B-Side Guys

The Best Albums of 1973

Every album of 1973, 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 Innervisions by Stevie WonderNumber one of 1973Stevie WonderInnervisions99 A+7 critics · 100% approval · Unanimous · A-Side
Average Breakdown82across 1973's albums. That's higher than 93% of the other years here.
Liked76%of 1973's albums scored 75 or higher. Across every year it's 49%.
Most divisiveDividedBob Dylan, Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid – Original Soundtrack Recording split the critics more than any other album of the year.A-Sides34%of 1973's albums earned an A-Side. Across every year it's 6.2%.
  1. 1Album cover for Innervisions by Stevie Wonder
    Stevie WonderInnervisionsAugust 3, 1973 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    99A+
  2. 2Album cover for There Goes Rhymin’ Simon by Paul Simon
    Paul SimonThere Goes Rhymin’ SimonMay 1973 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    95A
  3. 3Album cover for Countdown to Ecstasy by Steely Dan
    Steely DanCountdown to EcstasyJuly 1973 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    95A
  4. 4Album cover for Let’s Get It On by Marvin Gaye
    Marvin GayeLet’s Get It OnAugust 28, 1973 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    95A
  5. 5Album cover for Catch a Fire by Bob Marley & The Wailers
    Bob Marley & The WailersCatch a FireApril 13, 1973 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    93A
  6. 6Album cover for The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd
    Pink FloydThe Dark Side of the MoonMarch 24, 1973 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    93A
  7. 7Album cover for Raw Power by The Stooges
    The StoogesRaw PowerFebruary 7, 1973 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    92A-
  8. 8Album cover for Here Come the Warm Jets by Brian Eno
    Brian EnoHere Come the Warm JetsNovember 1973 · 10 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    91A-
  9. 9Album cover for Houses of the Holy by Led Zeppelin
    Led ZeppelinHouses of the HolyMarch 28, 1973 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-
  10. 10Album cover for The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle by Bruce Springsteen
    Bruce SpringsteenThe Wild, the Innocent & the E Street ShuffleNovember 5, 1973 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-

