The Most Influential Albums Of 1971: A Year That Changed Music Forever

The year 1971 was a 12-month period where everything seemed to come together musically. The world was ready to shake off the 60s and move forward into an uncertain future. This sense of possibility, both good and bad, hangs over the best albums of that year. The biggest acts of the 60s were trying new things, and plenty of new voices were emerging to challenge what had come before. Motown stars were taking big chances. Brazilian musicians were seeing what came after Tropicália. Beatles were going solo. It was a year in which a list of the 50 most influential 1971 albums still doesn’t feel like it begins to scratch the surface. So, take this list as a beginning, an invitation to explore a year that changed music forever.

Explore the best albums of 1971 on vinyl.

Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On

An album so revered that Rolling Stone recently named it the best album ever made, Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On is a searing and important record that has transcended time.

The Beach Boys – Surf’s Up

Surf’s Up saw The Beach Boys celebrating the natural world and warning of the dangers posed to it by encroaching industrialization in 1971. The album’s message only gets more powerful every year that passes.

Leon Russell – Leon Russell and the Shelter People

“The Ballad of Mad Dogs and Englishmen” was the standout track from Leon Russell and the Shelter People that promised an eventual commercial breakthrough.

Booker T & The M.G.’s – Melting Pot

One of the funkiest bands to ever record, Booker T. & the M.G.’s Melting Pot may be one of their funkiest albums ever in 1971.

Fania All Stars – Live at The Cheetah, Vol. 1

Live at the Cheetah, Vol. 1 wasn’t only an audio document of the most talented Latin music players of the era, it also served as the film set of the iconic Our Latin Thing, one of the best music documentaries ever.

David Bowie – Hunky Dory

Featuring “Changes” and “Life on Mars?,” Hunky Dory served as an incredible prelude to Bowie’s transformation into Ziggy Stardust.

Miles Davis – Live-Evil

A wild, expansive vision of where jazz might head, Live-Evil saw Miles Davis taking things to a very dark place.

Rory Gallagher – Deuce

Irish blues-rock guitar virtuoso Rory Gallagher went for a raw feel on Deuce, and the decision paid off handsomely, with rollicking numbers like “I’m Not Awake Yet.”

Jethro Tull – Aqualung

Opening with one of 1971’s most iconic riffs, Jethro Tull’s Aqualung was a flute-featuring prog rock album that heavily featured religious themes.

Funkadelic – Maggot Brain

Featuring Eddie Hazel’s monumental guitar solo, Maggot Brain was a crowning achievement for George Clinton’s groundbreaking group.

Edú Lobo – Sergio Mendes Presents Lobo

Any fan of offbeat jazz will find a lot to love in this Brazilian gem, which sees Edú Lobo at his most playful.

Richie “Richie” Ray & Bobby Cruz – El Bestial Sonido de Ricardo Ray y Bobby Cruz

The title track is one of salsa’s best-loved tunes, while the rest of El Bestial Sonido de Ricardo Ray y Bobby Cruz showcases just how great (and versatile) of a pianist Richie Ray truly was.

Genesis – Nursery Cryme

The first Genesis album to include Phil Collins and Steve Hackett, Nursery Cryme was the beginning of a new era for the group.

Gal Costa Fa-Tal – Gal A Todo Vapor

With nowhere to hide on this live album, Gal Costa reaffirmed her incredible, unique talents throughout its 19 songs.

John Lennon – Imagine

As if the title track weren’t enough, Imagine also includes the unforgettable “Jealous Guy.”

Alice Coltrane – Journey in Satchidananda

The spiritual journey of jazz harpist Alice Coltrane was brought into full view with Journey in Satchidananda.

Isaac Hayes – Theme From Shaft

One of the greatest soundtracks ever put together, Shaft sees Isaac Hayes at the height of his powers.

Erasmo Carlos – Carlos, ERASMO…

This is one of the most personal albums from the hugely popular Brazilian artist, full of beautiful groovy music that transcends language.

Yes – Fragile

Fragile marked the arrival of Rick Wakeman into Yes, and accordingly found them stretching their sound into more synthetic territories.

The Rolling Stones – Sticky Fingers

In a career full of great albums, Sticky Fingers may be among The Rolling Stones’ finest, with songs like “Wild Horses” and “Brown Sugar.”

George Harrison – The Concert for Bangladesh

The star-studded concert was a humanitarian effort, held in Madison Square Garden. The album meant the rare chance to hear Bob Dylan, Ravi Shankar, Ringo Starr, and more share a stage.

Traffic – The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys

The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys saw the inimitable English group stretching out for lengthy jams with often surprising detours.

Black Sabbath – Master of Reality

Many point to the foundational influence of Master of Reality on other bands and genres, but the album is no time capsule. Its songs have lost none of their elemental power.

John Martyn – Bless the Weather

The melancholic folk troubadour returned to his solo career with this celebrated collection of songs, Bless The Weather.

Sly and the Family Stone – There’s a Riot Goin’ On

There’s a Riot Goin’ On feels just as fresh as it did the day it was released, due to its purposefully raw and experimental approach to funk.

Joni Mitchell – Blue

Joni Mitchell’s singer-songwriter masterpiece still resonates decades later, with its masterful lyrics and unexpected chords.

Weather Report – Weather Report

The debut of one of jazz fusion’s greatest groups, Weather Report still sounds a little bit like the future today.

Pharoah Sanders – Thembi

This spiritual jazz album sees Pharoah Sanders questing for illumination through music. “Astral Traveling” indeed.

Serge Gainsbourg – Histoire de Melody Nelson

Histoire de Melody Nelson clocks in at a cool 28 minutes, but it stands as Serge Gainsbourg’s finest moment, full of effortless cool and dense orchestration.

