B-Side Guys

The Best Albums of 1978

Every album of 1978, 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 Van Halen by Van HalenNumber one of 1978Van HalenVan Halen96 A6 critics · 100% approval · Broad agreement · A-Side
Average Breakdown83across 1978's albums. That's higher than 95% of the other years here.
Liked85%of 1978's albums scored 75 or higher. Across every year it's 49%.
Most divisiveContentiousQueen, Jazz split the critics more than any other album of the year.A-Sides30%of 1978's albums earned an A-Side. Across every year it's 6.3%.
  1. 1Album cover for Van Halen by Van Halen
    Van HalenVan HalenFebruary 10, 1978 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    96A
  2. 2Album cover for Chairs Missing by Wire
    WireChairs MissingOctober 1978 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    92A-
  3. 3Album cover for Parallel Lines by Blondie
    BlondieParallel LinesSeptember 8, 1978 · 10 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    92A-
  4. 4Album cover for Real Life by Magazine
    MagazineReal LifeJune 9, 1978 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    91A-
  5. 5Album cover for All Mod Cons by The Jam
    The JamAll Mod ConsNovember 3, 1978 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    91A-
  6. 6Album cover for Die Mensch-Maschine by Kraftwerk
    KraftwerkDie Mensch-MaschineMay 1978 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    91A-
  7. 7Album cover for More Songs About Buildings and Food by Talking Heads
    Talking HeadsMore Songs About Buildings and FoodMay 23, 1978 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-
  8. 8Album cover for The Only Ones by The Only Ones
    The Only OnesThe Only OnesMay 1978 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-
  9. 9Album cover for Road to Ruin by Ramones
    RamonesRoad to RuinSeptember 22, 1978 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate
    87B+
  10. 10Album cover for Adventure by Television
    TelevisionAdventureApril 1978 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    86B

How 1978 grades

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

1978

A30%
B41%
C19%
D7%
F4%

Every year

A6%
B24%
C37%
D22%
F11%
  1. 11Album cover for The Scream by Siouxsie and the Banshees
    Siouxsie and the BansheesThe ScreamNovember 13, 1978 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    86B
  2. 12Album cover for Here, My Dear by Marvin Gaye
    Marvin GayeHere, My DearDecember 1978 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Broad agreement
    86B
  3. 13Album cover for Easter by Patti Smith Group
    Patti Smith GroupEasterMarch 3, 1978 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Some debate
    85B
  4. 14Album cover for Love Bites by Buzzcocks
    BuzzcocksLove BitesSeptember 22, 1978 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate
    84B
  5. 15Album cover for The Cars by The Cars
    The CarsThe CarsJune 6, 1978 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    84B
  6. 16Album cover for So Alone by Johnny Thunders
    Johnny ThundersSo AloneOctober 6, 1978 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Some debate
    83B
  7. 17Album cover for Ambient 1: Music for Airports by Brian Eno
    Brian EnoAmbient 1: Music for Airports1978 · 10 reviews · 90% approval · Divided
    83B
  8. 18Album cover for Outlandos d’Amour by The Police
    The PoliceOutlandos d’AmourNovember 2, 1978 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Broad agreement
    82B-
  9. 19Album cover for Another Music in a Different Kitchen by Buzzcocks
    BuzzcocksAnother Music in a Different KitchenMarch 10, 1978 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Divided
    81B-
  10. 20Album cover for Public Image – First Issue by Public Image Ltd.
    Public Image Ltd.Public Image – First IssueDecember 8, 1978 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Some debate
    79C+
  11. 21Album cover for The Kick Inside by Kate Bush
    Kate BushThe Kick InsideJanuary 12, 1978 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Divided
    79C+
  12. 22Album cover for Generation X by Generation X
    Generation XGeneration XMarch 17, 1978 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Broad agreement
    78C+
  13. 23Album cover for Give ‘Em Enough Rope by The Clash
    The ClashGive ‘Em Enough RopeNovember 10, 1978 · 8 reviews · 50% approval · Divided
    78C+
  14. 24Album cover for Blue Valentine by Tom Waits
    Tom WaitsBlue ValentineOctober 1978 · 9 reviews · 44% approval · Divided
    73C
  15. 25Album cover for Jazz by Queen
    QueenJazzNovember 10, 1978 · 7 reviews · 57% approval · Contentious
    65D

Where 1978 sits

Average Breakdown, for albums with five or more reviews.

