I was super into music as a kid - born in 1969! I remember the B52s playing on SNL! I had some 45s of songs off Another Brick in the Wall (most memorably Another Brick in the Wall part 4!), and my mom bought me the Blondie on 8 track 🤣
I was looking at this recently. I had always said that 1979 was my favorite year for music, but I think I've talked myself into 1971 (which is before I was born but, still):
Joni Mitchell: Blue
Bill Withers: Just as I Am
The Who: Who’s Next
Curtis/Live!
Carole King: Tapestry
David Bowie: Hunky Dory
Harry Nilsson: Nilsson Schmilsson.
Caetano Veloso (S/T 1971)
John Prine (S/T)
Marvin Gaye: What's Going On
The Kinks: Muswell Hillbillies
Gil Scott-Heron: Pieces Of A Man
Isaac Hayes: Shaft
Laura Nyro: Gonna Take a Miracle
Janis Joplin: Pearl
(and other people mentioned The Concert for Bangladesh + Allman Brothers live at the Filmore East )
1979 was my second choice of year, but I was going with a year that had a great impact on me at the time. In retrospect, I might pick ‘79, for many of the brilliant albums you list.
My year of choice is 1981. I was 15, so serious formative year. I was also just discovering punk and new wave after being essentially a hard rock and metal teen to that point. So many great albums including:
Wow that was a great year! I’m five years younger than you so that’s a little earlier than when I was actively listening to music. But a few of those albums certainly made their way into my collection.
In terms of the 90s, I’m sure I could make a case for every year, but as I was huge into hip-hop in the early 90s, I’d probably go with 1991 as tons of iconic albums were released then. That’s not even mentioning the early grunge stuff.
Funny this thread came up the same day this appeared in my Facebook memories:
All these classic and near-classic albums have two things in common: they all came out when I was 15 (in 1979) and I still listen to all them. What a year!
Which of the records that came out when you were 15 have remained in the canon?
1. Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures
2. Michael Jackson - Off The Wall
3. PiL - Metal Box
4. David Bowie - Lodger
5. Bob Dylan - Slow Train Coming
6. Talking Heads - Fear of Music
7. Elvis Costello - Armed Forces
8. The Clash - London Calling
9. XTC - Drums & Wires
10. Buzzcocks - Singles Going Steady
11. Roxy Music - Manifesto
12. Simple Minds - Life In A Day and Real to Reel Cacophony
13. Iggy Pop - New Values
14. The Who - The Kids Are Alright
15. AC/DC - Highway To Hell
16. Funkadelic - Uncle Jam Wants You
17. Wire - 154
18. Leonard Cohen - Recent Songs
19. The Slits - Cut
20. Bob Marley & The Wailers - Survival
21. Gang Of Four - Entertainment!
22. The Specials - The Specials
23. The Raincoats - The Raincoats
24. Chic - Greatest Hits
25. Cluster - Grosses Wasser
26. Arthur Blythe - Lenox Avenue Breakdown
27. Led Zeppelin - In Through The Out Door
28. Van Halen - Van Halen II
There's probably more! Could be the start of a pretty good collection...
I’m not going to going to claim 79 was the “best year for music” but it does have a significant proportion of some of my favorite albums…as does 1980, what with Remain In Light, Scary Monsters, Uprising, Killing Joke, Back In Black, and more all coming out that year.
Great post! You pose a very interesting question, and I particularly like the way you formulated it. Obviously each person will have their own take, for a whole host of objective and subjective reasons. That's awesome: we thrive on diversity.
For me, 1974 and 1990 seem to have a particularly strong pull. Interestingly, neither year was part of my formative period (I was born in 1988, so more than a decade after 1974, and I was way too young in 1990 to even remember anything).
As you know, I'm also a big fan of early/mid-nineties trip-hop. Really enjoyed this live performance of Roads, which I don't think I'd seen.
Fabulous pics! May I ask where the first one was taken?
Thanks for reading Andres! It’s a tough question and it’s been interesting to see the answers that are coming back.
