Music: What is Your Favorite Year in Music?

[Say Hey Kid]

1972:

1. Exile On Main Street - The Rolling Stones
2. Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars - David Bowie
3. Talking Book - Stevie Wonder
4. Machine Head - Deep Purple
5. Harvest - Neil Young

1	Superstition	Stevie Wonder
2	Papa Was A Rollin' Stone	Temptations
3	Smoke On The Water	Deep Purple
4	Lean On Me	Bill Withers
5	Heart Of Gold	Neil Young
6	Walk On The Wild Side	Lou Reed
7	You Are The Sunshine Of My Life	Stevie Wonder

8. Tumbling Dice - Stones
9. Ziggy Stardust - Bowie
10. Starman - Bowie

Click to read more...

 

[Roo Returns]

I think 1991 specifically September 24th, 1991 was the most important day in music. And that year was already on a crazy trajectory before.

Really any year from 1971-1973, 1984, 1986, 1989, 1990 you can make an argument for.

 

[Say Hey Kid]

I think 1991 specifically September 24th, 1991 was the most important day in music.

• Nevermind: By Nirvana
• Blood Sugar Sex Magik: By Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Trompe le Monde: By Pixies
• The Low End Theory: By A Tribe Called Quest
• Screamadelica: By Primal Scream
• Hymns to the Silence: By Van Morrison
• Check The Rhime: By TribeCalledQuest

And that year was already on a crazy trajectory before.

1. Nevermind - Nirvana
2. Ten - Pearl Jam
3. Achtung Baby - U2
4. Metallica (a.k.a. The Black Album) - Metallica
5. Blood Sugar Sex Magik - Red Hot Chili Peppers
6. The Low End Theory - A Tribe Called Quest
7. Out of Time - R.E.M.
8. Use Your Illusion I - Guns N' Roses

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

1994

Superunknown
Downward Spiral
Dookie
Ill Communication
Illmatic
Ready to Die
Vitalogy
Blue Album
Smash
Purple
Far Beyond Driven
Crazy Sexy Cool
Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik
Throwing Copper
Sixteen Stone
Korn self titled

 

[Roo Returns]

1994

Superunknown
Downward Spiral
Dookie
Ill Communication
Illmatic
Ready to Die
Vitalogy
Blue Album
Smash
Purple
Far Beyond Driven
Crazy Sexy Cool
Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik
Throwing Copper
Sixteen Stone
Korn self titled

Parklife by Blur, Grace by Jeff Buckley, Awake by Dream Theater, Definitely Maybe by Oasis, and the underground classic The Sun Rises In The East by Jeru The Damaja should be in here too.

I'm missing a couple (if only I had more time).

Also let's not forget the most underrated "big" concert of a generation Woodstock 94, was up there with the original, No Nukes, Live Aid, Farm Aid, etc. It's actually my favorite concert ever, the only unfortunate part is none of the Seattle Big Four played (which is crazy if you think about it), and John Frusciante was still on sabbatical 1.0.

1994 was a changing of the guard in some ways that would influence the decade until like 1997. Brit Pop, Punk goes mainstream, and East Coast rap got back in it big. Green Day sort of replaced Nirvana as the big alternative trio band. The very infancy of the internet and hipsters/indie rock (I'm aware it was always around in the 70s-80s as underground, scene, or college rock. This was the beginning of the textbook hipster you'd see rocking to both Pavement and Massive Attack).

 

[the squared circle]

1984, followed by 1983

 

[Hippasus]

I think 1991.

Darkthrone: Soulside Journey
Rotting Christ: Passage to Arcturo
Autopsy: Mental Funeral
Massacra: Enjoy the Violence
Immolation: Dawn of Possession
Suffocation: Effigy of the Forgotten
Grave: Into the Grave
Talk Talk: Laughing Stock
Bolt Thrower: War Master
Profanatica: Live at G. Williker's
Therion: Of Darkness....
Samael: Worship Him
Nirvana: Nevermind
Napalm Death: Mass Appeal Madness
Slint: Spiderland
Type O Negative: Slow, Deep, and Hard
Mortician: Mortal Massacre
R.E.M.: Out of Time
Thorns: Grymyrk
Burzum: Demo I and Demo II
Immortal: Immortal
Earth: Extra-Capsular Extraction
Massive Attack: Blue Lines

I know I'm missing some, but I think this year was pivotal. So many top 40 singles that were awesome too. I don't know where to start.

