1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything — Season 1

May 202149m

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

May 202142m

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

May 202147m

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

May 202145m

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

May 202146m

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

May 202142m

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

May 202144m

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.

May 202146m

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