November 1971

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Funeral services are held for Duane Allman at the Memorial Chapel in Macon, Georgia. Among those paying tribute are the other Allman band members, Mac Rebennack (Dr. John), Jerry Wexler and Delaney Bramlett. The Allmans perform "Stormy Monday," "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" and "Statesboro Blues," which is sung mournfully by Gregg, his eyes hidden by dark sunglasses, tears streaming down his cheeks.
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Bob Dylan, long under pressure to return to his political stance of the Sixties, records "George Jackson," a paean to the black militant killed in a California prison shootout. Dylan releases the tune in two versions, one electric and one acoustic. Among the lines: "He wouldn't take shit from no one," which guarantees limited radio play. Some applaud Dylan for his action, but others regard "George Jackson" suspiciously; Dylan sounds more like he's buckling under to left-wing pressure than as if he's actually committed.
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Sly and the Family Stone have huge hits with "Family Affair" and There's a Riot Goin' On (Number One and gold). The album's title could well describe some of Sly's concerts during this time, for, much to his fans' dismay, he is a frequent no-show: of eighty concerts booked in 1970, he canceled twenty-six, and he has ducked out of twelve of forty shows in 1971.

Led Zeppelin releases its officially unnamed fourth LP; the album cut "Stairway to Heaven" will become the unofficial anthem of FM rock radio.
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According to a Rolling Stone report, the promoters of the disastrous Celebration of Life Festival have been indicted by a Pointe Coupe Parish, Lousisiana, grand jury on charges of theft, obscenity and contributing to the delinquency of juveniles. Steve Kapelow and Ken Lind's much ballyhooed festival, held last June, was closed by authorities after just four days.
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The group Slade capture their first of six British Number One singles, "Coz I Love You." The group is notable for its platform footwear (which resemble small buildings), its crushing volume, the siren voice of singer Noddy Holder and, most of all, its song titles, which are spelled out phonetically ("Mama Weer All Crazzee Now").
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Grand Funk Railroad release their sixth album, E Pluribus Funk, whose cover is sure to futher infuriate critics who criticize what they perceive as the group's exaggerated sense of self-importance. The silver package is shaped like a coin, with the likenesses of Mark Farner, Don Brewer and Mel Schacher stamped on it in relief. The overall effect is that of Mount Rushmore. Regardless, the LP goes to #5.
 16
Led Zeppelin's debut, actually released in early 1969, finally goes gold. By this time the group is readying its fourth album, titled Led Zeppelin IV, which contains the alltime FM radio classic "Stairway to Heaven."
 17
Rod Stewart and the Faces release A Nod Is as Good as a Wink to a Blind Horse, their third LP together. It is one of the few Faces albums to adequately capture their boozy, wonderfully sloppy live sound. The group scores its biggest hit, the taunting come-on, "Stay with Me," which hits #17. The LP goes to Top Ten.
 18
Memphis blues-harmonica great Herman "Little Junior" Parker, whose "Mystery Train" Elvis Presley popularized in 1953, dies.
 19
Blues guitar giant B.B. King marks his twenty-fifth year in show biz by starting a European tour in London.
 20
"Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler)" becomes the third R&B Number One single from Marvin Gaye's What's Going On album; the others are the title song (also pop #2) and "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)." The album represents the first time a major Motown artists has taken a public stand on controversial issues.
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The Chi-Lites' first R&B Number One, "Have You Seen Her," enters the R&B chart. The song goes to #3 on the Top 100 pop chart in December. The Windy City quartet will top the pop chart in a little over six months with an even bigger hit, "Oh Girl."
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The three surviving Doors -- keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robbie Krieger and drummer John Densmore -- tell Rolling Stone that they are determined to carry on despite singer Jim Morrison's death in July, with Manzarek assuming the role as vocalist. Their two LPs, Other Voices and Full Circle, will sell only marginally, however, and the Doors will disband officially in 1973.

In a domestic hijacking, D.B. Cooper threatens to blow up a Northwest Airlines jet. He receives $200,000 in ransom and parachutes over Washington State. Neither he nor his remains have ever been found.
 26
Tickets are so in demand for the Faces' Madison Square Garden performance that the group breaks Led Zeppelin's sellout record for the New York arena.
 27
Soviet space capsule Mars 2 lands on Mars, becoming the first man-made object on that planet, and establishes radio contact with Earth for 20 seconds.
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