Rock Evolution – The History of Rock & Roll - 1984 - (page 198)

Wow, 1972 is a magnificent year for music isn't it! Even if it's just Yes, Steely Dan, Neil Young it's an amazing year but when you start to put in the Philly Soul and Temptations and the rest it's absolutely spectacular. There's something about the early 70s in particular where the music just fuckin explodes all over the show and most of it is brilliant.

I've an horrendous day in work tomorrow but this playlist will be going on when I'm not in calls! :)

Absolutely brilliant write up @Black&White&BlueMoon Town
 
Mancitydoogle said:
Great Job on 1972 BWBM , probably better than I would’ve done if I’d had the time, so thanks.
1972 was very much a coming of age for me, being born Jewish I was Bar Mitzvahd that year, although I have no time for any religion and consider myself as agnostic, I was probably excommunicated for eating bacon and marrying a catholic anyway.More importantly it was the year I started to explore music by myself, previously having to listen to my elder brothers choices, and what a year it was.
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Thank you brother, and I really wanted to throw in a John Prine selection for you, but his better album was in 1971 which you well covered.
Mancitydoogle said:
Another of my favourites released his debut album this year, the ever young Jackson Browne’ who’d be writing songs since he was 16 for Nico and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’ He co wrote ‘Take it Easy ‘ which was ‘The Eagles’ first major hit in 1972.
This album contains another song which became a hit for The Jackson Five’ reaching no 9 in the UK but never released in the US.JBs released some great albums over the years and I’ve seen him live on a number of occasions, one of the great singer song writers of his generation.The album although self titled was always known as ‘Saturate before Using’ due to album cover.
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So if not JP, my next thought was to leave Jackson Browne and Eagles (if needed) for you, as I knew you'd deliver.
Mancitydoogle said:
I could go on there were so many great albums and songs released this year, if we’re stuck ,like OB1 I’ve got lots more.
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A few nice selections I've not heard, so I'm looking forward to giving them a spin tomorrow as the playlist is updated.
 
GoatersLeftShin said:
Wow, 1972 is a magnificent year for music isn't it! Even if it's just Yes, Steely Dan, Neil Young it's an amazing year but when you start to put in the Philly Soul and Temptations and the rest it's absolutely spectacular. There's something about the early 70s in particular where the music just fuckin explodes all over the show and most of it is brilliant.

I've an horrendous day in work tomorrow but this playlist will be going on when I'm not in calls! :)

Absolutely brilliant write up @Black&White&BlueMoon Town
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Thanks for that GLS, today was a long day at work for me and I appreciated that. I figured someone else might enjoy the Philly Soul and the variety that this year offered too.

I'm hoping we can get some help too in soon jazzing up the playlist as well. ;-)
 
Really_here said:
We've still yet to get to 1974 but Lou Reed's live Rock'n'Roll Animal album has to feature. The intro to Sweet Jane is just fantastic. Just played it now on YouTube and took me right back!
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So good that Alice Cooper knocked his band. That intro alone is worth buying the album for. Hunter and Wagner on guitar are superb. But that’s for the future.
 
Having rushed in with my first two offerings, I’m trying to be less impulsive and hoping others pick some of the ones I have in my head before me.

I’m making a shortlist.
Here’s what I have so far and I’m sure there’s more.
I’ll probably pick two more from here.

1972 possibilities.

America - Horse with no name.

Argent - Hold Your head up.

Bread - Guitar Man

The Eagles - Take it Easy.

Ellis - El Doomo

Rory G -Europe ‘72 (take your pick)

Home - Dreamer, Knave, Dear Lord, Baby Friend of Mine. ( pick one)

Jethro Tull - Thick as a brick (side one) too long I’m guessing.

Santana - Song of the wind.

Rod Stewart - You wear it well.

Thin Lizzy - Whiskey in the jar.

Wishbone Ash -Argus (take your pick)

Bill Withers - Lean on me.

I’m constantly scouring my brain for what I was listening to back then.
 
