Events in Music History in 1971

  • Jan 3 Murray Rumshinsky and Jacob Jacobs' musical "The President's Daughter" closes at Billy Rose Theater, NYC, after 72 performances

Neil Young's Canadian Homecoming

Jan 6 Neil Young returns to his homeland of Canada for his first concert there since his pre-stardom days

  • Jan 9 "Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen" closes at Majestic Theater, NYC, after 19 performances
  • Jan 10 Musical "Light, Lively & Yiddish" closes at Belasco Theater, NYC, after 87 performances
  • Jan 12 Joseph Kookoolis and Scott Fagan's rock opera musical "Soon" opens at Ritz Theater, NYC; runs for 3 performances
  • Jan 13 Joseph Kookoolis and Scott Fagan's rock opera musical "Soon" closes at Ritz Theater, NYC, after 3 performances

"My Sweet Lord"

Jan 15 George Harrison releases 1st solo single "My Sweet Lord" in the UK; tops the charts in 15 countries, and becomes subject of a copyright infringement lawsuit

  • Jan 15 Walt Smith and Leon Uris' musical "Ari", based on Uris' novel "Exodus", opens at Mark Hellinger Theater, NYC; runs for 19 performances
  • Jan 19 "No, No Nanette" opens at 46th St Theater NYC for 861 performances

"Helter Skelter" at Manson Trial

Jan 19 The Beatles' "Helter Skelter" is played at Charles Manson trial

"What's Going On"

Jan 20 Tamla Records releases Marvin Gaye's single "What's Going On" about police brutality, from the album of the same name

Power to the People

Jan 22 John Lennon and Plastic Ono Band record "Power to the People" at his Ascot Sound home studio at Tittenhurst Park, England

  • Jan 30 Walt Smith and Leon Uris' musical "Ari", based on Uris' novel "Exodus", closes at Mark Hellinger Theater NYC after 19 performances
  • Jan 31 "My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison hits #1 on UK pop chart

Zappa Concert Cancelled

Feb 8 Royal Albert Hall cancels scheduled concert featuring Frank Zappa, due to concerns about indecent lyrics

  • Feb 9 Elektra Records releases eponymous debut album of American singer-songwriter Carly Simon; garners two Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist

Tapestry

Feb 10 A&M Records releases "Tapestry", the second album by singer-songwriter Carole King (wins 4 Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year 1972); tops charts in 4 countries, goes on to sell over 30 million copies

  • Feb 10 John Guares' stage comedy "House of Blue Leaves" opens at the Truck and Warehouse Theatre, NYC; runs for 337 performances

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown

Feb 14 Clark Gesner's musical "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown", based on characters from Charles M. Schulz's' "Peanuts", and starring Gary Burghoff, closes at Theatre 80 in the East Village, NYC, after 1597 performances

Another Day

Feb 19 Paul McCartney releases single "Another Day" in UK

The Yes Album

Feb 19 Progressive rock band Yes release their break-through third studio album "The Yes Album"

Oh! Calcutta! - The Bare Facts

Feb 25 "Oh! Calcutta!" moves to Belasco Theater in NYC; runs for 1,316 performances

  • Mar 3 South African Broadcasting Corp lifts its ban on the Beatles, begun after John Lennon's infamous "Jesus" quote in 1966

Stairway to Heaven

Mar 5 "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin first played live at Ulster Hall, Belfast by Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Bonham and John Paul Jones

Music History

Mar 11 Jim Morrison leaves for Paris to re-orient himself emotionally and creatively, and to avoid the jail sentence given to him in Miami, Florida. He never returns to the US.

