Gram Parsons- Return of the Grievous Angel (Listen)

9. David Bowie- Rebel Rebel (Listen)

8. Queen- Killer Queen (Listen)

7. Tom Waits- The Heart of Saturday Night (Listen)

6. Brian Eno- Needles in the Camel’s Eye (Listen)

5. Leonard Cohen- Who By Fire (Listen)

4. Richard and Linda Thompson- When I Get to the Border (Listen)

3. Abba- Waterloo (Listen)

2. Jackson Browne- Late for the Sky (Listen)

1. Neil Young- Walk On

Next: 1975

See Also: Top 10 Albums of 1974

Previous: 1968

I set out to make top 10 lists for each year, but I decided that 1969, perhaps the greatest year in rock history, warranted 20 songs. MC5 would have been much higher a few years ago, but I’ve listened to “Kick Out the Jams” too many times, and consequently its sheer brutality doesn’t seem quite as fresh as it did upon first listen. The fact that Led Zeppelin put out its two first (and best) albums in one year stills blows my mind. Elvis is probably most respected for his early 50s singles, but “Suspicious Minds” remains my favorite of his for its emotional vulnerability and Spector-esque production. And last but most certainly not least, the greatest band of all time declares it’s time for “The End.”

20. MC5- Kick Out the Jams (Listen)

19. Leonard Cohen- Bird on a Wire (Listen)

18. Led Zeppelin- What Is and What Should Never Be (Listen)

17. Jimmy Cliff- Many Rivers to Cross (Listen)

16. The Rolling Stones- Honky Tonk Women (Listen)

15. Neil Diamond- Sweet Caroline (Listen)

14. The Rolling Stones- Gimme Shelter (Listen)

13. The Band- When You Awake (Listen)

12. Johnny Cash- A Boy Named Sue (Listen)

11. Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band- Moonlight on Vermont (Listen)

10. David Bowie- Space Oddity (Listen)

9. King Crimson- 21st Century Schizoid Man (Listen)

8. Neil Young- Everybody Knows This is Nowhere (Listen)

7. Crosby, Stills and Nash- Suite: Judy Blue Eyes (Listen)

6. The Jackson 5- I Want You Back (Listen)

5. The Stooges- I Wanna Be Your Dog (Listen)

4. The Beatles- Don’t Let Me Down (Listen)

3. Elvis Presley- Suspicious Minds (Listen)

2. Led Zeppelin- Babe I’m Gonna Leave You (Listen)

1. The Beatles- Something (Listen)

Next: 1970

See Also: Top 10 Albums of 1969

Previous: 1966

I have to think that these particular Leonard Cohen and Jefferson Airplane songs are here thanks in part to McCabe and Mrs. Miller and A Serious Man. I first recognized the greatness of the Temptations track after reading Rod Stewart rave about it in Rolling Stone. “These Days” is such a perfect song, so just about every recording of it deserves to be on any list. Sam Cooke’s original is still my favorite, but Aretha’s version of “A Change is Gonna Come” is so devastatingly moving: “There’s an old friend that I once heard say something that touched my heart and it began this way.”

10. Leonard Cohen- The Stranger Song (Listen)

9. Jefferson Airplane- Somebody to Love (Listen)

8. The Temptations- I Wish It Would Rain (Listen)

7. The Velvet Underground- Venus in Furs (Listen)

6. The Beatles- Strawberry Fields Forever (Listen)

5. Nico- These Days (Listen)

4. Jimi Hendrix- Little Wing (Listen)

3. Frankie Valli- Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You (Listen)

2. Aretha Franklin- A Change is Gonna Come (Listen)

1. The Beatles- A Day in the Life (Listen)

Next: 1968

See Also: Top 10 Albums of 1967

1. Pavement- Slanted & Enchanted

Listen: “Trigger Cut/Wounded-Kite At :17”

2. Rage Against the Machine- Rage Against the Machine

Listen: “Killing In the Name”

