http://www.amazon.co.uk/Essential-Guide-Music-1970s/dp/0955575656
Song of the month for January 1971
My Sweet Lord by George Harrison (peak chart position:No.1)
He may have described himself as an economy-class Beatle, but the quiet one surpassed his former musical associates with the huge-selling ‘My Sweet Lord’. This beautiful Hare Krishna anthem was a statement of George’s own religious state of mind. It certainly struck a chord with many record-buyers who ensured that Harrison would land himself a Transatlantic chart-topper long before either Lennon or McCartney could even begin to emulate this accomplishment. The trouble was that the self-described ‘dark horse’ peaked with this single and its accompanying album, ‘All Things Must Pass’. He never reached these heights again.
Song of the month for February 1971
Hot Love by T. Rex (peak chart position:No.1)
Following fast behind the huge success of ‘Ride A White Swan’, T. Rex scored the first of their four British chart-toppers with ‘Hot Love’. This song appears to live in the shadow of its successor, ‘Get It On’, which is quite strange given that it originally sold more copies and spent longer at Number One (six weeks to be precise). Meanwhile Marc Bolan’s previous followers were dismayed that he had swapped trippy lyrics in favour of “la la la la la la la”, but his new teenage fanbase were not complaining.
Song of the month for March 1971
Double Barrel by Dave And Ansil Collins (peak chart position:No.1)
‘Double Barrel’ was effectively an instrumental and not exactly the most likely song to reach the pop summit. It was yet another outpouring from Jamaica’s very own hit factory, Trojan Records. This tune was expected to be another novelty hit from the Carribbean, but Dave and Ansil Collins demolished the likelihood of being one-hit wonders when they followed up with another Top Ten hit, the slightly similar, ‘Monkey Spanner’, which featured “the heavy heavy monster sound”, which was later re-visited by Madness on ‘One Step Beyond’.
Song of the month for April 1971
Can’t You Hear Me Knocking by The Rolling Stones (album track)
‘Can’t You Hear Me Knocking’ was far too long to be released as a single, but it was a key track on the ‘Sticky Fingers’ album, released in April 1971. Opinion is divided on the merits of this extended jam. Some Stones’ ‘purists’ complain that the lads were getting much too self-indulgent. I however am firmly in the camp which hails this item as a delightful jazz-rock fusion which sets it apart from many other more typical Stones’ recordings. Quite simply, the instrumental second half is a joy to behold, helped by the keyboards input of Billy Preston and the saxophonist Bobby Keyes.
Song of the month for May 1971
My Brother Jake by Free (peak chart position:No.4)
The consensus of opinion may be that their best single was ‘All Right Now’, but I have a slight preference for the Top Five hit, ‘My Brother Jake’, which was released in May of 1971. This tune is a far cry from the tongue-in-cheek humour of their biggest smash, as the subject matter is darker. Here Paul Rodgers is pleading to Jake to clean up his act and pull his life around. The song’s message ought to have been heeded by young guitarist, Paul Kossoff, who died of a heart attack in 1976, another victim of rock and roll excess.
Song of the month for June 1971
Black And White by Greyhound (peak chart position:No.6)
Jamiaca’s Greyhound helped themselves to a Top Ten hit, courtesy of the standard ‘Black And White’, which was a well-intentioned appeal for inter-racial harmony. Not content with this hugely listenable tune, the act found further success with their own decent interpretation of ‘Moon River’ and the commendable ‘I Am What I Am’. Here was another surprise triumph for the Caribbean’s very own ‘Motown’ - Trojan Records.
Song of the month for July 1971
Let Your Yeah Be Yeah by The Pioneers (peak chart position:No.5)
Although the Pioneers are regarded as something of a reggae group, this marvellous single was more akin to Motown or soul. Written by new Jamaican superstar Jimmy Cliff, ‘Let Your Yeah Be Yeah’ deserves to be credited as one of the great pop songs of all time, with its excellent vocal harmonies and brass accompaniment. It certainly sounds much different from the group’s previous hit single, ‘Long Shot Kick De Bucket’!
