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

[threespires]

A very evocative introduction @Saddleworth2 and some fine choices to boot.

We've moved into the era when I remember stuff properly, though my experience of the early 70s blackouts were probably happier than the adults, as I mostly remember playing charades by candlelight in the absence of other things to do. In 74 I bought my first single using my own pocket money down at Woolies. Despite not actually being a teenager, it was Teenage Rampage by Sweet and though don't feel the urge to nominate it I can still recall that vivid orange RCA single label. Though I have to admit I'm not 100% sure if it had a black removable insert common at the time.

Though I remember being mesmerised by Ron Mael and enjoying This Town.., had you played something like I Want To See the Bright Lights Tonight to me at the time I would have doubtless declared it rubbish as opposed to my feeling about it today. I'd have had no time for Gram Parsons either had I actually heard of him at that point. Ironically though I quite often prefer other people's versions of Parson's songs, his version of Love Hurts is by some margin my favourite, Harris would have still been in her 20s but already sounds like she's had her heart broken a 1000 times.

By this point my big sister had inexplicably developed a liking for David Essex but I think that might have been an eye candy thing, For my first pick, I'm going with a better song that she played that I used to like listening too and one I assume that the then 6 year old Thom Yorke was presumably subliminally absorbing as he played with his dinosaurs or whatever.

The Hollies - The Air That I Breathe

 

[Saddleworth2]

A very evocative introduction @Saddleworth2 and some fine choices to boot.

We've moved into the era when I remember stuff properly, though my experience of the early 70s blackouts were probably happier than the adults, as I mostly remember playing charades by candlelight in the absence of other things to do. In 74 I bought my first single using my own pocket money down at Woolies. Despite not actually being a teenager, it was Teenage Rampage by Sweet and though don't feel the urge to nominate it I can still recall that vivid orange RCA single label. Though I have to admit I'm not 100% sure if it had a black removable insert common at the time.

Though I remember being mesmerised by Ron Mael and enjoying This Town.., had you played I Want To See the Bright Lights Tonight to me at the time I would have doubtless declared it rubbish as opposed to my feeling about it today. I'd have had no time for Gram Parsons either had I actually heard of him at that point. Ironically though I quite often prefer other people's versions of Parson's songs, his version of Love Hurts is by some margin my favourite, Harris would have still been in her 20s but already sounds like she's had her heart broken a 1000 times.

By this point my big sister had inexplicably developed a liking for David Essex but I think that might have been an eye candy thing, For my first pick, I'm going with a better song that she played that I used to like listening too and one I assume that the then 6 year old Thom Yorke was presumably subliminally absorbing as he played with his dinosaurs or whatever.

The Hollies - The Air That I Breathe

Inserts in singles jeez I remember them.

I would have thought exactly the same about the Thomson’s and Gram mate. Isn’t it lucky that age and experience brings taste as well as wisdom :-).

God the Uk charts were bloody dross at that time. I remember every saddo at the disco doing the ‘dance’ that Mud did. Oh Lord it still brings me out in a cold sweat. I alsoremember one of the bampots I used to hang around with persuading the DJ to put ‘dance of the black queen’ off queen2 on at the peak of the nights festivities and then going nuts because nobody but him would dance to it (but him).

 

[mancity2012_eamo]

Great write up Sadds. I’d say a 9/10.
I have to deduct a point for the inclusion of that eejit Oirishman at the end. Will he ever stop about that Gallagher fella?

No seriously Sadds, I’ve been looking forward to this since you first contacted me about using my original write up.
As I said to you, I don’t take a word of it back, I still feel this way every other weekend when I need a late Friday night boost.

Anyway…. Not only a great write up but you listed at least 4 of the albums I probably would have picked from and Rob has nominated Rush, which I also had up my sleeve.
Bachman Turner Overdrive and Lynnyrd Skynnyrd are two great shouts also, so my options are greatly reduced already.
I have thought of one classic that I may keep in reserve, to see if someone like minded gets there first.

