AllMusic Loves 1974
January 27th, 2009 | 11:35 am est |
In 1974, ABBA won the Eurovision contest for Sweden with “Waterloo.” During the California Jam in Ontario, CA, ELP’s Keith Emerson attached himself to a piano and spun in mid air (while playing the instrument and chewing gum). Billboard began treating disco as a style of music. Also, Ramones, Talking Heads, Blondie, and Van Halen formed, but they wouldn’t make their full impact until a little later on. It was 1974 and dozens upon dozens of memorable albums and singles — from Autobahn to Eldorado, from “Rock the Boat” to “Rock Your Baby” — hit the shelves. If it was the year of any one thing in particular, a strong case could be made for German progressive music. Kraftwerk, Harmonia, Cluster, and Tangerine Dream released distinct landmark albums, all of which still sound thrilling and weird.
John Bush
This wasn’t meant to look like a hipster list, laden with obscurities; 1974 is just a strange year for me. I definitely like a lot of the mainstream rock and soul of the ’70s, don’t get me wrong, but only two of the most celebrated artists of the year put out material I really enjoy — those being Steely Dan and Joni Mitchell. So, when I left out Roxy Music and Gram Parsons and Stevie Wonder and Genesis and Queen and Randy Newman, I ended up with plenty of room for some of the more intriguing undercurrents of music in 1974. It was a banner year for Krautrock (with great LPs from Kraftwerk, Harmonia, Cluster, Tangerine Dream, Eno) and also for jazz fusion, with Herbie Hancock’s Thrust and George Duke’s Feel, among many others.
That still leaves ample room for a few more far-from-the-mainstream artists: Betty Davis, the scream queen of soul; Frankie Miller, who took the British soul mantle from Rod Stewart after Stewart’s early-’70s peak; Victor Jara, the Chilean folksinger who was persecuted to death for his powerful songwriting; John Howard, a grandiose English songwriter whose “Goodbye Suzie” is an office favorite; Jeanette, the Spanish-French singer with the one-shot “Porque Te Vas” plus the sublime “Amanacer”; and Chairmen of the Board, whose Skin I’m In LP features the craziest prog/psych/soul suite I’ve ever heard. Better than all of these, though, and probably my favorite obscurity of 1974, is the second record from Slapp Happy, which has never been equaled for its brand of avant-pop — skewed, catchy, literate, and ineffably Eurocentric.
Slapp Happy – Slapp Happy
Joni Mitchell – Court and Spark
Steely Dan – Pretzel Logic
George Duke – Feel
Herbie Hancock – Thrust
Tangerine Dream – Phaedra
Harmonia – Musik Von Harmonia
Eno – Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)
John Cale – Fear
Gene Clark – No Other
Bob Dylan/The Band – Before the Flood
Frankie Miller – Frankie Miller’s High Life
Victor Jara – Te Recuerdo Amanda
Elis Regina & Antonio Carlos Jobim – Elis & Tom
Big Star – Radio City
Todd Rundgren – Todd
Shuggie Otis – Inspiration Information
Betty Davis – They Say I’m Different
Chairmen of the Board – Skin I’m In
Brother to Brother – “In the Bottle” 
Cymande – “Brothers on the Slide”
Shuggie Otis – “Aht Uh Mi Hed”
Smokey Robinson – “I Am I Am”
Freddie Hubbard – “Polar AC”
Terry Callier – “Satin Doll”
Stevie Wonder – “You Haven’t Done Nothin’”
Syreeta – “Spinnin’ and Spinnin’”
Antonio Carlos Jobim – “Aguas de Marco”
Gordon Lightfoot – “Sundown”
Dolly Parton – “Jolene”
John Howard – “Goodbye Suzie”
Jackson Browne – “Late for the Sky”
Barry Manilow – “Something’s Comin’ Up”
Big Star – “O My Soul”
First Class – “Dreams Are Ten a Penny”
Frankie Miller – “Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues)”
Kool & the Gang – “Summer Madness”
Jeanette – “Porque Te Vas”
Kraftwerk – “Autobahn”
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Steely Dan – Pretzel Logic
Brinsley Schwarz – The New Favourites of Brinsley Schwarz
Genesis – The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Big Star – Radio City
Hall & Oates – War Babies
Bob Seger – Seven
Roxy Music – Country Life
Randy Newman – Good Old Boys
New York Dolls – Too Much Too Soon
Little Feat – Feats Don’t Fail Me Now
Ace – Five-A-Side
The Rolling Stones – It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll
Chilli Willi & the Red Hot Peppers – Bongos Over Balham
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Second Helping
Brian Eno – Here Come the Warm Jets
Merle Haggard – If We Make It Through December
George Jones – The Grand Tour
Todd Rundgren – Todd
Neil Young – On the Beach
Eric Clapton – 461 Ocean Boulevard
Bob Seger – “Get Out of Denver”
Al Wilson – “Show and Tell”
Glen Campbell – “Houston (I’m Comin’ to See You)”
Brian Eno – “Needles in the Camel’s Eye”
The O’Jays – “For the Love of Money”
Sweet – “Ballroom Blitz”
The Spinners – “Then Came You”
Willie Nelson – “Bloody Mary Morning”
Hall & Oates – “She’s Gone”
David Bowie – “Rebel Rebel”
Harry Nilsson – “Daybreak”
Stevie Wonder – “You Haven’t Done Nothin’”
Paper Lace – “The Night Chicago Died”
Neil Sedaka – “Laughter in the Rain”
George Jones – “The Grand Tour”
America – “Tin Man”
Thin Lizzy – “She Knows”
Bo Donaldson & the Heywoods – “Billy Don’t Be a Hero”
Electric Light Orchestra – “Showdown”
Elton John – “The Bitch Is Back”
David Jeffries
Bad Company – Bad Company
Blue Öyster Cult – Secret Treaties
Budgie – In for the Kill!
