EVERYONE’S A WINNER: The best twenty albums of 1971 – the greatest year for rock

TAPESTRY – We Will Still Love It Tomorrow

1971 – With the demise of The Beatles the previous year, were the Rolling Stones, The Who and Led Zeppelin trying to fill the void – or reached a stage they could match the Fabs on their own terms?

The Kinks weren’t bothered either way – the Davies brothers thought nobody was as good as them and by this stage they had a point.

Joni and Carole were singer-songwriters supreme, there is funk, soul – and Rod’s ace-in-the-hole.

Most of these records have stood the test of time and the top ten – at least – are worthy of a place in any mainstream album collection.

The Top Twenty Albums of 1971:

  1. WHO’S NEXT – The Who;
  2. WHAT’S GOIN’ ON – Marvin Gaye;
  3. STICKY FINGERS – Rolling Stones;
  4. EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY – Rod Stewart;
  5. BLUE – Joni Mitchell;
  6. IV – Led Zeppelin;
  7. MUSWELL HILBILLIES – The Kinks;
  8. THERE’S A RIOT GOIN’ ON – Sly and the Family Stone;
  9. TAPESTRY – Carole King;
  10. HUNKY DORY – David Bowie;
  11. LA WOMAN – The Doors; 
  12. TUPELO HONEY – Van Morrison;
  13. GONNA TAKE A MIRACLE – Laura Nyro;
  14. AT FILLMORE EAST – Allman Brothers Band;
  15. WHERE I’M COMING FROM – Stevie Wonder;
  16. WHITE LIGHT – Gene Clark;
  17. PEARL – Janis Joplin;
  18. A NOD’S IS AS GOOD AS A WINK TO A BLIND HORSE – The Faces;
  19. GIVE MORE POWER TO THE PEOPLE – The Chi-Lites;
  20. NILSSON SCHMILSSON – Harry Nilsson;

NEIL SAMBROOK is the author of MONTY’S DOUBLE – an acclaimed thriller now available as an Amazon Kindle Book.