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The 100 greatest songs of 1971 #1 “When the Levee Breaks” Led Zeppelin (1 Viewer)

Sadly no room. And I am certainly betraying my youth here because the timschochet of 1971 would have ranked Coven’s version of “One Tin Soldier”  second only to “Take Me Home, Country Roads” as greatest song of the year or perhaps ever. And as you for you mocking it: go ahead and hate your neighbor. 
The age 8/9 year old version of BL would be right there with you. It’s just that I didn’t stay there.

There won’t be any trumpets blowing

 
Their rankings are based solely on ratings from users, instead of a bunch of jugheads running a site and ranking them.  It's not a definitive list or anything, but considering how popular the site is, it's not a bad site to reference. 
The reason I asked is because when I saw the list with two Alice Cooper albums from 71 rated higher than all-time classic albums and then that one list of three albums from one guy where he had two Alice Cooper albums out of only three...  The stats 'look-like' they can be thrown off if one guy is pimping a few 'artists' that they want rated higher.  I found one example of that in two seconds where he only listed three albums instead of 100 weighting them over other albums.

I will give credit to an album listed at 99 on their list that I found on my own for 71.  I found it on a list of under-valued gems at a different site and gave it a listen.  I didn't think I would have 100 songs leftover for the list I'm compiling so I was digging.  This won't make my list but its worth sharing.

I like this tune.

Like a Ship · Pastor T.L. Barrett & The Youth For Christ Choir

Its a church choir so the production values aren't the greatest but its reminiscent of the Edwin Hawkins Singers who scored a big hit with 'Oh Happy Day'.  This group has a similar sound.   

 
The reason I asked is because when I saw the list with two Alice Cooper albums from 71 rated higher than all-time classic albums and then that one list of three albums from one guy where he had two Alice Cooper albums out of only three...  The stats 'look-like' they can be thrown off if one guy is pimping a few 'artists' that they want rated higher.  I found one example of that in two seconds where he only listed three albums instead of 100 weighting them over other albums.
It’s definitely not an exact science, and I have no doubt that some users rate albums based on wanting to game the system, so to speak, but it’s still a useful guide, I think. 

 
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14. John Lennon “Imagine” (from Imagine

https://youtu.be/VOgFZfRVaww

A few people I know find this song intensely annoying; I never have. It’s true that the lyrics represent some ideas many of us don’t agree with, but there are fundamental ideals deeper than the ideas. Beyond that, the melody is wonderful, the performance is incredible. “Imagine” is probably the most important song on this list in terms of cultural impact; arguably its in the top group of songs in that category for the 20th century: 

The only question is why do I have it ranked at 14, rather than 1? The answer is pretty simple: I believe that there were 13 songs from 1971 even better than “Imagine”. When this list is said and done, let me know if you agree with me. 

 
14. John Lennon “Imagine” (from Imagine

https://youtu.be/VOgFZfRVaww

A few people I know find this song intensely annoying; I never have. It’s true that the lyrics represent some ideas many of us don’t agree with, but there are fundamental ideals deeper than the ideas. Beyond that, the melody is wonderful, the performance is incredible. “Imagine” is probably the most important song on this list in terms of cultural impact; arguably its in the top group of songs in that category for the 20th century: 

The only question is why do I have it ranked at 14, rather than 1? The answer is pretty simple: I believe that there were 13 songs from 1971 even better than “Imagine”. When this list is said and done, let me know if you agree with me. 
There's some songs that I know I should admire/respect/love but just don't because I find them to be nails on a chalkboard - this is one of them.  The Beatles are my favorites band, Lennon was a genius but I can't change it fast enough when this comes on.

 
14. John Lennon “Imagine” (from Imagine

https://youtu.be/VOgFZfRVaww

A few people I know find this song intensely annoying; I never have. It’s true that the lyrics represent some ideas many of us don’t agree with, but there are fundamental ideals deeper than the ideas. Beyond that, the melody is wonderful, the performance is incredible. “Imagine” is probably the most important song on this list in terms of cultural impact; arguably its in the top group of songs in that category for the 20th century: 

The only question is why do I have it ranked at 14, rather than 1? The answer is pretty simple: I believe that there were 13 songs from 1971 even better than “Imagine”. When this list is said and done, let me know if you agree with me. 
You left Imagine out of the top-ten because some schmucks find it annoying and you say its simply because you have 13 better?   

Their are 'entertaining' songs left but thirteen better?  

