Damn, that's dope, great list and it's amazing to see so many people's picks included, good stuff!

Heya, I recently checked your 1970 list and thought it was a great idea! I'd like to ask if I could be included, it's a really cool concept and I would want to be a part of it!

Awesome list! Really loved reading through it and seeing who had a given record as their 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. That was a cool addition. Looking forward to future installments!

My top 5 would be...
1. Led Zeppelin IV
2. Joni Mitchell - Blue ]
3. Marvin Gaye - What's Going On
4. Bill Withers - Just As I Am
5. David Bowie - Hunky Dory

LZIV was the record that introduced me to Zeppelin when I was just 11 or 12. It blew my mind at the time since I had never heard anything heavier than that. Now several years later, I've definitely heard heavier stuff, however, it's still my favorite release from the group and my favorite release of that year. It's a pretty based pick for AOTY but I can't help myself lol.

My top 5 (today):

1st Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV
I always have to smile, when I listen to these songs. This music is a remedy for my soul.

2nd David Bowie - Hunky Dory
3rd Bill Fay - Time of the Last Persecution
4th Can - Tago Mago
5th Pink Floyd - Meddle

Thank you!

Excuse me, I've changed my ranking a little bit. Some of my ratings are not up to date, so I will try to update them while you make your lists.

My Top 5 of 1971 :
1. Chico Buarque - Construção
2. Leonard Cohen - Songs of Love and Hate
3. Can - Tago Mago
4. Harry Partch - Delusion of the Fury
5. Nara Leão - Dez anos depois

For Construção:
Buarque's unbeatable opus that gives free rein to all his creativity, all his inventiveness, to blow the coercive policies of the Brazilian dictatorship of the time. This masterpiece bears his name wonderfully well: it is an architectural work, wonderfully well structured, a monument to the glory of freedom.

1. First Utterance is my favorite because of how absolutely demonic and terrifying it is, while managing to be some of the best folk I have ever heard. as for the rest of the rankings, they’d probably go as follows:

2. Maggot Brain
3. Fragile
4. What’s Going On

all are solid records :)

1. What's Going On
2. Construção
3. John Prine
4. Who's Next
5. American Pie

What's Going On isn't by any means obscure, it's the #1 on the Rolling Stones 500 for gods sake. But what I feel isn't mentioned enough is just how this album is able to inspire hope like no other. It's an album that even in the darkest of moments, asks you to have hope in your fellow man and the outcome of the world. Very rare albums are as optimistic as it, and even less give you a reason to be optimistic with it.

I made a google doc with my rankings for the next several years to help you out, do you have a discord or somewhere where I could send it your way?

sure thing!

1. Marvin Gaye - What's Going On

Absolutely a timeless classic, and a very stong contender for the best Motown album ever released. Although our current circumstances are different than those of the final years of the Vietnam War, I really feel like much of this album has become relevant as ever in the chaos of the last few years.

2. Carole King - Tapestry
3. Joni Mitchell - Blue
4. Sly & the Family Stone - There's a Riot Goin' On
5. David Bowie - Hunky Dory