1971 in music

List of notable events in music that took place in the year 1971.

List of years in music (table)
In radio
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
In television
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
+...

Specific locations

Specific genres

Events

Bands formed

  • See Musical groups established in 1971

Bands reformed

Bands disbanded

Albums released

January

Day Album Artist Notes
7 Elvis Country (I'm 10,000 Years Old)Elvis Presley[2]
11 Chicago IIIChicago
PearlJanis Joplin
13 Deliverin'PocoLive
15 Hooker 'n HeatJohn Lee Hooker and Canned Heat
SalisburyUriah Heep
ZZ Top's First AlbumZZ Top
Greatest HitsKenny Rogers and The First EditionCompilation
Jerry Butler Sings Assorted SoundsJerry Butler
Little FeatLittle Feat
Melting PotBooker T & the MG's
Nantucket SleighrideMountain
Sister KateKate Taylor
Straight LifeFreddie Hubbard
There Must Be More to Love Than ThisJerry Lee Lewis
You're Not AloneDion

February

Day Album Artist Notes
1 Love's Lines, Angles and RhymesThe 5th Dimension
if 2If
2 The Point!Harry Nilsson
3 Love StoryAndy Williams
5 Once AgainBarclay James Harvest
9 Carly SimonCarly Simon
10 Church of AnthraxJohn Cale and Terry Riley
TapestryCarole King
Love StoryJohnny Mathis
19 The Yes AlbumYes
22 If I Could Only Remember My NameDavid Crosby
24 One Way... or AnotherCactus
Jack JohnsonMiles Davis
26 Straight, Clean and SimpleAnne Murray
FourthSoft Machine
Crazy HorseCrazy Horse
Earth, Wind & FireEarth, Wind & Fire
The HawkRonnie Hawkins
Jack-Knife GypsyPaul Siebel
James Taylor and the Original Flying MachineJames Taylor
Live at the Sex MachineKool & the GangLive
Long PlayerFaces
MaryMary Travers
The Polite ForceEgg
Ring of HandsArgent
Rita CoolidgeRita Coolidge
Stoney EndBarbra Streisand
The Taker/TulsaWaylon Jennings

March

Day Album Artist Notes
1 Search and NearnessThe Rascals
5 The Cry of LoveJimi HendrixCompilation
FriendsElton JohnSoundtrack
Bryter LayterNick Drake[3]
Stone AgeThe Rolling StonesCompilation
9 Love It to DeathAlice CooperStraight Records; re-issued on Warner Bros. June '71
15 La BibliaVox Dei
16 Mud Slide Slim and the Blue HorizonJames Taylor
19 AqualungJethro Tull
Songs of Love and HateLeonard Cohen
WildlifeMott the Hoople
22 You'll Never Walk AloneElvis PresleyCompilation
24 Histoire de Melody NelsonSerge Gainsbourg
26 PercyThe KinksSoundtrack
Back to the RootsJohn Mayall
Black Oak ArkansasBlack Oak Arkansas
Dave Mason & Cass ElliotDave Mason & Cass Elliot
Electronically TestedMungo Jerry
A Message to the PeopleBuddy Miles
MomentsBoz Scaggs
Al Green Gets Next to YouAl Green
Motel ShotDelaney & Bonnie
Please to See the KingSteeleye Span
Present CompanyJanis Ian
Rat On!Swamp Dogg
Rock OnHumble Pie
She Used to Wanna Be a BallerinaBuffy St. Marie
Tanz der LemmingeAmon Düül II
Teenage HeadFlamin' Groovies
With Friends and NeighborsAlex Taylor