How 1973 grades

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

1973

A34%
B31%
C24%
D10%
F0%

Every year

A6%
B24%
C37%
D22%
F10%
  1. 11Album cover for Paris 1919 by John Cale
    John CaleParis 1919March 1973 · 9 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    88B+
  2. 12Album cover for Larks’ Tongues in Aspic by King Crimson
    King CrimsonLarks’ Tongues in AspicMarch 23, 1973 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    86B
  3. 13Album cover for Aladdin Sane by David Bowie
    David BowieAladdin SaneApril 19, 1973 · 9 reviews · 89% approval · Broad agreement
    86B
  4. 14Album cover for Band on the Run by Wings
    WingsBand on the RunNovember 30, 1973 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    85B
  5. 15Album cover for For Your Pleasure by Roxy Music
    Roxy MusicFor Your PleasureMarch 23, 1973 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate
    85B
  6. 16Album cover for Berlin by Lou Reed
    Lou ReedBerlinOctober 1973 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate
    84B
  7. 17Album cover for Selling England by the Pound by Genesis
    GenesisSelling England by the PoundOctober 13, 1973 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate
    81B-
  8. 18Album cover for Stranded by Roxy Music
    Roxy MusicStrandedNovember 1, 1973 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    81B-
  9. 19Album cover for (No Pussyfooting) by Fripp & Eno
    Fripp & Eno(No Pussyfooting)November 1973 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Broad agreement
    80B-
  10. 20Album cover for Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John
    Elton JohnGoodbye Yellow Brick RoadOctober 5, 1973 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    79C+
  11. 21Album cover for Closing Time by Tom Waits
    Tom WaitsClosing TimeMarch 6, 1973 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Some debate
    77C+
  12. 22Album cover for Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. by Bruce Springsteen
    Bruce SpringsteenGreetings from Asbury Park, N.J.January 5, 1973 · 5 reviews · 60% approval · Divided
    76C
  13. 23Album cover for Ringo by Ringo Starr
    Ringo StarrRingoNovember 23, 1973 · 6 reviews · 50% approval · Some debate
    72C-
  14. 24Album cover for Living in the Material World by George Harrison
    George HarrisonLiving in the Material WorldMay 30, 1973 · 7 reviews · 43% approval · Broad agreement
    71C-
  15. 25Album cover for Mind Games by John Lennon
    John LennonMind GamesOctober 29, 1973 · 6 reviews · 50% approval · Some debate
    70C-
  16. 26Album cover for Goats Head Soup by The Rolling Stones
    The Rolling StonesGoats Head SoupAugust 31, 1973 · 5 reviews · 60% approval · Divided
    70C-
  17. 27Album cover for Aerosmith by Aerosmith
    AerosmithAerosmithJanuary 5, 1973 · 5 reviews · 20% approval · Some debate
    62D-
  18. 28Album cover for Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid – Original Soundtrack Recording by Bob Dylan
    Bob DylanPat Garrett & Billy the Kid – Original Soundtrack RecordingJuly 13, 1973 · 5 reviews · 40% approval · Divided
    61D-
  19. 29Album cover for Pin-Ups by David Bowie
    David BowiePin-UpsOctober 19, 1973 · 5 reviews · 20% approval · Some debate
    60D-
  1. 1Album cover for Countdown to Ecstasy by Steely Dan
    Steely DanCountdown to EcstasyJuly 1973 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    95A
  2. 2Album cover for The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd
    Pink FloydThe Dark Side of the MoonMarch 24, 1973 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    93A
  3. 3Album cover for Raw Power by The Stooges
    The StoogesRaw PowerFebruary 7, 1973 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    92A-
  4. 4Album cover for Here Come the Warm Jets by Brian Eno
    Brian EnoHere Come the Warm JetsNovember 1973 · 10 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    91A-
  5. 5Album cover for Houses of the Holy by Led Zeppelin
    Led ZeppelinHouses of the HolyMarch 28, 1973 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-
  6. 6Album cover for The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle by Bruce Springsteen
    Bruce SpringsteenThe Wild, the Innocent & the E Street ShuffleNovember 5, 1973 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-
  7. 7Album cover for Aladdin Sane by David Bowie
    David BowieAladdin SaneApril 19, 1973 · 9 reviews · 89% approval · Broad agreement
    86B
  8. 8Album cover for Band on the Run by Wings
    WingsBand on the RunNovember 30, 1973 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    85B
  9. 9Album cover for For Your Pleasure by Roxy Music
    Roxy MusicFor Your PleasureMarch 23, 1973 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate
    85B
  10. 10Album cover for Berlin by Lou Reed
    Lou ReedBerlinOctober 1973 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate
    84B
  11. 11Album cover for Selling England by the Pound by Genesis
    GenesisSelling England by the PoundOctober 13, 1973 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate
    81B-
  12. 12Album cover for Stranded by Roxy Music
    Roxy MusicStrandedNovember 1, 1973 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    81B-
  13. 13Album cover for Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John
    Elton JohnGoodbye Yellow Brick RoadOctober 5, 1973 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    79C+
  14. 14Album cover for Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. by Bruce Springsteen
    Bruce SpringsteenGreetings from Asbury Park, N.J.January 5, 1973 · 5 reviews · 60% approval · Divided
    76C
  15. 15Album cover for Ringo by Ringo Starr
    Ringo StarrRingoNovember 23, 1973 · 6 reviews · 50% approval · Some debate
    72C-
  16. 16Album cover for Living in the Material World by George Harrison
    George HarrisonLiving in the Material WorldMay 30, 1973 · 7 reviews · 43% approval · Broad agreement
    71C-
  17. 17Album cover for Mind Games by John Lennon
    John LennonMind GamesOctober 29, 1973 · 6 reviews · 50% approval · Some debate
    70C-
  18. 18Album cover for Goats Head Soup by The Rolling Stones
    The Rolling StonesGoats Head SoupAugust 31, 1973 · 5 reviews · 60% approval · Divided
    70C-
  19. 19Album cover for Aerosmith by Aerosmith
    AerosmithAerosmithJanuary 5, 1973 · 5 reviews · 20% approval · Some debate
    62D-
  20. 20Album cover for Pin-Ups by David Bowie
    David BowiePin-UpsOctober 19, 1973 · 5 reviews · 20% approval · Some debate
    60D-

← 1972 · Every year, back to the 1950s · 1974 →

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