 

[Hockey Outsider]

1971 for me:

• Black Sabbath - Master of Reality
• Caravan - In The Land of Grey & Pink
• Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Tarkus
• Focus - Focus II (Moving Waves)
• Gentle Giant - Acquiring the Taste
• Jethro Tull - Aqualung
• King Crimson - Islands
• Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV
• Pink Floyd - Meddle
• The Doors - LA Woman
• The Who - Who's Next
• Wishbone Ash - Pilgrimage
• Yes - Fragile
• Yes - The Yes Album

 

[frisco]

1981 was a huge sweet spot for me:

Paradise Theatre-Styx
Moving Pictures-Rush
Working Class Dog-Rick Springfield
Captured-Journey
Don't Say No-Billy Squier
Of Skins And Heart-The Church
Fair Warning-Van Halen
Mistaken Identity-Kim Carnes
The Baron-Johnny Cash
Duran Duran-Duran Duran
Kim Wilde-Kim Wilde
Some Days Are Diamonds-John Denver
The One That You Love-Air Supply
4-Foreigner
High n' Dry-Def Leppard
Beauty And The Beat-Go-Go's
Escape-Journey
Bella Donna-Stevie Nicks
Precious Time-Pat Benatar
October-U2
The Innocent Age-Dan Fogelberg
Songs In The Attic-Billy Joel
You Could Have Been With Me-Sheena Easton
Wanna Be A Star-Chilliwack
Private Eyes-Hall And Oates
Speak And Spell-Depeche Mode
Ghost In The Machine-The Police
Underneath The Colors-INXS
Freeze Frame-J.Geils Band
Best Of Blondie-Blondie
Living Eyes-The Bee Gees
Greatest Hits-Queen
Shake It Up-The Cars
Tonight I'm Yours-Rod Stewart
Movement-New Order
Too Fast For Love-Motley Crue
I Love Rock And Roll-Joan Jett And The Blackhearts
The Visitors-Abba

My Best-Carey

 

[Say Hey Kid]

1971 for me: ...

Six of my top nine 1971 albums you didn't list:

What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
Blue - Joni Mitchell
There's A Riot Goin' On - Sly and The Family Stone
Tapestry - Carole King
Sticky Fingers - The Rolling Stones
At Fillmore East - The Allman Brothers Band

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

1981 was a huge sweet spot for me:

Paradise Theatre-Styx
Moving Pictures-Rush
Working Class Dog-Rick Springfield
Captured-Journey
Don't Say No-Billy Squier
Of Skins And Heart-The Church
Fair Warning-Van Halen
Mistaken Identity-Kim Carnes
The Baron-Johnny Cash
Duran Duran-Duran Duran
Kim Wilde-Kim Wilde
Some Days Are Diamonds-John Denver
The One That You Love-Air Supply
4-Foreigner
High n' Dry-Def Leppard
Beauty And The Beat-Go-Go's
Escape-Journey
Bella Donna-Stevie Nicks
Precious Time-Pat Benatar
October-U2
The Innocent Age-Dan Fogelberg
Songs In The Attic-Billy Joel
You Could Have Been With Me-Sheena Easton
Wanna Be A Star-Chilliwack
Private Eyes-Hall And Oates
Speak And Spell-Depeche Mode
Ghost In The Machine-The Police
Underneath The Colors-INXS
Freeze Frame-J.Geils Band
Best Of Blondie-Blondie
Living Eyes-The Bee Gees
Greatest Hits-Queen
Shake It Up-The Cars
Tonight I'm Yours-Rod Stewart
Movement-New Order
Too Fast For Love-Motley Crue
I Love Rock And Roll-Joan Jett And The Blackhearts
The Visitors-Abba

My Best-Carey

Without having thought to hard about it, I've always thought of 1981 as my sweet spot, too.

I'd add:

Face Value - Phil Collins
Street Songs - Rick James
Time - ELO
Hard Promises - Tom Petty & Heartbreakers
Diary of a Madman - Ozzy Osbourne

 

[Unholy Diver]

1980 would be among the top picks for me

Heaven and Hell - Black Sabbath
British Steel - Judas Priest
Ace of Spades - Motorhead
Back in Black - AC/DC
Blizzard of Ozz - Ozzy
Women and Children First - Van Halen
Permanent Waves - Rush
Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School - Warren Zevon
Back on the Streets - Donnie Iris
The Game - Queen
The River - Bruce Springsteen

 

[PANARIN BREAD FAN]

too many years for me to narrow down for a variety of reasons so i'll just put down 1983 as the last year that left me a lasting impression.

dio-holy diver
metallica-kill em all
madonna-madonna
u2-war
thin lizzy-thunder and lightning
zz top-eliminator
quiet riot-metal health
david bowie-let's dance
iron maiden-piece of mind
stevie nicks-the wild heart
police-synchronicity
queensryche-ep
ratt-ep & out of the cellar
motley crue-shout at the devil
rolling stones-undercover of the night
billy idol-rebel yell
ozzy-bark at the moon

 

[I am not exposed]

Probably 1980 or 1983.

