THE MUSIC OF 1970

In terms of innovation, experimentation and the development of modern music, 1970 was a hugely significant year. Interesting experiments in musical fusion were expressed, by, for example, Jazz legend, Miles Davis, with his Jazz – Rock fusion album, ‘Bitches Brew’; The Temptations, with their Soul-Rock fusion album, ‘Psychedelic Shack’; and young Classical Indian musician Ananda Shankar, who blended western Rock (including electronic Techno sounds) with Classical Indian music. Zappa continued to explore his unique blend of Jazz, Rock – and introspective innovation, with the album ‘Weasels Ripped My Flesh’.

Heavy Rock became well and truly established as a distinct genre. Black Sabbath debuted with their power riffing, Gothically themed debut album, ‘Black Sabbath’, and followed that up with more of the same, with the album ‘Paranoid’. A youthful, Heavy Rockin’ Alice Cooper broke into the singles charts for the first time, with ‘I’m Eighteen’ – which convinced the band’s record company to proceed with a debut album in 1971… Deep Purple moved away from a Psychedelic Rock sound, onto heavier ground, making personnel changes by replacing Nick Simper on bass with Roger Glover, and Rod Evans on vocals with (as Richie Blackmore put it) ‘ a screamer’: Ian Gillan – and Deep Purple Mark II was launched with the Heavy Rock classic album ‘Deep Purple In Rock’. The new Heavy Purple proved that they could make the singles chart too – with ‘Black Night’…

Prog. Rock (which can be dated back to 1967, with The Beatles’ ‘Sgt. Pepper’ musical experiments; Procol Harum’s quirky sounds; and the Moody Blues’ concept album ‘Days of Future Past’) really emerged as a very particular style and separate genre of music in 1970 – with, for example, the debut of supergroup, Emerson Lake and Palmer (ELP), and Genesis finding their true sound and direction with the album ‘Trespass’.

Led Zeppelin, meanwhile, had progressed yet again – from the R’n’B of Led Zeppelin (debut album) (1969); through the R’n’B and Heavy Rock of Led Zeppelin II (1969) - to 1970s Led Zeppelin III: which showcased the band’s range of musical styles – highlighting particularly a softer, acoustic side…

A couple of very significant live albums were released in 1970 – which played a part in making the live Rock music album a serious and respected format for album releases: ‘Woodstock’ (a triple album release from 1969s Woodstock Festival),, and The Stones’ ‘Get Yer Ya Yas Out’…

I’ve said before that, for me (just my opinion!), the UK singles chart in 1970 was not a great year overall – too much stuffy, ‘Easy Listening’, Pop material…. BUT… it was also populated by some absolute gems, as were the singles charts elsewhere in the world – my choice of a Top 20 selection of these is listed below…

Musical protest took a sharp, bullish edge – but not always in a good way… Sabbath’s ‘Paranoid’ album featured uncompromising anti-war tracks: ‘War Pigs’, and ‘Hand of Doom’; Edwin Starr’s single ‘War’ was a similarly hard-hitting ant-war song. The Kimks’ ‘Lola’, and Freda Payne’s ‘Band of Gold’ were singles that referenced the life (and the plight) of the gay community…

But 1970 also saw the emergence of a style of protest that took an ill-informed, one-sided stance in complex disputes, which, unlike civil rights, pacifism, and equality, did not have a clear definition of right and wrong; examples being Paul McCartney’s ‘Give Ireland Back to the Irish’, and John Lennon’s ‘The Luck of the Irish’…

1970 brought losses to the modern music scene – The Beatles split was and inevitable parting of the ways of four independent musicians who had run their course as a band – and changed music forever….

But there were also tragic losses, as Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin – two of the true legends from the era when modern culture was formed – passed away, all too young and all too soon; casualties of the quest by 1960s youth to find a better way forward for humanity; causalities of the social and cultural revolution… R(ock on) I(n) P(aradise)…

Here are my lists of the Top 20 albums and singles of 1970. Please note, that for the purpose of this page, the lists are complied of a mixture of my personal choices; records that made a big impact; and records that were significant to the way that modern music was developing at the time. And also, of course, that my list is no more or less valid than anyone else’s… 

(M).

TOP 20 ALBUMS (No particular order):

1. Ladies Of The Canyon (Joni Mitchell)
2. All Things Must Pass (George Harrison)
3. Led Zeppelin III (Led Zeppelin)
4. Psychedelic Shack (The Temptations)
5. Tea For The Tillerman (Cat Stevens)
6. Whatever Happened To Baby James (James Taylor)
7. Paranoid (Black Sabbath)
8. T. Rex (T. Rex)
9. Ananda Shankar (Ananda Shankar)
10. Emerson, Lake, and Palmer (Emerson, Lake, and Palmer)
11. Trespass (Genesis)
12. Bitches Brew (Miles Davis)
13. Fire And Water (Free)
14. Weasels Ripped My Flesh (Frank Zappa)
15. Woodstock (Woodstock Festival, 1969)
16. Let It Be (The Beatles)
17. Bridge Over Troubles Water (Simon and Garfunkel)
18. Get Yer Ya Yas Out (The Rolling Stones)
19. Deep Purple In Rock (Deep Purple)
20. Cosmo’s Factory (Creedence Clearwater Revival)

TOP 20 SINGLES (No particular order):

1. Alright Now. (Free)
2. American Woman (The Guess Who)
3. My Sweet Lord (George Harrison)
4. In The Summertime (Mungo Jerry)
5. Band Of Gold (Freda Payne)
6. Witches Promise (Jethro Tull)
7. The Immigrant Song (Led Zeppelin)
8. War (Edwin Starr)
9. Ride A White Swan (T. Rex)
10 Lola (The Kinks)
11. Black Night (Deep Purple)
12. I’m Eighteen (Alice Cooper)
13. Paranoid (Black Sabbath)
14. Wild World (Cat Stevens)
15. Let It Be (The Beatles)
16. Woodstock (Matthews Southern Comfort)
17. Travellin’ Band (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
18. Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon and Garfunkel)
19. Voodoo Chile (Jimi Hendrix)
20. Big Yellow Taxi (Joni Mitchell).

Textual content: ©Copyright MLM Arts 17. 02. 2018. Edited and re-posted: 05. 12. 2018. Edited and re-posted: 15. 02. 2020

1970: SEPT. / OCT.(?): THE MELODY MAKER MUSIC PAPER UK SINGLES AND ALBUMS CHART... 

Let's start our revisiting of the year 1970 with another of these very popular archive charts postings - this one from around September / October of that year...

This article could be very, very long if I dwelt even only on the WOW...! factor of the albums chart - so I'd best leave it to you folks to pore over this posting for yourselves... 

The singles chart too is quite something... 

Here's a picture that I got from the Deep Purple Facebook page which makes interesting reading. It shows U.K singles and albums charts from around September / October 1970. (From the Melody Maker music paper).

Wow... 

I wasn't into music at the time, but listened to what my older sister played - and a lot of it was Soul / Motown. This chart shows how big that music genre was in the U.K singles chart at the time. My sister had a lot of the singles shown in this chart...

1971 was when I started to really get into music, with the arrival of Glam Rock, but from Glam Rock my tastes developed to include Heavy Rock and Prog. Rock and the Folky, insightful sounds of Simon and Garfunkel, Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens, George Harrison, etc... 

This album chart is a reflection of what my own musical tastes would be as the the 1970s progressed; and what an album chart it is...! 

'Chronicles' 'Classic Albums' section photo album is a work in progress - with an awful lot of albums still to include! - but even as it stands it includes no less than 5 albums from this one week in the U.K music charts: plus we have made extensive mention of Woodstock (and will include the album in due course).

But, you know what? I'd reckon that we could post just about any week in the charts from the 1970s - well, say up to the mid-late 1970s - and go WOW! at everyone of 'em. This was the era of great music: the classical age of modern music - no doubt. Music was our 'thing'...

We say it often on here, but it's worth saying again: we were so lucky to grow up in this era of such cultural significance: as we call it: the era when modern culture was formed; the Classical era - The Golden Era - of modern culture... 

(M).

Textual content:
©Copyright MLM Arts 18. 03. 2015. Edited and re-posted: 19. 02. 2023. Edited and re-posted: 02. 03. 2023

MELODY MAKER READERS' POLL RESULTS 1970. 

Let's start our revisit to 1970 with this look at what the readers of (serious music) UK music paper, Melody Maker had (in September of that year) voted the best of what had happened in the previous 12 months... 

I must say, this is a very, very interesting poll - that really is quite revealing and reflective about what was happening in 1970. 

In the year of the last Beatles studio album, 'Let It Be', The Beatles were usurped as top band by the the band that was to go on rule the 1970s: Led Zeppelin. I've picked out a section of the central text (by highlighting it in a yellow box), where the Melody Maker journo agrees with this development.

In the UK section, 'Led Zeppelin II' (released in late 1969) was top album - with 'Let It Be' at number 2.


But the International section - Zappa's 'Hot Rats' comes out tops... 

'Brightest Hope' UK: Mungo Jerry (a unique Skiffle / Blues / Folk / Bluegrass / Country / Pop fusion band, that had two UK number 1 singles in 1970); Free is at number 2; Emerson, Lake and Palmer rated at number 3.

Internationally, ELP was number 1 'Brightest Hope'... 

Given that we're also currently looking at 1977 as our current year in focus, and the rise of New Wave and Punk at that time,, it's fascinating that the article in the middle of this poll describes prominence bands and artists in the poll, like Led Zeppelin, Free and ELP, as the 'New Wave'... 

I'll leave you folks to pore over the rest of this interesting snapshot of how things were shaping-up in terms of musical developments and musical tastes, right in the middle of this two decades of the Golden Era: the formative and Classical era of modern culture... 

(Footnote: I'm going to assume that this graphic incomplete, and doesn't show the full poll results - as, if I recall, there should be top 10s for best British musicians too).

Textual content:
©Copyright MLM Arts 05. 02. 2020. Edited and re-posted: 19. 02. 2023. Edited and re-posted: 02. 03. 2023

(M).

1970: APRIL 10th. THE BEATLES' SPLIT (AT THIS STAGE, ANNOUNCED AS PAUL MCCARTNEY QUITTING THE BAND) IS UK FRONT PAGE NEWS...

This is the front page of  The Daily Mirror -;a tabloid newspaper that was at the time the biggest selling newspaper in England and Wales (which effectively meant also in the UK: Scotland had / has its own version of the Daily Mirror - The Daily Record (same publishers), which was the biggest seller in Scotland).

It's interesting that in this early stage of the announcement it's not about a complete split - only that Paul had quit the band.

Over previous years, both Ringo and George had walked out on The Beatles, telling the others that they'd quit (though not making any official public announcement); and to a certain extent, some Beatles tracks were almost solo tracks by John, Paul, and George: the writing was on the wall, it could be said...(?)

But this was the way that the actual split was first reported... 

(M).

1971: JULY 10th. : THE FRONT COVER OF UK MUSIC PAPER, SOUNDS

Jim Morrison's tragic death (officially recorded as July 3rd.1971) is still just a rumour as far as the media and the public are concerned - as shocked fans cling to the hope that the news isn't true... 😢

Carole King -described here as 'America's leading lady' - arrives in the UK... 😎

In a recent posting of the New Musical Express UK music paper readers' poll for 1971, I commented on how odd it looked for a representation of what msy well be the greatest ever year for music: it had so many winners that were better associated with the 1950s and early 1960s... 🤔

I didn't understand it; I only got into music in 1971 - and didn't start buying music papers until a couple of years later - so I didn't know that NME was lapsing in 'uncool and stuffiness' by then...

The thread produced a very informative comment, by Mick Capewell (my thanks to Mick for that comment)  that put me in the know... 🤔

I remember from when I was a music paper buyer in the early - late 1970s, that Sounds (first published: October 10th. 1970 - so the 'new kid on the music paper block') was the coolest - followed by Melody Maker - by then NME had a make-over to try to catch up... 😏

(These three were the serious, heavy music papers: Disc, and Record Mirror were the 'Bubblegum' music papers... 😏)

One of the major selling points for Sounds, was that every week it had a double page centre spread that was a magnificent band or artist poster - free... 😎 Bedroom walls all over the UK were covered in posters - and these freebie Sounds posters comprised a lot of the covered wall space... 😎

So here we are - a 'Chronicles' tribute to the 1970s coolest UK music paper: Sounds - with this poignant edition from the year that we are currently revisiting: 1971. (M).

(I found this image on Google Images. My acknowledgement and thanks to whoever posted it / owns it (identity unknown to me), and aslo to the Sounds music paper).

Textual content: © Copyright MLM Arts. 13. 04. 2023. Edited and re-posted: 10. 11. 2023

1971: THE NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS READERS' POLL RESULTS.

This poll (published in January 1972) reveals some interesting statistics about what and who was big in the UK throughout 1971. 

It's an mix in some ways: stars from the 1950s Rock and Roll era - such as Elvis Presley and the UK's Cliff Richard - are still polling big; the emerging serious music genres of Heavy Rock and Prog. Rock feeture - but don't do all that well... 😳

Led Zeppelin in particular has a very mediocre showing - astonishing really, in the year that saw Zeppelin take up the mantle of The Beatles as world's biggest and most influential band: and the year that they released the album that set the standard for the 1970s: Four Symbols (Led Zeppelin IV)... 😮

But in the UK, 1971 was the year that Marc Bolan (in his band, T.Rex) invented Glam Rock - which was to be huge genre between 1971 and 1973 - and Bolan is one of the big winners in this poll. 🤩

Rod Stewart - one of the first to climb aboard the Glam Rock bandwagon - also does well. 🤩

But no big impact yet for bands and artists who also rode that wave - such as Slade, Bowie, and Elton John - though that would change in 1972... 😎

NME had a knack of aiming at 'the latest fad' audience (it was a paper that went full-on Punk a few years later, for example... 🙄), so I'm guessing that's what explains a poll that, overall, in my opinion, doesn't reflect what was happening during what may well have been the greatest ever year for music... 😳

Still - heigh-ho - it's a very interesting and fascinating historical document all the same... 🤔

I'll leave you folks to pore over the details... 🙂 (M).

Textual content: © Copyright MLM Arts. 06. 04. 2023. Edited and re-posted: 10. 11. 2023

THE MUSIC OF 1972

What a year... What a year...