John Cale – Fear
Cluster – Zuckerzeit
The Cosmic Jokers – Gilles Zeitschiff
Disco Tex and His Sex-O-Lettes – Get Dancin’
Eno – Here Come the Warm Jets
Funkadelic – Standing on the Verge of Getting It On
The Good Rats – Tasty
Marcia Griffiths – Sweet Bitter Love (Play Me Sweet & Nice)
Harmonia – Musik Von Harmonia
Keith Hudson – Pick a Dub
Kiss – Kiss
Kraftwerk – Autobahn
Bob Marley – Natty Dread
New York Dolls – Too Much Too Soon
Klaus Schulze – Blackdance
Sparks – Kimono My House
Stevie Wonder – Fulfillingness’ First Finale
Andy Kellman
Dee Dee Bridgewater – Afro Blue
Can – Soon Over Babaluma
Cluster – Zuckerzeit
Lou Courtney – I’m in Need of Love
Miles Davis – Get Up with It
Charles Earland – Leaving This Planet
Eno – Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)
Frank Foster – The Loud Minority
Carlos Garnett – Black Love
Johnny Hammond – Gambler’s Life
Herbie Hancock – Thrust
Harmonia – Musik Von Harmonia
Bennie Maupin – The Jewel in the Lotus
Joni Mitchell – Court and Spark
Idris Muhammad – Power of Soul
Minnie Riperton – Perfect Angel
Roxy Music – Country Life
Santana – Lotus
Gil Scott-Heron/Brian Jackson – Winter in America
Stevie Wonder – Fulfillingness’ First Finale
Marcus Belgrave – “Space Odyssey”
David Bowie – “Rebel Rebel”
James Brown – “The Payback”
B.T. Express – “Do It (‘Til You’re Satisfied)”
Norman Connors – “Mother of the Future”
William DeVaughn – “Be Thankful for What You Got”
Earth, Wind & Fire – “Devotion”
Roberta Flack – “Feel Like Makin’ Love”
Funkadelic – “Standing on the Verge of Getting It On”
Hall & Oates – “She’s Gone”
Isaac Hayes – “Joy”
Kool & the Gang – “Summer Madness”
Kraftwerk – “Autobahn”
Love Unlimited – “Move Me No Mountain”
The Main Ingredient – “California My Way”
Gwen McCrae – “90% of Me Is You”
The New Birth – “It’s Been a Long Time”
Julian Priester – “Love, Love”
The Rolling Stones – “Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)”
Lonnie Liston Smith & the Cosmic Echoes – “Expansions”
Uncle Dave Lewis
1974 was a transitional year; America said “goodbye” to President Richard Nixon, who resigned owing to the Watergate scandal, and the music world to Duke Ellington. Tenor master Gene Ammons bade us farewell with the album Goodbye, and, to everyone’s surprise, Peter Gabriel said “so long” to Genesis. Herbie Hancock and Quincy Jones discovered their inner pop groove, while the pop world itself — mired in disco — went strangely silent in ‘74; meanwhile, Steve Reich’s 3-LP set Drumming left eggheads scrambling for words. Avant-garde Brit progressive was on a roll, and German artists — Kraftwerk and Nico — contributed two of the most important albums of the whole year. Autobahn heralded the future, whereas The End was a final, sad farewell to the excesses of the ’60s. Change was in the air in 1974, and the wait wouldn’t be a long one.
Kraftwerk – Autobahn
Gene Ammons – Goodbye
Average White Band – AWB
Herbie Hancock – Head Hunters
Quincy Jones – Body Heat
John Cale – Fear
Can – Soon Over Babaluma
Eno – Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)
Genesis – The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Henry Cow – Unrest
King Crimson – Starless and Bible Black
Nico – The End
Oregon – Winter Light
Robert Palmer – Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley
Residents – Meet the Residents
Sparks – Kimono My House
Robert Wyatt – Rock Bottom
Steve Reich – Drumming — Six Pianos — Music for Mallet Instruments, Voice and Organ
Gunther Schuller/New England Conservatory Ragtime Ensemble – The Red Back Book
Raymond DesRoches/New Jersey Percussion Ensemble – Percussion Music
(Several significant classical LPs from 1974 have never been reissued as such on CD — CBS’ 5-LP set Charles Ives: The 100th Anniversary, the Julliard String Quartet’s CBS release of quartets by Stravinsky and Ginastera, Jan De Gaetani and Aeolian Chamber Players’ CBS LP of George Crumb’s Voice of the Whale, and EMI Electrola’s Reflexe issue of music of Pierre Abelard, performed by the Studio für frühen Musik under Thomas Binkley.)
Jason Lymangrover
Miles Davis – Big Fun
Eno – Here Come the Warm Jets
Genesis – The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Queen – Sheer Heart Attack
Kiss – Kiss
Kraftwerk – Autobahn
Roxy Music – Country Life
Scorpions – Fly to the Rainbow
Stevie Wonder – Fulfillingness’ First Finale
Frank Zappa – Apostrophe (‘)
10cc – “The Worst Band in the World”
Bad Company – “Ready for Love”
David Bowie – “Rebel Rebel”
James Brown – “The Payback”
John Cale – “Ship of Fools”
Can – “Come Sta, La Luna”
The Jimmy Castor Bunch – “Bertha Butt Boogie”
Rick Derringer – “Rock & Roll, Hoochie Koo”
Earth, Wind & Fire – “Devotion”
Funkadelic – “I’ll Stay”
Grateful Dead – “Unbroken Chain”
Hall & Oates – “She’s Gone” (YouTube)
Elton John – “Bennie and the Jets”
Paul McCartney & Wings – “Jet”
Mott the Hoople – “Roll Away the Stone”
Ohio Players – “Skin Tight”
Dolly Parton – “Jolene”
Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan – “Tell Me Something Good”
Sparks – “This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us”
Sweet – “Fox on the Run”
J. Scott McClintock
Roxy Music – Country Life
Queen – Sheer Heart Attack
Pilot – Pilot (From the Album of the Same Name)
Randy Newman – Good Old Boys
Stackridge – Pinafore Days
John Cale – Fear
John Howard – Technicolour Biography
Supertramp – Crime of the Century
Electric Light Orchestra – Eldorado
Steely Dan – Pretzel Logic
Eno – Here Come the Warm Jets
Eno – Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)
10cc – Sheet Music
Todd Rundgren – Todd
Tomita – Snowflakes Are Dancing
Gordon Lightfoot – Sundown
Caravan – Caravan & the New Symphonia
Genesis – The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Robert Wyatt – Rock Bottom
Richard & Linda Thompson – I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
The Ozark Mountain Daredevils – “Jackie Blue”
Paper Lace – “The Night Chicago Died”
Bo Donaldson & the Heywoods – “Billy, Don’t Be a Hero”
The Hudson Brothers – “So You Are a Star”
The Hues Corporation – “Rock the Boat”
Roberta Flack – “Feel Like Makin’ Love”
Billy Swan – “I Can Help”
Elton John – “Bennie and the Jets”
Hollies – “The Air That I Breathe”
Terry Jacks – “Seasons in the Sun”
Maria Muldaur – “Midnight at the Oasis”
Isaac Hayes – “Joy”
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – “Battle of New Orleans”
Neil Diamond – “Longfellow Serenade”
Chicago – “Wishing You Were Here”
Paul McCartney & Wings – “Jet”
Tom T. Hall – “I Love”
Carl Carlton – “Everlasting Love”
Jim Stafford – “Spiders and Snakes”
George McCrae – “Rock Your Baby”
James Christopher Monger
Richard & Linda Thompson – I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
Steve Ashley – Stroll On
Randy Newman – Good Old Boys
Stevie Wonder – Fulfillingness’ First Finale
Queen – Sheer Heart Attack
John Cale – Fear
Planxty – Cold Blow and the Rainy Night
Steeleye Span – Now We Are Six
Genesis – The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Mick Ronson – Slaughter on 10th Avenue
John Denver – Back Home Again
Jorge Ben – A Tábua de Esmeralda
Gordon Lightfoot – Sundown
Roger Glover – Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper’s Feast
Roxy Music – Country Life
Big Star – “September Gurls”
Paper Lace – “The Night Chicago Died”
The Doobie Brothers – “Black Water”
Hollies – “Air That I Breathe”
Harry Nilsson – “Don’t Forget Me”
Jethro Tull – “Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Day”
Electric Light Orchestra – “Can’t Get It Out of My Head”
Rush – “Working Man”
Caravan – “Dog, the Dog, He’s at It Again”
Judas Priest – “Rocka Rolla”
Terry Jacks – “Seasons in the Sun”
Kiss – “Cold Gin”
Tom T. Hall – “I Love”
Donovan – “Sadness”
David Bowie – “Rebel Rebel”
Tim Sendra
Big Star – Radio City
Eno – Here Come the Warm Jets
Harmonia – Musik Von Harmonia
Millie Jackson – Caught Up
Kraftwerk – Autobahn
Ronnie Lane & Slim Chance – Anymore for Anymore
New York Dolls – Too Much Too Soon
Rick Springfield – Mission Magic!
