1971 in music


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

Specific locations

Specific genres

Events

Bands formed

  • ''See Musical groups established in 1971''

Bands reformed

Bands disbanded

Albums released

August

Biggest hit singles

The following songs achieved the highest
in the charts of 1971.
#ArtistTitleYearCountryChart 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 – 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 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

Song titleArtistRelease dateUSUKHighest chart positionOther Chart Performance
"Ain't No Sunshine"Bill WithersJuly 19713n/a3 See chart performance entry
"All Day Music"WarJuly 197135n/a35 18
"All I Ever Need Is You"Sonny & CherOctober 1971785 See chart performance entry
"American Pie"Don McLeanOctober 1971121 See chart performance entry
"Another Day"Paul McCartneyFebruary 1971521 See chart performance entry
"Double Barrel"Dave and Ansell CollinsAugust 19702211 See chart performance entry

Notable singles

Other Notable singles

Published popular music

Classical music

Compositions

Opera

Musical theater

Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death – Off-Broadway productionFollies – Broadway production ran for 522 performancesGodspell – Broadway, London, and Off-Broadway productions; 572 performances on Broadway, 2,600 total NYC performancesJalta, Jalta – premièred in ZagrebJesus Christ Superstar – Broadway production opened at the Mark Hellinger Theatre and ran for 711 performancesLolita, My Love – closed in pre-Broadway tryoutPrettybelle – starring Angela Lansbury, closed in pre-Broadway tryoutNo, No, Nanette – Broadway revivalOn the Town – Broadway revivalShow Boat – London revivalTo Live Another Summer, To Pass Another Winter – Broadway production of Jewish revue; opened at the Helen Hayes Theatre on October 21 and transferred to the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on January 10, 1972, for a total run of 173 performances.Two Gentlemen of Verona – Broadway production opened at the St. James Theatre and ran for 614 performances

Musical films

200 Motels Aquellos años locos Arriba Juventud Bedknobs and Broomsticks Directed by Robert Stevenson and starring Angela Lansbury and David TomlinsonBumbarash Chervona Ruta Fiddler on the RoofHaathi Mere Saathi Journey Back to Oz Ma che musica maestro Out of the Darkness Raga, documentary about the life and work of Ravi Shankar

Births

Deaths

Awards

Grammy Awards

[Country Music Association Awards]

[Eurovision Song Contest]

Works cited

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