The music side of the youth social and cultural revolution of The Golden Era just kept raising the bar year on year up to 1972. Innovation and experimentation still pushed the boundaries - and made for another year that is a candidate for 'Best Ever Year For Music'...

In the UK, the Glam Rock phenomenon that was launched by Marc Bolan and T.Rex in 1971 now entered its two year peak period (1972 - 1973). In Glam Rock, some well respected and reasonably successful artists, most notably Elton John, Rod Stewart, and David Bowie, found the vehicle and image that would elevate their career to stratospheric success.

Alice Cooper (at this time still the name of the band - not just the frontman) too blended their gothic Shock-Rock with Glam Rock and took off in popularity.

In the UK we had a Beatles v, Stones rivalry for my generation of new teens: T.Rex and Slade slugged it out in the singles charts - with both racking up two number 1s and a couple of top 5s. Both also released great albums that year: T.Rex with 'The Slider', and Slade with 'Slayed?'.

In the 'serious music' album charts, Prog. Rock soared majestically as the dominant genre (at least in the UK). Genesis, with the album 'Foxtrot', and Yes, with the album 'Close To The Edge' released what many fans and impartial critics consider to be their apex, masterpiece albums. Emerson, Lake and Palmer's 'Trilogy' is another Prog. Rock classic from this extraordinary year.

Heavy Rock too was well represented in 1972. Deep Purple (a bit Heavy Rock / a bit Prog.Rock) was another band that released what is arguably their masterpiece: 'Machine Head' - which features the track that would become the recognised Deep Purple anthem: 'Smoke On The Water'.

A second shout-out to Deep Purple here, because their live double album, 'Made In Japan', really broke ground for the credibility and popularity of Rock music live albums. At the time, and for a long time afterwards, 'Made In Japan' was considered the best live Rock album ever released. It made live albums cool - you could even say that it's the album that established live albums as a respected format for album releases; and, consequently, other (most even) bands and artists would go on to release live albums great success and acclaim.

Also getting a double shout-out on my list of albums, is Jethro Tull: for the band's Prog. Rock concept album 'Thick As A Brick' (yet another 1972 album release that is considered by many to be the greatest album by the band releasing it) - and also for an album that it a unique 'concept' in it's own right: the double album 'Living In The Past' - which is part 'best of' - part new material - part live album - a wonderful combination that, in my personal opinion, deserves to be considered one of the best albums from 1972... 

Uriah Heep was another band that, in 1972, released an album that would be - arguably - considered the apex of their career: 'Demons And Wizards'.

Also in1972, we had a kind of musical anomaly: Wishbone Ash was a band that had  released a couple of so-so albums up to the release of their 1972 album - and a succession of so-so albums after that (it's widely accepted)... But that 1972 album was and is hailed as one of the greatest albums ever released: 'Argus'.

Cat Stevens (now Yusif Cat Stevens) continued his run of outstanding 1970s albums with 'Catch Bull At Four'. Cat Stevens's albums from 1970 onward, which were written, recorded and released after his life threatening attack of tuberculosis in 1969, adopted a new style, both musically and lyrically; his old clever, Pop music, was now replaced by Folk Rock, with deep, meaningful lyrics that reflected the artists' spiritual and philosophical search, which was a result of his terrible illness. The change in style and depth of writing resulted in albums that he released during the 1970s being some of the greatest albums relerased during The Golden Era.

There were two very important debuts in 1972; The Eagles, and Steely Dan: two bands that would go in to be among the most influential and successful bands from this era.Debuting too was Wizzard -  Roy Wood's (previously The Move and The Electric Light Orchestra) lasted project: part Glam Rock ) part Rock and Roll revival.

Smokey Robinson And The Miracles released their last album together before going their separate ways: 'Flying High Together'.

And The Rolling Stones released a double album that divides opinion - even among their fans: 'Exile On Main Street'.

A mention in despatches for:

A mention in despatches for:A mention in despatches for:

Black Sabbath's album 'Volume 4' - which doesn't make my personal top 20 for 1972: the album came in for some negative criticism from the critics for being a bit 'same-old - same-old', but the fans loved it - and it cemented Sabbath's place as a successful Heavy Rock band.

Elton John's album 'Honkey Chateau' - another great album that just missed out on my personal top 20 for 1972, but showed the developing excellence of the Elton John - Bernie Taupin song writing partnership, which would be showcased to full effect in 1973... (But that's for another article... : )

SINGLES

I put a lot of emphasis on the UK Glam Rock output - and the T.Rex v. Slade rivalry, as that was very important and significant to me at the time.

But, as with the albums, what a year...

Don McLean managed the seemingly impossible, by following-up the all-time classic single 'American Pie' with another classic - and an even bigger hit - 'Vincent'.

Elvis Presley pitched-in for 'the Old Guard' with the release of a single that would become one of his standards - the uplifting American Folky ballad 'American Trilogy'.

Soft / Folky / Country Rock was big, with debuts for America, with 'Horse With No Name', and The Eagles, with 'Take It Easy'...

So much to say about this fabulous year in music - I could write and write all day...

But I'll leave you folks to pore over my ramblings - and add your own thoughts and opinions in the comments below - thanks...

TOP 20s

Every year I review it gets harder and harder to pick top 20 lists of albums and singles - 1972 continues that curve...  But here goes - in no particular order -and just my choice - which is no more or less valid than anyone else's choice...  (M).

TOP 20 ALBUMS

1. 'Close To The Edge' Yes

2. 'Volume 4' Black Sabbath

3. 'Never A Dull Moment' Rod Stewart

4. 'The Slider' T.Rex

5. 'The Eagles' The Eagles

6. 'Slayed?' Slade

7. 'Trilogy' Emerson, Lake and Palmer

8. 'School's Out' Alice Cooper

9. 'Ziggy Stardust' David Bowie

10. 'Can't Buy A Thrill' Steely Dan

11. 'Demons And Wizards' Uriah Heep

12. 'Argus' Wishbone Ash

13. 'Machine Head' Deep Purple

14. 'Exile On Main Street' The Rolling Stones

15. 'Honky Chateau' Elton John

16. 'Flying High Together' Smokey Robinson And The Miracles

17. 'Thick As A Brick' Jethro Tull

18. 'Made In Japan' Deep Purple

19. 'Talking Book' Stevie Wonder

20. 'Foxtrot' Genesis

TOP 20 SINGLES

1. 'Telegram Sam' T.Rex

2. 'Mamma Weer All Crazee Now' Slade

3. 'Metal Guru' T.Rex

4. 'Tak Me Back 'Ome' Slade

5. 'Run, Run, Run' Jo Jo Gunne

6. 'Easy Living' Uriah Heep

7. 'You Wear It Well' Rod Stewart

8. 'Rocket Man' Elton John

9. 'Jean Genie' David Bowie

10. 'School's Out' Alice Cooper

11. 'You're So Vain' Carly Simon

12. 'Vincent' Don McLean

13. 'Ballpark Incident' Wizzard

14. 'A Horse With No Name' America

15. 'Son Of My Father' Chicory Tip

16. 'Stone In Love With You' The Stylistics

17. 'American Trilogy' Elvis Presley

18.  'All The Young Dudes' Mott The Hoople'

19. 'Crazy Horses' The Osmonds

20. 'Take It Easy' The Eagles

(I found the pictures used in this collage online. My acknowledgement and thanks to the various people who posted them / own them (identity unknown to me) ) (M).

Textual content:
©Copyright MLM Arts 10. 08. 2023. Edited and re-posted: 31. 08. 2023

1972: JUNE. A REVIEW OF A PINK FLOYD GIG AT THE BRIGHTON DOME by NME's SUE HORNE 😎

This gig features a performance of 'Dark Side Of The Moon' the year before the album was released - but Floyd had been playing it live through 1972... 😮

This is another newspaper / music paper archive clipping that's an invaluable historical document for the recording of the history of this era.

It's a 1972 review of a Pink Floyd gig, by New Musical Express (NME) journalist, Sue Horne.

Sue is quite clearly a Floyd fan, and she enthusiastically describes the event - raving in particularly over the new and as yet unreleased material on the album  'Dark Side Of The Moon'.

(I found this image online. My acknowledgement and thanks to whoever posted it / owns it; and also to The New Musical Express, and to Sue Horne. 🙂)   (M).

Textual content: © Copyright MLM Arts. 27. 08.  2023. Edited and re-posted: 10. 11. 2023 

THE MUSIC OF 1973

I tell you right now - this task of choosing a top 20 albums and a top 20 singles list for every year has been tougher and tougher each year, since about 1967... And yes, 1973 gave no let up: it's has been the toughest yet... 

But in a good way... 

I have to admit, that for the singles charts I've been swayed by the fact that Glam Rock was important to me - and 1973 was the very peak of Glam Rock... 

But then again, 1973 was a pivotal year for me too: because it was also the year that I began to edge away from Glam Rock and singles chart music - and into more heavy, serious sounds - and thinking about life...  The albums that I've chosen reflect that... 

SINGLES

Glam Rock... Slade's year for winning the unofficial 'battle of the bands' against Glam Rock founders, T. Rex, to become Kings of the Glam Rock genre. 

Slade had three number 1 UK singles in 1973, all if which entered the charts at numbers 1. 

But there were other Glam Rock biggies - not least Roy Wood's Wizzard - with two numbers 1s and a top 5. 

Suzi Quatro also scored two Glam Rock number 1s, including 'Can The Can' (which makes it on to my singles list. Sweet had one number 1 - 'Blockbuster', and a couple of number 2 hits. And we had other Glam Rockers making a top 10 impact.

T.Rex (a special mention here), although not reaching number 1, had a couple of top 5s, including my favourite T.Rex single, '20th. Century Boy', which features one of the great Rock power riffs if all-time. 

Yep - 1973 it was the peak Glam Rock singles glory year... 

But I did find room in my singles top 20 for some real classic singles that were not at all Glam Rock... 

And yes, I'm only too well aware of the number of gems that I couldn't fit in... 

ALBUMS

Just as 1973 was the year of Glam Rock in the UK singles charts - so it was the year of Prog. Rock grandeur in the UK albums charts... 

Prog. Rock soared to its most majestic, yes, pompous (but in a good way), expansive display of musical grandeur in 1973... 

Yes released the double album 'Tales From Topographic Oceans': four sides, four epic length tracks - or 'pieces', divided into parts and called 'suites' (all very Classical music influenced) - as this type of track is known in Prog. Rock... 

Pink Floyd released the album that is widely agreed to be the band's masterpiece - 'Dark Side Of The Moon'... 

The Emerson, Lake and Palmer 1973 album 'Brain Salad Surgery' is, I think(?), the album that established and settled the 'ELP sound', and made it distinctly ELP.

Genesis displayed their individually and collectively developing musical ability, with the release of their most musically accomplished and sophisticated album to date, the heavily instrumental 'Selling England By The Pound'.

Rick Wakeman turned his remarkable keyboard and composition talents to a solo project, with the grandiose pomp of the six track (six PIECE) extravaganza, 'The Six Wives Of Henry VIII'.

And a young, struggling Folk Rock musician created a whole new concept in epic length Prog. Rock music making - which was so riskily 'out there' that no record label would touch it... What was needed was another innovative, risk taking young fellow to 'risk the farm' on creating a record label - and putting out the epic 'piece'... 

And so it was that Mike Oldfield and invented Richard Branson... LOL...!  Or something like that... 

Branson had been running a small, but growing, record retail business when he took a punt on the beleaguered young Oldfield and his whacky musical concept, with an 'all chips on the table' gamble, by starting Virgin Records - and putting the album 'Tubular Bells' out as its first release... 

The rest is history: 'Tubular Bells' was received as an innovative breath of air, in an innovation driven music industry - loved by critics and Prog.Rock fans alike. It was a musical phenomenon... 

Alice Cooper (still a band name at this time - not just the lead character) made their really big breakthrough by coming over from the USA to the UK and hybridizing their Gothic Shock-Rock with Glam Rock - and releasing their classic, signature album 'Billion Dollar Babies'... 

Nazareth was a highly respected, back to basics Blues - Rock band that had two modestly selling albums in the back catalogue by 1973, but was looking for the big breakthrough. The band hired Roger Glover - at a loose end, perhaps, after Richie Blackmore had dispensed with his services in Deep Purple - as producer, and put out a gem of a Rocking / Blues album 'Razzananaz', which gave the band that breakthrough.

1973 was a year when all four ex-Beatles released successful albums. Paul McCartney, in fact, released two: 'Red Rose Speedway', and then the first album since 1971 with his band, Wings: 'Band On The Run'.

'Ringo' was Ringo Starr's third album release, but the first one that aimed at commercial success; it had heavy involvement from the other three ex-Beatles - plus a host of other big name musicians, included Glam Rock superstar Marc Bolan.

John Lennon released 'Mind Games' - a album that seemed a bit strained and lacking direction, in my opinion. It was - by Lennon / Beatles standards, moderately successful... 

But the album that was life changing for me, was George Harrison's 'Living In The Material World'. I'd loved the single 'Give Me Love' and I got 'Living In The Material World' as a birthday present. It arrived right on time: I was 15 and looking for thy right questions to ask about life - before even looking for any answers... 

The material world...? What does that mean...? What other kind of world is there...? I asked mysy in my naive, but deeply interested way... From 'Living In The Material World' I had a right question to ask... I was piqued to look deep for answers - and more questions... 'Living In The Material World' attempted to offer me both... 

From there, I gradually moved into deeper, more sophisticated sounds than Glam Rock and I began to find a rich source of philosophical, spiritual, religious, metaphysical, and also social and political stimulation to think - ask more questions - ponder suggested answers.... 

I realise now, that the music of The Golden Era was much more than just entertainment - it was an education; it supplied the deeper education and stimulation to think that ouo formal education did not... 

But before my elevation to serious album music bands and artists, in March 1973 I'd bought the latest T.Rex album, 'Tanx'. I think by that time I was the last bloke T.Rex fan at my high school. I was famous for it. I gained the nickname 'Tanx'... 

David Bowie was one of the few UK Glam Rock bands or artists that could and did comfortably be accepted as both a singles artist and a serious album artist - and make it big in North America.

In 1973 he followed up is breakthrough album, the 1972 Glam Rock concept, 'Ziggy Stardust', with an extension of that theme and character, the album 'Aladdin Sane', which established Bowie as a huge international superstar. It's the album and the image (of Bowie's many images) that is now recognised by many as Bowie's most defining and greatest work... 

