*** FEW CORRECTIONS *** - I erroneously list Master of Reality as Black Sabbath’s 4th album when it is, in fact, their third album. - I erroneously used the wrong album cover for Jesus Christ Superstar. The one pictured is the film soundtrack, not released until 1974. It should have been the cast recordings from the stage show, released 1971 and featuring Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan as Jesus. - How many people have been pointing out the albums that I missed, and I just wanted to say that it was impossible to put every album made in 1971 without having some form of entertaining blurb about some of them. I tried to fit as many genres in as I could, as well as touch most of the high points. Also, since I’m a classic rock channel, most of my focus was on rock albums. - Just to point out that I don't say "1971 WAS the greatest year ever," I say, "WAS 1971 the greatest year ever?" Its to foster discussion. In fact, in my opinion, there are years in the 60s that blow 1971 away. But I did this years SPECIFICALLY because it is the 50th anniversary of it. Next year I will probably do a "1972" sequel. Or a "1962."
Love your video re the music, but have to take issue with your attitude to WW2. It DID start before the USA entered, and to insist it's only a "world war" if USA is involved ignores (at least) two things. Firstly, not EVERY country in the world needs to take part for it to be called a "world war". In fact, only 30 countries (even counting the USA) were involved in WW2. And secondly, the pacific theater had already started BEFORE Poland was invaded, with Japan taking Northeast China, etc. Many thousands of people had already died in WW2 before Pearl Harbour was bombed. Many countries were already under occupation before Pearl Harbour was bombed. Your music history has awesome research and great balance between the USA and UK, please don't be an arrogant asshole when it comes to other points of history.
@@PeterReefman You have a point, bud. My responses are a little tongue and cheek I am a huge student of history and I understand what you were went through before America became involved. I gave the Polish, the French, the British and the Russians all the credit in the world for refusing to cow to the Germans. Trust me, I am a student of all history, and I didn’t wanna come off like that. It was just a bit of teasing. But the reality is that December 7, 1941 IS the date that is drilled into American schoolchildren in 3rd grade history class. So forgive me for using that date as the one that I remember in regards to WW2.
69' and 70' were better but in the wholee realm of things music wise 69' to 73' were the best years of Rock N' Pop music because they had a myriad of great artists, musicians and songwriters! 🎤🎹🎸🥁
1971 I was18,married with a Baby and became a United States Marine.Good year.We would remain married untill 2019 when she entered Heaven.1971 Great Music,Good times.
Ward, My Condolences to you. In 1971, I was 20, and dating my Childhood sweetheart, and later married in 1974. Two great sons and 4 Grandchildren later (and One more on the way), life changed Immensely in 2019 thanks to The Chinese COVID plague to the world. Now we have the New Norm. Music Videos like this one, help to provide the diversion from that sad Reality. Be well and Strong. Yes, 1971 was a good year, although I wish this presenter stayed away form calling names on previous Presidents : Tricky Dickie. What we have NOW , an Incoherent idiot, that makes Jimmy Carter look good, is far Worse.....
I think it's very subjective, but I have always argued the 10 year period of late 60s to 1st half of the 70s was the greatest period of creativity for modern music. Hard to seperate which year was best but do agree that 71 was a great year!
Many things are measured in decades. 10 year periods seem to be a marker and standard of measurement. You have to start with 1964 The Beatles, where modern rock n roll really started. Measure out 10 years and you have the greatest creative period in rock n roll. Greatest bands. Greatest hits. Greatest inventions like lasers, synthesizers, stadium performances, huge sound systems, story lines, better recording techniques, and bands like The Who were leaders in that regard.
Agree with you but I would go back the early 60's to mid 70's. The early 80's was hit and miss for me so I went back to the 60's and 70's. 65 years old now and can't let the music die.
If we're going for 10 year periods, then it's 66 to 75, for me. I tend to stretch it out and have 65 to 80 as the classic period of modern popular music. :)
@@Codex7777 by 1975 all of the classic rock bands broke up, died, changed members, said all that was to be said, no innovation, or the main members went solo, and others whimped out or went Disco. By 75 it was all done. Bowie, Stewart, Beatles, Stones, Who, Zep. Thousands of others.
I agree! 64 to 74 is the best decade for music. Everything from Lenny Welch to Al Green, from the Beatles to Queen,. from the Stones to the ABBA. From the Yardbirds to the Steely Dan. Who could argue with that? I'm sure there's a plethora of people who could. Anyone who likes Duran Duran or Keane!!
WONC, North Central College's (of Naperville, IL) radio station came to the same conclusion a few years ago and runs a program called "Vintage Rock" nightly for two hours featuring music exclusively from this decade.
Agreed. I think it really peaked from '69 to '74. Disco started becoming a little too hard to ignore in about '75, and that's where things started going downhill...
The first half of 1971 I was stationed in Vietnam. I know I was turned on to a lot of great music over there. CCR, Neil Young “after the gold rush, ChicagoTransit Authority, Grand Funk Railroad, Beatles Revolver, Jeff Beck Truth, Savoy Brown Hellbound Train, I know a lot of these may have been released earlier but that’s when I found them. Also Jethro Tull Benefit, Elton John Tumbleweed Connection, James Gang. All in all what a wonderful time for Rock music. It helped me through the war immensely. My love continued on until today at 70 years old and being a disc jockey in my youth at a underground alternative album station “free form” my love for music has never waned. Thanks for a great rundown on the phenomenal music of the early 70’s
I have been telling people for about 40 years that 1971 was the best music year. Thanks Guitar Historian for doing the heavy lifting and explaing why. You see, for at least the last 20 years I have not had the patience or energy to try to explain it myself! Great Job.
Not to be a sharpshooter but 66-71 is 6 years if you count 71. I think anywhere between 1966 and 1973 could be the best 5 year period. Anywhere between 83-93 could be considered. I would also throw in 83-87 as almost being on par with any 5 year period.
The Allman Brothers Band at the Fillmore East live album is one of the greatest albums of all time. The guitar interplay between Duane Allman and Dickey Betts is unmatched.
That album was recorded a week after Hendrix passed! There has never been a better One Two punch than Sky Dog & Betts! Sadly it just wasn't meant to be! Shout out to Layla Clapton & Duane of Guitars
They were on a hot streak there. 1971 was my birth year--so I came of age as Warren Haynes brought some of that twin-guitar fire back to their shows 20 years later. But what a rousing album back then by my favorite band
I think 1971 was the best year. I liked mostly everything. Three Dog Night rocked with three vocalists! I will never forget that even among frontman I loved like Robert Plant, Rod Stewart and Roger Daltrey.
Thanks for your efforts in producing this. Allman Brothers Band, At Fillmore East , The best live album ever recorded. It is October 2021, fifty years and the talent of 1971 is amazing. Most of what was described is timeless. So happy I was a part of it. My grandkids are just not going to get it…
Who knows, maybe they will(?) -- A lot of kids aren't satisfied with currrent music and are diving into that era, many of them becoming good musicians in the process.
I was a teenager in 1971 and looking back at that amazing year it's hard to fathom the depth of music that was produced in real time during my youth. It was truly mind blowing. Also, FM radio and stereophonic sound were just coming around. This is a time when people would sit in the same room with each other to make music. Thanks for posting, this is a keeper.
Incredible music, yes I would agree a great year for music. Was it the greatest? I would have to go all over it, however thanks for a amazing presentation, I thought Zeppelin 4 was a 1972 release thank you for an excellent presentation.
THIS APPROACH to the music of the past is so precious....It takes you through the year...th by month.... A time-consuming effort that needs to be applauded.. NOW....The listeners have to figure out where they were at the time. and what they were smoking.......intriguing indeed....well done !
1975 is an important year for me, with ground-breaking futuristic albums by Brian Eno, Phil Manzanera, Harmonia, John Cale, Neu!, Van der Graaf Generator, Genesis. 1971 was kind of a holdover of the 60s, but 1975 was pointing us towards a very cool future. Too bad we messed it up totally.
I feel fortunate to have experienced this banner year as a teenager who couldn't wait to get her hands on these classic albums! The best of times and some of the best bands and songs to come up the ranks! Loved this!! Thank you!!!
Favorite album that year for me was, by far, Led Zeppelin’s fourth album. And this year could arguably be the best year of all time in regards to the plethora of rock albums that were produced in 1971
1965-1980. 15 years that takes an incredible and unsurpassed musical era from Dylan's 'Like a rolling stone' through to Clash's 'London Calling'. I don't think that time span has ever been equalled for rock music and soul music too.
i have said the exact same thing, the same years.....it will never be duplicated , theres so much you cant even remember it all.....i never run out of music from those years to reach back to..
I agree. that would put me at ages 6 to 21 my most formative radio listening and album buying years. though Meet the Beatles was my first album! I used to have the cutest 8 track player too lol
Not just the music but the time. In the AF and flew thousands of miles in a C - 47. Owned every single one of those albums from Vinyl to 8 - track to cassette to CD. Life pretty much ended when I left th AF
Amazing how many of those albums I still have in my vinyl collections purchased that year. I feel fortunate to have in that era. I feel that today could be called the "dark ages of music"
"The unofficial start of World War 2 in 1941"? America joined the war in 1941, but it started in 1939 when Germany invaded Poland. By 1941, Germany had already taken over France and had been bombing Britain for a year. Your love of history is a very special kind of love.
@@arthurgordon6072 he’s talking from an American perspective, relax and be cool or next time y’all can’t make nice with your neighbors we won’t help. Ungrateful punk.
