1977: Music's Greatest Year?
There have been plenty of legendary years in music, and picking the greatest one is guaranteed to start an argument. But if there’s a year that deserves a serious look, it’s 1977.
Just take a glance at the albums that topped the charts—and a few classics that somehow didn't—and you'll see why. Rock, pop, disco, punk, and everything in between were firing on all cylinders, producing records that are still celebrated decades later.
Think we're onto something? Take a look at the albums that defined 1977 and decide for yourself. You might end up agreeing that music has never quite reached these heights again—or you might think we've completely lost the plot.
"Songs In The Key Of Life" (Stevie Wonder)
2 Weeks: January 1, 8
Talk about starting off strong, right? Actually, as strong as 1977 started, 1976 ended—as Stevie Wonder's double LP masterpiece spent the last 11 weeks of 1976 atop the Billboard 200 album charts, before making it 13 straight weeks with the first fortnight of 1977. "Sir Duke", "I Wish"," As", "Isn't She Lovely", "Pastime Paradise"...the list of great songs from this album goes on and on. It also ranked fourth on Rolling Stone's 2020 list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time".
Is it cheating to use this one, given that it was technically released in 1976? Nope. It spent enough time topping the 1977 charts to make it a totally viable piece of evidence in our case.
As is the album that knocked Songs in the Key of Life out of the top spot...
Los Angeles Times, Wikimedia Commons
"Hotel California" (Eagles)
1 Week: January 15
The Eagles' best-selling non-Greatest Hits album is more than just the title track. Sure, that track is one of the greatest rock songs ever written. But "New Kid in Town" was a number one single—and "Life in the Fast Lane" and "Victim of Love" are two great tracks as well.
Again, yes it was technically released in 1976—but it was December, so we have no issues including it here.
Eagles - Hotel California (Live 1977) (Official Video) [HD], Eagles
"The Stranger" (Billy Joel)
It didn't hit number one on the charts, but Billy Joel's awesome fifth album did reach number two on the Billboard 200. And with songs like "Just the Way You Are", "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)", "She's Always a Woman", "Only the Good Die Young", "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant", and "Vienna"—this one is full of classics.
Billy Joel - The Stranger (Live 1977), Billy Joel
"Wings Over America" (Wings)
1 Week: January 22
People sometimes forget how much success Paul McCartney had after The Beatles with Wings. Did you know that Wings released five number-one albums in a row—and Wings over America was the fifth one. A live triple-album, Wings Over America featured mostly McCartney and Wings material, but they also performed five Beatles songs.
If you're familiar with the beautiful live version of "Maybe I'm Amazed"—that's from this album.
Paul McCartney - Wings Over America World Tour - 1976, Joel Banos
"The Clash" (The Clash)
The Clash's self-titled debut album topped out at 126 on the Billboard 200, but it is no doubt one of the greatest punk albums of all time.
And yes, while the album wasn't released in America until 1979—it did get its UK release in 1977 and is thus available for this list.
Clash Hate and war Live in Munich 1977, Clash Hate and war Live in Munich 1977
"Songs In The Key Of Life" (Stevie Wonder)
1 Week: January 29
People hadn't had enough of Stevie Wonder's brilliant album, and it once again made its way to the top of the charts. Well deserved.
Stevie Wonder - As - Live In The Studio 1976, Drew Horley
"Out Of The Blue" (Electric Light Orchestra)
What's perhaps most remarkable is that Jeff Lynne wrote the entire album—a sprawling 17-track double LP—in just three weeks. While modern audiences may know Out of the Blue primarily for "Mr. Blue Sky," thanks in part to Baby Groot's memorable dance sequence in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, that song is only one piece of a much bigger achievement. Packed with ambitious arrangements, infectious hooks, and Lynne's signature production style, the album earned rave reviews upon release, with one critic memorably describing it as "almost a masterpiece"—a verdict many fans would argue was selling it short.
Electric Light Orchestra - Mr. Blue Sky (Official Video), ELO
"Hotel California" (Eagles)
1 Week: February 5
The Eagles would make their way to the top of the Billboard 200 multiple times throughout the year with Hotel California. It was such a "lovely place" for them in 1977.
The 26x Platinum album was nominated for Album of the Year—and it probably would've won, had it not been for another classic album we will be talking about shortly.
Eagles - Hotel California (Live 1977) (Official Video) [HD], Eagles"Never Mind the B....." (TSP)
The Sid Vicious-led band only made one album, but oh boy, did it make an impact—not only at the time, but in its influence on future artists for generations.
"A Star Is Born" (Streisand & Kristofferson)
6 Weeks: February 12, 19, 26 & March 5, 12, 19
41 years before Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper took the A Star Is Born soundtrack to the top of the charts, Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson did the same thing—and they hung out at the top of the charts for six straight weeks.
Is it the best soundtrack album of all time? No. But it adds another quality LP to the 1977 collection.