1973 was also a fantastic year for live albums. 'Uriah Heep Live' and 'Genesis Live' are two of my favourite live albums.

Led Zeppelin released their first album since 1971, with 'Houses Of The Holy' - which took fans and critics by surprise - to a mixed reception - by yet again extending Zeppelin's musical range, with experimental excursions into Reggae, with 'Dy'er Mak'er', and even into Prog. Rock, with 'No Quarter'... 

In 1973 The Who released a double album that would, as it would transpire, link almost the whole Golden Era music revolution. 'Quadrophenia' is a semi-autobiographical concept album, re-telling the UK Mod phase from the early-mid 1960s: the early years of 'The British Invasion' music phenomenon that changed modern music. In 1979 the album was made into a movie, and a brief revival of Mod culture became popular with thy next wave of teenage youth in the UK. 

Stevie Wonder continued what is now widely recognised as his classic phase of album releases, with the brilliant 'Innervisions' album... 

Some important debuts happened in 1973... Lynyrd Skynyrd, with the cleverly titled '(Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd)' was the start for a band that would be the longhair headbangers guitar powered Heavy / Southern Country Rock dream band... 

One time music journo, London boy Steve Harley, decided that he could do as well or better than the bands and artists that he reported on. He put together a talented Art Rock band, Cockney Rebel - and applied the hugely popular Glam Rock imagine - and released 'The Human Menagerie'... 

Never short of confidence, Harley (I've heard somewhere (?))proclaimed it the best debut album ever released...  The music critics panned it .. 

But maybe that panning was jealousy on the part of his former colleagues...  I personally rate that album very highly. It has that magic ingredient: innovation... 

Cockney Rebel fused Folk Rock, Glam Rock, and Classical music - and had a USP (Unique Selling Point): no lead guitarist; instead, a Folky / Bluegrass style lead violinist... 

The result of all this is a truly remarkable album. It's upbeat and fun in places; it's thoughtful and deep in others; and, in 'Sebastian', and especially 'Death Trip', it has two of the greatest examples of Classical - Rock music fusion... 

WHAT ELSE ABOUT THE MUSIC IF 1973...? 

ALBUM ART... 

By the 1970s album artwork and packaging was a very important part of an albums full value. 1973 had some all-time classic examples... 

Perhaps the most notable would be Floyd's 'less is more' artwork on 'Dark Side Of The Moon': the iconic prism in a plain black background. It became THE symbol of Pink Floyd. 

Similarly, Bowie's lightning flash face symbol on 'Aladdin Sane' - no other symbol says 'Bowie' more than that. 

ELP's 'Brain Salad Surgery' artwork is a complex masterpiece of different styles and opening gatefold structure. 

Alice Cooper's 'Billion Dollar Babies' - a mocking celebration of materialistic values, with its garish snake skin wallet mock-up cover, and a freebie mocked-Up billion dollar banknote. 

The Yes opus, 'Tales From Topographic Oceans' has a typically beautiful Roger Dean design. 

EVENTS... 

Led Zeppelin played what are widely considered to be their pinnacle gig performances: at Madison Square Garden, New York City. The gigs were recorded for the later released live album 'The Song Remains The Same'.

The now internationally famous Sydney Opera House - a rare example of modern architecture getting it wonderfully right - was opened in 1973, with a concert by Australian Opera singer, Kiri Te Kanawa. The venue also hosts other music genres, including Rock... 

Well, that's my take on an astonishing year for Golden Era music. Please do fill in the missing classic singles and albums that I've missed out, by posting your own lists I the comments, Folks. 

Here's my lists of albums and singles (no particular order of preference):

SINGLES

1. 'Skweeze Me Pleeze Me' Slade
2. 'Cum On Feel The Noize' Slade
3. 'Merry Xmas Everybody' Slade
4. 'See My Baby Jive' Wizzard
5. 'Angel Fingers' Wizzard
6. 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday' Wizzard
7. 'Can The Can' Suzi Quatro
8. 'Blockbuster'. Sweet
9. '20th. Century Boy' T.Rex
10. 'Brother Louie' Hot Chocolate
11. 'The Show Must Go On' Leo Sayer
12 . 'Knocking On Heaven's Door' Bob Dylan
13 . 'Midnight Train To Georgia' Gladys Knight And The Pips
14 'Superstition' Stevie Wonder
15. 'Living And Let Die' Paul McCartney And Wings
16.'Give Me Love' George Harrison
17. 'Killing Me Softly With His Song' Roberta Flack.
18. 'Frankenstein' Edgar Winter
19. 'Mind Games'. John Lennon
20. 'Rock On' David Essex

ALBUMS

1. 'Ringo'. Ringo Starr
2. 'Mind Games'. John Lennon
3. 'Band On The Run'. Paul McCartney And Wings
4. 'Living In The Material World'. George Harrison
5. 'Tubular Bells'. Mike Oldfield
6. 'Aladdin Sane'. David Bowie
7. 'Dark Side Of The Moon' Pink Floyd
8. 'Tales From Topographic Oceans'. Yes
9. 'Brain Salad Surgery'. Emerson, Lake and Palmer
10. 'Genesis Live'. Genesis
11. 'Uriah Heep Live'. Uriah Heep
12. 'Billion Dollar Babies'. Alice Cooper
13. 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road'. Elton John
14. 'Quadrophenia'. The Who
15.. '(Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd)'. Lynyrd Skynyrd
16. 'The Human Menagerie'. Cockney Rebel
17. 'Razzananaz'. Nazareth
18. 'Tanx'. T.Rex
19. 'Houses Of The Holy'. Led Zeppelin
20.. 'Innervisions'. Stevie Wonder

(M).

Textual content © Copyright MLM Arts 07. 10. 2023. Edited and re-posted: 08. 10. 2023   

1973: JULY 27th., 28th., 29th. : INCONIC LIVE PERFORMANCES: LED ZEPPELIN AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, NYC

There are certain Golden Era gigs and tours that  are particular stand-outs; iconic events that were history making; for some lucky people, 'I was there...!' bragging rights.

Examples being: The Beatles at Shea Stadium, 1966 (OK - any Beatles gig really... ); Woodstock (of course);  The Rolling Stones free gig at Hyde Park, London, 1969;  Yes tour with Donovan as support, 1977;  Led Zeppelin at Earle's Court, London, 1975...

And Led Zeppelin at Madison Square Garden 1973 is another example - a very significant example: it's probably the most iconic and celebrated aeries of gigs that Led Zeppelin performed - and, of course, the live double album 'The Song Remains The Same' (released in 1976) was recorded during these gigs.*

(*Actually, due to technical faults some of it had to be re-shot in London at a studio mock-up of Madison Square Garden).

This is a poster if the event (these tour posters are themselves  iconic, collectible items).

(I found this image online (and slightly edited it).. My acknowledgement and thanks to whoever posted it / owns it (identity unknown to me).

Textual content: © Copyright: MLM Arts 03. 10. 2023. Edited and re-posted: 04. 10. 2023

1973: MELODY MAKER READERS' POLL

(British Section (top) and International Section (Underneath)

The discerning views of the readers of the UK music paper Melody Maker - concerning the best in music for our current year in focus: 1973... 

And at last..! A year where the readers' poll is meaty and muscular: not much - if anything - to be a bit cringing about (you know the kind of thing I mean: Dame Vera Lynne (WWII British forces sweetheart) slotted in at number 8 in the 'Best Female Vocalist' section; or Jimmy Osmond in the top 10 'Male Vocalists'...  This kind of thing was happening in UK music paper polls up until the launch of the paper Sounds, in 1970 - which shook the established competition out of its complacency and made them realise that the modern, 1960s and 1970s music scene was vibrant and innovative, and had moved on - and continued to move on rapidly... 

(No disrespect to Dame Vera, btw (God bless 'er, God love 'er.. ); and Jimmy O is, from all accounts, a very nice guy in his mature years: but you know what I mean in terms of what ya wanna see in this kind of poll... ).

So, let's to it... 

The poll is split between British and International sections: for some reason, British bands and artists get to be counted in both though... 

(A page would appear to be missing from the British section: I can't see the best musicians lists... )

If you look at the write-up on the left of the page, you'll see that Melody Maker itself call this '...a vote for quality in rock...'  I like that... 

No band or artist really dominates - but it's a big year for Yes, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, and Bowie.

Prog. Rock does very well overall... 

A subdued year for Led Zeppelin though - by the band's standards.

'Dark Side Of The Moon' is, unsurprisingly, top album.

And what's this? Jan Akkerman takes the gold as best International Guitarist... 

Glasgow's Maggie Bell (Britain's Janis Joplin, some have said), was often winner of Best British Female Vocalist section - and she's tops again in this; Carly Simon takes the laurels as Best International Female Vocalist... 

I could go on and on making comments about this excellent reflection of what and who was most highly rated in music in 1973 - but I'll leave you folks to pore over it for yourselves... And read what you have to say... 

(M).

Textual content: © Copyright MLM Arts 03. 08. 2019. Edited and re-posted: 28. 08. 2023. Edited and re-posted: 04. 10. 2023

1973: JULY 21st. : GO SET MUSIC PAPER (Australia)

Lately 'Chronicles' has been making a point of looking around the world (outside of the UK / USA comfort zone) for examples of music papers and magazines from The Golden Era.

This one is from Australia: This description rom Wikipedia (for which, my thanks):

'Go-Set was the first Australian pop music newspaper, published weekly from 2 February 1966 to 24 August 1974, and was founded in Melbourne by Phillip Frazer, Peter Raphael and Tony Schauble...'

This particular front cover features a famous / notorious - shocking - headline grabbing picture of Bowie and his guitarist, Mick Ronson, playing live - and  pushing the scandal promo boat out, on the back of an earlier performance of the single 'Starman' on the BBC charts show 'Top of the Pops', during which the media and public outrage was up in arms because the Glam Rock androgynous looking Bowie put his arm around the androgynous looking Ronson.

This was at a time soon after gay sexuality had been decriminalised in the UK and the USA, but under restrictions; and it was still a social stigma.

Glam Rock seemed to capitalise on this situation, by promoting an image and behavior that was suggestive of pushing sexuality boundaries - for promo reasons and mass media attention.

The Bowie - Ronson 'bro-mance' hug caused such a shake - and such massive publicity - that this (I must assume, careful planned and posed photo opportunity...(?)) just about shook the established social sensitivities to their foundations...

... And got Bowie the required publicity attention...

The actual story that goes with the photo is nothing to do with the photo, really. It's a report about another Bowie publicity stunt of genius: announcing that he was going to quit - just at the time - 1973 - when he'd made his big, big break into superstardom, with the masterpiece album 'Aladdin Sane' (released: April 1973)...

It was all hype, of course - but what he did do was to dramatically end the Glam Rock character 'Ziggy Stardust' (of which the character 'Aladdin Sane' was an extension), in an announcement at the gig at The Hammersmith Odeon, on July 3rd. 1973. The popular Idea became, that Bowie's 'quitting' declaration must have referred to the end of his Glam Rock persona...

The other big story is the postponement of Slade's tour of Australia.

But what really grabs my attention (for 'Chronicles' purposes) is the announcement (top right) that the following week the paper will begin a 'pictorial on the history of Rock'...  Now, that's something that I'd like to track down...

Another fascinating and valuable historical document, this. There are a lot of folks from Down Under (Oz and NZ) on 'Chronicles', so I hope this brings back great memories for you all... And for the rest of us, ity another interesting artifact of Golden Era history...

(I found this image on Google Images. My acknowledgement and thanks to whoever posted it /  owns it (identity unknown to me); and of course to the paper Go Set).

Textual content: © Copyright MLM Arts 10. 11. 2023

1973: MAY 8th. : THE ROYAL SOCIETY SEND A LETTER TO A 'MR FLOYD' (addressed to Roger Waters) CLARIFYING THE SCIENTIFIC NATURE OF MONEY...

(The Royal Society originated on November 28, 1660, when 12 men met after a lecture at Gresham College, London, by Christopher Wren (then professor of astronomy at the college) and resolved to set up “a Colledge for the promoting of Physico-Mathematicall Experimentall Learning.” Those present included the scientists ...

(My thanks to Googling - and The Encyclopedia Britannica)).

I've seen this letter posted on a few sites online. It's claimed to be authentic: that The Royal Society really did send this to Roger Waters address, but for the attention of a 'Mr Floyd'...

It is, if course, in response to the Pink Floyd track 'Money', from the album 'Dark Side Of The Moon' (released: March, 1973):

'...Money

It's a gas

Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash...'

I can't confirm if it's genuine... But I HOPE it is... I want it to be...  And I'm putting it down to two motivations:

1. The Royal Society, for all it's deep thinking, po-faced promotion of Science,  Enlightenment thinking, and Rationality - also has a sense of humour...

2. At least one person at The Royal Society way / is a Pink Floyd fan...

This is a great fun archive historical document - whether real or mocked-up, I'd say... 

(I found this image on Google Images. My acknowledgement and thanks to whoever posted it /  owns it (identity unknown to me). )(M).

Textual content: © Copyright MLM Arts 18. 11. 2023

THE MUSIC OF 1974

GENERAL OVERVIEW

A strange year for musc... A mish-mash year... A year that had a feeling of transition about it; looking back, it looks like a year when the creativity and innovation of Golden Era modern musical culture had peaked - and was settling into a kind of comfortable niche... 🤔

After around 15 years of musical cultural revolution - and 10 years since The Beatles and 'The British Invasion' revolutionized modern musical culture - had the musical anti-Establishment revolutionaries become a kind of 'Establishment' in themselves...? 😳

I must be honest, I can't call 1974 a great year - still a year with great points and some great albums - but... too fragmented into a scattering of genres.

The high point and notable achievement, for me, was the peak of Classical - Rock fusion, represented by Rick Wakeman's 'Journey To The Center Of The Earth', and The Electric Light Orchestra's 'Eldorado'.

None of the other, familiar, well-trodden music genre paths particularly shone. It seemed all too samey: innovative styles and genres of past years were being tweaked and re-cycled.

SINGLES

In the UK the Glam Rock phenomenon that originated in 1971 - and gave a boost to a singles charts scene that had been a bit drab in the previous couple of years - peaked in 1973, and faded out in 1974 as its big names looked for new styles and genres to stay fresh and relevant.

Kings of Glam Rock, Slade, released more subtle and sophisticated singles, and the crooning love song 'Everyday' is highly regarded and went top 5. Other Slade releases also charted, but never again would Slade make it to number 1.

