Tag: 1972
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Ry Cooder, Into The Purple Valley, 1972 on Reprise
This was Cooder’s second studio album, with some great legacy American music, including “How Can You Keep On Moving (Unless You Migrate Too)” and Woody Guthrie’s “Vigilante Man.” You can’t go wrong with Ry Cooder. Produced by Lenny Waronker and Jim Dickinson. My copy—via a private sale—is a Pitman pressing on orange Reprise labels with…
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John Prine, Diamonds in the Rough, 1972 on Atlantic
This was Prine’s sophomore album, following the self-titled John Prine. Prine is joined by Steve Goodman, David Bromberg, Steve Burgh, and Dave Prine. I just love Prine’s songwriting: “Souvenirs,” “Yes I Guess They Oughta Name A Drink After You” and “Late John Garfield Blues” on this LP. He also does “Diamonds in the Rough” by…
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Randy Newman, Sail Away, 1972 on Reprise
Randy Newman’s third studio LP, including the title track and “You Can Leave Your Hat On” which became a big hit for Joe Cocker in the 80s. Quality of songwriting you expect from early Newman, including “God’s Song (That’s Why I Love Mankind).” Musicians include Ry Cooder on guitar, and Earl Palmer, Gene Parsons, and…
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Marvin Gaye, What’s Going On Live, 2019 on Tamla / Motown / UMe
Recorded in 1972 but not released until 2019. More of an album for completists, this is the first time Gaye had performed in a number of years (since the death of Tammi Terrell). It’s a bit uneven – sort of like a live rehearsal bootleg – but worth picking up if you’re a big fan…
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Edgar Winter’s White Trash, Roadwork, 1972 on Epic
Double LP, recorded live at three venues: The Apollo Theater and the Academy of Music in NYC, and the Whiskey a Go Go in LA. The band here includes Edgar Winter, Johnny Winter (a “special appearance”), Rick Derringer, Jon Smith, Randy Hobbs, Jerry Lacroix, Bobby Ramirez, and Mike McClellan. Great 17 minute version of “Tobacco…
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Various Artists, Heavy Soul, 1972 on Atlantic
Great compilation of early seventies soul on Atlantic, including luminaries like Aretha Franklin, Sam & Dave, and King Curtis but also some lesser known folks (at least for me), including Dionne Warwick’s sister Dee Dee Warwick (as Dede) and The Beginning of the End – something of a one-hit wonder with “Funky Nassau. “ Love…
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The Allman Brothers Band, Eat a Peach, 1972 on Capricorn
Third studio album from the Allman Brothers Band, with a mixture of live and studio recordings, including some from the Fillmore East performances in 1971. Released after Duane Allman died in a motorcycle crash in Macon Georgia. The extended “Mountain Jam” is spread across two sides, B and D. The song “One Way Out” is…
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Coleman Hawkins and His Orchestra, Hollywood Stampede, 1972 on Capitol
Seventies reissue – volume 5 in the Capitol Jazz Classics series – with songs taken from sessions in February and March of 1945. Players joining Hawkins on these tracks include Howard McGhee (trumpet), Sir Charles Thompson (piano), Allan Reuss (guitar), Oscar Pettiford (bass), Denzil Best (drums), Vic Dickenson (trombone), John Simmons (bass). Great classic jazz…
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James Taylor, One Man Dog, 1972 on Warner Bros.
This was Taylor’s fourth studio album, with “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight.” 18 tracks means lots of short bits / interludes, some of which can feel a bit unfinished but overall I like the effect. Performers include Carly Simon and Carole King on backing vocals, Danny Kortchmar, Leland Sklar, Russ Kunkel, and John McLaughlin…
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Dave Brubeck Quartet, Brubeck On Campus, 1972 on Columbia
This is actually a reissue of two earlier LPs: Jazz Goes To College (1954) and Jazz Goes To Junior College (1957). The former featured Bob Bates (bass), Joe Dodge (drums), Paul Desmond (sax), and Brubeck (piano); the latter Joe Morello on drums and Norman Bates on bass (Norman and Bob were brothers). Jazz Goes To…
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David Bowie, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, 1972 on RCA Victor
I came to this album indirectly and backwards – from the Bauhaus cover (“Ziggy played guitar, jamming good with Weird and Gilley, and the Spiders from Mars”). But what a magnificent album it is. I think Bowie was at his greatest creative height in the early 70s (as much as I do love his later…
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Ry Cooder, Boomer’s Story, 1972 on Reprise
I love Ry Cooder’s career – so many different threads, all of which are wonderful. This was his third studio album in a roots/Americana/blues tradition. Randy Newman guests on piano on “Rally ‘Round The Flag” and Sleepy John Estes on “President Kennedy.” The title track gets credited to “Traditional” here but is actually “The Railroad…
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Weather Report, I Sing The Body Electric, 1972 on Columbia
Joe Zawinul, Wayne Shorter, Miroslav Vitous, Eric Gravatt, and guests, in a foundational fusion album from the early 70s. This was their second album after a self-titled debut. Side A is new studio work, Side B is live from a concert in Tokyo. I’m certain I actually had a copy of this back in the…
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Neil Young, Harvest, 1972 on Reprise
Definitely one of my desert island discs (unless I can cheat and count Decade as one release), Harvest came out in 1972. This would be an absolute classic even if you took out two or three songs: Out on the Weekend, Harvest, A Man Needs a Maid, Heart of Gold, Old Man – then closing…
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ZZ Top, Rio Grande Mud, 1972 on London Records
Second album from the Texas blues/rock trio of Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard. London Records basically represented Decca in the US from 1947 to 1980. I love all of their output up to (and including) Eliminator in 1983 – after that I feel like there is a bit of a fall off into…
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John Mayall, Jazz Blues Fusion, 1972 on Polydor
Mayall is joined here by Larry Taylor, Freddy Robinson, Ron Selico, Clifford Solomon and Blue Mitchell – adding sax and trumpet to his traditional blues approach. Recoded in Boston (venue unstated) November 18th, 1971 and then at Hunter College in New York on December 3rd and 4th. My copy via a record fair at Mill…
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Les McCann, Talk to the People, 1972 on Atlantic
This comes a few years after Swiss Movement (with Eddie Harris) and the success of “Compared to What” and opens with a cover of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On.” Lots of early seventies jazz/funk/soul Fender Rhodes and clavinet here. My copy via Vinyl Destination in Lowell MA
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David Bowie, Space Oddity, (originally) 1969 on Mercury
An album so great they named it three times. 😉 Originally released with the album title “David Bowie” by Philips in the UK, but by Mercury in the US/Canada with the subtitle “Man of Words / Man of Music” added, in 1969; reissued in 1972 as “Space Oddity” to capitalize on the popularity of the…