 

[Hippasus]

As a follow-up to my post on 1991 (post 7), I want to share a link showing the top 100 singles of that year.

Top 100 Hits of 1991/Top 100 Songs of 1991 | Music Outfitters

www.musicoutfitters.com

Some highlights:

Bryan Adams: "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You"
C+C Music Factory: "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)"
Extreme: "More Than Words"
Mariah Carey: "Emotions"
Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch (featuring Loleatta Holloway): "Good Vibrations"
Naughty By Nature: "O.P.P."
E.M.F.: "Unbelievable"
Vanilla Ice: "Play That Funky Music"
R.E.M.: "Losing My Religion"
Amy Grant: "Baby, Baby"
C+C Music Factory: "Things That Make You Go Hmmmm.... "
Mariah Carey: "Someday"
Jesus Jones: "Right Here Right Now"
The KLF: "3 A.M. Eternal"
Chris Isaak: "Wicked Game"
Bette Midler: "From a Distance"
Seal: "Crazy"
R.E.M.: "Shiny Happy People"
Color Me Badd: "I Wanna Sex You Up"
Roxette: "Joyride"

Lots of good R&B, dance music, and ballads.

 

[I am not exposed]

As a follow-up to my post on 1991 (post 7), I want to share a link showing the top 100 singles of that year.

Top 100 Hits of 1991/Top 100 Songs of 1991 | Music Outfitters

www.musicoutfitters.com

Some highlights:

Bryan Adams: "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You"
C+C Music Factory: "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)"
Extreme: "More Than Words"
Mariah Carey: "Emotions"
Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch (featuring Loleatta Holloway): "Good Vibrations"
Naughty By Nature: "O.P.P."
E.M.F.: "Unbelievable"
Vanilla Ice: "Play That Funky Music"
R.E.M.: "Losing My Religion"
Amy Grant: "Baby, Baby"
C+C Music Factory: "Things That Make You Go Hmmmm.... "
Mariah Carey: "Someday"
Jesus Jones: "Right Here Right Now"
The KLF: "3 A.M. Eternal"
Chris Isaak: "Wicked Game"
Bette Midler: "From a Distance"
Seal: "Crazy"
R.E.M.: "Shiny Happy People"
Color Me Badd: "I Wanna Sex You Up"
Roxette: "Joyride"

Lots of good R&B, dance music, and ballads.

That's a list to make you not choose 91. Good God some absolutely shite in that list.

 

[PANARIN BREAD FAN]

at least 90% of those 1991 top 100 hits i heard from my numerous visits to strip clubs. although i don't have any of those songs in my mp3 player i don't mind bugging out to these bops whenever i'm at one of the clubs:

Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) - C+C Music Factory
Someday - Mariah Carey
Good Vibrations - Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch Featuring Loleatta Holloway
Emotions - Mariah Carey
Hold You Tight - Tara Kemp
Touch Me (All Night Long) - Cathy Dennis
It Ain't Over Til It's Over - Lenny Kravitz
Sadeness, Pt. 1 - Enigma
Groove Is In the Heart - Deee-Lite

 

[Hippasus]

That's a list to make you not choose 91. Good God some absolutely shite in that list.

So I'm guessing you're not a fan of "Beauty and the Beast" by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson, or "Save the Best for Last" by Vanessa Williams either? I think those came out in 1992.

Anyways, yeah, I know, this stuff is polar opposite of my list from post 7, but the singles are largely based on a sentimental factor. M.C. Hammer, Vanilla Ice, C+C Music Factory, and Right Said Fred are what got me into music in the first place. I used to listen to Casey Kasem's top 40 on the radio religiously. I love beat music to this day.

 

[Babe Ruth]

1. Nevermind - Nirvana
2. Ten - Pearl Jam
3. Achtung Baby - U2
4. Metallica (a.k.a. The Black Album) - Metallica
5. Blood Sugar Sex Magik - Red Hot Chili Peppers
6. The Low End Theory - A Tribe Called Quest
7. Out of Time - R.E.M.
8. Use Your Illusion I - Guns N' Roses

yup.. and a couple weeks after 'Nevermind' dropped, Soundgarden released 'Badmotorfinger' which was also a big deal for the trending Washington state bands.

