There are a number of "1971 album" threads to choose to revive. I was reading a website this morning that suggested that Nektar's Journey to the Centre of the Eye was the best debut of 1971. I can neither confirm nor deny, but I started thinking that there are relatively few canonical debuts from that year - it's like there was a period of consolidation after the rush of innovation over the previous half-decade or so.
The following debut albums from this year are ranked on Acclaimed Music. Crosby and Blunstone, and perhaps John McLaughlin, were of course veteran artists making a solo or group debut:
The Mahavishnu Orchestra - The Inner Mounting FlameJohn PrineDavid Crosby - If I Could Only Remember My NameBill Withers - Just As I AmFaustComus - First UtteranceJudee SillColin Blunstone - One YearHound Dog Taylor and the HouseRockers
Anyway, my choice for debut album of the year is Halfnelson AKA Sparks, which stands out of time as much as any proto-punk record of the year you might name.
― Halfway there but for you, Sunday, 22 January 2023 17:30 (one year ago) link
Allman Brothers "At Fillmore East" seems a pretty big record to be missing here thus far from '71.
Rory Gallagher's "Duece" is another good LP from '71. Probably not my favorite from the year, but it is my favorite of his studio albums. His debut solo record also came out in '71.
ZZ Top's "First Album", Little Feat and Thin Lizzy were a few other notable debuts in '71.
A few more notables from '71...
Jeff Beck Group "Rough and Ready"Humble Pie "Performance: Rockin' the Fillmore"Jimi Hendrix "The Cry of Love" Jethro Tull "Aqualung"Freddie King "Getting Ready"John Lennon "Imagine"Grateful Dead "Skull and Roses"Grand Funk Railroad "E Plurbius Funk"Badfinger "Straight Up"James Brown "Revolution of the Mind"
Just a crazy good year for LPs...
― earlnash, Sunday, 22 January 2023 18:12 (one year ago) link
These bands are usually regarded as peaking several albums later, although I was surprised how much Phil Lynott was already himself on that first Lizzy record; I was expecting a more run-of-the-mill heavy approach.
― Halfway there but for you, Sunday, 22 January 2023 19:57 (one year ago) link
Not if you live outside the USA.
― A Drunk Man Looks At Partick Thistle (Tom D.), Sunday, 22 January 2023 20:03 (one year ago) link
Did the Allman Brothers never tour outside the US?
― but also fuck you (unperson), Sunday, 22 January 2023 20:46 (one year ago) link
It struck me that the first albums by Faust and Sparks beat Roxy Music by a year in terms of introducing post-modernism to rock...unless you think Zappa got there before any of them.
― Halfway there but for you, Monday, 23 January 2023 15:43 (one year ago) link
My favorite album of 1971 would also be my favorite debut of 1971, Judee Sill
― o. nate, Monday, 23 January 2023 21:19 (one year ago) link
As would mine. Gilbert's Himself.
― you can see me from westbury white horse, Monday, 23 January 2023 21:31 (one year ago) link
Others besides O'Sullivan that I love but haven't been mentioned
The Scratch Orchestra - The Great LearningPaul and Linda McCartney - RamNick Drake - Bryter Layter (now officially 71 not 70)Lou Christie Sacco - Paint America LoveThe Keith Tippett Group - Dedicated to You, But You Weren't ListeningFreddie Hubbard and İlhan Mimaroğlu - Sing Me a Song of SongmyBrian Jones Presents the Pipes of Pan at JoujoukaTONTO's Expanding Head Band - Zero TimeThe StylisticsCarla Bley and Paul Haines - Escalator Over the HillBeau - CreationKingdom Come - Galactic Zoo DisasterEdgar Broughton BandOsibisa
― you can see me from westbury white horse, Monday, 23 January 2023 21:39 (one year ago) link
"Did the Allman Brothers never tour outside the US?"
Got kind of curious about that myself after the question was posed. I did not figure the original band ever did as they were really only getting pretty popular with Duane Allman died. They don't appear to have played much in the 70s in Europe, but I found some notices that they headlined a festival at Knebworth in 1974.
Later on, I got to figure some of Greg Allman's arrest issues might have made it hard for him to get visas and it was probably just more profitable for them to keep playing in the US.
I did find note that Greg Allman and Cher did some dates together in Japan and Europe. Of course this tour from what is reads was also what done in the marriage for good.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_the_Hard_Way_Tour
― earlnash, Monday, 23 January 2023 22:44 (one year ago) link
It looks like they played Montreal a couple of months before Duane died.
― Halfway there but for you, Monday, 23 January 2023 22:47 (one year ago) link