Chapter 38: Will It Go Round in Circles (January 1972 - December 1973)

General Affairs for Apple Corps Ltd.

Morris Levy, 1969.

Apple Corps had been hit with a pair of lawsuits. The first of them was from Bright Tunes Corps, alleging that the Ladders' 1971 single "My Sweet Lord" had sounded too much like the 1963 Chiffons hit "He's So Fine". George Harrison, the writer of "My Sweet Lord", had denied that he had previously listened to the Chiffons tune before, and that the idea for the song had come from the Edwin Hawkins Singers' "Oh Happy Day" from 1968. When John Lennon was questioned as to whether or not Harrison knew, he said, "He's smarter than that. If George had changed a few bars, no one could have tried to sue him."[1]

Speaking of Lennon, he had also been hit with a plagiarism lawsuit in 1973. This time, it was from Big Seven Music, owned by Morris Levy, claiming that a line from the Beatles' "Come Together" had taken the line "Here come ol' flattop" from Chuck Berry's 1956 single, "You Can't Catch Me". Both lawsuits would end up plaguing their respective targets for the next few years.

George Harrison, 1973.

Despite this, Harrison believed that Capitol was not giving all of Apple's artists the proper promotion in America, especially those that didn't originate from said country, likening it to a similar lack of promotion of EMI's acts by Capitol before 1964. Near the end of 1972, Harrison organized a meeting between himself, Peter Brown, Brian Epstein and Lord Beeching about reviving Cameo-Parkway Records as a branch of Apple to distribute and promote their artists. However, Apple was tied to Capitol as their distributors until the end of 1975 and both the Ladders and Paul McCartney were artists under both EMI and Capitol until January 26, 1976.

Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Elton John were also invited into the meeting, having similar feelings about reviving Cameo-Parkway Records, having not put out any new recordings since 1967, excluding the compilation albums. If the new label was going to have a fresh start, it would need a new name. Young suggested dubbing the label "Highway 61 Records", after Dylan's famous 1965 album.[2]

Highway 61 Records was soon set up by Harrison with help from Dylan, Elton and Young, as well as Asylum Records founder David Geffen and Shelter Records founder Leon Russell. A new studio and offices were set up in Los Angeles and by May 1973, Highway 61 Records was born from the ashes of Cameo-Parkway Records, with Denis O'Brien as manager. Asylum would be the distributors for America whilst Apple would be the distributor for the United Kingdom. The first album released under Highway 61 was Bob Dylan's Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid, featuring hit single "Knockin' on Heaven's Door".

Ringo Starr and Marc Bolan during the filming for Born to Boogie, 1972.

Born to Boogie had its premiere on December 18, 1972, directed and produced by Ringo Starr and featuring him, Marc Bolan, T. Rex and Elton John. The film consisted of concert footage along with recording studio scenes at Apple Studios in Savile Row, London. Starr had also appeared in the drama film That'll Be the Day as a Teddy Boy, and the Rolling Stones documentary Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Currently, he was filming for Son of Dracula, directed by Freddie Francis and featuring Harry Nilsson, whom the Ladders had befriended in Los Angeles.

Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles was now in post-production and would be released in theaters on February 7 the following year. Epstein had attempted to block the film's release due to its content, but Brooks insisted on having it released, reportedly saying, "Brian baby, you can't censor art!"

The Artists of Apple Records

Old Signings

Yoko Ono, 1973.

The period of 1972 and 1973 was a mixed one for Apple's roster. Aphrodite's Child had broken up in January 1972 due to creative differences, and as a result, they had left Apple Records, although Vangelis stayed with Apple as a composer for Apple Films. Similarly, Mary Hopkin had released a single ("Water, Paper and Clay") at the start of the year, but it failed to leave an impression, and so she withdrew from the music business as well alongside Ronnie Spector, who recorded no follow up to Try Some, Buy Some.

Delaney & Bonnie had put out their last album, Country Life, in March 1972, backed with the single "Move 'Em Out", fulfilling their contract with Apple. The couple would divorce following the album's release. Jackie Lomax had put out his next album, Three, but no singles were released to promote it, and he went into a recording hiatus. Eric Clapton was still attached to Apple following Cream's breakup, but he did not record any music due to going into drug rehabilitation.

