B-Side Guys

The Best Albums of 1971

Every album of 1971, ranked by B-Side Breakdown: the reviews from 38 outlets we trust, put on one 0–100 scale. An album needs at least 5 reviews to make the list.

Album cover for Led Zeppelin IV by Led ZeppelinNumber one of 1971Led ZeppelinLed Zeppelin IV99 A+6 critics · 100% approval · Unanimous · A-Side
Average Breakdown86across 1971's albums. That's higher than 100% of the other years here.
Liked88%of 1971's albums scored 75 or higher. Across every year it's 49%.
Most divisiveDividedKing Crimson, Islands split the critics more than any other album of the year.A-Sides46%of 1971's albums earned an A-Side. Across every year it's 6.3%.
  1. 1Album cover for Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin
    Led ZeppelinLed Zeppelin IVNovember 8, 1971 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    99A+
  2. 2Album cover for There’s a Riot Goin’ On by Sly and the Family Stone
    Sly and the Family StoneThere’s a Riot Goin’ OnNovember 20, 1971 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    97A+
  3. 3Album cover for A Tribute to Jack Johnson by Miles Davis
    Miles DavisA Tribute to Jack Johnson1971 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    96A
  4. 4Album cover for Tapestry by Carole King
    Carole KingTapestryJanuary 30, 1971 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    96A
  5. 5Album cover for Tago Mago by Can
    CanTago Mago1971 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    95A
  6. 6Album cover for Electric Warrior by T. Rex
    T. RexElectric WarriorSeptember 24, 1971 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    94A
  7. 7Album cover for Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones
    The Rolling StonesSticky FingersApril 23, 1971 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    94A
  8. 8Album cover for Histoire de Melody Nelson by Serge Gainsbourg
    Serge GainsbourgHistoire de Melody NelsonMarch 24, 1971 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    94A
  9. 9Album cover for What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye
    Marvin GayeWhat’s Going OnMay 20, 1971 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    93A
  10. 10Album cover for Who’s Next by The Who
    The WhoWho’s NextAugust 14, 1971 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    93A

How 1971 grades

Share of albums at each letter grade. A is 90 and up, F is below 60.

1971

A46%
B38%
C4%
D8%
F4%

Every year

A6%
B24%
C37%
D22%
F11%
  1. 11Album cover for Muswell Hillbillies by The Kinks
    The KinksMuswell HillbilliesNovember 24, 1971 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    92A-
  2. 12Album cover for Nilsson Schmilsson by Harry Nilsson
    Harry NilssonNilsson SchmilssonNovember 1971 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    88B+
  3. 13Album cover for Imagine by John Lennon
    John LennonImagineSeptember 9, 1971 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    87B+
  4. 14Album cover for Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton
    Dolly PartonCoat of Many ColorsOctober 1971 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    85B
  5. 15Album cover for Surf’s Up by The Beach Boys
    The Beach BoysSurf’s UpAugust 30, 1971 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    85B
  6. 16Album cover for If I Could Only Remember My Name by David Crosby
    David CrosbyIf I Could Only Remember My NameFebruary 22, 1971 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate
    84B
  7. 17Album cover for Master of Reality by Black Sabbath
    Black SabbathMaster of RealityJuly 21, 1971 · 7 reviews · 71% approval · Some debate
    84B
  8. 18Album cover for Aqualung by Jethro Tull
    Jethro TullAqualungMarch 19, 1971 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Broad agreement
    83B
  9. 19Album cover for L.A. Woman by The Doors
    The DoorsL.A. WomanApril 1971 · 9 reviews · 67% approval · Some debate
    81B-
  10. 20Album cover for Ram by Paul & Linda McCartney
    Paul & Linda McCartneyRamMay 21, 1971 · 9 reviews · 78% approval · Divided
    81B-
  11. 21Album cover for Meddle by Pink Floyd
    Pink FloydMeddleOctober 30, 1971 · 6 reviews · 67% approval · Some debate
    78C+
  12. 22Album cover for The Cry of Love by Jimi Hendrix
    Jimi HendrixThe Cry of LoveMarch 5, 1971 · 6 reviews · 50% approval · Divided
    69D+
  13. 23Album cover for Cahoots by The Band
    The BandCahootsSeptember 15, 1971 · 5 reviews · 20% approval · Broad agreement
    66D
  14. 24Album cover for Islands by King Crimson
    King CrimsonIslandsDecember 3, 1971 · 5 reviews · 40% approval · Divided
    55F
  1. 1Album cover for Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin
    Led ZeppelinLed Zeppelin IVNovember 8, 1971 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    99A+
  2. 2Album cover for Tago Mago by Can
    CanTago Mago1971 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    95A
  3. 3Album cover for Electric Warrior by T. Rex
    T. RexElectric WarriorSeptember 24, 1971 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    94A
  4. 4Album cover for Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones
    The Rolling StonesSticky FingersApril 23, 1971 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    94A
  5. 5Album cover for Who’s Next by The Who
    The WhoWho’s NextAugust 14, 1971 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    93A
  6. 6Album cover for Muswell Hillbillies by The Kinks
    The KinksMuswell HillbilliesNovember 24, 1971 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    92A-
  7. 7Album cover for Nilsson Schmilsson by Harry Nilsson
    Harry NilssonNilsson SchmilssonNovember 1971 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    88B+
  8. 8Album cover for Imagine by John Lennon
    John LennonImagineSeptember 9, 1971 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    87B+
  9. 9Album cover for Surf’s Up by The Beach Boys
    The Beach BoysSurf’s UpAugust 30, 1971 · 6 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    85B
  10. 10Album cover for If I Could Only Remember My Name by David Crosby
    David CrosbyIf I Could Only Remember My NameFebruary 22, 1971 · 5 reviews · 80% approval · Some debate
    84B
  11. 11Album cover for Aqualung by Jethro Tull
    Jethro TullAqualungMarch 19, 1971 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Broad agreement
    83B
  12. 12Album cover for L.A. Woman by The Doors
    The DoorsL.A. WomanApril 1971 · 9 reviews · 67% approval · Some debate
    81B-
  13. 13Album cover for Ram by Paul & Linda McCartney
    Paul & Linda McCartneyRamMay 21, 1971 · 9 reviews · 78% approval · Divided
    81B-
  14. 14Album cover for Meddle by Pink Floyd
    Pink FloydMeddleOctober 30, 1971 · 6 reviews · 67% approval · Some debate
    78C+
  15. 15Album cover for The Cry of Love by Jimi Hendrix
    Jimi HendrixThe Cry of LoveMarch 5, 1971 · 6 reviews · 50% approval · Divided
    69D+
  16. 16Album cover for Cahoots by The Band
    The BandCahootsSeptember 15, 1971 · 5 reviews · 20% approval · Broad agreement
    66D
  17. 17Album cover for Islands by King Crimson
    King CrimsonIslandsDecember 3, 1971 · 5 reviews · 40% approval · Divided
    55F

← 1970 · Every year, back to the 1950s · 1972 →

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