Hey, let’s talk music!
Today’s Question is simple: in the year you were born, many albums were released. I know that you were too young to know what was going on with music in that year, but years later, I am sure you became cognizant of music released the year you were born. So, what is your favorite one?
I was born in 1971. That year was a bit of a killer one for music, if you ask me. Yes, for instance, released two excellent albums, The Yes Album and Fragile. The Rolling Stones released Sticky Fingers. None of those are my choices! Pink Floyd released Meddle, which has “San Tropez” on it, but it’s also not my choice! John Lennon released Imagine, but I’m not the biggest Lennon fan. Johnny Cash put out Man in Black, but that’s also not my choice! I narrowed it down to three:
The Who released Who’s Next, which is almost a perfect album. I would probably lose “Going Mobile,” but it’s not a deal-breaker. Look at this line-up: “Baba O’Riley,” “Bargain,” “Love Ain’t For Keeping,” “My Wife,” “The Song Is Over,” “Getting in Tune,” “Going Mobile,” “Behind Blue Eyes,” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” Dang, that’s an album. But … it’s not my favorite.
Led Zeppelin released their fourth album, the enigmatic “Zoso” or IV or whatever. This is also almost a perfect album: “Black Dog,” “Rock and Roll,” “The Battle of Evermore,” “Stairway to Heaven,” “Misty Mountain Hop,” “Four Sticks,” “Going to California,” and “When the Levee Breaks.” Jeebus, that’s a powerhouse group of tunes … but it’s not my favorite!
My favorite album from 1971 is Nursery Cryme by Genesis. It’s tough, because I think the previous two might have more songs that are better, but the highs on Nursery Cryme, to me, are higher. “The Return of the Giant Hogweed” and “The Fountain of Salmacis” are good songs, but maybe not super-classics. “Harold the Barrel” is one of the goofier songs you’ll hear from a serious rock band, but it’s fun as all heck. “Seven Stones” and “Harlequin” are terrific songs, and “For Absent Friends” is a sweet song that features Collins on vocals. The first track, however, “The Musical Box,” is magnificent, perhaps the best Genesis song, and is sets the tone so well for the album. It’s followed by “For Absent Friends,” which works very well, and then “The Return of the Giant Hogweed,” “Seven Stones,” “Harold the Barrel,” “Harlequin,” and “The Fountain of Salmacis,” which is a good way to present the album. I love this album, and it nudges out the other two by a hair.
So that’s my choice. What’s your favorite album from the year you were born? Shout them out!
My favorite album of 1963 is Surfin’USA / The Beach Boys. They also had another album that year but this one has better songs (SurfinÚSA and Misirlou)
Not a bad choice at all!
1970
I would have to go with Led Zeppelin III, just for Immigrant Song which is pretty awesome.
Black Sabbath’s debut album would be a close second.
I definitely would go with Zep III for that year. That album rocks!
You beat me to it, Greg! Off the top of my head, it’d be either this or something like The Yes Album unless Bowie released something in ’71. So much to pick from: all your choices are worthy ones, as are Erik’s and conrad’s.
Nursery Cryme, the debut of the classic Gabriel, Banks, Rutherford, Collins and Hackett combo after the latter two joined, has arguably the heaviest moments the band produced which reflects the heavy rock/metal emerging during the era from Led Zeppelin, Sabbath and Deep Purple.
The intro of …Hogweed, with Hackett’s tapping and Banks’ organ, is pure Ritchie Blackmore and Jon Lord from Purple!
I love Harold The Barrel with its music hall flavour. It proves prog bands both had a sense of humour and could do short songs.
Sorry Eric, I got your first name wrong!
Shame on you Pete 😉
When it comes to music 1971 was a very good year. Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin (stairway to heaven). Jealous. 🙂
Born in 1966, but I’m not much of an album person. I consumed music more through radio and American Bandstand, so tend to think in songs. Lot of great songs that year; but, for an album, I would have to go with The Beatles and Revolver. “Taxman, ” “Eleanore Rigby,” “Yellow Submarine,” “Good Day Sunshine,” and “Got to Get You Into My Life.” Close second would probably be The Animals Animalization.
Anyone born in the mid- to late-1960s could pick a Beatles album, and that would be a smart choice!
I was born in in 1979, I just realised how many all time classics were released that year! The shortlist would include London Calling by The Clash, The Wall by Pink Floyd, Tusk by Fleetwood Mac, and In Through the Out Door by Led Zeppelin. For me the top 2 are Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division and Fear of Music by Talking Heads. Fear of Music is one of my all time favourites so its my choice for 1979.
I mean, come on, ABBA released Voulez-Vous in 1979, so that’s clearly the choice! 🙂
While there are a lot of great albums I’m leaning towards the Beatles
it’s a toss-up between Help!
due to the title track, the Night Before, You’ve got to hide your love away, You’re gonna lose that girl, Act Naturally, Ticket to Ride and Yesterday
and Rubber Soul with Drive my car, Norwegian Wood, Nowhere Man, Michelle and In My Life
as an aside the number 1 in the UK charts on the day I was born was (appropriately) I’m Alive by the Hollies (briefly taking the top spot from Elvis Crying in the chapel). The Hollies second UK number 1 was when I was 23
You can’t go wrong with the Beatles!
Oh, man. 1968. So many good albums:
‘The White Album’ (Beatles)
Astral Weeks (Van Morrison)
Waiting for the Sun (The Doors)
Electric Ladyland (Jim Hendrix Experience)
Beggars Banquet (Rolling Stones)
Cheap Thrills (Big Brother & the Holding Company)
Dance to the Music, and Life (Sly & the Family Stone)
…and so many more, it’s hard to decide.
But I guess I’ll go with:
The Transformed Man (William Shatner)
😛
Of course it’s Shatner! 🙂
1982 has a lot of great options, but personally, I’m going with Combat Rock.
1977… Punk was in full swing, with plenty of classic releases. I narrowed it down to 2:
Television’s Marquee Moon- Tom Verlaine & Richard Lloyd delivered some of my all-time favorite off-kilter guitar music. The sprawling title track is one of favorite songs, the opening call and response of the guitars and janky soloing being highlights.
The Clash’s self-titled debut- the Sex Pistols and Ramones released 2 notable albums in ‘77, but they’re not nearly as good as this one. “Career Opportunities” is, to me, the punk song that every punk song afterwards aspired to be. Then you’ve got “White Man in Hammersmith Palais,” possibly the first ska-punk song- you can laugh, but some of us really got into that genre in the ‘90s- and an honest reflection on racism’s effect on art. I could go on…
The Clash takes it by a nose.