247 Album Verdict
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55th Anniversary · 1971

55th Anniversary Albums (1971)

The great 1971 surge — more landmark albums in a single year than most decades can manage.

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What's Going OnMarvin Gaye
1971 · Soul & R&B

What's Going On

Marvin Gaye

A seamless song-suite on war, poverty and the environment, Gaye's defiant break from Motown's hit factory. Lush, jazzy and politically urgent, it reframed what soul could address. Often called the greatest soul album ever.

Vinyl → CD →
BlueJoni Mitchell
1971 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

Blue

Joni Mitchell

An intimate, confessional landmark of singer-songwriter craft, spare in arrangement and emotionally fearless. Mitchell's melodies and open tunings are extraordinary throughout. Routinely named one of the greatest albums ever made.

Vinyl → CD →
There's a Riot Goin' OnSly and the Family Stone
1971 · Soul & R&B

There's a Riot Goin' On

Sly and the Family Stone

A murky, exhausted masterpiece that answered the optimism of the 60s with funk's dark night of the soul. Dense and influential. A radical, essential record.

Vinyl → CD →
AqualungJethro Tull
1971 · Rock

Aqualung

Jethro Tull

A heavy, folk-tinged prog landmark of religion and the dispossessed, with Anderson's flute up front. Distinctive and ambitious. Their best-known record.

Vinyl → CD →
Journey in SatchidanandaAlice Coltrane
1971 · Jazz

Journey in Satchidananda

Alice Coltrane

A serene, modal spiritual-jazz masterpiece of harp, sax and drone. Meditative and beautiful. A singular, beloved record.

Vinyl → CD →
John PrineJohn Prine
1971 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

John Prine

John Prine

A wry, humane debut of perfect songwriting, home to 'Angel from Montgomery'. Warm and beloved. A genre cornerstone.

Vinyl → CD →
Master of RealityBlack Sabbath
1971 · Metal

Master of Reality

Black Sabbath

Down-tuned and even heavier, the record that seeded both doom and stoner metal. Sludgy, dark and pioneering. Essential Sabbath.

Vinyl → CD →
Electric WarriorT. Rex
1971 · Rock

Electric Warrior

T. Rex

The album that defined glam rock, all boogie riffs and cosmic cool, anchored by 'Get It On'. Sexy and stylish. A genre cornerstone.

Vinyl → CD →
Maggot BrainFunkadelic
1971 · Soul & R&B

Maggot Brain

Funkadelic

A psychedelic-funk landmark opening with a guitar elegy for the ages. Wild and visionary. A genre cornerstone.

Vinyl → CD →
The Inner Mounting FlameMahavishnu Orchestra
1971 · Jazz

The Inner Mounting Flame

Mahavishnu Orchestra

A ferocious jazz-fusion landmark of virtuosic intensity. Explosive and influential. A genre cornerstone.

Vinyl → CD →
Tago MagoCan
1971 · Rock

Tago Mago

Can

A sprawling, hypnotic krautrock landmark of motorik grooves and studio experiment. Influential and strange. A genre cornerstone.

Vinyl → CD →
Led Zeppelin IVLed Zeppelin
1971 · Rock

Led Zeppelin IV

Led Zeppelin

Untitled and adorned only with runic symbols, this is the band's most complete statement, from the folk delicacy of 'The Battle of Evermore' to the slow build of 'Stairway to Heaven'. Bonham's drum sound on 'When the Levee Breaks' alone has been sampled for decades. Heavy, mystical and endlessly influential.

Vinyl → CD →
Who's NextThe Who
1971 · Rock

Who's Next

The Who

Salvaged from the abandoned Lifehouse project, it became the Who's most powerful studio record, pairing Townshend's pioneering synthesizer sequences with Daltrey's roar and Moon's chaos. 'Baba O'Riley' and 'Won't Get Fooled Again' bookend it with genuine grandeur. A high-water mark for arena rock done with brains.

