Day 0181 - Close to You

The Carpenters "Close to You" (1970)

 
The book suggests there is a nostalgic view of 1970s kids mostly listening to Sabbath and Stooges-and raging against Nixon; whereas in fact more of them looked like, and listened to the Carpenters.  It makes sense in a way, as it's nice safe pop music played by an unthreatening band.  You see it at some point in every musical generation.

The Carpenters were a bit deeper than simple pop figureheads though.  They had been playing many of these songs in clubs and bars over the years, so they weren't just some manufactured hit. They sounded light and fluffy, but there was underlying melancholy.  Just to emphasise how they really weren't one-dimensional at all, the album ends with a crazy fusion jam with some mad jazz flute that would make Ron Burgundy swoon.

Day 0180 - Morrison Hotel

The Doors "Morrison Hotel" (1970) - got it

 
Haven't listened to this one in a while.  Generally it and 'Strange Days' tend to rotate as my least favourite Doors album... but listening again now it's actually pretty good. The band contrasted the smooth, easy-listening sound of previous album 'the Soft Parade' with a gutsy blues rock feel for this album.

The songs still have a rangey, stoned-out Doors feel to them with lots of little fun bits that catch you off guard. "Peace Frog" is one of the most fun tracks, "Queen of the Highway" manages to totally musically evoke being out on the road. "Waiting for the Sun" sounds kind of like classic Doors but with a touch of something different.  The only thing I'd say is that "Maggie McGill" somehow seems like the wrong closing track. I listened through the album a couple of times, and both times I was sat there for a minute or so after it finished like "oh, is it over?"

Day 0179 - Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath "Black Sabbath" (1970) - got it

 
The 1001 albums book is surprisingly critical of the musical quality of Black Sabbath's debut.  Surprising because (a) why put it in the book if you're going to slate it and (b) it's actually quite a technically accomplished album.  Every member gets a workout, with Geezer Butler's bass outlining "N.I.B" and the preceding bass jam "Bassically". The intro to the eponymous track features some drumming that could almost seem to sound sloppy on first listen, but is actually quite technically complex, and drummer Bill Ward just continues to impress throughout.
Iommi is the riff-master and throws down some solid guitar work throughout.  Even Ozzy was in fine voice back here.

Sabbath create some dark, heavy tracks.  Partly that gloom and doom probably comes from living in Birmingham, and partly it's because they recorded it in 12 hours for next to no money.
Dark album cover, heavy dark music that apparently was supposed to more saying "look out for the devil, beware because evil is gonna get you, but once their fans started going "Devil? Evil? Yeah boi!" Sabbath switched to biting the heads off of bats etc.

Day 0178 - Twelve Dreams of Dr Sardonicus

Spirit "Twelve Dreams of Dr Sardonicus" (1970)

 
Spirit were struggling commercially and internally.  The internal struggle coming from the guitarist's desire to play experimentally, while their singer wanted to take things in a more commercial direction.  Through conflict and compromise they seem to hit both marks quite nicely here.

According to the "1001 Albums..." book, they were partnered with a producer who was able to focus their animosity into the music (how 1990s of them) resulting in this interesting collection of music.  There are catchy, tight songs; raging , fuzzy rockers, and outbursts of noise.  All in all it keeps you on your toes!

Nb: apparently the titular Dr is the console/mixing desk in the studio where they recorded the album.

Day 0177 - Bitches Brew

Miles Davis "Bitches Brew" (1970) - got it

For me this is one of those albums where long tracks don't necessarily = 'great'.  It's not that I dislike the album.  It's a bold musical statement from an artist who surrounded himself with (more than) competent players and was not afraid to push the boat out.  I enjoy the music, but it's also easy enough to kind of lose focus during the extended noodling and start thinking about sandwiches or some such thing.

I think this is an album that needed to happen for Miles to move ahead, to really stretch out and explore and move to the next part of his career, certainly I prefer Miles' "Big Fun" album that was recorded in the next few years after this.

Something like this is not necessarily an album that would ever get made (or sell the equivalent of half a million copies in its first year) in this day and age.  I guess the 70s were a slightly more adventurous time in music.