April

Day Album Artist Notes
2 Donny HathawayDonny Hathaway
5 SatoriFlower Travellin' Band
6 Poems, Prayers & PromisesJohn Denver
7 4 Way StreetCrosby, Stills, Nash & YoungLive
8 Givin' It BackThe Isley Brothers
In the Land of Grey and PinkCaravan
OverdogKeef Hartley
12 Maybe TomorrowThe Jackson 5
Where I'm Coming FromStevie Wonder
15 SurvivalGrand Funk Railroad
19 L.A. WomanThe Doors
22 HagMerle Haggard
Sky's the LimitThe Temptations
23 Sticky FingersThe Rolling Stones
30 The Doobie BrothersThe Doobie Brothers
Thin LizzyThin Lizzy
Smiling Men with Bad ReputationsMike Heron
17-11-70Elton JohnLive
All by MyselfEddie Kendricks
Bring Me HomeMother Earth
Broken BarricadesProcol Harum
ChaseChase
Cheapo Cheapo Productions Presents Real Live John SebastianJohn SebastianLive
City of GoldPearls Before Swine
ElegyThe NiceLive
ExtractionGary Wright
Good Taste Is TimelessThe Holy Modal Rounders
How Much More Can She StandConway Twitty
Mirror ManCaptain Beefheart & his Magic BandRecorded 1967
Oh! Pleasant HopeBlue Cheer
Survival of the Fittest LiveAmboy DukesLive
ThirdsJames Gang
WarWar
Bloodrock 3Bloodrock
When You're Hot, You're HotJerry Reed

May

Day Album Artist Notes
3 Leon Russell and the Shelter PeopleLeon Russell
5 Peaceful WorldThe Rascals
12 Weather ReportWeather Report
14 CarpentersCarpenters
RelicsPink FloydCompilation
17 RamPaul and Linda McCartneyUS; released in UK May 28
19 Aretha Live at Fillmore WestAretha FranklinLive
21 What's Going OnMarvin Gaye
Rory GallagherRory GallagherSolo Debut[4]
28 Songs for BeginnersGraham Nash
Every Picture Tells a StoryRod Stewart
And So: OnJimmy Webb
Another DimensionBo Diddley
ContactFreda Payne
Curtis/Live!Curtis MayfieldLive
Edgar Broughton BandEdgar Broughton Band
5thLee Michaels
Hamilton, Joe Frank & ReynoldsHamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds
If You Saw Thro' My EyesIan Matthews
Joy to the WorldHoyt Axton
Just as I AmBill Withers
Live Johnny Winter AndJohnny WinterLive
Man in BlackJohnny Cash
Smash Your Head Against the WallJohn Entwistle
Something ElseShirley Bassey
StormcockRoy Harper
Summer Side of LifeGordon Lightfoot
We Sure Can Love Each OtherTammy Wynette
WinwoodSteve WinwoodCompilation

June

Day Album Artist Notes
4 BudgieBudgie
6 ToussaintAllen Toussaint
14 TarkusEmerson, Lake & Palmer
16 Golden BisquitsThree Dog NightCompilation
Love Letters from ElvisElvis Presley
21 RubyBuck Owens
22 BlueJoni Mitchell
23 ByrdmaniaxThe Byrds
24 Runt. The Ballad of Todd RundgrenTodd Rundgren
25 Indelibly StampedSupertramp
30 Stephen Stills 2Stephen Stills
Aerial Pandemonium BalletHarry Nilsson
Angel DelightFairport Convention
Blood, Sweat & Tears 4Blood, Sweat & Tears
HomemadeThe Osmonds
First Pull Up, Then Pull DownHot Tuna
The Flying Burrito BrothersThe Flying Burrito Brothers
GrinGrin
Historic DeadGrateful DeadLive 1966
It Ain't EasyLong John Baldry
Link WrayLink Wray
What You Hear Is What You GetIke & Tina TurnerLive
Mick AbrahamsMick Abrahams
New York City (You're a Woman)Al Kooper
One WorldRare Earth
Randy Newman LiveRandy NewmanLive
San Francisco DuesChuck Berry
Sing Children SingLesley Duncan
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss SongMelvin Van PeeblesSoundtrack
TouchThe Supremes
Touching HomeJerry Lee Lewis