Sweet – Desolation Boulevard
We All Together – 2
Blue Swede – “Hooked on a Feeling”
Rick Derringer – “Teenage Love Affair”
David Essex – “Rock On”
The Hues Corporation – “Rock the Boat”
Andy Kim – “Rock Me Gently”
George McCrae – “Rock Your Baby”
Mud – “Tiger Feet”
The Raspberries – “Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)”
Reunion – “Life Is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)”
Rubettes – “Sugar Baby Love”
Sean Westergaard
Choosing for 1974 was an interesting exercise. It was one of the last years I was listening to Top 40 radio (WLS in Chicago), so the singles are the songs I was listening to a lot and really liking at the time (though not exclusively from radio play). With the exception of Zappa’s Apostrophe (and the song “Autobahn”), the album list consists of albums I heard well after 1974; all of which still get played at home or on my radio show to this day. The singles: not so much, although there are a few.
Miles Davis – Dark Magus
Miles Davis – Get Up with It
Eno – Here Come the Warm Jets
Eno – Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)
Gil Evans – The Gil Evans Orchestra Plays the Music of Jimi Hendrix
Funkadelic – Standing on the Verge of Getting It On
Herbie Hancock – Thrust
King Crimson – Red
King Crimson – Starless and Bible Black
Rahsaan Roland Kirk – Bright Moments
Kraftwerk – Autobahn
New York Dolls – Too Much Too Soon
Parliament – Up for the Down Stroke
Sun Ra – Discipline 27-II
The Residents – Meet the Residents
Roxy Music – Country Life
Santana – Lotus
McCoy Tyner – Atlantis
Frank Zappa & the Mothers – Roxy & Elsewhere
Frank Zappa – Apostrophe (‘)
Bachman-Turner Overdrive – “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet”
Brownsville Station – “Smokin’ in the Boy’s Room”
Cheech & Chong Featuring Alice Bowie – “Earache My Eye”
Coven – “One Tin Soldier (The Legend of Billy Jack)”
Jim Croce – “Workin’ at the Car Wash Blues”
Carl Douglas – “Kung Fu Fighting”
David Essex – “Rock On”
Golden Earring – “Radar Love”
Grand Funk Railroad – “The Loco-Motion”
Hollies – “The Air That I Breathe”
Elton John – “The Bitch Is Back”
Elton John – “Bennie and the Jets”
Kraftwerk – “Autobahn”
Paul McCartney & Wings – “Helen Wheels”
Paul McCartney & Wings – “Jet”
Steve Miller Band – “The Joker”
Paper Lace – “The Night Chicago Died”
The O’Jays – “For the Love of Money”
Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan – “Tell Me Something Good”
Jim Stafford – “Spiders & Snakes”
Although some albums and songs in these lists were released in 1973, they peaked in the U.S. in 1974.
Previously
AllMusic Loves 1968
AllMusic Loves 1977
AllMusic Loves 1984
AllMusic Loves 1987
AllMusic Loves 1993
AllMusic Loves 1999
I would like to mention The Jackson 5’s Dancing Machine, which kicks off with the immortal “I Am Love.”
What? No love for Neil Young’s glum masterpiece On the Beach?
Also, if I may, I’d like to submit Tony Ashton & Jon Lord’s overlooked First of the Big Bands.
1974 may be my favorite year in music history…
And Roy Wood’s Wizzard’s Introducing Eddy and the Falcons, and George Harrison’s Dark Horse (well, I liked it anyway), and ELO’s Eldorado, and T.Rex’s Light of Love (OK, Zinc Alloy in the UK)…and…
‘all I hear is … BURN’ (Deep Purple with Coverdale/Hughes)
This is a questionable year to pick. I’ll give you a pass on this one, as long as the next year isn’t the reprehensible 1982. However, it is not without a few bright spot, which you guy highlighted: Roxy Music’s Country Life, Eno’s Here Come the Warm Jets, Kraftwerk’s Autobahn, and Neil Young’s On the Beach. I am a little particular for this period, I’m not big on prog or fusion.
Excellent Lists. Eno turns up on every list (minus one) and deservedly so. Pleased to see Robert Wyatt, Caravan, Slapp Happy and We All Together were not forgotten. In typical ME fashion, I’ve put together a list of albums that are still in heavy rotation around my place. I hope you don’t mind. Can’t wait to see which year AMG loves next!
Gram Parsons – Grievous Angel (I’m sure this would have made more of your lists. The site credits it as being released in 1973, but it was released Jan. 1974. Truly a MASTERPIECE!)
Kevin Ayers – Confessions of Dr. Dream and Other Stories
Kevin Ayers-John Cale-Eno-Nico – June 1, 1974
Popol Vuh – Einsjäger & Siebenjäger
Faust – Faust IV (Again, the sleeve lists 1974 as the release year)
Hatfield and the North – S/T
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band – The Impossible Dream
Ivor Cutler – Dandruff
Viv Stanshall – Men Opening Umbrellas Ahead
Hawkwind – Hall of the Mountain Grill
Curtis Mayfield – Sweet Exorcist
Correction.
Faust VI was released in Sept. 1973. 1974 may have been the U.S. release date. Please forgive me.
