Nonsense. Every year is better than the last. More music is added to the continuum of music. Certainly the record companies were much more altruistic then - and they weren't very altruistic. Saying it was "the best" means you only like that music and you are making the point that the year of any work of art you love was the high point of art.
Was 1971 the high point of popular music?
All these albums were released in 1971.
"Imagine" by John Lennon
"Sticky Fingers" by Rolling Stones
"Blue" by Joni Mitchell
"Meddle" by Pink Floyd
"There's a Riot Going On" by Sly & The Family Stone
"Fragile" by Yes
"The Yes Album" by Yes
"Killer" by Alice Cooper
"Ram" by Paul McCartney
"Live at the Filmore East" by Allman Bros. Band
"Who's Next" by The Who
"What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye
"Hunky Dory" by David Bowie
"Aqualung" by Jethro Tull
"Master of Reality" by Black Sabbath
"Songs of Love and Hate" by Leonard Cohen
"Shaft" by Isaac Hayes
"Every Picture Tells a Story" by Rod Stewart
"Madman Across The Water" by Elton John
"LA Woman" by The Doors
"Led Zeppelin IV" by Led Zeppelin
"Tapestry" by Carole King
"Pearl" by Janis Joplin
"Live-Evil" by Miles Davis
" Journey in Satchidananda" by Alice Coltrane
"Teaser and teh Firecat" by Cat Stevens
"Deuce" by Rory Gallagher
"Santana III" by Santana
"Weather Report" by Weather Report
"Tupelo Honey" by Van Morrison
"Surfs Up" by The Beach Boys
"John Prine" by John Prine
"Wild Life" by Wings
"Where I'm Coming From" by Stevie Wonder