I won’t even pretend like my recent yen for Latin music isn’t thanks to In the Heights... Willie Colon - La Gran Fuga Excellent. You expect the horns to rule on an album from a trombonist, and this does not disappoint. Hector Lavoe is a pretty fantastic vocalist, too.
1. Paul & Linda McCartney: Ram 2. Joni Mitchell: Blue 3. Marvin Gaye: What's Going On Hardest Cuts: 4. David Bowie: Hunky Dory 5. Led Zeppelin IV Other Cuts: Janis Joplin: Pearl Black Sabbath: Master of Reality Elton John: Madman Across the Water The Rolling Stones: Sticky Fingers Really struggled with those top 5 because I could scramble the order entirely and probably still be happy with this. But I adore Ram, What's Going On feels monumental, and Blue is just masterful songwriting. I think Master of Reality and Pearl are both amazing albums, but I just haven't spent enough time with either of them to rank them higher. Elton is definitely more of a singles artist to me than someone who's albums I listen to in full, but man what great singles Madman Across the Water has. I definitely want to try to spend a little more time with some his to see if I can get it to click more. I've never really connected to Wings' debut, but still feel it's noteworthy as the start of the better stuff to come. And on a really similar note, Billy Joel's Cold Spring Harbor is one of maybe 2 or 3 albums of his I haven't heard in full, but "She's Got a Way" holds up with the best of his output.
If you’re a Joel fan, it’s absolutely worth your time. First, it’s cool to hear his take on a more mellow singer-songwriter feel and second, it’s got this kind of open-hearted simplicity that he’d basically never let us see again after he got burned by the industry making it. It’s a fascinating document in addition to just being a good listen of its own accord
Ya I gave it a listen through last night, and I’m definitely glad I did. Not his greatest album of course (to be fair, that’s a high bar) but it was a fun listen and I’ll for sure go back to it
I return to “Tomorrow Is Today” a lot. I also made sure to listen to “Everybody Loves You Now” when I was on the Staten Island Ferry. Haha
Top 3: 1. Led Zeppelin - IV 2. David Bowie - Hunky Dory 3. The Who - Who's Next Honorable Mention: CSNY - 4 Way Street Paul McCartney - Ram John Lennon - Imagine The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers Electric Light Orchestra - No Answer Black Sabbath - Master of Reality The Doors - LA Woman Badfinger - Straight Up Graham Nash - Songs For Beginners Harry Nilsson - Nilsson Schmilsson Bread - Manna The Moody Blues - Every Good Boy Deserves Favour Cat Stevens/Yusuf - Teaser and the Firecat Todd Rundgren - Runt: The Ballad Of Todd Rundgren Pink Floyd - Meddle John Prine - S/T T. Rex - Electric Warrior Yes - Fragile Planning to Listen to More: Alice Cooper - Love It To Death David Crosby - If I Could Only Remember My Name Don McLean - American Pie Elton John - Madman Across The Water Emerson, Lake, & Palmer - Tarkus Faces - A Nod Is As Good As A Wink... to a Blind Horse Genesis - Nursery Cryme James Taylor - Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon Jethro Tull - Aqualung Jimi Hendrix - The Cry Of Love Joni Mitchell - Blue Link Wray - S/T Marvin Gaye - What's Going On Rod Stewart - Every Picture Tells A Story Santana - III Sly & The Family Stone - There's A Riot Goin' On Traffic - The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys Wings - Wild Life Yes - The Yes Album Gosh now that we are in the 70s I have SO many blind spots until like '91.
I don't think this quite counts as "underrated" considering it's usage in the Hollywood zeitgeist (most notably for me in the movie American Hustle, I think the usage of the song in that movie and in the trailer might have made the movie better than it actually was), and it falls maybe a bit short of the BEST songs in such a stacked year, but: The grandeur of this song. And to think it was the DEBUT single for ELO makes it even more impressive. One of my all-time faves.
Spent most of this week listening to other stuff, but wanted to check out at least one 1971 record before we moved on, so chose Jethro Tull's Aqualung. I know their reputation, but have never heard their album. It's an interesting prog-rock album, with plenty of folk and blues, and flute solos going on here. The songs are varied, often shifting style mid-song, so there's a lot to take in for a first listen. They're clearly all very talented musicians, though from a songwriting perspective, it didn't particularly impress me on a first listen if I'm being honest, though I can definitely respect the talent here.
“Wind Up” is the best rock song about religion maybe ever. They’re a pretty good band but that’s a GREAT album
1. David Crosby - if I could only remember my name can’t believe I almost missed this thread. One of the vibiest records OAT
feels pretty safe to call this one. Led Zeppelin wins for IV with 27 points. joni mitchell's blue came in second with 22 and marvin gaye's what's goin on came in third with 21. will post the 72 thread tomorrow.
I don't really have anywhere else to ask this, but since it started in 1971... which (if any) of the Hendrix "4th album" compilations is consider as the best, or closest, to his vision by fans? The Cry of Love, Voodoo Soup and First Rays of the New Rising Sun seem to be the top 3 contenders here