July

Day Album Artist Notes
1 C'mon EverybodyElvis PresleyCompilation
Push PushHerbie MannAlbum
2 Daddy Who? Daddy CoolDaddy Cool
6 At Fillmore EastThe Allman Brothers BandLive
High TimeMC5
SurrenderDiana Ross
Booker T. & PriscillaBooker T & Priscilla Coolidge
12 Maggot BrainFunkadelic
16 Acquiring the TasteGentle Giant
23 Every Good Boy Deserves FavourThe Moody Blues
26 The London Howlin' Wolf SessionsHowlin' Wolf
Armchair BoogieMichael Hurley & Pals
Blessed Are...Joan Baez
Charity BallFanny
FireballDeep PurpleUS
Fool's MatePeter Hammill
(For God's Sake) Give More Power to the PeopleThe Chi-Lites
From the WitchwoodStrawbs
Happy Birthday, Ruthy BabyMcGuinness Flint
Harmony RowJack Bruce
How Come the SunTom Paxton
I Don't Know How to Love HimHelen Reddy
In the GardenGypsy
The Last Time I Saw HerGlen Campbell
LovejoyAlbert King
Ride the WindThe Youngbloods
ShaftIsaac HayesSoundtrack
So Long, BannatyneThe Guess Who
Sha Na NaSha Na Na
Stop Your MotorThe Association

August

Day Album Artist Notes
1 The Best of the WailersBob Marley and the Wailers
2 Who's NextThe Who[5]
Fillmore East – June 1971The Mothers of InventionLive
11 You've Got a FriendJohnny Mathis
27 One Dozen RosesSmokey Robinson & The Miracles
30 Surf's UpThe Beach Boys
31 The Sun, Moon & HerbsDr. John
Master of RealityBlack Sabbath[6]
Barbra Joan StreisandBarbra Streisand
Cedartown, GeorgiaWaylon Jennings
Freedom FlightShuggie Otis
HimselfGilbert O'Sullivan
Hot PantsJames Brown
I Wonder What She'll Think About Me LeavingConway Twitty
If 3If
My Baby Packed Up My Mind and Left MeDallas Frazier
New Riders of the Purple SageNew Riders of the Purple Sage
Nigel Olsson's Drum Orchestra and ChorusNigel Olsson
Ronnie MilsapRonnie Milsap
A Space in TimeTen Years After
Sometimes I Just Feel Like Smilin'Butterfield Blues Band
Van RonkDave Van Ronk
White LightGene Clarkaka Gene Clark
Tago MagoCan
In Hearing of Atomic RoosterAtomic Rooster

September

Day Album Artist Notes
3 Future GamesFleetwood Mac
20 Granite CreekMoby Grape
5 From the InsidePoco
8 LabelleLabelle
9 Aretha's Greatest HitsAretha FranklinCompilation
ImagineJohn LennonUS; released in UK Oct 8
10 Welcome to the CanteenTrafficLive
Second AlbumCurved Air
15 CahootsThe Band
CommunicationBobby Womack
Judee SillJudee Sill
17 Colosseum LiveColosseumLive
20 FlyYoko Ono
24 Electric WarriorT.Rex
29 Goin' Back to IndianaThe Jackson 5
30 HarmonyThree Dog Night
Ko-ko JoeJerry Reed
Aereo-PlainJohn Hartford
April WineApril Wine
BarkJefferson Airplane
Buddy Miles LiveBuddy MilesLive
Charlie DanielsCharlie Daniels
Closer to the GroundJoy of Cooking
The Four of UsJohn Sebastian
Free Live!FreeLive
Greatest Hits, Vol. 2Johnny CashCompilation
Gypsys, Tramps & ThievesCher
James Gang Live in ConcertJames GangLive
Look at YourselfUriah HeepUS; released Oct. '71 in UK
The North Star Grassman and the RavensSandy Denny
PilgrimageWishbone Ash
Rock LoveSteve Miller Band
SantanaSantanaaka Santana III
Seven TearsGolden Earring
Street Corner TalkingSavoy Brown
Talk It Over in the MorningAnne Murray
The Time to Live is NowBuzzy Linhart
TrafalgarBee Gees
TransitionKenny Rogers and The First Edition

