B-Side Guys

The Best Albums of 1970

Every album of 1970, ranked by B-Side Breakdown: the reviews from 38 outlets we trust, put on one 0–100 scale. An album needs at least 5 reviews to make the list.

Album cover for Bitches Brew by Miles DavisNumber one of 1970Miles DavisBitches Brew97 A+6 critics · 100% approval · Unanimous · A-Side
Average Breakdown84across 1970's albums. That's higher than 94% of the other years here.
Liked79%of 1970's albums scored 75 or higher. Across every year it's 50%.
Most divisiveContentiousBob Dylan, Self Portrait split the critics more than any other album of the year.A-Sides42%of 1970's albums earned an A-Side. Across every year it's 5.9%.
  1. 1Album cover for Bitches Brew by Miles Davis
    Miles DavisBitches Brew1970 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    97A+
  2. 2Album cover for Fun House by The Stooges
    The StoogesFun HouseJuly 7, 1970 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    97A+
  3. 3Album cover for Workingman’s Dead by Grateful Dead
    Grateful DeadWorkingman’s DeadJune 14, 1970 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    97A+
  4. 4Album cover for All Things Must Pass by George Harrison
    George HarrisonAll Things Must PassNovember 27, 1970 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    96A
  5. 5Album cover for Moondance by Van Morrison
    Van MorrisonMoondanceMarch 1970 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    96A
  6. 6Album cover for Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs by Derek and the Dominos
    Derek and the DominosLayla and Other Assorted Love SongsNovember 1970 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    94A
  7. 7Album cover for Cosmo’s Factory by Creedence Clearwater Revival
    Creedence Clearwater RevivalCosmo’s FactoryJuly 25, 1970 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    93A
  8. 8Album cover for Loaded by The Velvet Underground
    The Velvet UndergroundLoadedSeptember 1970 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    91A-
  9. 9Album cover for Sunflower by The Beach Boys
    The Beach BoysSunflowerAugust 31, 1970 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    90A-
  10. 10Album cover for Led Zeppelin III by Led Zeppelin
    Led ZeppelinLed Zeppelin IIIOctober 5, 1970 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-

How 1970 grades

Share of albums at each letter grade. A is 90 and up, F is below 60.

1970

A42%
B29%
C12%
D12%
F4%

Every year

A6%
B25%
C38%
D21%
F10%
  1. 11Album cover for Paranoid by Black Sabbath
    Black SabbathParanoidSeptember 18, 1970 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate
    89B+
  2. 12Album cover for Back in the USA by MC5
    MC5Back in the USA1970 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    87B+
  3. 13Album cover for John Barleycorn Must Die by Traffic
    TrafficJohn Barleycorn Must DieJuly 1970 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    85B
  4. 14Album cover for Tumbleweed Connection by Elton John
    Elton JohnTumbleweed ConnectionOctober 30, 1970 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    85B
  5. 15Album cover for Bridge over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel
    Simon & GarfunkelBridge over Troubled WaterJanuary 26, 1970 · 9 reviews · 89% approval · Some debate
    85B
  6. 16Album cover for Curtis by Curtis Mayfield
    Curtis MayfieldCurtisSeptember 1970 · 6 reviews · 67% approval · Divided
    83B
  7. 17Album cover for His Band and the Street Choir by Van Morrison
    Van MorrisonHis Band and the Street ChoirOctober 1970 · 8 reviews · 63% approval · Some debate
    81B-
  8. 18Album cover for The Madcap Laughs by Syd Barrett
    Syd BarrettThe Madcap LaughsJanuary 3, 1970 · 5 reviews · 60% approval · Some debate
    78C+
  9. 19Album cover for Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath
    Black SabbathBlack SabbathFebruary 13, 1970 · 6 reviews · 50% approval · Broad agreement
    75C
  10. 20Album cover for First Step by Faces
    FacesFirst StepMarch 21, 1970 · 5 reviews · 40% approval · Broad agreement
    70C-
  11. 21Album cover for Let It Be by The Beatles
    The BeatlesLet It BeMay 8, 1970 · 7 reviews · 43% approval · Divided
    69D+
  12. 22Album cover for The Man Who Sold the World by David Bowie
    David BowieThe Man Who Sold the WorldNovember 4, 1970 · 5 reviews · 20% approval · Some debate
    65D
  13. 23Album cover for Beaucoups of Blues by Ringo Starr
    Ringo StarrBeaucoups of BluesSeptember 25, 1970 · 6 reviews · 50% approval · Divided
    64D
  14. 24Album cover for Self Portrait by Bob Dylan
    Bob DylanSelf PortraitJune 8, 1970 · 5 reviews · 20% approval · Contentious
    50F
  1. 1Album cover for Workingman’s Dead by Grateful Dead
    Grateful DeadWorkingman’s DeadJune 14, 1970 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    97A+
  2. 2Album cover for All Things Must Pass by George Harrison
    George HarrisonAll Things Must PassNovember 27, 1970 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    96A
  3. 3Album cover for Moondance by Van Morrison
    Van MorrisonMoondanceMarch 1970 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    96A
  4. 4Album cover for Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs by Derek and the Dominos
    Derek and the DominosLayla and Other Assorted Love SongsNovember 1970 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    94A
  5. 5Album cover for Cosmo’s Factory by Creedence Clearwater Revival
    Creedence Clearwater RevivalCosmo’s FactoryJuly 25, 1970 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    93A
  6. 6Album cover for Loaded by The Velvet Underground
    The Velvet UndergroundLoadedSeptember 1970 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    91A-
  7. 7Album cover for Sunflower by The Beach Boys
    The Beach BoysSunflowerAugust 31, 1970 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    90A-
  8. 8Album cover for Led Zeppelin III by Led Zeppelin
    Led ZeppelinLed Zeppelin IIIOctober 5, 1970 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-
  9. 9Album cover for Back in the USA by MC5
    MC5Back in the USA1970 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    87B+
  10. 10Album cover for John Barleycorn Must Die by Traffic
    TrafficJohn Barleycorn Must DieJuly 1970 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    85B
  11. 11Album cover for Tumbleweed Connection by Elton John
    Elton JohnTumbleweed ConnectionOctober 30, 1970 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    85B
  12. 12Album cover for His Band and the Street Choir by Van Morrison
    Van MorrisonHis Band and the Street ChoirOctober 1970 · 8 reviews · 63% approval · Some debate
    81B-
  13. 13Album cover for First Step by Faces
    FacesFirst StepMarch 21, 1970 · 5 reviews · 40% approval · Broad agreement
    70C-
  14. 14Album cover for Let It Be by The Beatles
    The BeatlesLet It BeMay 8, 1970 · 7 reviews · 43% approval · Divided
    69D+
  15. 15Album cover for The Man Who Sold the World by David Bowie
    David BowieThe Man Who Sold the WorldNovember 4, 1970 · 5 reviews · 20% approval · Some debate
    65D
  16. 16Album cover for Self Portrait by Bob Dylan
    Bob DylanSelf PortraitJune 8, 1970 · 5 reviews · 20% approval · Contentious
    50F

← 1969 · Every year, back to the 1950s · 1971 →

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