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1974 After a great 1973, 1974 was rather an off year for lps/classic rock; it was, however, a fine year for goofy hit singles by numerous one hit wonders. There were of course a few gems among the lps released, some of which would be rediscovered many years later (Big Star's Radio City, Kraftwork's Autobahn, etc.) Anyway, judge for yourselves. Also noteworthy; the large number of live records which became hits, a trend which would peak a few years later with the landmark Frampton Comes Alive. Another note; 1974 was the year that Patti Smith released her seminal 45- Hey Joe/Piss Factory, which was a precursor to the punk/indie rock and self released music of a few years later. Patti is a true visionary. Of course, radio ignored her and very few people know who she was at this point. I decided to mark what I think are the best LPs of this year with a simple asterisk. - Tom Aerosmith - Get Your Wings ("Train Kept a Rollin'") Average White Band - Average White Band ("Pick Up the Pieces") Bachman-Turner Overdrive - Not Fragile ("You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet") Bad Company - Bad Company ("Can't Get Enough") Beach Boys - Endless Summer (compilation of earlier hits) Be-Bop Deluxe - Axe Victim* Big Star - Radio City* Elvin Bishop - Let It Flow Black Sabbath - Sabbath, Bloody Sabbath Blue Oyster Cult - Secret Treaties (contains Patti Smith song - "Career of Evil") David Bowie - Diamond Dogs ("1984," "Big Brother," "Rebel Rebel")* David Bowie - David Live John Cale - Fear* Can - Soon Over Babaluma Captain Beefheart - Unconditionally Guaranteed TD NOTE: In a later discussion, Tom noted: I also remember checking out Beefheart's Doc at the Radar Station, as well as some Henry Cow, around the same time that I was listening to stuff like Pere Ubu, Robert Fripp, and Red Krayola, and they all seemed to fit together. But my initial exposure to Beefheart was on Zappa's Hot Rats LP, particularly the song "Willie the Pimp" (a great tune I might add). (Which reminds me, if you've ever listened to Eugene Chadbourne, you may have heard his really free form acoustic tribute to Beefheart.) More recently, I've been listening to Beefheart's Trout Mask Replica, which is an amazing record. To which Jeff Troutman added: My first Beefheart experience was with "Willie" as well. I agree; great song. I went right out and grabbed Beefheart's Safe As Milk and Mirror Man. Trout Mask Replica is considered by many to be his best record; there certainly isn't much else like it. Harry Chapin - Verities and Balderdash ("Cat's in the Cradle," "I Wanna Learn A Love Song," "30,000 Pounds Of Bananas," "Six String Orchestra") Tiny Dancer: Another massive hit for Harry, "Cat's In The Cradle" would become his signature tune and was even remade by Ugly Joe Kidd recently. Eric Clapton - 461 Ocean Blvd. ("I Shot The Sheriff") Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young - So Far (compilation) Deep Purple - Burn Rick Derringer - All American Boy Doobie Brothers - What Once Were Vices Now Are Habits ("Black Water") Bob Dylan - Planet Waves Bob Dylan - Before The Flood* (live LP) The Eagles - On The Border ("Best of My Love," "Already Gone") ELO - Eldorado Emerson, Lake and Palmer - Welcome Back My Friends, To the Show That Never Ends (live) Brian Eno - Taking Tiger Mountain By Strategy* TD NOTE: In a later discussion, Tom noted: I was listening to Taking Tiger Mountain the other day, and it's a really sweet, melodic record. It seems that Eno is primarily known as a producer, one who specializes in "treatments" of conventional instruments and recording techniques to make them sound very unconventional. He's also known as a pioneer of the 'ambient' genre, particularly on Music For Airports and Music For Films. But he's also a very talented popster, when he wants to be, as he is here. To which Jeff Troutman added: If you haven't yet, check out his early '90s collaboration with John Cale, Wrong Way Up. It's a wonderful little pop gem that featured Eno singing again for the first time in years. Fleetwood Mac - Heroes Are Hard To Find Dan Fogelberg - Souvenirs Foghat - Rock and Roll Outlaws Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway Hall and Oates - War Babies Henry Cow - Unrest* Jeff Troutman: Major props for including stuff by these guys, who went mostly unheard during their day but produced some fantastic music. To which Tom added: I suppose the fact that these musicians were so non-commercial is part of the reason why their music holds up very well to this day. Jefferson Starship - Dragon Fly Jethro Tull - War Child ("Bungle in the Jungle") Elton John - Caribou ("Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me," "The Bitch Is Back") Tiny Dancer: Also contains the classic (for the fans, not a commercial hit) "Ticking". I still rank "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" as one of the best love songs ever written. King Crimson - Starless and Bible Black Jeff Troutman: Great record. Little known fact about it is that it's mostly made up of live improvisations, with the audiences edited out. The Kinks - Preservation Act II* Kiss - Kiss ("Strutter," "Black Diamond") Kiss - Hotter Than Hell Kraftwork - Autobahn* LaBelle - Nightbirds ("Lady Marmalade") John Lennon - Walls and Bridges ("Whatever Gets You Through The Night," "#9 Dream") Little Feat - Feats Don't Fail Me Now Bob Marley and the Wailers - Natty Dread* ("No Woman, No Cry") The Meters - Rejuvenation Van Morrison - It's Too Late To Stop Now (live) Mott The Hoople - The Hoople Mott The Hoople - Live New York Dolls - Too Much Too Soon* The Ohio Players - Skin Tight Ozark Mountain Daredevils - Ozark Mountain Daredevils Parliament - Up For the Down Stroke Gram Parsons - Grievous Angel* Queen - Queen II Lou Reed - Sally Can't Dance Lou Reed - Rock 'n' Roll Animal* (live) The Residents - Meet The Residents Rolling Stones - It's Only Rock 'n' Roll Roxy Music - Country Life* Todd Rundgren - Todd Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band - Seven ("Get Out Of Denver") Steely Dan - Countdown to Ecstasy ("Bodhisattva," "Show Biz Kids," "My Old School") Steely Dan - Pretzel Logic ("Rikki Don't Lose That Number," "Any Major Dude Will Tell You") Supertramp - Crime Of The Century ("School," "Bloody Well Right," "Dreamer") Thin Lizzy - Nightlife Velvet Underground - 1969 Velvet Underground Live With Lou Reed* Tom Waits - The Heart Of Saturday Night Edgar Winter - Shock Treatment Yes - Relayer Neil Young - On The Beach DavisK adds: Ohio Players - Fire George McCrae - Rock Your Baby Jeff Troutman adds: Frank Zappa came out with Apostrophe in '74, notable for being one of his most successful albums. Go to the next page for Tiny Dancer's additions. Choose a year or click on Next 1970/ 1971/ 1972/ 1973/ 1974 1975/ 1976/ 1977/ 1978/ 1979 
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