B-Side Guys

The Best Albums of 1976

Every album of 1976, 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 Songs in the Key of Life by Stevie WonderNumber one of 1976Stevie WonderSongs in the Key of Life96 A6 critics · 100% approval · Broad agreement · A-Side
Average Breakdown77across 1976's albums. That's higher than 76% of the other years here.
Liked72%of 1976's albums scored 75 or higher. Across every year it's 49%.
Most divisiveContentiousAC/DC, High Voltage split the critics more than any other album of the year.A-Sides11%of 1976's albums earned an A-Side. Across every year it's 6.2%.
  1. 1Album cover for Songs in the Key of Life by Stevie Wonder
    Stevie WonderSongs in the Key of LifeSeptember 28, 1976 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    96A
  2. 2Album cover for Station to Station by David Bowie
    David BowieStation to StationJanuary 23, 1976 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    94A
  3. 3Album cover for Small Change by Tom Waits
    Tom WaitsSmall ChangeOctober 1976 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    87B+
  4. 4Album cover for Hotel California by Eagles
    EaglesHotel CaliforniaDecember 8, 1976 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    86B
  5. 5Album cover for Destroyer by Kiss
    KissDestroyerMarch 15, 1976 · 8 reviews · 75% approval · Some debate
    85B
  6. 6Album cover for The Royal Scam by Steely Dan
    Steely DanThe Royal ScamMay 1976 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Broad agreement
    83B
  7. 7Album cover for Arrival by ABBA
    ABBAArrivalOctober 11, 1976 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    80B-
  8. 8Album cover for Blondie by Blondie
    BlondieBlondie1976 · 6 reviews · 67% approval · Some debate
    79C+
  9. 9Album cover for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
    Tom Petty and the HeartbreakersTom Petty and the HeartbreakersNovember 9, 1976 · 7 reviews · 57% approval · Some debate
    78C+
  10. 10Album cover for Hejira by Joni Mitchell
    Joni MitchellHejiraNovember 1976 · 6 reviews · 50% approval · Some debate
    78C+

How 1976 grades

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

1976

A11%
B28%
C44%
D11%
F6%

Every year

A6%
B24%
C37%
D22%
F11%
  1. 11Album cover for Radio Ethiopia by Patti Smith Group
    Patti Smith GroupRadio EthiopiaOctober 1976 · 6 reviews · 50% approval · Broad agreement
    77C+
  2. 12Album cover for Year of the Cat by Al Stewart
    Al StewartYear of the CatJuly 1976 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate
    76C
  3. 13Album cover for I Want You by Marvin Gaye
    Marvin GayeI Want YouMarch 1976 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate
    76C
  4. 14Album cover for Presence by Led Zeppelin
    Led ZeppelinPresenceMarch 31, 1976 · 5 reviews · 40% approval · Some debate
    70C-
  5. 15Album cover for Rock and Roll Over by Kiss
    KissRock and Roll OverNovember 1, 1976 · 8 reviews · 63% approval · Divided
    70C-
  6. 16Album cover for The Roaring Silence by Manfred Mann's Earth Band
    Manfred Mann's Earth BandThe Roaring SilenceAugust 30, 1976 · 5 reviews · 60% approval · Divided
    67D+
  7. 17Album cover for High Voltage by AC/DC
    AC/DCHigh VoltageMay 14, 1976 · 5 reviews · 40% approval · Contentious
    64D
  8. 18Album cover for Wings at the Speed of Sound by Wings
    WingsWings at the Speed of SoundMarch 25, 1976 · 6 reviews · 0% approval · Divided
    47F

Where 1976 sits

Average Breakdown, for albums with five or more reviews.

Next to the years around it

197382
1976 (this year)77
197784
197882
197985
  1. 1Album cover for Station to Station by David Bowie
    David BowieStation to StationJanuary 23, 1976 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    94A
  2. 2Album cover for Hotel California by Eagles
    EaglesHotel CaliforniaDecember 8, 1976 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    86B
  3. 3Album cover for Destroyer by Kiss
    KissDestroyerMarch 15, 1976 · 8 reviews · 75% approval · Some debate
    85B
  4. 4Album cover for The Royal Scam by Steely Dan
    Steely DanThe Royal ScamMay 1976 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Broad agreement
    83B
  5. 5Album cover for Blondie by Blondie
    BlondieBlondie1976 · 6 reviews · 67% approval · Some debate
    79C+
  6. 6Album cover for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
    Tom Petty and the HeartbreakersTom Petty and the HeartbreakersNovember 9, 1976 · 7 reviews · 57% approval · Some debate
    78C+
  7. 7Album cover for Radio Ethiopia by Patti Smith Group
    Patti Smith GroupRadio EthiopiaOctober 1976 · 6 reviews · 50% approval · Broad agreement
    77C+
  8. 8Album cover for Year of the Cat by Al Stewart
    Al StewartYear of the CatJuly 1976 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate
    76C
  9. 9Album cover for Presence by Led Zeppelin
    Led ZeppelinPresenceMarch 31, 1976 · 5 reviews · 40% approval · Some debate
    70C-
  10. 10Album cover for Rock and Roll Over by Kiss
    KissRock and Roll OverNovember 1, 1976 · 8 reviews · 63% approval · Divided
    70C-
  11. 11Album cover for The Roaring Silence by Manfred Mann's Earth Band
    Manfred Mann's Earth BandThe Roaring SilenceAugust 30, 1976 · 5 reviews · 60% approval · Divided
    67D+
  12. 12Album cover for High Voltage by AC/DC
    AC/DCHigh VoltageMay 14, 1976 · 5 reviews · 40% approval · Contentious
    64D
  13. 13Album cover for Wings at the Speed of Sound by Wings
    WingsWings at the Speed of SoundMarch 25, 1976 · 6 reviews · 0% approval · Divided
    47F

← 1975 · Every year, back to the 1950s · 1977 →

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