Fall of '91 thru fall '92 was good times for Gen X music. If I remember right, Rollins Band 'End of Silence' and Ween 'Pure Guava' were also released in that window. I still have love for both.

 

[kihei]

Easily 1967

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band---The Beatles
Are You Experienced? ---Jimi Hendrix
Velvet Underground with Nico
Something Else---The Kinks
After Bathing at Baxter's--Jefferson Airplane
The Songs of Leonard Cohen
Magical Mystery Tour ---The Beatles
Smiley Smile---The Beach Boys
Disraeli Gears ---Cream
The Doors
Goodbye and Hello---Tim Buckley
Days of Future Past---The Moody Blues
Mellow Yellow---Donovan
Big Brother and the Holding Company
Between the Buttons---The Rolling Stones
And greatest hits packages by The Supremes, The Four Tops and Dionne Warwick

 

[Speyer]

I think 1991 specifically September 24th, 1991 was the most important day in music. And that year was already on a crazy trajectory before.

Really any year from 1971-1973, 1984, 1986, 1989, 1990 you can make an argument for.

More like 1791. Both Mozart and Haydn dropped multiple new Operas and Concerts. Then when the great Master dies Music really turns to shit and hasn't recovered since.

 

[Say Hey Kid]

Easily 1967 ...

@kihei I wish you had heard of these albums:

Kind of Blue/Miles Davis, Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music/Ray Charles, Live at the Apollo/James Brown, A Love Supreme/John Coltrane, I Never Loved a Man the way I Love You/Aretha

 

[Say Hey Kid]

Easily 1967 ...

1	Respect	Aretha Franklin
2	Light My Fire	Doors
3	Sunshine Of Your Love	Cream
4	Purple Haze	Jimi Hendrix
5	A Day In The Life	Beatles
6	A Whiter Shade Of Pale	Procol Harum
7	Somebody To Love	Jefferson Airplane
8	Soul Man	Sam & Dave

 

[Teemu]

It might not necessarily be the best--those years already get plenty of love--but my favorite might be 2010. The Suburbs, The Age of Adz, High Violet, Plastic Beach, This Is Happening, Brothers, Sleigh Bells' Treats. Deep year.

 

[Pranzo Oltranzista]

Easily 1967

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band---The Beatles
Are You Experienced? ---Jimi Hendrix
Velvet Underground with Nico
Something Else---The Kinks
After Bathing at Baxter's--Jefferson Airplane
The Songs of Leonard Cohen
Magical Mystery Tour ---The Beatles
Smiley Smile---The Beach Boys
Disraeli Gears ---Cream
The Doors
Goodbye and Hello---Tim Buckley
Days of Future Past---The Moody Blues
Mellow Yellow---Donovan
Big Brother and the Holding Company
Between the Buttons---The Rolling Stones
And greatest hits packages by The Supremes, The Four Tops and Dionne Warwick

I prefer '68!

George Harrison – Wonderwall Music​

The Beatles – The Beatles (The White Album)​

Harry Nilsson – Aerial Ballet​

The Peter Brötzmann Octet – Machine Gun​

The Jazz Composer's Orchestra – The Jazz Composer's Orchestra​

The Turtles – The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands​

The Pretty Things – S.F. Sorrow​

John Coltrane – Om / John Coltrane & Alice Coltrane – Cosmic Music​

The United States of America – The United States of America​

Otis Redding – The Immortal Otis Redding / Otis Redding – The Dock of the Bay​

Serge Gainsbourg – Initials B.B.​

Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band – Strictly Personal​

The Kinks – The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society​

The Velvet Underground - White Light / White Heat​

The Amboy Dukes – Journey to the Center of the Mind​

Blue Cheer – Vincebus Eruptum / Blue Cheer – Outsideinside​

The Zombies – Odessey and Oracle​

The Holy Modal Rounders – The Moray Eels Eat The Holy Modal Rounders​

Frank Vincent Zappa – Lumpy Gravy (I put this one apart from the Mothers' albums, because even though they're good and funny, they really are far away from Lumpy Gravy)​

The Beach Boys – Friends​

@kihei I wish you had heard of these albums:

Kind of Blue/Miles Davis, Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music/Ray Charles, Live at the Apollo/James Brown, A Love Supreme/John Coltrane, I Never Loved a Man the way I Love You/Aretha

You're new around here?