Vinyl → CD →
Hunky DoryDavid Bowie
1971 · Rock

Hunky Dory

David Bowie

A songwriter's album of wit, warmth and ambition, from the shape-shifting 'Changes' to the tender 'Life on Mars?'. It arrived just before Ziggy made him famous and many devotees quietly prefer it. Piano-led, melodic and endlessly replayable.

Vinyl → CD →
Sticky FingersThe Rolling Stones
1971 · Rock

Sticky Fingers

The Rolling Stones

Loose, sleazy and superb, home to 'Brown Sugar', 'Wild Horses' and the slow-burning 'Can't You Hear Me Knocking'. The playing is greasy and confident throughout. One of their two or three best.

Vinyl → CD →
Songs of Love and HateLeonard Cohen
1971 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

Songs of Love and Hate

Leonard Cohen

A stark, intense peak of literary folk, home to 'Famous Blue Raincoat'. Dark and beautiful. One of his best.

Vinyl → CD →
TapestryCarole King
1971 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

Tapestry

Carole King

The album that defined the confessional singer-songwriter era, warm and tuneful from 'It's Too Late' to 'You've Got a Friend'. A massive, enduring seller. Comfort itself.

Vinyl → CD →
MeddlePink Floyd
1971 · Rock

Meddle

Pink Floyd

A transitional record building toward their classic era, anchored by the side-long 'Echoes'. Atmospheric and exploratory. A devotee favourite.

Vinyl → CD →
FragileYes
1971 · Rock

Fragile

Yes

A prog peak balancing band epics and solo showcases, home to 'Roundabout'. Intricate and beloved. A high point.

Vinyl → CD →
At Fillmore EastThe Allman Brothers Band
1971 · Rock

At Fillmore East

The Allman Brothers Band

A peak of live Southern rock and improvisation, twin guitars soaring. Loose and electric. One of the great live albums.

Vinyl → CD →
L.A. WomanThe Doors
1971 · Rock

L.A. Woman

The Doors

A loose, bluesy late peak recorded just before Morrison's death, home to 'Riders on the Storm'. Relaxed and assured. A fitting farewell.

Vinyl → CD →
Madman Across the WaterElton John
1971 · Rock

Madman Across the Water

Elton John

A lush, piano-led peak, home to 'Tiny Dancer' and 'Levon'. Beautiful and acclaimed. A high point.

Vinyl → CD →
ImagineJohn Lennon
1971 · Rock

Imagine

John Lennon

A warmer, more melodic solo peak built around its utopian title song. Tuneful and direct. His most beloved record.

Vinyl → CD →
Nilsson SchmilssonHarry Nilsson
1971 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

Nilsson Schmilsson

Harry Nilsson

A tuneful, eclectic peak, home to 'Without You' and 'Coconut'. Witty and beloved. His commercial high.

Vinyl → CD →
Just as I AmBill Withers
1971 · Soul & R&B

Just as I Am

Bill Withers

An intimate debut of acoustic-leaning soul, introducing 'Ain't No Sunshine'. Honest and understated. A quietly perfect record.

Vinyl → CD →
Pieces of a ManGil Scott-Heron
1971 · Soul & R&B

Pieces of a Man

Gil Scott-Heron

A foundational fusion of soul, jazz and spoken word, home to 'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised'. Sharp and influential. A proto-rap landmark.

Vinyl → CD →
Tupelo HoneyVan Morrison
1971 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

Tupelo Honey

Van Morrison

A warm, pastoral peak of soulful folk-rock. Gentle and beloved. A high point.

Vinyl → CD →
Teaser and the FirecatCat Stevens
1971 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

Teaser and the Firecat

Cat Stevens

A tuneful peak, home to 'Morning Has Broken' and 'Peace Train'. Warm and beloved. A high point.