1971 was one of the greatest years for pop, rock, reggae, and progressive rock. This was the year where legend walked the Earth in their prime with youthful creativity, unaffected by cookie-cutter styles and trends of the day. Many artists were avant-garde and innovative.
As for the best none-live Who album. I equivocate on a regular basis between Who's Next, Quadrophenia, and The Who Sell Out. That is why it is best to have all three albums on hand at all times to minimize inner inner turmoil.
@@kevanbrown7620 Interesting about Quadro. I put that as their greatest of all time. A better rock opera (musically and lyrically, not conceptually) than Tommy, and the recording was absolutely stunning after what Townshend considered the disastrous sound on Tommy. I'll never forget the first time I heard Love Reign O'er Me driving my car down Pacific Ave in Stockton California and KUOP played that song. I had to pull over to take it in.
I have always believed that good music is good music no matter if is 50 years or 5 months old! The albums you mentioned from 50 years ago prove that point. The albums mentioned have all stood the test of time and are still rated as good albums today. A lot of today's music still echoes changes that began at the start of the 1970s. Regards from Australia.
I was a 15 year old in Australia and didn't realise then, how lucky I was to experience this music. I loved it then but so grateful now, that I could experience this brilliant music first hand, at the time.
I been saying for many years that 1971 was the best year in music. Im also born-71 and my first record was Sabs Master of Reality-which I bought as a 11years old. It changed the course of my life. Great doc.!!
I was in 11th and 12th grade in 1971 and nearly all of the money that I earned at a job after school went to albums, concert tickets, and guitars and equipment. I got to see many of those bands in concert. Whether or not 1971 was the best year might be debatable, but it's pretty hard to beat. I still remember the look on my music appreciation teacher's face when we played him Aqualung. We would debate whether or not Jethro Tull was heavier than Black Sabbath. I feel privileged that I got to live through that era of music.
Answer: Arguably yes. This is a great video. There's a GREAT Netflix mini series called '1971 - the year that music changed everything' that basically corroborates that premise. The number of amazing album released in 1971 is astounding. I recommend it to anyone interested in music, pop culture, politics, fashion, society in general; go watch the mini-series, its all done w/ real, priceless original, rare and never before seen footage that allows one to virtually get in a a time machine and actually kinda be there in 1971. A total Trip. Kudos to you for making this video. 1971 is kinda like a temporal superimposition of everything that had happened till then plus all that could and would be, all the future possibilities...Cheers and stay safe.
I didn't realize so many album I love were released in 1971. My favorite was Carole King's Tapestry, but Led Zeppelin IV, The Doors LA Woman, were among some of my other favorites. On June 27th , I stayed up listening to the final concert at the Filmore East. 1971 was a great year!
Great, great video!!! I think what struck me was the number of albums released that really didn't have any filler! Every Picture Tells A Story, Ram, Led Zeppelin IV, Live At The Fillmore these are albums that we listen to start to finish. Those are a few of my faves but I'm sure everyone has their own group to list!
I was sweet 16 in 71 and the two tracks that just blew me away were " Whats Going On " and " Battle of Evermore " ! Two strikingly different gendres but both tattooed to this day in my heart !
I was born December 3 1971. Best year in music IMO. VAN MORRISON is my favorite artist of all time. His fantastic 5th album TUPELO HONEY was released October 15, 1971. He has 42 studio albums. It’s understandable that you missed this one.
l was 15 in 1971, an excellent age/year of music to be certain! l remember, vividly, unwrapping Sticky Fingers and wondering about that lump in his pants (a more innocent time) and unzipping the pants, several x's. l knew nearly every album you spoke of. I can't pick a favorite, l hadn't realized so many favs were in one year! OK, actually I'd have to go with the Allman Brothers live at the Filmore. No Moody Blues? Music and album releases were so anticipated the lines went around the block. Life was good & l didn't have any bills to pay. ☮
Live at Filmore East not only my favorite album of that year. It's my favorite album of all time ! Boy were we the lucky ones.. muscle cars, classic & southern rock. I was 15 in 69, in High School in 71. We didn't know how good we had it !
✌️&🤘Linda Ward , I still love Live at the Fillmore East and miss the Allman Brothers Band, from Duane, Gregg, Dickie,and all of them. Keep rocking sister. Brother Gary
In November, another big album was Sly and Family Stone - There's a Riot Going On. Some other notable albums in 1971: Harry Nilsson - Nilsson Schmilsson and T. Rex - Electric Warrior.
I graduated from H.S. in 1971 and even though I may be a little biased I cannot think of any year that had as mech to contribute to music in general than the 1971 year. All of this music was almost too much to take i for a single year and even the radio stations had a hard time keeping up to date. Some of the best and most appealing music of all time. You have to be right about this year it was almost too much to take in.
In early1972 my big brother introduced me to rock n roll. He said " don't speak, listen to the song and look at the album cover " . First up Ballad of Dwight Frye by Alice Cooper, next up Roundabout from Yes. Both 1971 releases, it made me decide to be a musician, so yes 1971 was the best
The best advice that you can offer as someone who has already been there. Absorb the sounds and sights, let them invade your senses, and pay attention. Just like when you are at a live show. We can talk later on the ride home...
“Dwight Fry” was a GREAT record on number of fronts.. Alice Cooper did a VERY GOOD job on the recording. The engineers outdid themselves, as the quality of that recording was VERY hard to beat in those days, And it remains so to this day.TRULY full-frequency, and VERY high fidelity, despite the distortion in the guitars. In fact, I had a speaker cabinet that stood 4.5 feet tall. I would park this BEAST in my living room, pointed out my front door, through the screen. And just to “heat up” the voice coils in the speeakers, before I did anything else with them, I’d play “The Ballad of Dwight Fry” from a tape deck, through this monster 150 watt guitar amp, at about 120 dB (I didn’t yet have a dB meter…I do NOW, of course), and I’d walk most of a block down the street to see how my laboratory test speakers were doing. Of course, the State Marshal that lived across the street from me, on the days he was home, took a dim view of all this. But then,:when I built an electric switchboard for electrically setting off buried explosives from a safe distance, (you could bury up to 15 small charges and connect them to the switchboard, then just run your hand up the side of.the front panel to set them off in sequence to make things look like there was a strafing run happening in the Continental U.S. in 1965 (!). He took an even dimmer view of that. Let’s face it - the guy was just no fun. And I could be wrong about this, but as I recall, his daughter ended up pregnant at 16, and his son was sentenced to a long stretch in prison for dealing mass quantities of every kind of dope! So you tell me. Which was worse? My audio lab or what he did to his kids to make them turn out the way they did?????? I turned what I did back then into several careers. They turned what THEY did into an unwanted pregnancy and 5 to LIFE at San Quentin…
We didn't have "devices" in 1971. We had large record players with stereo speakers and vinyl records, with snap and crackle joining Messrs Page, Plant, Jones & Bonham.
Wow. I was six years new to Mother Earth. And when I think about the music of 71. I have to say that was a great year. I listen to almost all of this list. But for me. Hands down. Still listening very regularly to 19:37 this very day. It’s The Rolling Stones sticky fingers. So true about the album track list. From brown sugar to moonlight mile. Gets me every time.👍✌️
Marcus, agreed.... Isn't it Ironic, that 30 years later at the World Trade Center Concert that Paul McCartney helped to put together, the Who performs : "Won't Get Fooled Again"... evoking great emotions. SOB, we did get Fooled again, by the Idiot in the White House. Imagine Trusting the Taliban ..... Think about that statement made be Idealistic Dreamers , so Naive it's truly Incredible. Somebody's making Big Bucks here !!! Always Follow the Money !!! Notwithstanding losing precious Military Lives (13 ) , leaving Americans Behind with voracious LIES to the Loving Liberal media, Uncle Joey, You left $85 BILLION of weaponry and ammunition AND a State of the Art Air Force Base to the Taliban. It's Incredulous !!
Baba O'Reilly is one of my favourite songs. It's up there with A Day in the Life and Gimme Shelter. Just 3 of my favourite tracks. There's so many, but those 3 are definitely high up on my own personal list. Baba O'Reilly has to be one of the Who's greatest moments.
@@Chiroman527Yeah, I remember that. Is that when McCartney sang Freedom. Or was that another Concert. I know McCartney sang Freedom in New York, not long after 9/11.
@@TheGuitarHistorianI'm sorry i was just asking if that was the concert when Paul McCartney played his song Freedom, that's all. I had no intention of getting into Afghanistan whatsoever. My question was purely musical. I didn't even mention Afghanistan.
Faves of mine; Zoso, LA Woman, Sticky Fingers, EGBOYDF, Ram. There's a bunch I have only heard of but never listened to before. Will have to check out the Humble Pie.
As a kid growing up in the sixties and going into HS in '69, I have to agree the early 70's had some of the best classic Rock ever! I thought I was going to die when Disco came along, but into the late 70's and VanHalen saved us all!!! 80's had great music, too!
1971 is a top condender for best year for rock music for sure. 1968 and 1969 are right there too. 69 had Abbey Road, Let It Bleed, Led Zeppelin 1 and 2, Tommy, Stand Up by Tull, Arthur by the Kinks, 2 great albums from Moody Blues, 3 albums from CCR, In the Court of the Crimson King, etc. 68 had The Beatles White album, Beggars Banquet, Electric Ladyland, Wheels of Fire, Village Green Preservation Society, and many more. 1967-1972 was a golden age for music. Wish I had been around for it.
