I flippantly remarked today that my favorite musical era is marked by the period between the Kent State shootings (May 1970) and the election of Jimmy Carter (November 1976). And so, here are ten of my favorite albums from that period. I turned three the month Kent State happened; I was nine when Carter defeated Ford. (The 1976 presidential election was the first one I followed closely, and I walked precincts in Carmel for Carter-Mondale that fall).
I’d take all of these albums to a desert island with me. Of course, I’d love to have them on original vinyl with that wonderful “hiss and pop” sound that came with an old-fashioned record.
I’m limiting myself to one album per artist, and though I might change the order a week from now, I’m ranking them as follows:
1. “Late For The Sky“, Jackson Browne. There are very few albums from any era on which every single track is a gem. This is one such recording. I burned through two cassettes before I finally got the CD. Favorite Track: “Before the Deluge.”
2. “Pieces of the Sky“, Emmylou Harris. Favorite Tracks: “Boulder to Birmingham”, “Queen of the Silver Dollar”
3. “The Last of the Red Hot Burritos“, Flying Burrito Brothers. Favorite Track: “High Fashion Queen”
4. “Turnstiles“, Billy Joel. Favorite Track: “I’ve Loved These Days”
5. “Blood On The Tracks“, Bob Dylan. My favorite Dylan album ever, hands down. Favorite track: “Shelter From the Storm.”
6. “Manassas“, Steven Stills and Manassas. Favorite track: “The Treasure (Take One)”
7. “Eagles“, The Eagles. Everyone says “Hotel California” is the essential Eagles album, but I’ll take their self-titled debut. Favorite song: “Peaceful, Easy Feeling.”
8. “Blue“, Joni Mitchell. Who doesn’t love this album? Most people pick the wonderful “Carey” as their favorite song, but I’ll go with “This Flight Tonight”.
9. “Madman Across the Water“, Elton John. Obviously, “Tiny Dancer” is one of the greatest songs ever, but I’ll select the title cut as my fav.
10. “Harvest“, Neil Young. Favorite track: “A Man Needs A Maid.”
And the bonus album is obvious:
“Born to Run“, Bruce Springsteen.
This list was the soundtrack to my childhood. My parents were huuuuge Jackson Browne fans, to the point where they even listened to that terrible discoey album he made. I could probably sing you every lyric he ever wrote. Neil Young, too. I think my favorite Neil young album is Harvest Moon, though. I love how Young has been able to grow old, sing songs about divorce and minivans, and still come out with such a balance of being cool and hopelessly sentimental.
Funny how sometimes you can’t tell the difference between nostalgia and actual musical taste.
Hugo, perhaps the finest album to come out during that period is “A Tribute to Jack Johnson” by Miles Davis. You should do yourself a favor and check it out.
Mr. Bad, I hate jazz. There. I said it.
Sara, it’s true that there’s a thin line between nostalgia and actual musical taste — but I think I can distinguish the two. Listening to the Monkees is nostalgic, for example, but they’re never making any top ten list of mine!
As always I hate to quibble, but I’m surprised that “Carey” is the assumed #1 song on Blue for most folks. “California” and “A Case of You” would’ve been my guesses (the latter in spite of Prince’s cover).
Alas, although she’s never made a bad move (career or aesthetic), I think we’re all scared of the impending Starbucks album:
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/business/la-wk-quick26.4jul26,1,4939642.story?coll=la-headlines-business-enter
Jeff, the “Carey” answer is based on a very unscientific survey of many good friends. Thanks for the unsettling link!
1) “Eat a Peach”
Allman Bros and
“Greatest Hits”
Janis Joplin
2)”Born to Run”
Springsteen
3)”On the Border”
Eagles and:
“Retrospective”
Buffalo Springfield
4)”Moondance”
Van Morrison
5)”The Turning Point”
John Mayall
6)”Blue”
Joni Michell
7)”Blind Faith”
Duh
8)”Deja Vu”
CSNY
9)”Workingman’s Dead”
Duh
10)”Silk Degrees”
Boz Scaggs
Cheated a bit here, but I did not start buying albums until 1970.
Bonus? Anything by Laura Nyro!
If I hadn’t already had Stills and Young on my list solo, Ahunt, I would have put on “Deja Vu.”
Yeah Hu, and I have everything Emmylou has ever released.
Mr. Bad, I hate jazz. There. I said it.
Blasphemy!
Good stuff on your list, Hugo, but I have a guilty love of some of the soft rock from later in the decade. Dr. Hook, Little River Band, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, things like that–my ten-years-older sister listened to them, so I was brainwashed into loving them as much as it embarrasses me. Still, I do like Neil Young as well. Another great 70′s artist is Warren Zevon. The more I learn about him, the better I like him both as an artist and a human being.
Hugo, “A Tribute to Jack Johnson” was called “the greatest rock recording of all time” by the guy who wrote the liner notes for the reissue (whose name I can’t recall, but I think he wrote for Downbeat or the NY Times). Thus, not too many jazz fans would call it ‘jazz’ – most of us call that stuff ‘fusion,’ which I also happen to like. As I do hippie-dippy stuff like The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Jefferson Airplane (not Starship!) CSNY, Joni Mitchell (Shadows and Light is my all time favorite or hers); country (authentic stuff, like George Jones, Hank Williams, et al.); bluegrass (e.g., Bill Monroe, Doc Watson, et al.); blues; Tex-mex; soveranza; norteno (sorry, no tilde for the “n” on this machine); punk (Black Flag, Circle Jerks, X, Dead Kennedys, etc.), etc.
There’s no bad music, just bad songs.
But you “hate jazz?” Sheesh, I always thought your taste in music was lame (except for your punk leanings) and now I’m sure of it.
I freely admit that most people would consider my musical tastes lame. When I go on and on about early Billy Joel and early Jackson Browne, I get a lot of rolled eyes!
It’s okay, Hugo. You should see how people react when I try to defend early Jimmy Buffett. “Coast of Marseilles” is one of my favorite songs. All who judge him on “Cheeseburger” be damned, I’ll always love that one.
Katie, I really am quite fond of “He Went to Paris,” and in that vein, John Prine’s “Hello In There.”
I hate jazz. There. I said it.
Embrace me, my brother!
In No Order:
Paranoid – Black Sabbath
Runes – Led Zeppelin
Alive – Kiss
Leftoverture – Kansas
2112 – Rush
Sad Wings of Destiny – Judas Priest
Billion Dollar Babies – Alice Cooper
Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols -Sex Pistols
Exile on Main Street – Rolling Stones
Rocks – Aerosmith
Gonz, I love the Kansas and Stones albums. And in my youth, loved that Sex Pistols record.
And I would have guessed you liked KISS!
I’m gonna record a scat version of ‘Daydream Believer’ just for you.
Bill, I never said I hated the Monkees. (Maybe I did in 1981, but I didn’t mean it.) They just don’t sound, well, timeless to me.
Bop dop deedleee doo wop and a homecoming queeeeeeeeen dee-oo-doo-dee-doo-wop. Sleeeepy Jean-deeeyat-da-da-de-yaaaaa!
I’m sorry, what?
Actually, I have to amend that Kansas to their “Masque” album. I think Leftoverture was the breakout album, but Masque really defined them.
And Funt – I have a bootleg of the Sex Pistols doing “Not Your Stepping Stone.”
You should have seen me in my Gene Simmons getup. It was scary.