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

 

 

 

 

 

 

128x128tony1954

through 80s

@elrod

seriously?

what about 80’s music will live forever? culturally more about silly comedy movies than any music. no lasting musical culture came from those years....compared to the 50’s, 60’s or 70’s.

’Thriller’ and ’M-TV’ were the high points......which is relatively a pretty low bar for greatness.

apologies if these were your high school years and so it’s personal. my kids were in H.S. in the 80’s and early 90’s and they preferred my 60’s and 70’s rock to their contemporary 80’s music.

they did like Grunge and Nirvana, a local Seattle band,. but that was 90’s.

Fifty years from now, they might be saying that about 2023. 

Here's a list by the way,

 

 

I'll agree that for us old folks that 1971 might be the most prolific year for the most popular albums by the groups at the time , ( you forgot my favorite of all time )          David Crosby " If I Could Only Remember My Name " .                                               Out of the 34 albums mentioned I have 17 of them and saw 4 of them in concert .

But you must admit the stuartk has a point .

@gowanus 

Fifty years from now they will still be listening to music from the 60's and 70's. Just like they will still be listening to 50's and 60's jazz.

This is because what lasts is music that contains innovation, creativity, musicianship, dynamics and emotional impact.Properties that are in scarce supply these days. Much easier to copy someone else's hits or stick with a formulaic genre like hip hop or rap.