Like everyone today you are thinking in albums. If you want to understand the period you have to realise that before 1967, popular music for a young audience was centred on singles. There were some albums of course, but they consisted of mainly two or three hit singles and the rest was largely fillers. The Beatles gradually changed that, but it took some time, and even after that had happened, the 7" vinyl single returned as the prime format during the punk years and then again during the 90s Britpop period. The fact that singles today are largely ignored even by collectors is bordering on the absurd and certainly not a true reflection of history.
I was born in '67; my brother in '72. I'm actually cool with being an 80s teen; after all, I had Rush's Moving Pictures through Power Windows as one of the foundations of my high school soundtrack. I still had all that great 60s and 70s music in regular rotation on the radio, and if we're being honest, the 80s were different but still really good in many ways, musically. But there is a part of me that would have liked to have been a decade older; I sort of feel like I showed up the day after the world's best party, which was still going on, but all the really great stuff happened the night before.
It was definitely a memorable time to be young and music fan. I came from a very small town, and music was a dear old friend. I learned more from music than from tobacco. It endeared me to my friend's. Music saved me from total isolation in a small town. It helped me have the confidence to kiss a girl. To be the life of _a_ party. To relate to my older peers and to generally be a well rounded person that is still alive today, only 55 years later.
Damn. Yea, that was a damn good year. Zeppelin IV, Tapestry, and All Things Must Pass were the best albums that year. Thank you so much for that trip down memory lane.
I love Rocking the Fillmore East. But Made in Japan is absolutely the Greatest Live Album ever recorded. Big Steve Marriott Fan but you have to give Deep Purple their due. No band was ever that hot during the Japan Tour. Ritchie just was above any Guitarist in 72 with the solos on Made in Japan. Then there is the Voice Ian Gillian. And Ian Paice was a monster. The only argument is what is the Number Two Greatest Live Album.
Sorry to be an asshole, there is only one answer to the question of the greatest live album and that is unquestionably The Who "Live At Leeds" preferably the version containing the entire concert. There has never been a heavier album put out by anyone.
@@johnjarpe3494 Definitely not an AH bro. So much great music from this time. I really dig Live At Leads. Everyone has their opinion and I posted mine. I think it's really dang near impossible to pick just one.
@@johnjarpe3494 Great Album but Live at Leeds is not near as heavy as Made In Japan. But we all have our opinions and it is subjective. Live at Leeds is in my Top Ten. There are about 6 other Live Albums that could claim number two. Rolling Stones Top 3 for the Greatest Live Albums of the Seventies is at Number One the said Bob Segar's Live Bullet. Number two Cheap Trick's Live at Budokan which those two top picks are not even close to about at least 20 Live Albums. I saw Segar Twice as a First of two Warm Up Band for both Johnny Winter and Early REO when they were actually a Rock Band. Rolling Stones Third Pick was the Album that is Actually Number One. Live at Leeds at least has a valid argument but Made at Japan has the two best solos ever recorded live. Highway Star and Child in Time. Pete was a great Ideal man. He came up with what I think was the best Concept Album Tommy. But he is no Blackmore although the Wind Mill is great live visual thing. Keith Moon was what I enjoyed most when I saw them I believe was the Who Are You Tour. It was a Phenomenal Show. I know there are probably a Million People Who( no pun intended) agree with you. But there are millions who agree with me. Neither one of us is wrong. But it certainly isn't Bob Segar or Cheap Trick. Rock on Man!!
I owned most of those albums. A lot of them anyway. The one I played the most was Who's Next. But the Stones and Zepplin were a must for any party. 71 was one of my very favorite years. Then Dad went on strike...
Since LZ is my favorite band naturally IV is my favorite of the year. I do think a couple of omitted albums deserve mention. Alice Cooper Killer TRex Electric Warrior Johnny Winter And Live Grateful Dead Skull and Roses You’re right it was an incredible year in music. I was 15 and was totally immersed.
When did Fragile by Yes get released? And After the Gold Rush by Neil Young? 1971 if I'm not mistaken. To my mind, these were both great albums. Not background music. You sat around a great stereo and listened with your friends. Like we did to Sgt Pepper in 67.
I started middle school in 1966 and graduated from college in 1976. I would argue those years were a good time to be growing up musically. In one trip to the record store I bought Aqualung, Who’s Next and Master of Reality. Good trip to the record store in 1971.
The years 67-75 are my favourite eras of rock music.So much progress was made in terms of songwriting , musicianship,recording technology,even album artwork.And 71 is maybe the best.I was 15 when punk (which I loved)and disco(hated) happened but already I was amassing a sizeable collection of classic albums of just a few years ago.
I'm with you on that, except I'd go from '66 - Nowhere near as rich as '67 but there were a few very significant albums, like Revolver, Sounds of Silence and Parsley, S, R, & Thyme, Fresh Cream, Love by Love, Pet Sounds, Zappa's debut with Freakout, a couple of albums from The Animals and The Kinks, plus a few others. There were also a lot of landmark jazz and folk albums released in '66.
Another excellent documentary. Mr Historian, you always amaze me with the professionalism of your videos, this is by far, one of my favorite top five RUclips channels. I see you provided a slot for Badfinger, the greatest band that almost was, and should be in the Rock n Roll hall of fame. Excellent work my friend! 👍✌️
I was 14 in 1971, with emerging freedoms. Listening to the music I wanted to, in this year, blew my mind. This music, and that which followed, kept my head just above water, as I drowned in my life.
What a privilege to be fifteen years of age and be growing up in Middle-America in 1971 ! All the art and music that cascaded our lives that year both in school and Summertime blues . Seven Merit Badges and the first experience with the Herb. Detroit was still making POWER. I was a James Gang fan, but Sabbath and Yes and Tull were listened to daily.
I was 16 in 71, Drivers License, first date to the Drive In Movie. But growing up in a small country town, that had "Both Kinds of Music, Country & Western," I had to wait a month to get my Black Sabath album shiped in.
I have finally fullifilled my life musical goal of taking the swing version of Jethro Tull Bouree and applying it to the "B" section of bachs opus. An incredible lurching and staggering syncopation results with such random glitchyness I may never play it the same twice
What a year. It was the year when I started buying records, Who’s Next to begin with, followed by A Nod Is as Good As A Wink To A Blind Horse by The Faces, another highlight of 1971. The quality on aggregate of my record collection has never been higher! Even though the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix were no longer around, 1971 brought us fantastic releases by musicians who were still there, producing their best work. Like The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin (although I prefer II), The Doors, The Who.
I agree. The year in music 1971 was a time when the biggest names in rock, pop, soul and blues seemed to all hit the magical plateau at the same time. Along with that, new bands were taking their cues from the legacy of these acts. I think you can make a good case-or at least start a great bar argument-for 1971 as the best year for pop and rock albums. Amazing records, amazing musicians. Real, real, and more real.
Great show; I'll bet it was fun to put together. I'd have to go with Low Spark of High Heeled Boys as my personal favorite from '71 but, you're right, Led Zeppelin IV...If you have time, how about a version of this for 1974? That year held a lot of faves for me. Keep up the good work dude!
What an amazing compilation of an amazing year in music...kudos to you sir...you did your homework! Very well done. So well, in fact, that i subscribed to your channel!
Live at The Fillmore East was and still is my favorite rock album. The Allman Brothers Band were fantastic and are truly missed. Luckily their children have become great as well as the Allman Bette's Band and Butch Trucks son and his wife have a great band as well. Keep rocking in the south boys. ✌️&🤘😎🤙 Brother Gary
I was living in the Sierra Nevada at that time there was a small radio station that played all these tunes, it seems like another lifetime ago, thank you for such a fantastic production a time machine.
Agree on the Stones’ Sticky Fingers arguably being their best, as well as Who’s Next by The Who. To me personally, What’s Going On is one of the best albums produced in the seventies. It is a timeless Classic in every sense. It is highly underrated imho. Beautiful music and excellent production techniques in the studio. Marvin was a musical genius.
I'm an amateur song writer myself, and after reviewing 'Tapestry', for me, I think they got it right. The writing is unparalleled across that one album. Who else except the Beatles, could produce so many original hits on one piece of vinyl? Those songs have been sung by so many different artists and loved for 50 years. Unbelievable song writing. Carole King, easily! 'You've got a friend; I feel the earth move; it's too late; Will you love me tomorrow; You make me feel like a natural women', I'm sorry as great as some of the other are, they don't come close to this body of work!
I hadn't thought about it until you started the list.My favorite came out the same month I got out of the Air Force.My release had brought me to the bay area where I could frequently see great shows at the Fillmore and Winterland. You could see bands like Santana, Quicksilver, the Dead, Airplane,Boz Scaggs for 3 or 4 dollars any weekend. Amazing! Oh, my favorite on the list,Who's Next.Far out.Bill Conwell.
IMO, 1964 through 1975. I lived through and remember all of those years. However, when I hear 1971, two albums immediately come to mind: Led Zeppelin IV and Who's Next. IMO, two of the greatest albums ever recorded.
That was a great and valuable documentary. My favorite that year was Janis and "Pearl." The greatest year in music history was however, 1685,. the year J.S. Bach was born. His music created all the future possibilities for today's Rock and Roll. Your research and presentation was very well done.
This 1971 post Rock history piece was very, well done. Where has all that time gone to ? We were all most fortunate to have lived through those times and experienced the best.