Song of the month for August 1971
It’s Too Late by Carole King (peak chart position:No.6)
Taken from an album, ‘Tapestry’, which had already surfaced successfully back in the spring, this ‘new release’ made predictable progress into the British Top Ten, though Carole King’s radio-friendly double A-side failed to match the chart-topping success it achieved in the United States. This sad song was further evidence of Carole King’s songwriting gifts and it was a key ingredient on a massive-selling long player that took up a mere 300 weeks’ residency in the American album charts.
Song of the month for September 1971
Maggie May by Rod Stewart (peak chart position: No.1)
The new release, ‘Maggie May’ announced the arrival of one of the 1970s’ great institutions, Mr. Rod Stewart. Abandoning his footballing ambitions in favour of delivering from the mike stand, ‘Rod The Mod’ sang “it’s late September and I really should be back at school”. Instead of which he was located at the top of the British hit parade. Scotland’s finest was joined on stage for a memorable ‘Top Of The Pops’ cameo by John Peel on mandolin, while the Brentford FC reject dribbled a football. Credit must also go to the Faces for their musical contribution. For three glorious October weeks, Rod and the Faces were Number One in British and American singles and album charts simultaneously, emulating Simon And Garfunkel’s ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’.
Song of the month for October 1971
How Do You Sleep? by John Lennon (album track)
John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ album was first released in September in the United States before seeing the light of day in the United Kingdom in October, by which time the ex-Beatle was now a citizen of New York. ‘How Do You Sleep’ is not necessarily the long player’s best song, but it is certainly the most noteworthy. After divorcing Cynthia, John found himself embroiled in another bitter divorce situation as he and Paul McCartney embarked on a war of words amidst legal proceedings. ‘How Do You Sleep?’ was a savage put-down of his songwriting partner and (former) friend, suggesting that “the only thing you’ve done was ‘Yesterday’”. Fortunately sanity eventually prevailed and diplomatic relations were restored between the two legends.
Song of the month for November 1971
Echoes by Pink Floyd (album track)
Arch-purveyors of progressive rock, the Floyd were always keen to stretch themselves by fleeing from the conventional format of three-minute songs in favour of something more daring. ‘Echoes’ followed ‘Atom Heart Mother’ as a track which lasted for a whole album side. It was risky, but it worked. Starting with a plucked piano, the song is a twenty-two minute nautical delight. At the conclusion, the music and the voices fade as if wandering off over the horizon - never to return. This item ought to find its way on to anyone’s desert island disc collection, because its duration would be the equivalent of six or seven lesser songs.
Song of the month for December 1971
Theme From ‘Shaft’ by Isaac Hayes (peak chart position: No.4)
Performer of ‘hot buttered soul’, Isaac Hayes served up a treat with the outstanding theme to ‘Shaft’. The song oozes sex appeal and is one of the coolest anthems to be delivered to the airwaves. Unfortunately, Hayes was never able to repeat this American chart-topper, but who can ever forget those strings and his spoken words? Nothing that the performer would subsequently record would ever stand any chance of a favourable comparison.
Listed Below are the Top 10 Best Selling UK Singles of 1971
1 My Sweet Lord George Harrison
2 Maggie May Rod Stewart
3 Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep Middle of the Road
4 Knock Three Times Dawn
5 Hot Love T.Rex
6 The Pushbike Song The Mixtures
7 Never Ending Song Of Love The New Seekers
8 I’m Still Waiting Diana Ross
9 Get It On T.Rex
10 Hey Girl Don’t Bother Me The Tams
1971’s CONCERTS OF THE YEAR
Led Zeppelin braved the deteriorating situation in Ulster to perform at the Ulster Hall in Belfast in March. The band took the opportunity to treat the audience to the first public performances of ‘Black Dog’ and ‘Stairway To Heaven’. However, the most noteworthy concert of 1971 is undoubtedly the event organised by George Harrison to raise money for the famine-stricken citizens of the new state of Bangladesh. Held at Madison Square Garden in New York City, the ex-Beatle guitarist recruited such acts as Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Bily Preston, Ravi Shankar, and Ringo Starr who all made contributions to the gig, which was subsequently translated onto vinyl. To quote from ‘The Song For Today’ (by Jimmie Oliver) “this historic event [on August the 1st] was a prototype Live Aid, and it was the first notable occasion when performers from the rock and pop aristocracy assembled to raise funds for others less fortunate.”
