The Best Albums of 1971
This year, more popular names had their debut in music. Donna Summer begins her recording career under her real name of Donna Gaines and Elton John has first international hit with “Your Song”. In this year, the line-up for Queen is completed when bassist John Deacon joins the band. Also this year, the 13th Grammy Awards, honoring musical accomplishments of 1970, are presented. The ceremonies are broadcast on live television for the first time. Simon & Garfunkel won Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year for their final album Bridge over Troubled Water and its title track. The Carpenters win Best New Artist. Here are all of the 1971 albums ranked.
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10. Fragile (Yes)
“Fragile” opens with a great song for any time period “Roundabout”, eight and a half minutes of sheer bliss. “Cans And Brahms” is something that I might not have appreciated had I heard it back in my youth, yet it would have stuck with me through my musical evolution…it is just a short little lesson or experience in Classical Music, which might take an interested listener on another adventure.”
9. L.A. Woman (The Doors)
“This record is a back to basic live band approach and with the alternate versions you can hear The Doors as loose but still tight at the same time. Jim. was bearded and larger and was singing the blues and this was happy times for the band. John, is one of my favorite drummers and he is too good for an average rock band but perfect for The Doors.”
8. Meddle (Pink Floyd)
“In my own opinion, this is the best Pink Floyd record, certainly my favorite. The songs are all great and are all varied, you hear One of These Days and then Seamus is on the same side of the record and it sounds like a completely different band. I love the way this album flows, One of These Days segueing into Pillow of Winds is just beautiful.”
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7. Tago Mago (Can)
“”Tago Mago” is the centerpiece of Can’s career, a double CD that still boggles the mind today as it did over thirty years ago. Given the comparatively primitive state of recording technology that existed at the time, the sounds Can created were nothing short of astonishing.”
6. Blue (Joni Mitchell)
“Blue is the last of Joni’s early folk singer period, an outstanding group of recordings maturing and expanding with each one. My favorite Joni song of all time is on here, California. Blue for me is a gateway into her next musical expansion from a basically solo artist to a more complex era with more musicians a bigger sound. Her piano, guitar playing and singing and song writing on this cd is top notch. It is the apex of this era of Joni Mitchell,s music”
5. What’s Going On (Marvin Gaye)
“Every single song applies in these times. The music is timeless. I LOVE the way he weaves everything together. God, loving one and other, the tragedy of people self destructing, destroying the environment that this world is destined to die and it sure seems to be true. But I pray there is time to salvage everything.”
4. Sticky Fingers (The Rolling Stones)
“From the time Sticky Fingers was first released in 1971, it’s been one of the Stones best efforts. It has handled the passing of time well, and still rocks. It’s the 2nd “Bonus” disc I find captivating on this release. The alternate takes of “Brown Sugar”, Wild Horses”, Can’t You Hear Me Knocking””, “Bitch” and Dead Flowers” are all very well done. I especially like the addition of slide guitar to “Brown Sugar”. It adds a whole new dimension and texture to the tune.”
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3. Hunky Dory (David Bowie)
“Brilliant. This is the beginning of the greatest solo artist in modern music. Where to start? Changes announce the, er, changes in the style. Life on Mars is quite simply one of the greatest songs ever written, takes the structure of the dire My Way, and turns it into something magical.”
2. Who’s Next (The Who)
“The album was recorded at a time when the music recording industry was going through some of the most significant changes in history and this record was an example of what it was like for all bands to set the new standards for using the studio to create new music in a totally new way. The musical genius of Pete Townsend came into full focus during this time period, well as the direction of the entire band.”
1. Untitled (Led Zeppelin IV) (Led Zeppelin)
“Although the album opens with a few tracks that could peel the paint off the wall, the largely acoustic track Battle of Evermore, featuring guest vocalist Sandy Denny from folk/rock group Fairport Convention and the excellent Going to California are very relaxing pieces of music. Meditative even. Stairway to Heaven really is a very well put together piece of music – come to think of it, no matter how many times I listen to it, I still love it. In fact, I do not think that the clean arrangement of Stairway to Heaven, with its gradual build to a climactic finish, can be beat.”
