The U.S. ended their trade embargo against China, the last White House wedding took place, and Elon Musk was born! Round about the same time, these were the top 10 rock albums on June 29, 1971:
Not every classic we play was written and recorded in a matter of hours, but that’s what happened with “Paranoid,” the title track from Black Sabbath’s second album, and the #10 rock album on the countdown.
On this recording by Santana would be a future member of Journey! That’s Greg Rollie on keyboards and vocals on “Black Magic Woman,” taken from the #9 rock album on June 29, 1971, Abraxas.
Emerson, Lake and Palmer formed in the spring of 1970 and, before long, they were hard at work on their debut album. The self-titled Emerson, Lake and Palmer peaked here at #9 on June 29, 1971.
It’s so sad that Janis Joplin never lived to see the success of this album, the legendary Pearl. After hitting #1 and staying there for nine weeks, it drops this week to #7 on the countdown.
Not only did Cat Stevens write all of the songs for his wonderful fourth album, Tea For The Tillerman, he designed the album’s cover! Not surprising, as he was a former art student. The album peaked here at #6 on June 29, 1971.
The final album by the Doors’ original lineup was recorded at the bands’ offices in L.A., giving them more freedom and more time to make the record, and even finding a good spot for Jim Morrison to lay down the vocals…in the lower level bathroom with the tiled walls! L.A. Woman is the #5 rock album on this week’s Thursday Top 10 Countdown.
You can catch former Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre June 29th (tonight) for a free show at the Newton Theater in Newton, NJ. No doubt he’ll be performing this one – “Locomotive Breath” – from the #4 rock album on June 29, 1971, Aqualung.
Paul McCartney’s second solo album would mark the third time a former Beatle recorded an album in the U.S. George Harrison recorded parts of his Electronic Sounds album in L.A. in 1968, Ringo made an album two years later in Nashville, and Paul and Linda would work in both Los Angeles and New York on Ram, the #3 rock album on June 29, 1971.
Back after a two year absence on the album charts, The Rolling Stones returned with not only a new album, but their own record label, Rolling Stones Records, complete with the most iconic logo in all of Classic Rock. The album was Sticky Fingers and it peaked at #2 on the countdown this week.
At the top of the charts this week is the second studio album by a legendary songwriter. After writing hit songs for others for over a decade with her former husband, she branched out on her own and captivated the world with her personal stories made to music. In addition to hitting #1, it won four Grammys and has sold over 14 million copies since its release. The #1 rock on June 29, 1971 was Tapestry by Carole King.
Catch The Thursday Top 10 Countdown Thursdays at 5 on 102.9 MGK!
