Was 1971 The Greatest Year In Music?

Was 1971 The Greatest Year In Music?


July 2, 2025 | Jesse Singer

Was 1971 The Greatest Year In Music?


The GOAT Year?

There have been lots of great years in music history and you might think that it's impossible to pick just one and call it the greatest ever. But maybe it is possible? And maybe 1971 is that year. Let's walk through it and you can let us know what you think...

Tapestry

Maybe the best place to start when talking about music in 1971 is the album that spent more time at number one than any other album that year: Tapestry. Carol King's brilliant second album spent 15 straight weeks atop the Billboard 200 charts, won Album of the Year at the Grammys, has been certified 14x Platinum, and is consistently listed among the greatest albums of all time.

Tapestry AlbumSOUND QUALITY SHOOTOUT Carol King Tapestry, True Audiofiles

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Queen In Concert

The band was formed in 1970 and didn't release their debut album until 1973. However, it was 1971 when Queen performed their first public concert in London in February. And it was also just a couple weeks later when John Deacon joined the band and completed the lineup we would all come to know and love.

CIRCA 1970: Photo of QueenMichael Ochs Archives, Getty Images

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Sticky Fingers

Yup, the Rolling Stones album with the cover image of a pair of jeans with a working zipper (at least until they realized that the zipper was damaging the record and it was removed for future printings).

But zipper aside—Sticky Fingers was the band's ninth studio album and it is still regarded as one of their best, getting back to basics such classic Stone's tracks such as "Brown Sugar" and "Wild Horses". It also had a nice four-week run at number one until being dislodged from the  top spot by the previously discussed Tapestry

Sticky FingersReview of Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones, Top 5 Records

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"Stairway To Heaven" Live

One of the greatest rock songs of all time and the song that would become the final song at every high school dance in the 80s was first played live on March 5, 1971 at Ulster Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland. To be fair, the crowd wasn't impressed. To quote Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones: "They were all bored to tears waiting to hear something they knew".

Untitled Design (5)Stairway to Heaven Live, OLD TAPES

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Led Zeppelin IV

While the crowd in Belfast might've been bored the first time they heard "Stairway to Heaven", no one was bored months later when the masterpiece that was the Led Zeppelin IV album hit store shelves.

Not only did it feature "Stairway to Heaven", but it also included "Rock and Roll", "Black Dog", and the other more than seven-minute song on the album, "When the Levee Breaks".

Led Zeppelin IVReview of Led Zeppelin IV, Top 5 Records

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"You've Got A Friend"

First appearing on Tapestry, James Taylor also recorded a version of King's song and released it on his Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon album just a couple months later. The song won Grammys for both of them: Best Male Pop Vocal Performance (Taylor) and Song of the Year (King).

You've Got a Friend SongJames Taylor & Carole King - You've Got A Friend (BBC In Concert, 11/13/71), James Taylor

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"Imagine"

John Lennon's anthem for peace and love was released on October 11, 1971. The song was the best-selling song of Lennon's solo career and has become one of the most recognizable songs of all time in the decades since its release.

Imagine AlbumJohn Lennon Imagine Album Review, John Heaton

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Pearl

While Tapestry led the way with its amazing 15 weeks at number one, you know what album spent the second most weeks atop the charts in 1971? That's right: It was Janis Joplin's second (and last) solo album, Pearl.

For those who know, Joplin had passed away in October of 1970, thus making Pearl a posthumous release. And with powerhouse tracks like "Me and Bobby McGee" and "Mercedes Benz"—it is well deserving of its spot among the best 500 albums of all time, according to Rolling Stone magazine.

Pearl AlbumMOFI One-Step Ultradisc of Janis Joplin - Pearl: how does it compare with the original pressing?, Dave Denyer

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Madman Across The Water

Starting in 1972, Elton John would go on an amazing streak of putting out six number one albums in a row. However, While Madman Across the Water didn't quite reach the top of the charts, it did climb all the way up to eight in America—and is one of John's best and most under-appreciated records.

And on that topic...

Madman Across the Water AlbumElton John / Madman Across The Water 50th Anniversary Vinyl Unboxing And Album Review., Doe Darling

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"Tiny Dancer"

The first single off of the Madman album was "Tiny Dancer". A song that, at the time, was well received but not a huge hit—whereas today, it is one of, if not John's most iconic songs.

Tiny Dancer Song Elton John - Tiny Dancer, Elton John

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Tupelo Honey

Rolling Stone called everything on Van Morrison's 1971 album "perfectly integrated" and The Village Voice named it the fourth best album of the year.

 Tupelo Honey Album Album Update: Van Morrison - Tupelo Honey + Wavelength, Brian Needle Meets Vinyl

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"Maggie May"

Rod Stewart's most iconic track was released in 1971. Rolling Stone magazine ranked it as the 130th greatest song of all time.

Maggie May SongRod Stewart - Maggie May (Official Music Video), Rod Stewart

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Goodbye To The Fillmore West

The Fillmore West in San Francisco was only around for three years, but that was enough time to set its stake as one of the most historically significant rock and roll venues in America. The closing of the Fillmore West in 1971 was a sad day, but it did end on a high note with five nights of shows featuring such all-time bands as: Santana, Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Grateful Dead, and Quicksilver Messenger Service.

Moving east...

