Best Albums of 1971

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11.

Fragile 

 Yes

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"Many people seem to forget about this album. At the first listen, this album seems tediously long and overdone, with five instrumentals (counting Fish) and long songs with seemingly random transitions and bridges. However, after many listens, this album slowly turns into an instantly recognizable...""Many people seem to forget about this album. At the first listen, this album seems tediously long and overdone, with five instrumentals (counting Fish) and long songs with seemingly random transitions and bridges. However, after many listens, this album slowly turns into an instantly recognizable masterpiece that is never boring or tedious in the least. Had this album's entirety received more radio time, I beleive that this album would easily rank among the Beatles' and Bob Dylan's masterpieces among the majority of music critics."  [+]  Reply

- bigbaddude | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +6 votes (6 helpful | 0 unhelpful) A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

822 charts

Rank Score:

6,073

Rank in 1971:

11

Rank in 1970s:

66

Overall Rank:

266

Average Rating:

 83 (1,104 votes)

Comments:

58

12.

Bryter Layter 

 Nick Drake

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"'Hardcore Nick Drake fan' are we? Not a chance if you don't like Bryter Layter. True, there's no unaccompanied tracks on this unlike Nick's other LPs, but to call the album 'overproduced' is ridiculous. Robert Kirby's string arrangements are sublime, especially for the 3 instrumentals (all of whi...""'Hardcore Nick Drake fan' are we? Not a chance if you don't like Bryter Layter. True, there's no unaccompanied tracks on this unlike Nick's other LPs, but to call the album 'overproduced' is ridiculous. Robert Kirby's string arrangements are sublime, especially for the 3 instrumentals (all of which Nick was extremely proud of), the female backing vocals you abhor are only on one track ('Poor Boy') and are totally in keeping with the mood of it, and the sax on ...City Clock works brilliantly to take the listener away from the countryside and into a 'London street' (most likely in Soho) with jazz clubs and smoke lingering in the air. Couldn't agree more about 'Northern Sky' being the highlight, but to slag off the album that carries both the Hazey Jane tracks, Fly and especially One Of These Things First is nothing short of sacrilege. Understand some might like their Nick with a bottle of scotch in one hand and a handful of painkillers in the other but Nick was at his happiest here, and the true tragedy is that when this album - the one that Nick and everyone around him thought would bring wider public and critical acclaim - bombed he spiralled into depression (through a combination of failure and embarrassment) from which he never recovered. As it is, we're left with the most perfect discography of any artist I can think of. I implore you to listen to Bryter Layter again, ideally whilst driving through the countryside. Like all things Nick, it's insanely beautiful and crushingly sad in equal measure."  [+]  Reply

- Jimmy Dread | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +13 votes (13 helpful | 0 unhelpful) A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

734 charts

Rank Score:

5,469

Rank in 1971:

12

Rank in 1970s:

73

Overall Rank:

307

Average Rating:

 83 (902 votes)

Comments:

69

13.

Master Of Reality 

 Black Sabbath

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"It's a stoner rock album, it's a psychedelic rock album, it's a progressive rock album, it's a heavy metal album, and it's an effing trippy album. All the performers are playing their instruments to the highest point anyone can play them. There is not a single flaw all across the 35 minutes of in...""It's a stoner rock album, it's a psychedelic rock album, it's a progressive rock album, it's a heavy metal album, and it's an effing trippy album. All the performers are playing their instruments to the highest point anyone can play them. There is not a single flaw all across the 35 minutes of intense music they provided. Just board the bass line and close your eyes and let the graphics flow in. It will take you to one of the most intense and beautiful trips you'll ever go!"  [+]  Reply

- salahshoori | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +3 votes (3 helpful | 0 unhelpful) A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

736 charts

Rank Score:

5,410

Rank in 1971:

13

Rank in 1970s:

74

Overall Rank:

309

Average Rating:

 84 (1,067 votes)

Comments:

51

14.

