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Top Progressive Country albums of the 1970s

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Updated: 23 April
Average Ratings Reviews
Willie Nelson - Phases and Stages, Cover art
Phases and Stages
Willie Nelson
3.81 2k 2,162 29 29
March 1974 Album
Outlaw Country
Singer-Songwriter
concept album breakup mellow melancholic sad sombre acoustic introspective
2k Ratings 29 Reviews 3.81 Average
Townes Van Zandt - The Late Great Townes Van Zandt, Cover art
The Late Great Townes Van Zandt
Townes Van Zandt
3.78 2k 2,229 20 20
September 1972 Album
Singer-Songwriter Country Progressive Country
Contemporary Folk
acoustic pastoral melancholic melodic atmospheric longing mellow love
2k Ratings 20 Reviews 3.78 Average
Willie Nelson - Shotgun Willie, Cover art
Shotgun Willie
Willie Nelson
3.77 2k 1,762 25 25
May 1973 Album
Outlaw Country
Western Swing
alcohol playful humorous melodic mellow acoustic pastoral love
2k Ratings 25 Reviews 3.77 Average
Willie Nelson - Red Headed Stranger, Cover art
Red Headed Stranger
Willie Nelson
3.75 4k 3,748 64 64
May 1975 Album
Outlaw Country Singer-Songwriter
Contemporary Folk Western
mellow calm concept album melancholic acoustic crime lonely bittersweet
4k Ratings 64 Reviews 3.75 Average
Lavender Country - Lavender Country, Cover art
Lavender Country
Lavender Country
3.75 832 832 11 11
13 April 1973 Album
Progressive Country Singer-Songwriter
Contemporary Folk Singer-Songwriter Country Rock
LGBT political melodic protest humorous warm bittersweet passionate
832 Ratings 11 Reviews 3.75 Average
Jerry Jeff Walker - ¡Viva Terlingua!, Cover art
¡Viva Terlingua!
Jerry Jeff Walker
3.76 470 470 17 17
November 1973 Album
Outlaw Country
Singer-Songwriter
humorous warm melodic
470 Ratings 17 Reviews 3.76 Average
Terry Allen - Lubbock (On Everything), Cover art
Lubbock (On Everything)
Terry Allen
3.75 785 785 14 14
1979 Album
Progressive Country Singer-Songwriter
Outlaw Country Contemporary Folk Country Rock
playful humorous sarcastic rebellious mellow hedonistic melodic satirical
785 Ratings 14 Reviews 3.75 Average
Waylon Jennings - Dreaming My Dreams, Cover art
Dreaming My Dreams
Waylon Jennings
3.75 1k 1,016 16 16
June 1975 Album
Outlaw Country
Progressive Country
introspective pastoral melodic soothing calm mellow sarcastic
1k Ratings 16 Reviews 3.75 Average
Townes Van Zandt - Delta Momma Blues, Cover art
Delta Momma Blues
Townes Van Zandt
3.74 2k 2,015 18 18
October 1970 Album
Singer-Songwriter Country Progressive Country
Contemporary Folk Blues Outlaw Country
poetic introspective bittersweet acoustic pastoral melodic longing playful
2k Ratings 18 Reviews 3.74 Average
Waylon Jennings - Lonesome, On'ry and Mean, Cover art
Lonesome, On'ry and Mean
Waylon Jennings
3.75 699 699 10 10
March 1973 Album
Outlaw Country
Country Rock
melodic introspective sentimental pastoral bittersweet acoustic
699 Ratings 10 Reviews 3.75 Average
Guy Clark - Old No. 1, Cover art
Old No. 1
Guy Clark
3.73 1k 1,298 22 22
November 1975 Album
Outlaw Country Singer-Songwriter Progressive Country
Contemporary Folk
melodic bittersweet passionate pastoral romantic acoustic
1k Ratings 22 Reviews 3.73 Average
John Prine - Sweet Revenge, Cover art
Sweet Revenge
John Prine
3.74 1k 1,129 20 20
1973 Album
Singer-Songwriter Country Progressive Country
Contemporary Folk Country Rock Outlaw Country
political melancholic warm humorous melodic playful poetic passionate
1k Ratings 20 Reviews 3.74 Average
Willis Alan Ramsey - Willis Alan Ramsey, Cover art
Willis Alan Ramsey
Willis Alan Ramsey
3.74 457 457 14 14
May 1972 Album
Singer-Songwriter Progressive Country
Contemporary Folk Outlaw Country
bittersweet acoustic melodic pastoral
457 Ratings 14 Reviews 3.74 Average
Kris Kristofferson - Kristofferson, Cover art
Kristofferson
Kris Kristofferson
3.72 2k 1,541 28 28
June 1970 Album
Outlaw Country Singer-Songwriter
acoustic melancholic melodic playful sarcastic poetic sombre sentimental
2k Ratings 28 Reviews 3.72 Average
Mickey Newbury - 'Frisco Mabel Joy, Cover art
