Rock Evolution – The History of Rock & Roll - 1985 - (page 203)

[OB1]

“They stab it with their steely knives, but they just can't kill the beast”

Hmm, what or who were the Eagles referencing in this lyric in that song? Perhaps another band with the same manager?

Like the Neil Young and Lynyrd Skynyrd back and forth song jabs over albums, this one was a little more veiled.

Steel Dan had gone first in the song "Everything You Did" where the line "Turn up the Eagles, the neighbors are listening" was referencing a real-life argument between Walter Becker and his girlfriend, who was an Eagles fan. Eagles had replied back with this playful jab in "Hotel California".

And speaking of Steely Dan, in 1976 they released their guitar masterpiece and my favourite "all killer, no filler" album that to this day is my top choice of all they've produced over the years.

It was very hard to pick just one here, as the album really is a start-to-finish listening experience. The jazz and rock fusion album is on full display on this release. "Kid Charlemagne" was the big hit, and "Haitian Divorce" had the distinct talk box guitar played by Dean Parks. Two amazing songs in their own right. Add in that opening scorching guitar in "Don't Take Me Alive" and the highly underrated jazzy "The Caves Of Altamira" with its lyrical genius historical context. "Green Earrings" too, another jazz/rock blend masterpiece.

But to top them for me is the album title song, so I'll again for my 2nd straight nomination go with that. Not a single or a hit, but an FM rock staple, this might be my favourite song of theirs, but even that changes over time. But however it might change, this album remains tops for me. Those horn arrangements in this song are so distinct, especially the trombone that really compliments the guitar riffs.

The song tells the story of a group of immigrants who travel to NYC seeking opportunity, but instead encounter exploitation and hardship. The song critiques the harsh realities of the American Dream, particularly for those facing poverty and discrimination.

Now the tale is told by the old man back home he reads the letter
How they paid in gold just to babble in the back room all night and waste their time

The album cover features an image of a man in a suit sleeping on a bus stop bench dreaming of skyscrapers with monstrous animal heads at the top. Larry Zox originally created the painting of the skyscraper/beast hybrids for an unreleased Van Morrison album, and designer Ed Caraeff suggested superimposing a photograph of a sleeping vagrant taken by Charlie Ganse to make the cover.

And oh, for one last Eagles reference, then Poco member and future Eagle Timothy B Schmit sings background vocals on this song. From the theme of "Flight"...

"The Royal Scam" - Steely Dan

View attachment 163212

Great song / album.

I did not know that line was about Steely Dan. It’s one of those lyrics that sticks in my head (most don’t). I’ll love it a little bit more now.

 

[RobMCFC]

Great song / album.

I did not know that line was about Steely Dan. It’s one of those lyrics that sticks in my head (most don’t). I’ll love it a little bit more now.

Same here. It's a good bit of trivia.

 

[threespires]

I know there were ups and owns in my life in 1976 but most of what sticks in my memory is the good stuff (first successful visit to Wembley, the summer weather), oh and that it was my O-Levels year. The soundtrack to my revision was Alive! by Kiss, who I saw for the first time in May.

My first song pick is not Kiss though. We need to go to the end of a rather good year to find the inspiration for this pick, Christmas Day to be precise. As he has done for the last 50 years, Santa deposited a generous helping of albums by his part eaten mince pie next to the hearth place. 1976’s delivery provided me with quite simply the greatest listening experience I can recall. Prior to being called for Christmas lunch, which was well past lunchtime of course, I put my headphones on and played three albums back-to-back, two of them double lives. All of them records that I put on my Xmas list without having heard a note by any of the bands, trusting in favoured Sounds jounos’ reviews.

One of these albums was Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “One More From the Road”, one of the great live albums and my first listen to tracks like Sweet Home Alabama and the monster that is Freebird. But I am not picking a track from that wonderful record. I am not selecting one from the other double live; at least not the live version, although I was tempted but that would deny listeners the pleasure of a full five minutes of tremendous music. To say I was left in stunned disbelief at what I was hearing on the second album would be an understatement. The album was an import because the band in question had never had a record released in the UK – how could that be case when the band were so good!?

The band of course was the musical equivalent of a Marmite sandwich Rush, who were about to become the biggest cult act in the UK. The album “All the World’s A Stage”, which remains my favourite Rush album. Earlier in ’76, Rush had released their fourth and most pivotal album: 2112 and it is the 20 minute title track that I am making my first pick.

