In your opinion, what years have had the most stacked lineups of albums or songs? Stacked can refer to a collection of albums/songs that hold/held cultural significance, influenced music in some way, are beneficial in some way for the artists that made them, or are simply great or star studded. What determines if a year is stacked or not can be measured by impact of music, quantity of music, or both. Other factors include retrospective/ historical significance, and even a face value look at the albums/ songs released at the time.

For me:

1976
Songs in the Key of Life-Stevie Wonder
The Jacksons
Look Out for #1- The Brothers Johnson
Spirit- Earth, Wind and Fire
Good High- Brick
Hot on the Tracks- The Commodores
I Want You- Marvin Gaye
Too Hot to Handle- Heatwave

1980
Hotter than July- Stevie Wonder
Triumph- The Jacksons
Let's Get Serious- Jermaine Jackson
S.O.S.-The S.O.S. Band
Dirty Mind- Prince
The GAP Band III
Light Up the Night- The Brothers Johnson
Glass Houses- Billy Joel
Faces- Earth, Wind and Fire
Garden of Love- Rick James
Diana- Diana Ross

1981
Street Songs- Rick James
Controversy- Prince
Face Value- Phil Collins
In Our Lifetime- Marvin Gaye
Dare- Human League

1982
Gap Band IV
Hot Space- Queen
Thriller- Michael Jackson
1999- Prince
Throwin' Down- Rick James
S.O.S. III- The S.O.S. Band
Reunion- The Temptations
Lionel Richie
Midnight Love- Marvin Gaye
Vanity 6
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

1983
On the Rise- The S.O.S. Band
Can't Slow Down- Lionel Richie
Sports- Huey Lewis and the News
Cold Blooded- Rick James
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)- Eurythmics
She Works Hard for the Money- Donna Summer
Weird Al Yankovic
She's So Unusual- Cyndi Lauper

1984
Nuff said.

1987
Bad- Michael Jackson
Appetite for Destruction- Guns N Roses
Characters- Stevie Wonder
Sign O' the Times- Prince
Faith- George Michael

1991
Dangerous- Michael Jackson
Nevermind- Nirvana
Jungle Fever Soundtrack- Stevie Wonder

1994
Illmatic- Nas
Southernplayalisticcadillacmuzik- Outkast
Ready to Die- Notorious B.I.G.
[Edited 4/10/15 7:56am]
[Edited 4/21/15 13:15pm]

I believe based on the empirical evidence

the last truly great year in music was 2001........in all genres at the same time

it appeared as if a resurgence was about to hit and then eventually, the music gave way years later....

sexton said:

There are actually a few more years that I didn't include, for the sake of discussion as well as laziness. I think I typed enough for an OP but honestly '89 wasn't a year I gave too much thought.

However, I'd add Randy & The Gypsys and 2300 Jackson Street to 1989 as well. Both very good albums. The singles of the Fine Young Cannibals also resonate with me whenever 1989 is brought up.

^1989 had a lot of crap though.

1987 had a lot of great SONGS but those big albums were loaded with filler, Faith is the best of the bunch.

1994 also had my fav Madonna record and TLC's CrazySexyCool.

1965 had Satisfaction, Like a Rolling Stone, Papa's Got a Brand New Bag, Respect, My Girl... You can't beat that!

yeah, i agree with 1976, for real...

"Spirit" - EW&F

"Songs In The Key of Life" - Stevie Wonder

"Look Out For #1" - Bros. Johnson

"Good High" - Brick

"Let The music Play" - Barry White

"Harvest For The World" - Isley Bros.

"This Is Niecey" - Deniece Williams

"Carwash" soundtrack - Rose Royce

"Love To The World" - LTD

"Jailbreak" - Thin Lizzy

"Love & Understanding" - Kool & The Gang

"Chicago X" - Chicago

RJOrion said:

I'll throw in another personal favorite that I somehow neglected to include initially (and just recently did) in Heatwave's debut album, Too Hot to Handle. Fire from start to finish.