12 Days of Christmas Past

6th Day of Christmas Past
1971

The times, they were a’changin’ in 1971. Cigarette ads were banned from U.S. television. The Supreme Court ruled that busing could be used to achieve desegregation in the nation’s schools. 500,000 people in Washington DC and 125,000 in San Francisco marched against the war in Vietnam.

Holiday Milestones

In November, Santana’s third album became the second to chart at #1. Officially, the album was untitled, but is usually referred to as “III” or "3" or "3rd LP."

In December, Led Zeppelin’s fourth album (the one with medieval runes instead of title, variously called "IV" or “Four Symbols” or “Zosa” or “The Runes Album”) went to #1 on the U.S. album chart and stayed there for the next 259 weeks. Even though it was on the chart just a week shy of five years, it was never in the #1 position, peaking at #2.

T. Rex scored their first #1 album in December. Their Electric Warrior album was the group’s sixth.

David Bowie’s 1971 holiday season album release, Hunky Dory contained the classic, “Changes.”

Genesis’ Nursery Cryme, another 1971 holiday release, was the group’s third studio album, and the first with new members Phil Collins and Steve Hackett.

Backstories: Inspirations

Jim Morrison (The Doors) died in July. In his memory, Alice Cooper wrote “Desperado,” which was included on his Killer album, released in December.

In December, Frank Zappa was performing at the Montreux Casino in Switzerland. In the midst of a concert, the building caught fire when an audience member shot off a flare. The structure burned to the ground. In a mobile studio nearby, Deep Purple were busy recording an album. The fire inspired them to write “Smoke On the Water” and include it on the album. It became one of their best known hits.

Going Live

On New Year’s Eve, The Band – complete with a full horn section – performed at the New York Academy of Music. The result was the double album, Rock of Ages, which was released the following year.

The Grateful Dead celebrated the 1971 holidays with the release of an album titled Grateful Dead, which had been recorded earlier in the year at Fillmore East in New York City. Perhaps to avoid confusion with the band’s first studio album, The Grateful Dead[/link], this one is usually referred to as “Skull and Roses,” a reference to the artwork on the album’s cover.

Hello and Goodbye

Billy Joel debuted as a solo artist in November with the release of Cold Spring Harbor. The album failed to reach the charts until it was re-mixed and re-released 13 years later.

The holiday mood was saddened by the death of Allman Brothers Band founder Duane Allman in a traffic accident at the end of October.

Survey Climbers

Moody Blues’ Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, The Who’s Who’s Next and Jefferson Airplane’s Bark were “Pick Albums” on the WLCY-138 Fun Fifty survey in Tampa/St. Petersburg.

More 1971 Holiday Season Album Releases

The Kinks – Muswell Hillbillies
John Lennon – Imagine
Van Morrison – Tupelo Honey
Pink Floyd – Meddle
Yes – Fragile

• 1st Day Of Christmas Past - 1966
• 2nd Day Of Christmas Past - 1967
• 3rd Day Of Christmas Past - 1968
• 4th Day Of Christmas Past - 1969
• 5th Day Of Christmas Past - 1970
• 6th Day of Christmas Past - 1971
• 7th Day Of Christmas Past - 1972
• 8th Day Of Christmas Past - 1973
• 9th Day Of Christmas Past - 1974
• 10th Day Of Christmas Past - 1975
• 11th Day Of Christmas Past - 1976
• 12th Day Of Christmas Past - 1977

• 12 Days of Christmas Past Index