October

Day Album Artist Notes
1 Teaser and the FirecatCat Stevens
Would You Take Another Chance on Me?Jerry Lee Lewis
4 Coat of Many ColorsDolly Parton
200 MotelsFrank ZappaSoundtrack
TwinsOrnette Coleman
8 Distant LightThe HolliesUK
In Search of SpaceHawkwind
Message from the CountryThe Move
18 Other VoicesThe Doors
RestrictionsCactus
20 Elvis sings The Wonderful World of ChristmasElvis PresleyChristmas
25 Chicago at Carnegie HallChicagoLive
Rough and ReadyThe Jeff Beck Group
29 FearlessFamily
American PieDon McLean
Grateful DeadGrateful DeadLive
The Morning AfterThe J. Geils Band
Bloodrock U.S.A.Bloodrock
Brand New MorningBob Seger
Camembert ElectriqueGong
Country AnthemHoyt Axton
Focus II (Moving Waves)Focus
Fog on the TyneLindisfarne
Frisco Mabel JoyMickey Newbury
Gather MeMelanie
Greatest Hits, Volume TwoB.J. ThomasCompilation
Growers of MushroomLeaf Hound
IllusionRenaissance
Jesse FrederickJesse Frederick
John PrineJohn Prine
The King of Rock and RollLittle Richard
Liquid Acrobat as Regards the AirIncredible String Band
Live at PJ'sKool & the Gang
The Marblehead MessengerSeatrain
MemoriesJohn Mayall
No RosesShirley Collins and the Albion Country Band
Pawn HeartsVan der Graaf Generator
Rainbow BridgeJimi HendrixSoundtrack
ReflectionPentangle
R.E.O. SpeedwagonREO Speedwagon
RootsCurtis Mayfield
Rotten to the CoreCrabby Appleton
Stoney & MeatloafStoney & Meat Loaf
To You with Love, DonnyDonny Osmond
Tupelo HoneyVan Morrison
UFO 2: FlyingUFO
War War WarCountry Joe McDonald

November

Day Album Artist Notes
1 Cold Spring HarborBilly Joel
There's a Riot Goin' OnSly & the Family Stone
FootprintGary Wright
Hooteroll?Howard Wales and Jerry Garcia
Rock MessiahDavid Axelrod
3 The Inner Mounting FlameMahavishnu Orchestra
5 MeddlePink FloydUK[7]
Barclay James Harvest and Other Short StoriesBarclay James Harvest
Madman Across the WaterElton John
6 The StylisticsThe Stylistics
8 I Wrote a Simple SongBilly Preston
Led Zeppelin IVLed Zeppelin
12 Nursery CrymeGenesis
15 Asylum Choir IILeon Russell and Marc Benno
17 Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Vol. IIBob DylanCompilation + new and unreleased material
Farther AlongThe Byrds
Gonna Take a MiracleLaura Nyro
Live-EvilMiles Davis
A Nod Is As Good As a Wink... to a Blind HorseFaces
24 Muswell HillbilliesThe Kinks
26 FragileYes
DeuceRory Gallagher
KillerAlice Cooper
Meaty Beaty Big and BouncyThe WhoCompilation
Funny How Sweet Co-Co Can BeSweet
AerieJohn Denver
Kazemachi RomanHappy End
All Day MusicWar
Anne Murray / Glen CampbellAnne Murray and Glen Campbell
AnticipationCarly Simon
"Babbacombe" LeeFairport Convention
Beautiful Lies You Could Live InPearls Before Swine
Black MosesIsaac Hayes
Bless the WeatherJohn Martyn
Bonnie RaittBonnie Raitt
Brain CapersMott the Hoople
Choice Quality Stuff/AnytimeIt's a Beautiful Day
Coming From RealitySixto Rodriguez
Dog of Two HeadStatus Quo
E Pluribus FunkGrand Funk Railroad
Flowers of EvilMountain
For Ladies OnlySteppenwolf
Good and DustyThe Youngbloods
If Not for YouOlivia Newton-John
Jonathan EdwardsJonathan Edwards
Lay it All OutBarry Mann
LivLivingston Taylor
LivingJudy Collins
The Lonesome Picker Rides AgainJohn Stewart
Lost in the OzoneCommander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen
The Low Spark of High Heeled BoysTraffic
NazarethNazareth
The Need of LoveEarth, Wind & Fire
Nice Feelin'Rita Coolidge
Nilsson SchmilssonHarry Nilsson
'Nuff SaidIke & Tina Turner
One YearColin BlunstoneDebut
People Like UsThe Mamas & the Papas
Performance Rockin' the FillmoreHumble PieLive
Pictures at an ExhibitionEmerson, Lake & Palmer
QuicksilverQuicksilver Messenger Service
Quiet FireRoberta Flack
Rudy the FifthRicky Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band
SanctuaryDion
Shake Off the DemonBrewer & Shipley
Sittin' InLoggins and MessinaDebut
SunfighterPaul Kantner and Grace Slick
There's Gotta Be a ChangeAlbert Collins
WhatevershebringswesingKevin Ayers
Year of SundaySeals and Crofts