The last departure for previous signings was John Lennon's estranged wife, Yoko Ono. With neither Approximately Infinite Universe nor Feeling the Space charting in either country, she had decided to abandon her music career in favor of the underground art scene before the latter album was out in stores. She had even alleged that Apple Records were failing to properly promote her music, although Brian Epstein would claim otherwise. Either way, this was yet another bullet point to Lennon's second marriage failing.

James Taylor and his then-wife Carly Simon, 1972.

Following the underwhelming performance of Zoo, Badfinger were back in the studio in June to record an eponymous follow-up, with the first single "Love is Easy" being released in October. Recording for the album was completed in November, but it would not be ready in time for the Christmas rush.

Danny Kirwan had left Fleetwood Mac and was soon replaced by Dave Walker and Bob Weston in 1972, although they too would leave the following year. Their three albums during the period, Bare Trees, Penguin, and Mystery to Me, were all minor hits in the United States, but there no big singles from each of them.

James Taylor's One Man Dog was a success in the United States along with the single "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight", although he had decided to take 1973 off. Billy Preston also achieved similar success with Music is My Life and the lead single, "Will It Go Round in Circles", earning him his first number one hit in America. However, Everybody Likes Some Kind of Music was not as successful, but the single "Space Race" was.

Elton John performing live, 1973.

Michael Jackson's debut solo albums, Got to Be There and Ben, were each Top 10 hits in the United States, but Music & Me was nowhere near as successful.

Outside of the Ladders, Paul McCartney & Smile and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Apple's most successful artist during 1972-1973 was none other than Elton John; Honky Château, Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road were all #1 hits in both the United States and the United Kingdom, although Honky Château stalled at #2 in the latter country. Elton's most popular singles from the period were "Rocket Man" (a #1 hit in the United Kingdom), "Crocodile Rock" (a #1 hit in America), "Daniel", and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road".

New Signings

Nazareth, 1973.

Brothers Lon and Derrek Van Eaton were picked up by George Harrison, who produced their debut album Brother, along with the lead single "Sweet Music", which came out in March. The album did not come out until September 1972, and was met with favorable reviews from critics, reaching the Top 20 in America. Yet despite this success, they had left Apple by mid-1973.

Chris Hodge also had a brief stint with Apple with his June 1972 single "We're On Our Way", which hit #35 in the United States. His January 1973 single, "Goodbye Sweet Lorraine", however, did not chart in America, so he too left Apple by mid-1973. The Sundown Playboys had a one-off single released under Apple, "Saturday Nite Special".

Alongside Freddie Mercury, Nazareth was the only other singing from the period who stuck around with Apple by the end of 1973 for a five-album contract. After the failure of their self-titled debut on Pegasus Records, they were signed up for Apple by Roy Thomas Baker, who helped to produce their next three albums, Exercises, Razamanaz and Loud 'n' Proud. The second album achieved success in the United Kingdom thanks to the lead single, "Broken Down Angel".

The only other new signing during 1973 was London-based vocal group Splinter, consisting of Bill Elliot and Bobby Purvis. So far, they have yet to put out an album or single.

The Artists of Highway 61 Records

Neil Young performing live with The Stray Gators, 1973.

Apart from Bob Dylan being signed onto Highway 61 Records, Neil Young saw this as an opportunity to use the label as an outlet for his solo projects outside of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. His first album there was the live album Time Fades Away, and prior to said albums release, he recorded for the bulk of his next studio album, Tonight's the Night, for a release of January 1974.[3]

George Harrison had signed up his friend Ravi Shankar, and later Tom Scott and L.A. Express onto the label. Similarly, Elton John helped Stackridge, Kiki Dee and Cliff Richard in joining the roster, and that was followed by the signing of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Aerosmith (who immediately signed up following a dispute with Columbia Records over the release of their debut album), ex-Monkees member Peter Tork and ex-Love Sculpture member Dave Edmunds. Highway 61 Records now had a healthy roster of artists like its big brother label.

