I love "The Nylon Curtain" album from 1982; very beatlesque.

"Family Reunion" the 1975 O'Jays album, is the creative peak of Gamble-Huff and TSOP IMHO.

Don't forget the first Jacksons albums for CBS "The Jackson" from 1976 and "Goin' Places" from 1977, very good both.

Sunflowerpet, I've always had a soft spot for 1971. It's hard to say if it was the best year - it's too subjective a question - but I think it's definitely up there. I remember that year well, especially from an AM radio perspective, which is all I had back then, an $8.00 transistor radio. In addition to the great albums of 1971, check out these singles:

"Me And Bobby McGee" - Janis Joplin
"You've Got A Friend" - James Taylor
"Maggie May" - Rod Stewart
"Beginnings" - Chicago
"Right On The Tip Of My Tongue" - Brenda & The tabulations
"How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" - The Bee Gees
"Superstar" - The Carpenters
"That's the way I've Always Heard It Should Be" - Carly Simon
"Mercy Mercy Me" - Marvin Gaye
"Theme From Shaft" - Isaac Hayes
"Joy To The World" - Three Dog Night"
"Wild World" - Cat Stevens
"My Sweet Lord" - George Harrison
"It Don't Come Easy" - Ringo Starr
"Do You Know What I Mean" - Lee Michaels
"Ain't No Sunshine" - Bill Withers
"Never can Say Goodbye" - Jackson 5

to name a few...

Great singles indeed, and talking about "How can you mend a broken heart" by The Bee Gees I've remembered that I had forgotten "Trafalgar" album which is a masterpiece.

1971 wasn't the best year, you can tell you're stretching when you start naming Lou Christie albums as proof.   No slam to Lou Christie, I love that guy but if he's in your top 10 that's not the best year of all time. 

"Paint America Love" is a terrific album IMHO, great orchestrations and very cinematic in sound and lyrics with a skillful production by Lou and Tony Romeo.

It's well known that 1966-67-68 were years of revolutionary albums in both sides of atlantic but I'm amused of how many great records came out in 1971:

Beach Boys- Surf's Up
Paul Mccartney- Ram
John Lennon- Imagine
The Who- Who's Next
Rolling Stones- Sticky Fingers
Led Zeppelin- IV
Carole King-Tapestry
David Bowie- Hunky Dory
T. Rex- Electric Warrior
Graham Nash- Songs For The Begginers
Pink Floyd- Meddle
Lou Christie- Paint America Love
The Doors- L.A Woman
Serge Gainsbourg-Histoire De Melody Nelson
Elton John-Madman Across The Water
Harry Nilsson-Nilsson Schmilsson
etc

I think that "Hey Jude rip off" was a parody; in fact there are lines in the lyrics wich said "People worship crosses with their fingers crossed back" which is an alussion to the Beatles and their experience with the Maharishi at India and all that trascendental meditation stuff (In the inner cover art of the album there is a cartoon of the beatles with Maharishi and a woman naked and those lyrics I've mentioned before).
Jersey Boys have done great albums: "Rag doll", "Entertain You", "Workin' My Way Back To You", "New Gold Hits" and their fabolous album in Motown label in 1972 "Chameleon", another gem.

Talking about great albums, I'd recommend "The Mighty Garvey" by Manfred Mann, it's an album which is as the same level as another well knows albums like "Odessey and Oracle" or "Forever Changes"; there is a song called "Every Day And Another Hair To Turn Grey" that is one of the most beautiful songs I've heard in my life, Brian Wilson would have been proud of it.

Rag Doll is a very good album, and the first from Jersey Boys wich had all original tunes and no covers.
It's a well worth listen too "Entertain You" from 1965 and "Working My Way Back To You" from 1966, you can notice that Valli & Co had already changed their sound to deeper mood with gorgeous song such as "Betrayed", "Beggar's Parade" and most of all "Everybody Knows My Name" (very Dylanesque). And don't forget the talent of Bob Crewe, his productions have always been stylish.

       Three masterpices:

     Marcella
      Cuddle Up
      All This Is That
      
      Two very good:
      
        You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone
       He Come Down

       Three  terrible:
          
         Make It Good
         Hold On Dear Brother
         Here She Comes

      
    

Genuine Imitation Life is not easy to listen; the first times I played it I was a little bit shocked but it improved all over the years; anyway there are some terrific songs: "Saturday's Father" (the outro is out-of-this-world), "Mrs Stately's Garden" (very Kinks sound alike), "Wonder What You'll Be"...

But if you look a very good Four Seasons album I'd talk you about "New Gold Hits" from 1967 (don't be fooled by the tittle, it's a studio album and not a compilation), that one is a very good lp with impressive tracks such as "C'mon Marianne", "Beggin'", "Around And Around", "I'm Gonna Change", etc.

