Maybe The Best Ever

I keep telling you guys that the above show, on AXS TV, is one of the best on television. I'm not always excited about the topic they are listing but once they start going I almost always learn something new on each episode.

Last night their list was the top ten albums of 1971, as picked by their viewers, on various social media sites. As I was watching it I was shocked at how many great albums came out in 1971. Like many of you I always default to 1969 musically as the year for music. In actuality 1969 was more about the social events in the world than it was about music specifically. Oh there were some great songs to come out that year to be sure but my, and likely your, memories of that year are more about Woodstock, the moon landing, civil unrest, etc.

In 1971 Intel introduced the microchip processor, All in the Family debuted on CBS, Patton won best picture, and the Grammy's album and record of the year didn't even make this list, that is how strong the year was musically. As I watched the show I kept thinking how damn lucky we were to have been around during this time and that it is no wonder that classic rock radio has endured for more than sixty years.

I'm not going to include any links to the albums, you can go to YouTube, Pandora, Spotify, or whatever your music download of choice is to hear the songs. I would encourage you to do so because these are some of the most classic albums of all time. Not making this list, to name a few, are Every Picture Tells A Story, Nilsson Schmilsson, Imagine, and the album of the year - Bridge Over Troubled Water.

10. LA Woman - The Doors. This was the last album the Doors made with Jim Morrison who tragically died on July 3rd of this year. To get the sound he wanted he took a microphone into the doorway of a bathroom at the recording studio when he sang his parts. Songs on this include, Love Her Madly, LA Woman, and Riders on the Storm.

9. Aqualung - Jethro Tull. While others at this time were making music with screaming guitars and wailing synthesizers, Ian Anderson was shredding a flute and wild eyes on stage. Songs included on this were, Aqualung, Cross Eyed Mary, and Locomotive Breath.

8. Pearl - Janice Joplin. Another final album on this list as she also died and joined the 27 club the previous October 4, 1970. It featured her entire range of songwriting, singing, and emotions. It was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Songs include, Me and Bobby McGee, Mercedes Benz, and Get It While You Can.

7. Blue - Joni Mitchell. She was the Taylor Swift of her time and one of the greatest writers of music ever. This is such a gigantic influence on the industry that Rolling Stone listed it as the #3 album of all time. Let that sink in for a minute as you think of all the great albums ever. Songs here include, A Case Of You, California, and River.

6. Live at the Filmore East - The Allman Brothers. The final of the "last albums" on this list as Duane Allman died on October 24th of this year. This legendary album is generally considered as the greatest live album ever made. It captures the essence of being at a concert perfectly and the recording quality is outstanding. Songs include, Done Somebody Wrong, Whipping Post, and You Don't Love Me.

5. Tapestry - Carole King. Did anyone not own this album? Known for her songwriting for many others, this was her first album for herself and to say she hit it out of the park is an understatement. It holds the record for longest number one album for a woman at fifteen weeks and it holds the record for longest tenure on the Billboard album chart of forty years. FORTY YEARS for crying out loud. There is not one song that isn't instantly recognizable from this album but to name three, I feel The Earth Move, It's Too Late, You've Got A Friend. (I could have listed any three and it would have been impressive)

4. Sticky Fingers - The Rolling Stones. Referred to as "the bulge" this album was more famous for the cover than the music at first but over time it is regarded as one of the Stones best collection of songs. Songs include, Brown Sugar, Wild Horses, and Bitch.

3. Who's Next - The Who. Critics are split between this album and the number one album on this list as the best rock album ever made. For me personally, I pick this one, but I have to say I love the number one album also. What there is no argument about is that this had the first rock power ballad ever, Behind Blue Eyes. I could list every song here and it would be a perfect list but others songs include, Won't Get Fooled Again and Baba O'Riley.

2. What's Going On - Marvin Gaye. If God had a voice it would be Marvin Gaye's. Barry Gordy hated this album but Gaye told him he would never sing for his label again if he didn't let him release this like he wanted it and Gordy relented. Many call it one of the first concept albums, he denies that it is, but there is no doubt the theme of it is about the frustration of coming home from Viet Nam and seeing how fractured and torn the country is over the war. One of the most powerful collection of songs ever. They include, What's Going On, Mercy Mercy Me, and Inner City Blues.

1. Led Zeppelin IV - Led Zeppelin. The other half of critics call this the greatest rock album ever made and it is hard to argue that. Every song is memorable, every song is recognizable, and this album silenced the critics who said Led Zeppelin weren't accomplished enough as musicians and songwriters. This is just an unbelievable album. Songs include, Black Dog, When The Levee Breaks, and the classic Stairway To Heaven.

I mean, what a year in music. If you pull up the Billboard list of top fifty albums for 1971 you will find thirty more famous and classic ones listed there also. This was just a remarkable year for music across all genres.

We didn't know it at the time but we were in the middle of the greatest periods in music history, we just knew there were some pretty great songs being played and we were digging them all.

I enjoy plenty of the new stuff being put out there and will listen to most of it happily but after you see a list like this you just want to go pull out your old vinyl and listen to some scratchy greatness.