I'll go with 1967, a year that saw the releases of The Beatles Sgt. Pepper and Magical Mystery Tour albums, Jimi' Hendrix 'Are You Experienced' and 'Axis: Bold as Love', Cream's 'Disraeli Gears', Love's 'Forever Changes', Moby Grape's debut album, Pink Floyd's 'Piper at the Gates of Dawn', Jefferson Airplane's 'Surrealistic Pillow', Buffalo Springfield's 'Rides Again' album, The Doors debut album and 'Strange Days', The Rolling Stones' 'Her Magesties Satanic Request', 'Something Else' by The Kinks, 'The Who Sell Out', The Moody Blues 'Days of Future Passed', Zappa and the Mothers 'Absolutely Free', Traffic's 'Mr. Fantasy', and many, many more. I'd rate 1969 next (Allman Brothers first album, Led Zeppelin I&II, The Who's 'Tommy', Beatles 'Abbey Road', Creedence's 'Green River' and 'Willy and the Poor Boys', The Kinks 'Arthur', Fairpoint Convention's 'Liege and Leaf', Jethro Tull's 'Stand Up', Santana's debut, etc...) I'd go with 1971 next, then 1966 probably.
67 was very strong for all the albums you mentioned. 67-72 was the peak. Great stuff before and after those years, but the pure mass of brilliance during that time boggles the mind. A quick look at the charts now shows how much our musical culture has deteriorated since that time. Where did I park that time machine?
I'll second that motion ! I guess we will all agree and disagree about a question like this. But I think that MOST of musicians can agree that from 1967 to the early 1970's is the best time of music EVER ! -You know what really messes with my brain is that a tune like "RUNAWAY" by Del Shannon was written in 1961 ! - Not for nothing - but you could have told me that this was written in 1968 and I would have believed you. The tune is "Psychadelich before Psychadelic".
Buffalo Springfield's album in 1967 was "Again". "Rides Again", you're thinking of James Gang in 1970...which is another great. Has "The Bomber" on it.
1971, brings all those great! Memories as a Ocean Lifeguard to me through music . Hot,sticky,Sandy, nights under the North Carolina, SKY, now I’m a little over 71, but every Lover ,with this Music, “ Comes rushing back, like the hot fist at the End of a WET KISS ,
1971 was always one of my favorite years for music, and John Lennon's Imagine, Rolling Stones' Sticky Fingers, The Doors' LA Woman, Led Zeppelin's IV, The Who's Who's Next, Paul McCartney's Ram, Carole King's Tapestry, and George Harrison's All Things Must Pass are among my favorite albums of all time
The seventies was a magical time. An absolute wonderful time to grow and learn. I banged away with happy friends on the southern rock era. Happier days, struggling peace, and the creation of a generation that would survive the test of time.it's unspoken history now, and shouldn't die. Long Live the Rockers.
Great video. Amazing how we didn't appreciate how great the music was until later. So much coming from all sides and genres. I was turning 16 that year, learning to drive. Until then, had to beg my Mom to take me to Korvettes here on Long Island to pay the $2.49 or $2.69 for a new album! And just starting to see my first concerts in 1972 - Rolling Stones, Jethro Tull, the Byrds, all in NYC.
@@timmy707707 I got my first job to feed my music habit. One record cost about 2.5 hours labor stocking books at Dimondstein's Wholesale Book Supply. My school was on split session (height of the baby boom, too many kids to all fit in the school), so I could get to work about 1PM.
@@davidyohalem629 In 71 I was 13...got my first paying job the next year playing in a country band...just about all my money went for records and weed. Funny thing about the country gig...everytime I needed a break ..I would bring a fuzz box and stomp on it during a Buck Owens song and get two weeks off....then they would call me back.
'67 through '71...easily the greatest 5-year stretch of rock, perhaps music overall. If you were a teenager in that period and loved music, Christmas came every single month.
Very well put together. Thank you for including bands not as well known to the public such as Hawkwind and Curved Air. Fragile and Aqualung are my top picks along with the Allman Brothers Live at the Fillmore as possibly to this day, the finest live rock LP ever recorded. Mothers Live 71 should have been included as Zappa's short tribute to the closing of the Fillmore was touching. Not to mention the raunchiness of the record,a comment on the groupie scene, unlike nothing documented prior. I figured Inner Mounting Flame was left off because it was considered jazz/ fusion but you included Weather Report: so you must include IMF as Mclaughlin stepped in to fill a void created when Jimi tragically passed. You can debate 1971 as best if you like but I prefer to anoint the 70's period as the best decade for music overall, given the number of new genres that coexisted and borrowed from each other , the overall creativity,the higher level of musicianship which emerged, and the last decade the industry was run by true music lovers, not bean counters.
Agree with that, as music was catching up to what Bob Dylan had planted in the early 60s. Telling us we can take music so much farther than; oh baby you just broke my heart songs..
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*** FEW CORRECTIONS ***
- I erroneously list Master of Reality as Black Sabbath’s 4th album when it is, in fact, their third album.
- I erroneously used the wrong album cover for Jesus Christ Superstar. The one pictured is the film soundtrack, not released until 1974. It should have been the cast recordings from the stage show, released 1971 and featuring Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan as Jesus.
- How many people have been pointing out the albums that I missed, and I just wanted to say that it was impossible to put every album made in 1971 without having some form of entertaining blurb about some of them. I tried to fit as many genres in as I could, as well as touch most of the high points. Also, since I’m a classic rock channel, most of my focus was on rock albums.
- Just to point out that I don't say "1971 WAS the greatest year ever," I say, "WAS 1971 the greatest year ever?" Its to foster discussion. In fact, in my opinion, there are years in the 60s that blow 1971 away. But I did this years SPECIFICALLY because it is the 50th anniversary of it. Next year I will probably do a "1972" sequel. Or a "1962."
If you say so
Love your video re the music, but have to take issue with your attitude to WW2. It DID start before the USA entered, and to insist it's only a "world war" if USA is involved ignores (at least) two things.
Firstly, not EVERY country in the world needs to take part for it to be called a "world war". In fact, only 30 countries (even counting the USA) were involved in WW2.
And secondly, the pacific theater had already started BEFORE Poland was invaded, with Japan taking Northeast China, etc.
Many thousands of people had already died in WW2 before Pearl Harbour was bombed. Many countries were already under occupation before Pearl Harbour was bombed.
Your music history has awesome research and great balance between the USA and UK, please don't be an arrogant asshole when it comes to other points of history.
@@PeterReefman You have a point, bud. My responses are a little tongue and cheek I am a huge student of history and I understand what you were went through before America became involved. I gave the Polish, the French, the British and the Russians all the credit in the world for refusing to cow to the Germans. Trust me, I am a student of all history, and I didn’t wanna come off like that. It was just a bit of teasing. But the reality is that December 7, 1941 IS the date that is drilled into American schoolchildren in 3rd grade history class. So forgive me for using that date as the one that I remember in regards to WW2.
Just because Americans were too scared to help their allies in 1939 doesn’t mean it wasn’t a world war.
69' and 70' were better but in the wholee realm of things music wise 69' to 73' were the best years of Rock N' Pop music because they had a myriad of great artists, musicians and songwriters! 🎤🎹🎸🥁
1971 I was18,married with a Baby and became a United States Marine.Good year.We would remain married untill 2019 when she entered Heaven.1971 Great Music,Good times.
My deepest condolences.
Ward Scott A life well played.
Ward, My Condolences to you. In 1971, I was 20, and dating my Childhood sweetheart, and later married in 1974. Two great sons and 4 Grandchildren later (and One more on the way), life changed Immensely in 2019 thanks to The Chinese COVID plague to the world. Now we have the New Norm. Music Videos like this one, help to provide the diversion from that sad Reality. Be well and Strong. Yes, 1971 was a good year, although I wish this presenter stayed away form calling names on previous Presidents : Tricky Dickie. What we have NOW , an Incoherent idiot, that makes Jimmy Carter look good, is far Worse.....
@@Chiroman527 was dickie not tricky?
@@mytandasouder4485 No one drowned at Watergate. Biden's opening the southern border and the fiasco in Afghanistan are far more impeachable offenses.
I think it's very subjective, but I have always argued the 10 year period of late 60s to 1st half of the 70s was the greatest period of creativity for modern music. Hard to seperate which year was best but do agree that 71 was a great year!
Many things are measured in decades. 10 year periods seem to be a marker and standard of measurement. You have to start with 1964 The Beatles, where modern rock n roll really started. Measure out 10 years and you have the greatest creative period in rock n roll. Greatest bands. Greatest hits. Greatest inventions like lasers, synthesizers, stadium performances, huge sound systems, story lines, better recording techniques, and bands like The Who were leaders in that regard.
Agree with you but I would go back the early 60's to mid 70's. The early 80's was hit and miss for me so I went back to the 60's and 70's. 65 years old now and can't let the music die.
Paul, I am with you.
If we're going for 10 year periods, then it's 66 to 75, for me. I tend to stretch it out and have 65 to 80 as the classic period of modern popular music. :)
@@Codex7777 by 1975 all of the classic rock bands broke up, died, changed members, said all that was to be said, no innovation, or the main members went solo, and others whimped out or went Disco. By 75 it was all done. Bowie, Stewart, Beatles, Stones, Who, Zep. Thousands of others.
The greatest 10 years in rock music was 1964 to 1974. That covers all the greatest bands and the great albums.