Your years of 1974 and 1990 are very interesting given when you were born. I’m assuming that’s driven by the albums you have in your vinyl collection. What are some of the standouts for you from those years?
That mid-90s trip hop is definitely a sweet spot for me too!
The first photo was taken between Ilfracombe and Woolacombe, looking backwards (east) towards Lee Bay Beach.
Cheers, Mark! I chose 1974 more or less randomly: it could have well been 1971, 1972, 1973... or the entire decade! I love the evolution of soul and blues records during those years, the celebration of the LP as the finest musical art form, and the proliferation of concept albums as we know them today. "Fulfillingness' First Finale" by Stevie Wonder and Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Second Helping" are two of my favourite records released in 1974, for example. I love the melancholy of some of the lyrics, the social commentary of some of the tunes, and the reinvention of classic sounds with an at-the-time modern twist.
As for 1990, I just love the variety of music it gave us, in all genres. Mariah's self-titled debut album, which took the dimensions of pop and R&B to the stratosphere (quite literally), Gary Moore's "Still Got the Blues", which brought electric blues to the mainstream, and George Michael's "Listen Without Prejudice", which was just spectacular (vocally, sonically, lyrically). The 90s was the decade of possibilities, and 1990 made that point quite clear. Power ballads, strong 80s beats, soaring vocals, and creativity in the studio (sampling, overdubs, folk rhythms and electro beats, all in perfect unison).
Sorry for such a long response!
Thanks for the coordinates of the first photo. Looks stunning!
The answer is surely 1971; Zeppelin IV, Who’s Next, Blue, Sticky Fingers, Hunky Dory, What’s Going On, Tapestry, Every Picture Tells a Story, Imagine, Electric Warrior ….
I’ve been recycling my pre-internet interviews for my Substack newsletter and it looks like a lot came from 1991. I don’t have an algorithm or clue. I just was - and I’m not saying ‘Nevermind’ was it - but it makes one go “🧐”
Several people have said 1991. I’ll have to dig in and see what else was going on that year. It was my second year of college and although I was listening to the popular music at the time I was much more into partying and less about the music than I am now.
Of note: 'Nevermind' and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" were released in September 1991. Ahead of that were 'Gish' (the Smashing Pumpkins debut), Metallica released 'Metallica' and Pearl Jam released their debut 'Ten.' How in the world did Cobain & Co. make it in this line-up (said no one ever... lol).
I was looking at some of the 1991 albums this morning and there certainly were some great ones, including the ones you mentioned. RHCP’s Blood Sugar Sex Magik also came out that year.
Wow 94 WAS an incredible year for music! I don’t know that I can pin down a precise year (may have to research lol), but the 90s is probably my favorite decade (maybe more specifically the first half?).
Love to see Portishead on your list again!! One of my most favorite bands.
I completely agree that War is my favorite U2 album. I think MtV had just started - New Year’s Day may have been the first song I heard by them, and it’s still solidly in my top few (if not #1).
For me that 94-98 is a pretty sweet spot for music. I’m gonna do a deeper dive on this topic next year once I’ve finished hiking and relocated to the UK. Still not quite sure how to approach it though, it’s a tough one
There was so much going on in 1979, it was tough just to keep up, especially on a college student budget:
- the B52's debut album
- London Calling by The Only Band That Matters
- The Wall, Pink Floyd
- Off the Wall by Wacko Jacko
- Breakfast in America, Supertramp
- In the Heat of the Night, Pat Benatar
- Look Sharp, Joe Jackson
- Damn the Torpedos, TP and the HB's
- The Long Run, Eagles
- Eat to the Beat, Blondie
and that is just a taste. The one bummer was Aerosmith "Night In The Ruts" - they were on the way down.
A little before my time as I was born in ‘71 but there’s some great ones in there!
I was super into music as a kid - born in 1969! I remember the B52s playing on SNL! I had some 45s of songs off Another Brick in the Wall (most memorably Another Brick in the Wall part 4!), and my mom bought me the Blondie on 8 track 🤣
I was looking at this recently. I had always said that 1979 was my favorite year for music, but I think I've talked myself into 1971 (which is before I was born but, still):
Joni Mitchell: Blue
Bill Withers: Just as I Am
The Who: Who’s Next
Curtis/Live!
