1971 in British Music

The Story of 1971

A golden year for British rock, with classic albums arriving at an astonishing rate. Led Zeppelin released 'Led Zeppelin IV', their untitled masterpiece containing 'Stairway to Heaven', the most-played rock song in radio history. The Who released 'Who's Next', featuring 'Baba O'Riley' and 'Won't Get Fooled Again', a fusion of rock and synthesisers that felt like the future. David Bowie released 'Hunky Dory', a warm, eclectic collection that included 'Changes' and 'Life on Mars?'. Pink Floyd released 'Meddle', containing 'Echoes', their twenty-three-minute epic that pointed toward 'Dark Side of the Moon'. John Lennon's 'Imagine' became an anthem for peace. T. Rex's 'Electric Warrior' was glam rock's first masterpiece, Marc Bolan's boogie making him the biggest star in Britain. Every teenager wanted to be a rock star, and the charts reflected extraordinary diversity – glam, hard rock, prog, folk and bubblegum all coexisting. The progressive rock movement was at full strength – Yes, Jethro Tull, Emerson Lake & Palmer and King Crimson all releasing ambitious, technically dazzling albums. 1971 was British rock at its most confident and creative.