By 1971, a number of heavyweights were out of the game. The Beatles had split up, as had The Velvet Underground. Meanwhile, Hendrix, Joplin, and Morrison were proactively making the early transition from rock star to worm food (they would combine to release 3, 478,279 posthumous records). On a positive note, John Prine released what was both his debut and career album, Marvin Gaye took Motown soul into the world of political consciousness, and the Rolling Stones raised glucose levels throughout the English speaking world.
Ain’t No Sunshine, Bill Withers
American Pie, Don McLean
Baba O’Riley, The Who
Brown Sugar, The Rolling Stones
Coat of Many Colors, Dolly Parton
Every Picture Tells A Story, Rod Stewart
Family Affair, Sly and the Family Stone
Get it On, T Rex
Have You Seen Her, The Chi-Lites
Have You Ever Seen the Rain, CCR
Hello in There, John Prine
Hot Pants (Part 1), James Brown
How Can You Mend A Broken Heart, The Bee Gees
I’d Love to Change the World, Ten Years After
Imagine, John Lennon
It Don’t Come Easy, Ringo Starr
It’s Too Late, Carole King
Jealous Guy, John Lennon
Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me), The Temptations
Kiss An Angel Good Mornin’ – Charlie Pride
L.A. Woman, The Doors
Let’s Stay Together, Al Green
Maggie May, Rod Stewart
Me and Bobby McGee, Janis Joplis
Me and Paul, Willie Nelson
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology), Marvin Gaye
Motel Blues, Loudon Wainwright III
Oye Como Va, Santana
Paradise, John Prine
Sam Stone, John Prine
Stoney End, Barbara Streisand
That’s the Way I Always Heard It Should Be, Carly Simon
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, Gil Scott-Heron
Theme from Shaft, Isaac Hayes
Tired of Being Alone, Al Green
Truckin’, Grateful Dead
Tupelo Honey, Van Morrison
Under My Wheels, Alice Cooper
What’s Going On, Marvin Gaye
When the Levee Breaks, Led Zeppelin
Wild Night, Van Morrison
Without You, Nilsson
Won’t Get Fooled Again, The Who
The Year Clayton Delaney Died, Tom T. Hall
You Are Everything, The Stylistics