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What makes a year great in music? Well, a number of things. For one, the albums released that year and their overall impact on the music landscape, as well as the significance of their legacy. Another factor that comes into play when trying to choose the greatest years in music is significant events (e.g. a particular music festival). And last, but not least, we can also take into account how some years marked specific music genres and their impact on the musical panorama at large.
In this gallery, we combine all of these elements to bring you a list of what are, quite possibly, the greatest years in music history. Click on and see if you agree.
Bob Dylan made history in 1965 when he dropped his folk persona and picked up an electric guitar. Dylan released two albums in 1965: 'Highway 61 Revisited' and 'Bringing It All Back Home.'
This was also the year the Rolling Stones released their huge hit 'Satisfaction,' and The Who released 'My Generation.' Plus, 1965 was also a prolific year for Motown, with songs like 'My Girl' by The Temptations and 'Stop! In the Name of Love' by The Supremes becoming no. 1 hits.
The year 1966 gave us Simon & Garfunkel's 'Sounds of Silence' and the Beatles' album 'Revolver.'
The Beach Boys also released what is considered by many to be their finest work, the album 'Pet Sounds.'
The Summer of Love was marked by the release of the Beatles albums 'Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band' and 'Magical Mystery Tour.' It was also when The Jimi Hendrix Experience released two iconic albums: 'Axis: Bold As Love' and 'Are You Experienced.'
In 1967, The Doors released their debut studio album 'The Doors,' and The Velvet Underground released 'The Velvet Underground & Nico.' The year was also marked by Leonard Cohen's 'Songs of Leonard Cohen,' Cream's 'Disraeli Gears,' Moody Blues' 'Days of Future Passed,' Aretha Franklin's 'I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You,' and The Who's 'The Who Sell Out.'
Johnny Cash recorded his legendary live album at Folsom Prison in 1968. This was also the year the world was introduced to Led Zeppelin, and when the Beatles released their 'White Album.'
Van Morrison's quintessential album 'Astral Weeks' was also released in 1968, and the Jeff Beck Group released their first record featuring Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood.
The year of Woodstock was also marked by a number of iconic albums, such as Led Zeppelin's first two records. The progressive rock classic 'In the Court of the Crimson King' by Crimson King also came out, and proto-punk bands like The Stooges and MC5 released their debut albums.
The year was also marked by the release of 'Abbey Road' by the Beatles and David Bowie's 'Space Oddity,' as well as Santana's debut 'Santana' and The Who's 'Tommy.' It was also a prolific year for Creedence Clearwater Revival, as the band released three albums!
The beginning of the decade is marked by two releases by heavy metal pioneers Black Sabbath, namely 'Black Sabbath' and 'Paranoid.' Sadly, this was also the year Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin died.
Miles Davis broke jazz barriers with his innovative album 'B*****s Brew," and three former Beatles released solo albums. We're talking about John Lennon, George Harrison, and Paul McCartney, the latter who released his debut 'McCartney.'
The year was marked by the death of Jim Morrison, but also by a number of iconic releases, including Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On.'
Other notable releases include 'Sticky Fingers' by the Rolling Stones, John Lennon's 'Imagine,' and Led Zeppelin's 'Led Zeppelin IV,' to name a few.
In 1973, Pink Floyd released their hit album 'The Dark Side of the Moon.' This was also the year one of the sexiest albums of all time came out: Marvin Gaye's 'Let's Get It On.'
The New York Dolls also introduced their glam-infused punk rock to the world in 1973. This was also the year Bruce Springsteen released his first two albums: 'Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J' and 'The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle.'
Elvis Presley died in 1977, and punk rock exploded in the UK. The Clash's self-titled debut album also came out in 1977, making it the year of punk rock par excellence.
Across the pond, Donna Summer released her classic dance tune 'I Feel Love.' This was also the year Fleetwood Mac released 'Rumours,' Meat Loaf released 'Bat Out of Hell,' and David Bowie put out two albums: 'Low' and 'Heroes.'
Van Halen released their debut album in 1978. Across the pond, The Police were doing the same, with 'Outlandos d'Amour.'
This was also the year Debbie Harry reached global stardom, following the release of Blondie's commercial success 'Parallel Lines.'
The year of 1979 will be forever associated with the release of two iconic albums by British artists: Pink Floyd's 'The Wall,' and The Clash's 'London Calling.'
The charts were dominated by disco, with the likes of Chic, Donna Summer, and Gloria Gaynor taking over the music scene. Meanwhile, down under, rockers AC/DC released one of their most acclaimed albums ever: 'Highway to Hell.' This was also the year Joy Division released their debut album, 'Unknown Pleasures.'
In 1982, Bruce Springsteen released his intimate, stripped-down album 'Nebraska.' That year is also marked by the release of Prince's '1999,' which featured hits like 'Little Red Corvette.'
This was also an important year in heavy metal history. In 1982, Iron Maiden had a massive breakthrough after vocalist Bruce Dickinson joined the band and they recorded the multi-platinum album 'The Number of the Beast.'
Some of pop and rock's greatest hits were released in 1984. We're talking about 'Purple Rain' by Prince, 'Like a Virgin' by Madonna, 'Born in the U.S.A' by Bruce Springsteen, and 'Private Dancer' by Tina Turner.
The famous compilation album 'Legend' by Bob Marley and the Wailers also came out in 1984, as did Bon Jovi's debut studio album 'Bon Jovi.'
The year of 1991 is one of the most important years in music history. Grunge and alternative rock knocked hair metal off of MTV and went global. Bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam released their iconic albums 'Nevermind' and 'Ten,' respectively. Plus, 1991 was also the year of the first Lollapalooza festival.
In 1991, Guns N’ Roses released their double album 'Use Your Illusion' and became one of the biggest bands on the planet. So did Metallica, with their 'Black Album.' Other legendary releases include Red Hot Chili Peppers', U2's 'Achtung Baby,' R.E.M.'s 'Out of Time,' Michael Jackson's 'Dangerous,' Soundgarden's 'Badmotorfinger,' and Massive Attack's debut album 'Blue Lines.' What a year, right?
Pop punk exploded in 1994, largely thanks to two albums: Green Day's 'Dookie' and The Offspring's 'Smash.' A number of other classic albums came out in 1994 as well, including Notorious B.I.G.'s debut 'Ready to Die,' Jeff Buckley's 'Grace,' Beastie Boys' 'Ill Communication,' Nine Inch Nails' 'The Downward Spiral,' and Nirvana's 'MTV Unplugged in New York.'
The year of 1994 was also huge for Britpop, with Oasis releasing 'Definitely Maybe' and Blur releasing 'Parklife.' Portishead also took UK's trip hop across borders with their acclaimed debut album 'Dummy.'
Sources: (Cleveland.com) (Paste)
See also: The world's most popular genres of music
Are these the greatest years in music history?
Here's what makes them so special
MUSIC Musicians
What makes a year great in music? Well, a number of things. For one, the albums released that year and their overall impact on the music landscape, as well as the significance of their legacy. Another factor that comes into play when trying to choose the greatest years in music is significant events (e.g. a particular music festival). And last, but not least, we can also take into account how some years marked specific music genres and their impact on the musical panorama at large.
In this gallery, we combine all of these elements to bring you a list of what are, quite possibly, the greatest years in music history. Click on and see if you agree.