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As part of my Decades project, I counted down my own favorite albums of the year then explored other notable releases with which I was less familiar.

The year 1970 saw the end of The Beatles, the emergence of heavy metal, and a sweet spot for folk rock stalwarts.

Originally published: 2016 | Song of the Day posts featured: 20

My top five albums of 1970:

#1. 12 Songs – Randy Newman

#2. Watertown – Frank Sinatra

#3. Moondance – Van Morrison

#4. Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel

#5. Let It Be – The Beatles

Other notable albums of 1970…

Paranoid – Black Sabbath

Cosmo’s Factory – Creedence Clearwater Revival

Deja Vu – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

American Beauty – The Grateful Dead

All Things Must Pass – George Harrison

Tumbleweed Connection – Elton John

Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One – The Kinks

Led Zeppelin III – Led Zeppelin

Nilsson Sings Newman – Harry Nilsson

Runt – Todd Rundgren

Abraxas – Santana

Funhouse – The Stooges

Sweet Baby James – James Taylor

Loaded – The Velvet Underground

After the Gold Rush – Neil Young