253. Milton Nascimento and Lo Borges - Club Da Esquina

Release Date: 1972
Label:

Back when I worked in the record industry, we'd devoted one or two rows of storage to 'World Music', most of which never got sold. This is a pity, because I'm sure if I'd paid more attention I would've discovered hidden gems such as this album.There are traces of The Beatles in here, along with soft-rock, jazz, bossa-nova and other elements. It's worth buying.

Rating: 8/10
Favourite Track:  Nuvem Cigana

252. Hugh Masekele - Home is Where The Music Is

Release Data: 1972
Label: Chisa

This book is swamped with African Jazz (Afrijazz). It's impossible to get away from it. I listened to this album earlier in the week and it was nice, but I doubt I'll be in any rush to buy it. Maybe if my music tastes where more worldly I might one day.

Rating: 6/10
Favourite Track: Minawa

251. Lou Reed - Transformer

 

Release Date: 1972
Label: RCA

Lou Reed of the Velvet Underground teamed up with the forgotten man of pop, David Bowie to record this testament to robots in disguise. It is arguably the best thing Lou Reed has ever done, and certainly contains his most well known tracks in the form of 'Walk on the Wild Side' and his glorious cover of Children in Need's 'Perfect Day'.

Rating: 9/10
Favourite Track: Perfect Day

250. Yes - Close To The Edge

Release Date: 1972
Label: Atlantic

Yes (known as Oui in France) come at us with this relatively short (for Prog) album of three songs. They are all very good in their own right, especially the first two and this is great record for the boys from Birmingham. The music is, as always, highly ambitious - ranging from 'gothic organs to furious jazz to rock grooves.' to quote the book.

Rating: 9/10
Favourite Track: Close To The Edge

249. Deep Purple - Made in Japan

Release Date: 1972
Label: Purple

I didn't particularly enjoy 'Machine Head' or 'In Rock', I'm not a massive fan of 'Live' albums, I have no intention of going to Japan, and I have no strong-feelings towards the shade betwixt blue and red on a colour wheel. Quite why the editors of this book thought I would like this plus hour fretwank by Depp Purple is anybody's guess. It even has a drum-solo in it!

Smoke on the Water is a great track, mind.

Rating: 3/10
Favourite Track: Smoke on the Water

248. Slade- Slayed

Release Date: 1972

Label: Polydor

Retrospective criticism of the Black Country's finest has Slade compared to illiterate yobs, but history cannot change the fact they were one of the UKs biggest singles acts in the early 70s. Incidentally, many of these singles were left of their studio albums (e.g. Coz I Luv You, Cum On Feel The Noize et al.) so we are left with a studio album which was released at the height of their fame, but doesn't necessarily showcase their best work.

The weapon in Slade's armor is of course, Noddy Holder's vocals. Their weakness is undoubtedly their spelling. None of these songs are going to win the award for originality or experimentation, but Slade are the definition of fun, and that is the primary importance of Glam Rock.

Rating: 7/10

Favourite: Mama Weer All Crazee Now

247. Curtis Mayfield - Superfly

Release Date: 1972
Label: Curtom

Like Shaft this is another soundtrack to another blaxploitation film from the early 70s. Unlike that album, this was actually good. How the two films compare I don't know.

Rating: 7/10
Favourite Track: Freddie's Dead

246. Neil Young - Harvest

Release Date: 1972
Label: Reprise

This is another album I already own, and probably my favourite Neil Young album.

Rating: 10/10
Favourite Song: Heart of Gold

245. Steely Dan - Can't Buy a Thrill

Release Date: 1972
Label: ABC

Steely Dan are a clever band, whose intricate musical details rewards repeated listening. Unfortunately for them, this is not the way I work on this blog and they have one chance to impress. The album blends jazz and AOR, with complex arrangements and soft vocals. I bought 'Aja' years ago, but have never really given it a chance. After this album, I'll be revisiting it again to see what I've been missing all these years.

Rating: 9/10
Favourite Track: Do It Again

244. Black Sabbath - Volume 4

 

Release Date: 1972
Label: Vertigo

It seems that, in their forty-year career, Black Sabbath only released three albums that are worth listening to, and only one of those (Paranoid) is essential. Their debut was on the list because of its importance to Heavy Metal and this album isn't particularly enthused about either.

As always, the lyrics are woeful, but whereas the music made up for the other two albums, unfortunately it isn't that good on here.

Rating: 4/10
Favourite Track: Snowblind

243. Big Star - #1 Record

Release Date: 1972
Label: Ardent

This is a beautiful album full of wonderful harmonies and crafted pop songs. It seems this was relatively unsuccesful when it was released and has only gain prominence recently. The theme for 'That 70s Show' is on here. I really enjoyed this album.

Rating: 8/10
Favourite Track: Thirteen  

242. Deep Purple - Machine Head

Release Date: 1972
Label: Purple

Ah, this is very rock! I imagine in 1972 this would've been considered innovative and modern, but forty-five years later it almosts sound like a parody of itself. The album isn't terrible at all, it's just terribly dated and is the kind of album Jeremy Clarkson would listen to.

