I'm still deciding whether I like 1984 or 1985 more. I like music from that era because it was fun without being stupid. Although I'm pretty sure every era has its duds and horrible songs.

2nd place would 1959 IMHO.

3rd would be 1969.

What's your favorite years of music?

Good time to answer this question!

I own a juke box and I played the Top 100 songs of every year for the past year since 1962, with all the top 7's of 1955 to 1961, and I am currently on 1989. My ranking here will be based upon my opinions, as that method is about as "mainstream" as you can get. But I'll say:

1. 1966
2. 1973
3. 1965
4. 1983
5. 1967
6. 1972
7. 1969
8. 1970
9. 1984
10. 1978
11. 1964
12. 1958
13. 1957
14. 1963
15. 1971
16. 1982
17. 1968
18. 1985
19. 1959
20. 1974
21. 1976
22. 1987
23. 1977
24. 1975
25. 1960
26. 1979
27. 1962
28. 1981
29. 1956
30. 1955
31. 1986
32. 1961
33. 1980
34. 1988
35. 1989

I'm already noticing the dropoff in quality; 1987 was a bit higher due to best Hair Metal and the beginning of the New Jack Swing era of R&B and U2. 1955 and 1956 are low due to the adult music still dominating the youth music at the time; and had really been a shadow of what the standards were compared to the peak of the Big Band era (mid-'30s-mid-'40s).

Good time to answer this question!

I own a juke box and I played the Top 100 songs of every year for the past year since 1962, with all the top 7's of 1955 to 1961, and I am currently on 1989. My ranking here will be based upon my opinions, as that method is about as "mainstream" as you can get. But I'll say:

1. 1966
2. 1973
3. 1965
4. 1983
5. 1967
6. 1972
7. 1969
8. 1970
9. 1984
10. 1978
11. 1964
12. 1958
13. 1957
14. 1963
15. 1971
16. 1982
17. 1968
18. 1985
19. 1959
20. 1974
21. 1976
22. 1987
23. 1977
24. 1975
25. 1960
26. 1979
27. 1962
28. 1981
29. 1956
30. 1955
31. 1986
32. 1961
33. 1980
34. 1988
35. 1989

I'm already noticing the dropoff in quality; 1987 was a bit higher due to best Hair Metal and the beginning of the New Jack Swing era of R&B and U2. 1955 and 1956 are low due to the adult music still dominating the youth music at the time; and had really been a shadow of what the standards were compared to the peak of the Big Band era (mid-'30s-mid-'40s).


1 Karma. That's cool as hell yelimsexa!

My favorite year for Top 40 was 1983, the height of the second British Invasion and Michael Jackson mania.  

That was the year I listened to American Top 40 with Casey Kasem every week!

Three of my favorite bands, The Police, A Flock of Seagulls, and The Fixx toured one bill that year.  AFOS scored their last Top 40 hit with "Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)."  The Fixx had "Saved by Zero" and "One Thing Leads to Another" in the Top 10.  The Police hit the Top 10 with "Wrapped Around Your Finger" and Number One for eight weeks with "Every Breath You Take"  beating out other megahits, such as MJ's "Billie Jean" (seven weeks) and Irene Cara singing "Flashdance (What a Feeling)" (six weeks).  The Police also received airplay at the end of the year with "Synchronicity II" and "King of Pain," both of which would hit the Top 20 early in '84.  "Synchronicity" is the highest-selling pop album I ever bought.  It sold over 17 million copies -- quite a lot in 1983!  

The Talking Heads hit the Top 10 with "Burning Down the House," which precipitated a lifelong fan-hood for me.  TH were already favorites of my sister and brother-in-law so I had heard their music, but it didn't click with me until the "Speaking In Tongues" album.  

The Eurythmics were huge that year.  "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" and "Love is a Stranger."  Awesome songs.  

Duran Duran were at their peak.  "Is There Something I Should Know" and "Union of the Snake" were in the Top Five that year, though the "Rio" album and its singles and videos were STILL in heavy rotation.   Though "The Reflex" would hit Number One in 1984, the height of Durannie fever.

Speaking of New Romantic, Spandau Ballet reached the Top Five with "True," and the Top 40 with "Gold."

Ultravox even had some radio play with "Reap the Wild Wind," though the single only reached the Hot 100.

David Bowie had his best year for chart performance.  "Let's Dance" hit Number One with Top 10s for "China Girl" and "Modern Love."

Culture Club coasted into 1983 on the Top 10s: "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me," "Time (Clock of the Heart)," and "I'll Tumble 4Ya" and coasted out on "The Church of the Poison Mind" (#2) and "Karma Chameleon" (their only U.S. #1).

Pink Floyd spat out their final release with Roger Waters as "The Final Cut."  Still a good record though!

Other artists I enjoyed that year:  Bonnie Tyler, Cyndi Lauper, Prince, Dexy's Midnight Runners, Plant P Project, Modern English, The The (airplay nominal but present), Yazoo, Heaven 17, Men Without Hats, Nick Heyward, Kajagoogoo, and so many others.