I agree! 64 to 74 is the best decade for music. Everything from Lenny Welch to Al Green, from the Beatles to Queen,. from the Stones to the ABBA. From the Yardbirds to the Steely Dan. Who could argue with that? I'm sure there's a plethora of people who could. Anyone who likes Duran Duran or Keane!!
WONC, North Central College's (of Naperville, IL) radio station came to the same conclusion a few years ago and runs a program called "Vintage Rock" nightly for two hours featuring music exclusively from this decade.
Agreed. I think it really peaked from '69 to '74. Disco started becoming a little too hard to ignore in about '75, and that's where things started going downhill...
Analog wins again!
@@cornfilledscreamer614 except for that's when Talking Heads started yippee
The first half of 1971 I was stationed in Vietnam. I know I was turned on to a lot of great music over there. CCR, Neil Young “after the gold rush, ChicagoTransit Authority, Grand Funk Railroad, Beatles Revolver, Jeff Beck Truth, Savoy Brown Hellbound Train, I know a lot of these may have been released earlier but that’s when I found them. Also Jethro Tull Benefit, Elton John Tumbleweed Connection, James Gang. All in all what a wonderful time for Rock music. It helped me through the war immensely. My love continued on until today at 70 years old and being a disc jockey in my youth at a underground alternative album station “free form” my love for music has never waned. Thanks for a great rundown on the phenomenal music of the early 70’s
I have been telling people for about 40 years that 1971 was the best music year. Thanks Guitar Historian for doing the heavy lifting and explaing why. You see, for at least the last 20 years I have not had the patience or energy to try to explain it myself! Great Job.
I like Who’s Next best. Cutting edge and amazing musicianship.
The Who, Who's Next great album! Mind blowing.
I believe very strongly that the entire decade was the greatest for music.
There's more iconic moments in this one year than the last 20 years
Yeah, also 30. From 1991 Nirvana and Pearl Jam!
‘66 through ‘71, the best 5 year period for music.
True. IMO, the golden years are 1964-72.
And 1976-'83 was the last, though some will go for 1990-'95.
I will argue for 1973 instead of 71. Ronnie Van Zant and company made their LP debut that year. 1972 is also chock full of classics as well.
Not to be a sharpshooter but 66-71 is 6 years if you count 71. I think anywhere between 1966 and 1973 could be the best 5 year period. Anywhere between 83-93 could be considered. I would also throw in 83-87 as almost being on par with any 5 year period.
64 to 74 = the best 10 years for modern music
I turned 21 in '71. Hearing the list of all these great albums brought back so many memories of people and places. This is a great video. Thanks.
Hey....me too
21/71
Rite in there with you 19/71
The Allman Brothers Band at the Fillmore East live album is one of the greatest albums of all time. The guitar interplay between Duane Allman and Dickey Betts is unmatched.
Unmatched an still fresh to this day.
I AGREE'.OPps.Gonna go pay it right now.
That album was recorded a week after Hendrix passed! There has never been a better One Two punch than Sky Dog & Betts! Sadly it just wasn't meant to be! Shout out to Layla Clapton & Duane of Guitars
I was there
They were on a hot streak there. 1971 was my birth year--so I came of age as Warren Haynes brought some of that twin-guitar fire back to their shows 20 years later. But what a rousing album back then by my favorite band
16 here in 1971... still holding on to 16 as long as I can.
I think 1971 was the best year. I liked mostly everything. Three Dog Night rocked with three vocalists! I will never forget that even among frontman I loved like Robert Plant, Rod Stewart and Roger Daltrey.
Thanks for your efforts in producing this. Allman Brothers Band, At Fillmore East , The best live album ever recorded. It is October 2021, fifty years and the talent of 1971 is amazing. Most of what was described is timeless. So happy I was a part of it. My grandkids are just not going to get it…
Who knows, maybe they will(?) -- A lot of kids aren't satisfied with currrent music and are diving into that era, many of them becoming good musicians in the process.
Grand Funk Live was also a great live album. Pure energy.
I was a teenager in 1971 and looking back at that amazing year it's hard to fathom the depth of music that was produced in real time during my youth. It was truly mind blowing. Also, FM radio and stereophonic sound were just coming around. This is a time when people would sit in the same room with each other to make music. Thanks for posting, this is a keeper.
At only 13 years old in 71, this music influenced my soul, and still does to this day! Still have some of my original LP’s and still play them.
Me to , class of 76 ?
I was 13 too and SO much appreciate how much this incredible music soothed my soul and helped me through some troubled times
Same. I still have my 45s and all my albums.
Incredible music, yes I would agree a great year for music. Was it the greatest? I would have to go all over it, however thanks for a amazing presentation, I thought Zeppelin 4 was a 1972 release thank you for an excellent presentation.
THIS APPROACH to the music of the past is so precious....It takes you through the year...th by month.... A time-consuming effort that needs to be applauded..
NOW....The listeners have to figure out where they were at the time. and what they were smoking.......intriguing indeed....well done !
Any year between 1967 and1975 could be a contender. 71 is a great pick though!!!
1975 is an important year for me, with ground-breaking futuristic albums by Brian Eno, Phil Manzanera, Harmonia, John Cale, Neu!, Van der Graaf Generator, Genesis. 1971 was kind of a holdover of the 60s, but 1975 was pointing us towards a very cool future. Too bad we messed it up totally.
The Vietnam war era was also the best music time!
The Doors lost JM in 1971 but I think they would have rivaled any band in the 70’s in my opinion
I think he chose 1971 because it was a round 50 years ago. They also had super music then.
I feel fortunate to have experienced this banner year as a teenager who couldn't wait to get her hands on these classic albums! The best of times and some of the best bands and songs to come up the ranks! Loved this!! Thank you!!!
And plenty of disposable income!
Favorite album that year for me was, by far, Led Zeppelin’s fourth album. And this year could arguably be the best year of all time in regards to the plethora of rock albums that were produced in 1971
As a 11 year old in 1971! I remember seeing album covers and found them scary. But now amazing. Really 1971 music is a powerhouse.
“Love It to Death” + “Killer” = Two 1971 masterpieces from Uncle Alice...
Still got these 2 albums bought 50yrs ago time certainly flys
I know how to play "I'm Eighteen" on guitar and sing it. Yeah man , not bragging just saying. Baby's brain and a old mans heart
Yeaaahhh brill
1965-1980. 15 years that takes an incredible and unsurpassed musical era from Dylan's 'Like a rolling stone' through to Clash's 'London Calling'. I don't think that time span has ever been equalled for rock music and soul music too.
Agreed
1964
@Randy White Well yes...December 79...almost 1980!
i have said the exact same thing, the same years.....it will never be duplicated , theres so much you cant even remember it all.....i never run out of music from those years to reach back to..
I agree. that would put me at ages 6 to 21 my most formative radio listening and album buying years. though Meet the Beatles was my first album! I used to have the cutest 8 track player too lol
Not just the music but the time. In the AF and flew thousands of miles in a C - 47. Owned every single one of those albums from Vinyl to 8 - track to cassette to CD. Life pretty much ended when I left th AF
It was the best year in music for me. I turned 13 in 1971 and it was the year I started listening to music. I have a lot of great memories from 1971.
Amazing how many of those albums I still have in my vinyl collections purchased that year. I feel fortunate to have in that era. I feel that today could be called the "dark ages of music"
Amazing how many of those albums my ex-wife stole of mine including the '76 Kenwood stereo system and Technics turntable.
"The unofficial start of World War 2 in 1941"? America joined the war in 1941, but it started in 1939 when Germany invaded Poland. By 1941, Germany had already taken over France and had been bombing Britain for a year. Your love of history is a very special kind of love.
I nearly fell off my chair when he said this. Talk about lack of credibility!
@@arthurgordon6072 he’s talking from an American perspective, relax and be cool or next time y’all can’t make nice with your neighbors we won’t help. Ungrateful punk.
If we’re looking at WW2 from an international viewpoint, you can also say that it started in 1937 when Japan invaded China.
@@richardmurrell Indeed!
@@richardmurrell We could even go back to 1935 when Italy invaded Ethiopia.
Any year that has Who’s Next and Led Zeppelin IV in it has got to be one of the greatest.
1971 was one of the greatest years for pop, rock, reggae, and progressive rock. This was the year where legend walked the Earth in their prime with youthful creativity,
unaffected by cookie-cutter styles and trends of the day. Many artists were avant-garde and innovative.
“Who’s Next”…..’nuff said.
If you can get a good Master.
Who's Next really showed the world the talent of the Who.
As for the best none-live Who album. I equivocate on a regular basis between Who's Next, Quadrophenia, and The Who Sell Out. That is why it is best to have all three albums on hand at all times to minimize inner inner turmoil.
Not 'nuff for me. Who's Next isn't even their third-best album. It goes Quadrophenia, Tommy, Sell Out. Just dropped by to correct the record.
@@kevanbrown7620 Interesting about Quadro. I put that as their greatest of all time. A better rock opera (musically and lyrically, not conceptually) than Tommy, and the recording was absolutely stunning after what Townshend considered the disastrous sound on Tommy. I'll never forget the first time I heard Love Reign O'er Me driving my car down Pacific Ave in Stockton California and KUOP played that song. I had to pull over to take it in.
I have always believed that good music is good music no matter if is 50 years or 5 months old! The albums you mentioned from 50 years ago prove that point. The albums mentioned have all stood the test of time and are still rated as good albums today. A lot of today's music still echoes changes that began at the start of the 1970s. Regards from Australia.