Felix Pappalardi and Leslie West, are in the band Larry Hulst, Getty Images

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At Fillmore East

In 1971, The Allman Brothers Band recorded their live album, At Fillmore East, over three nights at The Fillmore East venue in New York City. It was a big breakthrough commercially for the band and really showcased how well the guys could jam together.

Exterior view of the Fillmore East theater, located at 2nd Avenue and East 5th Street, New York, New York, 1970s.Hulton Archive, Getty Images

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Grand Funk Railroad At Shea Stadium

In 1965, The Beatles became the first band to sell-out Shea Stadium. On July 9, 1971, Grand Funk Railroad became the second band to ever do so (breaking the Beatles record in the process).

JULY 17: Photo of Grand Funk Railroad.Michael Ochs Archive, Getty Images

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Who's Next

1971 saw the release of The Who's fifth, and maybe their best, studio album. Who's Next features some of the band's most famous tracks, including the likes of "Won't Get Fooled Again" and "Baba O'Riley".

Who's NextThe Who - Who’s Next/Lifehouse - New Boxset Review & Unboxing, Brendon Snyder

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Meddle

Meddle isn't Pink Floyd's best album, but it is an important one in their oeuvre—as it is often considered the bridge between their psychedelic sound to the more progressive style they explored next.

Meddle Album Meddle - Pink Floyd Album Reviews, JTCurtisMusic

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Inspiration For "Smoke On The Water"

On December 4, 1971, during a performance by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention at the Montreux Casino in Montreux, Switzerland—the casino caught fire. Deep Purple happened to be in a hotel across the lake at the time and watching the fire from their window became the inspiration for their hit Smoke on the Water.

Smoke on the WaterDeep Purple - Smoke On The Water (Live), Deep Purple Official

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Santana III

Santana's self-titled third album (usually referred to as Santana III) dropped on September 24, 1971. The album spent five consecutive weeks at number one and is regarded by many as the band's best. 

File:Santana 1969 press photo.jpgDistributed by Columbia Records, Wikimedia Commons

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L.A. Woman

The final album The Doors ever recorded while Jim Morrison was alive—Rolling Stone called L.A. Woman "the Doors' greatest album". "Love Her Madly" was the first single off of the record, but it also featured the title track and the band's epic "Riders on the Storm".

L.A. WomanReview of The Doors L.A. Woman, Top 5 Records

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Tupac Shakur Is Born

One of the most influential rappers of all time, Tupac Shakur was born on June 16, 1971.

Getty Images - 1125955705, Tupac Shakur Live In Concert CHICAGO - MARCH 1994: Rapper Tupac Shakur poses for photos backstage after his performance at the Regal Theater in Chicago, Illinois in March 1994.Raymond Boyd, Getty images

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The Eagles Are Born

They wouldn't release their debut album until 1972 and it would be five years before "Hotel California"...but it was in Los Angeles in 1971 that the Eagles were formed.

Don Henley, Joe Walsh, Randy Meisner, Glenn Frey and Don Felder of the rock band Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images

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"Ain't No Sunshine"

Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine" came out in 1971. 31-year-old Withers was working at a factory making bathrooms for 747s when he wrote the song—it would be his first of three Gold records.

Ain't No Sunshine SongBill Withers - Ain't No Sunshine, Andres Trevino

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"American Pie"

Don McLean's beloved song spent four weeks at number one in 1972, but it was released in October of 1971"American Pie" has been called "one of the most successful and debated songs of the 20th century".

American Pie SongDon McLean - American Pie, OLD TAPES

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Blue

Joni Mitchell wrote and produced her 1971 masterpiece, Blue. And as well as it was received at the time, it has only gained more praise and acclaim in the decades since its release. In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked it as the third greatest album of all time, and in 2017, NPR ranked it as the greatest album of all time made by a woman.

Blue AlbumReview of Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab One Step of Joni Mitchell Blue, Top 5 Records

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The Concert For Bangladesh

The Concert for Bangladesh were two concerts held at 2:30 and 8:00 pm on Sunday, August 1, 1971, at Madison Square Garden in NYC. Organized by George Harrison and Ravi Shankar, the concerts were meant to raise awareness and fund relief for East Pakistan refugees after the Bangladesh Liberation War and the 1970 Bhola cyclone.

The Concert for BangladeshGeorge Harrison & Friends - The Concert for Bangladesh (Official Trailer), George Harrison

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The Concert For Bangladesh

It was the first time a benefit concert of this size had ever been produced and it featured performances from Harrison, Shankar, Ringo Starr, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Leon Russell, and Badfinger.

The Concert for Bangladesh live triple-album was also released later that year.

The Concert for BangladeshAlbum Review: Concert for Bangladesh | George Harrison, Know Your Music Show

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Theme From Shaft

Isaac Hayes' awesome soundtrack album, including the unmistakable theme from the Blaxploitation classic Shaft, came out in 1971. 

Shaft 1971Shaft (1971) Movie Review | The Unseen Movie Marathon, Kenny Sparks

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What’s Going On?

A classic of 70s soul, both NME and Rolling Stone have called Marvin Gaye's 11th studio album the greatest of all time. From the title track to "Mercy Mercy Me", Gaye gave the world a musical gift back in 1971—a gift we are all still enjoying.

What’s Going On?Breaking Down Marvin Gaye's Masterpiece: What's Going On | Album Review & Analysis, Vinyl Rewind

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