Best year for '70s music?

[NightTrain]

I considered 1977 because of punk. However, what was a musical revolution in the UK was little more than a firecracker stateside. Besides, 1977 also produced some of the godawfulest pop records ever to assault the top ten. ("You Light Up My Life," anyone?)

But then there's 1971, the year in which Marvin Gaye recorded my all-time favorite soul album, WHAT'S GOING ON? Also out that year was the MC5's third (and, IMHO, best) album, HIGH TIME, along with tons of great funk and a number of surprisingly good pop tunes. (I still think Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds' "Don't Pull Your Love" is a wonderful record!)

So, I vote for 1971 as the best year for music during the Me Decade. How about you? And please feel free to expound upon your choice!

[Booberdawg]

1. Couldn't say cause I don't remember enough of the songs!

[HuckleB]

2. I dunno.

I picked 1979, simply because London Calling came out that year. But there was some pretty good music around it, as well.

Talking Heads -- Fear of Music
Supertramp - Breakfast In America
The B-52's - Play Loud
Ry Cooder - Bop Till You Drop
Elvis Costello - Armed Forces
Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures
Gang Of Four - Entertainment
The Clash - London Calling

[Wickerman]

16. 78, 79

yep, the kids started to take back rock that year. A nice, if not halfway successful experiment. Gave us some good and lasting stuff. I'll add Rust Never Sleeps to your list for my part.

[cprise]

3. 1999 was the best year for 70s music

Because half the new stuff sounded like it.

Well, it still does.

[Old and In the Way]

4. Skull and Roses

Live/Dead....1971....'nuff said

[Kenneth ken]

5. something to help

y'all decide:

<http://www.superseventies.com/>

on edit: some of the listings here are mucked up. I am seeing things listed as being released in both 70 & 71 ???

[Kenneth ken]

6. This is too much WORK!

so I'll say 1973.

a few things from that year:

Brothers and Sisters - The Allman Brothers Band
Yellow Brick Road - Elton John
Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
Dark Side Of The Moon - Pink Floyd
Tower Of Power - Tower Of Power
Quadrophenia - The Who
Innervisions - Stevie Wonder

[Old and In the Way]

7. Innervisions was great, but Final Fufillingness, First Finale(?)

was my favorite Stevie Wonder Album. He was producing his stuff in this time period, IMHO.

[Kenneth ken]

8. that looks to be 1974

like I said, this topic was too hard. I stopped looking after 1973.

In addition to Stevie, 1974 saw

Blow By Blow - Jeff Beck
Court and Spark - Joni Mitchell
What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits - The Doobie Brothers
Bridge Of Sighs - Robin Trower
461 Ocean Blvd - Eric Clapton (is God*)


to name justa few


* but Jeff plays better

[ulysses]

9. 1973

What's hip today might become passe...

[VOX]

10. Don't sell 1977 short! Talking Heads, Blondie, Elvis Costello...

the Ramones, Sex Pistols and so many more -- some first albums there, and all pretty new to the scene. These groups certainly changed the direction of music.

There was a lot of good music out there, once you got past the disco garbage.

:toast:

edit: typos

[FlashHarry]

11. Don't forget The Police and Television

[mr blur]

12. 1977

There was a lot of great music in the 70s, but in 1977 Television's Marquee Moon was released so that clinches it for me

[mitchum]

13. Absolutely

[joeybee12]

14. 1978! Disco and Donna Summer ruled! There will never, ever, never...

...again be such a glorious year in music!

[geniph]

15. For me, 1978

because I was one of those going around in a Death Before Disco T-Shirt, and bemoaning the demise of rock & roll - and along came stuff I'd never heard before, stuff from the UK and from CBGB's and Max's Kansas City - stuff that sounded like the early garage bands with better recording equipment. It brought music back to life for me.

[CBHagman]

17. I think 1978 was when "Darkness on the Edge of Town" was released.

That's why I chose it.