  1. California Girls
  2. You're So Good To Me
  3. Let Him Run Wild
  4. Help me Rhonda
  5. Amusement Parks USA
  6. Then I Kissed Her
  7. Girld Don't Tell Me
  8. The Girl Fom New York City
  9. Summer Means A New Lovfe
 10. Salt Lake City
 11. And Your Dreams Come True
 12. I'm Bugged At My Ol' Man

 1. All I Wanna Do
 2. This Whole World
 3. Forever
 4. At My Window
 5. Add Some Music To Your Day
 6. Deirdre
 7. Our Sweet Love
 8. Slip On Through
 9. Cool Cool Water
10.It's About Time
11. Tears In The Morning
12. Got To Know The Woman

 1. California
 2. Steamboat
 3. Sail On Sailor
 4. Funky Pretty
 5. Big Sur
 6. Trader
 7. Only With You
 8. Beak Of Eagles
 9. Leaving This Town

The Carl lead vocal on "Cabbinessence" was recorded in 1966 or in late 1968?

 1. Cabbinessence
 2. Time To Get Alone
 3. I Can Hear Music
 4. Do It Again
 5. The Nearest Faraway Place
 6. I Went To Sleep
 7. Be With Me
 8. Cotton Fields
 9. Our Prayer
10.All I Want To Do
11.Never Learn No To Love
12.Bluebirds Over The Mountain

 1. God Only Knows
 2. Wouldn't It Be Nice
 3. You Still Believe In Me
 4. I'm Waiting For The Day
 5. Caroline No
 6. I Just Wasn't Made For These Times
 7. Sloop John B
 8. Let's Go Away For Awhile
 9. Here Today
10.Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
11.I Know There's An Answer
12.That's Not Me
13.Pet Sounds

 1. Good Vibrations
 2. Heroes And Villains
 3. Wind Chimes
 4. WIth Me Tonight
 5. Little Pad
 6. Wonderful
 7. She's Goin' Bald
 8. Vegetables
 9. Fall Breaks And Back To Winter
10.Gettin' Hungry
11.Whistle In

 1. I'll Bet He's Nice
 2. Mona
 3. Johnny Carson
 4. I Wanna Pick You Up
 5. Love Is A Woman
 6. Let Us Go On This Way
 7. Roller Skating Child
 8. Honkin' Down The Highway
 9. Solar System
10.The Night Was So Young
11.Good Time
12.Airplane
13.Let's Put Our Hearts Together
14.Ding Dang

 1. Goin' On
 2. Santa Ana Winds
 3. When Girls Get Together
 4. Oh Darling
 5. Some of Your Love
 6. Keepin' The Summer Alive
 7. Sunshine
 8. Livin' With A Heartache
 9. Shool Days
10.Endless Harmony

When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) - Harpsichord

Country Air - Chamberlin

Wake The World- Tuba

Feel Flows- Flute

 1. Lady Lynda
 2. Angel Come Home
 3. Sumahama
 4. Good Timin'
 5. Baby Blue
 6. Shortenin' Bread
 7. Love Surrounds Me
 8. Goin' South
 9. Full Sail
10. Here Comes The Night

"Who can teach a songbird how to sing" by The Cowsills.

It would be perfect for Carl on lead.

A criminally underrated album:

1.Sweet sunday kinda love (the voice of Carl is like caramel)
2.My Diane
3.Wontcha come out tonight
4.Match point of our love (I don't care the lyrics, melody is sublime)
5.She's Got Rhythm
6.Hey Little Tomboy
7.Pitter Patter
8.Belles of Paris
9.Come Go with Me
10.Kona Coast
11.Winds of Change
12.Peggy Sue

"Lahaina Aloha" shines on Summer In Paradise like a gem in a five and dime store.

Any new info about it?

What do you think?, I think it's now or never...

Early 63:Surfing USA vs Please Please Me = PLEASE PLEASE ME
late 63: Little Douce Coupe vs With the Beatles = LITTLE DEUCE COUPE
Early 64: Shut Down II vs Meet the Beatles = MEET THE BEATLES
mid 64: All Summer Long vs Hard Days Night = ALL SUMMER LONG
late 64: Christmas LP vs Beatles for Sale = BEATLES FOR SALE
mid 65: Today and SDSN vs Help! = TODAY & SD(&SN)
late 65: Party vs Rubber Soul = RUBBER SOUL
mid 66: Pet Sounds vs Revolver = PET SOUNDS
mid 67: SMiLE sessions vs Sgt Pepper = SGT PEPPER'S (I like the finished albums)
late 67: Smiley Smile and Wild Honey vs Magical Mystery Tour  = MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR
68: Friends vs White Album = WHITE ALBUM
69: 20/20 vs Abbey Road = 20/20 (I think that Abbey Road is one of the most overated albums of all the time IMHO)
70: Sunflower vs Let it Be = SUNFLOWER

I know, "Forever" is more popular but I think IMHO that "Cuddle Up" is probably the best song Dennis ever wrote.
The melody and Dennis vocal are gorgeous, the strings and most of all the bridge with those backing vocals that seems angels singing instead of human beings.
Epic song.