Aqualung 

 Jethro Tull

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"I was a 16-year old camp counselor in training, far from home in a primitive forest. I ran a high fever for two days with a horrific bout of tonsillitis. All I could do was lay on a bunk in a cabin with no air conditioning and listen to my records on headphones, sweating and hallucinating. This w...""I was a 16-year old camp counselor in training, far from home in a primitive forest. I ran a high fever for two days with a horrific bout of tonsillitis. All I could do was lay on a bunk in a cabin with no air conditioning and listen to my records on headphones, sweating and hallucinating. This was one of those records. I cannot be objective about believing it is an all-time great."  [+]  Reply

- kcendsley1 | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +5 votes (5 helpful | 0 unhelpful) A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

761 charts

Rank Score:

5,280

Rank in 1971:

14

Rank in 1970s:

78

Overall Rank:

317

Average Rating:

 83 (1,002 votes)

Comments:

59

15.

Ram 

 Paul & Linda McCartney

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"One of the funnest, and least emotionally draining post-beatles albums, and one I would most likely recommend to anyone wishing to explore the Beatles solo work for the first time. I personally think it's McCartney's best solo album, though it is technically a wings album without the title or cre...""One of the funnest, and least emotionally draining post-beatles albums, and one I would most likely recommend to anyone wishing to explore the Beatles solo work for the first time. I personally think it's McCartney's best solo album, though it is technically a wings album without the title or credits; but it doesn't beat George's All Things Must Pass or The Plastic Ono Band album. That doesn't mean it isn't worth listening to. Many of these songs would have fit perfectly on a theoretical 70's Beatles album. Also, if you're a fan of McCartney's primal yelling, Monkberry Moon Delight probably serves as his greatest showcase of such talents. Most would agree that Uncle Albert is the best song; but my personal favorite is Too Many People, which is actually one of my favorite songs Paul McCartney ever wrote!"  [+]  Reply

- CJMishellsan | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +6 votes (6 helpful | 0 unhelpful) A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

597 charts

Rank Score:

4,910

Rank in 1971:

15

Rank in 1970s:

85

Overall Rank:

345

Average Rating:

 82 (765 votes)

Comments:

62

16.

Imagine 

 John Lennon

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"John Lennon’s most accessible and successful album. Has some wonderful songs on it and it’s well produced. It’s not perfect. The title track is problematic coming from a millionaire but it’s sentiments are honourable and I think genuine. We could have done without the nasty and vitriolic How do y...""John Lennon’s most accessible and successful album. Has some wonderful songs on it and it’s well produced. It’s not perfect. The title track is problematic coming from a millionaire but it’s sentiments are honourable and I think genuine. We could have done without the nasty and vitriolic How do you sleep. Despite the superb slide guitar from George Harrison ! Overall a top class album that I’d recommend. "  [+]  Reply

- Nowhereman1965 | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +5 votes (5 helpful | 0 unhelpful) A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

847 charts

Rank Score:

4,709

Rank in 1971:

16

Rank in 1970s:

87

Overall Rank:

353

Average Rating:

 81 (1,173 votes)

Comments:

63

17.

Electric Warrior 

 T. Rex

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"Good news first or bad news..? Well, the bad news ain't so bad, so let's start there... Bad news: "Mambo Sun" and "Planet Queen" are actually the same song - BUT good news: it's a really good song. (Same with "Get It On" and "The Motivator," but that's an even BETTER song.) And just a little more...""Good news first or bad news..? Well, the bad news ain't so bad, so let's start there... Bad news: "Mambo Sun" and "Planet Queen" are actually the same song - BUT good news: it's a really good song. (Same with "Get It On" and "The Motivator," but that's an even BETTER song.) And just a little more bad news: "Monolith" sounded a little more alive when Gene Chandler did it in 1962 and called it "Duke of Earl," but good news: when Marc Bolan rips off a song, he rips off the best. The good news - and it's really good: this album sounds like it came from outer space, coated in candy, and the songs sound really do sound electric, you know, alive ("Mean Woman Blues" excepted.) So I don't care if it's a "rip off" or not, b/c it's one of the best I've ever heard. 90/100"  [+]  Reply

- JuJu83 | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +9 votes (9 helpful | 0 unhelpful) A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

774 charts

Rank Score:

4,620

Rank in 1971:

17

Rank in 1970s:

90

Overall Rank:

357

Average Rating:

 82 (851 votes)

Comments:

45

18.

