You really are missing out not listening to tracks more than ten minutes. I’m guessing you are not a fan of classical music ;-)Notes on the 1974 playlist
- "Roads to Moscow" by Al Stewart is one of the best songs of the 70s so far. @mancity2012_eamo nominated it in the playlist thread a while ago, and I was captivated by it then. The lyrics, telling the tale of the battle between Russia and Germany in WWII is brilliantly researched, evocative and delivered with just the right amount of instrumentation.
- Another song I really enjoyed was "Bridge of Sighs" by Robin Trower.
- Lou Reed's opener, "Sweet Jane - Live" was a great start to the playlist.
- "Boogie on Reggae Woman" is yet another Stevie Wonder toe-tapper that I'd not heard before.
- "No Woman, No Cry" - Bob Marley - reggae's not my thing but I said I'd give credit when credit was due - this is a fantastic song because it avoids the repetitive "um-chick, um-chick" sound of so much reggae,
- Dolly Parton's "Jolene" was a good listen. Like most people, I've heard it many times before but haven't taken the time to appreciate how effective the guitar is on this.
- "Astronomy" by Blue Oyster Cult continues a good run of songs from them on this thread. And they'll be plenty more.
- It was good to hear "Revolution Blues" by Neil Young - the best track on the On The Beach album that we recently reviewed on the album thread.
- As I commented on before, I consider myself a fan of Ameicana/country music in general, and listened to the Gram Parsons album in full as a result of the tracks included here. But it's drenched in pedal steel guitar and was too straight on-the-nose country for my liking. I'm sure we'll get to much better country stuff later.
- I may miss out on something but my new self-imposed rule is that I'll skip any track longer than 10 minutes. Yes, Kin Crimson, Van Morrison and Tangerine Dream need to have a good talk to themselves. I like a good long-form song with some interesting instrumenta; breaks but nothing good comes from stretching out a song way past its welcome.
- Speaking of Tangerine Dream, is this really music or just noise that happens to feature a keyboard? Like fellow Germans Kraftwerk, they ushered in a new eletronic form of music, but I can't say that the two tracks included here did anything for me at all.
- There are lots of familiar pop songs that whilst not my favourites, are certainly good for a listen.
- Other tracks new to me that I enjoyed:-
- "Home is Where The Hatred Is" - Gil Scott Heron
- "I Got The Same Old Blues" - J.J.Cale
- "Evie (Let Your Hair Hang Down)" - Stevie Wright
- "Then You Came" - The Spinners, Dionne Warwick
- "When I Get To The Border" - Richard & Linda Thompson
- "Free Man in Paris" - Joni Mitchell
- "Horror Movie" - Skyhooks
- "Before the Deluge" - Jackson Browne
- "Rock Bottom" - UFO
I did like the Rory track here, which clocked in over 11 minutes, but it did go on a bit too long.You really are missing out not listening to tracks more than ten minutes. I’m guessing you are not a fan of classical music ;-)
Other than that I agree with your choices. The Dolly Parton album was a breakthrough for her and one I still like when I’m in the mood. If you liked Lou and you aren’t au fait with the rest of the album, it’s just a sad good. Superb version of Heroin.
I kind of get what you’re saying circa the overlong songs.I did like the Rory track here, which clocked in over 11 minutes, but it did go on a bit too long.
I've since realised that one of Rush's best tracks, "Xanadu" is 11 minutes+ - but that could undoubtedly have got below the 10-minute mark with a bit of editing in the build-up and not lost any of its magic.
Some of these tracks on the playlist just seem to go on forever with no discernable purpose or melody. I know lots like them and fair enough, I'm not arguing that they shouldn't be there, just that they don't do anything for me.
You and the Austrian Emperor are kindred spirits.I did like the Rory track here, which clocked in over 11 minutes, but it did go on a bit too long.
I've since realised that one of Rush's best tracks, "Xanadu" is 11 minutes+ - but that could undoubtedly have got below the 10-minute mark with a bit of editing in the build-up and not lost any of its magic.