 (beautiful album cover too)

Day 0176 - Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs

Derek and the Dominos "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs" (1970)

Spoilers: Derek is actually Garth Brooks.... sorry, I meant Eric Clapton

I guess that coming off the back of being a superstar in the Yardbirds, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and of course Cream, Clapton wanted to keep a bit more of a low profile with his first solo album... it worked too well , with the album bombing on its initial release!

I have to say that my view of blues albums being a bit samish at times comes into play here.  Definitely a double LP release is just too much (even if it is Clapton) for my tastes.  Tellingly then, the tracks that resonate most for me are the less bluesy ones like the poppy "I am yours" or the pulsing "why does love got to be so sad?"

The cover of Hendrix's "little wing" is terrible and heavy-handed and totally lacks the soulful spirit of the original.  Layla though is the album's highlight.  A great track with brilliant outro section. "Thorn tree in the garden" is a nice simple closer too.

Day 0175 - Cosmo's Factory

The 70s kicks off with another dose of CCR

Credence Clearwater Revival "Cosmo's Factory" (1970)

As with the other CCR albums, I found this one to be perfectly listenable, but nothing that 'changed my world'. Credence are a competent blues rock band who, I imagine, would have been quite exciting to see live back in the day. Listening now on record (to my tastes at least) they're just "okay".

To be fair though; they were machines.  This is apparently the 5th of 6 albums released across just 2 1/2 years!

Day 0174 - Hot Rats

Frank Zappa "Hot Rats" (1969) - got it

 
Frank Zappa: the worst boss in music history?  He realised that he could save himself a whole lot of money if he just fired the rest of the founding members of the band and hired players (including members of said band) when he needed them for albums or touring.

The album is almost entirely instrumental... in fact as Zappa himself put it: "The very idea! An all-instrumental album, except for one vocal cut — and that had to feature Captain Beefheart! He's no singer! Why are you wasting America's precious time with this, you asshole!"

It is funky fusion with a thick slice of blues.  Like I've said before, I'm not the biggest fan of long (quarter-hour) tracks, but some of these hold up well with exploratory, imaginative guitar solos from Frank.


...and so ends the 1960s.  Thanks Frank.

Day 0173 - Oar

Alexander Spence "Oar" (1969)

 
Spence is an ex-member of Moby Grape who had gone a bit whack-a-doodle and tried to break into one of his bandmates' hotel rooms with an axe.  Following that incident, he was sent to a mental hospital for a time and ended up writing a collection of songs.

Spence was given a massive advance from his record company, so he bought a motorcycle, then headed down to Nashville to record this album.
It's interesting collection of ambling, occasionally rambling tracks that.  Set against the backdrop of muisc in the 60s, the songs don't actually seem that mad or weird... just nicely so.

Day 0172 - The Stooges

The Stooges "The Stooges" (1969)

 
This could so easily be written off as just "one of the first punk albums" (a decent enough claim to fame in and of itself) but that would ignore the brilliant variety of it.  You get the hard, attitude-laden smack of most of the tracks, swirling with wah-wah guitar and Iggy's vocals flying between a sneer and a drone; but then this is contrasted with the 10 minute long droning chanting dirge of "we will fall", and the delicate 'Ann' (that eventually does bring out the distortion).  In some ways, their refusal to make an album that makes 'punk' sense is one of the more punk rock things they could have done.

The story behind it is almost as interesting as the album itself.  The record company A&R guy went looking to sign MC5 (for some reason) and after seeing the Stooges, ended up signing them too as kind of an afterthought.  An inauspicious start for such an influential band.

Put in the studio with Velvet Underground's John Cale, it quickly became apparent that, regardless of their attitude and live energy, the band only had 3 songs to their name and were sent to a hotel room for 2 days during which time they wrote the rest of the album!

Day 0171 - Scott 4

Scott Walker "Scott 4" (1969)

Apparently the commercial failure of this album drove Walker to retreat from writing and the music industry for a number of years; though he eventually emerged with a brand new bag musically.

I'm not sure why this one was less popular than his previous 3 solo albums, this is the first time I've listened to this album, but it sounds to be along similar lines to the previous albums (maybe that was the problem?).  Luscious string arrangements back Walker's gentle croon with one or two livelier, galloping numbers for variety.

