Tag: 1970s
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Various Artists, The Harder They Come, 1972 on Mango
This was the soundtrack to a film of the same name, released in the UK in 1972 and in the US in 1973. Although Jimmy Cliff’s name is above the title, and he has six of the twelve tracks (though 2 have double versions on the LP_, there’s also two Maytals tracks and one Desmond…
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Steely Dan, Pretzel Logic, 1974 on ABC Records
Third Steely Dan studio LP out in 1974 on ABC Records and the last to include the full quintet: Walter Becker, Donald Fagen, Denny Dias, Jim Hodder, and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter – plus studio musicians. “Ricky Don’t Lose That Number” may have become their most well known song over time, though I love “Any Major…
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Shuggie Otis, Inspiration Information, 1974 on Epic
This was the third and last Shuggie Otis studio LP on Epic, released in 1974 after three years in the making. Otis is credited with guitar, bass, organ, piano, vibes, and percussion – basically most of the instruments, with some guests on harp and horns. It became something of a cult classic – not a…
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Eagles, On the Border, 1974 on Asylum
Yes, it really is just “Eagles” not “The Eagles.” This was their third studio album produced mostly by Bill Szymczyk and includes “Already Gone” and “Best of My Love” and I was surprised to find a cover of Tom Waits’ “Ol’ 55.” There’s really some great music hand songwriting here. My copy—via private sale—is a…
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James Taylor, Walking Man, 1974 on Warner Bros.
I became a James Taylor fan in the 80s via a CD of Greatest Hits but as I’m rebuilding my vinyl collection have been picking up his early 70s albums. Walking Man was his fifth, out in 1974 on Warner Bros. (after his debut had been on Apple Records). It was less successful commercially than…
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Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Sonny & Brownie, 1973 on A&M
Not to be confused with the earlier Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee album on Fantasy records, Sonny & Brownie was recorded in the early 70s at Paramount in LA and released in 1973 by A&M. Great 2xLP collection, including covers of Randy Newman’s “Sail Away” and Michael Franks’ “You Bring Out the Boogie in Me”…
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The Meters, Fire On The Bayou, 1975 on Reprise
New Orleans’ own The Meters—here including Wardell Quezergue, George Porter Jr, Cyril Neville, Joseph Modeliste, Leo Nocentelli, and Arthur Neville—released the same year they were opening for the Rolling Stones on a US tour. Great funk band near if not at the height of their powers. My copy—via private sale—is the 2009 reissue, on 180g…
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Talking Heads, A Bar Called Heaven, 2024 on Dear Boss.
Another in a series of Dear Boss. releases (the period is part of their name) which claim to be FM broadcasts and therefore out of copyright in the EU. This one is Talking Heads from December 7th, 1979, at the Electric Ballroom in London (Camden Town). Excellent recording either way – I’ve become a big…
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Steely Dan, The Royal Scam, 1976 on ABC
Fifth studio album from Donald Fagen, Walter Becker et. al., produced by Gary Katz. Steely Dan can be a bit divisive, and gets dismissed sometimes as “Dad rock” but I really appreciate the songwriting and musicianship of all these records. The Royal Scam includes “Kid Charlemagne” and “Haitian Divorce.” My copy —via Mystery Train Records…
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Iggy Pop, The Idiot, 1977 on RCA Victor
Iggy Pop is one of those threads that lives in the lineage of Bowie, Bauhaus, and Love and Rockets – lots of records i’ve posted lately. David Bowie produced The Idiot just before producing his own Low, though Low came out just before The Idiot. Bowie and Pop get cowriting credits, plus Carlos Alomar on…
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David Bowie, Hunky Dory, 1971 on RCA Victor
Bowie’s fourth full-length studio LP and one of my all-time favorites. This followed The Man Who Sold the World but all these early Bowie albums are so great they sound to me like they have just always existed. It can be hard to find decent early pressings of these but there have been many great…
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John Lennon, Rock ‘n’ Roll, 1981 on MFP/Parlophone
Originally released in the US and UK on Apple Records in 1975, these recordings were made at A&M studios (LA) in late 1973 and the Power Plant in New York in late 1974, during Lennon’s so called “lost weekend” where he was separated from Yoko Ono and doing a fair amount of drinking and drugs.…
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The Blues Project, Archetypes, 1974 on MGM
Reissue of 1969’s The Best of the Blues Project, which was on Verve Forecast. There is a whole series of releases titled Archetypes from the mid-seventies on MGM – not sure if they are all reissues or not. Other artists in the MGM Archetype Series are: Charlie Parker, Tim Hardin, Billy Holiday, Blues Project, Velvet…
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Prince, For You, 1978 on Warner Bros.
This was the debut album from his purple majesty, with all songs written, performed, and recorded by Prince himself. Recorded at the Record Plant in Sausalito CA. It’s not my favorite of his albums but it shows his early promise and he was doing it all himself. Very sexy and funky even now. My copy—via…
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Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Jessi Colter, and Tompall Glaser, Wanted! The Outlaws, 1976 on RCA Victor
The album that solidified the rise of outlaw country, and was the first country album to be certified platinum. Great collection of mostly previously released songs with a few new titles, including: two songs each from Waylon, Jessi, Willie, and Tompall plus two Waylon & Willie songs and one Waylon & Jessi song. Tompall Glaser…
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Tavares, The Best of Tavares, 1977 on Capitol
Wonderful collection of disco/soul/funk from the mid-seventies, including their biggest hits “Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel” and “It Only Takes a Minute.” They ended up on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, doing “More Than A Woman.” But even if you don’t like disco, they are well worth checking out. They were from New Bedford…
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Mose Allison, Your Mind is On Vacation, 1976 on Atlantic
Allison’s 10th record on Atlantic and 20th overall. Of course the rest of the title couplet is “but your mouth is working overtime.” Great record, executive produced by Nesuhi Ertegun, with Jack Hannah (bass), Gerry Granelli (drums, Al Cohn & Joe Farrell (tenor sax), David Sanborn (alto sax), and Al Porcino (trumpet) – players vary…
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The Cure, I Hear No Sound: Live at De Melkweg, Amsterdam Dec 12, 1979, 2024 on Dear Boss.
Live bootleg from late 1979, right before recording Seventeen Seconds. De Melkweg – you can find some of the same show on the Internet Archive: The Cure Live – 1979-12-12 Melkweg, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Melkweg is a music venue in Amsterdam on the site of a former dairy (Melkweg means “Milky Way” in Dutch). Not sure…