3. Dr. Dre- The Chronic

Listen: “Fuck Wit Dre Day (And Everybody’s Celebratin’)”

4. Beastie Boys- Check Your Head

Listen: “So What’cha Want”

5. R.E.M.- Automatic for the People

Listen: “Nightswimming”

6. Tom Waits- Bone Machine

Listen: “I Don’t Wanna Grow Up”

7. Leonard Cohen- The Future

Listen: “Democracy”

8. Vigilantes of Love- Killing Floor

Listen: “Undertow”

9. Eric Clapton- Unplugged

Listen: “Tears in Heaven”

10. Mark Heard- Satellite Sky

Listen: “Long Way Down”

Updated: March 10, 2012

See Also: Top 10 Movies of 1992, Top 10 Albums of 2007, Top 10 Albums of 2006, Top 10 Albums of 2005, Top 10 Albums of 2004, Top 10 Albums of 2003,  Top 10 Albums of 2002, Top 10 Albums of 2001, Top 10 Albums of 2000, Top 10 Albums of 1999, Top 10 Albums of 1998, Top 10 Albums of 1997, Top 10 Albums of 1996, Top 10 Albums of 1995, Top 10 Albums of 1994, Top 10 Albums of 1993, Top 10 Albums of 1991, Top 10 Albums of 1990, Top 10 Albums of 1989, Top 10 Albums of 1988, Top 10 Albums of 1987, Top 10 Albums of 1986, Top 10 Albums of 1985, Top 10 Albums of 1984, Top 10 Albums of 1983, Top 10 Albums of 1982, Top 10 Albums of 1981, Top 10 Albums of 1980, Top 10 Albums of 1979, Top 10 Albums of 1978, Top 10 Albums of 1977, Top 10 Albums of 1976, Top 10 Albums of 1975, Top 10 Albums of 1974, Top 10 Albums of 1973, Top 10 Albums of 1972, Top 10 Albums of 1971, Top 10 Albums of 1970, Top 10 Albums of 1969, Top 10 Albums of 1968, Top 10 Albums of 1967, Top 10 Albums of 1966, Top 10 Albums of 1965

1. Sonic Youth- Daydream Nation

Listen: “Teen Age Riot”

2. Public Enemy- It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back

Listen: “Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos”

3. Pixies- Surfer Rosa

Listen: “Gigantic” [Non-Album Live Version]

4. Eric B. and Rakim- Follow the Leader

Listen: “Follow the Leader”

5. N.W.A- Straight Outta Compton

Listen: “Fuck Tha Police”

6. Leonard Cohen- I’m Your Man

Listen: “Tower of Song”

7. My Bloody Valentine- Isn’t Anything

Listen: “Cupid Come”

8. Talk Talk- Spirit of Eden

Listen: “I Believe In You”

9. Slick Rick- The Great Adventures of Slick Rick

Listen: “Children’s Story”

10. Neil Young & The Bluenotes- This Note’s for You

Listen: “This Note’s For You”

Honorable Mention: Living Colour’s Vivid

Updated: February 15, 2012

See Also: Top 10 Albums of 2007, Top 10 Albums of 2006, Top 10 Albums of 2005, Top 10 Albums of 2004, Top 10 Albums of 2003,  Top 10 Albums of 2002, Top 10 Albums of 2001, Top 10 Albums of 2000, Top 10 Albums of 1999, Top 10 Albums of 1998, Top 10 Albums of 1997, Top 10 Albums of 1996, Top 10 Albums of 1995, Top 10 Albums of 1994, Top 10 Albums of 1993, Top 10 Albums of 1992, Top 10 Albums of 1991, Top 10 Albums of 1990, Top 10 Albums of 1989, Top 10 Albums of 1987, Top 10 Albums of 1986, Top 10 Albums of 1985, Top 10 Albums of 1984, Top 10 Albums of 1983, Top 10 Albums of 1982, Top 10 Albums of 1981, Top 10 Albums of 1980, Top 10 Albums of 1979, Top 10 Albums of 1978, Top 10 Albums of 1977, Top 10 Albums of 1976, Top 10 Albums of 1975, Top 10 Albums of 1974, Top 10 Albums of 1973, Top 10 Albums of 1972, Top 10 Albums of 1971, Top 10 Albums of 1970, Top 10 Albums of 1969, Top 10 Albums of 1968, Top 10 Albums of 1967, Top 10 Albums of 1966, Top 10 Albums of 1965

