1971 – Was It Really Rock’s Golden Year?

I recently read David Hepworth’s book, '1971 Never a Dull Moment' where he makes the case for 1971 being rock's year zero. It’s a fascinating book written by someone who was there. It’s also a social commentary on a time when the world was a very different place. I couldn’t put it down and read it cover-to-cover in a few days thoroughly enjoying it.

The author certainly put forward a very strong case for 1971 as ‘Rock's Golden Year’. And when you look at the list of top albums released in 1971 you struggle to disagree. Albums such as these classics all came out in 1971:

• Led Zeppelin IV
• Who's Next,
• David Bowie had both The Man Who Sold The World and Hunky Dory
• Carole King's Tapestry
• Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On
• The Rolling Stones’ Sticky Fingers
• Rod Stewart’s Every Picture Tells A Story
• The Doors. L.A. Woman
• Imagine by John Lennon
• Joni Mitchell’s Blue
• Master Of Reality by Black Sabbath
• Sly and The Family Stone – There’s A Riot Going On

Plus many more classics by Cat Stevens, Elton John, Don McLean, Pink Floyd and George Harrison.

When you consider that most of these albums are still held up as classic musical high water marks today then David Hepworth’s case becomes very convincing.

However…..

And it’s a big however! The vast majority of assumptions and assertions made in the book are based on these classic albums all being released in 1971, however – what about singles? Was 1971 the golden year for singles? I think not! There were a couple of classics off those albums but it wasn't a 'singles' year was it? In my eyes, there are a number of other years to consider if you’re looking for high water marks based on classic singles and sales of singles. Here’s a few I'd consider:

1966

There were many classic singles released in 1966 including:

• Jimmy Ruffin – What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted
• The Beach Boys – Both Good Vibrations and God Only Knows
• The Supremes – You Can’t Hurry Love
• Small Faces – All or Nothing

Also, The Kinks’ Sunny Afternoon and The Rolling Stone’s Paint It Black on their own could make 1966 a worthy contender for a classic year in music.  

Add to these some classic albums of that year, Simon & Garfunkel released “Sounds of Silence.” The Beach Boys unleash “Pet Sounds,” and The Beatles put out their best album “Revolver.” 1966 is right up there.

1980

1980 was a very diverse year for music. Punk had been and gone, new wave was amongst us, disco was on its way out and the New Romantics were just starting to put their make-up on. In amongst all this you also had the resurgence of the mods, 2-Tone and the ‘New Wave of British Heavy Metal’ along with old favourites such as country music and Abba all hitting the higher echelons of the singles chart!

Classic singles from 1980 include

• Blondie - The Tide Is High, Call Me and Atomic
• David Bowie - Ashes To Ashes
• Abba - The Winner Takes It All
• Madness - Baggy Trousers, oh and My Girl
• Bob Marley & The Wailers - Could You Be Loved

All of these tracks still receive regular radio airplay 38 years later. Can you say that about a lot of years? I think not!

There were a few classic albums in 1980, but not that many. They include AC/DC’s Back in Black, The Game by Queen and Peter Gabriel 3, beyond that there wasn’t much of note

1987

This was initially a difficult choice as at first, the singles didn’t jump out at me as being from 1987, once the penny dropped though I realised what a phenomenal year it was. All these singles were released in ’87 and all have received continuous air play since:

• Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody along with So Emotional
• George Harrison - Got My Mind Set On You
• George Michael & Aretha Franklin - I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)
• Heart - Alone
• George Michael - Faith
• U2 - With Or Without You
• New Order - True Faith
• Alexander O'Neal - Criticise
• The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale Of New York
• Whitesnake - Here I Go Again

Add to that classic albums such as Paul Simon’s “Graceland”, Michael Jackson’s “Bad”, “Whitney” by Whitney and how can you forget, U2’s classic - “The Joshua Tree”. What a year!!

1995    

The year that Brit Pop was in full swing. Blur and Oasis went head-to-head in the singles chart, Blur won the battle, Oasis won the war! Portishead spearheaded the Bristol sound, Alanis Morrisette release Jagged Little Pill, Richey Edwards of the Manic Street Preachers went missing, Robbie Williams left Take That and The Beatles release Anthology. Nuff said really !!!

So What Year Is Music’s Golden Year?

I was seriously struggling with this one. Yes, David Hepworth has a point about 1971, it probably is the best year in album terms. Best ‘singles’ year for me (and its probably reflective of my school days) would have to be 1980 purely for it’s diversity in genres. 

Overall though, the year I’d say was the best, whose singles and albums have the greatest longevity and airplay would have to be 1987 – for me, the classic year in pop and rock history. Lets not forget either, one of the greatest pop songs ever - Rick Astley’s Never Gonna Give You Up came out in 87 – What more can you ask for !!!

But that's just my opinion. I'm sure yours will be totally different!!