Photo: Celebrating 50 Years of Janis || By Chris Morgan | Do you remember the music of 1971? If you were around then, you probably do. However, if you’ve spent any time listening to classic rock or oldies radio you also have likely heard some albums from that year. Or, these days, listening to classic rock on Spotify or something like that. It’s been 50 years since the music of 1971 was released. Some of it has stood the test of time as classics of the era. Others were popular then, but have fallen by the wayside and deserve to be remembered. What are the top albums of 1971 to celebrate 50 years later? Here are our picks.
“Pearl”
Janis Joplin burned brightly but burned out fast. One of the many famed musicians to die at the age of 27, “Pearl” was only her second solo album. It was also released posthumously, as Joplin, whose nickname was Pearl, had already passed away.
“Tapestry”
Carole King was a successful songwriter before her own career took off. However, take off it did. “Tapestry” is a classic singer-songwriter album featuring many a hit, including “I Feel the Earth Move,” “Beautiful,” and “You Got a Friend.” It’s full of hits, making “Tapestry” a true standout.
“Sticky Fingers”
The Rolling Stones released an album, so of course, we have to include it. “Sticky Fingers” has a famed cover, and also some equally-famous songs. There’s “Dead Flowers,” “Wild Horses,” and the biggest hit off of “Sticky Fingers,” “Brown Sugar.”
“Ram”
The Stones were still going strong in 1971, but by then the Beatles had broken up and were off doing their own things. That includes Paul McCartney and his wife and collaborator Linda. The duo put together “Ram,” Paul’s second album after the end of the Beatles, which had some experimentation and as a result was a bit divisive. Some people love “Ram,” but others are cooler on it. Maybe listen for yourself.
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