I was a 15 year old in Australia and didn't realise then, how lucky I was to experience this music. I loved it then but so grateful now, that I could experience this brilliant music first hand, at the time.
I been saying for many years that 1971 was the best year in music. Im also born-71 and my first record was Sabs Master of Reality-which I bought as a 11years old. It changed the course of my life. Great doc.!!
I was in 11th and 12th grade in 1971 and nearly all of the money that I earned at a job after school went to albums, concert tickets, and guitars and equipment. I got to see many of those bands in concert. Whether or not 1971 was the best year might be debatable, but it's pretty hard to beat. I still remember the look on my music appreciation teacher's face when we played him Aqualung. We would debate whether or not Jethro Tull was heavier than Black Sabbath. I feel privileged that I got to live through that era of music.
my vote is Black Sabbath.
We were looking at my Concert Ticket Stubs and they cost 3.50- 5.50...
Answer: Arguably yes. This is a great video. There's a GREAT Netflix mini series called '1971 - the year that music changed everything' that basically corroborates that premise. The number of amazing album released in 1971 is astounding. I recommend it to anyone interested in music, pop culture, politics, fashion, society in general; go watch the mini-series, its all done w/ real, priceless original, rare and never before seen footage that allows one to virtually get in a a time machine and actually kinda be there in 1971. A total Trip. Kudos to you for making this video. 1971 is kinda like a temporal superimposition of everything that had happened till then plus all that could and would be, all the future possibilities...Cheers and stay safe.
Yes Excellent documentary
Apple TV, not Netflix.
@@rbowler88 I stand corrected! That's right, it's on Apple TV+! I got things mixed up...Thanks for the reminder. cheers!
I'm 61in 21. 11 in 71. My son is 11 in 21 (yeah...I know...I was 49) and I already made him a playlist with even the wonderful cringy songs too.
Grand Funk Railroad. Enough said.
It's the year that I was born...so yes !!! the greatest !!
I didn't realize so many album I love were released in 1971. My favorite was Carole King's Tapestry, but Led Zeppelin IV, The Doors LA Woman, were among some of my other favorites. On June 27th , I stayed up listening to the final concert at the Filmore East. 1971 was a great year!
Don't forget that alice cooper released two albums this year. Underrated classic rock
The list I was going off of must not like Alice Cooper!
@@TheGuitarHistorian Killer what a rock album
@@TheGuitarHistorian I thought that you were the Guitar Historian not just a reader....
Thank you!! It's about time someone mentioned them.
Alice Cooper tonight in Detroit, DTE with Ace.
Great, great video!!! I think what struck me was the number of albums released that really didn't have any filler! Every Picture Tells A Story, Ram, Led Zeppelin IV, Live At The Fillmore these are albums that we listen to start to finish. Those are a few of my faves but I'm sure everyone has their own group to list!
Stairway to heaven greatest song Led Zeppelin greatest band so they alone made 1971 the greatest year in rock!
I was sweet 16 in 71 and the two tracks that just blew me away were " Whats Going On " and " Battle of Evermore " ! Two strikingly different gendres but both tattooed to this day in my heart !
I was born December 3 1971. Best year in music IMO. VAN MORRISON is my favorite artist of all time. His fantastic 5th album TUPELO HONEY was released October 15, 1971. He has 42 studio albums. It’s understandable that you missed this one.
l was 15 in 1971, an excellent age/year of music to be certain! l remember, vividly, unwrapping Sticky Fingers and wondering about that lump in his pants (a more innocent time) and unzipping the pants, several x's. l knew nearly every album you spoke of. I can't pick a favorite, l hadn't realized so many favs were in one year! OK, actually I'd have to go with the Allman Brothers live at the Filmore. No Moody Blues? Music and album releases were so anticipated the lines went around the block. Life was good & l didn't have any bills to pay. ☮
Live at Filmore East not only my favorite album of that year. It's my favorite album of all time ! Boy were we the lucky ones.. muscle cars, classic & southern rock. I was 15 in 69, in High School in 71. We didn't know how good we had it !
Linda Ward : Same. 15 in ‘71.
✌️&🤘Linda Ward , I still love Live at the Fillmore East and miss the Allman Brothers Band, from Duane, Gregg, Dickie,and all of them. Keep rocking sister.
Brother Gary
I was born in 1971, and I never tire of hearing the songs that came out that year
In November, another big album was Sly and Family Stone - There's a Riot Going On. Some other notable albums in 1971: Harry Nilsson - Nilsson Schmilsson and T. Rex - Electric Warrior.
Good ones!
Loved everything by Nilsson. And no mention of Santana 3 or Malo with Jorge Santana in 1971?
Don't forget JA... Bark!
@@9211goat JA, pretty
I believe that Nilsson schmilsson was actually released in 1972. Great record.
I graduated from H.S. in 1971 and even though I may be a little biased I cannot think of any year that had as mech to contribute to music in general than the 1971 year. All of this music was almost too much to take i for a single year and even the radio stations had a hard time keeping up to date. Some of the best and most appealing music of all time. You have to be right about this year it was almost too much to take in.
In early1972 my big brother introduced me to rock n roll. He said " don't speak, listen to the song and look at the album cover " . First up Ballad of Dwight Frye by Alice Cooper, next up Roundabout from Yes. Both 1971 releases, it made me decide to be a musician, so yes 1971 was the best
The best advice that you can offer as someone who has already been there. Absorb the sounds and sights, let them invade your senses, and pay attention. Just like when you are at a live show. We can talk later on the ride home...
@@obbor4 And put down the DAMN DEVICE!!!
“Dwight Fry” was a GREAT record on number of fronts.. Alice Cooper did a VERY GOOD job on the recording. The engineers outdid themselves, as the quality of that recording was VERY hard to beat in those days, And it remains so to this day.TRULY full-frequency, and VERY high fidelity, despite the distortion in the guitars. In fact, I had a speaker cabinet that stood 4.5 feet tall. I would park this BEAST in my living room, pointed out my front door, through the screen. And just to “heat up” the voice coils in the speeakers, before I did anything else with them, I’d play “The Ballad of Dwight Fry” from a tape deck, through this monster 150 watt guitar amp, at about 120 dB (I didn’t yet have a dB meter…I do NOW, of course), and I’d walk most of a block down the street to see how my laboratory test speakers were doing. Of course, the State Marshal that lived across the street from me, on the days he was home, took a dim view of all this. But then,:when I built an electric switchboard for electrically setting off buried explosives from a safe distance, (you could bury up to 15 small charges and connect them to the switchboard, then just run your hand up the side of.the front panel to set them off in sequence to make things look like there was a strafing run happening in the Continental U.S. in 1965 (!). He took an even dimmer view of that. Let’s face it - the guy was just no fun. And I could be wrong about this, but as I recall, his daughter ended up pregnant at 16, and his son was sentenced to a long stretch in prison for dealing mass quantities of every kind of dope! So you tell me. Which was worse? My audio lab or what he did to his kids to make them turn out the way they did?????? I turned what I did back then into several careers. They turned what THEY did into an unwanted pregnancy and 5 to LIFE at San Quentin…
We didn't have "devices" in 1971. We had large record players with stereo speakers and vinyl records, with snap and crackle joining Messrs Page, Plant, Jones & Bonham.
Wow. I was six years new to Mother Earth. And when I think about the music of 71. I have to say that was a great year. I listen to almost all of this list. But for me. Hands down. Still listening very regularly to 19:37 this very day. It’s The Rolling Stones sticky fingers. So true about the album track list. From brown sugar to moonlight mile. Gets me every time.👍✌️
Zeppelin 4, Tapestry and Joni Mitchell's Blue are all great!
For me Baba O’Riley and Won’t Get Fooled Again were unlike anything that had gone before.
Marcus, agreed.... Isn't it Ironic, that 30 years later at the World Trade Center Concert that Paul McCartney helped to put together, the Who performs : "Won't Get Fooled Again"... evoking great emotions. SOB, we did get Fooled again, by the Idiot in the White House. Imagine Trusting the Taliban ..... Think about that statement made be Idealistic Dreamers , so Naive it's truly Incredible. Somebody's making Big Bucks here !!! Always Follow the Money !!! Notwithstanding losing precious Military Lives (13 ) , leaving Americans Behind with voracious LIES to the Loving Liberal media, Uncle Joey, You left $85 BILLION of weaponry and ammunition AND a State of the Art Air Force Base to the Taliban. It's Incredulous !!
Baba O'Reilly is one of my favourite songs. It's up there with A Day in the Life and Gimme Shelter. Just 3 of my favourite tracks. There's so many, but those 3 are definitely high up on my own personal list. Baba O'Reilly has to be one of the Who's greatest moments.
@@Chiroman527Yeah, I remember that. Is that when McCartney sang Freedom. Or was that another Concert. I know McCartney sang Freedom in New York, not long after 9/11.
What an incredible leap of logic that you go into the situation in Afghanistan from someone commenting on songs… 🤔
@@TheGuitarHistorianI'm sorry i was just asking if that was the concert when Paul McCartney played his song Freedom, that's all. I had no intention of getting into Afghanistan whatsoever. My question was purely musical. I didn't even mention Afghanistan.
1971 also saw the release of The Mahavishnu Orchestra`s debut album. "The Inner Mounting Flame"
Faves of mine; Zoso, LA Woman, Sticky Fingers, EGBOYDF, Ram. There's a bunch I have only heard of but never listened to before. Will have to check out the Humble Pie.
