Welcome to Sands of Time! I’m Derek Sands, your fearless (and totally amateur) guide on a mission to rank the top-selling music year by year, starting in 1970 and going… well, until I run out of steam. Currently, no one knows this site exists, but hey, maybe someday fellow music nerds will join the party.
“Who is Derek Sands?” you ask. Well, I’m not a musician, nor a professional critic. I’m 62 and have spent decades listening to music and forming highly debatable opinions. So while my rankings are purely subjective, they’re at least entertaining subjective.
Enough intro—let’s crank up the tunes and get this party started!
#59 – TOM / I WHO HAVE NOTHING – Tom Jones
It’s amazing that people were still spending their hard-earned cash on this in 1970, given all the great music coming out. I guess some folks are just slow to catch on. But two gold albums of lame covers? This type of content represented the last gasps of a dying musical era.
#58 – ATOM HEART MOTHER – Pink Floyd
The cover art features a cow showing its ass, so yeah, subtlety isn’t the goal here. Even the band has called Atom Heart Mother a “load of rubbish” and “dreadful.” Roger Waters famously said if you asked him to play it live, he’d respond, “You must be f***ing joking.” Of course, any royalties still roll straight into their offshore accounts, no complaints there!
#57 – BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS 3
I’m guessing this album sold well on the fumes of their previous hits, because it’s just one long, pretentious mess. By the late ’60s, musicians were recycling each other’s songs like worn-out dishrags—a trend the singer-songwriter boom of 1970 tried to curb. So covering James Taylor’s Fire and Rain the same year it came out? Lazy. And their take on Sympathy for the Devil? Let’s just say “absurd” doesn’t quite cover it.
#56 – CHAPTER TWO – Roberta Flack
Female musicians made up less than 10% of the top-selling releases in 1970. This album didn’t help matters.
#55 – OSMONDS – The Osmonds
Picture very white kids trying to sound like soulful black men—yep, it’s as awkward as it sounds.
#54 – THAT’S THE WAY IT IS – Elvis Presley
I’ve never understood the Elvis obsession, but even if I did, this album finds “The King” in full Vegas-schlock mode. He sounds like a caricature of his former self, and it’s mostly just well-sung covers. Not exactly groundbreaking stuff.
#53 – WHALES & NIGHTINGALES – Judy Collins
Given the lack of female artists in 1970, it pains me to rank any of them so low, but there’s just not much happening here. I’m guessing the strong sales came from her amazing and graceful take on Amazing Grace.
#52 – ECOLOGY – Rare Earth
Hard to believe FM radio was just taking off in 1970—I learned that from the Wikipedia page for this album. Not much else to say about this forgettable musical experience.
#51 – BENEFIT – Jethro Tull
Jethro Tull is like a strange flavor—you either acquire it or avoid it forever. If you’re thinking of diving in, this album is not the place to start. My guess is it sold well thanks to “Aqualung” fans craving more greasy fingers and runny snot.
#50 – NATURALLY – Three Dog Night
Three Dog Night had two albums chart in 1970, and this one’s definitely the runner-up. Even the big hit, “Joy to the World,” flirts with novelty status—because, apparently, Jeremiah was a bullfrog and a wino…naturally.
#49 – PORTRAIT – The 5th Dimension
Earlier, I mentioned women made up less than 10% of releases, and I included the 5th Dimension in that calculation because Marilyn McCoo sang the hit “One Less Bell to Answer.” But that might be generous, since the band has dudes, too. And once again, the women don’t do themselves any favors, crooning male-penned tunes that paint them as helpless.
#48 – TRY A LITTLE KINDNESS – Glen Campbell
Pleasant, professional and pointless.
#47 – THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY ALBUM
This band was built around a TV show and propped up by top-tier session musicians—because, hate to break it to you, but Danny Bonaduce and those prepubescent kids couldn’t play a lick.
#46 – SELF PORTRAIT / NEW MORNING – Bob Dylan
Not one, but two albums of Dylan’s leftover 60s scraps.
#45 – TWELVE DREAMS OF DR. SARDONICUS – Spirit
The only Spirit album to ever chart. “Nature’s Way” and “Mr. Skin” bring just enough energy to save this one from being a total snooze.
#44 – TAP ROOT MANUSCRIPT – Neil Diamond
Diamond gets an “A” for effort here with the second side, “The African Trilogy,” being a precursor to Paul Simon’s world music phase. But let’s face it—Neil just doesn’t have the gravitas to make it work.
#43 – EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER
I can’t shake the feeling this is music for people who think it’s good just because it’s complicated. Maybe it needs repeated listens, but at 62, I don’t have that kind of time.