Rating: 5/10
Fav Track: Smoke on the Water

241. Randy Newman - Sail Away

Release Date: 1972
Label: Reprise

Randy Newman is a name familiar to those who grew up on Pixar movies. Younger people are probably not aware that he is a very funny and sarcastic songwriter though, and this talent is evident throughout this record. The opening track, which doubles as the title track, is an ironic promotion for slavery, sung from an American perspective. The album also includes the original version of 'You Can Leave Your Hat On' too.

Rating: 8/10
Favourite Track: Political Science

240. David Bowie - Hunky Dory

Release Date: 1971
Label: RCA

We have arrived at the final release of 1971 (which according to some was the best year in Rock, so I can only assume it's downhill from here) and the first David Bowie album. I've owned this for a long time and it contains many of my favourite Bowie songs.

Rating: 10/10
Favourite Track: Life on Mars

239. T-Rex - Electric Warrior

Release Date: 1971
Label: Fly

Marc Bolan was going nowhere fast until he discovered glitter eyeliner and a copy of Cigarettes and Alcohol. Borrowing the riff from the Oasis classic and taking his lyrical inspiration from books about the periodic table, and the cosmos he turned himself into the Glam Rock poster-boy - replacing previous title holder, Noddy Holder. Bolan recylcles the same riff on a number of songs, and the lyrics are nothing original, but the song themselves are great.

Rating: 9/10
Favourite Track: Get It On

238. Nilsson - Nilsson Schmilsson

Release Date: 1971
Label: RCA Victor

Known worldwide for his cover of Mariah Carey's 'Without You' - which features on this album - and for his teetotal life, Harry Schmilsson released seven albums before he found success. This album has been criticised as being a bit chaotic, and in poor taste (Coconut) but apart from these faults, I found the album a vast improvement on the previous two and like Janis Joplin, it is mainly to do with the excellent vocals.

Rating: 8/10
Favourite Track: Without You

237. John Prine - John Prine

Release Date: 1971
Label: Atlantic

John Prine was one of the many 'Next Dylans' that have been around since 1963, and it is obvious as to why. This almost sounds like a parody of Dylan's early vocal style and nothing will ever detract from that. The songs are supposed to be funny but, despite the quality lyrics, it just got on my nerves really.

Rating: 3/10
Favourite Track: Sam Stone

236. Gene Clark - White Light

Release Date: 1971
Label: A&M

Gene Clark was the original vocalist for The Byrds, leaving after the release of their second album before they went country. This is his second solo album - released four years after the first - and is your standard singer/songwriter fare. It has everything you'd expect- acoustic guitars, harmonicas, nice tunes etc - but nothing to set it apart from the rest of the pack.

Rating: 6/10
Favourite Track: Where My Love Lies Asleep

235. Flamin' Groovies - Teenage Head

Release Date: 1971
Label: Karma Sutra

Flamin' Groovies are a bit of a throwback to the late sixties. This is their third album, and their most important. At less than thirty-minutes long it doesn't do anything to wow, but it is also quite a nice bluesy album to listen to.

Rating: 6/10
Favourite Track: Evil Hearted Ada

234. The Faces - A Nod's as Good as a Wink to a Blind Horse

Release Date: 1971
Label: Warner Bros

Let's get the negatives out of the way. This album has Rod Stewart, lots of Rod.There is nothing particularly innovative or original about the music, and the lyrics are very blokey. The cover and title are embarrassingly poor too. Having said that, after reading a couple of reviews  that dismissed the album, I was pleasantly surprised. I prefer it to Rod's solo efforts, if just for the fact that Ronnie Lane sings lead vocals on a few of the tracks.

Rating: 7/10
Favourite Track: Debris

233. Fela Ransome Kuti and the Africa 70 with Ginger Baker - Live!

Release Date: 1971
Label: Celluoid

Fresh out of Cream(!), Ginger Baker adds his drumming talents to this Afrobeat record, fronted by the cool Fela Kuti. At just forty-five minutes long, and four tracks, the album is worth a listen and could easily be enjoyed time and time again.

Rating: 8/10
Favourite Track: Ye Ye De Smell

232. Janis Joplin - Pearl

Release Date: 1971
Label: Columbia

Having listened to 'Cheap Thrills' back in October, I was looking forward to hearing solo Janis. As one of the founder members of the 27 Club, her death has somewhat overshadowed her music. In fact, she died before this album could be completed, so unfortunately she was never around to benefit from its success. Once again, it is her vocals which are the best thing about this album, although the music and arrangements are better than what they are on 'Cheap Thrills'. Stripped down, sometimes to a skeletal minimum, they allow Janis to take centre stage, instead of being drowned out.

Rating: 10/10
Favourite Track: Me and Bobby McGee

231. Funkadelic - Maggot Brain

Release Date: 1971
Label: Westbound

Funk + Psychedelic = Funkadelic. Of course, they could've also named themselves Psunk (with a silent 'P'). I don't really understand the difference between Funkadelic and Parliament - who were also fronted by George (brother of Bill) Clinton at the same time. Anyway, I was worried about this album because the cover is bloody scary. Luckily, the music is bloody brilliant, and I could listen to this again.