Carole King: Tapestry
David Bowie: Hunky Dory
Harry Nilsson: Nilsson Schmilsson.
Caetano Veloso (S/T 1971)
John Prine (S/T)
Marvin Gaye: What's Going On
The Kinks: Muswell Hillbillies
Gil Scott-Heron: Pieces Of A Man
Isaac Hayes: Shaft
Laura Nyro: Gonna Take a Miracle
Janis Joplin: Pearl
(and other people mentioned The Concert for Bangladesh + Allman Brothers live at the Filmore East )
The second vote for 1971. Clearly a lot of great releases that year.
Absolutely agree (and I was alive then 😀)!
1979 was my second choice of year, but I was going with a year that had a great impact on me at the time. In retrospect, I might pick ‘79, for many of the brilliant albums you list.
My year of choice is 1981. I was 15, so serious formative year. I was also just discovering punk and new wave after being essentially a hard rock and metal teen to that point. So many great albums including:
Eno/Byrne - My Life in the Bush of Ghosts
The Cure - Faith
Gang of Four - Solid Gold
Black Sabbath - Mob Rules
Def Leppard - High n’ Dry
Human League - Dare
Japan - Tim Drum
Kraftwerk- Computer World
Police - Ghost in the Machine
Prince - Controversy
Rush - Moving Pictures
Squeeze - East Side Story
Tom Tom Club - Tom Tom Club
Tom Petty - Hard Promises
Van Halen - Fair Warning
X - Wild Gift
Just to name a few!;)
I still play most of those albums regularly.
Wow that was a great year! I’m five years younger than you so that’s a little earlier than when I was actively listening to music. But a few of those albums certainly made their way into my collection.
In terms of the 90s, I’m sure I could make a case for every year, but as I was huge into hip-hop in the early 90s, I’d probably go with 1991 as tons of iconic albums were released then. That’s not even mentioning the early grunge stuff.
Funny this thread came up the same day this appeared in my Facebook memories:
All these classic and near-classic albums have two things in common: they all came out when I was 15 (in 1979) and I still listen to all them. What a year!
Which of the records that came out when you were 15 have remained in the canon?
1. Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures
2. Michael Jackson - Off The Wall
3. PiL - Metal Box
4. David Bowie - Lodger
5. Bob Dylan - Slow Train Coming
6. Talking Heads - Fear of Music
7. Elvis Costello - Armed Forces
8. The Clash - London Calling
9. XTC - Drums & Wires
10. Buzzcocks - Singles Going Steady
11. Roxy Music - Manifesto
12. Simple Minds - Life In A Day and Real to Reel Cacophony
13. Iggy Pop - New Values
14. The Who - The Kids Are Alright
15. AC/DC - Highway To Hell
16. Funkadelic - Uncle Jam Wants You
17. Wire - 154
18. Leonard Cohen - Recent Songs
19. The Slits - Cut
20. Bob Marley & The Wailers - Survival
21. Gang Of Four - Entertainment!
22. The Specials - The Specials
23. The Raincoats - The Raincoats
24. Chic - Greatest Hits
25. Cluster - Grosses Wasser
26. Arthur Blythe - Lenox Avenue Breakdown
27. Led Zeppelin - In Through The Out Door
28. Van Halen - Van Halen II
There's probably more! Could be the start of a pretty good collection...
I’m not going to going to claim 79 was the “best year for music” but it does have a significant proportion of some of my favorite albums…as does 1980, what with Remain In Light, Scary Monsters, Uprising, Killing Joke, Back In Black, and more all coming out that year.
BTW, Spear Of Destiny rose from the ashes of Theatre Of Hate, who were responsible for this classic track: https://open.spotify.com/track/0aHmHkiYHXk4Oi2lW8my6d?si=vIzsXJu-RPW5tULBXY8uCw
Wow, there are some solid selections in 1979! Not familiar with Theatre of Hate, or that track. Thanks for sharing!