Ah 1974. A troubled 16 year old listening to:
Kimino my House- Sparks (went absolutely mental over this record)
Marjory Razorblade- Kevin Coyne (everyone hated this- which made me love it more)
Diamond Dogs- Bowie (still think this is a masterpiece- sort of)
Sheer Heart Attack- Queen (before they got to big for their..gowns)
Lamb lies down on Broadway- Genesis (my favourite band- not my favourite album of theirs)
Country Life- Roxy Music (ditto)
Sheet Music- 10CC (musically quite wonderful)
Pretzel Logic- Steely Dan (their finest hour)
Eldorado- ELO (Great concept album)
The Pschomodo- Cockney Rebel (pretentious stylised british pap- Still listen to it)
The Hoople- Mott the Hoople (not as good as “Mott” but still great)
Rock ‘N’ Roll Animal- Lou Reed (his last great live album?)
The Impossible Dream- Sensational Alex Harvey Band (they probably only made 2 great albums. This was one of them)
It’s only Rock’n'Roll- Stones (i really enjoyed the Mick Taylor solo in “Time waits for no-one)
Crime of the century- Supertramp (depressingly good)
Lots of good stuff from ‘74. I graduated from high school in San Francisco that year and the different genres we listened to was amazing!Rock, soul, blues, jazz and the beginnings of outlaw country… I will second “Rock and Roll Animal.” We listened to that and Radar love over and over and over. That was in the days of AM radios in cars and the best station was KDIA-Lucky 13 from Oakland. There we heard “Take Me To the River” by Al Green (can’t believe no one mentioned THAT! ) and “Like I’m Not Your Man” by Johnny Guitar Watson and “Head Hunters” by Herbie Hancock. An album from ‘74 I still listen to alot is “A New Life” by The Marshall Tucker Band. It was a great year!
I am very glad Stephen Erlewine noted Seger Seven. Why Bob doesn’t let his early stuff be available on CD mystifies me. Seven was his last real rock’n'roll album
1974 was my second year in architecture school, and we were all trying to escape from the early stages of disco and too many insipid singer-songwriters.
Here are a few oversights from your lists in no particular order (and one ringer):
Weather Report – Mysterious Traveler
Ry Cooder – Paradise and Lunch
Meters – Rejuvenation
Howlin Wolf – AKA
Philip Glass – Music in Twelve Parts
Milton Nascimento/Wayne Shorter – Native Dancer
Residents – Meet the Residents
Sam Rivers – Crystals
Al Green – Explores Your Mind
Mingus – Changes
The ringer:
Velvet Underground – 1969 Live (obviously recorded earlier but not released until ‘74, it pissed all over “Rock N Roll Animal)
It may be an uneven record, but I would add John Lennon’s “Walls and Bridges” just for ‘#9 Dream’ alone.
Don’t forget Joe Walsh’s classic “So What” – “Welcome To The Club” is still his finest moment. Kudos for those who mentioned Neil Young’s “On The Beach” and Mott’s “The Hoople.” And two personal favorites came out in 1974 – “You Make It So Hard To Say No” by Boz Scaggs, who found the soul-man formula with the album “Slow Dancer”, and Elvin Bishop’s best album – apparently out of print now, but available in download – “Let It Flow”, an album of great dual lead guitars, incredible energy and humor, featuring “Traveling Shoes.”
Kudos on the nods to Krautrock. It has taken a long time for Americans to get into Can, Neu!, Popul Vuh and the rest. I personally dig earlier Can and Kraftwerk more, but they were still doing amazing shit in ‘74.
Steely Dan and ELO got their deserved props as well… Eldorado is a tremendous album from first note to last. P-Funk was poppin’. Marley dropped Natty Dread. Gotta love Court & Spark.
People who don’t like virtuosity in their music tend not to like 1974. Prog, Fusion and Jazz Funk (before it went smooth) were hitting their pinnacle, and guys like Santana were leaving their pop fans in the dust (listen to Lotus). But I love that sh*t, so from Head Hunters to King Crimson to Mahavishnu Orchestra I am in hog heaven in ‘74.
Notable oversights:
Joe Farrell – Upon This Rock
Jethro Tull – War Child (underrated. arguably one of their best)
Sweet Smoke – Live
Dennis Brown – Superstar (US Release alongside Deep Down)
Mahavishnu Orchestra – Visions Of The Emerald Beyond
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Second Helping
& George Benson – In Concert: Carnegie Hall (released 75, but recorded on the 1974 Bad Benson tour)
As a bonus I would say Santana’s Divine Light… which is Bill Laswell’s remix of Love Devotion Surrender (‘73) & Illuminations (‘74), and a high five to the reviewer who put the Grateful Dead’s Unbroken Chain as a single… that would have been the day. I guess his album list couldn’t fit From The Mars Hotel. ;-)
Plug Me Into Something by Henry Gross was very under-rated by the AMG staff.
Leonard Cohen – New Skin For The Old Ceremony (hard to believe is not in anyone’s list)
Lou Reed – Rock N Roll Animal
Roxy Music – Country Life
Kraftwerk – Autobahn
Electric Light Orchestra – Eldorado
Bob Dylan & The Band – Before The Flood
The Velvet Underground – 1969: Velvet Underground Live
I only own these. Country life is one of my favorites ever.
Greetings.
Bowie-Diamond Dogs
Sparks-Kimono My House
2 of my fav albums of all-time!!
I love these lists. Word of mouth is the best way of finding great music, I find. Here are some of my fav ‘74 albums:
Jackson Browne – Late for Sky (like any of The Eagle’s best only better)
Richard and Linda Thompson – I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight (Withered and Died – one of the most beautiful heart-breakingest songs ever)
Ry Cooder – Paradise and Lunch
Jim Croce – Photographs & Memories: His Greatest Hits (complilations ok? if not, too bad (haha) they’re some of the most loved records in my life)
Elton John – Greatest Hits
Thanks!
Like a few others have said, Lou Reed’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Animal should merit inclusion. Also, in a different genre altogether, Linda Ronstadt’s Heart Like a Wheel.
For singles, “Junior’s Farm” by Paul McCartney & Wings.
Except for one or two of these entries, these aren’t the very best albums by any of the artists listed. But the music is more than good enough–what a rich era for these incredible singers and songwriters, and for the listeners.
*Joni Mitchell–Court and Spark: Not groundbreaking like “Blue”;
just the finest pop album of the year.
*Roxy Music–Country Life
*Gram Parsons–Grevious Angel
*Bobby Womack–Lookin’ For a Love Again
*The Meters–Rejuvenation
*Van Morrison–It’s Too Late to Stop Now: Live performances that cut to the bone, and reportedly Van wouldn’t allow any overdubbing at all.
