Village Voice Critics Best Albums of 1971

John Nicholson|May 13, 2020

The paper's "Pazz & Jop" music poll, started by Robert Christgau in 1971, was released annually and, especially in the 1970s and early 80s, was an influential survey of the nation's music critics.

https://www.villagevoice.com/2018/12/26/1971-pazz-jop-what-does-it-all-mean/

The Village Voice was launched by Ed Fancher, Dan Wolf, and Norman Mailer on October 26, 1955, from a two-bedroom apartment in Greenwich Village; that was its initial coverage area, which expanded to other parts of the city by the 1960s. In 1960, it moved from 22 Greenwich Avenue to 61 Christopher Street in a landmark triangular corner building adjoining Sheridan Square, and a few feet west of the Stonewall Inn; then, from the 1970s through 1980, at 11th Street and University Place.

After a lot of changes of ownership, it finally closed its doors in 2017, its glory days then long behind it.

I think, by any stretch of the imagination, this list covers all the major bases in terms of great albums of 1971, though I think Mountain’s Nantucket Sleighride should be in there too. A wonderful album.

Interestingly they put Led Zep IV at the bottom of the list. History suggests that’s a slightly odd decision but by the end of 1971, it hadn’t yet attained legendary status. There was also a lot of critical push back against Zeppelin’s popularity in some quarters, especially in UK. Quite why, I don’t know, but some were quite snooty about them.

Most of us probably have or had most of these records. The Joy Of Cooking album is the only one missing from my collection. I must remedy that.