The track is divided into seven parts and tells a dystopian tale set in 2112, where people are under the rule of the Priests of the Temples of Syrinx, who suppress individuality. The protagonist discovers an ancient guitar, learns how to play it, and experiences the joy of music. He presents it to the Priests, hoping to enrich society, but they reject and destroy it, viewing it as a relic. His resulting despair leads him to end his life.

It’s a simple story inspired by Libertarian Ayn Rand, a Russian-American writer, and her novella Anthem, which emphasises individualism against collectivism. Drummer and lyricist Neil Peart was heavily influenced by Rand.
Rand's Objectivism has been polarising, with some viewing it as promoting selfishness, while others see it as a defence of personal freedom. This led to debates, such as Barry Miles in NME accusing Rush of fascism, which Geddy Lee, whose parents were Holocaust survivors, defended as an "anti-totalitarian, anti-fascist story".

Many critics praised its musicianship and innovative storytelling, with Rolling Stone calling it "their most extreme, grandiose and Rush-like record, and thus their greatest.

The studio album that was part of the trio that knocked my sox off will be the source of my next pick.

As we're not in the politics forum all I'll say is my admiration for Neil Peart was tempered by his interest in Ayn Rand, but in fairness to him over the years he did row back from much of it. Onto the playlist 2112 goes.

Oh and trying to use Rainbow Rising as leverage for more picks was proper naughty ;-)

 

[Saddleworth2]

for my 4th nomination, a beautiful piece of music from Elton from his album Blue Moves. I could have chosen 'sorry seems to be the hardest word' but 'Tonight' edges it out. Now although I love the song with its sweeping and romantic orchestral intro, its not even my favourite version. That would be from the album 'Two Rooms, the songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin' from 91 I think. Two Rooms was recorded by various artists and it has an absolutely sublime version of Tonight by George Michael. Anyway, I'll remember that for later and for now;

Tonight - Elton John

 

[Out on blue 6]

Last one from me
From the album Flow Motion

Can - I Want More

 

[mrbelfry]

I think ABBA's clothing choices were driven by tax write offs in Sweden. They could write their clothes off as long as they were obviously not for every day wear.

Get Up Offa That Thing by James Brown is my nomination for the year

 

[threespires]

I think ABBA's clothing choices were driven by tax write offs in Sweden. They could write their clothes off as long as they were obviously not for every day wear.

Get Up Offa That Thing by James Brown is my nomination for the year

Sounds logical re the get up.

Top choice, again on my I hope someone picks it list.

You've got three more nominations if you want to.

 

[mrbelfry]

Sounds logical re the get up.

Top choice, again on my I hope someone picks it list.

You've got three more nominations if you want to.

I'm stuck between nominating songs I just happen to like and ones that I could justify inclusion as significant in some way. Not sure Combine Harvester belongs on the list

 

[threespires]

Last one from me
From the album Flow Motion

Can - I Want More

So the electronic orientated acts I was hoping we'd get at least one track from were Tangerine Dream, Vangelis and Can. Though in the case of Tangerine Dream and Can their 76 offerings were less experimental and moving a bit more mainstream they still use their synths to great effect I think.

Part of me was inclined to put Tomita's Firebird in the list to show the kind of sounds people were now getting but it's just too niche and I'm not even sure it's on Spotify anyway.

 

[threespires]

I'm stuck between nominating songs I just happen to like and ones that I could justify inclusion as significant in some way. Not sure Combine Harvester belongs on the list

You could argue Scrumpy and Western is a legitimate genre and with a number 1 and a number 3 the Wurzels had a much better chart year than Bowie.

 

[peter.evans]

“They stab it with their steely knives, but they just can't kill the beast”

Hmm, what or who were the Eagles referencing in this lyric in that song? Perhaps another band with the same manager?

Like the Neil Young and Lynyrd Skynyrd back and forth song jabs over albums, this one was a little more veiled.

Steel Dan had gone first in the song "Everything You Did" where the line "Turn up the Eagles, the neighbors are listening" was referencing a real-life argument between Walter Becker and his girlfriend, who was an Eagles fan. Eagles had replied back with this playful jab in "Hotel California".

And speaking of Steely Dan, in 1976 they released their guitar masterpiece and my favourite "all killer, no filler" album that to this day is my top choice of all they've produced over the years.