*Van Morrison–Veedon Fleece
*Aretha Franklin–Let Me In Your Life
*New York Dolls–Too Much Too Soon
*Randy Newman–Good Old Boys
*Stevie Wonder–Fulfillingness’ First Finale
*Richard & Linda Thompson–I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
*Jackson Browne–Late For the Sky
*Bob Dylan & The Band–Before the Flood
*Linda Ronstadt–Heart Like a Wheel: The only LR album that really matters. Great singing, remarkable arrangements. The overkill and reliance on oldies that would cripple Ronstadt’s later stuff is kept in check here. Love the vocal with J.D. Souther on the sparse “Faithless Love.”
*I believe 1974 was the year that Bruce Springsteen’s management released a tape of “The Fever” as a thank you to the few radio stations that were playing him at the time. While not a a great song, it has this terrific late night feel and is a good example of how Springsteen transformed his roots into something special. I think it was his first pianist, David Sancious, who later said something like, “What? You wrote that? I thought it was some old Ray Charles thing.”
*Hey, and I really dug Wet Willie’s “Keep On Smilin’,” too.
I think their were a few more good albums released in 1974…..
Aerosmith Get Your Wings
Blue Oyster Cult Secret Treaties
Bowie, David Diamond Dogs
Browne, Jackson Late For the Sky
Camel Mirage
Clapton, Eric 481 Ocean Boulevard
Cobham, Billy Crosswinds
Daniels, Charlie Fire on the Mountain
Deep Purple Burn
Doobie Brothers What Were Once Vices are Now Habits
Dylan, Bob Blood on the Tracks
Electric Light Orchestra Eldorado
Fleetwood Mac Heroes are Hard to Find
Fogelberg, Dan Souvenirs
Genesis The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Grateful Dead From the Mars Hotel
Jefferson Starship Dragonfly
Jethro Tull War Child
Kansas Kansas
King Crimson Red
Little Feat Dixie Chicken
Moody Blues Seventh Sojourn
New York Dolls Too Much Too Soon
Poco Seven
Queen Sheer Heart Attack
Queen II
Reed, Lou Rock ‘N’ Roll Animal
Renaissance Turn of the Cards
Rolling Stones It’s Only Rock and Roll
Santana Borboletta
Steely Dan Pretzel Logic
Stewart, Al Past, Present and Future
Strawbs Ghosts
Tangerine Dream Phaedra
Walsh, Joe So What
Yes Relayer
Yes Tales from Topographic Oceans
Truly one of the most amazing years in the history of recorded sound. The future actually began right there in 1974.
Why? Goodness knows. The end of the whacked out Viet/Nixon Era?
The fact that the next wave of innovative musical geniuses were wresting the reigns from the Hippie Forebearers?
Go ahead, come up with your own “reason”, but the facts is facts Home-Boys… One could settle in for a long long absorption of all the music listed above and still never come out the other side a completist.
I’m just glad to be able to say that I was standing among the racks stunned by the enormous explosion and having a field day.
…and so it goes.
I couldn’t agree with you more about Country Life by Roxy Music being placed well into the list. Roxy Music deserve a place in the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame. Theirs was the most intellgent music of the 1970s.
Hurray for Roxy Music!!!!!
I’d like to point out that ‘74 was a great year for Southern Rock. “Ramblin’ Man” came out in ‘73 and the floodgates were opened. I’ve always felt ‘74 was the apex of the Southern Rock era–
Gregg Allman “The Gregg Allman Tour”
Richard Betts “Highway Call”
Lynyrd Skynyrd “Second Helping” (Sweet Home Alabama/Call Me the Breeze)
Wet Willie “Keep On Smilin’”
Elvin Bishop “Let It Flow” (Travellin’ Shoes)
The Marshall Tucker Band “A New Life” and “Where We All Belong”
The Charlie Daniels Band “Fire on the Mountain” (South’s Gonna Do It Again/Long Haired Country Boy)
Atlanta Rhythm Section “Third Annual Pipe Dream” (Doraville)
Ozark Mountain Daredevils “It’ll Shine When It Shines” (Jackie Blue)
Grinderswitch “Honest to Goodness”
Barefoot Jerry “Watchin’ TV”
Cowboy “Boyer & Talton”
I’m probably forgetting something but those are the ones I can name from memory. Not all of those albums were popular, but any fan of Southern Rock can look at that list and understand what I’m talking about.
In my opinion the very best release in this year was VU’s “1969″. Praise the LORD for north-american urban music.
Thanks to John Bush for listing Elis & Tom. “Águas de Março” is gorgeous. Truly an all-time favorite.
Beside some above named albums I found not so much remarkable 74er in my rack. Bohannon’s “Keep on Dancin” I’m still enjoying and “Open our Eyes” by Earth, Wind & Fire should also be mentioned. Curious, nobody listed Dylan’s “Planet Waves”. If somebody like to listen to fusion-styled krautrock maybe Kraan’s 74 release “Andy Nogger” would be a discovery.
‘74 was a serious banner year for soul, jazz and funk, so here’s a modified list of some obscure selections/rare groove classics/underground joints that weren’t listed yet.
Blackbyrds-The Blackbyrds
Blackbyrds-Flying Start
The Crusaders-Southern Comfort
The New Birth-Comin’ From All Ends
Bob James-One
Stanley Clarke-Stanley Clarke
Gene Harris-Astral Signal
Horacee Arnold-Tales Of The Exonerated Flea
Kenny Barron-Peruvian Blue
Carlos Garnett-Journey To Enlightenment
Kool & The Gang-Light Of Worlds
Kaygee’s-Keep On Bumpin’ & Masterplan
Fred Wesley And The J.B.’s-Damn Right I Am Somebody
Earth Wind & Fire-Open Our Eyes
Ohio Players-Skin Tight
Roy Ayers Ubiquity-Change Up The Groove
Isaac Hayes-Tough Guys
Parliament-Up For The Down Stroke
Got ta be fonk-ay!
Agree with Johnny Bacardi . . . George Harrison’s Dark Horse was very good. Heavy 1974 LP rotation included;
Dark Horse-George Harrison
Eldorado-ELO
461 Ocean Boulevard-Eric Clapton
Slow Motion-Man
Live-Mott the Hopple
Something’s Happening-Peter Frampton
They still all sound pretty good!
Like many of the posters above, I find many of my very favs from 74 were (disappointingly) largely ignored by the AMG staff, including:
Planet Waves- Dylan with the Band
From the Mars Hotel- Grateful Dead (of course, 1974 was among the best years for live performances by the GD, many of which have been released in recent years, like 6/26-68/74, 8/4-6/74, 9/9-11/74, as part of the Dick’s Picks series)
Tales of Topographic Oceans- Yes
Relayer- Yes
Past, Present and Future- Al Stewart
Late For the Sky- Jackson Browne
Of course, some of my favs did get some love from the AMG staff:
Radio City- Big Star
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway- Genesis
Starless and Bible Black- King Crimson
Court and Spark- Joni Mitchell
And it does not qualify because it was officially released in 1973, but being released in late Oct. 73, I listened to the Who’s Quadrophenia a lot in 1974…
I more or less agree with the AMG staff, although ´74 isn´t one of my favourite years… here´s the albums I love from this year:
Big Star´s Radio City.
