Day 0212 - Tapestry

Carole King "Tapestry" (1971)

 
Carole King had been songwriting partnership with her husband, after they broke up he encouraged her to carry on with music on her own.  It is a testament to the quality of her songwriting ability that so many of these tracks have been recorded by other artists from Aretha Franklin and James Taylor to Celine Dion, Shania Twain and even... McFly (ugh).

This is a great album, one of those ones that, listening to it on this list I will definitely keep an eye out for a copy next time I'm in a music store.
King's voice is strong and sure.  Her arrangements switch from intimate and basic, to rich and full as best suited to the song.  

The album cover shows Carole hand-stitching a tapestry and chilling with her cat (like a badass).

Day 0211 - Who's Next

The Who "Who's Next" (1971)

 
Plenty of people know the story: after 'Tommy' Pete Townsend wanted to try for another rock opera called "Lifehouse".  Lifehouse did not happen.  Nobody could understand the story that Townsend was trying to tell, so the project was scrapped and Pete was forced to pick the best of the songs to make a new Who album.  Just to complicate things, the album also features other Townsend songs that have nothing to do with the 'Lifehouse' story.

The album is considered by many (including Townsend) to be one of their best, and with "Baba O'Riley" "Behind blue eyes" and "Won't get fooled again" there's definitely a strong argument for that.
As with all Who records, the rhythm section are tightly controlled chaos.  Daltry's vocals are strong, and Townsend stretches out with some geeky synthesiser noodling alongside his guitar work.

Day 0210 - Trafalgar

Bee Gees "Trafalgar" (1971)

I found the previous Bee Gees album on this list was a bit of a bland mess.  Here they seem to have come back swinging, with an album of tight pop tracks, including the brilliant "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?" (Al Green did it better).  There are some just luscious harmonies (not surprising) and great arrangements. Robin had apparently recently released a solo album "Robin's Reign" so was content to take a back-seat for much of this album.

Day 0209 - The Yes Album

Yes "The Yes Album" (1971)

 
I'd said in an earlier post that I had less of an idea about the musical identity of the 70s than I did of, say the 60s, 80s or 90s.  I guess though that this style is something I would associate with the 70s - the prog thing.  Extended musical passages, increased presence of keyboards, big vocal harmonies, mix of musical styles and time signatures.

According to the book, the band got rid of their guitarist, enlisted another and knuckled down to work on their new sound; moving from psychedelic rock to prog.  Apparently they worked for so long that they missed the deadline for the album release and were nearly broke by the time they unveiled their new sound. 

...dedication

Day 0208 - What's Goin' On

Marvin Gaye "What's Goin' On" (1970) - got it

Another Motown artist trying to break away from not only the Motown sound, but from his own image as a purveyor of light-n-easy pop hits.

Following the death of his sometime singing partner Tammi Terrell, and in reaction to the changing times Marvin wanted to branch out.  "What's Goin' On" is the result of that.  It both moves him forward, while still taking a lot of cues from Marvin's past in doo-wop vocal groups in building his brilliantly interplaying vocals.

Motown didn't want to release the album, as they couldn't see the potential for hits in a song suite dripping with political and social conscience.  Marvin threatened to never record another thing for the label if it wasn't released so they relented.  Three hit singles and 30-40 years of strong sales seem to have vindicated MG.

The sound of this album would go on to inspire and influence other artists from Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder through to Jamiroquai and Justin Timberlake.

Day 0207 - There's a Riot Goin' On

Sly and the Family Stone "There's a Riot Goin' On" (1971)

With the previous S&tFS album on this list 'Stand!' it was such a brilliant and immediate record that I ended up going out and buying a copy after listening; this album is a bit more difficult. 

This abum seems like another case of the glow of the 60s giving way to disillusionment.  The hopeful attitude that had been building around the civil rights movement  was starting to sour due to a lack of progress and Sly's own mental and emotional state had been going downhill.  The result of this malaise seems to be a less cohesive album, that still has some funky grooves, but with all the players fighting for space.  There are live drums on top of drum machines, guitars, keyboards and horns all seeming to muddy each other instead of complementing.  Miles Davis was rumoured to have played on the album, though whether you can spot him is another matter.

The album finishes strongly though, "Thank you for talkin' to me Africa" is a funky groove that just won't quit (almost literally). 

Day 0206 - If Only I Could Remember My Name

David Crosby "If Only I Could Remember My Name" (1971)

 
Another "oh that's nice... but I probably won't seek it out to listen again" kind of album. Also yet another of Crosby, Stills, Nash and/or Young's members coming out with a solo album.

Crosby had recently suffered the loss of his girlfriend in a car accident.  Filtered through the fading of the summer of love, this album is full of lovely harmonies and a mix of delicate melodies and harder rocking songs but all with a darker undertone.