Top Ten Albums – Week of November 13, 1976

A Snapshot in Time

Before diving into the music, here’s what else was happening in the world:

The most significant US historical event during the week of November 13, 1976, was the 1976 Presidential Election, which saw Democratic nominee Jimmy Carter defeat incumbent President Gerald Ford.

Jimmy Carter defeated President Gerald Ford, winning 50.1% of the popular vote and 297 electoral votes to Ford's 240..

By winning the popular and electoral votes,  It made Carter the first president from the Deep South since the Civil War.

The discovery of the first megamouth shark off the coast of Hawaii.

Other Key Events

Patty Hearst released on bail: On November 19, newspaper heiress Patty Hearst was released from prison on a $1.5 million bond while she appealed her conviction for a 1974 bank robbery.

Hearst, who had been kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army, became a national fixation after joining her captors.

First mission for NEST: The Nuclear Emergency Search Team (NEST) carried out its first mission after a hoax threat to contaminate Spokane, Washington, with nuclear waste.

Paul Simon on Saturday Night Live: On November 20, Paul Simon hosted SNL, famously performing “Still Crazy After All These Years” in a turkey costume—proof that even musical legends could laugh at themselves.

Rod Stewart tops the charts: “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)” hit #1 on November 13, beginning an impressive eight-week reign on the Billboard Hot 100.

In the media world, What’s Happening!! debuted as a weekly series on ABC, bringing fresh energy to Black sitcoms, while Rupert Murdoch made his first big U.S. media move by purchasing the New York Post.

🌍 World News & Politics

• U.K. Economic Troubles: Britain was negotiating an emergency loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to stabilize its economy, marking one of the most serious financial crises of the postwar era.

• South Africa: Anti-apartheid protests continued following the Soweto uprising earlier in 1976, sparking international condemnation of the regime.

• China: The nation was still in mourning following the death of Chairman Mao Zedong in September, as the new leadership under Hua Guofeng began consolidating power.

• Italy & Europe: In Italy, political instability continued with multiple coalition changes as the country faced economic uncertainty and rising domestic terrorism from extremist groups.
  

Just as America was experiencing that cultural moment, these were the albums spinning on turntables nationwide.

This Week’s Top Ten Albums in America

1 Songs In The Key Of Life – Stevie Wonder

2 The Soundtrack From the Film "The Song Remains The Same" – Led Zeppelin

3 Blue Moves – Elton John

4 Boston – Boston

5 Frampton Comes Alive – Peter Frampton

6 Spirit – Earth, Wind & Fire

7 Fly Like An Eagle – Steve Miller Band

8 Children Of The World – Bee Gees

9 One More From The Road – Lynyrd Skynyrd

10 A Night On The Town – Rod Stewart

Album of the Week Spotlight

 Boston - Boston

Album of the Week Spotlight

Boston’s self-titled debut was nothing short of a revolution in rock sound. From the opening chords of “More Than a Feeling,” listeners knew this was something different—high-powered yet pristinely polished.

Tom Scholz, an MIT-trained engineer turned rock visionary, built much of the album’s sound in his basement studio. His command of layering, harmony, and sonic clarity created a wall of sound that was powerful but never muddy—a new standard for rock production. Every riff was engineered to perfection, and the result was an album that still sounds clean and fresh nearly 50 years later

Some of his genius musically shines through radiantly and is hardly possible to not admire when you listen to this recording..

My Connection

Boston and its follow-up, Don’t Look Back, dominated sales for years after their release. In my early days managing Camelot Music stores, I must have sold hundreds of Boston LPs and 8-tracks. 

At this time, Cassettes were not readily available nor were they carried in the store. a few started to appear in late 1977- 1978.

Customers loved it for road trips—it was the perfect soundtrack for long drives, windows down, and volume up.

Trivia Corner

Fun Fact 1: Boston’s debut remains one of the best-selling debut albums of all time, with over 17 million copies sold in the U.S.

Fun Fact 2: Tom Scholz invented his own guitar effects, later sold commercially as the Rockman, used by countless ’80s guitarists.

Fun Fact 3: The band recorded nearly every note in Scholz’s basement studio before their label even knew it existed—a DIY success story decades ahead of its time.

Fun Fact 4: Boston Toured but had a difficult time at first duplicating the greatness of the sound of the album from a live band. 

I actually customers come in my store after a Boston concert and they were disappointed that live was no where as good as the record.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What makes Boston’s debut album so iconic?
Its blend of flawless engineering, soaring melodies, and layered guitar tones set a new standard for rock production and continues to influence musicians today.

Q2: Who was Tom Scholz, and why is he important?
Tom Scholz was an MIT-educated engineer whose innovations in recording technology reshaped how albums could be produced from home studios.

Q3: Was this album’s success immediate?
Absolutely. Within months of release in 1976, Boston went platinum and became one of the fastest-selling debut albums of the decade.

Q4: How did this album compare with others on the chart?
While Songs in the Key of Life and Spirit carried deep social and spiritual themes, Boston stood out for its technical precision and sonic clarity.

Q5: Where can I listen to these albums today?
All albums listed are available on major streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music—many remastered for modern clarity.