Big Albums of March 1974: ABBA, Eagles, Mott and More

A look at some of the most notable LPs released this month 50 years ago. Click the links to order from Amazon.

ABBA - Waterloo

The first internationally releeased by the pop quartet. Their names are helpfully spelled out in parentheses on the front cover. 

Songs include the title track (which was released in English, Swedish, German and French as a single, and which hit #6 on the Billboard charts), "Honey Honey" and "My Mama Said." 

The LP only hit 183 in the U.S., but it introduced the quartet to the American market where they eventually did very, very well - just everyplace else. A 50th anniversary edition is out April 5.

Elvis Presley - Good Times

The King's 20th LP offers solid 1970s Presley fare and did well on the country charts. "I've Got a Thing About You Baby" and "Take Good Care of Her" stand alongside some of his best work.

Frank Zappa - Apostrophe (')

Frank's fusion-y sixth solo LP is his all-time top seller in the U.S. and yielded his first Top 10 single, "Yellow Snow." I've always enjoyed Zappa's early Mothers stuff and his instrumental forays best, but if you did the "humor," there's some good stuff here, as on all of his albums.

Weather Report - Mysterious Traveller

Speaking of fusion: Weather Report's fourth LP captures them cultivating the sophisticated, yet approachable sound that brought them great commercial success once bassist Jaco Pastorious came on board. The LP earned solid reviews and was rated "Album of the Year" by Downbeat readers.

Mott the Hoople - The Hoople

Mott's last before singer Ian Hunter split to go solo. Great, glammy stuff, including "The Golden Age of Rock and Roll" and one of my faves by the group, "Roll Away the Stone," which I bust out each Easter.

Eagles - On the Border

I never liked 'em, but there's no denying their popularity of power as a chart force. This one yielded "Best of My Love," (which I do sorta like, and which hit #1) along with "James Dean" and "Already Gone." I'll listen to it again and see what happens.

Big Albums '74: Kiss, Eno, Big Star, Dolly and More

Notable albums released 50 years ago this month. Click the links to order from Amazon.

Kiss

The band's debut album pretty much sets the template for all that follow: Loud crunchy guitars with wailing solos, solid bass and drums and horridly sexist lyrics. Still, it's hard to deny the swinging swagger of single "Strutter." Plus, Ace looks supercool on the cover here. No wonder I dressed up like him for Halloween, using cut-up pieces of aluminum foil for the his star eyes.

Dolly Parton - Jolene

Wearing nearly as much makeup as Kiss, Dolly delivers far better songs on this one, her 13th(!) solo LP, including two stone-cold classics — the title track, of course, and "I Will Always Love You." The latter tune sounds as it should here, stripped down and tender, not overwrought and bombastic, as on later cover versions. There's other good stuff, too, like "River of Happiness" and "Early Morning Breeze." A great album front to back.

Van Morrison - It's Too Late to Stop Now

Before he became a cranky, COVID-denying crackpot along with his racist friend Eric Clapton, Van the Man actually seemed to occasionally have fun, as on this cracking live album. He's lively and engaging and sounds great on stretched-out, horn- and string-backed renditions of solo hits such as "Into the Mystic," "Domino" and "Caravan," along with a couple of Them tunes ("Here Comes the Night" and " Gloria.') Get it ponder what went awry.

Steely Dan - Pretzel Logic

I've never been a Dan fan — too smooth and snarky for me. But if you like 'em, this is a classic. I do like "Rikki Don't Lose that Number," though, because it steals from Horace Silver's "Song for My Father," which I love. At least they had good taste.

Todd Rundgren - Todd

Todd trots out the synths for album number 5 and the overall effect is.... pretty annoying, actually. Many listeners and critics at the time agreed. Single "A Dream Goes on Forever" isn't terrible though. No link because the LP appears to be out of print. The only thing I could find on Amazon is to an overpriced "audiophile" version, and I couldn't in good conscience send anyone down that path.

Aretha Franklin -  Let Me in Your Life

Aretha's 12th LP is a lushly produced affair featuring backing from everyone from Stanley Clarke, Deodato and Bob James, to Donny Hathaway, Cissy Houston and Cornell Dupree. It's all a little too rich for my blood, overall, but Aretha's covers of "I'm in Love" and "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" are killer.

Big Star - Radio City

Sounds like now. Big Star's perfect power pop is music for the ages, with memorable melodies, hooks and harmonies and some superb, jangly guitar playing. Brilliant co-leader Chris Bell had gone by the time this one came out, but Alex Chilton and comrades amble ably on. None of the tunes hit the charts because the band never got the promotion they deserved, but the LP is full of should've been hits, including the classic "September Gurls," which was memorably covered by the Bangles a decade or so later.

