The majic of early 1970's rock and it's influence-

Hendrix and Joplin died in 1970, Morrison in 1971, along with Duane Allman of the Allman Brothers Band. The next year the Allman Brothers would lose another member, Berry Oakley. This would suggest that these geniuses were not created within the period indicated.

I watched the movie Festival Express last weekend. Joplin, The Band, The Dead, Ian and Sylvia and Sha Na Na take a train trip across Canada in 1970, stopping to play three music festivals. Great stuff and highly recommended.

I think that the end of the previous decade was the most influential and was the genesis of most of the bands whose genius would come to full fruition in the 1970s.

I agree with both Swampwalker and Viridian.

While that was a very influential period for that kind of music, I believe that jazz fans would talk of different eras of genius (depending on the type of jazz in question), modern rock fans would speak of Nirvana et al, rap fans would be focused on yet another period. The great thing is that music keeps changing and there are geniuses right around the corner.

Yes, I loved the late 60's and early 70's and would argue that the music was fantastic and it was a significant influence on later music. I believe it was one of the most creative periods ever, but I'm biased by my history. Heck, even those folks were influenced by the blues and rock of earlier days. Nonetheless, a classical era for great music and creativity!

The music in this time frame is still my favorite music after all these years.
Besides being very good music,I believe it creates euphoric recall for most of us that enjoyed the music,concerts and parties during this time..
In other words,there's more to it than just the music.

Talon4, as Viridian mentioned, ALL of the groups that you mentioned from the 1970's released albums in the late 1960's. They did, however, come into mega-star status in the early 1970's, with some of their best selling albums (as well as their most creative and artistic works [IMHO]) between 1970 to 1975.

Well, I suppose my experience is a bit different. I grew up listening and loving these groups, but the older I get, the more simplistic, barbaric, and just plane sophomoric this music sounds to me. Consider Zeppelin’s "Whole Lot of Love" I mean, I love the beat, but only a boy of 16 or younger would not be embarrassed to sing that song, IMO. What about Jimmy Morrison, “Eat more chicken than any man ever known” was it? Oh yea, we’re talking real class act here boys. I am learning and enjoying Sinatra, Diana Krall, and other like performers. Oddly I heard that old Ozzy Osborne is a Sinatra fan now too! In the end, it's really all about what works for you, but really guys…