| Top Albums Of 1971 |
| 10 | | Nektar
Journey to the Center of the Eye |
| 9 |  | Pharaoh Sanders
Thembi |
| 8 | | Mahavishnu Orchestra
The Inner Mounting Flame
This isn't as good as Birds on Fire, but this album showed these guys were unbelievably good. Some of the best fusion ever made. |
| 7 |  | Yes
Fragile
The better of the two Yes albums released in '71 (better by a mile). |
| 6 |  | David Bowie
Hunky Dory
I like the album, but find it's a bit inconsistent. That said, the good songs on the album more than make up for it. |
| 5 |  | Freddie Hubbard
Straight Life
More awesome jazz from Hubbard, further strengthening his repertoire. |
| 4 | | Frank Zappa
Fillmore East: June 1971
Frank Zappa live, is there much more I need to say? Any live recording this guy does is absolute gold. Really good setlist on this one as well. |
| 3 |  | Funkadelic
Maggot Brain
This is a good album, but the title track makes the whole thing. Possibly the best guitar solo track I've ever heard; Eddie Hazel absolutely kills it. |
| 2 |  | Caravan
In the Land of Grey and Pink
Here's an album I haven't listened to in quite some time, I have to revisit it again soon. However, I think this album is absolutely stellar. Spacey in the right moments, quirky, all around great. |
| 1 | | Donald Byrd
Ethiopian Knights
This is a really fantastic album. Byrd is spot on the whole thing. The whole jazz funk style is in full swing, but what really puts this album over the top for me is his rendition of Palchelbel's Canon, titled 'Jamie' on the album. It's absolutely fantastic. |
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