ROCK AND ROLL REVIVAL... 🙂

1973 had seen a blending of Glam Rock with Rock and Roll revival: Wizzard, Alvin Stardust, and Mud being successful examples. 1974 saw that coming to prominence. Showaddywaddy; Mud; Alvin Stardust; Wizzard; The Rubettes; and others, had big hits that year.

ABBA arrived... The already successful in Europe Swedish 'Euro Pop' band, ABBA (the initials of their first names: Agnetha; Bjorn, Benny, Anna-Frid) won The Eurovision Song Contest with 'Waterloo': a song that they admitted was inspired by the Wizzard / Roy Wood Glam Rock / Rock and Roll revival sound.

Usually Eurovision Song Contest winners would have a brief flirtation with chart success and then fade away... But in the case of the genuinely talented ABBA, this was the start of a worldwide phenomenon...

But the immediate Pop / teeny bopper worldwide phenomenon - that would go on to dominate 1975 and 1976 - had already been set up for that success in1974: The Bay City Rollers and 'Rollerrmania'; The Rollers had big hits in the UK in1974, including 'Shang-A-Lang'.

Also similar to the Wizzard sound - kids' TV puppet show favourites, The Wombles, were taken into the charts by genius of producing charting  Pop hits, Mike Batt - including 'Remember You're A Womble'... Don't get on my case, please: that single is on my 20 list for this year: I admit it: I love it - and anyway, this list needs some cheering up.   

Soul, Funk, R'n'B, Motown was big in the UK and world singles charts in 1974 - as it had been in the late 1960s and early 1970s. George McCrae's 'Rock Your Baby' was a massive hit; Barry White wowed lovers of smouldering, seductive Soul love songs with a string of hits; Steve Wonder released a classic social commentary song 'He's Mistra Know It All'; ... and Carl Douglas jumped on the Pop culture craze for all things Kung Fu and released the international big seller 'Kung Fu Fighting'.   

Eric Clapton released his version of the Bob Marley Reggae song 'I Shot The Sheriff'. It gave Clapton his only number 1 hit on the USA.

Clapton's success with 'I Shot The Sheriff' helped to raise the profile of Jamaican Reggae music, and Bob Marley especially.  Reggae - and the band Bob Marley And The Wailers -   had a growing, but still niche, audience in 1974, but in the years that followed Marley would achieve superstore status, and Reggae would become a highly popular music genre.

And, by heck, was this a year for gloomy, dirgey, weepy singles that sold in millions... 🙄 Paper Lace with 'Billy Don't Be A Hero' (also a hit in the USA for another band); Terry Jacks with 'Seasons In The Sun'; Ralph McTell with 'The Streets Of London'.

But on the more positive side (for my tastes), there were some classics - too few - but some:

Queen's breakthrough: 'Seven Seas Of Rhye'; Supertramp's breakthrough: 'Dreamer'; BTO's all-time classic: 'You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet'; Bad Company's debut: 'Can't Get Enough'... 😎

ALBUMS

THE REBELS BECOME THE ESTABLISHMENT...?

Nothing groundbreaking - only what I mentioned before: revisiting what by now were established genres and styles - with a tweak and a twist. 

As I stated above, the high point, for me, would be the peaking and ultimate expression of the Classical - Rock fusion experiment (which originated with The Beatles use of Classical instruments from 1967, and  Deep Purple's 'Concert For Band and Orchestra' (1969)), with The ELO's magnificent 'Eldorado: A Symphony By The Electric Light Orchestra' - which employed a 100 piece symphony orchestra; and Rick Wakeman recording the Classical - Rock orchestral 'Journey To The Center Of The Earth' live at the prestigious Festival Hall on London's South Bank (of the Thames) - London's post-World War II  high cultural hub. 😮

It was an indication of what I suggested: the counter-culture, anti-Establishment revolution that began in the early 1960s was becoming an 'Establishment' in its own way - in part by merging with old Establishment conventions. 

The result, culturally, was good (in my opinion: 'Eldorado' is one of my all-time top 10 albums, and I'm a fan of Rick Wakeman), but socially, and in terms of street level connection with youth and Rock Roll - things were becoming complacent, aloof, comfortable and flabby - it could be argued. I short: modern music was raised to the status of high culture - but rebellious Rock and Roll this was NOT.

In a similar vein - Mott The Hoople became the first Rock band to play a venue in New York City's prestige theatre land - Broadway; another example of Rock music breaking into the Establishment castle. The album 'Mott The Hoople Live' was half Broadway - half Hammersmith Odeon, London. It's a great live album - and the last album released by the band.

PROG.ROCK POMP AND GRANDEUR HAD PEAKED A YEAR EARLIER 

In terms of album music, 1973 had been the peak for the magnificent pomp and grandeur of Prog. Rock... But I can only find a place in my 1974 top 20 for one established Prog. Rock band album... 😳

There were decent albums released in that genre, but nothing groundbreaking; it was all too familiar - so self-satisfied.   

The Prog. Rock album that made my list is 'Relayer', by Yes. It does continue the epic length track formula, but there are a couple of notable differences:

Mainly, Jon Anderson's lyrical style shows clear signs of reining-in the surrealism and abstraction - for a more coherent, narrative style.

Also, for this album only, Swiss keyboards player Patrick Moraz replaced Rick Wakeman, and the result is a subtly distinguishable different feel to be Yes sound. I don't say better (I'm a fan of Rick Wakeman) -  or not as good as: just discernably different, which brought a freshness to this Yes album.   

TECHNO / PROG. / ART /  ROCK MIX AND MATCH 

By 1974 Euro Techno Rock (already popular in West Germany - and known as 'Kraut Rock') was gradually gaining popularity in the UK and to a lesser extent, North America, with bands like Kraftwerk, and Tangerine Dream. The Techno sound was already a familiar element in the music of cult band Hawkwind, but in 1974 American bothers Ron and Russell Mael and their band, Sparks, made it high profile singles chart martial, with 'This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us' - and the album 'Kimono My House'.

The German Techno Rock band Kraftwerk made a big breakthrough for the genre with the international big charting album 'Autobahn'.

Supertramp made their breakthrough in 1974 with the single 'Dreamer' - which had Sparks / Techno feel to it, and the highly acclaimed album 'Crime Of The Century' - which was a mix and match of Prog. / Techno / Art Rock: fresh sounding in itself, but nothing actually new. 

David Bowie put the lid in his Glam Rock image and sound with the release of the album 'Diamond Dogs' - a good album, but not hitting the heights of 'Ziggy Stardust' or 'Aladdin Sane'. In the same year, Bowie made his departure from the Glam Rock scene dramatically clear when he toured as the slick, 1940s Hollywood matinee idol image 'The Thin White Duke' - playing Soul - referred to as 'White Soul' music - including rearranging some of his past classics to that genre. He released the album 'David Live' to complete the transition.

Speakings of 'White Soul' - in 1973 a bunch of Scottish guys from Edinburgh who had to formed  a mostly instrumental Soul band called (with some irony)  The Average White Band, released a debut album called 'Show Your Hand', which was a modertae hit in North America; but in 1974 the band created a worldwide sensation with the follow-up album 'AWB' and the massive hit single 'Pick Up The Pieces'. 

Deep Purple Mk. III was launched, after Ian Gillan was replaced on vocals by the more Bluesy David Coverdale, and Roger Glover was replaced on bass by the more funky Glenn Hughes - Hughes also handled the high range vocal parts when required.

Steve Harley And Cockney Rebel followed released the excellent Art Rock / Psychedelic album 'The Psychomodo' - a nice reinvention of late 1960s sounds, but again, nothing new. 

But a special word for outstanding singer-songwriter Leo Sayer - who'd got the breakthrough in 1973 with the single 'The Show Must Go On', and consolidated and expanded his reputation and public and critical acclaim in 1974, with a string of international hit singles, and the international hit album 'Just A Boy'. Sayer wrote instantly likeable Pop songs, but not throwaways; his lyricism was his true genius, sometimes comparable to Dylan.

Leo Sayer would go in to be hugely successful worldwide through remainder of the 1979s and into the 1980s.

GLAM ROCK'S LAST - AND MOST ENDURING - STAND

In 1974 a bunch of guys in the USA who were inspired by UK Glam Rock - launched the mega-Glam Rock image band, Kiss - right at the time that Glam Rock was fading in the UK... But Kiss had a hard edge to their sound, and can be credited with being one of the bands that began the distinction between Hard / Heavy Rock and its derivative: what became known as Heavy Metal music.

To this day, Kiss carry the banner for Glam Rock - as a kind of brandeas much as a band.   

THE BEST OF 1974 ALBUMS

Besides the above mentioned 'Eldorado', the albums that I rate most highly from 1974 are:

Bad Company's back to Bluesy basics debut album.

Deep Purple Mk. III got more  Bluesy than Deep Purple Mk II, with the album 'Burn'.

The Bachman Turner Overdrive classic, 'Not Fragile': I've suggested in the past that the yitkey may be a playful dig at the pompous grandeur and lofty pretentions of Prog.Rock (with the Yes album title 'Fragile' in mind)...?

Queen's Glam Rock /Heavy Rock / Art Rock album 'Sheer Heart Attack'.

Linda Ronstadt's Folky / Bluesy / Country album 'Heart Like A Wheel'. .

Joni Mitchell's 'Court And Spark'

Cat Stevens (now Yusuf Cat Stevens) continued his deeply moving, inspiring, and thought provoking spiritual search themed albums, with 'Buddha And The Chocolate Box'.

Stevie Wonder continued his rich vein of great album releases with 'Fulfillingness' First Finale'.

The Rolling Stones, perhaps reminding the modern, revolutionary music scene of where its roots are and should remain, released 'It's Only Rock And Roll' - with the single release title track featuring the anthemic chorus:

'...I know it's only Rock and Roll - but I like it...' 😎

And a special mention for a particular favourite if mine: the Wizzard album 'Eddy And The Falcons'. 😎
It's a straight up Rock and Roll revival album - in which Roy Wood plays original songs, but which imitate the voice and music style of Rock and Roll legends like Elvis Presley, Neil Sedaka, Gene Vincent, etc. It's a brilliant concept - and I thoroughly recommend it. 😎

CONCLUSION

Well, it's as I said 1974 - in my opinion - a strange, fragmented, transitional - seemingly directionless - mish-mash  year of this and that; nothing really new; highs and lows... Some greats but too few...  🤔

But then again, that's just me. For some, 1974 might be a marvellous year for music - and their opinion is every bit as valid as mine or anyone else's... 🙂

TOP 20 SINGLES AND ALBUMS (allowing for various considerations - not just my own tastes. No particular order):

SINGLES

1. 'Tiger Feet' Mud
2. 'Hey Rock And Roll' Showaddywaddy
3. 'You're My First, My Last...' Barry White
3. 'Kung Fu Fighting'. Carl Douglas
4. 'Remember You're A Womble' The Wombles
5. 'Dreamer' Supertramp
6. You Ain't Seen Nothin'Yet' Bachman Turner Overdrive
7. Seasons In The Sun' Terry Jacks
8. 'Seven Seas Of Rhye' Queen
9. 'You're No Good' Linda Ronstadt
10. 'Waterloo' ABBA
11. 'Hey Rock And Roll' Showaddywaddy
12. 'Judy Teen' Steve Harley And Cockney Rebel
13. 'He's Mistra Know It All' Stevie Wonder
14. 'This Town Ain't Big Enough For The  Both Of Us' Sparks
15. 'Everyday' Slade
16. 'The Man Who Sold The World' Lulu
17. 'Can't Get Enough' Bad Company
18. Shang-A-Lang The Bay City Rollers
19. 'I Shot The Sheriff' Eric Clapton
20.'Rock Your Baby' George McCrae

ALBUMS

1. 'Not Fragile' Bachman Turner Overdrive
2. 'Buddha And The Chocolate Box' Cat Stevens
3. 'Burn' Deep Purple
4. 'Bad Company' Bad Company
5. 'Court And Spark' Joni Mitchell
6. Eddy And The Falcons' Wizzard
7. 'Journey To The Center Of The Earth' Rick Wakeman
8. 'Eldorado' The ELO
9. 'Crime Of The Century' Supertramp
10. 'It's Only Rock And Roll' The Rolling Stones
11. 'Kiss' Kiss
12. 'Sheer Heart Attack' Queen
13. 'Just A Boy' Leo Sayer
14. 'AWB' The Average White Band
15. 'Mott The Hoople Live' Mott The Hoople
16. 'Autobahn' Kraftwerk
17. 'Fulfillingness' First Finale'. Stevie Wonder
18. 'Heart Like A Wheel' Linda Ronstadt
19. 'Relayer' Yes
20. 'David Live' David Bowie

(I found the images for this collage online. My acknowledgement and thanks to whoever posted them / owns them; and of course to the various artists who designed the album art; and to the bands and artists. 🙂)

Textual content: © Copyright MLM Arts 28. 12. 2023. Edited and re-posted: 30. 12. 2023. Edited and re-posted: 31. 12. 2023

1974. FEBRUARY: MY FIRST EVER LIVE GIG:

WIZZARD

THAT FIRST EVER LIVE GIG: AN EXCITING, BUT SCARY RITE OF PASSAGE... 

WIZZARD: THE GLASGOW APOLLO. 1974

Some folks' gig debut stories blow mine away completely. I'm in awe of them. My late, great best buddy, Big D, for example, went along to his first gig with his uncle at the age of 13... It was a YES gig, for crying out loud...! YES...!  I couldn’t get into YES until I started shaving..! LOL...! 

OK, so I'm going to admit that my own first gig experience was not exactly headbangin', serious rockin' cool... And neither was I... LOL... 

But it was great fun and a great experience... 

It was 1974, and I was still at high school, and, although in a transitional phase from Glam Rock to heavy, seroius, sophisticated sounds, I was none-the-less still into Glam Rock - which was considered teeny Bubblegum music in the UK... 

So I was 15 when entered the weird, mystical world of gigging: so me and a guy who was a buddy of mine at the time (about the same age) went to our first gig at the famous and notorious Glasgow Apollo Theatre... 

All we’d ever heard about Rock / Pop gigs described a den of iniquity. 

They were, or so we envisioned, mostly peopled by older, experienced gig goers - as mature as, ooh, 20s maybe (LOL!) - and all about drugs and gyrating head-bangers - some in various states of undress (Eek...! ), and many of them of 'em in a state that I will euphemistically describe as 'far out man...'  - and eager to initiate naïve young freshmen into the 'far out man' state of being... 