'Frisco Mabel Joy
Mickey Newbury
3.72 645 645 18 18
October 1971 Album
Progressive Country Singer-Songwriter
Ambient Americana Contemporary Folk
pastoral sad melancholic bittersweet sentimental introspective longing breakup
645 Ratings 18 Reviews 3.72 Average
Jerry Jeff Walker - Jerry Jeff Walker, Cover art
Jerry Jeff Walker
Jerry Jeff Walker
3.75 176 176 2 2
January 1973 Album
Progressive Country Outlaw Country
Contemporary Folk Singer-Songwriter
playful bittersweet passionate pastoral melodic warm acoustic uplifting
176 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.75 Average
Townes Van Zandt - Flyin' Shoes, Cover art
Flyin' Shoes
Townes Van Zandt
3.70 1k 1,371 17 17
April 1978 Album
Singer-Songwriter Outlaw Country Country
Contemporary Folk
longing love melodic mellow bittersweet melancholic
1k Ratings 17 Reviews 3.70 Average
Waylon Jennings - The Ramblin' Man, Cover art
The Ramblin' Man
Waylon Jennings
3.71 517 517 3 3
September 1974 Album
Outlaw Country
Country Rock
pastoral love sentimental melodic energetic nature passionate
517 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.71 Average
James Talley - Got No Bread, No Milk, No Money, But We Sure Got a Lot of Love, Cover art
Got No Bread, No Milk, No Money, But We Sure Got a Lot of Love
James Talley
3.72 310 310 3 3
June 1975 Album
Progressive Country
Contemporary Folk Western Swing
warm sombre love passionate melodic
310 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.72 Average
Jerry Jeff Walker - Ridin' High, Cover art
Ridin' High
Jerry Jeff Walker
3.74 186 186 4 4
September 1975 Album
Outlaw Country Progressive Country Singer-Songwriter
Country Rock
progressive love
186 Ratings 4 Reviews 3.74 Average
Waylon Jennings - Honky Tonk Heroes, Cover art
Honky Tonk Heroes
Waylon Jennings
3.68 2k 1,561 21 21
July 1973 Album
Outlaw Country
Honky Tonk Western Progressive Country
melodic pastoral sad acoustic playful introspective mellow alcohol
2k Ratings 21 Reviews 3.68 Average
Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Jessi Colter, Tompall Glaser - Wanted! The Outlaws, Cover art
Wanted! The Outlaws
Waylon Jennings / Willie Nelson / Jessi Colter / Tompall Glaser
3.71 266 266 3 3
12 January 1976 Album
Outlaw Country
Country Rock
crime
266 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.71 Average
Mickey Newbury - Heaven Help the Child, Cover art
Heaven Help the Child
Mickey Newbury
3.70 308 308 3 3
January 1973 Album
Progressive Country Singer-Songwriter
Chamber Folk Country Pop Country Soul
longing breakup melodic bittersweet lush sentimental pastoral sad
308 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.70 Average
Tom T. Hall - In Search of a Song, Cover art
In Search of a Song
Tom T. Hall
3.70 362 362 6 6
August 1971 Album
Progressive Country Nashville Sound
sentimental warm melodic folklore death Christian pastoral mellow
362 Ratings 6 Reviews 3.70 Average
Lee Clayton - Naked Child, Cover art
Naked Child
Lee Clayton
3.71 228 228 5 5
7 May 1979 Album
Country Rock Outlaw Country
Singer-Songwriter
melodic pastoral
228 Ratings 5 Reviews 3.71 Average
Kris Kristofferson - The Silver Tongued Devil and I, Cover art
The Silver Tongued Devil and I
Kris Kristofferson
3.67 860 860 19 19
July 1971 Album
Outlaw Country Singer-Songwriter
Progressive Country Country Rock
melancholic acoustic love death longing autumn breakup bittersweet
860 Ratings 19 Reviews 3.67 Average
Waylon Jennings - I've Always Been Crazy, Cover art
I've Always Been Crazy
Waylon Jennings
3.69 224 224 4 4
September 1978 Album
Outlaw Country
Country Rock
alcohol
224 Ratings 4 Reviews 3.69 Average
Waylon Jennings - This Time, Cover art
This Time
Waylon Jennings
3.67 313 313 5 5
April 1974 Album
Outlaw Country
Country Rock
pastoral warm
313 Ratings 5 Reviews 3.67 Average
Emmylou Harris - Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town, Cover art
Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town
Emmylou Harris
3.66 676 676 12 12
January 1978 Album
Progressive Country
Country Rock
pastoral
676 Ratings 12 Reviews 3.66 Average
