The 25 best Classic Rock albums of 1974

14 April 2024, 16:00 | Updated: 15 April 2024, 15:17

Take a trip back half a century to the days of Bowie, KISS, Queen, the Stones and many more...

Turn up Radio X Classic Rock on Global Player here- dedicated to the greatest classic rock music of all time

1. Gram Parsons - Grievous Angel: released January 1974

   Country-rock superstar Parsons died from an overdose in September 1973 and this was a posthumous collection of tracks recorded that summer. Featuring Emmylou Harris on vocals, the album includes the singles Love Hurts and Return Of The Grievous Angel.

   

2. Bob Dylan - Planet Waves: release date 17th January 1974

   Dylan's first album of new songs since 1970's New Morning - discounting the Dylan outtakes album and the Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid soundtrack - included On A Night Like This and Something There Is About You.

   

3. Lou Reed - Rock 'N' Roll Animal: release date February 1974

   Reed's live album was recorded in New York City in December 1973 and dips heavily into the Velvet Underground back catalogue, with tracks such as Heroin, Sweet Jane and White Light/White Heat.

   

4. Deep Purple - Burn: release date 15th February 1974

   The heavy rock pioneers now featured Ritchie Blackmore, David Coverdale, Glenn Hughes, Jon Lord and Ian Paice. This, their eighth album, had singles in Might Just Take Your Life and the title track.

   

5. Mick Ronson - Slaughter On 10th Avenue: released 1st March 1974

   Bowie's sidekick since 1970's Man Who Sold The World decided to go it alone for this debut solo album, which featured a cover of the Elvis Presley standard Love Me Tender and the Bowie-penned track Growing Up And I'm Fine. The Human League later covered this album's song Only After Dark.

   

6. Kiss - Kiss: release date 18th February 1974

   Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley's glam rockers released their debut album this year (after a number of years of the pair working under the name Wicked Lester). Tracks included the Kiss klassics Strutter, Deuce and Nothin' To Lose.

   

7. Queen - Queen II: release date 8th March 1974

   Queen's first album of '74 gave the band a Top 10 hit in Seven Seas Of Rhye. Also included were Funny How Love Is and White Queen (As It Began), plus an iconic cover photo by Mick Rock.

   

8. Aerosmith - Get Your Wings: released 15th March 1974

   The second studio album from the Boston rockers including the hits Train Kept A Rollin', SOS (Too Bad) and Same Old Song And Dance.

   

9. Rush - Rush: release date 18th March 1974

   The Canadian prog powerhouse issued their debut album, which included the tracks Finding My Way, In The Mood and the live favourite Working Man.

   

10. Sparks - Kimono My House: release date 1st May 1974

    Russell and Ron Mael hit the big time after moving to the UK and issuing their hugely influential third album - Siouxsie Sioux, Morrissey and Sex Pistol Steve Jones were all fans. Tracks included Talent Is An Asset, Amateur Hour and the classic This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us. The band were so hot in '74, they released a second album at the end of the year: Propaganda.

    

11. Bad Company - Bad Company: release date 24th May 1974

    The British supergroup's debut album included their biggest hit Can't Get Enough, which incredibly only made Number 15 on its first release. The band consisted of former Free members Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke, Mick Ralphs of Mott The Hoople and former King Crimson bassist Boz Burrell.

    

12. David Bowie - Diamond Dogs: release date 24th May 1974

    Bowie's eighth studio album started life as a musical based on the book Nineteen Eighty-Four, but copyright problems led to the star to work on a scenario based on the apocalyptic "Hunger City" of the future. Songs included the epic title track, Candidate, 1984 and Rebel Rebel.

    

13. 10cc - Sheet Music: release date May 1974

    The Stockport art rockers' second album included the singles Silly Love and Wall Street Shuffle.

    

14. Cockney Rebel - The Psychomodo: release date 2nd June 1974

    The second album from Steve Harley's glam rock band included the hit Mr Soft, plus Tumbling Down and Psychomodo.

    

15. Bachman Turner Overdrive - Not Fragile: released August 1974

    The third album from the hard rocking Canadian band included their biggest hit You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet and a UK Top 30 single with Roll On Down The Highway.

    

16. Electric Light Orchestra - Eldorado: release date September 1974

    A photo from The Wizard Of Oz adorns the sleeve of Jeff Lynne and co's fourth album, which included the singles Boy Blue and Can't Get It Out Of My Head.

    

17. Judas Priest - Rocka Rolla: release date 6th September 1974

    Future kings of heavy metal Judas Priest issued their debut album way back in '74. Songs included the memorable title track and Run Of The Mill.

    

18. John Lennon - Walls & Bridges: release date 26th September 1974

    Lennon's only US chart topping album was recorded during his "Lost Weekend" (his 18 month separation from wife Yoko Ono) and included the hits #9 Dream and Whatever Gets You Thru The Night, a duet with Elton John.

    

19. The Rolling Stones - It's Only Rock 'N' Roll: release date 18th October 1974

    The last Stones album to feature guitarist Mick Taylor, the band's twelfth outing includes the rollicking title track, plus a cover of Ain't Too Proud To Beg by The Temptations.

    

20. Supertramp - Crime Of The Century: release date 25th October 1974

    The third studio album from the British band was the follow-up to 1971's Indelibly Stamped and included their breakthrough hit Dreamer, which made Number 13 in March 1975.

    

21. Queen - Sheer Heart Attack: release date 8th November 1974

    After Queen II, Sheer Heart Attack built on the band's popularity and the track Killer Queen made it to No 2 in the charts. Also included were Stone Cold Crazy, Brighton Rock and Now I'm Here.

    

22. Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway: release date 18th November 1974

    The British prog band's sixth album was their last to feature original frontman Peter Gabriel, who left for a successful solo career. A double concept album about a Puerto Rican youth's journey of discovery, tracks included Counting Out Time and The Carpet Crawlers.

    

23. Slade - In Flame: release date 29th November 1974

    This soundtrack album came out two months in advance of its parent film, which saw the glam rock kings acquit themselves admirably in the acting stakes. The film spawned the hits How Does It Feel and Far Far Away.

    

24. Thin Lizzy - Nightlife: release date 8th November 1974

    Lizzy's fourth album saw frontman Phil Lynott joined by new guitarists Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson and included the singles Philomena, Showdown and It's Only Money.

    

25. George Harrison - Dark Horse: release date 9th December 1974

    The fifth solo album from the former Beatle lent its name to his own record label and spawned the Christmas hit Ding Dong Ding Dong.