Eno´s 2 lps (Taking Tiger Mountain and Here Come the Warm Jets).
Neil Young´s On the Beach. One of his most beautiful albums, and relatively overlooked.
Roxy Music´s Country Life, by far their best without Eno´s otherworldly synths.
And the N.Y. Dolls´ Too Much Too Soon, almost as great as their first one!
I’ve always felt that ‘74 was a particularly strong year for music. Some of my favs were mentioned, albeit sparingly in some cases, like ELO, Eno (Tiger Mt.), Ronson, Roxy, Steeleye Span, Supertramp and R&L Thompson. Curiously, no mention of Queen’s first of two ‘74 releases, ‘Queen II’ or Sparks’ second of two ‘74 albums ‘Propoganda.’ Also Srawbs’Hero and Heroine,’ Kansas’ superb debut, Dylan’s seminal ‘Blood on the Tracks’ and Mott’s swan song ‘The Hoople’ went unnoticed. How about Crimson’s powerfully sonic and influential ‘Red?’ Although not widely known, Gryphon’s ‘Red Queen’ was one of the most unique albums of mid-70’s rockdom. In the world of jazz MJQ’s ‘Blues on Bach’ which subtlely displays the quiet genious of John Lewis, Milt Jackson, et.al deserves mention as well. Depending on which country you lived in two Horslips records may have been released that year. ‘The Tain’ (73/74) and ‘Dancehall Sweethearts’ are both noteworthy for their trailblazing blend of Irish folk and rock ‘n’ roll. Ahh, to be 13 again.
Is there some requirement to disliking the Bowie album “Diamond Dogs” upon employment to AMG? Why do critics disregard this album so much?
A bit of a transitional year, but many classic songs.
Here are ten of the best:
Supertramp – School
Bad Company – Bad Company
Queen – Killer Queen
Roxy Music – Out of the Blue
Deep Purple – Burn
Genesis – The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Bachman-Turner Overdrive – You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet
Strawbs – Hero and Heroine
Wings – Junior’s Farm
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Sweet Home Alabama
(a bit amazed that last song was hardly mentioned – 35 years on it’s *still* a regular on Dutch radio!)
AMG lists “Blood On the Tracks” as being released Jan. 17, 1975.
It’s possible that 1974 is diplayed on the original vinyl packaging/artwork, since Dylan scrapped the recording at one point and started over. Then there were the liner notes by Pete Hamill (not to be confused with Peter Hammill of Van der Graaf Generator), which were taken off (and then reinstated?). I’m really unclear about the details now, as I was in college at the time and rarely bought an album the very day it was released.
Now, John Bush giving credit to “Por qué te vas?” by Jeanette has been a shock. A nice one, but a shock.
Regards hoy por la mañana brilla el sol
Hey Sergei,
I like ‘Diamond Dogs’ just fine although his disco anthem 1984 brought it down a notch for me. The trouble with this record and ‘Aladdin Sane’ is that Bowie set such high standards with ‘The Man Who Sold the World,’ ‘Hunky Dory’ and ‘Ziggy Stardust’ that, in many people’s minds, (especially the music press) Bowie was victimized by his past greatness. It happens all the time. Look at Van Morrison. The critics sing such high and repeated praise for ‘Astral Weeks’ that other equally deserving records like ‘Tupelo Honey’ go virtually unnoticed. Maybe Ronno would’ve been the difference maker for ‘Diamond Dogs.’
Great Blog, excellent lists & posts. I graduated in ‘74 from high school. The music was fantastic. I’d totally forgotten about the expression “progressive rock”. If you had been tuned in to WMMS in ‘74, then you’d understand why they built the Rock’n'Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. WMMS played all this music, and it was totally the DJ’s choice at that time, not programmed by ClearChannel. Let’s hope that the artistic and intellectual freedom of that time flowers again soon, with just as many blooms.
Peter Hammill – The Silent Corner and the Empty Stage
Definitely neglected that one, though I guess you can’t expect rock critics to suddenly embrace progressive music (the tame, safe choice of Roxy Music’s Country Life is about as far as it looks like the AMG staff is willing to go down that avenue, but they’ll do it with CONVICTION). Glad to see Robert Wyatt getting his due, and Henry Cow too–go Canterbury! Roy Harper’s got two fantastic albums from that year as well–Valentine and Flashes from the Archives of Oblivion.
1974 – 39 (14)
NO ONE MENTIONED:
Average White Band, “AWB”
Hoyt Axton, “Life Machine”
Bad Company, “Bad Company”
James Brown, “The Payback”
Roy Buchanan, “That’s What I’m Here For”
Stanley Clarke, “Stanley Clarke”
Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, “Live from Deep in the Heart of Texas”
Ry Cooder, “Paradise and Lunch”
Cortijo, “Cortijo y Su Machina del Tiempo”
Rick Derringer, “All American Boy”
Rory Gallagher, “Irish Tour ’74”
Freddie King, “Burglar”
Anne Murray, “Love Song”
Willie Nelson, “Phases and Stages”
Harry Nilsson, “Pussy Cats”
Shuggie Otis, “Inspiration Information”
Ann Peebles, “I Can’t Stand the Rain”
Professor Longhair, “Rock ‘n’ Roll Gumbo”
Richard Pryor, “That Nigger’s Crazy”
Minnie Riperton, “Perfect Angel”
Fenton Robinson, “Somebody Loan Me a Dime”
Rufus, “Rags to Rufus”
Doug Sahm, “Groover’s Paradise”
Gil Scott-Heron, “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”
Phoebe Snow, “Phoebe Snow”
Robin Trower, “Bridge of Sighs”
I SECOND:
Richard Betts, “Highway Call”
Jackson Browne, “Late for the Sky”
Bob Dylan / The Band, “Before the Flood”
Kraftwerk, “Autobahn”
The Marshall Tucker Band, “Where We All Belong”
The Meters, “Rejuvenation”
Joni Mitchell, “Court and Spark”
Van Morrison, “Veedon Fleece”
Gram Parsons, “Grievous Angel”
Queen, “Sheer Heart Attack”
Lou Reed, “Rock ‘N’ Roll Animal”
Steely Dan, “Pretzel Logic”
ALL THE REST ARE OVERRATED
Great lists folks. A couple of my old favs were not mentioned though.
