12 '70s Hard Rock Albums All Fans Should Own

12. Neil Young - Tonight's The Night

The Canadian legend had a tumultuous ‘70s. After two enormously successful records of primarily brittle country folk, a number of bereavements sent him scurrying for the comfort of noise. Pulling together a new band, he disappeared into studios in Hollywood and his ranch and bashed out one of the gloomiest, but heaviest, records of his career.

The title track sets things off on a reserved note with a painfully raw recap of Young’s recently deceased roadie pal, but the record increases the volume steadily from there. "Come on Baby Let's Go Downtown" brings in Crazy Horse for the jam, and the brilliant “Albuquerque” utilises the thick, crunchy guitar tone that epitomises Young in rock mode.

"Lookout Joe" may be the definitive track on the album, another song memorialising losers and users but set to a swinging, barroom beat. A piano is pounded upon as Young encourages his sidemen to take solos and yell along to the melancholy chorus.

The album’s release was delayed for two years in favour of the equally miserable, but prettier, On The Beach. It’s a record forged by tough times, but it still sounds amazing.