Apple Records discography, January 1972 - December 1973

Albums

• Got to Be There by Michael Jackson - 24 January 1972 (#30 UK, #5 US) [Motown]
• Country Life by Delaney & Bonnie and Friends - 10 March 1972 (#98 US)
• Bare Trees by Fleetwood Mac - 17 March 1972 (#61 US)
• Songs for Beginners by Crosby & Nash - 7 April 1972 (#12 UK, #4 US)
• Manassas by Stephen Stills & Manassas - 12 April 1972 (#24 UK, #2 US)
• Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars by The Rolling Stones - 12 May 1972 (#1 UK and US)
• Honky Château by Elton John - 199 May 1972 (#2 UK, #1 US)
• Sisters, O Sisters by Yoko Ono - 5 June 1972
• Southbound Train by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - 9 June 1972 (#1 UK and US)
• Make Your Dream Last Longer Than the Night by Vangelis - 12 June 1972
• Tomorrow by Paul McCartney - 16 June 1972 (#8 UK, #10 US) [EMI]
• Three by Jackie Lomax - 30 June 1972 (#62 US)
• Bloody Sunday by The Ladders - 14 July 1972 (#8 UK, #11 US) [EMI]
• Exercises by Nazareth - 21 July 1972 (#37 UK)
• Ben by Michael Jackson - 4 August 1972 (#9 UK, #1 US) [Motown]
• Brother by Lon and Derrek Van Eaton - 22 September 1972 (#29 UK, #18 US)
• The Best of the Beatles: 1962-1966 by The Beatles - 6 October 1972 (#1 UK and US) [EMI]
• Music is My Life by Billy Preston - 8 October 1972 (#7 UK, #3 US)
• One Man Dog by James Taylor - 1 November 1972 (#19 UK, 2 US)
• Zoo by Badfinger - 1 December 1972 (#16 UK, #22 US)
• The Lost Planet by The Electric Light Orchestra - 15 December 1972 (#20 UK, #49 US)
• The Best of the Beatles: 1967-1970 by The Beatles - 12 January 1973 (#1 UK and US) [EMI]
• Approximately Infinite Universe by Yoko Ono - 12 January 1973
• Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player by Elton John - 22 January 1973 (#1 UK and US)
• Penguin by Fleetwood Mac - 2 March 1973 (#40 US)
• Music & Me by Michael Jackson - 13 April 1973 (#85 US) [Motown]
• Down the Road by Stephen Stills & Manassas - 7 May 1973 (#19 US)
• Razamanaz by Nazareth - 25 May 1973 (#11 UK)
• Aladdin Sane by The Rolling Stones - 29 June 1973 (#1 UK and US)
• Photograph by The Ladders - 24 August 1973 (#1 UK and US) [EMI]
• Purple Highway by Paul McCartney & Smile - 16 September 1973 (#4 UK, #1 US) [EMI]
• Everybody Likes Some Kind of Music by Billy Preston - 23 September 1973 (#11 UK, #20 US)
• Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John - 5 October 1973 (#1 UK and US)
• Earth by Vangelis - 5 October 1973
• Mystery to Me by Fleetwood Mac - 12 October 1973 (#55 US)
• Pin Ups by David Bowie - 19 October 1973 (#1 UK)
• Hocus Pocus by Electric Light Orchestra - 9 November 1973 (#9 UK, #25 US)
• Loud 'n' Proud by Nazareth - 9 November 1973 (#10 UK)
• The King of Rhye by Freddie Mercury - 19 November 1973 (#5 UK, #49 US)
• Feeling the Space by Yoko Ono - 23 November 1973
• So Far by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - 30 November 1973 (#25 UK, #1 US)