Moreover, The Glasgow Apollo (our local venue) was renowned as not only the best, but the wildest audience gig in the UK - by 'serious' Rock bands and fans... 

We were intimidated at the thought  – but going to gigs was something we HAD TO do - in the course of the youth revolution of this era going to gigs was expected; it was a mainstay of the social scene - and that first gig experience had become a recognised rebellious youth Rite of Passage… 

Our debut was a… a… Wizzard gig...  – a Glam Rock / Rocka and Roll revival bopper show LOL!. But hey – to us at that stage the gigging world was an underworld that we’d only heard lurid tales about: to us a Glam Rock gig and a Hawkwind, Grateful Dead or King Crimson (etc.) gig was the same thing..! 

Wizzard was huge in the UK at that time. The band had debuted in January 1973 with a Top 10 single ‘Ballpark Incident’, then scored two Number 1 singles: ‘See My Baby Jive’, and ‘Angel Fingers’, and ended the year with the Top 5 single – and all time Christmas classic – ‘I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday’. But even besides these Wizzard hits, being a Roy Wood band, they played some old Move hits too (me and my buddy were particularly hoping for 'California Man') - so the gig was a sellout..

We arrived right on doors open time at 7.30, unaware that gigs usually featured a support band, and therefore disappointed when the house lights went down at 8.00, and when the stage lights came on we saw that this no-mark band took the stage... 

That was an anti-climax... 

As soon as we arrived we’d sat stiffly and nervously in our seats in the middle of the packed, but as yet not fully filled stalls - edgily looking around us, left and right, expecting unholy sights of zombified dope heads - and some o' that 'states of undress'  ... (LOL!), but wondering why we mostly saw peachy-faced, spotty, doe-eyed youths like ourselves. The hi-jinks revels were yet to happen, clearly. This support act brought no commencement of that drama... 

But there were still lots of empty seats - the 'hardcore' were yet to arrive: that surely explained it... 

The support came and went - and the house lights went up... To reveal ushetettes, with trays draped from their shoulders, selling ice cream... Eh..? This wasn't very 'Hippie Rave-Up'... 

But we thought we'd sussed it out from what we'd heard about gigs: this was the way 'They' got people hooked on dope... 'They' somehow 'got at' the ice cream, and spiked it... Those unscrupulous swine..! LOL! 

As temping as those tasty strawberry or Cornish flavoured confections looked - we prudently avoided the ice cream from fear of spiking… At a bopper Wizzard gig... ROFL..! 

And all the while we kept an eye on those around us who'd been darn fool enough to partake - expecting to witness drooling, rolling eyes, and the slurred proclamation: 'Far out man...'

No such happened... We began to feel like naïve, overwrought, silly wee boys, with wild fanciful ideas ... Fair enough - that's what we were... (LOL! ).

Well, the lights went down again - a huge cheer went up, and everyone got on their feet. We did too - learning the expected behaviour as we went along.

The stage lights came on - and there were our heroes - live and in.person, and playing some well known hit (I can't remember which one). The crowd began clapping along, and so we did too...

And that was how it was for the whole gig - and we soon loosened up and joined in with clapping and singing less mechanically - just going with the flow... 

All the Wizzard hits were played - and some Move classics - including the much hoped for 'California Man' - so a great night was had by all...

That was a very good intro to that gigging ‘nether-world’ – and took away any teenage inhibitions about it...

It was little over a year and quite a few gigs (featuring more serious bands) later, that me and my bro went from that scared, gig debutants beginning, to travelling to London from Glasgow to see Zeppelin (and having to spend a night sleeping rough in London...  )

So there you are, folks - a tale of my dorky intro to gigging - but how it was a great ice-breaker - and a great gig, featuring the legendary Roy Wood - even if it was a teeny Bubblegum music show... 

What are your first gig memories, folks..? 

(Footnote: The graphic that goes with this artice features my own programme from the gig, but the ticket stub is not mine. I seem to recall it's from the personal archive collection of someone that I knew back in the day - so my thanks is to him for that. :)).

(M).

Textual content: ©Copyright: MLM Arts 26. 08. 2017. Edited and re-posted: 08. 08. 2018. Edited and reposted: 14. 10. 2019. Edited and re-posted:26. 01. 2021. Edited and re-posted: 11. 12. 2023. Edited and re-posted: 19. 12. 2023

1974: DECEMBER 28th. : UK TEENY-BOPPER BAND, THE BAY CITY ROLLERS, CLOSE THE YEAR AS COVER STARS ON THE TEENY MUSIC PAPER, RECORD MIRROR... ANNOUNCING THEIR ARRIVAL AS THE NEXT BIG TEENY-BOPPER PHENOMENON 

1974 was the year that the 1971 singles chart bands and artists phenomenon, Glam Rock, faded - as fans got older and more sophisticated, and the successful bands and artists in that genre also moved on: trying out more sophisticated sounds and images... 

So the next surge of teeny-boppers needed a new band or artist to idolise...

In 1971 a UK a bunch of Edinburgh street kids in a band called The Bay City Rollers had a moderate hit with the Rock and Roll / Pop single 'Keep On Dancing'... Then it was back to obscurity...

Then in 1974, with a new lead singer (Les McKeown), and successful promo, The Bay City Rollers had a string of top 10 / top 5 hits in 1974 - just when Glam Rock was waning...

They were packaged in Scottish tartan trimmed baggy trousers, shirts, and scarves - a new image for the teenies (almost all girls) - and, by the end of 1974, they were teeny-bopper music paper cover stars: set to be the next phenomenon for the couple of years... 

And so it proved to be. 1975 saw number 1 singles, big selling albums and the phenomenon 'Rollermania' in the UK... 

In 1976 The Bay City Rollers achieved what no other (post-early 1960s Beatles and British Invasion) UK teeny-bopper band had achieved - and remain the only UK teeny-bopper 'Boy Band' to have achieved this feat: thet became big in the USA too...  Only for a year or two, but it was a big year or two... 

'Rollermania' became global. So global in fact, that it shook up The Kremlin during The Cold War -  - seriously...! The Soviet authorities issued a declaration that The Bay City Rollers were a corrupting influence on western youth... LOL...! 

Mind you, the Soviets said similar about all western youth culture... 

So that's how one aspect of UK music culture closed the year that we are currently reviewing - 1974 - with the teeny-bopper market establishing a replacement for Glam Rock: 'Rollermania'...

Textual content: © Copyright MLM Arts 18. 12. 2023. Edited and re-posted: 19. 12. 2023

Just a little humour, based on the 1974 Carl Douglas single 'Kung Fu Fighting'.             

1974. JUNE 1st. : CHUM (Toronto radio station) SINGLES and ALBUMS CHART   

This is what was charting in the popular Toronto based North American radio station, CHUM, at the beginning of June in the year that we are currently reviewing: 1974... 

I'll say straight off, that the singles and albums charts don't reflec my own particular tastes very accurately, but that's irrelevant to point of recording this history; the point is that they reflect the tastes of a section of the music listening and buying public at a particular time and place during this era.

There are some bands and artists / some singles and albums in these charts that I'm into: Bachman, Turner Overdrive, Cat Stevens, Joni Mitchell, Wings, and some others... 

And even though they may not be my taste in music, there are sounds in there that are quality sounds by excellent bands and artists - and obviously very much other people's tastes. 

As ever, I'll leave this fascinating and valuable historical document for you folks to pore over for yourselves... 

(I found this image online. My acknowledgement and thanks to whoever posted it (CHUM tribute site) / owns it (identity unknown to me), and of course to the CHUM radio station.

Textual content: © Copyright MLM Arts 10. 12. 2023. Edited and re-posted: 19. 12. 2023

1974: MAY 18th. : THE WHO PLAY CHARLTON ATHLETIC FC STADIUM... (with some interesting support... 😮)

If I'd been a fully fledged gig attender (instead of a two gig rookie), I'm pretty sure (irony there... 😏) I'd have tried to get a friend or two interested in going to this... As I was still only 15 though, I probably wouldn't have been able to - not allowed, and not able to fund the adventure (Glasgow to London)...   🙄

Let's see:

The Who
Lou Reed
Humble Pie
Bad Company
Lindisfarne
Maggie Bell... 😮

Any one of them could sell out a good sized venue (say a couple of thousand) on their own in the UK.

Yep. I think a few of us on 'ere would have been interested in that little night out... 😏

Btw, as I'm sure we all realise, the 20p. price shown will be for the programme / magazine - not ticket... 😏

(Only a year later, at the much more mature age of 16 (LOL...! 😅) I went to London with a slightly older - and employed - friend of mine at the time, to see Led Zeppelin. 😎

And in 1976 The Who extended this stadia gig experience (with different, but still big name support) to three: Charlton Athletic (again); Swansea FC stadium in Wales; and Glasgow Celtic FC stadium in Glasgow, Scotland. I was at the Glasgow gig. 🙂)

(I found this image online. My acknowledgement and thanks to whoever posted it / owns it (identity unknown to me. 🙂) (M).

Textual content: © Copyright MLM Arts 8. 12. 2023. Edited and re-posted 29. 12. 2023

Article to follow...

1975: ICONIC CULTURAL EVENTS

Led Zeppelin's Earl's Court 1975 gigs: MAY 17th., 18th., 23rd., 24th., 25th.

Led Zeppelin's Earl's Court 1975 gigs. 

This is another look ahead to our next year in focus: 1975. 

Led Zeppelin at Earl's Court, London: a series  of what were culturally iconic gigs by the band that is recognised as being the biggest, most influential band of the 1970s.

Originally, the band booked the venue for May 23rd., ,24th., and 25th. (the dates shown on this advertisment poster),  but the tickets sold out in hours, so dates were added for May 17th. and 18th.

This cultural event is part the of the reason that Led Zeppelin is one part of my 'Musical Trinity' (my personal most influential bands and artists:  the other two being Marc Bolan (and T.Rex-, and George Harrison).

Led Zeppelin gigs are all major events from this era, and to be able to say 'I saw Zeppelin' is quite a big deal. But there are two Led Zeppelin live events that are among the landmark, iconic gigging events of all time: in the same ballpark as Woodstock, The  Stones at Hyde Park, Beatles at The Hollywood Bowl or Shay Stadium (to name a few others); those two are Madison Square Garden 1973 and Earl's Court 1975...

I may have mentioned a time or two that I was at the last of the 5 Earl's Court gigs... LOL! 

This was the time when large scale arena gigs were really taking off, and were part of the process of establishing the difference between the Star and SUPERSTAR bands and artists, and who, in the still developing modern youth culture, had risen above the rest to achieve arena filling status worldwide - and the status that meant that fans would travel distances to attend a gig: instead of the artist / band having to tour.

Well, no band or artist was bigger than Led Zeppelin  in the 1970s, and with that status reached, in 1975 the band announced eagerly awaited dates in the UK, the first since 1973 - and this time it was to be a major event of fan homage to the demigods of Rock; a pilgrimage to the alter of Zep: all fans who lived beyond the reasonable travel distance to London  would have to travel hundred of miles; book an overnight hotel - or for many, who simply couldn't afford hotel prices in London (like me and my fellow Zep fan), sleep rough on the streets for a night, if necessary - for the experience of congregating in our  thousands to bask in the presence of greatness... The 1975 Led Zeppelin UK gigs experience would not be a tour - but instead would be a series of mega-gigs in London...

Me and a guy I knew at the time (but I haven't known for decades, so I won't mention by name) - who was a few years older than me - and had a job -  had been Zep  fans for a couple of years and were desperate for a tour and a chance to see the band live.

I was 16 and he was 19, just kids really, and our first reaction to the announcement of London only gigs was disappointment: we lived 450 miles away in Glasgow, and had never been anywhere or done anything very adventurous. This was a big ask...

But very soon disappointment gave way to excitement and adventure. This was our chance to see the giants of Rock - our heroes - and have a big, risky adventure to the almost mystical attraction of London too..! We grinned like maniacs, double high-fived and roared YES! WE'RE GOIN'..!

A bit presumptions, as we first had to queue for hours for tickets, and hope that we got a couple... Obviously we did...

I was still a kid at school, but my old associate was working, so he funded the whole adventure...

Then these brilliantly devised ad. posters (shown as the graphic image that goes with this article)  began to appear as double page centre spreads in the music papers. They really had a great psychological effect of heightening the sense of adventure. The Victorian graphics and the depiction of rail lines all heading in one direction - to London - made us feel like adventurers; explorers... pilgrims... And the planning and logistics were all carried out in that exited frame of mind; this was no mere gig, it was an event; a gathering; a pilgrimage - an adventure: our first big adventure in life...

Almost everyday we'd put the pieces together and plan: getting our train tickets; discussing the scary prospect of having to sleep rough on the streets of London for a night after the gig; what to pack; scrutinising London Underground maps, certain that we'd get mixed up in that tangle of multi-coloured spaghetti (we did!) And during each planning and discussion session this poster was spread out between us, emphasising the magnitude of the event and how special it was. It gave us a real sense that we were about to be part of a significant moment in cultural history. Every now and then the thrill of it all just took over and we'd repeat our double high-five and 'YES!' exclamation. 

The ad. campaign image was reproduced on posters, T-shirts and so on, and this ingenious marketing display with its persuasive graphics, which created a sense of Victorian adventure about the while event, and really encouraged fans to want to be a part of it, also turned into a successful merchandising project.

And now, with the passage of time, it has become one of the iconic poster images from the era when modern culture was formed, and an important part of cultural history.

(I found this image online. My acknowledgement and thanks to whoever posted it / owns it (identity unknown to me); and to the music paper that this particular image appeared in: from what I can make out, it looks like the New Musical Express (?) ). (M).

Textual content: ©Copyright: MLM Arts 2016. Edited and re-posted: 24. 05. 2018. Edited and re-posted: 13. 11. 2019. Edited and re-posted: 26. 03. 2024. Edited and re-posted: 27. 03. 2024

1975: AUGUST 23rd. : NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS'S FRONT PAGE SATIRICAL TAKE ON PETER GABRIEL QUITTING GENESIS

Peter Gabriel's decision to quit as lead vocalist, frontman, and costume wearing theatrical performer in Genesis, was announced in the Melody Maker music paper on August 23rd. 1975.