“Evergreen” from A Star Is Born” (1976), Barbra Streisand
"Exodus" (Bob Marley And The Wailers)
The ninth studio album from Bob Marley and the Wailers, Exodus hit number 20 on the charts and is the album that made Marley an international star.
Also, you know that Bob Marley greatest hits compilation, Legend, that we all have? Well, there are more songs on that compilation from Exodus than from any other Marley album ("Three Little Birds", "One Love/People Get Ready", "Exodus", "Jamming", "Waiting in Vain").
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Exodus (Live At The Rainbow 4th June 1977), Bob Marley
"Hotel California" (Eagles)
1 Week: March 26
Dipping in and out of the top spot, Hotel California once again dipped in for one week in March—this is now the album's third week at the top (spoiler: it won't be the last either).
Eagles - Hotel California (Live 1977) (Official Video) [HD], Eagles
"Animals" (Pink Floyd)
Pink Floyd's 1977 five-track concept album might not be as popular or well-known as some of their other records—but it has continued to grow its acclaim over the decades and is considered, by fans, to be one of their best (and another piece of evidence in 1977's argument for being the best year in music).
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
"Rumours" (Fleetwood Mac)
2 Weeks: April 2, 9
And as if Hotel California and Out of the Blue weren't enough to make 1977 legendary, Fleetwood Mac raised the bar even higher with the April release of Rumours. Packed with 11 tracks and virtually no weak spots, the album is a masterclass in songwriting, production, and emotional honesty. Fueled by the band's real-life drama, it delivered hit after hit and went on to win Album of the Year at the Grammys—beating Hotel California in the process. Nearly 50 years later, it's still widely regarded as one of the greatest albums ever recorded.
Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (Official Music Video) [4K], Fleetwood Mac
"Bat Out Of Hell" (Meat Loaf)
Meat Loaf's debut album is the ninth best-selling album of all time. "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" is enough to make it worthy on its own—but the entire album is great.
Ronden Talent Management, Wikimedia Commons
"Hotel California" (Eagles)
5 Weeks: April 16, 23, 30 & May 7, 14
And speaking of Hotel California. Back it came again—this time, sticking around in the top spot on the Billboard 200 for five straight weeks. It currently ranks as the sixth best-selling album of all time (behind the Eagles' Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) in fifth place)
And what is two places down in eighth?
Eagles - Hotel California (Live 1977) (Official Video) [HD], Eagles
"Rumours" (Fleetwood Mac)
8 Weeks: May 21, 28 & June 4, 11, 18, 25 & July 2, 9
The best-selling album of 1977 and the eighth best-selling album of all time regained the top spot and hung out there for eight weeks—but wait. To paraphrase your favorite talk shows from the good ol' days of television: they'll be right back after a short message from Barry Manilow...
Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (Official Music Video) [4K], Fleetwood Mac
"Barry Manilow Live" (Barry Manilow)
1 Week: July 16
Wings might've had the best live album of the year—but Barry Manilow had his moment at the top with Barry Manilow Live. But after one week there, it was back to...
William Morris Agency (management), Wikimedia Commons
"Rumours" (Fleetwood Mac)
19 Weeks: July 23, 30 & August 6, 13, 20, 27 & September 3, 10, 17, 24 & October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 & November 5, 12, 19, 26
Yes, you read that right...19 straight weeks at number one. And we'll say it again: Not one dud on the entire album.
Fleetwood Mac - The Chain (Official Music Video) [HD], Fleetwood Mac
"Lust For Life" (Iggy Pop)
Pop's Lust for Life didn't get much promotion in 1977 and didn't see major success on the charts—but there is no doubting its lasting influence.
Iggy Pop - Lust For Life, Iggy Pop Official
"Simple Dreams" (Linda Ronstadt)
5 Weeks: December 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
Not only was Simple Dreams the best-selling album of Linda Ronstadt's career, it also made history. At the time of its release, it became the second best-selling album ever recorded by a female artist, trailing only Carole King's Tapestry. Fueled by a string of hit singles and Ronstadt's effortless ability to move between rock, country, and pop, the album cemented her status as one of the biggest stars of the 1970s—and one of the era's most commercially successful artists.
Rob Bogaerts / Anefo, Wikimedia Commons
"Saturday Night Fever" (Soundtrack)
Of course, there's no way we were going to talk about how great music was in 1977 and not mention the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.
The 70s often get negatively painted with the disco brush—but this amazing soundtrack is the genre at its best. Released in 1977, the album would go on to rule the top of the charts for 24 straight weeks in 1978, and it would have a place on the Billboard 200 all the way until March of 1980.
Saturday Night Fever (Bee Gees, You Should be Dancing) John Travolta HD 1080 with Lyrics, stufal69
The Greatest Year?
From rock and roll to punk to concept albums, soundtracks, and disco, 1977 gave us variety of true masterpieces and more albums among the top 10 best-sellers of all time than any other year in history.
So... Is it the best year in music ever?
Let us know what you think!
Jet Records, Wikimedia Commons
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