Best of 1971 Mix

 

I've just started working on my 1972 mix and the thing I'm noticing is how quickly everything is changing musically in the 70's.  1971 was building off of 1970, but it doesn't feel that far removed.  I think we'll notice a real difference when we get to 1972, but maybe not, I'm still picking the songs.  Here is my 20 song mix from 1971.

20. Theme From Shaft by Isaac Hayes

     Growing up as a kid we had a record we bought at Super X that had an instrumental version of Shaft that I always loved.  Don't think I could do the 1971 mix without including this song.  

19. One of These Things First by Nick Drake

     Like many people our age, Nick Drake is someone I discovered in college hanging out with PhD English students.  

18. Love Her Madly by The Doors

     I always found it funny that The Doors could make a simple pop song when they wanted and do a very good job of it.  Always liked this song.  

17. Done Somebody Wrong by Allman Brothers Band

     I discovered this album when my brother brought it home from college.  I made a cassette of it and would drive around Western Kentucky listening to this album windows down.  Just a great live album.  

16. Runnin' Away by Sly & the Family Stone

     By the end of my freshman year in college I had discovered Sly & the Family Stone and spent much of that first summer back at home listening to this album.  This song always makes me smile even though lyrically it's a bit dark.  

15. Tiny Dancer by Elton John

     Another one of those Elton John songs.

14. You've Got a Friend by James Taylor

     Such a good song.  As I said with the 1970 mix James Taylor is more my wife's speed, but can't help but like this song.  

13. Imagine by John Lennon

     This song makes me think of two things.  First is WKRP.  If you know why, you know.  The second is New Years Eve.  Since we've had kids every New Years Eve we watch the ball drop on the live stream from the organization that's puts on the event.  They have second tier singers and interview people and it's fun.  Each year they close it out with someone singing Imagine right before the final minute.  

12. So Far Away by Carole King

     Such a good song.  I thought about putting the album version in the YouTube mix, but when we have these old live performances they are such fun.  

11. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) by Marvin Gaye

     I thought about just making the top of this list the entire What's Going On album, but thought better of that.  I have to hear this song every so often, just to remember that I'm not the only person in the world who sees this stuff.  

10. Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers

     It may be the perfect 2 minute song.  So simple and so beautiful.  His vocal is just amazing on this track.  

9. I'd Love to Change the World by Ten Years After

     Nothing to me represents Woodstock and the protests around Vietnam like this song.  I don't know why, it just does.  Plus it feels like it was born from all of that.  

8. It's Too Late by Carole King

     My favorite Carole King song.  I've always found this song to be so sad.  

7. Stormy Monday by Allman Brothers Band

     The vibe of this song is so spot on.  

6.  Moonshadow by Cat Stevens

     I was never the biggest Cat Stevens fan but my wife is.  That being said I just love the sound of this song.  

5. Family Affair by Sly & the Family Stone

     If I were to meet someone from the future and they told me I could provide them one song so that they could understand the music of the 1970's in the United States, I would give them this song.  

4. Superstar by Carpenters

     I like the Carpenters and this is by far their best song.  Such an amazing vocal on this song.  

3. Riders on the Storm by The Doors

     This is my daughter's favorite Doors song.  So I love it even more than I always have.  This song always makes me think of driving back to college from home on US 62 in the rain.  

2. What's Going On by Marvin Gaye

     Such an amazing song.  53 years later this song feels just as relevant as it was in 1971.  The arrangement, his vocal, this song is so special.  

1. What's Happening Brother by Marvin Gaye

     This may be the greatest lyrics ever written for a song.