#42 – SIT DOWN YOUNG MAN – Gordon Lightfoot
This sold well due to the song “If You Could Read My Mind”.
#41 – ELTON JOHN
It’s a bit hit or miss, but don’t worry—he’s about to have a pretty great decade.
#40 – PSYCHEDELIC SHACK – The Temptations
The Temptations kept charting into the early 70s, but the Motown magic was fading. They swapped their signature sound for some psychedelia/rock, with mixed results. It just struck me that there are only five albums by black artists on this list, and one of those is the 5th Dimension, the whitest black musicians ever. WTF?
#39 – CLOSE TO YOU – The Carpenters
It’s an okay album, just a bit too precious at times—and they clearly missed the memo that Beatles covers were so 60s.
#38 – PENDULUM – Creedence Clearwater Revival
This was the band’s second-to-last album, and you can tell they’re winding down—but even average CCR is still solid.
#37 – STEPHEN STILLS
When you stack Stephen Stills’ band work (Buffalo Springfield, CSNY, Manassas) against his solo stuff, the quality gap is significant. Some musicians just don’t thrive solo—case in point, he only charted one more solo album, the underwhelming Stephen Stills 2. It’s just… weird.
#36 – CLOSER TO HOME – Grand Funk Railroad
The ultimate blue-collar (live) rock band of the 70s…emphasis on live.
#35 – IT AIN’T EASY – Three Dog Night
Way better than their other release this year.
#33 – ON THE WATERS – Bread
Even stale bread’s decent if you cut off the moldy bits.
#32 – TUMBLEWEED CONNECTION – Elton John
An album I respect more than I enjoy. Hardcore Elton fans will defend it, while casual listeners will skip it.
#31 – BLACK SABBATH
As a teen, I was an air guitar god shredding this on my tennis racket! Loud, excessive, and the thickest guitar sound anyone had heard in forever.
As we’ve reached the halfway point, I’m sharing a playlist of my favorite songs from 1970, arranged in alphabetical order. Just a reminder: you can use the three bars at the top of the screen to navigate the menu—though you probably already knew that!
| 25 OR 6 TO 4 | Chicago |
| BIG YELLOW TAXI | Joni Mitchell |
| CECILIA | Simon & Garfunkel |
| COUNTRY ROAD | James Taylor |
| CRACKLIN’ ROSIE | Neil Diamond |
| FUNK #49 | James Gang |
| HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THE RAIN | Creedence Clearwater Revival |
| LOOKIN’ OUT MY BACK DOOR | Creedence Clearwater Revival |
| MAMA TOLD ME | Three Dog Night |
| MISSISSIPPI QUEEN | Mountain |
| MOONDANCE | Van Morrison |
| MR. SKIN | Spirit |
| NATURE’S WAY | Spirit |
| NO SUGAR TONIGHT / NEW MOTHER NATURE | The Guess Who |
| ONLY YOU KNOW AND I KNOW | Dave Mason |
| OYE COMO VA | Santana |
| PARANOID | Black Sabbath |
| SE A CABO | Santana |
| TRAVELIN’ BAND | Creedence Clearwater Revival |
| TRUCKIN’ | The Grateful Dead |
| TWO OF US | The Beatles |
| WHERE TO NOW ST. PETER | Elton John |
| I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE | Creedence Clearwater Revival |
| WOODSTOCK | Joni Mitchell |
| AMAZING GRACE | Judy Collins |
#30 – STEPPENWOLF 7
Steppenwolf’s last charting album—and without a song like “Born to Be Wild” or “Magic Carpet Ride,” it feels like we’re done here. It’s a solid set of songs, just missing the wolf’s bite.
#29 – STAGE FRIGHT – The Band
The Band had a unique vibe that didn’t quite carry into the new decade—what once felt unique now seemed quaint. This was their last charting studio album.
#28 – SHARE THE LAND – The Guess Who
The Guess Who had a big year in 1970 with their only two charting albums. This one’s the lesser, but still above average. Why they tanked after this? No clue—maybe it’s because Burton Cummings lost to bachelor #1 on The Dating Game.
#27 – RIDES AGAIN – The James Gang
The beginning of a good decade for Joe Walsh.
#26 – IN ROCK – Deep Purple
A raw, hard rock gem that hardcore fans love and casuals skip in favor of polished stuff like Machine Head. But if you’re into headbanging, this album’s got you covered.
#25 – WORKINGMAN’S DEAD / AMERICAN BEAUTY – The Grateful Dead
What the hell happened here? I’m no Deadhead, but dropping two very good albums in one year is impressive.
#24 – ALONE TOGETHER – Dave Mason
An underappreciated (meaning it’s not for everyone) gem, this album is solid from start to finish.
