1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything

As the unrest of the ’60s evolves into a new decade, musicians like Marvin Gaye and John Lennon become the conscience of the culture.

Sly Stone, The Rolling Stones, and Jim Morrison retreat from the world—but there’s no escape from the growing epidemic of hard drugs.

New sounds and styles emerge following The Beatles’ breakup, with Marc Bolan and Alice Cooper bringing glam to the world.

Carole King and Joni Mitchell smash sexist boundaries and record iconic albums. Elton John and Lou Reed explore queer music and culture.

America is convulsed by deep racial unrest. Curtis Mayfield, The Last Poets, and Gil Scott-Heron write about a revolution that feels imminent.

Drugs, drink, and debauchery reach a devastating peak—yet Sly Stone, The Rolling Stones, and Jim Morrison produce some of their best music.

James Brown, Ike and Tina Turner, and the artists at Stax Records make music on their own terms despite working in an industry rife with racism.

With reggae and synthesizers on the rise, a range of artists—from Iggy Pop, David Bowie, Lou Reed to Alice Cooper—inspire a creative triumph.