5 of the Best Solo Albums by Women of 1971

1971 was a treasure trove of albums, but especially from women. There were some amazing women releasing music that year—The Staple Singers put out The Staple Swingers which featured the legend Mavis Staples along with her sisters; James Taylor’s younger sister Kate Taylor put out her debut; and Karen Carpenter along with her brother also released their debut. However, there were a handful of solo women who were putting out work that year as well.

In October 1971, Dolly Parton released Coat of Many Colors. This was her eighth studio album and featured the songs “My Blue Tears,” “Here I Am,” and the title track “Coat of Many Colors,” among others. “Coat of Many Colors” told the story of Parton’s mother stitching together a patchwork coat for her daughter out of rags, while telling her the biblical tale of Joseph’s coat of many colors. While the effort is heartfelt, Parton then recalls going to school only to be made fun of for wearing a coat made of rags. Additionally, Parton was still a regular on Porter Wagoner’s show, and he wrote three of the songs on this album.

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Solo Women Released Incredible Albums in 1971, from Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton to Janis Joplin and Carole King

On January 4, Loretta Lynn released her acclaimed sixteenth album, Coal Miner’s Daughter. The title track was autobiographical, and was eventually used as the title for Lynn’s memoir and the 1980 film which starred Sissy Spacek. Coal Miner’s Daughter also includes the songs “For the Good Times” written by Kris Kristofferson, “Less of Me” written by Glen Campbell, and “Too Far” written by Marty Robbins, among others. Overall, this became her signature, although critics found that her strongest offering was the title track. She wrote that herself, and many reviewers called for an “all-Loretta penned album.”

In February, Carole King dropped Tapestry, her second album. This was, and still is, an incredible album that won four GRAMMYs at the 1972 awards and often places high on all-time best albums lists. Tapestry included the songs “It’s Too Late,” “I Feel the Earth Move,” “You’ve Got a Friend,” and “(You Make Me Feel) Like a Natural Woman,” originally made famous by Aretha Franklin. This album is not only exceptional, but has had quite the cultural impact. It was even chosen as one of 50 albums to be preserved in the Library of Congress as part of the National Recording Registry.

Joni Mitchell Proved She Deserves to be Considered One of the Greatest Songwriters of Our Age

Janis Joplin‘s album Pearl was released on January 11, 1971, three months after her death in October 1970. This posthumous album peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 at the time, holding that position for nine weeks. Notably, the sound is much more polished on Pearl and Joplin’s vocals shine through more than they did with Big Brother and the Holding Company. This can be attributed to producer Paul A. Rothchild, as well as a new studio band. Pearl showcased Joplin’s incredibly unique vocal style, and each song was specifically chosen by Joplin so that her best work was highlighted.

On June 22, Joni Mitchell released her fourth studio album, Blue. This album was the result of her breakup with Graham Nash and her relationship with James Taylor at the time. Blue is often lauded for its cohesive songwriting and themes of love, insecurity, and relationships. Many critics call it one of the best albums ever made, and the New York Times chose it as one of 25 albums that represented “turning points and pinnacles in 20th-century popular music.” Mitchell is often considered one of the greatest songwriters alive today, and Blue is definitely a testament to that statement.

Featured Image by Robert Knight Archive/Redferns