There's some songs that I know I should admire/respect/love but just don't because I find them to be nails on a chalkboard - this is one of them.  The Beatles are my favorites band, Lennon was a genius but I can't change it fast enough when this comes on.
Nothing about 'should'.  Music isn't your Mom giving you broccoli where you turn you nose up.  If that is how you see it then you are leading with your chin fighting imaginary fights thinking people are shoving medicine down your throat when they aren't. 

 
You left Imagine out of the top-ten because some schmucks find it annoying and you say its simply because you have 13 better?   

Their are 'entertaining' songs left but thirteen better?  


Your first question contradicts itself: either I left it out of the top ten because some folks find it annoying or because I think there are 13 better songs. It isn’t both. In fact it’s the second reason. I think there are 13 better songs from that year. By better I don’t mean more entertaining; that’s really subjective. By better I mean some combination of better written, more well crafted, better performed. 

 
Your first question contradicts itself: either I left it out of the top ten because some folks find it annoying or because I think there are 13 better songs. It isn’t both. In fact it’s the second reason. I think there are 13 better songs from that year. By better I don’t mean more entertaining; that’s really subjective. By better I mean some combination of better written, more well crafted, better performed. 
I like what you are doing with the list and know the effort so props.

The first part wasn't a question.  I was repeating your statement and since you mentioned how annoyed 'some-people' get over the song I think you are influenced by criticism as a basis for your ranking.  You can be understanding and listen to criticism but squeaky wheels  should not get the grease in a list of best songs.  

I don't think their are 13 better songs that can be explained by any means other than subjectivity.  Good songs are left but none better.

 
You left Imagine out of the top-ten because some schmucks find it annoying and you say its simply because you have 13 better?   

Their are 'entertaining' songs left but thirteen better?  

Nothing about 'should'.  Music isn't your Mom giving you broccoli where you turn you nose up.  If that is how you see it then you are leading with your chin fighting imaginary fights thinking people are shoving medicine down your throat when they aren't. 
:mellow:   

 
First 40 yrs of "Imagine"'s life, i cant remember any hatin' on it. It's a folk song, like "This Land" or "If I Had a Hammer" - woulda come from somebody cuz the need was there. Pretty sure it would have been in anybody's 1971 Top 5 who didnt wanna hear about it for most of the last half-century. Looks like we'll be having to do a lot more imagining pretty damn soon. Y'all should be proud.

 
13. Marvin Gaye “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)” (from What’s Going On

https://youtu.be/U9BA6fFGMjI

In my Bob Dylan thread I argued that he was responsible for the three greatest protest songs ever written: “Blowin’ In the Wind”, “A Hard Rain’s a Gonna Fall” and “The Times They Are a Changin’”. While I still hold that to be true, if I had to make a list of such songs, the works of Marvin Gaye during the year of 1971 would have to be right up towards the top. 
“Mercy Mercy Me” is certainly far prettier than those Dylan epics and if not superior lyrically it holds up. It has become an anthem over the years for the environmental movement, but it’s also just a great listen as a pop/soul masterpiece. 

 
12. The Rolling Stones “Wild Horses” (from Sticky Fingers)

https://youtu.be/SQTHB4jM-KQ

The Stones’ greatest ballad. Somehow I always thought it was about Gram Parsons but it turns out he was simply hanging around the studio and released his own version first with their permission. I was interested to learn, reading the Wiki page, that Mick Taylor used a “Nashville” tuning on his guitar- I wasn’t even aware there was such a thing.

I think the chorus line “Wild horses couldn’t drag me away” is one of the most eloquent expressions of love I’ve ever heard outside of poetry. 

 
12. The Rolling Stones “Wild Horses” (from Sticky Fingers)

https://youtu.be/SQTHB4jM-KQ

The Stones’ greatest ballad. Somehow I always thought it was about Gram Parsons but it turns out he was simply hanging around the studio and released his own version first with their permission. I was interested to learn, reading the Wiki page, that Mick Taylor used a “Nashville” tuning on his guitar- I wasn’t even aware there was such a thing.

I think the chorus line “Wild horses couldn’t drag me away” is one of the most eloquent expressions of love I’ve ever heard outside of poetry. 
Good song, great album. Ranking is off. It only ranks #6 off of Sticky Fingers.