December

Day Album Artist Notes
3 The Electric Light OrchestraElectric Light Orchestra
IslandsKing Crimson
6 Wild LifeWings
9 Greatest HitsThe Jackson 5Compilation
13 Straight UpBadfinger
17 Hunky DoryDavid Bowie
20 The Concert for BangladeshGeorge Harrison and FriendsLive
Hot Rocks 1964–1971The Rolling StonesCompilation
29 AmericaAmerica
The Best of Top of the Pops '71Top of the PoppersCompilation
Black UnityPharoah Sanders
Boz Scaggs & BandBoz Scaggs
Don't Knock My LoveWilson Pickett
Dynamite!The Supremes and The Four Tops
Guilty!Eric Burdon & Jimmy Witherspoon
Message from a DrumRedbone
MusicCarole King
Papa John CreachPapa John Creach
Ten Man Mop, or Mr. Reservoir Butler Rides AgainSteeleye Span

Release date unknown

Biggest hit singles

The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the charts of 1971.

# Artist Title Year Country Chart entries
1George HarrisonMy Sweet Lord1970UKUK 1 – Jan 1971, US BB 1 – Dec 1970, Canada 1 – Nov 1970, Netherlands 1 – Dec 1970, France 1 – Mar 1971, Switzerland 1 – Jan 1971, Norway 1 – Feb 1971, Germany 1 – Jan 1971, Éire 1 – Jan 1971, Australia 1 for 8 weeks Jul 1971, Australia Goset 1 – Jan 1971, Australia 2 of 1971, RYM 3 of 1970, Italy 4 of 1971, Virgin 5, Poland 7 – Feb 2002, DDD 11 of 1970, Global 33 (5 M sold) – 1970, Germany 40 of the 1970s, US CashBox 70 of 1971, Europe 93 of the 1970s, OzNet 170, WXPN 339, Rolling Stone 454, TheQ 484, Acclaimed 604
2John LennonImagine1971UKUK 1 – Dec 1980, Éire 1 – Dec 1975, Australia 1 for 5 weeks Jul 1972, Australia Goset 1 – Dec 1971, Virgin 1, OzNet 1, Switzerland 2 – Nov 1971, DDD 2 of 1971, WXPN 2, US BB 3 – Oct 1971, Canada 3 – Sep 1971, Norway 3 – Feb 1972, Italy 3 of 1972, Rolling Stone 3, RYM 4 of 1971, Netherlands 5 – Nov 1971, France 5 – Nov 1971, South Africa 5 of 1972, POP 5 of 1971, Austria 6 – Mar 1981, Europe 8 of the 1970s, TheQ 9, US BB 10 of 1971, Belgium 11 of all time, Germany 12 – Jan 1981, TOTP 16, Poland 17 of all time, Sweden (alt) 19 – Dec 1975, Australia 19 of 1972, Acclaimed 21, RIAA 30, Scrobulate 33 of classic rock, 86 in 2FM list
3Rod StewartMaggie May1971UKUK 1 – Sep 1971, US BB 1 – Aug 1971, Canada 1 – Aug 1971, Australia 1 for 4 weeks May 1972, Australia Goset 1 – Oct 1971, Peel list 1 of 1970, Netherlands 3 – Oct 1971, RYM 3 of 1971, Switzerland 5 – Dec 1971, DDD 5 of 1971, US BB 6 of 1971, France 10 – Nov 1971, POP 10 of 1971, Australia 13 of 1971, Germany 17 – Jan 1972, US CashBox 23 of 1971, TheQ 37, Virgin 53, Acclaimed 80, Rolling Stone 130, OzNet 149, RIAA 194, WXPN 218
4Lynn AndersonRose Garden1970USCanada 1 – Dec 1970, Switzerland 1 – Mar 1971, Norway 1 – Mar 1971, Germany 1 – Mar 1971, Éire 1 – Mar 1971, Australia 1 for 4 weeks Oct 1971, Netherlands 2 – Jan 1971, France 2 – Apr 1971, Australia Goset 2 – Feb 1971, UK 3 – Feb 1971, US BB 3 – Dec 1970, US CashBox 6 of 1971, Germany 50 of the 1970s, DDD 57 of 1970, RYM 75 of 1970, Acclaimed 1217
5The Rolling StonesBrown Sugar1971UKUS BB 1 – May 1971, Canada 1 – May 1971, Netherlands 1 – May 1971, Switzerland 1 – May 1971, UK 2 – Apr 1971, US BB 3 of 1971, POP 3 of 1971, Norway 4 – May 1971, Germany 5 – May 1971, Australia Goset 5 – Jun 1971, DDD 8 of 1971, France 9 – Apr 1971, RYM 11 of 1971, Virgin 21, US CashBox 38 of 1971, TheQ 82, Scrobulate 89 of classic rock, Acclaimed 137, Germany 249 of the 1970s, WXPN 274, OzNet 412, Rolling Stone 490

