What is your greatest year for music?

[Glen]

This is a tough question......I have no doubt that most will probably resort to some year in the 80s, but mine has to be 1989!

 

I was 19 years old, gigging like a crazy mofo, and buying all these awesome albums...........

 

Ive never fully rated many albums albums from the 80s, but how in the hell would you split these up, which might make my top 10 - in no order

 

Bad English - s/t

Strangeways - Walk In The Fire

D2 - s/t

TNT - Intuition

FM - Tough It Out

Giant - Last of the Runaways

Skid Row - s/t

Vain - No Respect

Motley Crue - Dr Feelgood

Robin Beck - Trouble Or Nothin'

 

add to that great albums from the following -

 

Robin Beck / Dalton / Blue Murder / Whitesnake / Saraya / Drive, She Said / PC69 / Bad Habit / The Creek / XYZ / Shark Island / Dan Reed / Gun / Melidian / Diving For Pearls & Michael Morales.

[zacharyamelie]

Hard to argue with 1989. Anything between 1987 and 1993 were great years for me...my teen years.

 

The well seemed to dry up between 1994 and 2000. I went from buying 2 new titles a week to maybe 2 a month in these years. The fact that I didn't have much money didn't help either.

 

In and around 2001 or 2002 I got my first computer with something called the internet. The revelation of the internet seemed to have brought some old bands back to my world and was also able to introduce me to newer bands at a speed I hadn't seen since the glory days of Hair Metal on Much Music/MTV. My first purchase from the net was from a fave band of mine Harem Scarem's WOTW, sad to say a Canadian band's cd could not be bought here in Canada....a few months later I did find it under the Rubber moniker. In these same couple of years, I discovered downloading/sharing for 'free'...we all know that it was later deemed illegal and all the sites I went to vanished. In 2002 I also opened my Ebay account which brought lots of new stuff to my attention and in 2004 I became a forum member of some website called Heavy Harmonies.

 

The arrival of the internet also permitted me to sample music from various artists, something that made it easier to find new artists and blow off really bad stuff. I still don't buy at the pace I did during my teen years, however I rarely buy something I don't really like.

 

IMO since 2006, with maybe the exception of 2007 every year has been fantastic, 2010 probably being the best of the lot.

[Jez]

One year is impossible for me, as there are so many, so I'll give you 1980-1985 as the best I can do.

[Wotty]

86-89 for me.ALL kinds of music just fell into place then........I was 23 to 26.

[Fat Freddy]

1984 was the greatest year ever. Why? I was fourteen years old, I was a full blown Metal Maniac and all of these albums were released. Damn, we'll never see a year this good again.

 

Judas Priest - Defenders of the Faith

Iron Maiden - Powerslave

Metallica - Ride the Lightning

Anthrax - Fistful of Metal

Armored Saint - March of the Saint

W.A.S.P.'s self titled

Dokken - Tooth & Nail

Mercyful Fate - Don't Break the Oath

Metal Church's self titled

Stryper - Yellow & Black Attack

Dio - Last In Line

Trouble - Psalm 9

Queensryche - The Warning

Ratt - Out of the Cellar

Twisted Sister - Stay Hungry

Scorpions - Love at First Sting

Ramones - Too Tough to Die

Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers

Motorhead - No Remorse

KISS - Animalize

[Nick C]

It's tough but personally something like 1975 - 79 - as Wotty says for me during these years "all kinds of music just fell into place" for me.

 

If I picked one year out of that it'd be 1978 15 years old and getting really heavily into Aerosmith, Godz, Starz e.t.c.

 

The 80's were awesome too especially when I was getting more and more stuff and going to rock clubs - just music was everything to me then - but my grounding comes from the late 70's

[Glen]

One year is impossible for me, as there are so many, so I'll give you 1980-1985 as the best I can do.

 

1980 is also a pretty special year for me too, cos it was when I basically started listening to rock music and is also the year when these 3 albums were released -

 

Black Sabbath - Heaven & Hell

Saxon - Wheels of Steel

AC/DC - Back In Black

 

They were on pretty much continuous rotation for months on end and I loved them.

 

God knows how many times Ive played those 3 albums, but its a lot!! lol

 

[kourosofsteel3]

Initially i thought to go for 1984. But being 90% metalhead ( and 10% prog rock/aor/classical) i decided to go for the 86-89 period of my beloved US/German/worldwide metal. Honorable mention to the 90's scene of European(mostly) prog metal.

