The 25 best albums of 1977

15 March 2024, 19:06

Take a trip back to the summer of the Silver Jubilee, disco and punk with albums from Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Meat Loaf, Fleetwood Mac and the Sex Pistols.

By Radio X

@RadioX

1. David Bowie - Low: release date 14th January 1977

   The first instalment of Bowie’s “Berlin Trilogy” (although most of it was actually recorded in France), this classic was graced by a photo from the film The Man Who Fell To Earth and spawned a hit in Sound And Vision. The second side included some ambient soundtracks which Bowie worked on with Brian Eno.

   

2. Pink Floyd - Animals: release date 21st January 1977

   The tenth album from the prog rock legends was a concept album about society and featured this memorable sleeve photo by design team Hipgnosis.

   

3. Fleetwood Mac - Rumours: release date 4th February 1977

   It went on to become one of the biggest selling albums of all time... and it was the eleventh album under the Mac name! It includes the classic motor racing theme The Chain, alongside Go Your Own Way, Dreams and Don't Stop.

   

4. Television - Marquee Moon: release date 8th February 1977

   It didn’t sell well in their native US, but over in Great Britain, Tom Verlaine’s art rockers has a surprise hit and their avant-garde guitar music cast a long shadow over post-punk. The epic ten minute title track remains a classic.

   

5. The Damned - Damned Damned Damned: release date 18th February 1977

   The London band released their debut album, which featured the first British punk single New Rose and the excellent title track.

   

6. Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel: release date 25th February 1977

   The former Genesis frontman went solo with the first of a series of self-titled albums, which included the classic single Solsbury Hill.

   

7. Iggy Pop - The Idiot: release date 18th March 1977

   James Osterberg’s first solo outing was recorded in Berlin and produced by his new best friend David Bowie. It wasn’t a huge hit, but influenced a number of post-punk bands and gave Bowie a hit when he covered this album’s highlight track China Girl.

   

8. Kraftwerk - Trans Europe Express: release date 21st March 1977

   The sixth album from the German electronica pioneers include the hypnotic title "suite" and the synthpop classic Showroom Dummies.

   

9. The Clash - The Clash: release date 8th April 1977

   The debut album from Joe Strummer's punk pioneers included the singles White Riot and Remote Control, plus Career Opportunities, Janie Jones and a cover of Junior Murvin's Police & Thieves.

   

10. The Stranglers - Rattus Norvegicus: release date 15th April 1977

    The Guildford punks released their debut LP, which included (Get A) Grip (On Yourself) and Hanging Around... it wouldn't be the last we hear from them in '77...

    

11. The Jam - In The City: release date 20th May 1977

    Released five days before Paul Weller's 19th birthday, the Woking band's classic debut featured the title track and a cover of the Batman theme.

    

12. Bob Marley And The Wailers - Exodus: release date 3rd June 1977

    The ninth album from the reggae legend made No 8 in the Uk charts and includes the fantastic title track and One Love.

    

13. Elvis Costello - My Aim Is True: release date 22nd July 1977

    The former Declan MacManus released his debut album, which included the classic tracks Alison and Less Than Zero. The US edition also added Watching The Detectives.

    

14. Iggy Pop - Lust For Life: release date 9th September 1977

    Both Bowie and Iggy were hugely productive once they’d moved to Berlin and released two albums each in ’77. The Igster’s second outing this year was his most popular, spawning the raucous title track, The Passenger and another track Bowie would later cover: Tonight.

    

15. Talking Heads - Talking Heads '77: release date 16th September 1977

    The debut album from David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz and Jerry Harrison included the classic single Psycho Killer, plus Pulled Up and Uh-Oh, Love Comes To Town.

    

16. The Stranglers - No More Heroes: release date 23rd September 1977

    Another busy band in the year of 1977, the punks' second outing included the brilliant title track and the confrontational Something Better Change.

    

17. Ian Dury - New Boots And Panties!!: release date 30th September 1977

    The debut album from the much-loved songwriter and performer features a brilliant shot of him posing with his son, Baxter Dury. The album includes some of Dury’s signature tracks including Billericay Dickie and Sweet Gene Vincent. Later pressings also included Sex And Drugs And Rock ’N’ Roll.

    

18. David Bowie - “Heroes”: release date 14th October 1977

    Bowie’s second album of ’77 featured the all-time classic title track, but there are plenty of other great songs on there: Beauty And The Beast, Sons Of The Silent Age, The Secret Life Of Arabia and some more ambient tunes, courtesy of Eno. Brilliant cover, too.

    

19. Meat Loaf - Bat Out Of Hell: release date 21st October 1977

    The debut album from the Texas-born singer was masterminded by producer Jim Steinman and went on to become one of the biggest-selling albums of all time. Aside from the epic title track, songs included You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night), Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad and Paradise By The Dashboard Light.

    

20. Sex Pistols - Never Mind The Bollocks: release date 28th October 1977

    The legendary punk band issued their one and only studio album this year, which included all their hits: Anarchy In The UK, Pretty Vacant, Holidays In The Sun and God Save The Queen.

    

21. Queen - News Of The World: release date 28th October 1977

    The sixth album from Freddie Mercury and co featured the double whammy of We Will Rock You and We Are The Champions and the underrated single Spread Your Wings. The sleeve was painted by American pulp sci-fi artist Frank Kelly Freas and went on to scare Stewie Griffin in Family Guy.

    

22. Electric Light Orchestra - Out Of The Blue: release date 28th October 1977

    A classic double album from Jeff Lynne and his team, this monster LP included Turn To Stone, Sweet Talkin’ Woman, Wild West Hero and the Concerto For A Rainy Day which climaxes with the classic Mr Blue Sky.

    

23. Ramones - Rocket To Russia: release date 4th November 1977

    The New York punks issued their second album of the year (the first being January's Leave Home), which included the classics Rockaway Beach, Sheena Is A Punk Rocker and a cover of Surfin' Bird!

    

24. Original Soundtrack - Saturday Night Fever: release date 15th November 1977

    One of the biggest albums of 1977 came from the soundtrack the John Travolta disco movie, which featured a number of hits from the Bee Gees: Night Fever, Staying Alive, How Deep Is Your Love and more. Also on the album - certified 16 times Platinum in the US - were Tavares, The Trammps, Kool & The Gang, KC & The Sunshine Band and Yvonne Elliman.

    

25. Wire - Pink Flag: release date 5th December 1977

    Another album that wasn't a huge hit at the time, but influenced a generation of musicians. In this case, Damon Albarn and Justine Frischmann were fans and Elastica's Connection bears a strong resemblance to Wire's Three Girl Rhumba.