1964 to 1975 -- Rock's Dominant Years

 New Album Releases
1964

After ticket sales result in near riots, the Beatles play for 30 minutes at the Hollywood Bowl for hysterical fans who make so much noise that the band can hardly be heard.

Local TV Multiple Ownership Rule prohibits a broadcaster from owning more than one television station in the same market, unless there are at least eight stations in the market.

October 22 -- EMI rejects audition from the "High Numbers." They change name to "The Who."

  • Beatles -- Meet the Beatles, Hard Day's Night
  • Rolling Stones -- The Rolling Stones
  • Rolling Stones -- England's Newest Hitmakers
1965

September 15 -- Ford offers its 1966 model cars equipped with 8-track stereo cartridge tape players. The 8-track was developed by William Lear (who founded the Learjet aviation company in 1962), Ampex, and RCA.

Newport audience boos Bob Dylan for using an electric guitar.

  • Beatles -- Help!
  • Beatles -- Rubber Soul
  • Rolling Stones -- Rolling Stones 2
  • The Who -- My Generation
1966
  • Beatles -- Yesterday... and Today
  • Beatles -- Revolver
  • The Who -- Happy Jack
1967  
  • Beatles -- Sgt. Pepper's
  • Beatles -- Magical Mystery Tour
  • Pink Floyd -- The Piper At the Gates of Dawn
  • Rolling Stones -- Their Satanic Majesty's Request
  • The Who -- The Who Sell Out
1968 New York's public TV affilate is assailed by Congress for airing coverage of North Vietnam.
  • Beatles -- Yellow Submarine
  • Beatles -- Abbey Road
  • Rolling Stones -- Beggar's Banquet
  • The Who -- On Tour: Magic Bus
1969

Dolby Noise Reduction introduced for pre-recorded tapes.

Telephones in 90% of U.S. households.

  • Alice Cooper -- Pretties For You
  • Beatles -- Let It Be
  • Led Zeppelin -- Led Zeppelin
  • Led Zeppelin -- Led Zeppelin II
  • Rolling Stones -- Through the Past Darkly
  • Rolling Stones -- Let It Bleed
  • The Who -- Tommy
1970 Radio/TV Cross-Ownership Restriction: Prohibits a broadcaster from owning a radio station and a television station in the same market.
  • Alice Cooper -- Easy Action
  • Led Zeppelin -- Led Zeppelin III
  • Rolling Stones -- Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out
  • The Who -- Live at Leeds
1971

Ascertainment of Community Needs: FCC requires broadcasters to report, with their license renewal, efforts to seek out and address issues of concern to the community.

Ban on TV cigarette advertising.

Digital Delay line used by BBC's studios (first digital audio device).

April 29 -- Bill Graham closes Fillmore East

  • Alice Cooper -- Love It To Death
  • Led Zeppelin -- Led Zeppelin IV
  • Rolling Stones -- Sticky Fingers
  • Rolling Stones -- Hot Rocks
  • The Who -- Who's Next
  • The Who -- Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy
1972 Time buys Home Box Office (HBO). HBO transmits programming to 365 subscribers in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
  • Alice Cooper -- School's Out
  • Rolling Stones -- Exile on Main Street
1973 BBC and other broadcast companies start installing digital recorders for master recordings.
  • Alice Cooper -- Billion Dollar Babies
  • Led Zeppelin -- Houses of the Holy
  • Rolling Stones -- Goat's Head Soup
  • The Who -- Quadrophenia
1974 Nixon resigns on television.
  • Alice Cooper -- Muscle of Love
  • Rolling Stones -- It's Only Rock and Roll
  • The Who -- Odds and Sods
1975

Newspaper/Broadcast Cross-Ownership Prohibition: FCC bans ownership of both a newspaper and a television station in the same market.

Sydney Alonso and Jon Appleton and Cameron Jones developed the Synclavier digital synthesizer at Dartmouth College.

  • Alice Cooper -- Welcome to My Nightmare
  • Led Zeppelin -- Physical Graffiti
  • Rolling Stones -- Made in the Shade
  • The Who -- The Who By Numbers
Foot
Notes		 Great essay by Bruce Eder on the rise and fall of art rock/progressive rock.  

Sources