Notable Singles

• "Water, Paper and Clay" / "Streets of London" by Mary Hopkin - 10 January 1972
• "Tiny Dancer" / "Razor Face" by Elton John - 31 January 1972 (#48 UK, #23 US)
• "Tumbling Dice" / "Life on Mars" by The Rolling Stones - 4 February 1972 (#3 UK, #7 US)
• "Rockin' Robin" / "Love is Here and Now You're Gone" by Michael Jackson - 11 February 1972 (#3 UK, #2 US) [Motown]
• "Give Ireland Back to the Irish" / "Mama's Little Girl" by Paul McCartney - 25 February 1972 (#16 UK, #21 US) [EMI]
• "Sweet Music" / "Song of Songs" by Lon and Derrek Van Eaton - 3 March 1972 (#24 US)
• "Baby Blue" / "Flying" by Badfinger - 6 March 1972 (#18 UK, #3 US)
• "The Luck of the Irish" / "Coochy Coochy" by The Ladders - 17 March 1972 (#18 UK, #26 US) [EMI]
• "Rocket Man" / "Suzie (Dramas)" by Elton John - 24 March 1972 (#1 UK, #2 US)
• "Chicago" / "Cowboy Movie" by Crosby & Nash - 3 April 1972 (#10 US)
• "Starman" / "Sweet Black Angel" by The Rolling Stones - 10 April 1972 (#10 UK, #6 US)
• "Sisters, O Sisters" / "Open Your Box" by Yoko Ono - 24 April 1972
• "I Wanna Be Where You Are" / "Ain't No Sunshine" by Michael Jackson - 2 May 1972 (#8 UK, #16 US) [Motown]
• "Move 'Em Out" / "Where There's a Will There's a Way" by Delaney & Bonnie and Friends - 5 May 1972 (#59 US)
• "Mary Had a Little Lamb" / "Little Woman Love" by Paul McCartney - 12 May 1972 (#10 UK, #24 US) [EMI]
• "Sentimental Lady" / "Sunny Side of Heaven" by Fleetwood Mac - 19 May 1972
• "It Doesn't Matter" / "Fallen Eagle" by Stephen Stills & Manassas - 26 May 1972 (#20 US)
• "We're On Our Way" / "Supersoul" by Chris Hodge - 2 June 1972 (#35 US)
• "All Down the Line" / "Rock and Roll Suicide" by The Rolling Stones - 12 June 1972 (#5 UK, #22 US)
• "War Song" / "Singin' Call" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - 19 June 1972 (#23 UK, #1 US)
• "Back Off Boogaloo" / "How?" by The Ladders - 30 June 1972 (#8 UK, #2 US) [EMI]
• "Ben" / "You Can Cry on My Shoulder" by Michael Jackson - 12 July 1972 (#1 US) [Motown]
• "Honky Cat" / "Slave" by Elton John - 31 July 1972 (#22 UK, #5 US)
• "Immigration Man" / "Words (Between the Lines of Age)" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - 4 August 1972 (#47 UK, #14 US)
• "When I Say" / "Do You Mind" by Badfinger - 18 September 1972 (#14 US)
• "Yesterday" / "Eight Days a Week" by The Beatles - 2 October 1972 (#2 UK, #5 US) [EMI]
• "Ball Park Incident" / "Momma" by The Electric Light Orchestra - 16 October 1972 (#6 UK, #18 US)
• "Crocodile Rock" / "Elderberry Wine" by Elton John - 27 October 1972 (#3 UK, #1 US)
• "Saturday Nite Special" / "Valse De Soleil Coucher" by The Sundown Playboys - 31 October 1972
• "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" / "Woh, Don't You Know" by James Taylor - 6 November 1972 (#8 US)
• "Now or Never" / "Move on Fast" by Yoko Ono - 13 November 1972
• "Change Partners" / "Frozen Smiles" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - 17 November 1972 (#40 UK, #8 US)
• "Hi, Hi, Hi" / "The Night Comes Down" by Paul McCartney & Smile - 1 December 1972 (#5 UK, #10 US) [EMI]
• "Christmas Time (Is Here Again" / "Hey Bulldog" by The Beatles - 11 December 1972 (#2 UK, #3 US) [EMI]