Maggot Brain 

 Funkadelic

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"George Clinton told Eddie Hazel 'play like your mother just died'"  Reply

- doop | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +5 votes (5 helpful | 0 unhelpful) A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

675 charts

Rank Score:

4,311

Rank in 1971:

18

Rank in 1970s:

94

Overall Rank:

387

Average Rating:

 82 (726 votes)

Comments:

46

19.

There's A Riot Goin' On 

 Sly & The Family Stone

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"YES..... yesssss.... The dirty churning angst on this recording is so very raw, yet understated... powerful beyond explanation.... This is not the "Dance to the Music" Sly... This is the ruminatin' dark and burnin' out Sly... a hard rude awakening coming over the war-torn survivors of the Sixties...""YES..... yesssss.... The dirty churning angst on this recording is so very raw, yet understated... powerful beyond explanation.... This is not the "Dance to the Music" Sly... This is the ruminatin' dark and burnin' out Sly... a hard rude awakening coming over the war-torn survivors of the Sixties sunshine utopia... now a sick joke, in the form of race riots across the country and the nation in flames.... Sly even mocks his own naivete with the return of the "Thankyoufaletinmebemicelf" refrain, words updated to reflect a new awareness... Despite album notes crediting The Family, Sly recorded much of the album by himself, instrument by instrument, and layered the tracks together with vocals....Maybe that partly accounts for a sort of lo-fi dirty sound that compliments the mood, lyrics, and vocal style here so perfectly... It's no frills hard and frustrated writhing funk.... When I think of the stunning quality of the honest and gut-wrenching emotion here, and the time, I think of two albums from other artists: Plastic Ono Band album, and especially "Tonight's the Night", by Neil Young... another very moody, thoughtful, sentimental but pissed-off album in the wake of the hopeful hippie revolution.... I have listened to "Riot" hundreds of times over the years... It's just blown me away along with so very many other fans and musicians.... Somehow the underlying tension and malevolent struggle to bust the hell out of the pit of despair has struck a very personal chord in so many of us at some point in our lives.... As good an example as any of the miraculous and transcendent power of music to convey something beyond mere word and sound.... If you know, then you know...."  [+]  Reply

- muzikluvah | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +3 votes (3 helpful | 0 unhelpful) A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

632 charts

Rank Score:

3,992

Rank in 1971:

19

Rank in 1970s:

100

Overall Rank:

420

Average Rating:

 81 (707 votes)

Comments:

35

20.

At Fillmore East 
Live

 The Allman Brothers Band

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"Up there with Band of Gypsys and Made in Japan for one of the most respected live albums. Duane left us too early but his work will never be forgotten thanks to beautiful albums like this."  Reply

- Jasonconfused | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +5 votes (5 helpful | 0 unhelpful) A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

601 charts

Rank Score:

3,592

Rank in 1971:

20

Rank in 1970s:

106

Overall Rank:

477

Average Rating:

 81 (723 votes)

Comments:

43

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Total albums: 1,000. Page 2 of 100

Best Albums of 1971 composition

Top 1,000 Top 500 Top 250 Top 100

Artist	Albums	%
Various Artists	11	1%
Elvis Presley	5	1%
The Rolling Stones	4	0%
Grant Green	3	0%
The Kinks	3	0%
Harry Nilsson	3	0%
Isaac Hayes	3	0%
Show all

Country	Albums	%
	392	39%
	244	24%
	51	5%
	44	4%
	29	3%
	26	3%
	21	2%
Show all

Compilation?	Albums	%
No	955	96%
Yes	45	5%

Live?	Albums	%
No	957	96%
Yes	43	4%

Soundtrack?	Albums	%
No	984	98%
Yes	16	2%