25 great albums turning 50 in 2024
These classic discs—from artists such as Aerosmith, David Bowie, Joni Mitchell, and the Rolling Stones—stand the test of time
Music Features 20th century in music
Looking back from the perspective of a half-century, it’s clear that 1974 is where the classic rock era started to peak. Survivors of the 1960s continued to flourish while new acts influenced by these very artists started to emerge. The passage of time and the prevalence of album rock radio tends to erase the distinctions between these interlocking generations but a close examination of the noteworthy albums from 1974 reveals how many titans of classic rock were in a nascent phase this particular year. Queen, Aerosmith, and Rush were all beginning to hit their stride, while cult favorites Big Star and Gram Parsons released records that didn’t make waves on the charts but proved to have an enduring influence. Then, there were a host of major artists who were at the top of their game in 1974: Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Steely Dan, and Linda Ronstadt all made records that helped define their careers as well as the sounds of the 1970s. This list of albums celebrating their 50th anniversary this year isn’t necessarily definitive—there was a surplus of great music released in 1974 encompassing all different genres—but what’s here is meant to capture the sound and feel of 1974, which may have been the most quintessentially ’70s year of the 1970s.