A Man Needs a Maid - Neil Young

Love the story as there often is about how Neil Young was inspired to write this song allegedly having seen Carrie Snodgrass who had his first child in her Academy Award nominated film Diary of a Mad Housewife along with her picture in a magazine he randomly flicked through and decided then and there he would spend a lot of time with her as only musicians can do.

His back condition meant he had to decide if a maid was what he needed just to get by so to speak and compose the ideal non fictional double entendre.

Throw in the LSO and you a brilliant haunting masterpiece of music that doesn't let you out of its grip sending shivers up your spine.

What did it do for me well I bought Harvest into my classroom in 1972 for music class and all those cigarette smoking , long haired boys who thought I was more the Puppy Love or Popcorn type and chose this my favorite track on the album wanted to know more about me having never given me the time of day before going out of their way to ridicule and make fun of me as schoolboys do as they believed at the age of 12 Neil Young was only for " cool kids " such is the power of music.

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack

Not much to say about this track as it speaks for itself other than to say it would be a travesty not to have this incredibly talented singer and musician in the playlist at some stage being the first artist to win Grammy's for record of the year two years running and its easy to understand why.

Fortunate to see her live on more than one occasion and would have seen her again if not for family commitments at the time.

This song could be first heard in 2025 and it wouldn't be out of place simply timeless what more is there to say.

Boppin The Blues - Blackfeather

Would be remiss of me not to have an Australian classic or two on the playlist and again for those who have never heard of Blackfeather I encourage you to listen to voice amongst voices of OZ rock namely Neale Johns.

For the one or two that might have hear is a chance for FOC's like me to reminisce about the times we tried to get into pubs and cubs underaged with mean looking bouncers staring us down but occasionally turning a blind eye especially if we hid behind a gorgeous 16 year old blond who could give them the eye.

Most People I Know Think That I'm Crazy - Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs.

Billy Thorpe was a crooner of sorts in the early 60's that teenage boys would despise that turned into a hard rock front man that those same individuals would love for the same reason.

While the crowd booed the only international act at Sunbury Festival off stage they lauded and couldn't get enough of the likes of The Aztecs and Blackfeather.

The international act albeit in 1974 you may ask happened to go by the name Queen.
 
mancity2012_eamo said:
Having rushed in with my first two offerings, I’m trying to be less impulsive and hoping others pick some of the ones I have in my head before me.

I’m making a shortlist.
Here’s what I have so far and I’m sure there’s more.
I’ll probably pick two more from here.

1972 possibilities.

America - Horse with no name.

Argent - Hold Your head up.

Bread - Guitar Man

The Eagles - Take it Easy.

Ellis - El Doomo

Rory G -Europe ‘72 (take your pick)

Home - Dreamer, Knave, Dear Lord, Baby Friend of Mine. ( pick one)

Jethro Tull - Thick as a brick (side one) too long I’m guessing.

Santana - Song of the wind.

Rod Stewart - You wear it well.

Thin Lizzy - Whiskey in the jar.

Wishbone Ash -Argus (take your pick)

Bill Withers - Lean on me.

I’m constantly scouring my brain for what I was listening to back then.
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“Horse With No Name” was 1971 and in last year’s playlist.

As a result of somebody nominating a Wishbone Ash for 1971, I listened to a couple of their albums and I agree, Argus is a fantastic album.
 
mancity2012_eamo said:
Having rushed in with my first two offerings, I’m trying to be less impulsive and hoping others pick some of the ones I have in my head before me.

I’m making a shortlist.
Here’s what I have so far and I’m sure there’s more.
I’ll probably pick two more from here.

1972 possibilities.

America - Horse with no name.

Argent - Hold Your head up.

Bread - Guitar Man

The Eagles - Take it Easy.

Ellis - El Doomo

Rory G -Europe ‘72 (take your pick)

Home - Dreamer, Knave, Dear Lord, Baby Friend of Mine. ( pick one)

Jethro Tull - Thick as a brick (side one) too long I’m guessing.

Santana - Song of the wind.

Rod Stewart - You wear it well.

Thin Lizzy - Whiskey in the jar.

Wishbone Ash -Argus (take your pick)

Bill Withers - Lean on me.

I’m constantly scouring my brain for what I was listening to back then.
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Rod Argent for his Hammond B3 solo alone definitely.
 
