Albums turning 50 in 2020 that everyone should listen to

The final studio album by this famed duo was released in late January 1970 and covered a wide range of musical styles, all the way from pop to gospel. It's also responsible for three of their most popular hits in the emotional title cut, folksy "The Boxer" and spirited "Cecilia." The Grammy Award-winning effort is considered one of the greatest albums of all time, and though it was Simon & Garfunkel's last, it is a solid introduction to young music fans interested in the two. 

Less than three years removed from his debut album that featured the timeless smash "Brown Eyed Girl," Morrison needed a rebound after his second release, "Astral Weeks," failed from a commercial standpoint. Morrison delivered an album with a more lively and engaging sound from his sophomore effort. Poppier, yet jazzy, Tunes like the memorable title track, plus "Come Running" and "Crazy Love," drew regular air time on FM radio and solidified Morrison as a star.

This was Taylor's second studio release and first for Warner Bros. It's best known for the classic "Fire and Rain," which not only elevated Taylor to the upper-echelon among singer-songwriters of the time but also essentially defined his career. Though the album received mixed critical reviews upon its release, it's held up well over the years and is a great example of the brilliant storyteller Taylor would become.

The Doors returned to the blues-infused rock sound that highlighted the band's earlier efforts. While the album might not be among favorites of casual Doors fans, it's truly one of its more underrated projects. The hard-charging, popular "Roadhouse Blues" makes the listener want to kick back with a beer and take it all in, while "Peace Frog" is a political hop that showcases the musical talent of all four band members. It's a great album to dig deeper into the poetic mind of Jim Morrison while appreciating how talented the rest of the group could be. 

First released on Feb. 13, 1970, in the United Kingdom, the music world — by many accounts and opinions — was introduced to a sound that would become known as "heavy metal." That's when Birmingham, England's, Black Sabbath delivered this historic debut album. Paced by Ozzy Osbourne's snarling and shrilling vocals, Sabbath's sound was heavy, dark and well rooted into the blues. It was really nothing like what was being played commercially at the time. As we'll see later on in this list, Sabbath would not be done turning the rock world on its ear in 1970.

This is the first album released by the quartet, and it featured classic staples such as "Woodstock" and "Teach Your Children." It truly showcased the individual talent of each member and showed why there perhaps is no better group in in music history that delivered such harmonic excellence. It also opened the door for each member to enjoy success on the solo front. 

The jazz legend continued his experimentation with a more electric sound on this double album. And once again Davis showed just how versatile, creative and innovative he became as a musician and composer. Many consider "Bitches Brew" as the album that paved the way for more artists to fuse jazz and rock. The 27-minute title song should be considered the gem of the project. 

It was the end of the line for the Beatles, which had already broken up when this album was released in May 1970. While it did not receive the critical success like the previous 11 Beatles studio albums, it was the tension that it took to simply finish, which was conveyed with the motion picture of the same name, that makes it more infamous than anything else. Still, the title cut is one of the most recognizable and poignant songs of all time, while "Get Back" and "The Long and Winding Road" also remain timeless Beatles staples.

"Rock" was the first studio album to feature the band's classic lineup of Ian Gillan, Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, Ian Paice and Roger Glover. Like the work of Black Sabbath, this record continued to heighten the attraction of heavy metal, especially in Europe, where it was Purple's most accessible project to date. Opening track "Speed King" slays from the start thanks to Blackmore's guitar and is a roller coaster of sound lifted further by Gillan's iconic vocal range.

To say 1970 was a big year for the Dead would be an understatement. It started with this release, the band's fourth studio album that was bookended by two of its most popular tracks — "Uncle John's Band" and "Casey Jones." For music fans looking to back track and get into the Dead, which in its current form is still touring, 1970 is a great place to start, with "Workingman's Dead" to kick things off.

Following a short breakup, Traffic returned with what would become its most successful album in the United States. Led by the former musical wunderkind Stevie Winwood, Traffic offers an album that is friendly to the ears and masses. It's just over a half-hour long, so it's a quick but entertaining ride that has a little progressive-rock feel. The soulful "Empty Pages" remains the record's highlight.

While "Fun House" wasn't a hit upon release, it's grown in popularity over the years and had a major influence on such artists like the Ramones, Melvins and Jack White — to name a few. The song "1970" has become a popular cover over the years, and the entire record is worth a listen for those who only know Iggy Pop and Co. for their 1973 release, "Raw Power."