Rating: 8/10
Favourite Track: Super Studpid

230. Joni Mitchell - Blue

Release Date: 1971
Label: Reprise

This is another album I already own, probably for the past ten years or so. I'd be lying if I said I played it regularly, but I enjoy it enough to keep.

Rating: 7/10
Favourite Track: The Last Time I Saw Richard

229. Leonard Cohen - Songs of Love & Hate

Release Date: 1971
Label: Columbia

It's all too easy to dismiss Leonard Cohen as monotous, depressing and dull, but this is all complete bollocks. He was unique, poetic and brilliant - all things that I aspire to me but fail miserably at. Yes, he's never going to win awards for his singing, or his musicianship, but he doesn't need to. Cohen knows what his strengths are and works with them. This is an angrier album than the previous two, but ranks just as high.

Rating: 9/10
Favourite Track: Famous Blue Raincoat

228. Emerson Lake and Palmer - Pictures at an Exhibition

Release Date: 1971
Label: Island

Firstly, I had no idea this was going to be a live album. I also didn't realise it was a reworking of a piece of classical music. If that isn't the definition of pretentiousness, I'm not sure what is. Anyway, with trepidation I pressed play and .... well .... it was so much better than I expected. After being slightly underwhelmed by their previous offering, I thought this was brilliant and have come to the conclusion that prog rock albums work better if the songs are part of a bigger suite.

Rating: 9/10
Favourite Track: Blues Variation

227. Rod Stewart - Every Picture Tells A Story

Release Date: 1971
Label: Mercury

The second Rob Stewart album in recent weeks, and like all of his work it would be much improved with the absence of his vocals. Yes, there are those who go weak at the knees when hearing his gravelly voice, but I'd rather suck pebbles.

Rating: 3/10
Favourite Track: Maggie May

226. Serge Gainsbough - Histoire de Melody Nelson

Release Date: 1971

Label: Philips

Mentionnez le nom de Serge Gainsbourg à toute personne née avant 1950 et ils commenceront immédiatement à chanter 'Je Taime ... Moi Non Plus'. Cet album ne contient pas cette chanson, mais elle comporte Jane Birkin - qui est, je suppose, la femme avec le rire distillant vers la fin de l'album. Ma copine est arrivée vers la fin du disque et, bien qu'elle parle couramment le français (contrairement à moi, qui utilise Google Translate), elle n'a pas aimé l'album. Je l'ai trouvé bizarre, mais intéressant, et définitivement meilleur que le précédent album français de ce livre.

Rating : 7/10

Favourite Track :

225. Led Zeppelin - IV

Release Date: 1971
Label: Atlantic

Like the previous three Led Zeppelin albums, I already own this - and it's the one I've owned the longest. Probably bought because it has 'Stairway to Heaven' on, it is also my favourite Led Zep record.

Rating: 10/10
Favourite Track: Stairway to Heaven

224. Emerson, Lake and Palmer

 

Release Date: 1971
Label: Island

I have no idea what Tarkus means, or what it is. For me, Greg Lake is the man who sang 'I Believe in Father Christmas' so it is slightly surprising to hear him as a prog-rock musician. To be honest, I can't actually remember what this album was like so it can't have made much of an impression on me. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either.

Rating: 5/10
Favourite Track: Tarkus

223. Don McClean - American Pie

Release Date: 1971
Label: United Artists

A long, long time ago, Don McLean released a song inspired by the 1999 sex-comedy of the same name. He did this without the use of any flutes. The album also includes a beautiful ballad about Vincent Kompany. Sadly those are probably the only essential songs on the album, the rest just meander by.

Rating: 5/10
Favourite Track:

222. Dolly Parton - Coat Of Many Colours

Release Date: 1971
Label: RCA Victor

The album title refers to the coat worn by Joseph in the book of Genesis although the actual song is about Dolly's own family and their closeness through austerity. The whole album lasts less than thirty minutes so the entire experience flies by in an instant.

Rating: 6/10
Favourite Track: She Never Met A Man She Didn't Like

221. Elton John - Madman Across The Water

Release Date: 1971
Label: DJM

I've been looking forward to listening to this album for a few weeks, ever since I noticed it was due. Being familiar with his hits, I thought it would be interesting to hear if his albums are worth further exploration. This one, his fourth, is noteable for its lush strings and also contains the hit, 'Tiny Dancer'. On the whole, it lacked that oomph which would move it from 'buy if on sale' to 'essential'.

Rating: 7/10
Favourite Track: Tiny Dancer

220. Can -Tago Mago

Release Date: 1971
Label: United Artists

Emre Can is a German professional footballer who, at the time of going to press, plays as a central midfielder for Liverpool Football Club and German national team. Twenty-three years before his birth he went back in time to record this influential album, which probably explains why it has been called innovative and comparisons have been made to the mid-90s club scene. If Emre Can had culled the final three tracks (i.e. those after 'Halleluwah'), we'd be left with 37 minutes of great music, but unfortunately I was forced to listen to an extra 30 minutes of atonal shit.

Rating: 5/10
Favourite Track: Halleluwah