As a kid growing up in the sixties and going into HS in '69, I have to agree the early 70's had some of the best classic Rock ever! I thought I was going to die when Disco came along, but into the late 70's and VanHalen saved us all!!! 80's had great music, too!
Ah hell man I put them stupid looking bell bottoms on
Disco still sucks.
1971 is a top condender for best year for rock music for sure. 1968 and 1969 are right there too. 69 had Abbey Road, Let It Bleed, Led Zeppelin 1 and 2, Tommy, Stand Up by Tull, Arthur by the Kinks, 2 great albums from Moody Blues, 3 albums from CCR, In the Court of the Crimson King, etc. 68 had The Beatles White album, Beggars Banquet, Electric Ladyland, Wheels of Fire, Village Green Preservation Society, and many more. 1967-1972 was a golden age for music. Wish I had been around for it.
Like everyone today you are thinking in albums. If you want to understand the period you have to realise that before 1967, popular music for a young audience was centred on singles. There were some albums of course, but they consisted of mainly two or three hit singles and the rest was largely fillers. The Beatles gradually changed that, but it took some time, and even after that had happened, the 7" vinyl single returned as the prime format during the punk years and then again during the 90s Britpop period. The fact that singles today are largely ignored even by collectors is bordering on the absurd and certainly not a true reflection of history.
I was born in '67; my brother in '72. I'm actually cool with being an 80s teen; after all, I had Rush's Moving Pictures through Power Windows as one of the foundations of my high school soundtrack. I still had all that great 60s and 70s music in regular rotation on the radio, and if we're being honest, the 80s were different but still really good in many ways, musically. But there is a part of me that would have liked to have been a decade older; I sort of feel like I showed up the day after the world's best party, which was still going on, but all the really great stuff happened the night before.
I've always said 1971 is the best year for music, so many amazing releases and in a lot of cases the best albums of those artists career.
I’m with you!
Can you really claim those dead stars to be big releases?
It was definitely a memorable time to be young and music fan. I came from a very small town, and music was a dear old friend. I learned more from music than from tobacco. It endeared me to my friend's. Music saved me from total isolation in a small town. It helped me have the confidence to kiss a girl. To be the life of _a_ party. To relate to my older peers and to generally be a well rounded person that is still alive today, only 55 years later.
Damn. Yea, that was a damn good year. Zeppelin IV, Tapestry, and All Things Must Pass were the best albums that year. Thank you so much for that trip down memory lane.
Of course.. Allman Brothers At Fillmore East. Thought by many to be the greatest live rock album in music history!!
It is great but I prefer live at leads although it’s a completely different animal Frampton comes alive it’s also great but I realize that’s 1976
I love Rocking the Fillmore East. But Made in Japan is absolutely the Greatest Live Album ever recorded. Big Steve Marriott Fan but you have to give Deep Purple their due. No band was ever that hot during the Japan Tour. Ritchie just was above any Guitarist in 72 with the solos on Made in Japan. Then there is the Voice Ian Gillian. And Ian Paice was a monster. The only argument is what is the Number Two Greatest Live Album.
Sorry to be an asshole, there is only one answer to the question of the greatest live album and that is unquestionably The Who "Live At Leeds" preferably the version containing the entire concert. There has never been a heavier album put out by anyone.
@@johnjarpe3494 Definitely not an AH bro. So much great music from this time. I really dig Live At Leads. Everyone has their opinion and I posted mine. I think it's really dang near impossible to pick just one.
@@johnjarpe3494 Great Album but Live at Leeds is not near as heavy as Made In Japan. But we all have our opinions and it is subjective. Live at Leeds is in my Top Ten. There are about 6 other Live Albums that could claim number two. Rolling Stones Top 3 for the Greatest Live Albums of the Seventies is at Number One the said Bob Segar's Live Bullet. Number two Cheap Trick's Live at Budokan which those two top picks are not even close to about at least 20 Live Albums. I saw Segar Twice as a First of two Warm Up Band for both Johnny Winter and Early REO when they were actually a Rock Band. Rolling Stones Third Pick was the Album that is Actually Number One. Live at Leeds at least has a valid argument but Made at Japan has the two best solos ever recorded live. Highway Star and Child in Time. Pete was a great Ideal man. He came up with what I think was the best Concept Album Tommy. But he is no Blackmore although the Wind Mill is great live visual thing. Keith Moon was what I enjoyed most when I saw them I believe was the Who Are You Tour. It was a Phenomenal Show. I know there are probably a Million People Who( no pun intended) agree with you. But there are millions who agree with me. Neither one of us is wrong. But it certainly isn't Bob Segar or Cheap Trick. Rock on Man!!
I owned most of those albums. A lot of them anyway. The one I played the most was Who's Next. But the Stones and Zepplin were a must for any party. 71 was one of my very favorite years. Then Dad went on strike...
I was born in early November 1971 when Led Zeppelin IV Zoso was released
So many great rock albums. I can’t name a favorite. Recently I’ve enjoyed The Allman Brothers Live At Filmore East.
Since LZ is my favorite band naturally IV is my favorite of the year. I do think a couple of omitted albums deserve mention.
Alice Cooper Killer
TRex Electric Warrior
Johnny Winter And Live
Grateful Dead Skull and Roses
You’re right it was an incredible year in music. I was 15 and was totally immersed.
Absolutely- all great! Don't forget CACTUS-Restrictions
I had the calendar that came with AC's killer album on my wall. Great period for rock music !
Alice Cooper and T.Rex. 👍
When did Fragile by Yes get released? And After the Gold Rush by Neil Young? 1971 if I'm not mistaken. To my mind, these were both great albums. Not background music. You sat around a great stereo and listened with your friends. Like we did to Sgt Pepper in 67.
Johnny Winter And Live - I wore out my copy pretty quickly. And then he disappeared only to return "Still Alive and Well" a bit later
I started middle school in 1966 and graduated from college in 1976. I would argue those years were a good time to be growing up musically.
In one trip to the record store I bought Aqualung, Who’s Next and Master of Reality. Good trip to the record store in 1971.
I think Concert for Bangladesh was such a great snapshot of the times with some really cool takes on some familiar songs. Another great episode 👏
Master of Reality had the biggest impact on me. What an album! Mind blowing!
I agree. It’s still mind blowing. Nothing to this day sounds like it.
The years 67-75 are my favourite eras of rock music.So much progress was made in terms of songwriting , musicianship,recording technology,even album artwork.And 71 is maybe the best.I was 15 when punk (which I loved)and disco(hated) happened but already I was amassing a sizeable collection of classic albums of just a few years ago.
I'm with you on that, except I'd go from '66 - Nowhere near as rich as '67 but there were a few very significant albums, like Revolver, Sounds of Silence and Parsley, S, R, & Thyme, Fresh Cream, Love by Love, Pet Sounds, Zappa's debut with Freakout, a couple of albums from The Animals and The Kinks, plus a few others. There were also a lot of landmark jazz and folk albums released in '66.
@@daevpaeldruid8200 Yes I should have included 1966.
@@alanthorne3921 Ha! Revolver to Physical Graffiti - Never has been, and never will there be such a mind-blowing period of creativity.
Another excellent documentary. Mr Historian, you always amaze me with the professionalism of your videos, this is by far, one of my favorite top five RUclips channels.
I see you provided a slot for Badfinger, the greatest band that almost was, and should be in the Rock n Roll hall of fame.
Excellent work my friend! 👍✌️
I was 14 in 1971, with emerging freedoms. Listening to the music I wanted to, in this year, blew my mind. This music, and that which followed, kept my head just above water, as I drowned in my life.
What a privilege to be fifteen years of age and be growing up in Middle-America in 1971 ! All the art and music that cascaded our lives that year both in school and Summertime blues . Seven Merit Badges and the first experience with the Herb. Detroit was still making POWER. I was a James Gang fan, but Sabbath and Yes and Tull were listened to daily.
I was 16 in 71, Drivers License, first date to the Drive In Movie.
But growing up in a small country town, that had "Both Kinds of Music, Country & Western," I had to wait a month to get my Black Sabath album shiped in.
I have finally fullifilled my life musical goal of taking the swing version of Jethro Tull Bouree and applying it to the "B" section of bachs opus. An incredible lurching and staggering syncopation results with such random glitchyness I may never play it the same twice
Yup I turned 15 in Sept 1971 and it was a great time to have lived through.
I saw The James Gang perform in '71. They were awesome. Joe Walsh was - and still is one of the best guitarists I've ever seen and heard.🎸
What a year. It was the year when I started buying records, Who’s Next to begin with, followed by A Nod Is as Good As A Wink To A Blind Horse by The Faces, another highlight of 1971. The quality on aggregate of my record collection has never been higher!
Even though the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix were no longer around, 1971 brought us fantastic releases by musicians who were still there, producing their best work. Like The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin (although I prefer II), The Doors, The Who.
I agree. The year in music 1971 was a time when the biggest names in rock, pop, soul and blues seemed to all hit the
magical plateau at the same time. Along with that, new bands were taking their cues from the legacy of these acts.
I think you can make a good case-or at least start a great bar argument-for 1971 as the best year for pop and rock
albums. Amazing records, amazing musicians. Real, real, and more real.