Top 40 Chart hit singles

Elton John in 1971
Song title Artist(s) Release date(s) US UK Highest chart position Other Chart Performance(s)
"Ain't No Sunshine"Bill WithersJuly 19713n/a3 (United States)See chart performance entry
"All Day Music"WarJuly 197135n/a35 (United States)18 (U.S. Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles)
"All I Ever Need Is You"Sonny & CherOctober 1971785 (Canada)See chart performance entry
"American Pie"Don McLeanOctober 1971121 (Australia, Canada, United States, New Zealand)See chart performance entry
"Another Day"Paul McCartneyFebruary 1971521 (Australia, Ireland, Spain)See chart performance entry

Other Chart hit singles

Notable singles

Song title Artist(s) Release date(s) Other Chart Performance(s)
"Eagle Rock"Daddy CoolMay 19711 (Australia) - 17 (New Zealand)
"The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" b/w "Home Is Where the Hatred Is"Gil Scott-Heron with Pretty Purdie and the PlayboysApril 1971n/a
"Under My Wheels"Alice CooperSeptember 197159 (US Billboard Hot 100) - 66 (UK Singles Chart)

Other Notable singles

Classical music

Premieres

ComposerCompositionDateLocationPerformers
Ligeti, GyörgyConcert românescAugust 21, 1971Fish Creek, USPeninsula Music Festival OrchestraJohnson[8]
Stockhausen, KarlheinzSternklangJune 5, 1971Tiergarten, Berlin, GermanyCollegium Vocale Köln, Gentle Fire, Smalley, Souster, VetterStockhausen[9]
Stockhausen, KarlheinzTransOctober 16, 1971Donaueschingen, GermanySWF Sinfonie-OrchesterBour[10]

Compositions

Opera

Jazz

Musical theater

Musical films

Births

Deaths

Louis Armstrong died on July 6
Guitarist Duane Allman died on October 29

Awards

Grammy Awards

Country Music Association Awards

Eurovision Song Contest

References

  1. "Music Man for the Met". Time. June 21, 1971. Archived from the original on October 1, 2007.
  2. "1970s discography".
  3. Drake, Gabrielle, Nick Drake: Remembered for a While, Little, Brown and Company, 2014.
  4. "Rory Gallagher official site".
  5. "RIAA certifications".
  6. "Great Rock discography". p. 68.
  7. Povey 2007, p. 150.
  8. "Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 15, 2013. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  9. Michael Kurtz, Stockhausen: A Biography, translated by Richard Toop (London and Boston: Faber and Faber, 1992): 185. ISBN 0-571-14323-7 (cloth) ISBN 0-571-17146-X (pbk).
  10. Karlheinz Stockhausen, "Trans für Orchester (1971)", in his Texte zur Musik 4, edited by Christoph von Blumröder (Cologne: DuMont Buchverlag, 1978): 181. ISBN 3-7701-1078-1.

Works cited

  • Povey, Glenn (2007), Echoes, Mind Head Publishing, ISBN 978-0-9554624-0-5, archived from the original on April 13, 2021, retrieved September 24, 2016
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