Or , as most artists would answer the question of which is your best album?
The next!
Was 1971 the high point of popular music?
All these albums were released in 1971.
"Imagine" by John Lennon
"Sticky Fingers" by Rolling Stones
"Blue" by Joni Mitchell
"Meddle" by Pink Floyd
"There's a Riot Going On" by Sly & The Family Stone
"Fragile" by Yes
"The Yes Album" by Yes
"Killer" by Alice Cooper
"Ram" by Paul McCartney
"Live at the Filmore East" by Allman Bros. Band
"Who's Next" by The Who
"What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye
"Hunky Dory" by David Bowie
"Aqualung" by Jethro Tull
"Master of Reality" by Black Sabbath
"Songs of Love and Hate" by Leonard Cohen
"Shaft" by Isaac Hayes
"Every Picture Tells a Story" by Rod Stewart
"Madman Across The Water" by Elton John
"LA Woman" by The Doors
"Led Zeppelin IV" by Led Zeppelin
"Tapestry" by Carole King
"Pearl" by Janis Joplin
"Live-Evil" by Miles Davis
" Journey in Satchidananda" by Alice Coltrane
"Teaser and teh Firecat" by Cat Stevens
"Deuce" by Rory Gallagher
"Santana III" by Santana
"Weather Report" by Weather Report
"Tupelo Honey" by Van Morrison
"Surfs Up" by The Beach Boys
"John Prine" by John Prine
"Wild Life" by Wings
"Where I'm Coming From" by Stevie Wonder
'71 maybe. By end of 1972, it was all over. I was 18, bought The Jimi Hendrix Experience in 8th grade, and I think the last rock record I bought was as a freshman in college, Dark Side of the Moon. That's about as far as it went I think. 5 years. A massive creative output by a hundred or so bands all tolled. Not too many people realize that in those days you could hear everything. Every release made it to the shelves and there not that many each month. And between your friends and you, if you bought records, you basically knew what was out there. By '69 FM radio was the third leg. OLh yes, I did buy Blood on the Tracks, friends bought the next stuff, Springsteen, Al Steward, later Fleetwood Mac, later Bowie, but it had run its course. |
I agree with @markmoskow ...I think '72 was great too. After than yeah, a long decline. I mean, disco hit in the mid-70s, rock music had died by the mid-1980s, now it seems "popular" music is just a vehicle to sell singer branded merch and make them rich. It isn't even about the music. They become a "brand" that people want to associate themselves with...women buying handbags and perfumes with "Taylor" on them and all that. |