Tag: 1973
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The Wailers, Burnin’, 1973 on Island
Sixth LP from Marley and the Wailers, recorded at the same time as Catch a Fire. The front cover credits The Wailers, but this modern reissue credits Bob Marley & The Wailers on the labels. This was the last album before Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer all pursued solo careers. What a fantastic album,…
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Bruce Springsteen, Greetings From Asbury Park N.J., 1973 on Columbia
This was Springsteen’s debut album, out in January 1973, produced by Mike Appel and Jim Cretecos. Redportedly “Blinded By The Light” and “Spirit in the Night” were cut after Clive Davis rejected the original album tracklist. Personnel include Clarence Clemons, Vincent Lopez, David Sancious and Garry Tallent – aka the E-Street Band. My copy—via Electric…
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John Mayall, Down The Line, 1973 on London Records
Compilation of songs previously released: First LP includes songs from Blues Breakers, A Hard Road, Crusade, The Blues Alone, Bare Wires, Blues From Laurel Canyon, and Looking Back, and the second LP is John Mayall Plays John Mayall (1965) which was never released on vinyl in the US (and had not been issued in the…
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John Prine, Sweet Revenge, 1973 on Atlantic
Prine is one of my favorite songwriters of all time. This was his third full-length, and third on Atlantic. Produced by Arif Mardin, it was mostly recorded in Nashville, with one track (“Dear Abby”) recorded live at SUNY New Paltz. Musicians include Steve Goodman and many of the folks who played on Prine’s debut album.…
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Billy Joe Shaver, Old Five and Dimers Like Me, 1973 on Monument
This was Shaver’s debut album, produced by Kris Kristofferson. I know Shaver more through tributes (2022’s Live Forever) and other famous artists recording his songs more than I knew him. “Live Forever,” the song, was covered by Robert Duvall in the film Crazy Heart but was also done by the Highwaymen. This is the kind…
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Herbie Hancock, Sextant, 1973 on Columbia
1973’s Sextant was the last LP with the so-called Mwandishi-era sextet: Bennie Maupin, Eddie Henderson, Julian Priester, Buster Williams, and Billy Hart. It was also his debut on Columbia after Blue Note and Warner Bros. Columbia would also release Head Hunters later the same year. Great, funky collection – side 2 is one track, the…
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Tom Waits, Closing Time, 1973 on Asylum
Tom Waits’ debut album, after David Geffen met him performing at the Troubadour in West Hollywood. Amazing how fully-formed Waits is here, kicking off his debut album with “Ol’ 55” and “I Hope That I Don’t Fall In Love With You” – all originals. Tom Waits always feels to me like he could have come…
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Nat King Cole, From The Very Beginning, 1973 on MCA
Although this was released in 1973, the recordings collected were originally recorded between 1936 and 1941 and had been released earlier by Decca, credited to King Cole Trio and Eddie Cole’s Solid Swingers. The tracks credited to Eddie Cole’s Solid Swingers feature Eddie Cole (Nat’s older brother) on bass and Jimmy Adams on drums –…
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T. Rex, T. Rextasy: The Best of T. Rex, 1970-1973, 1985 on Warner Bros.
Mid-eighties compilation of T. Rex. Between 1970 and 1973, the band had eleven top 10 singles in the UK – including many here. Produced by Tony Visconti. I came to T. Rex indirectly through The Replacements (who covered “20th Century Boy” on Let it Be), Bauhaus (who covered “Telegram Sam”) and The Power Station (who…
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Paul McCartney and Wings, Band on the Run, 1973 on Apple Records
The third Wings album, this time credited to Paul McCartney & Wings. Includes the title track, plus “Jet” and “Let Me Roll It.” This lineup includes Denny Laine, and Linda McCartney (as you see on the labels) but also Ginger Baker and Remi Kabaka on percussion, and Howie Casey on Saxophone. My copy is a…
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The South Side Movement, The South Side Movement, 1973 on Wand.
Debut album from The South Side Movement (sometimes written as The Southside Movement) from Chicago. They put out only three albums, one on Wand records and two on 20th Century. My copy is the Vinyl Me Please exclusive pressing for the 50th anniversary in 2023, on brown vinyl, mastered at Sonic Vision by Mike Milchner…
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Gram Parsons, GP, 1973 on Reprise
It’s hard to overstate the importance of Gram Parsons’ two solo albums: GP and (posthumously) Grievous Angel. This was his solo debut though he is joined by Emmylou Harris (with whom he was touring) on two duets. It was recorded Sept-Oct on 1972 and produced by Ric Grech from Blind Faith. My copy (via Reykjavik…
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Black Nasty, Talking To The People, 1973 on Enterprise
Enterprise was a sub-label of Stax, and released the early solo work of Isaac Hayes. It is actually named after the Star Trek spaceship – Al Bell was a big fan. Black Nasty cut three singles and an album (this one) for Enterprise before being dropped by the label. Johnnie Mae Matthews, the “Godmother of…
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David Bowie, Aladdin Sane, 1973 on RCA Victor
Bowie’s sixth studio album, this was the followup to Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. It features Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder, and Woody Woodmansey (aka the Spiders From Mars). It was recorded during breaks in the Ziggy Stardust tour. Includes a cover of “Let’s Spend the Night Together” as well as “The Jean Genie”…
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Dylan, Dylan, 1973 on Columbia
This was the album Columbia famously released without Dylan’s authorization after he signed with Asylum Records. (He would release Planet Waves and Before the Flood on Asylum before returning to Columbia, who later reissued both). In short these are outtakes from the Self Portrait and New Morning sessions widely considered part of Dylan’s inconsistent early…
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Bonnie Raitt, Takin My Time, 1973 on Warner Bros
Raitt’s third full length album, produced by John Hall. Great versions of Mose Allison’s “Everybody’s Cryin’ Mercy” and Jackson Browne’s “I Thought I was a Child.” Guests include Taj Mahal, Bill Payne, Jim Keltner, and Lowell George. My copy via a record fair at Mill No 5 in Lowell MA
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Waylon Jennings,Honky Tonk Heroes, 1973 on RCA Victor
I grew up with Waylon & Willie commonly playing around our household and in the last decade have come back to appreciate and collect their albums after a long time away from them. On Honky Tonk Heroes most of the songs are Billy Joe Shaver songs and the record was Jennings’ first after renegotiating his…