1. Elvis Costello- My Aim is True

Listen: “(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes” [Non-Album Live Version]

2. Sex Pistols- Never Mind the Bollocks Here’s the Sex Pistols

Listen: “Anarchy in the U.K.”

3. The Clash- The Clash

Listen: “Janie Jones”

4. David Bowie- Low

Listen: “Sound and Vision”

5. Television- Marquee Moon

Listen: “Venus”

6. Ramones- Rocket to Russia

Listen: “Teenage Lobotomy” [Non-Album Live Version]

7. Leonard Cohen- Death of a Ladies’ Man

Listen: “Don’t Go Home With Your Hard-On”

8. The Jam- In the City

Listen: “Away From the Numbers”

9. David Bowie- “Heroes”

Listen: “Heroes”

10. Fleetwood Mac- Rumours

Listen: “Dreams”

Honorable Mention: Richard Hell & The Voidoids’ Blank Generation, Kraftwerk’s Trans-Europe Express, Bob Marley’s Exodus, Iggy Pop’s Lust for Life, Talking Heads’ Talking Heads: 77

Updated: December 31, 2011

See Also: Top 20 Tracks of 1977, Top 10 Albums of 2007, Top 10 Albums of 2006, Top 10 Albums of 2005, Top 10 Albums of 2004, Top 10 Albums of 2003,  Top 10 Albums of 2002, Top 10 Albums of 2001, Top 10 Albums of 2000, Top 10 Albums of 1999, Top 10 Albums of 1998, Top 10 Albums of 1997, Top 10 Albums of 1996, Top 10 Albums of 1995, Top 10 Albums of 1994, Top 10 Albums of 1993, Top 10 Albums of 1992, Top 10 Albums of 1991, Top 10 Albums of 1990, Top 10 Albums of 1989, Top 10 Albums of 1988, Top 10 Albums of 1987, Top 10 Albums of 1986, Top 10 Albums of 1985, Top 10 Albums of 1984, Top 10 Albums of 1983, Top 10 Albums of 1982, Top 10 Albums of 1981, Top 10 Albums of 1980, Top 10 Albums of 1979, Top 10 Albums of 1978, Top 10 Albums of 1976, Top 10 Albums of 1975, Top 10 Albums of 1974, Top 10 Albums of 1973, Top 10 Albums of 1972, Top 10 Albums of 1971, Top 10 Albums of 1970, Top 10 Albums of 1969, Top 10 Albums of 1968, Top 10 Albums of 1967, Top 10 Albums of 1966, Top 10 Albums of 1965

1. Joni Mitchell- Blue

Listen: “A Case of You”

2. David Bowie- Hunky Dory

Listen: “Quicksand”

3. The Rolling Stones- Sticky Fingers

Listen: “I Got the Blues”

4. Leonard Cohen- Songs of Love and Hate

Listen: “Dress Rehearsal Rag”

5. The Who- Who’s Next

Listen: “Baba O’Riley”

6. Led Zeppelin- Led Zeppelin IV

Listen: “Misty Mountain Hop”

7. Funkadelic- Maggot Brain

Listen: “Hit It and Quit It”

8. John Lennon- Imagine

Listen: “Oh Yoko!”