Day 0170 - Liege & Lief

Fairport Convention "Liege & Lief" (1969)

 
Following the death of their original drummer in a bus accident, the band regrouped with a new drummer and a violin/mandolin player added to the mix to record this album.

Building on the sound of 'Unhalfbricking' with extended folk-rock workouts of traditional songs and original compositions, it's a solid enough album.

Day 0169 - Songs From a Room

Leonard Cohen "Songs From a Room" (1969)

Even more low-key and downbeat than his previous album (which is saying sommat).  Mostly just nice folky singer/songwriter style songs. I don't often pay much attention to other people's lyrics, but Leonard's wordsmanship is hard to ignore.

Putting this with "Songs of Love and Hate" Leonard is obviously into albums with.... songs, I guess.

Day 0168 - In the Court of the Crimson King

King Crimson "In the Court of the Crimson King" (1969)

This is a pretty impressive album (as is the cover).  Again, me and long songs are not always great bedfellows, but this is another one of those happy exceptions where the length of the track feels like it's used to good effect to really take you on a journey.  No moments feel wasted on this record, the musicianship is amazing, and I can totally see where Tool and the Mars Volta likely took their cues from this band.

Apparently this was the only album ever made by this particular configuration of the band.  I actually prefer their album "Red" but this is still brilliant. 

Day 0167 - Arthur - Or the decline and fall of the British Empire

The Kinks "Arthur - Or the decline and fall of the British Empire" (1969)

The Kinks continue to mine a similar vein to their previous albums; twee, perky, vaguely pastoral English-sounding pop.  As before, they totally ignore the various trends of psychedelia, garage, blues revival and fusion to keep doing what they're doing, and quite frankly, it's really good.

Day 0166 - Live/Dead

The Grateful Dead "Live/Dead" (1969)

I think it's safe to say that I have not been made a fan of the Grateful Dead by this album.  Jam band stuff doesn't automatically turn me off; I like some Phish and Les Claypool's acts, but this is supposed to be the Dead at their best (better than the studio stuff according to the book) and I found that my attention kind of phased in and out.  Maybe I should have listened stoned?

Day 0165 - Hot Buttered Soul

Isaac Hayes "Hot Buttered Soul" (1969) - got it

Isaac was a hit songwriter before this album.  He was primarily writing songs for other artists.  I saw a documentary about Stax Records, and it sounds like at some point EVERYBODY got given a chance to do an album.  Isaac first release didn't fare so well, but his second go paid off nicely, and once he had the Shaft soundtrack under his belt his reputation was pretty well set in stone.

With music I generally prefer shorter more concise statements (but with plenty of exceptions to that rule).  The songs on this album are fairly long, but they are just so damned sultry and funky that it doesn't matter, plus this seems to be one of the earliest albums designed specifically for the audience to "get it on" to, so I guess you don't want the tracks to be 3-4 minutes long!  That being said, I definitely need to be in the right mood to listen to the lengthy spoken word intro to "By the Time I Get to Phoenix".

Day 0164 - Elephant Mountain

The Youngbloods "Elephant Mountain" (1969)

I really enjoyed this.  Laidback, pop and folk with bits of funky rock along the way.  It has a lot of kind of 'familiar' sounds.  At times there are hints of Led Zep's mellower moments, at other times you can hear various stages of the Beatles.

Some really beautiful melodies and chord sequences. Sunshiney acoustic songs.  "Double sunlight" in particular is gorgeous,

Day 0163 - Unhalfbricking

The Fairport Convention "Unhalfbricking" (1969)

Nice bit of folk with a good female vocalist. I was familiar with the name Fairport Convention and kind of what they were about but hadn't heard a note of the music.

I enjoyed this one well enough; it was assured folk music, at times pretty, at times fun.

Day 0162 - Chicago Transit System

Chicago "Chicago Transit System" (1969)

 
Okay, this is not what I thought Chicago were.  For some reason I had them pegged as this real cheese-ball act along the lines of the eagles or whatever, but in fact they're quite the varied act.