• "Goodbye Sweet Lorraine" / "Contact Love" by Chris Hodge - 8 January 1973
• "Roll Over Beethoven" & "See My Baby Jive" by The Electric Light Orchestra - 15 January 1973 (#1 UK, #17 US)
• "Page 43" / "Games" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - 19 January 1973 (#35 US)
• "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" / "Let It Be" by The Beatles - 5 February 1973 (#6 UK, #10 US) [EMI]
• "Seaside Woman" / "C Moon" by Suzy and the Red Stripes - 5 February 1973 (#45 US)
• "One Man Parade" / "Hymn" by James Taylor - 12 February 1973 (#46 US)
• "Death of Samantha" / "Yang Yang" by Yoko Ono - 26 February 1973
• "Warm Woman" / "More Than Words" by Lon and Derrek Van Eaton - 9 March 1973
• "Will It Go Round in Circles" / "God Loves You" by Billy Preston - 12 March 1973 (#1 UK and US)
• "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)" / "Oh Yoko!" by The Ladders - 23 March 1973 (#7 UK, #1 US) [EMI]
• "Daniel" / "Skyline Pigeon" by Elton John - 26 March 1973 (#4 UK, #2 US)
• "Broken Down Angel" / "Witchdoctor Women" by Nazareth - 21 April 1973 (#9 UK)
• "With a Child's Heart" / "Morning Glow" by Michael Jackson - 5 May 1973 (#50 US) [Motown]
• "Isn't It About Time" / "Down the Road" by Stephen Stills & Manassas - 18 May 1973
• "Live and Let Die" / "Son and Daughter" by Paul McCartney & Smile - 1 June 1973 (#5 UK, #2 US) [EMI]
• "Bad, Bad Boy" / "Razamanaz" by Nazareth - 22 June 1973 (#14 UK)
• "Happy" / "Music and Me" by Michael Jackson - 10 July 1973 (#52 UK) [Motown]
• "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" / "Jack Rabbit" by Elton John - 17 July 1973 (#6 UK, #10 US)
• "Angie" / "The Jean Genie" by The Rolling Stones - 24 July 1973 (#2 UK, #1 US)
• "Photograph" / "Meat City" by The Ladders - 27 August 1973 (#3 UK, #1 US) [EMI]
• "Space Race" / "We're Gonna Make It" by Billy Preston - 3 September 1973 (#15 UK, #4 US)
• "I Can Hear Music" / "Goin' Back" by Freddie Mercury [as Larry Lurex] - 10 September 1973
• "Showdown" & "Angel Fingers" by Electric Light Orchestra - 17 September 1973 (#2 UK, #30 US)
• "My Love" / "Keep Yourself Alive" by Paul McCartney & Smile - 21 September 1973 (#7 UK, #1 US) [EMI]
• "Woman Power" / "Men, Men, Men" by Yoko Ono - 24 September 1973
• "Sorrow" / "Amsterdam" by David Bowie - 28 September 1973 (#3 UK)
• "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" / "Screw You" by Elton John - 15 October 1973 (#4 UK, #2 US)
• "Love is Easy" / "My Heart Goes Out" by Badfinger - 19 October 1973 (#23 UK, #15 US)
• "This Flight Tonight" / "Called Her Name" by Nazareth - 26 October 1973 (#11 UK)
• "Mind Games" / "If Not for You" by The Ladders - 16 November 1973 (#8 UK, #5 US) [EMI]
• "Step into Christmas" / "Ho, Ho, Ho (Who'd Be a Turkey at Christmas)" by Elton John - 23 November 1973 (#10 UK)
• "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" / "Don't Let Me Wait Too Long" by The Ladders - 3 December 1973 (#2 UK, #1 US) [EMI]
• "Seven Seas of Rhye" / "Mad the Swine" by Freddie Mercury - 3 December 1973 (#9 UK)
• "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" / "Daybreaker" by Electric Light Orchestra - 10 December 1973 (#4 UK)