Great post! You pose a very interesting question, and I particularly like the way you formulated it. Obviously each person will have their own take, for a whole host of objective and subjective reasons. That's awesome: we thrive on diversity.
For me, 1974 and 1990 seem to have a particularly strong pull. Interestingly, neither year was part of my formative period (I was born in 1988, so more than a decade after 1974, and I was way too young in 1990 to even remember anything).
As you know, I'm also a big fan of early/mid-nineties trip-hop. Really enjoyed this live performance of Roads, which I don't think I'd seen.
Fabulous pics! May I ask where the first one was taken?
Enjoy the journey!
Thanks for reading Andres! It’s a tough question and it’s been interesting to see the answers that are coming back.
Your years of 1974 and 1990 are very interesting given when you were born. I’m assuming that’s driven by the albums you have in your vinyl collection. What are some of the standouts for you from those years?
That mid-90s trip hop is definitely a sweet spot for me too!
The first photo was taken between Ilfracombe and Woolacombe, looking backwards (east) towards Lee Bay Beach.
Cheers, Mark! I chose 1974 more or less randomly: it could have well been 1971, 1972, 1973... or the entire decade! I love the evolution of soul and blues records during those years, the celebration of the LP as the finest musical art form, and the proliferation of concept albums as we know them today. "Fulfillingness' First Finale" by Stevie Wonder and Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Second Helping" are two of my favourite records released in 1974, for example. I love the melancholy of some of the lyrics, the social commentary of some of the tunes, and the reinvention of classic sounds with an at-the-time modern twist.
As for 1990, I just love the variety of music it gave us, in all genres. Mariah's self-titled debut album, which took the dimensions of pop and R&B to the stratosphere (quite literally), Gary Moore's "Still Got the Blues", which brought electric blues to the mainstream, and George Michael's "Listen Without Prejudice", which was just spectacular (vocally, sonically, lyrically). The 90s was the decade of possibilities, and 1990 made that point quite clear. Power ballads, strong 80s beats, soaring vocals, and creativity in the studio (sampling, overdubs, folk rhythms and electro beats, all in perfect unison).
Sorry for such a long response!
Thanks for the coordinates of the first photo. Looks stunning!
The answer is surely 1971; Zeppelin IV, Who’s Next, Blue, Sticky Fingers, Hunky Dory, What’s Going On, Tapestry, Every Picture Tells a Story, Imagine, Electric Warrior ….
A little before my time as I was born in ‘71 but definitely some great albums that year!
I’ve been recycling my pre-internet interviews for my Substack newsletter and it looks like a lot came from 1991. I don’t have an algorithm or clue. I just was - and I’m not saying ‘Nevermind’ was it - but it makes one go “🧐”
Several people have said 1991. I’ll have to dig in and see what else was going on that year. It was my second year of college and although I was listening to the popular music at the time I was much more into partying and less about the music than I am now.
Of note: 'Nevermind' and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" were released in September 1991. Ahead of that were 'Gish' (the Smashing Pumpkins debut), Metallica released 'Metallica' and Pearl Jam released their debut 'Ten.' How in the world did Cobain & Co. make it in this line-up (said no one ever... lol).
I was looking at some of the 1991 albums this morning and there certainly were some great ones, including the ones you mentioned. RHCP’s Blood Sugar Sex Magik also came out that year.
Wow 94 WAS an incredible year for music! I don’t know that I can pin down a precise year (may have to research lol), but the 90s is probably my favorite decade (maybe more specifically the first half?).
Love to see Portishead on your list again!! One of my most favorite bands.
I completely agree that War is my favorite U2 album. I think MtV had just started - New Year’s Day may have been the first song I heard by them, and it’s still solidly in my top few (if not #1).
For me that 94-98 is a pretty sweet spot for music. I’m gonna do a deeper dive on this topic next year once I’ve finished hiking and relocated to the UK. Still not quite sure how to approach it though, it’s a tough one