1971’s ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones
(released in April; reached No.1 in the UK)
The landscape on Planet Stones had changed considerably since the issue of ‘Let It Bleed’ at the end of the ‘sixties. For a start, the talented young Mick Taylor was now firmly ensconced in the role of guitarist, filling the void of the departed Brian Jones. Secondly, the Rolling Stones were now liberated from their contractual obligations to Decca Records and thus able to form their very own record label. Thirdly, these new rock aristocrats were now effectively tax exiles. However, one thing that did not change was the quality of their music. In fact, ‘Sticky Fingers’ is frequently hailed as the band’s finest three-quarters of an hour, and it is hard not to agree. The album boasted the presence of the group’s signature rocker, ‘Brown Sugar’, which dominated the charts on both sides of the Atlantic. The highlights however don’t end there. The long player also contains such gems as ‘Wild Horses’, though much of the content dwells on drugs, pain, and vulnerability, as typified on ‘Sister Morphine’, ‘I Got The Blues’, and the magnificent ‘Moonlight Mile’, so the project is hardly overflowing with joie de vivre. Whatever the negativity of such items as ‘Bitch’, the album with the Andy Warhol-inspired cover met with the royal seal of approval from fans and critics alike.
SPORT IN 1971
English Division One football champions: Arsenal; runners-up: Leeds United
English FA Cup final: Arsenal 2 Liverpool 1 (after extra time)
English League Cup Final: Tottenham Hotspur 2 Aston Villa 0
Scotiish Division One football champions: Glasgow Celtic; runners-up: Aberdeen
Scottish FA Cup final: Glasgow Celtic 2 Glasgow Rangers 1 (in a replay)
Scottish League Cup final: Glasgow Rangers 1 Glasgow Celtic 0
Irish League football champions: Linfield; Irish Cup final: Distillery 3 Derry City 0
League Of Ireland football champions: Cork Hibernians; cup winners: Limerick
European Cup final: Ajax Amsterdam 2 Panathinaikos 0
European Cup-Winners’ Cup final: Chelsea 2 Real Madrid 1 (in a replay)
European Fairs Cup final: Leeds United beat Juventus on away goals rule (3-3 on aggregate)
English county cricket champions: Surrey
Five Nations’ rugby union champions: Wales (the Grand Slam); runners-up: France
Formula One world drivers’ champion: Jackie Stewart (United Kingdom) in a Tyrrell car
Gaelic football All-Ireland champions: Offaly; runners-up: Galway
British Open golf champion: Lee Trevino (at Royal Birkdale)
US Masters golf champion: Charles Coody
US Open golf champion: Lee Trevino
USPGA golf champion: Jack Nicklaus
Rugby league Challenge Cup final: Leigh 24 Leeds 7
Wimbledon men’s singles tennis final: J Newcombe beat S Smith 6-3, 5-7, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
Wimbledon ladies’ singles tennis final:E Goolagong beat M Court 6-4, 6-1
World snooker final: John Spencer (England) beat Warren Simpson (Australia) 37-29
The Aintree Grand National steeplechase winner: Specify; price 28-1
The Epsom Derby winner: Mill Reef; jockey - Geoff Lewis; price 100-30F
The Ryder Cup golf contest: United States 18.5 Great Britain And Ireland 13.5
1971’s DEATHS
January 5th: Sonny Liston (US boxer), aged 38
January 10th: Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel (French designer), aged 87
March 8th: Harold Lloyd (US actor), aged 77
March 16th: Thomas Dewey (US politician), aged 68
April 6th: Igor Stravinsky (Russian composer), aged 88
April 21st: ‘Papa Doc’ Duvalier (Haitian dictator), aged 64
May 19th: Ogden Nash (US poet), aged 68
June 4th: Gyorgy Lukacs (Hungarian politician), aged 86
June 16th: Baron Reith (BBC pioneer), aged 81
July 3rd: Jim Morrison (US singer), aged 27
July 6th: Louis Armstrong (US entertainer), aged 71
August 14th: Georg Von Opel (German car manufacturer), aged 59
September 11th: Nikita Khrushchev (Soviet statesman), aged 77
October 12th: Gene Vincent (US singer), aged 36
October 29th: Duane Allman (US musician), aged 24
December 18th: Bobby Jones (US golfer), aged 69
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