[Glen]

Hard to argue with 1989. Anything between 1987 and 1993 were great years for me...my teen years.

 

The well seemed to dry up between 1994 and 2000. I went from buying 2 new titles a week to maybe 2 a month in these years. The fact that I didn't have much money didn't help either.

 

In and around 2001 or 2002 I got my first computer with something called the internet. The revelation of the internet seemed to have brought some old bands back to my world and was also able to introduce me to newer bands at a speed I hadn't seen since the glory days of Hair Metal on Much Music/MTV. My first purchase from the net was from a fave band of mine Harem Scarem's WOTW, sad to say a Canadian band's cd could not be bought here in Canada....a few months later I did find it under the Rubber moniker. In these same couple of years, I discovered downloading/sharing for 'free'...we all know that it was later deemed illegal and all the sites I went to vanished. In 2002 I also opened my Ebay account which brought lots of new stuff to my attention and in 2004 I became a forum member of some website called Heavy Harmonies.

 

The arrival of the internet also permitted me to sample music from various artists, something that made it easier to find new artists and blow off really bad stuff. I still don't buy at the pace I did during my teen years, however I rarely buy something I don't really like.

 

IMO since 2006, with maybe the exception of 2007 every year has been fantastic, 2010 probably being the best of the lot.

 

Yeah quite right - the first 2 albums I bought after getting on the net was Harem's WOTW and Higher ! I couldnt believe how much great music was about that Id basically missed, purely because it wasnt covered anywhere! All hail the net!

 

[Glen]

1984 was the greatest year ever. Why? I was fourteen years old, I was a full blown Metal Maniac and all of these albums were released. Damn, we'll never see a year this good again.

 

Judas Priest - Defenders of the Faith

Iron Maiden - Powerslave

Metallica - Ride the Lightning

Anthrax - Fistful of Metal

Armored Saint - March of the Saint

W.A.S.P.'s self titled

Dokken - Tooth & Nail

Mercyful Fate - Don't Break the Oath

Metal Church's self titled

Strype - Yellow & Black Attack

Dio - Last In Line

Trouble - Psalm 9

Queensryche - The Warning

Ratt - Out of the Cellar

Twisted Sister - Stay Hungry

Scorpions - Love at First Sting

Ramones - Too Tough to Die

Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers

Motorhead - No Remorse

KISS - Animalize

 

Yeah some great album there....I especially played to death the Maiden, Dokken, Dio, Ratt, Motorhead and Kiss.

 

My most played album of 84 though was Bon Jovi - s/t

 

[LV KIX]

No doubt I have to go with 1981. The list of great releases from "81" goes on forever.

 

Here is but a short list of my favs.

 

TRIUMPH - "Allied Forces"... The only release that I rate at 100%

MSG - "One Night At Budokan"... The best live release ever (my opinion)

SAXON - "Denim And Leather"... Enough said

APRIL WINE - "The Nature Of The Beast"... The band's masterpiece

MOLLY HATCHET - "Take No Prisoners"

DEF LEPPARD - "High 'N Dry".. Thier crowning jewel.. still

LITA FORD - "Out For Blood"... Her first release since The Runaways

KIX - "Kix"... Finally a debut release

LOVERBOY - "Get Lucky".. Still gets a ton of spins

Y&T - "Earthshaker"

RIOT - "Fire Down Under"... My introduction to this band

OZZY OSBOURNE - "Blizzard Of Ozz".. Ozzy goes solo

BLUE OYSTER CULT - "Fire Of Unknown Origin"

KROKUS - "Hardware"

BILLY SQUIER - "Don't Say No".... Yeah.. I dig Squier

JOAN JETT and the BLACKHEARTS - "I Love Rock N Roll"

JOAN JETT - "Bad Reputation".. The self titled debut is picked up and released by a major.

 

Gotta be the best year ever...

[Nick C]

Yeah Dave 81 was cool...Kix, Squier Y&T Loverboy....all big albums for me then not to forget Foreigner 4 for me .

[Metal T]

1987...without hesitation.

[zacharyamelie]

Something tells me our responses depend on our age more than the actual years. Not that I don't love stuff 1978 the first VH came out that year...but I was 3...Sorry Nick! Just like Jez loving the 1980-85 years, something tells me Jez is closer in age to 50 rather than 30...again sorry Jez. I was always told to respect my elders.

