1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything is out today on Apple TV+ and looks a must-watch for students of social history or great music

If you want an idea of the scope of 1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything, you can do worse than check out the trailer. Alongside over 2 minutes of content, there’s also a description of the series:

In a tumultuous era, 1971 would be a year of musical innovation and rebirth. Fueled by the political and cultural upheaval of the time, fresh talent exploded onto the scene, stars reached new heights, and boundaries expanded like never before

It then goes on to say:

This eight-part docuseries will take you back to the birth of the most original artists and songs that we still listen to 50 years later, including never-before-seen footage of The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye, The Who, Joni Mitchell, Lou Reed, and more

We wonder just how unseen this footage is, and how much it adds to the material already available; there’s only one way to find out! The core idea is to show how the musical icons of the time were influenced by the changing tides of history; and, in turn, how they used their music to inspire hope, change and the culture around them. It seems likely to cause debate, and various other commentators have also selected other years as being equally pivotal (and the influences must extend either side of 1971 as well!)

You can watch the series now on Apple TV+.