The announcement sent shockwaves through the Genesis fan base - me included. Not long before this announcement, in December 1974, Ian Hunter had quit as leader of Mott The Hoople - and a band that had been growing in success and credibility, nose-dived as a result. Comparisons were drawn... 

I remember at the time, Genesis bass player Mike Rutherford issued a reassuring statement to say that (paraphrasing):

'Genesis hasn't lost an Ian Anderson [of Jethro Tull] type leader...'

By which was meant that, whereas Ian Anderson was the songwriter, singer, and producer - as well as the flamboyant frontman - of Jethro Tull (so much so, that many non-Tull fans referred to Anderson as Jethro Tull - as though that was a solo artist and not a band (something that deeply annoyed Tull fans), Peter Gabriel was did not have the same status in Genesis: songwriting was a team effort.

All the same, Gabriel was such a charismatic figure, that Genesis fans were concerned that the band couldn't survive his departure... 

However, those fears were proven to be groundless, when Genesis played a masterstroke by appointing the 'safe pair of hands', familiar backing (and harmony - and in on the 'Selling England...' track 'More Fool Me', lead vocals) of drummer Phil Collins as replacement lead vocalist; and the outstanding 1976 album, 'A Trick Of The Tail' confirmed that there had been no loss of song writing quality. Genesis soared to new heights of success... 

This is the New Musical Express front page take on Genesis search for a new vocalist -frontman: highlighting Peter Gabriel's charismatic, theatrical costume wearing persona... 

I remember buying this issue of NME. 

(I found this image online. My acknowledgement and thanks to whoever posted it / owns it (identity unknown to me): and if course to The NME. ) (M).

Textual content © Copyright MLM Arts 06. 04. 2024

1975: OCTOBER 3rd. : AN ADVERT FOR UP-COMING GIGS AT THE GLASGOW APOLLO THEATRE: A SNAPSHOT OF THE WEALTH OF GIGS AVAILABLE TO US... 

Here's another snap-shot of a particular time during a particular Golden Era year: this just happens to be 1975... 

This gives an idea of the wealth of gigs we had to choose from back in the day: have a look at who's on the road at this particular time - and these (at the time) were no big deal: great, nowadays legendary bands and artists - but touring routinely...

I'd call 1975 my personal best year for gigs: I saw Bachman Turner Overdrive - supported by Thin Lizzy; the Hawkwind 'Warrior On The Edge Of Time' tour - both are in my all-time top 5 greatest gigs... And... And... a four piece groovy little Beat-group combo from the English Midlands and South East... at a venue in London... the details of which I simply can't recall...  (I say this with a great effort of will - as I'm trying to cut down on mentioning... a certain gig that I was at... ).

And also, I was at a gig by a guy who was at that time already massive in Scotland - but who became big in the UK in 1975 after an appearance on the top BBC TV chat show, Parkinson: Billy Connolly.

Connolly played record run of 13 sellout shows at The Glasgow Apollo Theatre in 1975. I was at one of them... 

None of those gigs that I mentioned above are even billed here... 

On this ticket sales promo, I recall being at the Roxy Music gig; The Baker Gurvitz Army; Argent; Uriah Heep... 

Going to gigs... seeing the greats and legends - while they were still in the process of becoming greats and legends... It was all just part of being young during The Golden Era... 

And it's always a wow to remind ourselves of those ticket prices - which were pretty cheap and affordable - even allowing for inflation between then and now... 

Happy days...  (M).

Textual content: ©Copyright: MLM Arts 23. 08.2019. Edited and re-posted: 12. 09. 2020. Edited and re-posted: 09. 04. 2024. Edited and re-posted: 10. 04. 2024

1975: MAY 31st. : TORONTO'S CHUM RADIO STATION TOP 30 SINGLES and TOP 15 ALBUMS FOR THE WEEK

Not a bad looking albums chart - and a lack lustre, but pleasant enough singles chart from almost in the middle of the year that we are gradually rolling out a review of: 1975... 

1974 had been a disappointing year for music (in my opinion - and many agreed); it was the first dip in quality since 'The British Invasion' of 1964 that set in motion a revolution in modern music.

1975, however (again, in my opinion - I'll be interested in other opinions), did not continue that trend: it saw an upturn in albums quality - not to the previous heights of the early 1970s, but a lot better than 1974. 

The singles output remained a bit stale - too much crooning, Easy Listening, unadventurous chart aiming material - too few stand out classics (with the exception of the totally unique 'Bohemian Rhapsody', by Queen: I know - played to death long ago, but at the time it was such a fresh sounding buzz... )

These charts reflect that, I think. 

The Zeppelin album 'Physical Graffiti', tops the chart - as it did virtually all over the world - and is a candidate for best album of 1975.

At number 2 - Vincent Furnier's fully embracing of the stage character Alice Cooper - instead of being the character in the band called Alice Cooper - was completed by the release of his first solo album as Alice Cooper: 'Welcome To My Nightmare' - an album that pushed the signature horror image that had been the band's unique selling point. This album became and remains a classic among Alice Cooper fans.

The Who's movie soundtrack version of their Rock Opera, 'Tommy' is at number 3: a good adaptation, with an impressive cast - but not as good as the original.

The very pleasant John Denver tops the singles chart with 'Thank God, I'm A Country Boy' - a fun barn dance, yee-ha! Country song.

The rest of the singles chart has a lot of the chart aiming Easy Listening - nothing very demanding (but pleasant enough for all that) singles material. 

As ever, I'll leave you folks to pore over this interesting historical document and decide for yourselves...   (M).

Textual content: ©Copyright: MLM Arts 13. 04. 2024. Edited and re-posted: 14. 04. 2024

1975: GREAT GIGS:

Bachman Turner Overdrive – with Thin Lizzy as support. (1975)

This BTO gig is on my list of top 5 greatest gigs. 

This is also a posting about our current year in focus: 1975... 

1974 had been a big year for Bachman Turner Overdrive: it was the year of the album 'Not Fragile', and the single 'You Ain't Seen Nuthin' Yet'...etc and they were still riding the crest of that wave, which continued their great success in North America - following in from the success of Randy Bachman's previous band, The Guess Who (with Burton Cummings).

During 1975 was effectively still touring the world to promote 'Not Fragile' - and that dovetailed into the promo of their 1975 album 'Four Wheel Drive'.

1975 was BTO's first big tour in the UK.

BTO had never had a big album or single in the UK before the album 'Not Fragile', and the singles 'You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet', and 'Roll On Down The Highway': the huge success of that album and those singles made BTO a huge live attraction...

But... As I said, this was the band's first big UK tour - so they still had to prove themselves live... 

On the back of that album and singles success, the Glasgow Apollo gig was a sell-out (and I must assume that the Manchester and London gigs were too (?)), and BTO must've been arrogantly confident in their ability to blow away an audience (they certainly came across that way in the press!) 'coz they chose Thin Lizzy (who'd already had chart success and had a very strong fan base in the U.K - especially in a very Irish rooted city like Glasgow) as support.

Lizzy were great, and their devoted fans (some of whom only came to the gig to see Lizzy) roared their approval of the band's set. BTO's arrogance and assumption that they could ‘boss’ any audience was going to be darned hard to deliver on in this environment: I was not a big Lizzy fan, but I too thought that they’d been great and their many fans in the audience were calling for MORE when they went off… And made an encore for Thin Lizzy a must (which was unusual for a support band or artist.)

I feared an Apollo mauling for the BTO – who, as I said previously, had yet to prove themselves there as they’d never appeared at the venue before – if they could not live up to their own hype…

As it turned out, the band’s super-confidence was well founded, coz they DID still manage to own the night – and dazzlingly outshine that great Thin Lizzy performance. They took the notoriously hard to please - and 'playfully savage' (as a member of Def Leppard called them) - Glasgow Apollo crowd by storm.

The house lights went down and we pensively watched the darkened stage as the silhouetted figures of BTO took up their positions... Suddenly the stage lighting flooded the stage in bright illumination and, unexpectedly, the band opened with a biggie: the recent hit single ‘Roll On Down the Highway’ from 'Not Fragile'; usually band’s keep their big-bombs until later, but this 'get 'em going from the start' ploy was a great strategy, as the Apollo mob were on their feet and cheering, singing, clapping, stamping and head banging from the off – and it worked - the mob was won over from the start - and on-side with the band for night of hard ROCKIN'..!

Other BTO standards followed, such as the gut-wrenching, growling, 'hard- rockin'-man-in-pain' love song 'Sledge Hammer' (what other 'love and loss' song sounds so emotionally macho..?!); 'Welcome Home' and 'Not Fragile'. The new album 'Four Wheel Drive' featured well, with instantly likeable head-bangers like 'She's Keepin' Time', 'Don't Let The Blues Get You Down' and 'The Lowland Fling' (a cheeky, rockin' take on traditional Scottish Folk culture - which went down particularly well..!)

This gig kept everyone on their feet - and was high energy, good time Rock'n'Roll. Right up to the finale - ‘You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet’ - and the encore - 'Takin' Care of Business' - it was a non-stop head-banging crazy night of full - on Heavy Rockin'... One of my top 5 gigs ever, and a candidate for best.

(I found this image online. My acknowledgement and thanks to whoever posted it/ owns it (identity unknown to me.) (M).

Besides tracks from the latest BTO album release, 'Four Wheel Drive', here's a list of some of the other tracks - BTO classics - that the band played that night (my thanks to setlist.fm):

Setlist

Roll On Down the Highway
Give It Time
Sledgehammer
Let It Ride
Rock Is My Life, and This Is My Song
Blue Moanin'
Free Wheelin'
Welcome Home
Not Fragile
You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet

Encore:

Takin' Care of Business
Slow Down Boogie

And here's the Thin Lizzy setlist (my thanks to setlist.fm):

Setlist

Fighting My Way Back
It's Only Money
King's Vengeance
Still in Love With You
Showdown
Suicide
Rosalie
(Bob Seger cover)
The Rocker
Sha La La

Encore:

Baby Drives Me Crazy
Me and the Boys

Textual content:

©Copyright MLM Arts 05. 06. 2015. Edited and re-posted: 19. 12. 2019. Edited and re-posted: 24. 04. 2024. Edited and re-posted: 02. 05. 2024

THE MUSIC OF 1976

1976 really surprised me. In my mind I always thought of it as a poor year for music - with established bands and artists putting out shoddy, lazy work - and Punk and Disco on the rise. 

But on researching, I discovered a truly great year for both albums and singles. 

'The musical times they were a-changing' (to paraphrase Bob D) - 1976 was the start of that; but the 'old guard' was still going strong. 

Disco was starting to break big in 1976. ABBA's 'Dancing Queen' was an example of a taste of what was to come from the Disco genre.

In the UK, Punk was emerging, and The Sex Pistols made their first waves - and set the tone for the UK Punk phenomenon, with the single 'Anarchy In The UK'.

In the USA, The Ramones debuted - they're reckoned to be Punk, but there was a lot of fun lightweight Rock about them. 

I should probably have one of The Sex Pistols singles in my list of 20 singles, but I've chosen 'Blitzkrieg Bop' to represent the advent of Punk in 1976 - because I like that single. 

Also pushing more and more centre stage was Techno Rock. Jean Michel Jarre debuted with 'Oxygene': that album and the follow-up 'Equinox' are, for me, the peak of the Techno Rock genre.

Also debuting in 1976, was a band in the (by this time) established style of Rock - in this case, I'll say Soft Rock - Boston. Boston's eponymously titled debut album got a wow! response from critics and music fans alike. The single 'More Than A Feeling' is regarded as a classic from the Classic Rock era. 

A personal preference mention here for the debut album by what I'll call a 'small scale supergroup': Widowmaker was comprised of members from moderately successful, highly respected bands. The band's debut album, 'Widowmaker', got nowhere - but that's a tragedy, because it really is a brilliant, back to basics Rock album; it's on my list of 20. 

THE 'OLD GUARD' 

Genesis more than survived the fans' uncertainty that arose from the 1975 exit of Peter Gabriel and his replacement on lead vocals by Phil Collins: they raised the bar - and released what is, in my opinion, one of their greatest albums: 'A Trick Of The Tail'. 

George Harrison returned to form after his his previous couple of musical 'doldrums years' and a couple of disappointing albums, with the release of the album '33 1/3' - which is much more confident and up-beat, and has some my favourite George tracks (I comment as a big fan of George Harrison.  )

Included in the set is the satirical track 'This Song' - which is a good natured jab at the plagiarism / copyright infringement court cases that George had been dragged through over the previous couple of years, over a dispute claiming that his song 'My Sweet Lord' was similar to The Chiffons' 'He's So Fine'. 'This Song' showed that George's well known and much loved sense of humour had returned along with his back on form music making. 

Dylan released what is, for me, his greatest album - an album that's in my personal all-time top 10: 'Desire': with the brilliant musical composition of Jacques Levy complementing and enhancing Dylan's lyrics and vocal delivery. 

Between 1975 and 1976 the band Yes took a hiatus from recording as a band to record as solo artists - and then to regroup in 1977, with the excellent 'one album stand-in' keyboard player, Patrick Moraz, bowing out for the reintroduction of Yes legend Rick Wakeman.

From the Yes solo work released in 1976, for me the pick was the wonderful concept album 'Olias Of Sunhillow', by frontman Jon Anderson. 

Stevie Wonder continued his rich vein of top quality album releases, with 'Songs In The Key Of Life'. 

Besides these standouts, the Classic Rock 'old guard' released some fine, solid quality albums - some of which are also on my top 20 list. 

I made a list of 20 albums (a mix of personal taste, accepted classics, and music that was important to the year) - and as usual there are many great albums that I could have had on the list - but I'm restricted to the 20... 

SINGLES

By 1976 I wasn't a big singles buyer - I'd gone all sniffy and musically sophisticated about my music - and my regard for the singles charts: in the UK, from around the early 1970s up to the late 1970s a dichotomy had been established between serious album bands and artists and bubble-gum singles bands and artists (a few could live in both camps, but only a very few).

So my list is more a reflection of what was big and significant that year. It was quite a mix of genres. 

Like I've mentioned, Punk was beginning to make waves - and I've picked The Ramones to represent that - but acknowledgment to The Sex Pistols, of course. 

Disco is in there, with ABBA and 'Dancing Queen'; Jean Michel Jarre's symphonic 'Oxygene Part IV' is a beautiful example of Techno Rock done well; The Four Seasons keep the 'old, old guard' in the picture with the irresistibly likeable 'Oh What A Night'... 