It was very hard to pick just one here, as the album really is a start-to-finish listening experience. The jazz and rock fusion album is on full display on this release. "Kid Charlemagne" was the big hit, and "Haitian Divorce" had the distinct talk box guitar played by Dean Parks. Two amazing songs in their own right. Add in that opening scorching guitar in "Don't Take Me Alive" and the highly underrated jazzy "The Caves Of Altamira" with its lyrical genius historical context. "Green Earrings" too, another jazz/rock blend masterpiece.

But to top them for me is the album title song, so I'll again for my 2nd straight nomination go with that. Not a single or a hit, but an FM rock staple, this might be my favourite song of theirs, but even that changes over time. But however it might change, this album remains tops for me. Those horn arrangements in this song are so distinct, especially the trombone that really compliments the guitar riffs.

The song tells the story of a group of immigrants who travel to NYC seeking opportunity, but instead encounter exploitation and hardship. The song critiques the harsh realities of the American Dream, particularly for those facing poverty and discrimination.

Now the tale is told by the old man back home he reads the letter
How they paid in gold just to babble in the back room all night and waste their time

The album cover features an image of a man in a suit sleeping on a bus stop bench dreaming of skyscrapers with monstrous animal heads at the top. Larry Zox originally created the painting of the skyscraper/beast hybrids for an unreleased Van Morrison album, and designer Ed Caraeff suggested superimposing a photograph of a sleeping vagrant taken by Charlie Ganse to make the cover.

And oh, for one last Eagles reference, then Poco member and future Eagle Timothy B Schmit sings background vocals on this song. From the theme of "Flight"...

"The Royal Scam" - Steely Dan

View attachment 163212

An absolute classic, one of so many from Walter and Donald. That final fade is sensational the way it builds to a crescendo !

 

[threespires]

Surprised we've not had any Frampton, Fleetwood Mac, Heart or Aerosmith yet or for that matter a famous rehash of an early Springsteen song; though I suspect OB1 will have some stashed ready in his pouch for if/when the opportunity arises.

 

[mrbelfry]

Walk This Way by Aerosmith was rereleased in 1976 but I checked and it was already on the 1975 playlist. I was going to go completely left field and suggest the theme song for The Scooby Doo Show from 1976 but I can't find it in Spotify and it's not the classic Scooby Doo theme everyone knows and loves

 

[Out on blue 6]

Regarded by many as the first punk single.

The Damned - New Rose

 

[Saddleworth2]

Surprised we've not had any Frampton, Fleetwood Mac, Heart or Aerosmith yet or for that matter a famous rehash of an early Springsteen song; though I suspect OB1 will have some stashed ready in his pouch for if/when the opportunity arises.

Can you mean 'Blinded by the light'? The Manfred Mann Earth Band?

 

[OB1]

Surprised we've not had any Frampton, Fleetwood Mac, Heart or Aerosmith yet or for that matter a famous rehash of an early Springsteen song; though I suspect OB1 will have some stashed ready in his pouch for if/when the opportunity arises.

Just listened to Frampton Comes alive.

Don’t think F.Mac released much in 1976 but they were working on Rumours, every track of which will go on my 1977 list.

 

[OB1]

Walk This Way by Aerosmith was rereleased in 1976 but I checked and it was already on the 1975 playlist. I was going to go completely left field and suggest the theme song for The Scooby Doo Show from 1976 but I can't find it in Spotify and it's not the classic Scooby Doo theme everyone knows and loves

Aerosmith released their best album in 1976. I reviewed it on the other thread and I have put every track off it on my personal ‘76 playlist as it is one of my Top 10 albums.

 

[OB1]

Can you mean 'Blinded by the light'? The Manfred Mann Earth Band?

Ah the second or third best cover song ever.

I saw them in concert in 1976.

 

[threespires]

Aerosmith released their best album in 1976. I reviewed it on the other thread and I have put every track off it on my personal ‘76 playlist as it is one of my Top 10 albums.

In really enjoyed that album so might do an OB1 and add a track in myself :-)

 

[threespires]

Ah the second or third best cover song ever.

I saw them in concert in 1976.

Go on then what's the best?

Just listened to Frampton Comes alive.

Don’t think F.Mac released much in 1976 but they were working on Rumours, every track of which will go on my 1977 list.

I thought some of the tracks from the previous years album were big songs in '76 but I've just looked and they weren't even released in the UK. Schoolboy error on my part.