Hydra: self-titled ~~ hard-charging southern rock
Stray Dog: While You’re Down There ~~ progressive rock
Montrose: Paper Money ~~ guitar rock & roll
the Souther Hillman Furay Band: self-titled ~~ country rock
Robin Trower: Bridge of Sighs ~~ power guitar bluesrock
Jeff Beck, Tim Bogart, Carmine Appice: Beck, Bogart & Appice ~~ ’nuff said
Three of my favourite albums of all time were released in 1974, namely:-
Crime Of The Century – Supertramp
Everyone Is Everybody Else – Barclay James Harvest
Diamond Dogs – David Bowie
Cheers,
David
Brian Eno and his German music? Two or three years on from here.
No mention for Todd Rundgren’s Utopia either.
Shame on you.
Amazingly, everyone missed my #1 album for that year, Keith Hudson – Flesh Of My Skin, Blood Of My Blood. It was reissued not long ago, you all seriously need to hear it.
Only mentioned in the comments, Popol Vuh – Einsjäger & Siebenjäger is my #5, Hawkwind – Hall Of the Mountain Grill #8, Mingus at Carnegie Hall #9. Otherwise most my favorites are well-represented. Robert Calvert – Captain Lockheed & The Star Fighters is pretty fun too.
Mine:
Kraftwerk – Autobahn
Eno – Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)
Genesis – The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Supertramp – Crime Of The Century
Kansas – Kansas
King Crimson – Red
King Crimson – Starless and bible black
Yes – Tales from Topographic Oceans
My favorite album of 1974, one that everyone should hear, not mentioned by anyone: Paêbirú by Lula Côrtes & Zé Ramalho. Check it out on iTunes!
One of the best, most original rock albums of 1974 or any year that has yet to be mentioned: Paêbirú by Lula Côrtes & Zé Ramalho. Check it out on iTunes!
While I love many of the albums here and own many of them, but I specially enjoyed the singles list (most of which I don’t have). The factory AM radio during my summer job of ‘74 (over) exposed me to many of these hits. Hearing the samples was great. Thanks.
I don’t think these two excellent albums from 1974 have been mentioned:
- Dragon Fly – Jefferson Starship (Ride the Tiger, Caroline, Hyperdrive)
- When The Eagles Flies – Traffic
Don’t forget The Kinks’ much-maligned, misunderstood and underestimated Preservation Act 2 — decades ahead of its time. Standout tracks: Money Talks, Mirror of Love, Artificial Man, Scrapheap City, Slum Kids.
Good calls, everyone! I particularly loved the Hatfield and the North, Sparks (Kimono My House), Little Feat, and Queen releases of this year, but there were so many great albums. Can we keep this article up in perpetuity, so the next time some ignoramus spews the cliche that all 70’s music sucks I can send them a link?
WE AL TOGETHER, YEAH!
while I wasn’t fortunate enuf to have enjoyed this album when it was released (found out about it 5 yrs later), I’ve always enjoyed the freshness and uniqueness of Sailor’s self-titled debut from ‘74
Hello Raztrelnikov . . . “All the rest are overrated”? That is quite a statement; especially in light of your inclusion of “Love Song” by Anne Murray as one of 74’s best. Not a horrible song, but likely rates somewhere around the 800 or 900th best pop song of the year.
I need to add a few:
King Crimson – Red
Robin Trower – Bridge of Sighs (not sure how this was missed!)
Eric Clapton – 461 Ocean Boulrvard
Richard & Linda Thompson – I want to see the Bright Lights Tonight (I know this was on a few lists, but great call!!)
Some other ideas:
Van Morrison – Veedon fleece
Tom Waits – The heart of Saturday night
Robert Wyatt – Rock bottom
Johnny Bristol – Hang on in there baby
Stevie Wonder – Fulfillingness’ first finale
Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye – Diana & Marvin
1974, when albums were ALBUMS!It is so infuriating when you hear the 70’s described as the era of disco. Have you ever looked at some of those top 20 lists from back in the day? The albums on them just blow you away. The quality is something we could only dream of today. Anyway, love these lists, so here’s mine. No particular order.
Bob Dylan- Blood On the Tracks
Planet Waves
Robert Wyatt- Rock Bottom
Little Feat- Feats Don’t Fail Me Now
Funkadelic- Standing On the Verge Of Getting It On
Richard & Linda Thompson- I Want To See the Bright Lights Tonight
Grateful Dead- From the Mars Hotel
Jackson Browne- Late For the Sky
David Bowie- Diamond Dogs
Big Star- Radio City
Joni Mitchell- Court and Spark
Frank Zappa- Apostrophe
Roxy and Elsewhere
Van Morrison- It’s Too Late To Stop Now
Veedon Fleece
Richard Betts- Highway Call
Neil Young- On The Beach
Procol Harum- Exotic Birds and Fruit
Bob Marley- Natty Dread
They all should have noted RED by King Crimson
An important album for the Melvins and such
For those Prog Rock lovers: Yes’ masterpiece “Relayer”
A slight correction – Tales from Topographic Oceans was released in the UK in December 1973…..
Brian Cleary (Formerly WZBC “The Delta Factor”)
War – Deliver the Word
Robert Wyatt – Rock Bottom
Neil Young- On The Beach
Hatfield & The North – The Rotters Club (or was that 75?)
Hawkwind – Hall of the Mountain Grill
Henry Cow – Unrest
Gil Scott-Heron, “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”
Big Star – Radio City
Fleetwood Mac – Heroes are Hard to Find
Leonard Cohen – New Skin For The Old Ceremony
Roxy Music – Country Life
Faust – Faust IV
Sadistic Mika Band – Black Ship
Kraftwerk – Autobahn
John Cale – Fear
Sparks – Kimono My House
Eno – Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)
Can – Soon Over Babaluma
Genesis – Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
What? No love for the Priest? “Rocka Rolla”…Now THAT’S a classic. Lamb Lies Down on Broadway…sure…whatever…
I really enjoyed looking at this web page on 1974. Could you folks do the same concept for the other years of the 1970s? Why stop there, do years in other decades. People are often very nostalgic about their past and music is one of the great memory enhancers. If asked what I was doing in 1974, I might not be able to say, but when I hear music from 1974, I clearly remember people and places.
Great lists so far. Here are some more that haven’t been mentioned yet, but are worth checking out:
MILLIE JACKSON-Caught up
MAGMA-Khontarkosz (French prog)
MALICORNE-Malicorne (French folkrock)
ALQUIN-Marks (Dutch prog)
JAMES BROWN-Reality
FRED WESLEY & THE J.B’s-Damn right I am somebody
MULTU ASTATQE-Ethio Jazz (Ethiopean Afro jazz/soul/psych)
DR. FEELGOOD-Down by the jetty
ANGE-Au dela du delire (French prog)
GRAHAM CENTRAL STATION-Release yourself
BURNING SPEAR-Rockin’ time
J.J. CALE-Okie
Ahh, forgot this one:
ELEVENTH HOUSE-Introducing Eleventh house (supergroup formed around Larry Coryell with Alphonse Mouzon and Randy Brecker-best Fusion/Jazzrock album of ‘74).
