Why The Most Rock n’ Roll Year of the ’70s Era Is 1971

It wouldn’t be 1969 or 1977 if you had to choose one year that best represents the sound and spirit of classic rock. It would be 1971. This one year stands out as a real golden age, when the biggest stars released their best work, changing music forever. It wasn’t just a terrific year for albums; it was a year full of brave, genre-defining inventiveness.

Titans Drop Their Masterpieces

Just think about how much great music came out in 1971. Led Zeppelin released their fourth album, often called Led Zeppelin IV. It had “Stairway to Heaven,” “Black Dog,” and “Rock and Roll” on it. That alone is enough to make the deal, but the magic was just beginning. The rock scene was full of great songwriters and diverse styles. We got Carole King’s Tapestry, an intimate album that everyone liked. It showed that personal stories told via piano music could top the charts. The Rolling Stones released Sticky Fingers across the Atlantic. It had the famous zipper cover and classic songs like “Brown Sugar” and “Wild Horses.”

Rock’s Leap to Maturity

In 1971, artists found their voice and reached unprecedented levels of complexity, even beyond the titans. The Who made the huge, amazing concept album Who’s Next. David Bowie wasn’t the Ziggy Stardust we know yet, but his album Hunky Dory was a big step toward that. Pink Floyd’s Meddle made their progressive sound even stronger, and Joni Mitchell’s Blue was heartbreakingly honest.

The year 1971 is important because it marked the start of rock and roll’s actual ambition. It went from the psychedelic whimsy of the 1960s to the mature, stadium-filling sound of the 1970s. It was a perfect storm of creativity that made every prominent artist feel like they had to do their finest work. The year’s music was both huge and dependably great, from Elton John’s “Madman Across the Water” to Marvin Gaye’s politically charged classic “What’s Going On.”

So, the next time you make a list of iconic rock songs that are must-haves, just look at the release dates. Most of your greatest, high-energy, timeless tunes probably came from the amazing year of 1971. It wasn’t simply a year; it was the time when the genre took flight.

Here’s the 100 Greatest Songs From 1971, along with the artist:

1. Stairway To Heaven – Led Zeppelin
2. Imagine – John Lennon
3. What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye
4. Let’s Stay Together – Al Green
5. Maggie May – Rod Stewart
6. American Pie – Don McLean
7. Won’t Get Fooled Again – The Who
8. Brown Sugar – Rolling Stones
9. Just My Imagination – Temptations
10. Family Affair – Sly and the Family Stone
11. Theme From “Shaft” – Isaac Hayes
12. Me And Bobby McGee – Janis Joplin
13. Baba O’Riley – The Who
14. It’s Too Late – Carole King
15. Riders On The Storm – Doors
16. Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers
17. Rock And Roll – Led Zeppelin
18. Changes – David Bowie
19. Black Dog – Led Zeppelin
20. Tired Of Being Alone – Al Green
21. Mercy Mercy Me – Marvin Gaye
22. Bang A Gong (Get It On) – T. Rex
23. Roundabout – Yes
24. Aqualung – Jethro Tull
25. Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress) – Hollies
26. Have You Seen Her – Chi-Lites
27. Tiny Dancer – Elton John
28. Respect Yourself – Staple Singers
29. Without You – Nilsson
30. Smiling Faces Sometimes – Undisputed Truth
31. Behind Blue Eyes – The Who
32. LA Woman – Doors
33. Mr. Big Stuff – Jean Knight
34. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) – Marvin Gaye
35. A Horse With No Name – America
36. Locomotive Breath – Jethro Tull
37. Rock Steady – Aretha Franklin
38. Wild Horses – Rolling Stones
39. Life On Mars? – David Bowie
40. Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver
41. Vincent – Don McLean
42. You’ve Got A Friend – James Taylor
43. Happy Xmas (War Is Over) – John & Yoko & The Plastic Ono Band
44. Slipping into Darkness – War
45. Superstar – Carpenters
46. Clean Up Woman – Betty Wright
47. Betcha By Golly Wow – Stylistics
48. Hocus Pocus – Focus
49. Morning Has Broken – Cat Stevens
50. I Feel The Earth Move – Carole King
51. You Are Everything – Stylistics
52. Love Her Madly – Doors
53. It Don’t Come Easy – Ringo Starr
54. Stay With Me – Faces
55. Jealous Guy – John Lennon
56. Never Can Say Goodbye – Jackson 5
57. Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get – Dramatics
58. When The Levee Breaks – Led Zeppelin
59. If – Bread
60. Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey – Paul & Linda McCartney
61. Maggot Brain – Funkadelic
62. How Can You Mend A Broken Heart – Bee Gees
63. Can’t You Hear Me Knocking – Rolling Stones
64. Sylvia’s Mother – Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show
65. Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves – Cher
66. Thin Line Between Love And Hate – Persuaders
67. I’ve Seen All Good People – Yes
68. I Am, I Said – Neil Diamond
69. Got To Be There – Michael Jackson
70. Rainy Days and Mondays – Carpenters
71. Peace Train – Cat Stevens
72. Case Of You – Joni Mitchell
73. I Gotcha – Joe Tex
74. Spanish Harlem – Aretha Franklin
75. Mercedes Benz – Janis Joplin
76. Day After Day – Badfinger
77. Wild Night – Van Morrison
78. Hot Pants – James Brown
79. Jeepster – T. Rex
80. If You Really Love Me – Stevie Wonder
81. Another Day – Paul McCartney
82. In the Rain – Dramatics
83. Brand New Key – Melanie
84. Indian Reservation – Raiders
85. Want Ads – Honey Cone
86. Coat Of Many Colors – Dolly Parton
87. I’d Love To Change The World – Ten Years After
88. She’s A Lady – Tom Jones
89. Treat Her Like A Lady – Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
90. So Far Away – Carole King
91. Grandma’s Hands – Bill Withers
92. Baby Blue – Badfinger
93. Baby I’m-a Want You – Bread
94. The Revolution Will Not Be Televised – Gil Scott-Heron
95. Echoes – Pink Floyd
96. Drowning In The Sea Of Love – Joe Simon
97. Famous Blue Raincoat – Leonard Cohen
98. Sweet City Woman – Stampeders
99. Never Been To Spain – Three Dog Night
100. Bridge Over Troubled Water – Aretha Franklin