# If you had to pick a single decade of music to listen to from now on **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [July 3, 2024, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-single-decade-of-music-to-listen-to-from-now-on/1003663 "2024-07-03T02:43:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2024, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-single-decade-of-music-to-listen-to-from-now-on/1003663/41 "2024-07-03T20:54:28Z")
1961-1970 (Ten continuous years, unlike all the others who have listed eleven years in their replies.) ---
**Author:** ![We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/We_re_wolves_not_werewolves)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2024, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-single-decade-of-music-to-listen-to-from-now-on/1003663/42 "2024-07-03T20:58:15Z")
This is right about where I’d land too…Hits the height of college/modern rock, get’s you some punk and ska. Yes, it’s missing a LOT of good stuff, but still, as good an answer as any. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2024, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-single-decade-of-music-to-listen-to-from-now-on/1003663/43 "2024-07-03T21:02:36Z")
I’d say 65 to 75-ish. While I grew up on early rock and Motown, that period was an awakening, with some of the most innovative and freshest sound ever produced. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2024, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-single-decade-of-music-to-listen-to-from-now-on/1003663/44 "2024-07-03T21:06:26Z")
Per the OP! ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2024, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-single-decade-of-music-to-listen-to-from-now-on/1003663/45 "2024-07-03T21:09:38Z")
1963 – 1973 (from _Please Please Me_ through _Quadrophenia_ or thereabouts) ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2024, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-single-decade-of-music-to-listen-to-from-now-on/1003663/46 "2024-07-03T21:15:03Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > Per the OP! Yeah. I decided to go with what he said, rather than what he showed. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2024, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-single-decade-of-music-to-listen-to-from-now-on/1003663/47 "2024-07-03T22:23:25Z")
1975 through 1984. That would lose me a lot of my favorite Rush albums and all my favorite industrial/EDM stuff, but those were my formative music years. I could definitely stand being stuck with those ten. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2024, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-single-decade-of-music-to-listen-to-from-now-on/1003663/48 "2024-07-03T22:59:22Z")
If it’s an actual decade I would choose the 1960s. But if I could choose any 10 year span I would choose 1966 to 1976. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2024, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-single-decade-of-music-to-listen-to-from-now-on/1003663/49 "2024-07-03T23:29:52Z")
Agree wholeheartedly! Looking at my 10 most recent bands listens (I prefer listening to discographies) 6 of them had one or more album releases in that timeframe. That’s my era for sure! [Now listening to 2002’s “The Romance of Helen Trent” by The Killing Tree] ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2024, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-single-decade-of-music-to-listen-to-from-now-on/1003663/50 "2024-07-03T23:36:33Z")
I’m going to say 1973-1983. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-single-decade-of-music-to-listen-to-from-now-on/1003663/51 "2024-07-04T02:48:18Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > 1967-1977 > [@Disinfectus](#): > > 1967-1977 > [@TRC4941](#): > > 1967-77 > [@psychonaut](#): > > 1967 to 1977 Another vote for 1967-1977 ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-single-decade-of-music-to-listen-to-from-now-on/1003663/52 "2024-07-04T03:09:22Z")
I’d go with 1985-1995 because that takes me from childhood to just after my high school years. I certainly won’t argue that this decades is any better than the other choices presented thus far, and it’s painful because there’s plenty of good music before and after, but this is what I’d choose. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-single-decade-of-music-to-listen-to-from-now-on/1003663/53 "2024-07-04T03:16:28Z")
1900-1910. Ragtime was at its peak, and there were terrific popular songs like “Wait Till The Sun Shines, Nellie”, “Sweet Adeline”, “In The Good Old Summertime”, “A Bird In A Gilded Cage”, “Give My Regards To Broadway” and many many more. A fabulous era in popular music, I says. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-single-decade-of-music-to-listen-to-from-now-on/1003663/54 "2024-07-04T03:17:19Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > Yeah. I decided to go with what he said, rather than what he showed. I’d rather have an extra year of music than be right 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-single-decade-of-music-to-listen-to-from-now-on/1003663/55 "2024-07-04T12:01:15Z")
I’ve already submitted my choice (1975-1985), but I popped back to mention that I really had a struggle to differentiate “important” and “classic” music from “music that I actually listen to on a regular basis these days.” As a 70+ YO guy, I grew up with all the 60s and 70s bands. They were foundational. But I simply don’t put on Beatles albums or Led Zep when I’m driving somewhere. But I will admit that I would miss The Doors, Tull, and _Layla_. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-single-decade-of-music-to-listen-to-from-now-on/1003663/56 "2024-07-04T12:54:38Z")
Lots of good answers, but I’m going to go with 1969-1978. Gets me from the end of the Beatles to some early Police and plenty of good stuff in between. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-single-decade-of-music-to-listen-to-from-now-on/1003663/57 "2024-07-04T13:19:03Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > I’d rather have an extra year of music than be right 😃 Exactly! More for the rest of us. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-single-decade-of-music-to-listen-to-from-now-on/1003663/58 "2024-07-04T13:20:37Z")
My years, from when I passed from childhood into adulthood, and which were 1966-1975. After that Disco killed music. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-single-decade-of-music-to-listen-to-from-now-on/1003663/59 "2024-07-04T13:37:08Z")
The music from when I was 13-22 (or 23). It contains all my memories of that period of time. It represents friends, good and bad times, and so forth. Losing those songs would be losing part of my life. However, I would miss out on three of my four favorite songs, about half of the songs from my favorite group and other favorites that I really don’t want to do without. I’ll decline. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2024, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-single-decade-of-music-to-listen-to-from-now-on/1003663/60 "2024-07-04T14:19:55Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Disco killed music. And Video Killed the Radio Star. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-single-decade-of-music-to-listen-to-from-now-on/1003663.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-pick-a-single-decade-of-music-to-listen-to-from-now-on/1003663.md?page=4)