9. Miles Davis- A Tribute to Jack Johnson

Listen: “Right Off” (Part 1)

10. Marvin Gaye- What’s Going On

Listen: “What’s Going On”

Honorable Mention: The Allman Brothers Band’s At Fillmore East, Can’s Tago Mago, Janis Joplin’s Pearl, B.B. King’s Live at Cook County Jail, Van Morrison’s Tupelo Honey, Sly and the Family Stone’s There’s a Riot Goin’ On, T. Rex’s Electric Warrior

Updated: December 31, 2011

See Also: Top 10 Tracks of 1971, Top 10 Albums of 2007, Top 10 Albums of 2006, Top 10 Albums of 2005, Top 10 Albums of 2004, Top 10 Albums of 2003,  Top 10 Albums of 2002, Top 10 Albums of 2001, Top 10 Albums of 2000, Top 10 Albums of 1999, Top 10 Albums of 1998, Top 10 Albums of 1997, Top 10 Albums of 1996, Top 10 Albums of 1995, Top 10 Albums of 1994, Top 10 Albums of 1993, Top 10 Albums of 1992, Top 10 Albums of 1991, Top 10 Albums of 1990, Top 10 Albums of 1989, Top 10 Albums of 1988, Top 10 Albums of 1987, Top 10 Albums of 1986, Top 10 Albums of 1985, Top 10 Albums of 1984, Top 10 Albums of 1983, Top 10 Albums of 1982, Top 10 Albums of 1981, Top 10 Albums of 1980, Top 10 Albums of 1979, Top 10 Albums of 1978, Top 10 Albums of 1977, Top 10 Albums of 1976, Top 10 Albums of 1975, Top 10 Albums of 1974, Top 10 Albums of 1973, Top 10 Albums of 1972, Top 10 Albums of 1970, Top 10 Albums of 1969, Top 10 Albums of 1968, Top 10 Albums of 1967, Top 10 Albums of 1966, Top 10 Albums of 1965

1. The Velvet Underground- The Velvet Underground & Nico

2. The Beatles- Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

3. Jimi Hendrix- Axis: Bold As Love

4. Jimi Hendrix- Are You Experienced?

5. Aretha Franklin- I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You

6. The Beatles- Magical Mystery Tour

7. Leonard Cohen- Songs of Leonard Cohen

8. Captain Beefheart- Safe As Milk

9. Cream- Disraeli Gears

10. The Byrds- Younger Than Yesterday

Honorable Mention: Love’s Forever Changes, Pink Floyd’s The Piper at the Gates of Dawn

Updated: December 31, 2011

See Also: Top 10 Tracks of 1967, Top 10 Albums of 2007, Top 10 Albums of 2006, Top 10 Albums of 2005, Top 10 Albums of 2004, Top 10 Albums of 2003,  Top 10 Albums of 2002, Top 10 Albums of 2001, Top 10 Albums of 2000, Top 10 Albums of 1999, Top 10 Albums of 1998, Top 10 Albums of 1997, Top 10 Albums of 1996, Top 10 Albums of 1995, Top 10 Albums of 1994, Top 10 Albums of 1993, Top 10 Albums of 1992, Top 10 Albums of 1991, Top 10 Albums of 1990, Top 10 Albums of 1989, Top 10 Albums of 1988, Top 10 Albums of 1987, Top 10 Albums of 1986, Top 10 Albums of 1985, Top 10 Albums of 1984, Top 10 Albums of 1983, Top 10 Albums of 1982, Top 10 Albums of 1981, Top 10 Albums of 1980, Top 10 Albums of 1979, Top 10 Albums of 1978, Top 10 Albums of 1977, Top 10 Albums of 1976, Top 10 Albums of 1975, Top 10 Albums of 1974, Top 10 Albums of 1973, Top 10 Albums of 1972, Top 10 Albums of 1971, Top 10 Albums of 1970, Top 10 Albums of 1969, Top 10 Albums of 1968, Top 10 Albums of 1966, Top 10 Albums of 1965