#23 – CHICAGO II
No double album exists that couldn’t be better as a single with some smart editing, and this one’s no exception. It’s packed with filler, but the creativity, musicianship, and originality are undeniable. Cut out the bloated “suites,” and it’d rank much higher.
#22 – PLASTIC ONO BAND – John Lennon
Ringo didn’t release an album in 1970, so this is the lowest-ranking Beatle solo album on the list. It’s well-made and compelling—just not very listenable. John’s working through some serious issues, and that’s the rub—it feels like we’re eavesdropping on a therapy session.
#21 – BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER – Simon & Garfunkel
S&G go out in style and at the top of their game with this stellar release.
#20 – MORRISON HOTEL – The Doors
Not a bad place to spend some time.
#19 – AMERICAN WOMAN – The Guess Who
#18 – ALL THINGS MUST PASS – George Harrison
I usually slam double albums for over-indulgence and filler, so you’d think I’d tear this triple album apart—especially with that throwaway jam disc. Plus, the production suffers thanks to Phil Spector, who had a talent for ruining anything he touched. But Harrison’s craftsmanship and spiritual musings overcome most of that.
#17 – LAYLA & OTHER ASSORTED LOVE SONGS – Derek and the Dominos
Many see this as a solo Clapton album, but Duane Allman, Dave Mason, and the band deserve big kudos. For a double album, there’s surprisingly little filler—the excess is mostly in the song lengths. I’m also not impressed with the production or Clapton’s vocals. I respect this album more than I enjoy it.
#16 – CANDLES IN THE RAIN – Melanie
A female artist writing her own songs and not whining about losing her man? What a concept. Melanie even puts her stamp on covers of The Rolling Stones and James Taylor.
#15 – JOHN BARLEYCORN MUST DIE – Traffic
A classy album with long tracks that actually hold the listeners interest—no small feat.
#14 – MCCARTNEY – Paul McCartney
There’s a track called “Junk,” which is fitting—since this album is kind of a scrappy mess. But it’s not about individual songs; it’s the overall raw, homegrown vibe that works. His “I don’t give a crap” attitude really comes through and it’s refreshing.
#13 – CLIMBING! – Mountain
“Mississippi Queen” was all over the radio when I was young, but this album somehow slipped by me. Shockingly, I’ve only come to appreciate it while doing this project. Hope that happens more often!
#12 – DEJA VU – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
All the pieces click on this classic.
#11 – LED ZEPPELIN III
Led Zeppelin was on the verge of hitting the stratosphere, but they weren’t quite there yet. This album wasn’t appreciated at the time, and it’s easy to see why—after their blues-heavy 60s work, this probably felt oddly unconventional, even precious. I’d only rank “Presence” and “In Through the Out Door” below it. But the fact it’s still #11 just proves that even subpar Zeppelin was better than most of what was out there.
#10 – SWEET BABY JAMES – James Taylor
The album fades a bit toward the end, but what an enjoyable ride overall. I mean, the guy even pulls off a cover of the old chestnut “Oh, Susannah”!
#9 – PARANOID – Black Sabbath
I’m not thrilled about the genre this album spawned, but how could it not? Nothing sounded like this before.
#8 – A QUESTION OF BALANCE – The Moody Blues
The band has (mostly) toned down their usual pretensions, while still exploring big questions about life’s meaning and the world we live in.
#7 – LADIES OF THE CANYON – Joni Mitchell
This album is poetry in motion—listening to the lyrics is like strolling through an art gallery. It’s also the only 1970 album that genuinely exudes a female perspective.
#6 – TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN – Cat Stevens
An absolute delight from start to finish.
#5 – LET IT BE – The Beatles
Subpar Beatles, but Beatles nonetheless.
#4 – MOONDANCE – Van Morrison
Morrison’s first album of the 70s is his all-time best—essential listening for any serious music fan.
#3 – ABRAXAS – Santana
A brilliantly cohesive blend of rock, jazz, salsa, and blues. Nothing else in 1970 sounded like this—a true original and nearly flawless.
#2 – COSMO’S FACTORY – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival’s best album—what more needs to be said?
#1 – AFTER THE GOLD RUSH – Neil Young
What’s odd about this album is that no single song stands out on its own, but as a whole, it’s a seamless work of art. Each track flows into the next, much like McCartney’s album, but where his was ramshackle, this is sublime. Not the best choice if you’re feeling down, as it’s a bit of a melancholy listen—but sometimes honest emotions are meant to be uncomfortable.
And there you have it. Maybe one day I’ll get flak for my ridiculous picks and summaries, but until then—on to 1971! Hopefully we will encounter a bit more diversity. See you there!
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