RobMCFC said:
“Horse With No Name” was 1971 and in last year’s playlist.

As a result of somebody nominating a Wishbone Ash for 1971, I listened to a couple of their albums and I agree, Argus is a fantastic album.
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So it was Rob, 26th of December 1971, but then goes on to say released January 1972, which is what I read obviously.
Anyway we’ve had it before, so that’s one down.

Yeah. Wishbone Ash was me. Great band. Argus is a smashing album. Any number of epics I could go for, but if it comes to it, I may just pick; Leaf and Stream….. quite beautiful.
 
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He certainly was not a household name, but Townes Van Zandt was a singer/songwriter who was well known to other songwriters. Van Zandt was another one of the Texas outlaws who did not fit in with the Nashville scene.

His best known song has been covered by many artists such as Emmylou Harris and in 1983 was a number one country hit for Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. While Emmylou's version is beautiful, I still prefer the original.

Poncho and Lefty - Townes Van Zandt
(aka Pancho and Lefty)
 
RobMCFC said:
“Horse With No Name” was 1971 and in last year’s playlist.

As a result of somebody nominating a Wishbone Ash for 1971, I listened to a couple of their albums and I agree, Argus is a fantastic album.
Click to expand...

mancity2012_eamo said:
So it was Rob, 26th of December 1971, but then goes on to say released January 1972, which is what I read obviously.
Anyway we’ve had it before, so that’s one down.

Yeah. Wishbone Ash was me. Great band. Argus is a smashing album. Any number of epics I could go for, but if it comes to it, I may just pick; Leaf and Stream….. quite beautiful.
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Saw them four times in the course of 1971. Sheffield City Hall (with Mott The Hoople), January, we hitch-hiked over the Snake pass; Free Trade Hall, June; London Leytonstone Red Lion, October; and finally London Lyceum, December. The last was really special for me, because I saw them with a very special girl — I was head-over-heels, as they say, as she was with me. I never quite forgot her in fact. The first girl I was truly, properly in love with. We “idiot danced” down by the stage for the encores…
I was mad about that iteration of Wishbone Ash. They were my band. (Had to have Steve Upton on drums, a fantastic rock drummer who could swing it, too). Had a letter singing their praises in Melody Maker. When I saw it on the back page (I used to buy every issue of MM), I went really red. Thank God I was alone. Was absolutely embarrassed. Had no idea they were going to print it.
Still listen to Pilgrimage today. The first three are excellent. The things that can be done with two guitars duetting…
 
RandolphMABlue said:
He certainly was not a household name, but Townes Van Zandt was a singer/songwriter who was well known to other songwriters. Van Zandt was another one of the Texas outlaws who did not fit in with the Nashville scene.

His best known song has been covered by many artists such as Emmylou Harris and in 1983 was a number one country hit for Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. While Emmylou's version is beautiful, I still prefer the original.

Poncho and Lefty - Townes Van Zandt
(aka Pancho and Lefty)
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Absolutely great choice. You only have to look at the names on his tribute album to see what high regard he was held in. Nelson, Earle, Griffith, Harris, Prine, Williams L. etc

I imagine like a lot of people I came to him via other people's covers and the list of people who've covered him is enormous and varied. But despite some stellar artists singing his songs there's an unvarnished truth to his originals that's hard to beat.
 
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Top top write up B&W and a brilliant less obvious initial playlist that's right up my street.

Some more sweet soul music from another of Philly's finest...

Billy Paul - Me and Mrs Jones

Many years later there was a good albeit at times oversung cover by Thomas Lang, a scouser who was tipped for big things but it never quite happened. Contrast with the ponderous effort by Rag Hucknell of another of this years biggies - Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes: If You Don't Know Me By Now (which someone should nominate).
 
threespires said:
Top top write up B&W and a brilliant less obvious initial playlist that's right up my street.

Some more sweet soul music from another of Philly's finest...

Billy Paul - Me and Mrs Jones
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Thanks, that track was also on my shortlist, so I've been waiting for you to get home from Tuesday night's match to put something forward. ;-)

Great first choice.
 
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