My Top 10 1970s Albums (#5 to #1)
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#5 Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)
The famous album cover where Paul Simon's hair looks like Art Garfunkel's mustache.
While some of the other artists on this list were just starting to achieve stardom and wider recognition, the Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel duo were heading towards the exit door.
Tensions had been increasing between the two and, while debatably not even their best album as a whole (see "Bookends", 1968), it's impressive that they managed to produce this album just before each deciding to go their own way and leaving off to have somewhat successful solo careers (Simon more than Garfunkel).
While not the most cohesive album in this list, "Bridge Over Troubled Water" has a bit of everything. We get some of their better-known songs like "Cecilia", "The Boxer" and the eponymous track, a pseudo-live cover of the Everly Brothers ("Bye Bye Love") and their take on a Peruvian traditional folk song ("El Cóndor Pasa"). We even get some not-so-obvious personal jabs from Simon at Garfunkel in "So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright" and "The Only Living Boy in New York" (my personal favorite from this record), which is very ironic considering the title they chose for this album.
In general, there isn't a single weak track on "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and you could say that S&G really went out with a bang.
#4 Supertramp - Crime Of The Century (1974)
For me, it's really surprising how often this album is overlooked in 1970s lists, even more so considering that Supertramp did end up reaching at least some commercial success shortly after (with "Breakfast In America" in 1979), and most of the songs here would become staples in Supertramp concerts well into their career.
The first side is amazing, the highlights are the proggy "School" and the lounge-like "Bloody Well Right", and it's, in my opinion, one of the strongest 4-song sequence ever put to record.
The second side is slightly weaker but still contains one of Supertram's most popular songs (and the single from the LP) "Dreamer" and even the song I consider the weakest of the whole album, the eponymous track, is a fitting finale for this stellar album.
I consider this album a kind of little brother to #3 on this list (due to their common themes and release date proximity), and while it was a close call deciding which one went on the podium, I gave a slight edge to the next album due to historical context.
#3 Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon (1973)
For me, it's really surprising how often this album is overlooked in 1970s lists, even more so considering that Supertramp did end up reaching at least some commercial success shortly after (with "Breakfast In America" in 1979), and most of the songs here would become staples in Supertramp concerts well into their career.
The first side is amazing, the highlights are the proggy "School" and the lounge-like "Bloody Well Right", and it's, in my opinion, one of the strongest 4-song sequence ever put to record.
The second side is slightly weaker but still contains one of Supertram's most popular songs (and the single from the LP) "Dreamer" and even the song I consider the weakest of the whole album, the eponymous track, is a fitting finale for this stellar album.
The second side is slightly weaker but still contains one of Supertram's most popular songs (and the single from the LP) "Dreamer" and even the song I consider the weakest of the whole album, the eponymous track, is a fitting finale for this stellar album.
I consider this album a kind of little brother to #3 on this list (due to their common themes and release date proximity), and while it was a close call deciding which one went on the podium, I gave a slight edge to the next album due to historical context.
Considered by most as Pink Floyd's seminal work, "The Dark Side Of The Moon" was the culmination of a trip that started with the early Syd Barret days, when the band had already started to touch upon themes like social isolation and just madness in general, albeit in an unfocused and not-so-serious way, then started maturing after (or because?) Syd Barret left eventually delivering "Meddle", the last stepping stone in their growth, and a kinda little brother of "The Dark Side Of The Moon".
Much has already been written about this album, how it saw, probably for the first time, a Rock group explore mental health and societal issues with such a serious and mature delivery.
The inclusion of voice-overs by people close to the band, the sound effects, the powerful vocal performance of Clare Torry on "The Great Gig in the Sky" and just the general musicianship of the band make this a record that stands the test of time to this day.
It was a really tough call between this album and #3 but, as much as I love this record (I probably hear it once or twice every year), the inclusion of "Speak To Me" and "On The Run" (which I view almost as filler tracks, although they do help set the mood for the album as a whole) penalized it a bit so I had to give a slight edge to the next record on this list.
#2 Genesis - Selling England By The Pound (1973)Considered by many to be the best pure Prog record ever made, "Selling England By The Pound" was made during the period hardcore fans usually describe as "the real Genesis". Phil Collins was still the most recent addition, having joined 2 albums earlier for "Nursery Cryme" (little did he know he would be promoted to lead singer in just 2 years, and help the band achieve huge commercial success) and the band was starting to shift into a higher gear.
"Selling England By The Pound" is composed of 8 tracks: 4 longer and proggier numbers interpolated with 4 short ones, almost like when you eat ginger between sushi pieces, to cleanse the palate.