Eno -Here Come the Warm Jets

Sounds like 2074. Brian Eno's solo debut carries on from his Roxy Music experiments and breaks new ground, hinting at things to come in his future solo work, his collaborations with Robert Fripp, and his production work for Bowie and Talking Heads. "Baby's On Fire" is catchy, menacing and super creepy. Lead track "Needles in the Camel's Eye," described by Eno as "an instrumental with words," is a number one record on a planet that's way cooler than ours.

Big Albums from January 1974: Dylan, Joni, Harmonia and More

A look at the most important/influential albums released this month 50 years ago. Click the links to order them from Amazon.

Joni Mitchell - Court and Spark

Another Joni classic and the one that yielded her only Top 10 hit, "Help Me."

Bob Dylan - Planet Waves

Bob reconvenes the Band for a collection of his most personal tunes, including "Sara," "Wedding Song" and "Forever Young."

Gram Parsons - Grievous Angel

Gram continues to pioneer what we now call alt-country on his second and, sadly, final solo LP. Emmylou Harris is back, providing beautiful, sterling harmonies. James Burton and other hitters provide the instrumental backing. Tunes include "Hearts on Fire," "I Can't Dance," "Hearts on Fire" and a sublime "Love Hurts."

Harmonia - Musik von Harmonia

A Krautrock classic resulting from the combination of Neu! guitarist Michael Rother with Cluster's Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius. Must listening for anyone interested in the genre.

Big Albums from December 1973: Yes, Paul McCartney and Wings, James Brown

A look at some of the most important, influential LPs released 50 years ago this month. Click the links to order from Amazon.

Yes - Tales from Topographic Oceans

Full-on prog, complete with concept (inspired by Hindu texts) and side-long songs.  Controversial and even within the fragmenting band. The type of thing people either love or hate.

Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run

The album that demonstrated Paul would be just fine despite a rocky start to his post-Beatles career. Created under challenging circumstances (half the band quit ahead of recording, Paul and Linda were mugged in Nigeria during the session and some of the demo tracks were stolen, etc.) it's still considered by many to be Paul's best work (I'm a RAM guy, personally) and contains some great music, including the title track, "Jet," McCartney's Lennon nod, "Let Me Roll it," and ""Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five."

James Brown - The Payback

Originally created as the soundtrack for  Hell Up in Harlem, this music was rejected as not "funky enough." Yet it became Brown's best-selling LP and is still regarded as a classic. Listen to the title track and"Stone to the Bone." Plenty funky and more.

Big Albums from October 1973: Elton John, David Bowie, the Who and More!

LPs released 50 years ago this month. Click the links to order from Amazon.

Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Not just a big album of 1973, but a HUGE one. I was a kid then and it seemed like everyone's older sibling owned a copy. It's the one with  "Bennie and the Jets," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" and "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" and, oh yeah, "Candle in the Wind," along with much other good stuff.

Elvis Presley - Raised on Rock / For Ol' Times Sake

The King sort of gets back to his roots at Stax in his homebase of Memphis. Musicians include Donald "Duck" Dunn and Al Jackson, Jr., from the MGs.

Linda Ronstadt - Don't Cry Now

The hit album that marked Ronstadt's successful association with producer Peter Asher. Tunes include Ronstadt's covers of "Love Has No Pride," "Silver Threads and Golden Needles," "Sail Away" and "Desperado."

Lou Reed - Berlin

Fun songs about drugs, depression and doomed relationships! Disparaged at the time, it's not considered one of Lou's best works. I couldn't say. I own copy but have only played it once.

Bryan Ferry - These Foolish Things

Roxy Music's frontman sings Dylan, the Beatles, the Stones, the Beach Boys, Lesley Gore and much more on his high-charting (in the UK) solo debut.

The Band - Moondog Matinee

Bryan Ferry wasn't the only one doing cover albums in 1973. Hear the Band sing Fats Domino, Frogman Henry, Chuck Berry, Sam Cooke and more.

David Bowie - Pinups

The Band wasn't the only one doing cover LPs in 1973. Hear Bowie sing the Who, the Kinks, the Yardbirds and the Pretty Things, among others.

The Who - Quadrophenia

Pete Townshend's mod opera contains some of the Who's most dynamic playing and one of their greatest ballads, "Love Reign Over Me," with Roger Daltrey in top form. Like the band's Tommy, the storyline isn't terribly clear without reading Townshend's explanations or seeing the film, but the theme's of insecurity, identity crisis and finding your way in a crowd come through (sometimes very) loud and clear. The original vinyl came with a nice book of black-and-white photos.

Big Albums of September 1973: Mothers, Raspberries, Faust and More!

A look some of the biggest LP releases from 50 years ago this month. Click the links to order from Amazon.

The Mothers - Over-Nite Sensation

The LP that best exemplifies Frank Zappa's mix of lewd lyrics, sophomoric humor and sophisticated music, whether you like it or not. Highlights if you like 'em include "I am the Slime" and "Montana."