John Prine - Bruised Orange, Cover art
Bruised Orange
John Prine
3.65 662 662 17 17
1978 Album
Singer-Songwriter Country Progressive Country
Contemporary Folk Country Pop Folk Rock
melancholic warm humorous melodic love
662 Ratings 17 Reviews 3.65 Average
David Allan Coe - Longhaired Redneck, Cover art
Longhaired Redneck
David Allan Coe
3.67 318 318 5 5
March 1976 Album
Outlaw Country
Country Rock
melodic pastoral uplifting humorous warm rebellious sarcastic acoustic
318 Ratings 5 Reviews 3.67 Average
Steve Young - Seven Bridges Road, Cover art
Seven Bridges Road
Steve Young
3.67 173 173 3 3
July 1972 Album
Outlaw Country Singer-Songwriter
Country Rock
melancholic
173 Ratings 3 Reviews 3.67 Average
Waylon Jennings - The Taker / Tulsa, Cover art
The Taker / Tulsa
Waylon Jennings
3.67 205 205 5 5
February 1971 Album
Outlaw Country
melancholic breakup longing bittersweet sentimental love
205 Ratings 5 Reviews 3.67 Average
Emmylou Harris - Luxury Liner, Cover art
Luxury Liner
Emmylou Harris
3.61 986 986 14 14
January 1977 Album
Progressive Country
Country Rock
pastoral bittersweet uplifting melancholic breakup love
986 Ratings 14 Reviews 3.61 Average
The Ozark Mountain Daredevils - It'll Shine When It Shines, Cover art
It'll Shine When It Shines
The Ozark Mountain Daredevils
3.64 273 273 6 6
1974 Album
Country Rock Progressive Country
Southern Rock Soft Rock
273 Ratings 6 Reviews 3.64 Average
David Allan Coe - Once Upon a Rhyme, Cover art
Once Upon a Rhyme
David Allan Coe
3.64 198 198 7 7
June 1975 Album
Outlaw Country
Nashville Sound
love melodic pastoral longing bittersweet warm lush sentimental
198 Ratings 7 Reviews 3.64 Average
Michael Nesmith - And the Hits Just Keep On Comin', Cover art
And the Hits Just Keep On Comin'
Michael Nesmith
3.65 203 203 9 9
August 1972 Album
Singer-Songwriter Progressive Country
progressive melancholic melodic
203 Ratings 9 Reviews 3.65 Average
Emmylou Harris - Elite Hotel, Cover art
Elite Hotel
Emmylou Harris
3.61 1k 1,019 17 17
December 1975 Album
Progressive Country
Bakersfield Sound Nashville Sound
bittersweet warm breakup melodic love passionate pastoral mellow
1k Ratings 17 Reviews 3.61 Average
Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson - Waylon & Willie, Cover art
Waylon & Willie
Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson
3.61 579 579 7 7
9 January 1978 Album
Outlaw Country
alcohol melodic love bittersweet
579 Ratings 7 Reviews 3.61 Average
Doug Sahm - Doug Sahm and Band, Cover art
Doug Sahm and Band
Doug Sahm
3.61 300 300 13 13
January 1973 Album
Country Rock Progressive Country
Roots Rock Tex-Mex Blues Rock
melodic
300 Ratings 13 Reviews 3.61 Average
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Soundtracks

  • Shel Silverstein / Waylon Jennings - Ned Kelly, Cover art
    Ned Kelly
    1970 Album
    36 Ratings 3.10 Average
    3.10 36 36
  • Willie Nelson & Dave Grusin - The Electric Horseman, Cover art
    The Electric Horseman
    1979 Album
    39 Ratings 2 Reviews 2.92 Average
    2.92 39 39 2 2
  • Waylon Jennings - Music From Mackintosh & T.J., Cover art
    Music From Mackintosh & T.J.
    1976 Album
    9 Ratings 3.10 Average
    3.10 9 9
    • See all 3 Include in main chart

    Live

  • Waylon Jennings - Waylon Live, Cover art
    Waylon Live
    1976 Album
    263 Ratings 6 Reviews 3.92 Average
    3.92 263 263 6 6
  • Willie Nelson - Willie and Family Live, Cover art
    Willie and Family Live
    1978 Album
    139 Ratings 4 Reviews 3.73 Average
    3.73 139 139 4 4
  • Jerry Jeff Walker - A Man Must Carry On, Cover art
    A Man Must Carry On
    1977 Album
    82 Ratings 7 Reviews 3.74 Average
    3.74 82 82 7 7
  • Mickey Newbury - Live at Montezuma Hall, Cover art
    Live at Montezuma Hall
    1973 Album
    43 Ratings 2 Reviews 3.94 Average
    3.94 43 43 2 2
  • Glen Sherley - Glen Sherley, Cover art
    Glen Sherley
    1971 Album
    36 Ratings 1 Reviews 3.24 Average
    3.24 36 36 1 1
    • See all 8 Include in main chart
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