For me, the main difference between this and other Peter-Gabriel-era Genesis is that while all longer tracks here are superb, some of the highlights are actually the shorter ones. "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)", one of my favorites from the record, was actually the first charting single for Genesis (it reached #21 in the UK at the time) and "After The Ordeal", meant to symbolize the calm before the storm (after the epic "The Battle of Epping Forest") is just one of the most beautiful instrumental songs I've ever heard in my life.
For me the album highlight is "The Cinema Show", an epic track where each of its part is compelling, culminating in probably my favorite keyboard solo of all time.
#1 Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here (1975)
While "The Dark Side Of The Moon" is generally considered THE album, and don't be surprised if you see it in many lists as the #1 record ever made, I slightly prefer "Wish You Were Here".
Sometimes you listen to a particular record at a particular point in your life and it really affects you, staying with you for the rest of your life.
"Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts I - V)" is the highlight here and, in my opinion, the song that best defines Pink Floyd. A 13-minute-and-a-half track that seems to have come from outer space, full of emotional and very tasty guitar playing by David Gilmour, great synthesizers by Richard Wright and, generally not considered a great vocalist, even some memorable vocals by Roger Waters. Mostly dedicated to Pink Floyd's first vocalist, Syd Barrey (who had all but become insane at the time this album was recorded), he actually fatefully visited the band in the studio, by chance during the mixing of this song, failing to recognize it was about himself!
"Have a Cigar" and "Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts VI - IX)" are amazing and I think you understand how ridiculous it sounds to say the worst songs of this record are "Welcome to the Machine" and "Wish You Were Here" (maybe Pink Floyd's most well-known song?).
Honorable Mentions:
King Crimson - Red (1974)
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Yes - Fragile (1971)
The Doors - L.A. Woman (1971)
Considered by most as Pink Floyd's seminal work, "The Dark Side Of The Moon" was the culmination of a trip that started with the early Syd Barret days, when the band had already started to touch upon themes like social isolation and just madness in general, albeit in an unfocused and not-so-serious way, then started maturing after (or because?) Syd Barret left eventually delivering "Meddle", the last stepping stone in their growth, and a kinda little brother of "The Dark Side Of The Moon".
Much has already been written about this album, how it saw, probably for the first time, a Rock group explore mental health and societal issues with such a serious and mature delivery.
The inclusion of voice-overs by people close to the band, the sound effects, the powerful vocal performance of Clare Torry on "The Great Gig in the Sky" and just the general musicianship of the band make this a record that stands the test of time to this day.
It was a really tough call between this album and #3 but, as much as I love this record (I probably hear it once or twice every year), the inclusion of "Speak To Me" and "On The Run" (which I view almost as filler tracks, although they do help set the mood for the album as a whole) penalized it a bit so I had to give a slight edge to the next record on this list.
Considered by many to be the best pure Prog record ever made, "Selling England By The Pound" was made during the period hardcore fans usually describe as "the real Genesis". Phil Collins was still the most recent addition, having joined 2 albums earlier for "Nursery Cryme" (little did he know he would be promoted to lead singer in just 2 years, and help the band achieve huge commercial success) and the band was starting to shift into a higher gear.
"Selling England By The Pound" is composed of 8 tracks: 4 longer and proggier numbers interpolated with 4 short ones, almost like when you eat ginger between sushi pieces, to cleanse the palate.
For me, the main difference between this and other Peter-Gabriel-era Genesis is that while all longer tracks here are superb, some of the highlights are actually the shorter ones. "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)", one of my favorites from the record, was actually the first charting single for Genesis (it reached #21 in the UK at the time) and "After The Ordeal", meant to symbolize the calm before the storm (after the epic "The Battle of Epping Forest") is just one of the most beautiful instrumental songs I've ever heard in my life.
For me the album highlight is "The Cinema Show", an epic track where each of its part is compelling, culminating in probably my favorite keyboard solo of all time.
While "The Dark Side Of The Moon" is generally considered THE album, and don't be surprised if you see it in many lists as the #1 record ever made, I slightly prefer "Wish You Were Here".
Sometimes you listen to a particular record at a particular point in your life and it really affects you, staying with you for the rest of your life.
"Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts I - V)" is the highlight here and, in my opinion, the song that best defines Pink Floyd. A 13-minute-and-a-half track that seems to have come from outer space, full of emotional and very tasty guitar playing by David Gilmour, great synthesizers by Richard Wright and, generally not considered a great vocalist, even some memorable vocals by Roger Waters. Mostly dedicated to Pink Floyd's first vocalist, Syd Barrey (who had all but become insane at the time this album was recorded), he actually fatefully visited the band in the studio, by chance during the mixing of this song, failing to recognize it was about himself!
"Have a Cigar" and "Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts VI - IX)" are amazing and I think you understand how ridiculous it sounds to say the worst songs of this record are "Welcome to the Machine" and "Wish You Were Here" (maybe Pink Floyd's most well-known song?).
Honorable Mentions:
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Nice!
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