It’s hard to pinpoint the best year for music. There have been numerous times throughout music history when artists have seemed to be on a collective roll. There are just certain years that seem to have fostered unparalleled creative freedom. Find three of them below.
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1969
1969 saw some monumental music releases. From the Beatles‘ swan song, Abbey Road, to The Who’s Tommy, rock had hit its stride as a genre. Elsewhere, Johnny Cash took us behind the scenes at San Quentin for a rousing live album, David Bowie shared “Space Oddity”, and The Rolling Stones released Let It Bleed featuring their timeless “Gimme Shelter”. The ’60s were coming to an end, but they certainly didn’t go out with a whimper. Musicians from all genres were giving it their all to round out the decade. The list of impeccable songs that came out in 1969 makes this year a shoo-in for this list of important years in music history.
Other notable releases: Led Zeppelin’s Led Zeppelin/Led Zeppelin II, Neil Young’s Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, Dusty Springfield’s Dusty in Memphis, Santana’s Santana, and Bob Dylan’s Nashville Sky.
1977
Flashing forward a few years, our next entry on our list of the greatest years in music history is 1977. From Fleetwood Mac’s turmoil-drenched masterpiece Rumours to the early murmurs of punk and the disco craze, this year saw a lot of landmark music magic.
On a more somber note, this is also the year we lost a great: Elvis Presley. The world mourned The King, celebrating the music he left behind. Rock would never be the same after losing one of its forefathers.
Other notable releases: The Clash’s The Clash, Sex Pistols’ Never Mind the Bollocks, David Bowie’s Heroes, the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, and Eric Clapton’s Slowhand
1984
The ’80s didn’t truly start until 1984. Everything we know and cherish about this decade in music can be traced back to this monumental year. From Michael Jackson’s iconic “Thriller” being released as a single in the U.S. to Madonna’s deliciously suggestive “Like a Virgin”, the world of music was rapidly changing. Older generations needed to buckle up to stay the course.
Elsewhere, Band Aid recorded “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” This was the first time artists had come together on such a large scale. Not to mention it paved the way for the more popular “We Are the World” the following year.
Other notable releases: Prince’s Purple Rain, Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the U.S.A., Van Halen’s 1984, Metallica’s Ride the Lightning, and Tina Turner’s Private Dancer
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