Some of these tracks on the playlist just seem to go on forever with no discernable purpose or melody. I know lots like them and fair enough, I'm not arguing that they shouldn't be there, just that they don't do anything for me.
Well, as you know, I have just been to Vienna. I think that eamo might have hit the nail on the head: what works for a concept album doesn't necessarily work in a 6-hour playlist. But I suppose it is accurately reflecting the 70s and as previously stated, despite not liking punk, I can now see where they are coming from with their sub-three minute ditties. This feeling will obviously lead us nicely into the mid-to-late 70s.You and the Austrian Emperor are kindred spirits.
After the premiere of Mozart’s opera Die Entführung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio or Harem), it is said that Emperor Joseph II told the composer something around these lines: “Too beautiful for our ears, my dear Mozart, and an awful lot of notes (and its longer than ten minutes).” To which Mozart replied: “Exactly as many as are necessary, Your Majesty.”
Mozart famously didn't really do 'grit' either. What a loser. ;-)Well, as you know, I have just been to Vienna. I think that eamo might have hit the nail on the head: what works for a concept album doesn't necessarily work in a 6-hour playlist. But I suppose it is accurately reflecting the 70s and as previously stated, despite not liking punk, I can now see where they are coming from with their sub-three minute ditties. This feeling will obviously lead us nicely into the mid-to-late 70s.
Or as Berry Gordy Jr,. famously said: "Don't bore us get to the chorus".
There are a lot of great tracks over 10 minutes long.You really are missing out not listening to tracks more than ten minutes. I’m guessing you are not a fan of classical music ;-)
Other than that I agree with your choices. The Dolly Parton album was a breakthrough for her and one I still like when I’m in the mood. If you liked Lou and you aren’t au fait with the rest of the album, it’s just a sad good. Superb version of Heroin.
You really should stop picking my picks as your songs of the year!The History of Rock & Roll - 1974
You'll take an inch, but you'd love a mile...
Another great playlist write up from @Saddleworth2 with a good initial mix of old favourites and a few new tunes. with mostly classics I well knew. Of a trilogy I knew very well, "Sweet Thing" off of Diamond Dogs from David Bowie was the standout pick(s) for me of the initial ones. Not on the early Bowie compilations, this was a song string of songs I had discovered later in the 90's, and one that I think really showcases "a too-alternative for FM radio" and tempo changing songs with a multi-instrument approach, especially the sax, synths, and piano. I know the song "Love Hurts" very well from Nazareth from the same time period, but the original from Gram Parsons was both beautiful and stripped down of the heavier rock tone I was more familiar with. This was an especially done original track I really enjoyed, not in small parts due to the vocals of Emmylou Harris. Honorable mention to Stevie's "Boogie On.." that I know quite well.
The Big Winner
"Astronomy" - Blue Oyster Cult, I'm going with a new song this round that I really enjoyed from a band I knew mostly from later material than this year. This was a close one with Al Stewart, but this being totally fresh to me really was the clincher. The slow start until those guitars come in at "Hey" really was a strong groove that had me nodding along. Throw in a deep song that explores themes of identity, destiny, and the influence of cosmic forces on human life off a concept album, and I'm in!
Top New Songs
Top Songs I knew quite well
- "Evie" - Stevie Wright, a very close race with the Big Winner, just an enjoyable rock and funk inspired 3-in-1 treat of songs
- "Home Is Where the Hatred Is" - Gil Scott-Heron, a pretty sobering song of the pain of drug addiction
- "Overnight Sensation" - Raspberries, had not heard this song or band prior, but a cool 70's British invasion song. Think I've heard of lead singer Eric Carmen before in his later solo work. ;-) The title of this song leads well into the next one...
- "Emma" - Hot Chocolate, a tough song about trying to reach fame and the tragic consequences of the pain of not. Inspired from the tragic death of lead singer Errol Brown's mother, this song has a pretty haunting ending, aided by the guitars and music to the vocals.
