Last year I dropped two posts celebrating the 50th anniversary of the music of 1972. Those posts can be found here and here. They were so well received that I've decided to turn the celebration into an annual event.
When it comes to popular music, 1973 (like 1972) represents the high point of the classic rock era. The remarkable creativity of the music of that time period was the result of three main factors. First, artists benefited from advances in studio recording technology pioneered by 1960s bands like the Beach Boys and the Beatles. Bands or individual singer/songwriters with enough of a production budget could take the time necessary to make recordings as provocative as possible. What might have been a simple folk song in 1953, with a three-chord guitar arrangement, by 1973 could be an elaborate score featuring string or horn arrangements, the synthesizer, and/or a variety of special effects.
Second, record company executives at the time took risks on artists that marketing surveys or focus groups might have told them to avoid. The risk paid off: 1973 ended up being quite profitable for the record companies, as it turned out that the baby boomer audience really dug all of the fresh, original sounds.
Third, FM radio was generally excellent at the time. Even smaller market stations featured DJs who loved the music and did not spend every day updating the weather and running through stale playlists. The best jocks were music lovers, and they used their shows to educate listeners about the uniqueness of bands, singer/songwriters, albums, and individual songs. (Former WNEW-FM DJ Richard Near's book is must reading on this topic.).
This post identifies 25 noteworthy albums from 1973. Later this year, part II will identify another 25.
#50: Sly and the Family Stone, "Fresh". The last top-10 album recorded by this legendary funk-rock outfit, "Fresh" is today widely recognized as a funk classic. Pop culture critic Eoghan Lyng's 50th anniversary review says the record, "didn't disappoint, an album that was contemporary yet as scintillating as anything heard on the rock airwaves." My favorite song on the album is "If You Want Me To Stay," a funk-rock-pop classic that the Red Hot Chili Peppers did a spectacular cover of in 1985.
Sly and the Family Stone: If You Want Me to Stay
#49: Joe Walsh, "The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get". In between guitar legend Joe Walsh's stints with the James Gang (1968-1971) and the Eagles (1976-today), he released three great albums, the second of which was his breakthrough "The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get." The album's most famous song, "Rocky Mountain Way," gives us a guitar riff that's every bit as iconic as Clapton's "Layla" and Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water." In 2012 Walsh revealed to Howard Stern how the song came about.
#48: Ellen McIlwaine, "We the People". The late Ms. McIlwaine (died 2021) was one of the most underrated singer/songwriter/slide guitar players in the history of music. In the 1960s she was a popular act at Manhattan's famous Cafe Au Go Go, opening for some of the great blues musicians of the time. "We the People" demonstrated her eclectic mix of blues, gospel, pop, and rock. The most heard song on the album was "I Don't Want To Play," a tune that best represents her vocal, lyrical, and slide guitar style.
Ellen McIlwaine: I Don't Want to Play
#47: Billy Joel, "Piano Man". Billy's breakthrough album that put him in the same league as Elton John, Paul Simon, and other noted singer/songwriters of the era. The title track is probably the most famous, but for me "Captain Jack" is the tune that makes the entire album worth the price of admission. The song's message about a bored, 21-year-old suburbanite masturbator whose mom still makes his bed and who has to visit heroin dealer "Captain Jack" to get a thrill in life was 50-years ahead of its time.
#46: The Allman Brothers, "Brothers and Sisters". One of the Allman's most popular albums from their classic period, "Brothers and Sisters" was a breakout record for guitarist/singer/composer Dickie Betts. Two Betts penned tunes, "Ramblin' Man" and the instrumental "Jessica" became staples on FM radio and in the band's live performances for many years. The Allman Brothers defined the southern rock sound and inspired scores of artists in the genre.
The Allman Brothers Band: Jessica
#45: The Marshall Tucker Band, "The Marshall Tucker Band". Want an example of an Allman Brothers inspired band? How about the Marshall Tucker Tucker Band? From Spartanburg, South Carolina, their debut album in 1973 incorporated blues, jazz, country, and pop elements. "Can't You See," written and sung by lead guitarist and main songwriter Toy Caldwell (died 1993) remains as one of the towering tunes in the southern rock genre.
The Marshall Tucker Band: Can't You See
#44: Lynyrd Skynyrd, "Pronounced 'Leh-'Nerd 'Skin-'Nerd". Want another example of an Allman Brothers inspired band? Lynyrd Skynyrd's first album was one of the most popular debuts in rock history, with a number of songs that got heavy airplay on FM radio throughout the 1970s and beyond. After a tragic 1977 plane crash killed lead singer Ronnie Van Zant and other band members, the song "Free Bird," with its poignant lyrics, soulful Van Zant vocals, and Gary Rossington's jaw dropping guitar runs, took on added meaning for the band's legion of fans.
#43: Bruce Springsteen, "Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J." When this debut album by Bruce was released, it was popular with music critics who saw him as the new Bob Dylan. It wasn't until two albums later, with the release of "Born to Run," that Springsteen became a household name. "Greetings From Asbury Park" actually survives as one of his best albums, with songs that remain in his concert set list to this very day.