Music History

Mar 14 The Rolling Stones leave England for France in an attempt to escape taxes

  • Mar 16 13th Grammy Awards: "Bridge Over Troubled Water", Carpenters win

Music History

Mar 25 Tom Jones' cover version of Paul Anka's "She's a Lady" goes gold

  • Mar 27 David Heneker and John Taylor's musical "Charlie Girl" close at the Adelphi Theatre, London, after 2,202 performances
  • Mar 28 25th Tony Awards: "Sleuth" (Best Play) & "Company" (Best Musical, Original Score, Director) win
  • Apr 3 16th Eurovision Song Contest: Severine for Monaco wins singing "Un banc, un arbre, une rue" in Dublin

Follies

Apr 4 Stephen Sondheim's "Follies" opens at Winter Garden Theater, NYC; runs for 524 performances, then most expensive Broadway musical at the time

It Don't Come Easy

Apr 9 Ringo Starr releases single "It Don't Come Easy", produced by George Harrison, in the UK

70, Girls, 70

Apr 15 John Kander and Fred Ebbs' musical "70, Girls, 70", starring Hans Conried and Mildred Natwick, opens at Broadhurst Theater, NYC; runs for 35 performances

  • Apr 20 Barbra Streisand records "We've Only Just Begun"
  • Apr 24 Skip Redwine and Larry Frank's musical "Frank Merriwell" opens and closes at Longacre Theater, NYC (1 performance only)
  • May 1 Rolling Stones release "Brown Sugar"
  • May 5 Courtney, Courtney, and Link's musical "Earl of Ruston" opens at Billy Rose Theater, NYC, runs for 5 performances
  • May 8 Courtney, Courtney, and Link's musical "Earl of Ruston" closes at Billy Rose Theater, NYC, after 5 performances
  • May 15 John Kander and Fred Ebbs' musical "70, Girls, 70", starring Hans Conried and Mildred Natwick, closes at Broadhurst Theater, NYC, after 35 performances

Owen Wingrave

May 16 Benjamin Britten's opera "Owen Wingrave" premieres in Aldwych, London

  • May 17 Stephen Schwartz' musical "Godspell" premieres off-Broadway
  • May 21 Marvin Gaye' eleventh album "What's Going On" is released; considered the best album off all-time by critic surveys in Rolling Stone (2020); The Guardian (1997); and New Music Express (1985)
  • May 23 American rock group Iron Butterfly ("In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida") disbands
  • May 27 John Lennon records the song "Imagine" at his Ascot Sound home studio at Tittenhurst Park, England
  • May 28 Paul McCartney releases "Ram", his 2nd solo album
  • May 29 "Court Room" by Clarence Carter hits #61
  • May 30 36 hospitalized during Grateful Dead concert; drunk LSD apple juice
  • Jun 1 "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" opens at the John Golden Theatre, NYC; runs for 31 performances
  • Jun 6 John Lennon and Yoko Ono appear for an unannounced performance, joining Frank Zappa on stage at Fillmore East in NYC
  • Jun 9 Paul McCartney's album "Ram" goes gold
  • Jun 17 Carole King's album "Tapestry" goes to #1 on US album charts and stays there for 15 weeks

Glastonbury Festival

Jun 20 Glastonbury Festival in Pilton, England opens: David Bowie headlines; other performs include: Joan Baez, Hawkwind, Melanie, Traffic, Fairport Convention, and Quintessence

Music Concert

Jun 21 50,000 attend Celebration of Life, rock concert in McCrea, Louisiana; performers included Chuck Berry; Stephen Stills; WAR; John Sebastian; and Delaney and Bonnie

Blue

Jun 22 Reprise Records releases "Blue", Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell's 4th studio album [1] [2]

McCabe & Mrs. Miller

Jun 24 Warner Bros. releases "McCabe & Mrs. Miller", a western film by Robert Altman, starring Warren Beatty and Julie Christie, with songs by Leonard Cohen

Where I'm Coming From

Jun 25 Stevie Wonder releases single "Where I'm Coming From"

  • Jun 26 "Man of La Mancha" closes at ANTA Wash Sq Theater NYC after 2329 performances
  • Jun 27 "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" closes at the John Golden Theatre, NYC, after 31 performances

The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour

Aug 1 "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour" debuts on CBS-TV, with comic actor and singer Jimmy Durante as guest

  • Aug 1 George Harrison's benefit concerts for Bangladesh (2 shows) take place at Madison Square Garden, NYC; performers include Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Ravi Shankar, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, and Leon Russell
  • Aug 3 Paul McCartney announces formation of his group Wings