The peak of CCR's success arguably came with his release from July 1970. This brilliant piece of music can be a greatest hits record on its own with classics like "Travelin' Band," "Lookin' Out My Back Door," "Up Around the Bend" and "Who'll Stop the Rain." The album is pure rock 'n' roll, toe-tapping and groovin' along with a band that seemed to deliver with every stellar release.

This double album is considered one of the most important soul releases in the history of the genre and paved the way for mass appeal toward Brown. Most of the album is a studio project, through a decent amount reportedly was recorded live with some enhanced production. The near 11-minute version of "Get Up I Feel Like Being a Sex Machine" is Brown at his soulful and confident best.

Mayfield is no doubt one of the most beloved and important artists and producers within the realm of soul music, and his debut was obviously a major part of that legacy. Though technically still with The Impressions at the time of the record's 1970 recording and release, Mayfield became a solo force thanks to songs like the groovy "Move on Up" and funk-fueled "("Don't Worry) If There's a Hell Below, We're All Going to Go."

Released seven months after its groundbreaking debut, Sabbath took this new and intriguing "heavy metal" sound to greater heights with one of the more influential albums within the genre. "The fact-paced title cut and iconic riff that fueled the menacingly spectacular "Iron Man" proved to be major influences on artists like Black Flag, Anthrax, Mudhoney and Soundgarden. If there's such a thing as Heavy Metal 101, "Paranoid" would be required listening.

On the heels of the success from CSN&Y's "Déjà Vu" released earlier in 1970, Young saw heightened individual praise with his third solo release. A true folk-rock masterpiece, Young established himself as a stellar songwriter, especially on popular tracks like "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" and the controversial "Southern Man." However, it's the beautifully brilliant title track that fuses Young's strength as a lyricist with his uniquely, whiney voice.   

Santana's second studio album features two of the band's most memorable tunes in "Black Magic Woman" and "Oye Como Va." Those two songs alone make it worth taking the time to give a listen to a record that left plenty of musical and cultural significance, as Santana continued to spread its versatile Latin-fused rock to the masses. 

After taking the hard rock/heavy metal world by storm with its stellar first two releases and before what many consider the band's masterpiece sits the underrated third effort from Zeppelin, which opted to showed its musical diversity. The album delivers an early punch with "Immigrant Song" then takes the listener on an epic, bluesy journey with "Since I've Been Loving You," while "Bron-Y-Aur-Stomp" is a romp worth clapping your hands and stomping your feet to.

While Gen-Xers are probably more familiar with Buckley's son, Jeff, Tim arguably reached his critical height with this sixth studio album. While it was a departure from Buckley's folk roots and offered an even poppier sound, it nonetheless continued to showcase Buckley's ability to write strong and meaningful songs, like "Song to the Siren." For those fans of his son who have not yet been turned on to Tim Buckley, "Starsailor" is a good starting point.

Put out less than five months after "Workingman's Dead" but essentially recorded back-to-back, "American Beauty" is folksy with a country tint. Yet it still delivers the same rockin' sound expected from the Dead. Hits like "Sugar Magnolia" and "Truckin" remain among the forefront of the band's legacy. Listening to "Workingman's Dead" and "American Beauty" in one sitting offers a rather relaxed and musically spiritual journey.

The only studio album Derek and the Dominos put out is well worthy of inclusion on this list. While the record did not receive much critical praise out the gate, it's done well over time and, in many circles, is considered one of the great rock albums of all time — and perhaps the high-water mark for Eric Clapton, which is saying something. "Layla," of course, is the gem of the project. The double album also featured guitar work from the great Duane Allman.

As the final album to feature the legendary Lou Reed (who left the band shortly before its November 1970 release), "Loaded" is worth a listen as one last hurrah to this great art/proto-punk band. The album was not without its controversy, especially considering Reed was not happy with the process and reediting of the record. "Sweet Jane" remains the highlight of an album that has picked up steam as time went on.

With the Beatles in his rearview mirror, Harrison released his third solo effort (a triple album) in late November 1970. Through songs like "My Sweet Lord," "What is Life" and "Isn't It a Pity," Harrison demonstrated that he could hold his own as an artist while breaking out of the shadow of Paul McCartney and John Lennon. For those interested in the solo works of Beatles members, this is one that reinforces how Harrison just might have been the most talented member of the Fab Four. 

Shortly after George Harrison put out "All Things Must Pass," Lennon released his solo debut in mid-December of the same year. Though Lennon's 1971 release, "Imagine," tends to get the greater praise among his solo work, the production value, overall composition and personal nature of the former Beatles' lyrics on this debut are second to none. Over the years, its critical acclaim continues to grow, and songs like "Mother" and "Look at Me" are essential listens within Lennon's catalog as a solo artist.