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

The answer is a big YES!  1971 was probably the peak in popular music.

You left out the amazing Skull & Roses by the Grateful Dead!  So many great albums.  Why?  Because it was the baby boom generation.

You also left out:

Imagine by John Lennon

Ram by Paul McCartney

The Concert for Bangladesh by George Harrison

The Yes Album

Love it to Death by Alice Cooper

The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys by Traffic

Nursery Crime by Genesis

Muswell Hillbillies by the Kinks

Mud Slide Slim by James Taylor

Madman Across the Water by Elton John

Tarkus by ELP

Electric Warrior by T. Rex

I'm sure there are several more.  AMAZING year for music!

 

There are 20/30 year olds covering Blind Faith* I wonder how many of todays artists will be covered in 50 years?

I’d say about ‘67-72ish.  

*Foxes and Fossils apparently recently released one.

@fred60 

Actually, I did include....

Imagine by John Lennon

Ram by Paul McCartney

The Yes Album

Madman Across the Water by Elton John

 

 

 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.