Back Seat of My Car

Aug 13 Paul & Linda McCartney release single "Back Seat of My Car"

  • Aug 31 Beatle John Lennon leaves England for the final time, moving to New York City
  • Sep 1 Rolling Stones sue manager Allen Klein
  • Sep 9 Apple Records releases John Lennon's second solo studio album, "Imagine" in US; it tops the charts in US, UK, Australia, and 3 other countries
  • Sep 9 John Lennon and Yoko Ono appear on Dick Cavett Show (ABC-TV)

Two by Two

Sep 11 Richard Rodgers and Martin Charnin's musical "Two by Two", starring Danny Kaye, closes at Imperial Theater, NYC, after 343 performances

  • Sep 28 NY Times reports growing interest of white youth in black gospel music
  • Oct 8 Apple Records releases John Lennon's second solo studio album, "Imagine" in UK; it tops the charts in US, UK, Australia, and 3 other countries
  • Oct 8 John Lennon releases his megahit single "Imagine"
  • Oct 10 5th Country Music Association Awards: Charlie Pride wins

Music History

Oct 12 Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar", starring Jeff Fenholt and Ben Vereen opens at Mark Hellinger Theatre, NYC; runs for 711 performances

Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death

Oct 20 Melvin Van Peebles' musical "Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death" opens at Barrymore Theater, NYC; runs for 325 performances

  • Oct 21 "To Live Another Summer" opens at Helen Hayes NYC for 173 performances
  • Oct 28 John Lennon and Yoko Ono record the single "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" in NYC
  • Oct 29 Frank Zappa's musical mockumentary "200 Motels", starring The Mothers of Invention, Theodore Bikel, and Ringo Starr premieres in Beverly Hills, California

On the Town

Oct 31 Revival of Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden and Adolph Green's musical "On the Town" opens at Imperial Theater, NYC; runs for 65 performances

Cold Spring Harbor

Nov 1 Family Productions releases "Cold Spring Harbor", singer-songwriter Billy Joel's debut studio album; a mastering error caused music to be sped up

The Grass Harp

Nov 2 Claibe Richardson and Kenward Elmslie's musical "The Grass Harp", based on the novel by Truman Capote, opens at Martin Beck Theater, NYC; runs for 7 performances

  • Nov 6 Claibe Richardson and Kenward Elmslie's musical "The Grass Harp", based on the novel by Truman Capote, closes at Martin Beck Theater, NYC, after 7 performances

Prisoner of Second Avenue

Nov 11 Neil Simon's stage comedy "The Prisoner of Second Avenue", starring Peter Falk, Lee Grant, and Vincent Gardenia, opens at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, NYC; runs for 798 performances

  • Nov 22 English translation of Dan Almagor's Israeli musical "Only Fools Are Sad" opens at Edison Theater, NYC; runs for 144 performances
  • Nov 28 "Me Nobody Knows" closes at Helen Hayes Theater, NYC, after 587 performances

Two Gentlemen of Verona

Dec 1 Galt MacDermot and John Guare's musical adaptation of William Shakespeare's "Two Gentlemen of Verona", starring Clifton Davis and Raul Julia, opens at St James Theater, NYC; runs for 614 performances and wins 2 Tony Awards

  • Dec 1 John Lennon and Yoko Ono release single "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" in the US
  • Dec 4 Montreux Casino, in Montreux, Switzerland, burns down to the ground after a fan fires a flare gun during concert by Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention; incident inspires rock band Deep Purple's song "Smoke on the Water"
  • Dec 5 Ian Dury performs his first gig with Kilburn and the High Roads at Croydon School of Art
  • Dec 7 Musical "Wild and Wonderful" opens and closes at the Lyceum Theater, NYC, after 1 performance
  • Dec 7 Wings release their 1st album "Wild Life"
  • Dec 18 CBS radio cancels Saturday morning band concerts
  • Dec 19 Helen Miller and Eve Merriam's musical "Inner City" opens at Barrymore Theater, NYC; runs for 97 performances