 
12. The Rolling Stones “Wild Horses” (from Sticky Fingers)

https://youtu.be/SQTHB4jM-KQ

The Stones’ greatest ballad. Somehow I always thought it was about Gram Parsons but it turns out he was simply hanging around the studio and released his own version first with their permission. I was interested to learn, reading the Wiki page, that Mick Taylor used a “Nashville” tuning on his guitar- I wasn’t even aware there was such a thing.

I think the chorus line “Wild horses couldn’t drag me away” is one of the most eloquent expressions of love I’ve ever heard outside of poetry. 
Mick on writing the song

"I remember we sat around originally doing this with Gram Parsons, and I think his version came out slightly before ours. Everyone always says this was written about Marianne but I don't think it was; that was all well over by then. But I was definitely very inside this piece emotionally."

Keith on same:

"If there is a classic way of Mick and me working together this is it. I had the riff and chorus line, Mick got stuck into the verses. Just like "Satisfaction", "Wild Horses" was about the usual thing of not wanting to be on the road, being a million miles from where you want to be."

 
11. The Who “Baba O’ Riley” (from Who’s Next)

https://youtu.be/gY5rztWa1TM
 

This classic song just misses out from my top 10. But I love it. I really don’t care how many times I hear it. I think it was @Ghost Rider earlier who complained about the polished sound on this album and I’m pretty sure he was specifically referring to this song and one other yet to be mentioned. But I disagree. While I love the rawer sound of the 60s Who I also love the addition of the synthesizers here. In fact it’s one of the greatest sounds for me in all of rock music. 
The ending to this song is especially spectacular; I’ve always thought that this perfect fusion of rock with Indian music must have made George Harrison green with envy. 

 
13. Marvin Gaye “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)” (from What’s Going On

https://youtu.be/U9BA6fFGMjI

In my Bob Dylan thread I argued that he was responsible for the three greatest protest songs ever written: “Blowin’ In the Wind”, “A Hard Rain’s a Gonna Fall” and “The Times They Are a Changin’”. While I still hold that to be true, if I had to make a list of such songs, the works of Marvin Gaye during the year of 1971 would have to be right up towards the top. 
“Mercy Mercy Me” is certainly far prettier than those Dylan epics and if not superior lyrically it holds up. It has become an anthem over the years for the environmental movement, but it’s also just a great listen as a pop/soul masterpiece. 
Not just an otherworldly groove, but lyrics so way ahead of its time.

 
11. The Who “Baba O’ Riley” (from Who’s Next)

https://youtu.be/gY5rztWa1TM
 

This classic song just misses out from my top 10. But I love it. I really don’t care how many times I hear it. I think it was @Ghost Rider earlier who complained about the polished sound on this album and I’m pretty sure he was specifically referring to this song and one other yet to be mentioned. But I disagree. While I love the rawer sound of the 60s Who I also love the addition of the synthesizers here. In fact it’s one of the greatest sounds for me in all of rock music. 
The ending to this song is especially spectacular; I’ve always thought that this perfect fusion of rock with Indian music must have made George Harrison green with envy. 
I love the inevitable schmucks that call this song “Teenage Wasteland”

 
11. The Who “Baba O’ Riley” (from Who’s Next)
I was trying to figure out why I didnt' have this and other songs from 'Who's Next' and remembered that I didn't bother because they were automatic top-ten tunes, but then again I thought the same thing about the Moody Blues 'Story in Your Eyes' so anything is possible with the top-ten. :popcorn:

 
Despite my frustration with the band's balls being cut off by 70's production on Who's Next, Baba O'Riley is awesome. I still remember hearing it for the first time in the summer of 1990.  My jaw was on the floor of my buddy's car.

 
zamboni said:
I love the inevitable schmucks that call this song “Teenage Wasteland”
Yeah, what idiots. Daltrey sings Baba O'Reilly so many times how could anyone think that isn't the song title?

 
timschochet said:
11. The Who “Baba O’ Riley” (from Who’s Next)

https://youtu.be/gY5rztWa1TM
 

This classic song just misses out from my top 10. But I love it. I really don’t care how many times I hear it. I think it was @Ghost Rider earlier who complained about the polished sound on this album and I’m pretty sure he was specifically referring to this song and one other yet to be mentioned. But I disagree. While I love the rawer sound of the 60s Who I also love the addition of the synthesizers here. In fact it’s one of the greatest sounds for me in all of rock music. 
The ending to this song is especially spectacular; I’ve always thought that this perfect fusion of rock with Indian music must have made George Harrison green with envy. 
:thumbup: Solid pick

 

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