This is first one I had in mind for this year however and I’ve played it in one of the playlist threads I’m sure.
From the album Past Present and Future, I could have gone for Nostradamus but I simply love this history lesson.
Al Stewart - The Roads to Moscow.

 

[Resurrection Joe...]

before the prog/ rock takeover starts...Im mindfull that the Gil Scott-Heron compilation album ' The Revolution will not be televised' was released in '74....most of the tracks were pre dated but Im hoping to sneak in...

'Home is Where the Hatred is'...Gil Scott Heron.

 

[flook]

Just popped in to say this is a great thread, but there's still a few years to go before I can make a meaningful contribution :)

 

[Resurrection Joe...]

Just popped in to say this is a great thread, but there's still a few years to go before I can make a meaningful contribution :)

s#allrite fella...i will be bowing out towards the eighties, I'll tag you in...

 

[Black&White&BlueMoon Town]

Also, a band that would go on to have a stellar and enduring 50-year career released their first album in 1974.
When DJ Donna Halper, disc jockey/music director at WMMS in Cleveland, Ohio, started playing this track, it got the band noticed in the US. From their first album, it was recorded and released at a time when all-time great drummer and lyricist, the late, great Neil Peart, had not yet joined the band.

"Working Man" - Rush

Ah, the perils of the other side of the pond, enjoying my sleep. Touché, Rob, I may have gotten Bruce last year, but you got me here, eh?! ;-) Kudos for mentioning Donna's great influence, you did this track right!

And fantastic and excellent writeup Sadds! I did a "spires skim" this AM before work, but I'll be giving it a full read later tonight.

I'm going to get 2 songs out while I can with a proper write-up on the first one later today when I have time. These should be familiar with the Album and Playlist crews, but I'll be claiming these:

"School" - Supertramp

(edit: removed below for OB1 being first)
I'm going to go back to my childhood to find a song I enjoyed quite a lot hearing and singing to in the car on the radio that year. My first pre-10 year old crush was on my next door neighbor who shared the same name in this song, so needless to say, this refrain got sung whenever it came on. Fond memories. Obviously I had no idea this song was inspired from a male drug dealer, but the lyrics got changed by producer Glyn Johns to make it about a girl.

This country rock song was a hit in the US, but apparently not in the UK.

"Jackie Blue" - The Ozark Mountain Daredevils

 

[RobMCFC]

This is first one I had in mind for this year however and I’ve played it in one of the playlist threads I’m sure.
From the album Past Present and Future, I could have gone for Nostradamus but I simply love this history lesson.
Al Stewart - The Roads to Moscow.

You definitely have and I really enjoyed it so it will be good to listen again in the context of this year.

Just popped in to say this is a great thread, but there's still a few years to go before I can make a meaningful contribution :)

Glad you are enjoying it. I did think that as we roll into the 70s and 80s (and possibly 90s?) people will start joining in because it's an era that they enjoyed and are more familiar with.

Just remembered that Saddleworth2 asked us to note what we were doing and how we were feeling in 1974.
I can't remember it - I was 6 years old, and I'm sure some of the things I remember were from that year but this is the last year where I couldn't point to an event in my life and say "that was this year". Didn't watch the cup final or the World Cup (which it has just occurred to me was missing from the write-up :) ), wasn't aware of any world events going on around me, I was probably just in a state of blissful ignorance.

 

[Saddleworth2]

I will update the playlist first thing every morning (except Saturday when I am away at silly o’clock fishing).

 

[Saddleworth2]

You definitely have and I really enjoyed it so it will be good to listen again in the context of this year.


Glad you are enjoying it. I did think that as we roll into the 70s and 80s (and possibly 90s?) people will start joining in because it's an era that they enjoyed and are more familiar with.