 

I remember getting my first tape in 1984 for my 9th bithday it was Twisted Sister's Stay Hungry....I was hooked on Hair Metal from then on. My Dad thought they were girls. I remember a few years later trying to convince him that Poison was a bunch of guys, from the cover of Look What The Cat Dragged In, it's easy to see why he thought they were also chicks.

[Jeff]

1987...without hesitation.

 

+1

 

A few from that year:

GnR - Appetite

Dio - Dream Evil

Whitesnake - 1987

Dokken - Back For The Attack

Tigertailz - Young And Crazy

Crue - Girls, Girls, Girls

Faster Pussycat - S/T

Def Leppard - Hysteria

Aerosmith - Permanent Vacation

[Studboy]

1983-1984 for me, can't choose just one.

[heaven&hell]

1987...without hesitation.

 

+1

 

A few from that year:

GnR - Appetite

Dio - Dream Evil

Whitesnake - 1987

Dokken - Back For The Attack

Tigertailz - Young And Crazy

Crue - Girls, Girls, Girls

Faster Pussycat - S/T

Def Leppard - Hysteria

Aerosmith - Permanent Vacation

 

Y&T - Contagious

[heaven&hell]

No doubt I have to go with 1981. The list of great releases from "81" goes on forever.

 

Here is but a short list of my favs.

 

TRIUMPH - "Allied Forces"... The only release that I rate at 100%

MSG - "One Night At Budokan"... The best live release ever (my opinion)

SAXON - "Denim And Leather"... Enough said

APRIL WINE - "The Nature Of The Beast"... The band's masterpiece

MOLLY HATCHET - "Take No Prisoners"

DEF LEPPARD - "High 'N Dry".. Thier crowning jewel.. still

LITA FORD - "Out For Blood"... Her first release since The Runaways

KIX - "Kix"... Finally a debut release

LOVERBOY - "Get Lucky".. Still gets a ton of spins

Y&T - "Earthshaker"

RIOT - "Fire Down Under"... My introduction to this band

OZZY OSBOURNE - "Blizzard Of Ozz".. Ozzy goes solo

BLUE OYSTER CULT - "Fire Of Unknown Origin"

KROKUS - "Hardware"

BILLY SQUIER - "Don't Say No".... Yeah.. I dig Squier

JOAN JETT and the BLACKHEARTS - "I Love Rock N Roll"

JOAN JETT - "Bad Reputation".. The self titled debut is picked up and released by a major.

 

Gotta be the best year ever...

 

Black Sabbath-Mob Rules

[Stefan]

One year is impossible for me, as there are so many, so I'll give you 1980-1985 as the best I can do.

I almost agree with Jez. I'd move the years slightly forward: 1981-1986.I know, I'm getting old. Closing in on the half century mark...

[Glen]

No doubt I have to go with 1981. The list of great releases from "81" goes on forever.

 

Here is but a short list of my favs.

 

TRIUMPH - "Allied Forces"... The only release that I rate at 100%

MSG - "One Night At Budokan"... The best live release ever (my opinion)

SAXON - "Denim And Leather"... Enough said

APRIL WINE - "The Nature Of The Beast"... The band's masterpiece

MOLLY HATCHET - "Take No Prisoners"

DEF LEPPARD - "High 'N Dry".. Thier crowning jewel.. still

LITA FORD - "Out For Blood"... Her first release since The Runaways

KIX - "Kix"... Finally a debut release

LOVERBOY - "Get Lucky".. Still gets a ton of spins

Y&T - "Earthshaker"

RIOT - "Fire Down Under"... My introduction to this band

OZZY OSBOURNE - "Blizzard Of Ozz".. Ozzy goes solo

BLUE OYSTER CULT - "Fire Of Unknown Origin"

KROKUS - "Hardware"

BILLY SQUIER - "Don't Say No".... Yeah.. I dig Squier

JOAN JETT and the BLACKHEARTS - "I Love Rock N Roll"

JOAN JETT - "Bad Reputation".. The self titled debut is picked up and released by a major.

 

Gotta be the best year ever...

 

Black Sabbath-Mob Rules

 

Better than most in the list ;-)

[Glen]

No doubt I have to go with 1981. The list of great releases from "81" goes on forever.

 

Here is but a short list of my favs.