The Raspberries - Side 3

A fine slice of 70s power pop from Eric Carmen and crew, featuring singles "Tonight," "I'm a Rocker" and "Ecstasy."

Art Garfunkel - Angel Clare

Artie's best-selling solo debut includes his only Top 10 single, "All I Know," along with "I Shall Sing" and "Traveling Boy." Paul Simon and Jerry Garcia play guitar on country cover "Down in the Willow Garden," with Paul adding vocal harmonies.

Faust IV

Hailed as a Kraut Rock classic, this is also considered one of the band's most accessible releases, and well worth a listen.

Kool & the Gang - Wild and Peaceful

The one with "Jungle Boogie" and "Hollywood Swinging." Good stuff.

Big Albums from July 1973: Funkadelic, New York Dolls, ZZ Top, More!

Classic LPs released this month 50 years ago. Click the links to order from Amazon.

Funkadelic - Cosmic Slop

Slop was a flop at the time of its release, but it was the first LP from George Cinton's groove collective to feature a cover by afro-futurist artist Pedro Bell and the title track attracted attention from the Hip Hop generation.

Bob Dylan - Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid

Dylan's soundtrack to the Sam Peckinpah film of the same name, in which Bob co-starred as "Alias." It includes instrumentals from the film, along with the classic "Knockin' On Heaven's Door."

Evis Presley - Elvis

A late-period million seller for the King, this one includes covers of Gordon Lightfoot ("(That's What You Get) for Lovin' Me") and Dylan ("Don't Think Twice it's All Right"), along with "Fool," the Top 20 single that gave this LP the nickname "The Fool Album" to differentiate from his same-named 1956 LP.

Mott the Hoople - Mott

Ian Hunter and comrades' sixth LP, featuring "All the Way to Memphis," "Honaloochie Boogie" and more.

John McLaughlin and Carlos Santana - Love Devotion Surrender

Two master guitarists pay tribute John Coltrane. Whole lot of shredding going on.

New York Dolls

Fantastic first from U.S. punk pioneers. Kicks off screaming with "Personality Crisis" and never lets up. Produced by Todd Rundgren.

ZZ Top - Tres Hombres

The Texas trio's third as their big breakthrough, featuring radio hits "La Grange," "Waitin' for the Bus," "Jesus Just Left Chicago" and more.

Big Albums from June 1973: Willie, Waylon, Nilsson and More!

A look at some key LPs released this month 50 years ago. Click the links to order them from Amazon.

Willie Nelson - Shotgun Willie

The album that marked Willie's breakthrough into the pop/rock audience and which helped spark the outlaw country movement. Includes the title track and classic "Whiskey River."

Joe Walsh - The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get

His solo breakthrough, featuring Top 10 hit, "Rocky Mountain Way."

Waylon Jennings - Honky Tonk Heroes

The other important outlaw country album released this month. Many of the tunes are co-writes by Waylon and the great Billy Joe Shaver. Tunes include the classic "We Had it All," "Old Five and Dimers Like Me," "Omaha" and "You Ask Me To."

Sly and the Family Stone - Fresh

A great album that sadly marked the beginning of Sly's downward spiral. It was the last Sly and the Family Stone LP to hit the Top 10. Includes "If You Want Me to Stay," "Babies Makin' Babies" and Sly's cover of "Qué Será, Será (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)."

Nilsson - A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night

Along with Ringo Starr's Sentimental Journey, this is one of the earliest "pop stars sing standards" LPs. It features one of our all-time greatest vocalists lending his pipes to "It Had to Be You," "Makin' Whoopee," "As Time Goes By" and more over arrangements by Sinatra collaborator Gordon Jenkins. A treasure.

Big Albums from May 1973: Paul Simon, Hawkwind, Carpenters, More!

Here's a look at some classic vinyl released 50 years ago this month. Click the links to order from Amazon.

Paul Simon - There Goes Rhymin' Simon

A collection of well-crafted, catchy tunes in an eclectic array of styles. Leading off with "Kodachrome," other tunes include "Something So Right," "Take Me to the Mardi Gras," and "Love Me Like a Rock."

Hawkwind - Space Ritual

A double LP of hard-driving 70s space rock. Close your eyes and you can imagine the stage spectacle, which must've been intense, what with flashing lights, Stacia and all.

Carpenters - Now & Then

A much different from Space Ritual. Features the "Sesame Street"-derived "Sing" and "Yesterday Once More," which tops off a long medley or rock'n'roll oldies. Karen's voice amazes.

Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells

An amazing feat of musicianship by the artist who, 19 at the time, played nearly everything on it. But it may creep you out if you've seen "The Exorcist," which used a bit of it on its soundtrack.

George Harrison - Living in the Material World

The much-anticipated followup to All Thing Must Pass didn't disappoint. Lead-off track "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)" is a Harrison classic. Other highlights include "Sue Me, Sue You Blues," "Don't Let Me Wait Too Long," and the title track. Hare Krishna.