Aw hell, forgot these additions as well:
BOBBY BLAND-Dreamer
WISHBONE ASH-There’s the rub
EDDIE PALMIERI-Live at Sing Sing
YA HO WA 13-Savage sons of Ya Ho Wa (freak troupe of cult guru Father Yod)
GROUNDHOGS-Solid
GINO VANNELLI-Powerful people
SKYHOOKS-Living in the 70s (Australian Glam)
SYL JOHNSON-Diamond in the rough (70s Soul on Hi, label of Al Green, Ann peebles)
TED NUGENT’S AMBOY DUKES-Tooth, fang and claw
SWAMP DOGG-Have you heard this story ?
RETURN TO FOREVER-Where have I known you before
WILLIE HUTCH-Foxy Brown (Soul/Funk/Blaxploitation soundtrack)
If anyone’s unusually interested in the music of 1974, check out my mega-playlist [link]. I spent a lot of time researching the music of that year and found some really wonderful gems. You all have mentioned some albums I haven’t even heard yet, though, so I’ve still got some work cut out for me.
Alright, one more short list, then I’ll rest my case concerning ‘74;
DUCKS DELUXE-Ducks deluxe (pubrock)
ALCEU VALENÇA-Molhado de suor (Brazilian pop)
FOCUS-Hamburger concerto
FRUKO Y SUS TESOS-El caminante (Colombian salsa, with a young Joe Arroyo)
BADFINGER-Wish you were here (forgotten gem).
Led Zeppelin
Yes
Jethro Tull
King Crimson
David Bowie
The official AMG lists just show a bunch of revisionist prejudice. Early 70’s was the era of Hard Rock, Glam, Prog Rock: these styles were the new, if not “popular” styles that began to dominate FM radio at the time. As for the revisionists: The Dolls, Eno, Big Star, were only adopted as significant when YOU went back and revised what was good after having your aesthetics developed in the 80’s and 90’s, 00’s. Your perspective is as inauthentic and irrelevant as using Lenny Kaye’s Nuggets to rewrite the 60’s. Sure, The Seeds were great, but they and their ilk don’t usurp the Stones or the Beatles from the throne. So neither should The Dolls step over Zep, or Eno push aside Yes.
led zeppelin didn’t release a record in 74.
going for the one isnt so good as fragile or close to the edge.
this is a personal favourite lists, and not the “most representive of the year”
Big Star “Radio City”
Bob Marley & the Wailers “Natty Dread”
Camel “Mirage”
David Bowie “Diamond Dogs”
Eno “Taking Tiger Mountain (by Strategy)”
Genesis “the Lamb Lies Down on Broadway”
Jackson Browne “Late for the Sky”
John Cale “Fear”
King Crimson “Red”
King Crimson “Starless and Bible Black”
Leonard Cohen “New Skin for the Old Ceremony”
Linda Ronstadt “Heart Like a Wheel”
Mike Oldfield “Hergest Ridge”
Neil Young “On the Beach”
Procol Harum “Exotic Birds and Fruits”
Richard & Linda Thompson “I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight”
Robert Wyatt “Rock Bottom”
the Rolling Stones “It’s Only Rock’n'Roll”
Roxy Music “Country Life”
Roy Harper “Valentine”
Rush “Rush”
Sparks “Kimono My House”
Supertramp “Crime of the Century”
Tom Waits “the Heart of Saturday Night”
Van Morrison “Veedon Fleece”
Does anyone know where I can get sterling silver fair trade jewelry?
I am looking for a gift for my wife and want to buy some [url=http://www.silverjewelryemporium.com]sterling silver jewelry[/url] thats showen
here that is responsibly produced- maybe fair trade certified. Any ideas?
thanks
Favorite Albums of 1974 (by Artist)
Big Star – Radio City
Bob Dylan – Before The Flood
Bob Dylan – Planet Waves
Brian Eno – Here Come The Warm Jets
Brain Eno – Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)
Can – Soon Over Babaluma
Carole King – Wrap Around Joy
Cartole – Cartole
David Bowie – Diamond Dogs
Elis Regina & Tom Jobim – Elis & Tom
Eric Clapton – 461 Ocean Boulevard
Funkadelic – Standing On The Verge Of Getting It On
Gal Costa – Cantar
Genesis – The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
Gram Parsons – Grievous Angel
Jackson Browne – Late For The Sky
John Cale – Fear
Joni Mitchell – Court & Spark
Jorge Ben – A Tábua Da Esmeralda
King Crimson – Red
Krafterwek – Autobahn
Leonard Cohen – New Skin For The Old Ceremony
Linda Ronstadt -Heart Like Wheel
Lou Reed – Rock ‘N Roll Animal
Neil Young – On The Beach
New York Dolls – Too Much Too Soon
Nico – The End
Queen – Sheer Heart Attack
Randy Newman – Good Old Boys
Richard & Linda Thompson – I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
Rita Lee – Atrás Do Porto Tem Uma Cidade
Robert Wyatt – Rock Bottom
The Rolling Stones – It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll
Roxy Music – Country Life
Steely Dan – Pretzel Logic
Stevie Wonder – Fulfillingness’ First Finale
Todd Rundgren – Todd
Tow Waits – The Heart Of Saturday Night
Van Morrison – It’s Too Late To Stop Now
Van Morrison – Veedon Fleece
Although not widely known, Gryphon’s ‘Red Queen’ was one of the most unique albums of mid-70’s rockdom. In the world of jazz MJQ’s ‘Blues on Bach’ which subtlely displays the quiet genious of John Lewis, Milt Jackson, et.al deserves mention as well. Depending on which country you lived in two Horslips records may have been released that year. ‘The Tain’ (73/74) and ‘Dancehall Sweethearts’ are both noteworthy for their trailblazing blend of Irish folk and rock ‘n’ roll. Ahh, to be 13 again.
This is bringing back some memories from the good old days! Even though I grew up in the late 70s, I listened to these songs a lot thanks to my parents.
Kaylee from Body detox.
Not being able to remember the customized text is adding one more step in pushing a blog post. With Twitterfeed (erotikblogg twitter, I dont have to worry about anything, though it is certainly assuring to have a short URL of the same company, something which I can only get if I enable this option at WP. Please consider making customized text stick to the settings.
When these lists pop up I wonder if this is just a popularity contest and how deep have these people sampled the year? Has every person who listed Radio City by Big Star listened to the epic pop masterpiece Wish You Were Here by Badfinger? It appears only one power pop album was allowed, thus The Raspberries Starting Over would get more mention too.
Also, Secret Treaties by BOC. Weird this band doesn’t get much respect for making intelligent metal into many great albums, this one being the culmination of their non-POP years. It would trump Deep Purple’s Burn any day (I love DP but that album had too much funky filler.)