This was all with a continuo of Michael Jackson's hits -- "Billie Jean," "Beat It," "The Girl is Mine," "PYT," "Want to be Starting Something," etc.  If you weren't there it's hard to describe how popular MJ was that year.  Every teenage girl in the country loved him and even people who wouldn't admit to liking MJ were bopping right along to the radio!

Waiting in the wings for me:  Depeche Mode.
:)

From a critical standpoint, 1967, 1968 or 1969
Personally? 1983

Man, this will be hard for me to decide, my favorite music is from the late 60's to early 80's. I think alot of older music critics would think 1967 was the best year for music, but somebody who is a Soulja Boy/Ringtone rap fan would probably think 2007 was the best year for music  8-P. I chooooooooose................................1978, it had new wave and groovy disco(The Police debuted that year, I love The Police), next would be 1982 for me, Thriller and 1999 come out that year.

I chose 1983 interpreting the question as "favorite" as opposed to demonstrably best.  I don't like to talk in terms of "demonstrably" when I talk about modern pop music.  People are allied with the pop music of their childhoods and their teens.  Some people get awfully snippy about it!
;)

I chose 1983 interpreting the question as "favorite" as opposed to demonstrably best.  I don't like to talk in terms of "demonstrably" when I talk about modern pop music.  People are allied with the pop music of their childhoods and their teens.  Some people get awfully snippy about it!
;)


Hey, this thread said 'in your opinion', it didn't say to think objectively.  ;D

But MaxwellSmart, I promise I won't get snippy, what was the demonstrably best years of mainstream music?

Off hand, for me the best year for music, was 1985. 

Worst year for music?  Probably, I would have to say, 1993.

Maybe 1968.  John and Yoko recorded "Revolution Number 9," which they fought to get included on the so-called "White Album."*

Frank Zappa was in his prime.  The Beach Boys had gone psychedelic.  Composers such as John Cage and Steve Reich were making influential music that year.  Pink Floyd released "Umma Gumma."  There seemed to be more of an air of possibility rather than just commercial marketing.  A lot of my feelings about the late sixties speak of potential presented and potential blown. 

Everything is hived in little compartments now.  In 1968 there seemed like there might actually be a merging of jazz, avant garde music, and rock.  I don't mean just progressive rock, I mean a more shared influence among all the arts.  The hippies would just sit there and listen to Allen Ginsberg read his poetry.  There were "happenings."  Cage and the Fluxus Movement...and Yoko...were on the cutting edge of the downtown scene.  The arts, whether folksy or elegant, had a more populist and idealist feeling to them.

"Woodstock" was probably the best single achievement for this ideal. 

I remember 1983 as my own favorite year for pop music.  The difference was the degree to which the artists were controlled by image-makers rather than making their own image.  I loved it all the same.  It was better than those goddawful Led Zeppelin records my sister always used to play!
::)

Maybe 1968.  John and Yoko recorded "Revolution Number 9," which they fought to get included on the so-called "White Album."*

Frank Zappa was in his prime.  The Beach Boys had gone psychedelic.  Composers such as John Cage and Steve Reich were making influential music that year.  Pink Floyd released "Umma Gumma."  There seemed to be more of an air of possibility rather than just commercial marketing.  A lot of my feelings about the late sixties speak of potential presented and potential blown. 

Everything is hived in little compartments now.  In 1968 there seemed like there might actually be a merging of jazz, avant garde music, and rock.  I don't mean just progressive rock, I mean a more shared influence among all the arts.  The hippies would just sit there and listen to Allen Ginsberg read his poetry.  There were "happenings."  Cage and the Fluxus Movement...and Yoko...were on the cutting edge of the downtown scene.  The arts, whether folksy or elegant, had a more populist and idealist feeling to them.

"Woodstock" was probably the best single achievement for this ideal. 

I remember 1983 as my own favorite year for pop music.  The difference was the degree to which the artists were controlled by image-makers rather than making their own image.  I loved it all the same.  It was better than those goddawful Led Zeppelin records my sister always used to play!
::)

I agree! The late 60's was a great time for music! It'll be a long time until we reach an era like that again. Maybe not until 100 years from now.  :-\\

Worst year of music: 1999, 2000, 2008.

Best Years 1984, 1987, 1994, 1996.

Worst year of music: 1999, 2000, 2008.

Best Years 1984, 1987, 1994, 1996.


The worse for me was 2003.

My favorite year for Top 40 was 1983, the height of the second British Invasion and Michael Jackson mania.  




Same here.  1983 followed closely by 1977.

As for 1983, I think Pat Benetar deserves a mention (Love Is A Battlefield), Thompson Twins (If You Were Here), Nena (99 Luftballoons), and Joe Jackson (Breaking Us In Two). 

I'm partial to 1977 mainly because of Saturday Night Fever, but there were some great light rock songs that year too.