I was pleasantly surprised with some really interesting, almost avant-garde moments amongst some fusiony bits, some rock, blues and all kinds of interesting bits and pieces. "Someday (August 29, 1968)" in particular is pretty cool.

Day 0161 - Happy Sad

Tim Buckley "Happy Sad" (1969)

Tim is another of those artists who built at least part of his mystique on being a kind of moody dude who died early. I enjoyed his previous album in this list "hello, and goodbye", this one was a bit hit and miss for my tastes, but then "love from room 109 at the islander (on Pacific Coast Highway)" is wave-backed epic beauty!

Day 0160 - Stand!

Sly and the Family Stone "Stand!" (1969) - got it

This has got to be one of the first serious 'funk' albums.  Those beats.  Dat bass.  Those horns. Sly and the family are one of those bands that have always been on my radar but I've never quite got around to checking them out properly.

A mixture of races and genders coming together to make great music, and one of the earliest bands to mix upbeat funky 'party' music with serious political commentary.  Great stuff, and as the "got it" at the top implies, I ended up picking up a copy of the album as a result of listening to it.

Day 0159 - Cloud Nine

The Temptations "Cloud Nine" (1969)

 
Love the Temptations, I only have a greatest hits, so some of this was new to me. The Temps got teamed up with a new lead singer and a hot producer who wanted to take them new places, moving beyond the standard motown sound to throw in some looser, slinkier funk beats and some whicky whicky wah wah guitar.  It's great stuff, and suits the Temps' vocal harmonies and passionate lead vocals down to the ground.
 

Day 0158 - Kick out the jams

The MC5 "Kick out the jams" (1969) - got it

I really liked the title track for this so ended up buying the album 'sound unheard'.  I was convinced that the rest of the record would live up to that standard (or at the very least that a few tracks would) but yeah, nah, they're not doing anything that Cream and Blue Cheer didn't already do better.

Aside from (a) the fact that the title track has been covered a lot and (b) the whole revolutionary, hippy aspect to them, I'm not convinced that they necessarily deserved a place on this list.

Day 0157 - Led Zeppelin II

Led Zeppelin "Led Zeppelin II" (1969)

This has to be a record: two entries in the 1001 albums book, with only a one other artist's album to separate them!

I'm more familiar with the non 'hits' on this album than I was from the debut.  There are further forays into delicate numbers with 'ramble on' (or parts of it are delicate) and the beautiful 'thank you'.  There's also plenty more big rockin' blues, including a favourite of mine 'heartbreaker'.

John Bonham's drums sound ENORMOUS throughout.

Day 0156 - The Band

The Band "The Band" (1969) - got it

 
The issues I had with 'songs from the big pink' are nicely addressed here.  It's another great collection of songs, but this time there is a bit more variety to be heard.  There's funky rock, aching ballads, bouncy rock, folksy Americana, even a little bit of blue-eyed soul.

Great album! Weirdly the guy doing lead vocals on "the night they drove old Dixie down" sounds kind of like Cleveland from Family Guy

Day 0155 - Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin "Led Zeppelin" (1969)

Wow.

...or to elaborate: this album hits you in the face and then continues to drag you along behind in its wake (in a good way).  All four players are on form, delivering huge pounding renditions of blues, rock and then shifting gear for a bit of mellow folkiness.  Musical history is dug up to deliver some hot blues, filtered through modern studio techniques and sensibilities, never better displayed than on the one-two punch of "you shook me" (love the diving guitar/vocal parts) and the ever-brilliant "Dazed and confused".  Plant's voice suits the blues rock to a tee and would go on to influence generations of singers... it's just a pity that many of them don't work too hard to hide the influence.

I have the two-disc "Remasters" greatest hits and I have listened to some deeper cuts, but I hadn't really heard this debut before.

Day 0154 - Happy Trails

Quicksilver Messenger Service "Happy Trails" (1969)

 
Not overly thrilled with this one, I think partly because I thought that this was going to be a whole other kind of album. Judging the album by its cover, it has a country (maybe folky) look to it... but nope, it's an early jam-band.

That in and of itself wouldn't 'kill' a good album, but then this didn't particularly grab me. It wasn't 'bad', there was just never a "oh wow, that's great" moment.