Etc... Have a look at what I've listed - it is of course guaranteed that absolutely no-one will 100% agree with my lists - more likely there will be some who 100% disagree () - but as always, my list is no more or less valid than anyone else's - do please add your own favourites. 

GREAT GIGS

This is the second year of including great gigs that I attended - with a top 6.

Wow - The Stones, The Who (stadium gig, with support from: Widowmaker; The Streetwalkers; Little Feat; The Outlaws; and The Sensational Alex Harvey Band) - Elton John: three of the giants from the classical era of modern music; plus my only T. Rex gig - and as Marc Bolan is one of my three most influential music artists, that meant a lot to me; plus Rick Wakeman - a magnificent gig by one of my favourite artists (with his English Rock Ensemble band); and 4 man Genesis - taking the UK by storm with the Genesis re-launch - all seen live in the same year... 

WHAT ELSE IN MUSIC...?

Well, The Beatles feud surfaced again, with a subtle - or not so subtle  - response by Paul McCartney to John Lennon's dig against him that he (paraphrasing) only writes silly love songs. Paul's response was to write the song 'Silly Love Songs' - and release it as a single. 

George Harrison took control of his recording output by launching his own label: Dark Horse. The 1976 album '33 1/3' was the debut release on the label.

And The Sex Pistols created a memorable - notorious (though in all fairness, not by their intention) UK TV 'moment', when, on an early evening magazine show, Johnny Rotten swore, but immediately apologised; only for the host, a middle-aged guy (somewhat oily and smarmy - just my opinion) called Reg Grundy, rather than leaving it at that and moving on, chided and urged the band to cuss some more - with the intention of showing them up as crude and vulgar. The Pistols at first refused, but Grundy wouldn't let it go... So the band obliged him. 

The result: the Sex Pistols street cred among Punk generation UK youth soared... And Grundy was sacked... 

LISTS OF ALBUMS AND SINGLES

As I said, my particular list is the usual mix of my own tastes - what was huge generally - and what was significant for the direction of music. 

20 ALBUMS

1. A Trick Of The Tail - Genesis
2. Desire - Dylan
3. Boston - Boston
4. The Year Of The Cat - Al Stewart
5. Frampton Comes Alive - Peter Frampton
6. Wings Over America - Wings
7. Black And Blue - The Rolling Stones
8. Olias Of Sunhillow - Jon Anderson
9. Oxygene - Jean Michel Jarre
10. Songs In The Key Of Life - Stevie Wonder
11. 33 1/3 George Harrison
12. Hejra - Joni Mitchell
13. Hotel California - The Eagles
14. Night Moves - Bob Seger
15. Ramones - Ramones
16. Arrival - ABBA
17. A New World Record - The ELO
18. Station To Station - Bowie
19. Widowmaker - Widowmaker
20. Too Old To Rock And Roll - Jethro Tull

20 SINGLES

1. Show Me The Way - Peter Frampton
2. Silly Love Songs - Wings
3. This Song - George Harrison
4. Money Honey - The Bay City Rollers
5. I Love To Boogie - T. Rex
6. Blitzkrieg Bop - Ramones
7. Oxygene Part IV - Jean Michel Jarre
8. Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry
9. If You Leave Me Now - Chicago
10. 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover - Paul Simon
11. The Year Of The Cat - Al Stewart
12. That's The Way - KC And The Sunshine Band
13. Dancing Queen - ABBA
14. Golden Years - Bowie
15. Fool To Cry - The Rolling Stones
16. Under The Moon Of Love - Showaddywaddy
17. The Boys Are Back In Town - Thin Lizzy
18. Let Your Love Flow - The Bellamy Brothers
19. Hotel California - The Eagles
20. Oh What A Night - The Four Season's

(I found the images in this collage online. My acknowledgment and thanks to all connected to them. ). (M).

Textual content © Copyright MLM Arts 07. 11. 2024. Edited and re-posted: 08. 11. 2024 

1976; JUNE 5th.: ICONIC GIG:

THE WHO (plus guests). Celtic Park, Glasgow (U.K stadia tour 1976).

This is definitely one of my top 5 gigs - in fact, I'm inclined to say it's all-time number 1 top gig. 

I was never much of fan of The Who on record (didn't dislike - just not a big fan), and me, my older bro, and a bunch of my buddies, all bought tickets and went to the gig - because, well, it was The Who - gotta see The Who, right..? 

I was not disappointed – it turned out the band was BRILLIANT live - every bit as good as their reputation as a live band... And, yes- to say we saw Keith Moon is a heck of a thing for the archives. 

This was their stadia tour (at: Charlton Football Club (London), Swansea Football Club (Wales), and Celtic Football Club (Glasgow)). A whole bunch of us went to the hig, and we got really close to the stage... 

The support was:

Widowmaker (Great band, very under rated. A quality line-up led by ex - Mott The Hoople and Spooky Tooth axeman Ariel Bender; also including ex - Love Affair vocalist Steve Ellis, ex-Hawkwind guitarist Huw Lloyd Langton and future Rainbow bassist Bob Daisly. Their debut album is a gem of simple, back to basics Rock. (See our 'Hidden Treasures' albums section)

The Streetwalkers (featuring the great Roger Chapman (ex- Family) on vocals); dunno why, but they really bombed with the Glasgow crowd. It ended in a slagging match and Chappo saying that he hoped it rained. Unfortunately for his band it actually did rain, if I recall correctly: bottles, cans and other objects… It wasn’t wise to get on the wrong side of the Glasgow Apollo ‘mob’: if they didn’t like you, it was best to just suck up the booing and exit quietly at the end of the set…

The Outlaws: After The Streetwalkers' showing, The Outlaws played it shrewd - during their set they pitched full bottles of whiskey into the crowd (carefully - underarm throw!) to get them on side! They got a good reception...

I wasn't a fan of Country Rock at the time (I am now, and have been for years), so I didn't. 'get' The Outlaws at this gig. As a fan of the genre now, I'd really enjoy the band live - but at the time, their performance passed me by... I now have the feeling that I missed something... 

Side note on The Outlaws though: my old mate Big D nearly got us all into a maul by laughingly heckling them as 'cowboys'. Some BIG dudes standing behind him (err, wearing Stetson hats: bit of a clue as to who they were there to see...) - took offence at Big Ds ribaldry... We just kinda ambled (or maybe to appease the 'posse', we possibly 'moseyed') away - and a bit closer to the stage to keep it cool. (Win-win: we got away from the angry ‘Yeeh-ha!’ cowboy posse - and also got even closer to the stage - very close, in fact...) 

Little Feat - came and went, and I didn't know what to make of 'em... That's not a criticism of them - I just didn't know any of their work...

Second top billing went to Glasgow's own Sensational Alex Harvey Band. I was not a fan - but they had a reputation for being great 'live'. I'm glad to say that I wasn't disappointed: they were brilliant at this gig...

Then The Who... Absolutely outstanding.  If ever a band lived up to their big name reputation 'live' it's them. Fantastic 100% entertainment value: sound, musicianship, vocals, lighting, lasers and all that went into The Who's performance - superb...; 

Keith Moon was thrashing away in his inimitable showman drummer way (so glad I was Moonie live: he'd, tragically, be lost to us in 1978 )

John - Ox- Entwhistle was his always reliable, towering giant, solid, stoic, dependable powerhouse in the engine room self: not showy - but charismatic just by his presence on stage. 

Roger Daltrey all energy and activity, with Rock power vocals - but subtle and emotional when required. 

And Pete Townsend leapt, strutted, spun his arm in his trademark windmill style - and never missed a note (at least, not that we noticed). 

I'm going to add a real stand out 'moment' from the gig: one that may be the most memorable gig 'moment' that I've ever had:

Lasers were new additions to Rock gigs at that time. The very first time I'd seen lasers used was Led Zeppelin at Earl's Court in May 1975 - but they were very basic: three beams of light. At this Who gig they're were used 'next level' - and in wonderful coordination with the music.

It was the dramatic, almost Gregorian chant-like 'See Me, Feel Me'* from the album 'Tommy'. As Daltey stood centre stage, chanting out emotional lyrics, a hazy smoke went up from the stage - and then suddenly, lasers shot up into the darkening sky - and fanned out, like some ethereal clam shell, right across the Glasgow sky above... 

That image - so completely in harmony with the song, the vocals, and the music - it indelibly etched in my memory... 

(*I note that 'See Me Feel Me' is not on the set list below - but I could swear that by my recollection that's what was being played during the above mentioned 'moment'. If it so happens that I am mistaken about the track being played (which is possible), then, all the same, the visual effects that I described are accurate... )

All that: The Who personas and stage craft - the musicianship - and over a decade of some of the best music from The Golden Era - presented just the way that we expected - no disappointment. Wow...! 

A WONDERFUL DAY CONTINUED - WITH A WHACKY JOURNEY BACK HOME 

The journey home just added to a great day out… the bunch that I was with (myself, Big D, and a couple of others) ran into another bunch of guys that we knew. One of them had passed his driving test the week before and, being a rich kid, his dad had bought him a Volvo Estate (station wagon..?) – second hand, maybe, but all the same, a LOT of motor. So he agreed to shoe-horn us all in and drive us home after the gig. What a journey…

I don’t know exactly how many of us were squeezed into that car, but I considered contacting the Guinness Book of World Records… 

The distance home was only about 20 miles or so and should have taken maybe an hour - or two at the very most, all things considered. In the end we rolled back into our hometown at about 3am – via Glasgow Docklands (nowhere near it…) various Glasgow backstreets – and a tour of some small towns and villages between Glasgow and our town. This was not intentional: our driver didn’t have a clue and neither did we… But we somehow got there in the end. Not that we were complaining - it was a blast: a laugh a minute! It was like one big game of Twister inside the car – and passers-by got the benefit of our wit and wisdom as we drove past… Though (err...  ) - they may not have appreciated all of it… LOL! 

(Footnote: the pictures in this graphic are from Google images. My acknowledgement and thanks to who ever took these pictures).

(M).

Here's The Who's setlist (acknowledgment and thanks to setlist.fm):

I Can't Explain
Substitute
My Wife
Baba O'Riley
Squeeze Box
Behind Blue Eyes
Dreaming From the Waist
Magic Bus
Amazing Journey
Sparks
The Acid Queen
Fiddle About
Pinball Wizard
I'm Free
Tommy's Holiday Camp
We're Not Gonna Take It
Summertime Blues
(Eddie Cochran cover)
My Generation
Join Together
My Generation Blues
Won't Get Fooled Again

Textual content:
©Copyright MLM Arts 05. 02. 2015. Edited and re-posted: 20. 03. 2018. Edited and re-posted: 01. 91. 2020. Edited and re-posted: 07. 01. 2021. Edited and re-posted: 09. 01. 2022. Edited and re-posted: 28. 08. 2024. Edited and re-posted: 29. 08. 2024

1976: GENESISTERIA: THE 4 MAN GENESIS PROMO LAUNCH CAMPAIGN.

Genesisteria: A Trick of the Tail album and tour promo campaign (1976).

Do you remember Genesisteria??? I do. It was the brilliant P.R marketing campaign to back Genesis' nervous return after the trauma of Peter Gabriel’s departure in 1975.

Genesis fans (I was one of them…) had spent the time between Gabriel quitting and the release of ‘A Trick of the Tail’ mulling and worrying; debating and musing; fearing a disaster – dreading a possible ‘Mott The Hoople’ – after Ian Hunter quit. We did not expect Genesis to emerge from the loss of Gabriel with their credibility and creative force still intact, to be honest (at least none that I knew did).

The band made reassuring statements about Genesis not having lost an ‘Ian Anderson [Jethro Tull leader] type leader’, and tried to play down Gabriel’s departure.

As time went on we were fed reports in the music press about this or that guy being auditioned (unknowns all of them), and we dreaded the day that an appointment was announced, and some well-meaning wannabe was thrust to the front and centre of the band – to replace the vocalised  essence of the sound of Genesis’ 'soul' with some hollow imposter alternative… It was not going to go well this…

Then… the band played a blinder, and pulled a surprise out of the hat – yet, once announced, it seemed so obvious a thing to do – Phil Collins was brought from behind the drums to simply take on the lead vocal role that he had filled a time or two in the past anyway – and besides, he had always supplied backing vocals which blended so beautifully with Gabriel’s lead vocals when required… The vocal soul of Genesis remained true - safe and familiar…

The album: ‘A Trick of the Tail’ was a quality piece of work: a slightly lighter-weight sound – only slightly – but still totally recognisable as the highly accomplished Prog. Rock that we were used to. The lyrics were still high quality (I sometimes wonder if some of the songs were written with Gabriel before he quit…??? – Just a debating point…). But would the fans be convinced? Was Peter Gabriel too big a miss? Would they buy a few copies of the album out of curiosity, and nudge it into the lower Top 20, and half fill venues for the tour, for old time’s sake – then Genesis slowly fade from memory..? It must have been thought – feared - possible…

P.R magic to the rescue..! The poster is a masterpiece of P.R for overcoming that possibility: it reminds Genesis fans that this is STILL Genesis: the Genesis of ‘The Knife’; ‘Selling England By The Pound’; Foxtrot – and the rest. And notice! Steve Hackett’s debut solo album (‘Voyage of the Acolyte’; released whilst he was still in the band) is also featured! – Not for nothing, I’d venture: it says to everyone that this is a band of individually skilled musicians and song writers: not reliant upon any one member. Notice too where ‘The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway’ (Gabriel’s ‘baby’) is placed – very understated; and the image of its central character, Rael, is in the forefront – but appearing to gaze up at the album ‘A Trick of the Tail’; again – from what I know of P.R - I’d say that this was not done by chance…

I don’t need to tell you that this marketing campaign was a sensational success – and ensured the success of the ‘A Trick of the Tail’ album and tour – and the continued success of Genesis…

It was not only a great P.R campaign; it also produced one of the great posters of the era, in my opinion. I had one of these… (Oh – how many times have I said that since I started doing this page..? (Siiiggghhh…) I HAD one of (this or that…) Wish I still did… (Sniff…))

For me and my buddies, back in the day in was a major coup to swipe a tour promo poster from the foyer of the Glasgow Apollo Theatre.  As long as it was one the day of the gig (and therefore the promo was going to be replaced anyhow) staff would likely turn a blind eye...  - I think that's where I came by this one...(???)

