@curiousjim 

"1971, the year the music died? I don’t agree,"?

Did you even read the question?

I said nothing about music dying after 1971. All I said is that 1971 was a great year for music.

@moonwatcher @tony1954 A lot of people I've met over the years moved on around 1972, or even earlier. some got interested in old blues records, others in appalachian or country, perhaps led there by a lot of the rock albums they began to realize were inspired by music that had come before. Others found jazz. We never gave up our love for the 67-72 music, and when stuff came long later that we'd like, we'd still buy in, whether it was dire Straits, Pearl Jam, Counting Crows, and a long list. a lot of it has to to do with how old you were in your mid-teens and explored your own interest. I have younger friends who swear by 1979--that it all happened then. A few years ago I was reminded about how much all the music i grew up with meant to me and made a series about it called It Was the Music, featuring a lot of the people from that time. But when i look back, even most of the jazz records I bought was music made in the mid-60s and early 70s. Just a productive time in the arts (film, books as well) on a lot of fronts. So, let's hear from all those 1979 folks or later!

@roxy54

For a brief period of time, all the stars lined up and we were gifted some of the best examples of "popular" music in history. 1971 could represent the pinnacle of a concentration of talent and genuius that our great, great grandchildren will be singing, playing, or just chillin’ out to. (our whatever they’re going to cal it in 2093).

Garage bands were a "thing" back in the day. We matured (truly a subjective term) from riding bikes, fishing, playing baseball, and spending time with our parents to whatever creative element was available at the time -- playing music. Our generation was not distracted by "bits" or "bytes", cable news, social media, or video gaming. They just casually got together and spent h-o-u-r-s defining, and redefining, their craft. Then, a few Battle(s) of the Bands and Sock Hops later, they realized this hobby was a passion backed up by real talent all around them and within them. "Gigs" and local concerts evolved into real musical events and recording contracts. Then, fame. Followed by wealth. More productivity. And, more fame.

It wasn’t just the epic performances, break out talent and creativity that ear marked (literally) this era. IMHO, it was the shear magitude of GREAT bands that produced GREAT music during this period. This period is unique in history. We’ll never be presented with the opportunity to have this massive number of individuals brfeak away from other activities and assign a time period to be actively engaged in the production of popular music.

Whlle I love the complexity of classical pieces, I’m a sucker for a good melody. If that melody includes poetic genius, carefully contructed musical accompaniment, innovation, and a memorable cadence and rhythm, I’m in musical heaven. And, back in 1971.

Some of you have made a good point that our personal musical peak is related to our age. Breakthrough performances that align with OUR time, and OUR culture can be quite powerful. Thus, devaluated or dismissed when part of someone else’s (our parent’s?) culture.

It was 1972. Meatloaf was the last album during the mid 1970s bat out of hell, that made sense. And then everything fell apart.

@waytoomuchstuff

I understand what you are saying very well, and I agree that there were some very good bands making some memorable popular, and even progressive music at that time, but for me, it was also a somewhat sad time, because the explosion of wild creativity that characterized the 1960’s (Jefferson Airplane and Jimi Hendrix are examples) was over. Now it was time to take those design cues, polish and perfect them. That certainly had its good points, but the magic was gone. Periods of spontaneous creativity like what happened in the 1960’s are rare and depend on a confluence of social factors, all of which came together at that time.

Again, not to take away or minimize the early 70’s. There were some very good  music created during that time as well.

@emergingsoul Thanks for your crazy comment.