- "Kalimba Story" - Earth, Wind & Fire, while I know this group, just not this earlier album or song chosen here, which was a very nice funky groove. I'm planning to check more out off of Open Our Eyes.
Album Review Club Playlist shout-outs
- let's start with the @Bill Walker trifecta of Terry Jacks' "Seasons in the Sun", "Rock Your Baby" by George McCrae, and "Kung Fu Fighting" by Carl Douglas. I've already highlighted these, but wow, what great songs with strong memories that I'm glad made this early stretch run of the playlist.
- "Roads To Moscow" - Al Stewart, vivid memories of getting my once-infant daughter to sleep at night to music comes back to this "Best Of" CD that I dusted off this week, as I see there's more great music to come. Just a great acoustic guitar driven and vocals standout from a Soviet perspective of the Germans marching to Moscow in WWII.
- "Jackie Blue" - The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, liked so much that I mistakenly nominated it while skimming on day 1! Great one and taste, @OB1!
- "Before the Deluge" - Jackson Browne, nearly nominated myself, glad that MCD had my back here. One of Browne's classic early standouts for me.
- "The Air That I Breathe" - The Hollies, this ballad was written by Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood, and initially recorded by Albert Hammond on his 1972 album It Never Rains in Southern California, which I really wanted to get a mention for here in having that song from that playlist. The Hollies here took this slow ballad into the rock and pop staple that it became, post-Graham Nash.
It was nice to know these songs from listening to their respective albums, so 1974 was clearly a great year as highlights from this thread have shown all featured here:
Honorable mention learning the to the backstory of Steely Dan's "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" and hearing "Jolene" from Dolly Parton, which she wrote about the red-haired bank teller who flirted with her husband, who recently passed away and was the inspiration for this and other songs, while staying mostly out of the limelight.
- "I Got The Same Old Blues" - J.J. Cale, not around for this initial nomination, but I certainly have revisted given it's once #1 position.
- "Revolution Blues" - Neil Young, I already noted this was the best song off that album, and it never made his Decade compilation, a misfire on that.
- "Walk On Hot Coals" - Rory Gallagher, also not around for this nomination originally, but have since listened and enjoyed the amazing guitar work and live audience interaction here.
- "School" - Supertramp, yes, a shameless plug, probably my favourite of the Album Review Club tracks listed here!
I will try to do better... but my recent 2 picks prior to this were GLS's nomination of Elton John's "Love Lies Bleeding" and OB1's Bowie nomination of "Width of a Circle", so I'm spreading the love as best I can.You really should stop picking my picks as your songs of the year!
I felt the same way with Nazareth with "Love Hurts", but that's what the FM radio latched onto, whereas I'm liking Gram Parsons' version now. I think the song actually flows better with its stripped down rawness of the original vs. the heavier guitar-led Nazareth version that I grew up listening to.Metallica did a version of Astronomy on their Garage Inc album. The horrible thing is, much to my shame, that was the first version I heard!
Some good stuff there too, but I sense a change in the air.Anybody ready for 1975 yet?
Or as Berry Gordy Jr,. famously said: "Don't bore us get to the chorus".
Some good stuff there too, but I sense a change in the air.
I will try to do better... but my recent 2 picks prior to this were GLS's nomination of Elton John's "Love Lies Bleeding" and OB1's Bowie nomination of "Width of a Circle", so I'm spreading the love as best I can.
As quoted from that OB1 faster-than-me nomination: You'll take an inch, but you'd love a mile...
I felt the same way with Nazareth with "Love Hurts", but that's what the FM radio latched onto, whereas I'm liking Gram Parsons' version now. I think the song actually flows better with its stripped down rawness of the original vs. the heavier guitar-led Nazareth version that I grew up listening to.
I will say in addition to the backstories I noted at the end, going back to get the original artists and song influences has been a big reward of all of this too.
Anybody ready for 1975 yet?
As long as there's no Showaddywaddy, yes.
I always hated them.As long as there's no Showaddywaddy, yes.