Next to the years around it

197784
1978 (this year)83
197985
198081
  1. 26Album cover for Powerage by AC/DC
    AC/DCPowerageMay 5, 1978 · 6 reviews · 33% approval · Contentious
    63D
  2. 27Album cover for Lionheart by Kate Bush
    Kate BushLionheartNovember 13, 1978 · 6 reviews · 0% approval · Broad agreement
    57F
  1. 1Album cover for Van Halen by Van Halen
    Van HalenVan HalenFebruary 10, 1978 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    96A
  2. 2Album cover for Chairs Missing by Wire
    WireChairs MissingOctober 1978 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    92A-
  3. 3Album cover for Parallel Lines by Blondie
    BlondieParallel LinesSeptember 8, 1978 · 10 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    92A-
  4. 4Album cover for Real Life by Magazine
    MagazineReal LifeJune 9, 1978 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    91A-
  5. 5Album cover for More Songs About Buildings and Food by Talking Heads
    Talking HeadsMore Songs About Buildings and FoodMay 23, 1978 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-
  6. 6Album cover for The Only Ones by The Only Ones
    The Only OnesThe Only OnesMay 1978 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-
  7. 7Album cover for Adventure by Television
    TelevisionAdventureApril 1978 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    86B
  8. 8Album cover for The Scream by Siouxsie and the Banshees
    Siouxsie and the BansheesThe ScreamNovember 13, 1978 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    86B
  9. 9Album cover for Easter by Patti Smith Group
    Patti Smith GroupEasterMarch 3, 1978 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Some debate
    85B
  10. 10Album cover for The Cars by The Cars
    The CarsThe CarsJune 6, 1978 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    84B
  11. 11Album cover for So Alone by Johnny Thunders
    Johnny ThundersSo AloneOctober 6, 1978 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Some debate
    83B
  12. 12Album cover for Outlandos d’Amour by The Police
    The PoliceOutlandos d’AmourNovember 2, 1978 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Broad agreement
    82B-
  13. 13Album cover for Public Image – First Issue by Public Image Ltd.
    Public Image Ltd.Public Image – First IssueDecember 8, 1978 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Some debate
    79C+
  14. 14Album cover for The Kick Inside by Kate Bush
    Kate BushThe Kick InsideJanuary 12, 1978 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Divided
    79C+
  15. 15Album cover for Blue Valentine by Tom Waits
    Tom WaitsBlue ValentineOctober 1978 · 9 reviews · 44% approval · Divided
    73C
  16. 16Album cover for Jazz by Queen
    QueenJazzNovember 10, 1978 · 7 reviews · 57% approval · Contentious
    65D
  17. 17Album cover for Powerage by AC/DC
    AC/DCPowerageMay 5, 1978 · 6 reviews · 33% approval · Contentious
    63D
  1. 1Album cover for Road to Ruin by Ramones
    RamonesRoad to RuinSeptember 22, 1978 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate
    87B+
  2. 2Album cover for Love Bites by Buzzcocks
    BuzzcocksLove BitesSeptember 22, 1978 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate
    84B
  3. 3Album cover for Another Music in a Different Kitchen by Buzzcocks
    BuzzcocksAnother Music in a Different KitchenMarch 10, 1978 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Divided
    81B-
  4. 4Album cover for Generation X by Generation X
    Generation XGeneration XMarch 17, 1978 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Broad agreement
    78C+
  5. 5Album cover for Give ‘Em Enough Rope by The Clash
    The ClashGive ‘Em Enough RopeNovember 10, 1978 · 8 reviews · 50% approval · Divided
    78C+

← 1977 · Every year, back to the 1950s · 1979 →

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