#42: Steely Dan, "Countdown to Ecstasy". The second album from probably the greatest jazz-rock outfit of all time. The innovation and creativity that Steely Dan band leaders Donald Fagen and Walter Becker brought to popular music--both lyrically and instrumentally--was remarkable in its time, inspired generations of musicians, and still sounds as fresh as anything you will hear on the radio today.
#41: Paul McCartney and Wings, "Band on the Run". In 1973 all of the former Beatles released solo albums. "Band on the Run" defined McCartney's post-Beatles sound, included a number of radio hits, and is still his most successful post-fab four recording.
Paul McCartney: Band on the Run
#40: Ringo Starr, "Ringo". After the breakup of the Beatles, the world learned that drummer Ringo Starr was actually a pretty good songwriter. He had a number of hits in the early 1970s; several of them appeared on this album.
#39: George Harrison, "Living in the Material World". George's 4th solo album, "Living in the Material World" gives us the former Beatle at his most preachy and spiritual.
George Harrison: Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)
#38: John Lennon, "Mind Games". Not John's best album, but still a significant part of his catalogue. The title track has always fascinated me because on it John plays slide guitar in a way that sounds like a full orchestral arrangement. If someone told you that the London Symphony Orchestra was playing on the song you would believe it.
#37: The Pointer Sisters, "The Pointer Sisters". The debut album from the legendary girl group, The first song on the album, a cover of Allen Toussaint's "Yes We Can Can," is a soul-funk classic.
The Pointer Sisters: Yes We Can Can
#36: Tanya Tucker, "What's Your Mama's Name". Released when she was just 14 years old, "What's Your Mama's Name" was Tanya Tucker's country teen-idol classic. She was a big influence on modern stars like Taylor Swift, and really all artists that got their start as teens.
Tanya Tucker: Blood Red and Goin' Down
#35: The Eagles, "Desperado". The Eagles' second album, featuring the country and folk influences that were the Eagles' brand in those early days. Thanks to the Seinfeld episode in which Elaine's boyfriend is mesmerized by the song "Desperado," I've never been able to listen to it again without chuckling.
#34: Aersosmith, "Aerosmith". The first album by the Boston-based band led by lead singer Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry. The album became most known for the mega-hit "Dream On" which was, paradoxically, the song least typical of the Aerosmith sound. The song that best represents the Aerosmith sound, for me anyway, is "One Way Street," a rockin' blues based tune that shows the band's Rolling Stones and garage rock influences.
#33: Suzi Quatro, "Suzi Quatro". The first album from a groundbreaking artist. Before Suzi Quatro, hard rock had been a mostly male-dominated field. With her funky bass playing and raunchy vocals, Suzi showed that women could rock with the best of them. Her cover version of "All Shook Up" might be the best one ever recorded. Elvis liked it so much he actually invited Suzy to Graceland.
#32: Steve Miller Band, "The Joker". Steve Miller is a guitar legend. In the 1960s he mostly recorded and performed psychedelic rock in tune with the hippy vibe of the era. "The Joker" did not really deviate from that formula, but the songs were less spacy and more radio-friendly. The title track is one of the first songs I remember hearing as a 12-year-old, and at the time I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever heard. It certainly was the first time I had ever heard the word "pompatus."
#31: The Doobie Brothers, "The Captain and Me". One of the best albums from the original Doobie Brothers. "Long Train Runnin'" was one of those monster hits that was rockin' enough for FM radio but catchy enough for AM. It features the great Tom Johnston at his vocal high point.
The Doobie Brothers: Long Train Runnin'
#30: The Spinners, "Spinners". The first album released by the Spinners after they left the Motown label, "Spinners" is a classic example of the "sweet soul" sound. In 1973 "I'll Be Around" and "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" were in heavy radio rotation.
The Spinners: Could It Be I'm Falling In Love
#29: Little Feat, "Dixie Chicken". Thanks mostly to lead singer, songwriter, and guitar player Lowell George (died 1979), Little Feat had one of the most unique sounds in rock history. They were a kind of funk, country, R & B, jazz, pop, rock hybrid that has never been recreated. "Dixie Chicken" was the band's breakthrough album, and created a loyal fan base.
#28: New York Dolls, "New York Dolls". The debut album from a band that had great impact on the "glam" rock movement of the early 1970s and the punk rock movement that would start later in the decade. The entire album is a high energy, rockin' good time.
The New York Dolls: Personality Crisis
#27: Jim Croce, "I Got A Name". Folk singer Jim Croce died tragically in a plane crash at the age of 30. "I Got A Name" was released after his death. It includes some of his most popular songs, including the title track and "I'll Have to Say I Love You In a Song."
#26: Chicago, "Chicago VI". How popular were the jazz-rock-pop band Chicago? In the 1970s they released five consecutive albums that reached #1 on the charts. Chicago VI was the second of them, and also the last one to include all the original band members. Other bands have produced songs with great horn arrangements, but Chicago had a way of doing it in a Beatles-esque fashion that appealed to serious as well as casual listeners.
Chicago: Feelin' Stronger Every Day
Sometime before the end of the year we will post the to-25 of 1973. Have some suggestions? Feel free to reply to this post or email me.
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