Vinyl → CD →
Mud Slide Slim and the Blue HorizonJames Taylor
1971 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon

James Taylor

A warm, gentle peak, home to 'You've Got a Friend'. Tuneful and beloved. A high point.

Vinyl → CD →
PearlJanis Joplin
1971 · Rock

Pearl

Janis Joplin

Joplin's posthumous peak of raw, bluesy soul-rock, home to 'Me and Bobby McGee'. Powerful and poignant. Her finest.

Vinyl → CD →
FireballDeep Purple
1971 · Rock

Fireball

Deep Purple

A heavy, energetic early-classic-era peak. Powerful and beloved. A high point.

Vinyl → CD →
ShaftIsaac Hayes
1971 · Soul & R&B

Shaft

Isaac Hayes

A funky, cinematic soundtrack landmark, home to its Oscar-winning theme. Sleek and influential. A 70s classic.

Vinyl → CD →
RootsCurtis Mayfield
1971 · Soul & R&B

Roots

Curtis Mayfield

A lush, socially conscious soul peak. Smooth and acclaimed. A high point.

Vinyl → CD →
Coal Miner's DaughterLoretta Lynn
1971 · Country & Americana

Coal Miner's Daughter

Loretta Lynn

A plain-spoken, autobiographical country classic of working-class pride. Honest and beloved. Her signature album.

Vinyl → CD →
Coat of Many ColorsDolly Parton
1971 · Country & Americana

Coat of Many Colors

Dolly Parton

A tender, autobiographical country peak of plain-spoken warmth. Beautiful and beloved. A signature record.

Vinyl → CD →
The London Howlin' Wolf SessionsHowlin' Wolf
1971 · Blues

The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions

Howlin' Wolf

A star-studded London session pairing Wolf with British rockers. Loose and beloved. A crossover record.

Vinyl → CD →
Live in Cook County JailB.B. King
1971 · Blues

Live in Cook County Jail

B.B. King

A fiery prison live peak, home to a definitive 'The Thrill Is Gone'. Electric and beloved. A great live record.

Vinyl → CD →
Getting Ready...Freddie King
1971 · Blues

Getting Ready...

Freddie King

A fiery Texas-blues peak, home to 'Going Down'. Tough and beloved. A high point.

Vinyl → CD →
MusicCarole King
1971 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

Music

Carole King

The immediate follow-up to Tapestry, quieter and jazzier, a natural exhale after the blockbuster that preceded it.

Vinyl → CD →
AnticipationCarly Simon
1971 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

Anticipation

Carly Simon

Her second album, and the first to show her writing at full stretch — the title track became an unlikely anthem for the unhurried.

Vinyl → CD →
Poems, Prayers and PromisesJohn Denver
1971 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

Poems, Prayers and Promises

John Denver

Take Me Home, Country Roads appeared here first — Denver's most balanced album.

Vinyl → CD →
Judee SillJudee Sill
1971 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

Judee Sill

Judee Sill

A gorgeous, gospel-tinged folk debut of overlooked genius. Beautiful and acclaimed. A cult treasure.

Vinyl → CD →
Muswell HillbilliesThe Kinks
1971 · Rock

Muswell Hillbillies

The Kinks

A warm, music-hall-tinged peak of working-class English songcraft. Charming and acclaimed. A cult favourite.

Vinyl → CD →
Surf's UpThe Beach Boys
1971 · Rock

Surf's Up

The Beach Boys

A reflective, ambitious post-Pet Sounds peak of fragile beauty. Underrated and acclaimed. A high point.

Vinyl → CD →
In My Own TimeKaren Dalton
1971 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

In My Own Time

Karen Dalton

A haunting, soulful folk peak of a singular voice. Beautiful and reappraised. A cult treasure.

Vinyl → CD →
MandrillMandrill
1971 · Funk & Disco

Mandrill

Mandrill

A wild fusion of funk, Latin and rock from the Brooklyn collective. Adventurous and beloved. A cult favourite.

Vinyl → CD →