Music Gourmets Presents 60 Years of Great Music - 1974

[Zeeba Neighba]

Lordy, lordy, Miss Claudy! Why it's the next year in the MG's "60 Years of Great Music" series.

Onward to 1974

Here's the rules:

Each Friday, I'll introduce a new year from 1957 through 2016. Each member selects an album released in that year with a few lines (or more) on why you picked it/enjoy it. Your selection does not have to be the most important release or the most admired release of that year (though it certainly can be), simply an album that grabs you and that you really love.

However, once an album is selected by a member, you must choose a different album.

Together we will compile quite the canon of "Great Music" and, who knows, maybe inspire each other to check out some new artists (or to revisit old forgotten classics).

This week - the albums of 1974

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Robin Trower - Bridge of Sighs



An album I recently became acquainted with. Modern stoner/psych rock owes a big debt to this one.

 

[patrikc325]

Supertramp - Crime Of The Century

Who are these men of lust, greed, and glory?
Rip off the masks and let see.
But that's not right - oh no, what's the story?
There's you and there's me!

 

[Markonomicon]

Robin Trower - Bridge of Sighs



An album I recently became acquainted with. Modern stoner/psych rock owes a big debt to this one.

Loved this one since I was a kid.

My dad played it often.

Talk about a POWER trio!

 

[Markonomicon]

My favorite Slade album.

A great record from front to back.

 

[Nickyboy]

Stunning music and well crafted lyrics from Joni. Lots of others that will end up in HMs. but this one is the leader for the year for me.

 

[Mattafett]

Willie Nelson - Phases and Stages

Outlaw country? Willie? Concept album? Yes please!!!

 

[lpfreak1170]

Millie Jackson - Caught Up



Killer soul concept album...side 1 is from the view of the other woman, while side 2 is from the view of the wife.

 

[Postalboy]

Blue Oyster Cult- Secret Treaties
Great album!

 

[LeslieC]

Steely Dan - Pretzel Logic

When I remember 1974, this is the 1st thing that come to mind.

 

[Worm]

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Second Helping

HM (I know I'm supposed to wait, but if I do, I'll forget):

Mountain - Twin Peaks

 

[Ojai Sam]

Joni Mitchell - Miles Of Aisles

This double LP set marked the end of Joni's efforts to achieve pop stardom which peaked with @Nickyboy's fine selection above. The following year, she would launch a new phase in her career with with the inaccessible The Hissing Of Summer Lawns. For this tour, Tom Scott's L.A. Express served as one of the finest road bands on record, driven by the creative guitar of Robben Ford.

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

Grab your undies and gird your loins, its...

Lou Reed - Rock n Roll Animal

Dislcaimer: I've never been a Velvet Underground fan. Some call it artistically understated. I call it a bad singer with a 1-1/4 octave range backed by a band that doesn't care and couldn't play as if they did.

On the other hand there's this album.

I wish I could find the article where I read this, I'd link to it. But the deal was that the promoter of this concert knew that while Lou Reed was becoming a big deal, his understated lyrics and artistically dismal band wouldn't cut it in a big arena-rock setting. And arena rock was where the money was. So whoever that promoter was, figured out to match understated Lou with overblown guitarists Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner and a rhythm section to match. That person (again, lost by my poor memory) figured out the contrast between over-the-top arena guitar work and Lou's understated vocals might just be a winning combo.

And they were right. This album is an adrenaline-infested, air-guitar encouraging masterpiece.

To be honest, my favorite track on this album is The Intro, in which Hunter and Wagner kick ass and take names, and Lou is not yet on stage. But the rest of the album is so anti-Velvet Underground and so much big sound guitar rock that it works for me. Despite my dislike for Lou's VU albums, this album was in heavy rotation in my teen years.

 

[Ojai Sam]

@Old Uncle Toe, gotta admit I mostly share your view of VU. It makes perfect artistic sense that they hung with Warhol. I will check this Lou Reed album out ASAP.