Just remembered that Saddleworth2 asked us to note what we were doing and how we were feeling in 1974.
I can't remember it - I was 6 years old, and I'm sure some of the things I remember were from that year but this is the last year where I couldn't point to an event in my life and say "that was this year". Didn't watch the cup final or the World Cup (which it has just occurred to me was missing from the write-up :) ), wasn't aware of any world events going on around me, I was probably just in a state of blissful ignorance.

Are you hinting that my write up wasn’t long enough ;-)
The 1974 World Cup? Indeed. Were England at that? One nation was unbeaten throughout the competition, conceding only a single goal. I wonder who that could be?

 

[OB1]

Ah, the perils of the other side of the pond, enjoying my sleep. Touché, Rob, I may have gotten Bruce last year, but you got me here, eh?! ;-) Kudos for mentioning Donna's great influence, you did this track right!

And fantastic and excellent writeup Sadds! I did a "spires skim" this AM before work, but I'll be giving it a full read later tonight.

I'm going to get 2 songs out while I can with a proper write-up on the first one later today when I have time. These should be familiar with the Album and Playlist crews, but I'll be claiming these:

"School" - Supertramp

I'm going to go back to my childhood to find a song I enjoyed quite a lot hearing and singing to in the car on the radio that year. My first pre-10 year old crush was on my next door neighbor who shared the same name in this song, so needless to say, this refrain got sung whenever it came on. Fond memories. Obviously I had no idea this song was inspired from a male drug dealer, but the lyrics got changed by producer Glyn Johns to make it about a girl.

This country rock song was a hit in the US, but apparently not in the UK.

"Jackie Blue" - The Ozark Mountain Daredevils

I’ve already nominated “Jackie Blue”. Do you want to nominate something else or I am happy to ;-)

School is a great choice but I would say that as I just reviewed it and the COTC album on that other thread.

 

[KS55]

Inserts in singles jeez I remember them.

I would have thought exactly the same about the Thomson’s and Gram mate. Isn’t it lucky that age and experience brings taste as well as wisdom :-).

God the Uk charts were bloody dross at that time. I remember every saddo at the disco doing the ‘dance’ that Mud did. Oh Lord it still brings me out in a cold sweat. I alsoremember one of the bampots I used to hang around with persuading the DJ to put ‘dance of the black queen’ off queen2 on at the peak of the nights festivities and then going nuts because nobody but him would dance to it (but him).

You’re right about the dross. Just about the biggest seller of singles was………
The Wombles!

 

[threespires]

Inserts in singles jeez I remember them.

I would have thought exactly the same about the Thomson’s and Gram mate. Isn’t it lucky that age and experience brings taste as well as wisdom :-).

God the Uk charts were bloody dross at that time. I remember every saddo at the disco doing the ‘dance’ that Mud did. Oh Lord it still brings me out in a cold sweat. I alsoremember one of the bampots I used to hang around with persuading the DJ to put ‘dance of the black queen’ off queen2 on at the peak of the nights festivities and then going nuts because nobody but him would dance to it (but him).

Wasn't this the year the Bay City Rollers made it big?

 

[Jazzman]

I would like to bring something very different into the discussion. The album Autobahn was released by Kraftwerk late in 1974. This is at the very least a milestone in electronic music, for me it is something completely new. A totally different form of music which still today is a big part of my music universe. Kraftwerk inspired so many other artists in different genres, not to mention the art of their covers and looks. Genius in several ways. It is also a special pleasure to nominate something with German lyrics to this very English forum :-)

They used only syntesizers and drum machines, but actually play the music manually. It is not programmed. I am in total awe of this even today 51 years! later.

I hereby nominate the song:

Autobahn - single edit by Kraftwerk.

I recommend the single edit because the album version is more than 22 minutes long.

 

[BimboBob]

I would like to bring something very different into the discussion. The album Autobahn was released by Kraftwerk late in 1974. This is at the very least a milestone in electronic music, for me it is something completely new. A totally different form of music which still today is a big part of my music universe. Kraftwerk inspired so many other artists in different genres, not to mention the art of their covers and looks. Genius in several ways. It is also a special pleasure to nominate something with German lyrics to this very English forum :-)

They used only syntesizers and drum machines, but actually play the music manually. It is not programmed. I am in total awe of this even today 51 years! later.