My favorite album from 71 is Led Zeppelin’s fourth album..To me it’s as good as it gets ☮️
Great show; I'll bet it was fun to put together. I'd have to go with Low Spark of High Heeled Boys as my personal favorite from '71 but, you're right, Led Zeppelin IV...If you have time, how about a version of this for 1974? That year held a lot of faves for me. Keep up the good work dude!
What an amazing compilation of an amazing year in music...kudos to you sir...you did your homework! Very well done. So well, in fact, that i subscribed to your channel!
Thank you so much! Take a look around I have lots of rock history content to take in
I love the fact you covered so many genres. Well done. Yes, 1971 rocked!
Led Zeppelin IV was album of the year.
I freaked out over this video!! Good Job!! Led Zeppelin!! I was a little 14 year old innocent sponge!! LOL 😆 What a fantastic year for sure!!
Live at The Fillmore East was and still is my favorite rock album. The Allman Brothers Band were fantastic and are truly missed. Luckily their children have become great as well as the Allman Bette's Band and Butch Trucks son and his wife have a great band as well. Keep rocking in the south boys. ✌️&🤘😎🤙
Brother Gary
I was living in the Sierra Nevada at that time there was a small radio station that played all these tunes, it seems like another lifetime ago, thank you for such a fantastic production a time machine.
Lead zeppelin , Carol King Tapestry were my favorites of 71.
Agree on the Stones’ Sticky Fingers arguably being their best, as well as Who’s Next by The Who. To me personally, What’s Going On is one of the best albums produced in the seventies. It is a timeless Classic in every sense. It is highly underrated imho. Beautiful music and excellent production techniques in the studio. Marvin was a musical genius.
I'm an amateur song writer myself, and after reviewing 'Tapestry', for me, I think they got it right. The writing is unparalleled across that one album. Who else except the Beatles, could produce so many original hits on one piece of vinyl? Those songs have been sung by so many different artists and loved for 50 years. Unbelievable song writing. Carole King, easily! 'You've got a friend; I feel the earth move; it's too late; Will you love me tomorrow; You make me feel like a natural women', I'm sorry as great as some of the other are, they don't come close to this body of work!
Tapestry is a well woven album. One of the best albums ever recorded.
Uh the Kinks?
@@meyerdude Which album?
Overall, the early 70's was definitely the strongest time for rock music, and 1971 may indeed have been the high water mark. Great documentary!
Led Zeppelin four and Badfinger I missed a lot of great groups but those are my two
I hadn't thought about it until you started the list.My favorite came out the same month I got out of the Air Force.My release had brought me to the bay area where I could frequently see great shows at the Fillmore and Winterland. You could see bands like Santana, Quicksilver, the Dead, Airplane,Boz Scaggs for 3 or 4 dollars any weekend. Amazing! Oh, my favorite on the list,Who's Next.Far out.Bill Conwell.
IMO, 1964 through 1975. I lived through and remember all of those years.
However, when I hear 1971, two albums immediately come to mind: Led Zeppelin IV and Who's Next. IMO, two of the greatest albums ever recorded.
My favorite album to listen to is Allmans at Fillmore, but coming out of '71 with iconic power , Led Zep IV is unrivalled.
The year I was born :) Thank you so much for this
That was a great and valuable documentary.
My favorite that year was Janis and "Pearl."
The greatest year in music history was however, 1685,. the year J.S. Bach was born.
His music created all the future possibilities for today's Rock and Roll.
Your research and presentation was very well done.
This 1971 post Rock history piece was very, well done. Where has all that time gone to ? We were all most fortunate to have lived through those times and experienced the best.
I'll go with 1967, a year that saw the releases of The Beatles Sgt. Pepper and Magical Mystery Tour albums, Jimi' Hendrix 'Are You Experienced' and 'Axis: Bold as Love', Cream's 'Disraeli Gears', Love's 'Forever Changes', Moby Grape's debut album, Pink Floyd's 'Piper at the Gates of Dawn', Jefferson Airplane's 'Surrealistic Pillow', Buffalo Springfield's 'Rides Again' album, The Doors debut album and 'Strange Days', The Rolling Stones' 'Her Magesties Satanic Request', 'Something Else' by The Kinks, 'The Who Sell Out', The Moody Blues 'Days of Future Passed', Zappa and the Mothers 'Absolutely Free', Traffic's 'Mr. Fantasy', and many, many more. I'd rate 1969 next (Allman Brothers first album, Led Zeppelin I&II, The Who's 'Tommy', Beatles 'Abbey Road', Creedence's 'Green River' and 'Willy and the Poor Boys', The Kinks 'Arthur', Fairpoint Convention's 'Liege and Leaf', Jethro Tull's 'Stand Up', Santana's debut, etc...) I'd go with 1971 next, then 1966 probably.
67 was very strong for all the albums you mentioned. 67-72 was the peak. Great stuff before and after those years, but the pure mass of brilliance during that time boggles the mind. A quick look at the charts now shows how much our musical culture has deteriorated since that time. Where did I park that time machine?
1967 was preparation for 1971
I'll second that motion ! I guess we will all agree and disagree about a question like this. But I think that MOST of musicians can agree that from 1967 to the early 1970's is the best time of music EVER ! -You know what really messes with my brain is that a tune like "RUNAWAY" by Del Shannon was written in 1961 ! - Not for nothing - but you could have told me that this was written in 1968 and I would have believed you. The tune is "Psychadelich before Psychadelic".
Buffalo Springfield's album in 1967 was "Again".
"Rides Again", you're thinking of James Gang in 1970...which is another great. Has "The Bomber" on it.
@@RichardMNixon-zh6uz You're right and 70 was another great year!
1971, brings all those great! Memories as a Ocean Lifeguard to me through music . Hot,sticky,Sandy, nights under the North Carolina, SKY, now I’m a little over 71, but every Lover ,with this Music, “ Comes rushing back, like the hot fist at the End of a WET KISS ,
1971 was always one of my favorite years for music, and John Lennon's Imagine, Rolling Stones' Sticky Fingers, The Doors' LA Woman, Led Zeppelin's IV, The Who's Who's Next, Paul McCartney's Ram, Carole King's Tapestry, and George Harrison's All Things Must Pass are among my favorite albums of all time
Imagine, Ram, LA Woman, Who's Next, Tapestry, All Things Must Pass are all some of my all time favourite albums.👍
I still have most of those albums. Thanks!
The seventies was a magical time. An absolute wonderful time to grow and learn. I banged away with happy friends on the southern rock era. Happier days, struggling peace, and the creation of a generation that would survive the test of time.it's unspoken history now, and shouldn't die.
Long Live the Rockers.
Marshall Tucker band was one of the greatest concerts I ever saw those boys could play
Great video. Amazing how we didn't appreciate how great the music was until later. So much coming from all sides and genres. I was turning 16 that year, learning to drive. Until then, had to beg my Mom to take me to Korvettes here on Long Island to pay the $2.49 or $2.69 for a new album! And just starting to see my first concerts in 1972 - Rolling Stones, Jethro Tull, the Byrds, all in NYC.
I knew what I was hearing that year...and the next. We just didn't have enough allowance to buy everything. Thank god for FM radio.
@@timmy707707 I got my first job to feed my music habit. One record cost about 2.5 hours labor stocking books at Dimondstein's Wholesale Book Supply. My school was on split session (height of the baby boom, too many kids to all fit in the school), so I could get to work about 1PM.
@@davidyohalem629 In 71 I was 13...got my first paying job the next year playing in a country band...just about all my money went for records and weed. Funny thing about the country gig...everytime I needed a break ..I would bring a fuzz box and stomp on it during a Buck Owens song and get two weeks off....then they would call me back.
I always found myself pondering this question and luckily your video officially solidified 1971 as the greatest year in music for me personally
My high school years ('67-'71)were most certainly the best 4 years in Rock History!!!! My vote might be either '69 or '70. But '71 was indeed special.
Agree. I was thinking 69 or 70 as well.
Same as me. 16 in 71.
'67 through '71...easily the greatest 5-year stretch of rock, perhaps music overall. If you were a teenager in that period and loved music, Christmas came every single month.
Or, as they said on SNL's The Cork Soakers, "Was it '68?" "No... I think it was '70."
Very well put together. Thank you for including bands not as well known to the public such as Hawkwind and Curved Air. Fragile and Aqualung are my top picks along with the Allman Brothers Live at the Fillmore as possibly to this day, the finest live rock LP ever recorded. Mothers Live 71 should have been included as Zappa's short tribute to the closing of the Fillmore was touching. Not to mention the raunchiness of the record,a comment on the groupie scene, unlike nothing documented prior. I figured Inner Mounting Flame was left off because it was considered jazz/ fusion but you included Weather Report: so you must include IMF as Mclaughlin stepped in to fill a void created when Jimi tragically passed. You can debate 1971 as best if you like but I prefer to anoint the 70's period as the best decade for music overall, given the number of new genres that coexisted and borrowed from each other , the overall creativity,the higher level of musicianship which emerged, and the last decade the industry was run by true music lovers, not bean counters.
Inner Mountain Flame is a seminal album, thanks for mentioning it! 😎
ABB AT FILLMORE..DITTO THAT!!
Agree with that, as music was catching up to what Bob Dylan had planted in the early 60s. Telling us we can take music so much farther than; oh baby you just broke my heart songs..
Indeed a legendary year for Rock/pop. So many great albums from a variety of great artists. But I agree Led Zep 1V is an absolute beast
yeeeeees
Let's get real here, Zeppelin have like 6 best albums
@@carlneoh5843 Rite on, Brotha!