As we've noticed in recent weeks, 2017 delivers a true wealth of anniversaries. We've already touched on classic albums turning 20 and 30 this year, but as that hired belly-dancer reminded your dad back in the day at his weird birthday party at the Knight of Columbus Hall in the next town over, the Big 4-O is the true mile-marker of age. And a list of 1977 albums turning 40 can run rather extensively. Instead, we've focused this list to 40 (consistency!), spotlighting a year when punk exploded (Sex Pistols, the Ramones, Television), music remained a movement (the Clash, Bob Marley) and electronic music took on many shapes and styles (ABBA, Kraftwerk). We got more than one record from the likes of David Bowie, Iggy Pop, the Jam and others, Fleetwood Mac and Billy Joel released albums we're still talking about, and Boston repped nicely on a national scale with efforts from the Modern Lovers, the Real Kids, and Aerosmith. With apologies to the likes of Brian Eno (Before And After Science), Throbbing Gristle (The Second Annual Report), and Yes (Going for the One), here are 40 classic albums turning 40 in 2017.
Blondie, Plastic Letters
Released: February, 1977
