A History of Pop Music – Albums 1971

Featured Album:

T-Rex – Electric Warrior

This is a series of articles looking at albums from 1960 to whatever year we end up in.

I will select a featured album for each year and the link for the whole album, Plus list the songs on it.

As before, it is not just about the songs and tunes, it is very much about memories, and good ones, I hope.

Not everyone will like my choices of course, and you may remember some from each particular year that you feel should have been included, so do please post a link to the song.

Not sure if this article will be published Friday 25th Christmas day, we may be blessed with a Wankpuffin special!

I hope you all have as happy a Christmas as possible, or did have, depending upon when this is published.  I would wish you a happy new year as well, but let’s face it, it will be as crappy as 2020, so chin up and make the best of it as you can.

In 1971 I remember decimalisation day; I expect to get used to it eventually.  I still remember being at school and doing maffs in pounds, shillings, and pence.  I would be leaving school on my 16th birthday the following year.  Only other thing I remember is Harvey Smith giving the V sign to judges, that was in the news for ages.  Bloody legend that bloke!

Electric Warrior is a 1971 album by Marc Bolan’s band T. Rex, their sixth since their debut as Tyrannosaurus Rex in 1968, and their second under the name T. Rex. For me this was the start of Glam Rock!

Track listing

All tracks are written by Marc Bolan.

Side A
No. Title Length
1. “Mambo Sun” 3:40
2. “Cosmic Dancer” 4:30
3. Jeepster 4:12
4. “Monolith” 3:49
5. “Lean Woman Blues” 3:02
Total length: 18:33
Side B
No. Title Length
1. Get It On 4:27
2. “Planet Queen” 3:13
3. “Girl” 2:32
4. “The Motivator” 4:00
5. “Life’s a Gas” 2:24
6. “Rip Off” 3:40
Total length: 19:36

More writings on this album here:  Electric Warrior

So, on we go with 1971.

The Top 10 Albums with a YouTube hyperlink on the title:

Top Tip: Right-click and open in new tab

Top Albums of 1971
   1 Simon and Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water
   2 Rod Stewart Every Picture Tells A Story
   3 The Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers
   4 T.Rex Electric Warrior
   5 Various Artists Motown Chartbusters Volume 5
   6 James Taylor Mud Slide Slim And The Blue Horizon
   7 The Moody Blues Every Good Boy Deserves Favour
   8 Andy Williams Andy Williams Greatest Hits
   9 Paul and Linda McCartney Ram
   10 Carole King Tapestry

Simon & Garfunkel still topping the charts.  So easy to have picked Rod Stewart or The Rolling Stones, Moody Blues or Carole King.  Everyone a gem.  I just wanted a bit of Glam Rock to bring back happy memories.  Another Motown chartbusters album, some classics on this one.

In my view the best albums of the year, after the featured one and a few others are:

Gilbert O’Sullivan  – Himself – I have always been a big fan.  He is still going strong.

Faces – A Nod Is As Good As a Wink… to a Blind Horse – Includes “Stay with Me”

David Bowie   Hunky Dory – Changes, pretty Things, classic Bowie, always worth a listen.

Colin Blunstone  – One Year – I like it.

Badfinger  – Straight Up – Most excellent.

The Kinks – Muswell Hillbillies – Awesome stuff.

Elton John – Madman Across The Water – He may be a bit ghey, but top singer/songwriter

Harry Nilsson – Nilsson Schmilsson – I had not played much of his stuff for a long time.  He really is good.

Scoring:

As you know I like to review your “tunes” that you post.  In previous weeks there have been some awesome selections.

*Note. Anyone scoring a Morrissey (lowest score possible) will be reported and blocked.

Hat tips to:

https://www.albumoftheyear.org/ratings/8-all-music-highest-rated/1971/1  these give the top 100 selling charts for each year

http://www.everyhit.com/chart1.html   these give the top 10 songs for each year

https://www.youtube.com/  you know them.

Next Time: 1972.
 

© Phil the ex test manager 2020