I hereby nominate the song:

Autobahn - single edit by Kraftwerk.

I recommend the single edit because the album version is more than 22 minutes long.

Going to see him, them, on Sunday. My 5th Kraftwerk gig. A lot of their early stuff was made using homemade synths and drum machines because what they wanted to do hadn't been invented yet.

 

[flook]

Didn't watch the cup final or the World Cup (which it has just occurred to me was missing from the write-up :) ), wasn't aware of any world events going on around me, I was probably just in a state of blissful ignorance.

ooh World Cup, wasn't that the Cruyff/Neeskins v Gerd Muller final? 2 penalties 2-1 win Germany? I was 9, really wanted the Dutch to win that. Also the year of "we're on the march with Allys army"? That didn't age well.

This is pretty much the first football I have strong memories of, together with Wolves beating City in the LC final through a late John Richards goal if memory serves. The start of almost 4 decades of pain

 

[Saddleworth2]

Wasn't this the year the Bay City Rollers made it big?

sssshhhhhhh.....

 

[mancity2012_eamo]

Had my first listen at lunch today.
Have to say Sadds, you got this spot on.
Not just the music choices. The variety. But the order is perfect.
I wanted to get your listen in, like this before any of our nominations are added.
From the opening live with Lou Reed all the way through to the closing live with Rory, I would say… perfect. It just sits right. There’s nothing there I didn’t like. Everything in its place.

I thought the opener was brilliant. I may have to check that album out next.
Really enjoyed Bowie too.
Sparks brought back memories. It’s a great tune that was just so different to what was around.
Queen reminded me of the first big concert I saw in the RDS, where they really were quite brilliant live.i really enjoyed their earlier stuff. By the time they came back in 1984 to the huge crowd at Sloane, they still played a lot of the old live classics but their image and direction had greatly changed.

Don’t get me started on Rory to finish with.

I know the order will be added to and the closer will repeatedly change, but I just think you got this spot on.

Really enjoyable first listen.

 

[Saddleworth2]

I would like to bring something very different into the discussion. The album Autobahn was released by Kraftwerk late in 1974. This is at the very least a milestone in electronic music, for me it is something completely new. A totally different form of music which still today is a big part of my music universe. Kraftwerk inspired so many other artists in different genres, not to mention the art of their covers and looks. Genius in several ways. It is also a special pleasure to nominate something with German lyrics to this very English forum :-)

They used only syntesizers and drum machines, but actually play the music manually. It is not programmed. I am in total awe of this even today 51 years! later.

I hereby nominate the song:

Autobahn - single edit by Kraftwerk.

I recommend the single edit because the album version is more than 22 minutes long.

I considered carefully including them in my pick. As you say, they broke new ground.

 

[Saddleworth2]

Had my first listen at lunch today.
Have to say Sadds, you got this spot on.
Not just the music choices. The variety. But the order is perfect.
I wanted to get your listen in, like this before any of our nominations are added.
From the opening live with Lou Reed all the way through to the closing live with Rory, I would say… perfect. It just sits right. There’s nothing there I didn’t like. Everything in its place.

I thought the opener was brilliant. I may have to check that album out next.
Really enjoyed Bowie too.
Sparks brought back memories. It’s a great tune that was just so different to what was around.
Queen reminded me of the first big concert I saw in the RDS, where they really were quite brilliant live.i really enjoyed their earlier stuff. By the time they came back in 1984 to the huge crowd at Sloane, they still played a lot of the old live classics but their image and direction had greatly changed.

Don’t get me started on Rory to finish with.

I know the order will be added to and the closer will repeatedly change, but I just think you got this spot on.

Really enjoyable first listen.

Thanks mate.