Ifound this image online. Myacknowledgement and thanks to whoever posted it / own it (identity unknown to me).) (M).

Textual content ©Copyright MLM Arts 12. 03. 2015. Edited and re-posted: 14. 08. 2018. Edited and re-posted: 15. 10. 2024. Edited and re-posted: 16. 10. 2024

THE MUSIC OF 1967

1967 – The Summer Of Love, and the year that The Beatles did again what they had done when they ‘arrived’ in 1962: reinvented Pop / Rock music – this time with the release of the album ‘Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’. The Hippie and Psychedelic scene was ‘out there’, and the music of that year reflected that. Indian and ‘New Age’ cultural and philosophical influences combined with experimental drug use to produce music and artwork that was often abstract and surreal.

The Beatles used Classical instruments, and also the new and still experimental mellotron on the band's 1967 albums (or E.P / album in the case of 'Magical Mystery Tour'). George Harrison experimented with sitar sounds, and lyrics based on Indian philosophy, in the track ‘Within You, Without You’ on the 'Sergeant Pepper album. The Moody Blues made similar musical experiments and innovation on the ground-breaking 'Days of Future Passed' album; and Procol Harum's song 'A Whiter Shade of Pale' was a clear homage to the Classical composer Bach, musically, and lyrically remains one of the most surrealist / abstract lyrics ever recorded...

The Beatles' ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ album and E.P was a clear indication of how innovative and ground-breaking - even to the extent of being risky, in terms of critical appraisal - 1967 was for creative musical talents of this era. It was the first serious criticism that The Beatles music ever received: they had pushed the boundaries yet again, and even the 'Beatles friendly' critics were not fully prepared for the likes of ‘I Am The Walrus’ and 'Blue Jay Way'… However, personally, ‘Blue Jay Way’ is one of my favourite George Harrison songs..!

This was also the year that The Beatles made history - yet again: this time by broadcasting the specially ‘All You Need is Love’ ‘live’ across the World, by satellite. The song was specially written for that history making satellite broadcast event. 

In a great year for influential debuting bands and artists, 1967 saw debuts for The Doors; The Mamas and the Papas; The Velvet Underground; Procol Harum; Pink Floyd; and Jimi Hendrix.

Pink Floyd’s debut album: ‘Piper at the Gates of Dawn’ was named after the chapter in Kenneth Graham’s classic novel ‘The Wind in the Willows’, in which the animal characters are awe struck and enraptured at sighting the nature god Pan - playing his pipes at dawn. It was very much in tune with the spiritual / mystical search that was part of the youth cultural and social revolution. ‘Piper at the Gates of Dawn’ was their only Sid Barrett led album. Barrett’s experimenting with the drug LSD would cause him to become yet another tragic casualty of the misuse of drugs when his mental health deteriorated.

The Velvet Underground debuted with the album ‘The Velvet Underground and Nico’. The album is laced with references to drug use and other anarchic themes. The cover art was by the recognised doyen of the psychedelic underground art scene – Andy Warhol.

Jim Morrison’s lyrical genius was expressed to great effect in the album ‘The Doors’: ‘Break on Through (To the Other Side)’, and ‘The End’ being songs which were inspired by the search for alternatives to materialist ‘reality’, and in the case of Jim Morrison, I suggest, expressions of his troubled search for something beyond the corporeal.

Procol Harum released their debut album, ‘Procol Harum’. The album originally didn't ocontain the classic single 'Whiter Shade of Pale', but it was added to the album after it's huge success. It's a song which, it is said, very much impressed and influenced Jim Morrison and John Lennon, who read hallucinogenic and ‘other worldly’ influences into the surreal, abstract and enigmatic lyrics: lyrics which remain among the most debated and analysed lyrics in modern music culture…

(The music in the song is widely acknowledged to be inspired by Bach’s "Sleepers, Wake!" and "Air on the G String", but, contrary to popular belief, it does not actually straight-forwardly rip-off those pieces, but is, according to expert analysis, significantly different enough to be considered original – though, perhaps, derivative).

Jimi Hendrix released his outstanding debut album, 'Are You Experienced?', to great critical acclaim.

The Bee Gees made their first chart impact, with the album 'Bee Gees' 1st.' (which was actually not their first, but their third album release), and the single 'New York Mining Disaster, 1941'.

Soul / R ‘N’ B legend Aretha Franklin released her brilliant ‘I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You’ album, which included the classic song ‘Respect’.

The Moody Blues reinvented themselves, and became one of the pioneers of Prog. Rock with the album: ‘Days of Future Past', an album that is widely considered to be the first ever Prog. Rock concept album.

Cream released what I, personally, would consider their best album: Disraeli Gears.

With the Indian influence on Rock music being so pronounced, I must mention a beautiful album by Indian musicians, which came out that year: ‘Call of the Valley’, by Shiv Kumar Sharma, Harirasad. Chaurasia, Brij Bushan Kabra. It’s one of the best albums of 1967.

The singles charts were equally full of quality in 1967, as I will show in my personal Top 10. (Though one or two of these may raise a few eyebrows..!)

My Top 10 albums for 1967 (no particular order):

1. Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (The Beatles)
2. Days of Future Past (The Moody Blues)
3. I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (Aretha Franklin)
4. Piper at the Gates of Dawn (Pink Floyd)
5. The Velvet Underground and Nico (The Velvet Underground and Nico)
6. Procol Harum (Procol Harum)
7. Magical Mystery Tour (The Beatles)
8. The Doors (The Doors)
9. Call of the Valley (Shiv Kumar Sharma, Harirasad. Chaurasia, Brij Bushan Kabra)
10. Disraeli Gears (Cream)

My Top 10 singles for 1967 (no particular order):

1. A Whiter Shade of Pale
2. Respect (Aretha Franklin)
3. There is a Mountain (Donovan)
4. Tracks of My Tears (Smokey Robinson)
5. 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy) (Simon and Garfunkel)
6. Silence is Golden (The Tremeloes)
7. All You Need is Love (The Beatles)
8. Ruby Tuesday (The Rolling Stones)
9. Hi Ho Silver Lining (Jeff Beck)
10. Daydream Believer (The Monkees)

As ever – this is just my opinion! – You are all welcome to post your own..!

(I found the images for this collage online. My acknowledgement and thanks to the various people who own these images. :))

(M).

Textual content: ©Copyright MLM Arts 29. 03. 2016. Edited and re-posted: 27. 09. 2017. Edited and re-posted: 28. 12. 2019. Edited and re-posted: 04. 01. 2023

THE MUSIC OF 1968

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 1960s YOUTH SOCIAL AND CUTURAL REVOLUTION

1966 prepared the way for the take-off of what had become the cohesive, unified ideology of the various expressions of youth social and cultural revolution and protest, which came to be referred to collectively (though inaccurately) by the catch-all term ‘Hippie’; 1967 launched it full-on with ‘The Summer of Love’ – and 1968 saw Rock and Pop music fully embrace the themes and ideologies of love, peace and harmony – and the Indian philosophical and cultural influences that played such a major part in informing Hippie and other alternative lifestyles and the youth revolution’s vision for the future of humanity.

THE - GENUINELY - FREE THINKING SEARCH FOR ANSWERS...

Hindu, Buddhist, and ‘New Age’ spiritualist core beliefs, practices and doctrines were featured in significant album and singles releases, such as Procol Harum’s ‘Shine On Brightly’ album, with its epic ‘In Held Twas in I’ suite, including ‘Glimpses of Nirvana’ (etc.); The Moody Blues album ‘In Search of the Lost Chord’ (Aum); The Small Faces album ‘Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake’, with its surrealist, meditative musing in the suite ‘Happiness Stan’; Tyrannosaurus Rex's debut album ‘My People Were Fair’, featuring (what I think is) the first ‘Hari Krishna’ chant on a Western Folk/ Rock/ Pop song: ‘My Inca Love’; The Rock musical ‘Hair’ which was a celebration of the hippie spiritual belief in the dawning of a new astrological age (Aquarius), which was to be an age when love, peace and harmony would replace the 'age' and powers of conflict that ruled the Earth at the time.

CHANGE AND REACTION TO CHANGE

1968 was a powerful year of change and reaction to change. In the midst of this gathering momentum of peace and rejection of conflict, negative forces backlashed in response in ways that were devastatingly destructive. It seemed like the rise of positive energy in the world caused the established negative forces in the world to react in the only way that they knew: with violence and aggression. (Call this spiritual – or call it Einstein’s ‘Cause and Effect’ - either way, 1968 seemed to demonstrate this phenomenon…) Bad things happened in 1968… How did the modern culture of Love, Peace and good vibes respond…??? – Woodstock in 1969: we SHALL overcome…

(But that’s for the ‘Chronicle of 1969’…)

For now, here’s my list of Top 10 albums and singles for 1968 (no particular order):

Albums:

1. The White Album (The Beatles)

2. Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake (The Small Faces)

3. In Gadda Da Vida (Iron Butterfly)

4. The Sounds of India (Ravi Shankar)

5. In Search of the Lost Chord (The Moody Blues)

6. My People Were Fair And Had Sky In Their Hair, But Now They’re Content To Wear Stars On Their Brows (Tyrannosaurus Rex)

7. The Hurdy Gurdy Man (Donovan)

8. Hair (the Musical) (Lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot)

9.. Electric Ladyland (Jimi Hendrix)

10. Shine On Brightly (Procol Harum)

Singles:

1. Sunshine of Your Love Cream (Cream)

2. Son of a Preacher Man (Dusty Springfield)

3. Hey Jude (The Beatles)

4. Lazy Sunday (The Small Faces)

5. Lady Madonna (The Beatles)

6. Do It Again (The Beach Boys)

7. Born To Be Wild (Steppenwolf)

8. Street Fighting Man (The Rolling Stones)

9. On the Road Again (Canned Heat)

10. All Along The Watchtower (Bob Dylan)

Just my person choice – and, of course, it’s not any better or worse a choice than anyone else’s – so feel free to add your own!

(I found the images for this collage online. My acknowledgement and thanks to the various people who own these images. :))

(M).

Textual content:

©Copyright MLM Arts 20. 12. 2013.

Edited and re-posted: 25. 04. 2016. Edited and re-posted: 30. 10. 2017. Edited and re-posted: 12. 01. 2020. Edited and re-posted: 02. 01. 2023. Edited: 07. 01. 2023

A CELEBRATION OF THE 50th. ANNIVERSARY OF THE WOODSTOCK FESTIVAL (August 15th., 16th., 17th., 1969)

The Woodstock Festival (1969). Truly a phenomenon. I'd say it is the centrepiece of the era; it's like the very essence of the 60s, and the 70s that lay ahead, was condensed into this event: three Summer days of celebrating Peace, Love and Music.   

Big D’s account (with edit. By (M)).

1969 for me was a pivotal time as far as music was concerned. The [early 60s] Ferry Cross the Mersey with the Liverpool sound of the Fab Four and the likes had [by the mid 1960s] been put into dry dock. 1969 gave us a new form of transport, as David Bowie blasted us off into space with the stellar hit Space Oddity. Music [which had been evolving throughout the 1960s] was getting a major makeover in more ways than one. Out went the [early 60s] mop top hairstyles and suits in favour of unkempt long hair, cheesecloth shirts, dessert boots and denims, the uniform of The Love Generation. So we cannot mention 1969, without mentioning Woodstock. Billed as an Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music, it was the mother of all concerts. The defining event of the ‘hippie generation’ [‘hippie’ being a convenient ‘catch-all’ term for the various expressions of mid – late 1960s youth culture: Hippies; Heads; Freaks; Children of God; Flower Children etc.]. Here are some statistics from the event.

WOODSTOCK STATS:

Ticket price: $18 in advance, $24 at gate; Tickets sold in advance: about 100,000; Tickets sold at gate: 0; When festival was declared free: noon Aug. 15; Cost of festival: $2.4 million; Total paid to all talent: $180,000; Highest-paid performer: Jimi Hendrix, $32,000; Years it took for promoters to break even: 11; Musical performances: 32; Space at Max Yasgur's farm: 600 acres; Rent Yasgur charged: $75,000; Crowd estimate: 500,000 [Richie Havens is on record as insisting that the crowd totalled around 800, 000 at its most numerous]; Medical cases treated: 5,163

THE GIG:

The initial estimate of 200,000, which was already an unprecedented and incredible number, turned out to be at least 400,000 [up to 800,000], were treated to an amazing array of stars and varied musical styles, whom I am sure we are all familiar with. Personally my highlights were Ritchie Havens (who could forget "Freedom") Janis "Pearl" Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, his rendition of the Star Spangled Banner still gives me goose bumps.

[My Woodstock highlights are: Country Joe and The Fish rousted things up with the in-your-face and tell it as it is anti-war anthem ‘Feels Like I’m Fixin’ To Die Rag’. The Who’s performance was a spectacular, and I pick out ‘See Me, Feel Me’ and ‘I’m Free’ from their 1969 album ‘Tommy’ as highlights. I also love Joan Baez’s very moving and emotionally sincere set, especially ‘Joe Hill’ and ‘Drug Store Truck Driving Man’. Joe Cocker was one of the show stealers as he gave the definitive performance of ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’ as part of his set].

For the entire list the artists that played Woodstock and every song that they performed, cut and paste this link to the excellent page Digital Dream Door: Woodstock 1969 Lineup and Songlist | DigitalDreamDoor.com

Here's to the memory if one if the greatest cultural events in history: the magnificent Woodstock Festival of 1969...       

(M) - with archive material from Big D

(I found this graphic on Google Images. I don't know who it's by, but my acknowledgement and thanks to that talented artist.  (M)).

1969: AN ADVERT FOR THE MUSIC AND WOODSTOCK ARTS FESTIVAL... 

Interesting document, this: it gives a pretty full overview description of the event scheduled for Max Yasgur's farm at Woodstock, New York State... 

(From what I can tell, it's from a publication called 'Ramparts'... )

It's remembered as a music festival, but it was so much more than that - there were many arts and crafts stalls and events to entertain the crowds... 

And I love the 'Hundreds of acres to roam' attractive selling point: away from the stress and strife of city life... 

But dear oh dear...! What about those prices...  $7.00 for each of the days - $13.00 for two days - $18.00 for the whole three days...? Extortionate...! LOL...! 

(I am, of course, being ironic... )

This is another fascinating archive document from back in the day... )

(I found this picture online, my acknowledgement and thanks to whoever posted it (identity unknown to me)... ) (M).