Van Der Graaf Generator – Pawn Hearts

A concept album of breathtaking scope Van Der Graaf Generator’s Pawn Hearts remains an imposing listen, even decades after its release.

Stevie Wonder – Where I’m Coming From

The album right before his classic 70s run properly began, Where I’m Coming From nonetheless has plenty of magic from Stevie Wonder.

The Allman Brothers Band – At Fillmore East

The Allman Brothers Band finally captured their unique on-stage chemistry in action with At Fillmore East, showcasing just how well the band jammed together.

James Brown – Hot Pants

The Godfather of Soul emphasized the groove on Hot Pants, with plenty of extended vamps.

El Chicano – Revolución

Part of an emerging cadre of Chicano rock bands, El Chicano’s most memorable moment on this album was the gorgeous rendering of the ballad “Sabor A Mi.”

T. Rex – Electric Warrior

Electric Warrior is a totemic masterpiece of glam rock, featuring Marc Bolan’s arrival as a bona fide rock star with “Bang a Gong (Get It On).”

Gil Scott-Heron – Pieces of a Man

“The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” is just the beginning of this fierce album that sounded like little else before it (and little else after it).

Willie Colón & Héctor Lavoe – La Gran Fuga

Among the handful of classic collaborative albums between the electrifying duo, La Gran Fuga sees Willie Colón and Héctor Lavoe at their very best.

Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin IV

With songs like “Black Dog” and “Stairway to Heaven,” Led Zeppelin IV still sounds as monumental today as it did when it was first released. It stands as the finest moment in a brilliant career from Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Bonham, and John Paul Jones.

The Who – Who’s Next

Following the success of rock opera Tommy, The Who looked to create something just as ambitious with Lifehouse. The project never materialized, but Pete Townshend and the rest of the band emerged with Who’s Next, which contained iconic songs like “Baba O’Riley” and “Behind Blue Eyes.”

The Doors – L.A. Woman

The final full-length from a sui generis band, Jim Morrison and company deeply mined the blues for inspiration. It was all capped off with their epic “Riders on the Storm.”

Carla Bley & Paul Haines – Escalator Over the Hill

One of the most ambitious albums ever recorded, let alone from 1971, this jazz opera continues to confound and delight decades after its release.

Carole King – Tapestry

Carole King was already a celebrated songwriter by the time she went solo, but the 1971 album Tapestry truly brought her talent to the masses.

Cat Stevens – Teaser and the Firecat

Teaser and the Firecat saw Cat Stevens follow up the hugely successful Tea for the Tillerman with yet another collection of delicate, indelible tunes.

Can – Tago Mago

Consciously leaving behind the influence of American rock ‘n’ roll, Can’s Tago Mago solidified the group’s standing as one of Germany’s outstanding avant-garde groups.

Eugene McDaniels – Headless Heroes Of The Apocalypse

Headless Heroes Of The Apocalypse is an underrated gem of funk and soul, full of off-kilter classics like “Supermarket Blues.”

Bob Marley and The Wailers – Soul Revolution

The third album by Bob Marley and The Wailers, Soul Revolution saw the group begin to make strides toward their eventual classic sound.

Pink Floyd – Meddle

Meddle decisively proved that Pink Floyd could go on to even greater heights without their co-founder and beloved frontman Syd Barrett.

Janis Joplin – Pearl

Released after her death in 1970, Pearl is the ideal starting point for anyone trying to understand the power and majesty of Janis Joplin.

Paul and Linda McCartney – Ram

Regarded as one of the finest post-Beatles solo albums by Paul McCartney, Ram found Paul working hand-in-hand with his wife to create a masterpiece of small delights.

Rod Stewart – Every Picture Tells A Story

Both a critical and popular smash, Rod Stewart’s Every Picture Tells A Story features the immortal “Maggie May.”

Alice Cooper – Killer

With singles like “Under My Wheels” and “Be My Lover,” Killer was another solid entry to Alice Cooper’s catalogue.

Santana – Santana III

Carlos Santana’s unique Latin rock arguably reached its peak on this 1971 album, not least because of new hotshot guitarist Neal Schon.

Harry Nilsson – Nilsson Schmilsson

With songs like “Jump Into the Fire” and “Coconut,” this was one of Harry Nilsson’s most successful albums.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Tarkus

Regarded as one of the best prog rock albums ever recorded, Tarkus has one of the most iconic album covers as well.

Deep Purple – Fireball

None other than Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich credits this 1972 album as being an inspiration for his interest in heavy music.

Elton John – Madman Across the Water

With tracks like “Tiny Dancer” and “Levon,” it’d be impossible not to include this early Elton album from 1971.

Van Morrison – Tupelo Honey

One of the most idyllic 1971 albums, Van Morrison spent most of this record singing about the beauty of Woodstock, New York, and his love for his wife at the time.

The Kinks – Muswell Hillbillies

The Kinks’ portraits of everyday life in England throughout Muswell Hillbillies feel richer and richer with each passing year.

Badfinger – Straight Up

Despite a stop-start recording process, Badfinger’s Straight Up stands as one of their finest albums.

David Crosby – If I Could Only Remember My Name

While his other band released the excellent live document 4 Way Street and Graham Nash put out Songs for Beginners, David Crosby’s If I Could Only Remember My Name remains the best-remembered 1971 album from the hugely talented Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young quartet.

Chico Buarque – Construção

Consistently voted one of the best Brazilian albums ever, Construção was a sly bit of protest released amid a repressive regime.

Learn more about this explosive year in music with the new docuseries, 1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything, an immersive series that will explore the musicians and soundtracks that shaped the culture and politics of 1971, premiering May 21 exclusively on AppleTV+.