Highway 61 Records discography, July - December 1973

Albums

• Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid by Bob Dylan - 13 July 1973 (#29 UK, #16 US)
• Lynyrd Skynyrd (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) by Lynyrd Skynyrd - 13 August 1973 (#44 UK, #27 US)
• Time Fades Away by Neil Young - 15 October 1973 (#20 UK, #22 US)
• Loving and Free by Kiki Dee - 27 November 1973

Notable Singles

• "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" / "Turkey Chase" by Bob Dylan - 13 July 1973 (#14 UK, #12 US)
• "Amoureuse" / "Rest My Head" by Kiki Dee - 31 August 1973 (#13 UK)
• "Gimme Three Steps" / "Mr. Banker" by Lynyrd Skynyrd - 5 November 1973

Apple Artists, as of December 1973

• Badfinger (since 1968)
• The Beatles (since 1968; contracted to EMI)
• George Harrison, John Lennon and Ringo Starr as The Ladders (since 1970)
• Paul McCartney (since 1971; affiliated with Smile since 1972)
• Eric Clapton (since 1968; member of Cream 1968-1971)
• Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (since 1968)
• Stephen Stills & Manassas (1971-1973)
• Neil Young (1971; solo works released on Highway 61 Records since 1973)
• David Crosby and Graham Nash as Crosby & Nash (since 1972)
• Electric Light Orchestra (since 1970)
• Fleetwood Mac (since 1968)
• Michael Jackson (since 1971; contracted to Motown)
• Elton John (since 1969)
• Jackie Lomax (since 1968)
• Freddie Mercury (since 1973)
• Nazareth (since 1972)
• Billy Preston (since 1969)
• The Rolling Stones (since 1970)
• David Bowie (since 1971)
• Smile (since 1969; affiliated with Paul McCartney since 1972)
• Splinter (since 1973)
• James Taylor (since 1968)
• Vangelis (since 1972; member of Aphrodite's Child 1967-1972)

Departed Apple Artists

• Aphrodite's Child (1970-1972)
• Brute Force (1969)
• Delaney & Bonnie (1969-1972)
• Cream (1968-1971)
• Chris Hodge (1972-1973)
• Mary Hopkin (1968-1972)
• Hot Chocolate (1969)
• Radha Krishna Temple (1969)
• Yoko Ono (1969-1973)
• Ronnie Spector (1971-1972)
• The Sundown Playboys (1972)
• White Trash (1969)
• Doris Troy (1969-1971)
• Lon and Derrek Van Eaton (1972-1973)

Highway 61 Artists

• Aerosmith
• Kiki Dee
• Bob Dylan
• Dave Edmunds
• L.A. Express
• Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Cliff Richard
• Tom Scott
• Ravi Shankar
• Stackridge
• Peter Tork
• Neil Young

Various Artists - The Best of Apple Records Vol. 3: 1972-1973

Released: 20 February 2009

Recorded: 1971-1973

Producer: Various

Track listing

Sweet Music [Lon and Derrek Van Eaton]
Rocket Man [Elton John]
Sisters, O Sisters [Yoko Ono]
Move 'Em Out [Delaney & Bonnie]
We're On Our Way [Chris Hodge]
War Song [Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young]
Ben [Michael Jackson]
When I Say [Badfinger]
Saturday Nite Special [The Sundown Playboys]
Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight [James Taylor]
See My Baby Jive [The Electric Light Orchestra]
Will It Go Round in Circles [Billy Preston]
Broken Down Angel [Nazareth]
Live and Let Die [Paul McCartney & Smile]
Angie [The Rolling Stones]
Photograph [The Ladders]
Seven Seas of Rhye [Freddie Mercury]

The third Best of Apple Records compilation reached #1 in the United States upon release, whereas in the United Kingdom, it charted very appropriately at #3. Although not received as strongly as the first two compilations, it is still regarded as a fine collection of songs, and was dubbed as the start of a transitional period for Apple.

Footnotes

1. John Lennon said a similar quote in his 1980 Playboy interview.
2. Highway 61 Records is a composite of both George Harrison's Dark Horse Records and Elton John's Rocket Record Company.
3. Tonight's the Night was initially planned for a 1974 release, but it was held back for a year.

Author's Comments

Things were quite eventful for Apple during this period, weren't they? Yeah, there were a lot of albums and singles being put out during this time, it's kind of tricky to keep track of them all! And don't worry; there will be a Best of Highway 61: Volume 1 compilation at some point in the future. I'll just need to figure out who gets signed up during the remainder of the 1970s. I'll try not to spoil much, but I do plan to include the likes of Tom Petty, Heart, Alice Cooper and the Ramones onto the Highway 61 roster.