 

[axolotl]

Robin Trower - Bridge of Sighs



An album I recently became acquainted with. Modern stoner/psych rock owes a big debt to this one.

Loved this one since I was a kid.

My dad played it often.

Talk about a POWER trio!

I came to Robin Trower from a completely different angle. Trower, of course, was the guitarist for Procol Harum. For whatever reason, however, he blanched his guitar in mucho fuzz pedal for much of his tenure with, and settled in behind the dual keyboard front of, the band.

On the occasional tune, he would break out and show us glimpses of nirvana of what he could be. "Long Gone Geek," "The Devil Came from Kansas," "Whisky Train," "Simple Sister," "Song for a Dreamer,"and "Poor Mohammed" allowed him, once referred to as Robbie Trower, to branch out more than just a bit. It was obvious he could play. What was not obvious is how or where he could take his playing.

Allusions to Hendrix came upon his first power trio album after his two-year hiatus from PH. That was Twice Removed from Yesterday, and Bridge of Sighs carried the torch further.

Edit: I was mistaken when I mentioned "The Devil Came from Kansas," as a Trower piece. The showpiece for Trower on A Salty Dog is actually "Juicy John Pink."

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Richard and Linda Thompson - I Want to See The Bright Lights Tonight (1974)

Yikes! With my son's surgery this week, completely sidetracked on posting my album choice
Not a real surprise from me for those of you who have seen my posts over the past several years. Was excited to see Richard Thompson in concert this year - he did a few from this one.
My three top albums from this year:
1) I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
2) Gram Parsons - Grievous Angel (sad this one not getting picked)
3) Neil Young - On the Beach (underrated album probably because it was unreleased for so many years)

Still, the nod has to go to Richard and Linda. Great British folk rock album - Linda's voice is just wonderful. Love the title track. Love the whole album!

 

[patrikc325]

HM's

From The Mars Hotel - Grateful Dead

Turn Of The Cards - Renaissance

Feats Don't Fail Me Now - Little Feat

Hero and Heroine - The Strawbs

Sneakin Sally Through The Alley - Robert Palmer

 

[axolotl]

Genesis ~ The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway



I will leapfrog PB to add another primary, non-HM selection.

I cogitated a little too hard-and-long on this, and I might have actually busted my brain in doing so.

I went way down the list and ultimately made it back to here. Yes, a double-album is not usually the way I spend my time.

It was either this or King Crimson, or Jorge Ben, or... oh, never mind... I will just consign those to HM status.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

^
Feel free to leapfrog, Axo

HM's should start Saturday if possible to give any stragglers (this week me) a chance to make their primary selection

That being said, really love that Robert Palmer HM selection

 

[patrikc325]

Grab your undies and gird your loins, its...

Lou Reed - Rock n Roll Animal

Dislcaimer: I've never been a Velvet Underground fan. Some call it artistically understated. I call it a bad singer with a 1-1/4 octave range backed by a band that doesn't care and couldn't play as if they did.

On the other hand there's this album.

I wish I could find the article where I read this, I'd link to it. But the deal was that the promoter of this concert knew that while Lou Reed was becoming a big deal, his understated lyrics and artistically dismal band wouldn't cut it in a big arena-rock setting. And arena rock was where the money was. So whoever that promoter was, figured out to match understated Lou with overblown guitarists Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner and a rhythm section to match. That person (again, lost by my poor memory) figured out the contrast between over-the-top arena guitar work and Lou's understated vocals might just be a winning combo.

And they were right. This album is an adrenaline-infested, air-guitar encouraging masterpiece.

To be honest, my favorite track on this album is The Intro, in which Hunter and Wagner kick ass and take names, and Lou is not yet on stage. But the rest of the album is so anti-Velvet Underground and so much big sound guitar rock that it works for me. Despite my dislike for Lou's VU albums, this album was in heavy rotation in my teen years.