 

TRIUMPH - "Allied Forces"... The only release that I rate at 100%

MSG - "One Night At Budokan"... The best live release ever (my opinion)

SAXON - "Denim And Leather"... Enough said

APRIL WINE - "The Nature Of The Beast"... The band's masterpiece

MOLLY HATCHET - "Take No Prisoners"

DEF LEPPARD - "High 'N Dry".. Thier crowning jewel.. still

LITA FORD - "Out For Blood"... Her first release since The Runaways

KIX - "Kix"... Finally a debut release

LOVERBOY - "Get Lucky".. Still gets a ton of spins

Y&T - "Earthshaker"

RIOT - "Fire Down Under"... My introduction to this band

OZZY OSBOURNE - "Blizzard Of Ozz".. Ozzy goes solo

BLUE OYSTER CULT - "Fire Of Unknown Origin"

KROKUS - "Hardware"

BILLY SQUIER - "Don't Say No".... Yeah.. I dig Squier

JOAN JETT and the BLACKHEARTS - "I Love Rock N Roll"

JOAN JETT - "Bad Reputation".. The self titled debut is picked up and released by a major.

 

Gotta be the best year ever...

 

Black Sabbath-Mob Rules

 

Better than most in the list ;-)

 

Also Motörhead - No Sleep !!!!

[embrock]

Well, my teen years were the late 90's / early 00 - probably one of the worst times in music ever (f.e. Crazytown - Butterfly, anyone remember that pile of crap??)! So back then I'd chosen either 1986 or 1991, but to somehow being part of a sort of Rock-revival in recent years (went to a lot of concerts and resurfacing rock-partys) is just great in my age, so I'd have to at least add 2008 and 2010 to the aforementioned.

[kourosofsteel3]

No doubt I have to go with 1981. The list of great releases from "81" goes on forever.

 

Here is but a short list of my favs.

 

TRIUMPH - "Allied Forces"... The only release that I rate at 100%

MSG - "One Night At Budokan"... The best live release ever (my opinion)

SAXON - "Denim And Leather"... Enough said

APRIL WINE - "The Nature Of The Beast"... The band's masterpiece

MOLLY HATCHET - "Take No Prisoners"

DEF LEPPARD - "High 'N Dry".. Thier crowning jewel.. still

LITA FORD - "Out For Blood"... Her first release since The Runaways

KIX - "Kix"... Finally a debut release

LOVERBOY - "Get Lucky".. Still gets a ton of spins

Y&T - "Earthshaker"

RIOT - "Fire Down Under"... My introduction to this band

OZZY OSBOURNE - "Blizzard Of Ozz".. Ozzy goes solo

BLUE OYSTER CULT - "Fire Of Unknown Origin"

KROKUS - "Hardware"

BILLY SQUIER - "Don't Say No".... Yeah.. I dig Squier

JOAN JETT and the BLACKHEARTS - "I Love Rock N Roll"

JOAN JETT - "Bad Reputation".. The self titled debut is picked up and released by a major.

 

Gotta be the best year ever...

 

 

 

 

my fave from the list...

[kourosofsteel3]

Well, my teen years were the late 90's / early 00 - probably one of the worst times in music ever (f.e. Crazytown - Butterfly, anyone remember that pile of crap??)! So back then I'd chosen either 1986 or 1991, but to somehow being part of a sort of Rock-revival in recent years (went to a lot of concerts and resurfacing rock-partys) is just great in my age, so I'd have to at least add 2008 and 2010 to the aforementioned.

 

Great year

[Metal 4 Ever]

There have been so many great releases over the years, but for me, I think 1990 has the best quality when looking at the top 30 or so releases from each year.

 

Alias – s/t

Artillery – By Inheritance

Atrophy – Violent by Nature

Blue Tears – s/t

Brass Kitten – E-Z ‘n’ Pretty

Demolition Hammer – Tortured Existence

Domino – The Key

Eli – Push it Hard

Eyes – s/t

Firehouse – s/t

48 Crash – Some Like it Hot

Friction – Baby Talk

Holy Soldier – s/t

Jillson – Deadly Girl

Julliet – s/t

Kid Cyote – Animal Lust

Killer Dwarfs – Dirty Weapons

Paul Laine – Stick it in Your Ear

Lipstik – First Kiss

Megadeth – Rust in Peace

Pretty Maids – Jump the Gun

Pyracanda – Two Sides of a Coin

The Paul Godfrey Band – Magic Touch

Queensryche – Empire

Rock Boulevard – s/t

Roxxi – Drive it to ya Hard!

Sin City – s/t

Testament – Souls of Black

Theatre – Sexy Lady

Tigertailz – Bezerk

Vicious Rumors – s/t

Warrant – Cherry Pie

Zinatra – The Great Escape