Let me add to an already prodigious list Yes' 6th album, the double record but only 4-track 'Tales from the Topographic Oceans', inspired by the Shastric Scriptures and for which Anderson and Howe won multiple awards as composers and arrangers. Even today, it listens unevenly and expansively, a true journey into perhaps the 'pathless land' which Krishnamurti famously used as a metaphor for Truth. Showcasing Howe's virtuosity, myself a guitar player I DID defend this album, though it was surpassingly abstruse and certainly the boldest, though not at all the best, musical effort by a pop group to that time, and perhaps to our own as well. A period critic said we would have to wait 25 years for it to be truly appreciated; well, that was 25 years ago now.
King Crimson's release for that year, 'Lark's Tongues in Aspic', also deserves to be on the list if for nothing other than its acid serving up of home-grown English auto-critique - or at least, criticism - on everything from class to the church; "Cigarettes, ice cream, figurines, of the Virgin Mary!".
And also from that SAME year, Genesis' 5th album, 'Selling England by the Pound' does the same with much more humanity and self-deprecation. Containing now canonical tracks such as 'I Know what I Like', 'Dancing with the Moonlit Knight', as well as the anthemic 'Firth of Fifth' with Tony Banks' eye-wateringly charismatic piano intro and leitmotif throughout, SEP, hit #3 in the UK charts and truly brought the band into the spot lights.
Finally, I wonder that no one has seemingly mentioned Wings' now legendary 'Band on the Run', which ended up being the top selling album in both UK and AU in the following year, with its late 1973 release. It was recently inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Two big hits, including 'Jet', and the title track, remain staples in Sir Paul's astonishingly long-lived tour presence to this day.
One thing is for sure, 1973 was quite a year for the pops. I DO think both the previous 2 years were better, however. And now we can do this again next year!
Yes, 1973 was quite the year! And your additions are excellent (though, despite his near-mythic status, I really can't stand solo McCartney - including 'Band on the Run', so that one would have never made my list). The Genesis album is truly great - I'm a long-time fan of the Peter Gabriel era - and I considered adding 'I Know What I Like', but that one'd already showed up in The Bus 2.35 ('Kubla Khan') and I try very hard not to repeat tracks. Limiting the playlist to five means only some make the cut ... but a lengthy playlist of these means I can hopefully include them at some point in the future!
This was definitely the era of album and conceptual rock. As for Sir Paul, I understand some distaste, but I never thought of Wings as he being solo but rather simply another band with him leading it and writing most of the material. I trust you have followed the much more heroics of Steve Hackett and his 'Genesis Revisited' series which really are some of the best DVD concerts I have ever seen. That period of music is certainly Genesis' very best.
WOW! I am definitely on the same wavelength as you on this one. Monumental year of music! I love all of your highlights. When asked the question we have all been asked at some point, "If you could only listen to one album....." my answer is always Quadrophenia.
Yes, I really enjoyed putting this one together! It's an amazing year for music - as if things just came together at the right time. And as for Quadrophenia ... I've not listened to that in years (many, many years), but a few weeks ago it popped up on a playlist. Suffice it to say it's been listened to in its entirety - and I've heard it like never before. An amazing accomplishment.
Great one Bryan. Love all that stuff. My favourite from '73 is Blue Oyster Cult's Tyranny and Mutation. Probably their best, and before they got really commercial.
Very glad you liked this one! Yes - '73 was quite the year for music, and I'll definitely need to check that album out as it's been FAR too long since I heard anything off of that one.
Glad you liked the post - and, yes, it was a hell of a year for music! If only Dark Side of the Moon had been released, that would have been enough ... but, no. They had to just heap brilliance upon brilliance on us!
Love it Bryan! For some reason, 1973 is a touchstone year for me--it was the year I really started to pay attention to music, so I know these albums well. It was the year I turned 9 years old! That quote at the end really landed with me too ...
It was definitely a great year, and though I was only 4 the radio was always on. And as for being 9 and switching onto music, I can completely relate: '78 in my bedroom, playing with my Star Wars figures with the radio on in the background. Music suddenly became very important! Glad you like the post - and I like the quote, too!
Goodbye yellow brick road had great songs on it, though I have to say that candle in the wind was, IMO, a dirge whose lyrics were meaningless drivel, with a huge helping of sentimental mush when it became an anthem for princess Diana. Cf Imagine. Well that's my opinion anyway.
Let me add to an already prodigious list Yes' 6th album, the double record but only 4-track 'Tales from the Topographic Oceans', inspired by the Shastric Scriptures and for which Anderson and Howe won multiple awards as composers and arrangers. Even today, it listens unevenly and expansively, a true journey into perhaps the 'pathless land' which Krishnamurti famously used as a metaphor for Truth. Showcasing Howe's virtuosity, myself a guitar player I DID defend this album, though it was surpassingly abstruse and certainly the boldest, though not at all the best, musical effort by a pop group to that time, and perhaps to our own as well. A period critic said we would have to wait 25 years for it to be truly appreciated; well, that was 25 years ago now.
King Crimson's release for that year, 'Lark's Tongues in Aspic', also deserves to be on the list if for nothing other than its acid serving up of home-grown English auto-critique - or at least, criticism - on everything from class to the church; "Cigarettes, ice cream, figurines, of the Virgin Mary!".
And also from that SAME year, Genesis' 5th album, 'Selling England by the Pound' does the same with much more humanity and self-deprecation. Containing now canonical tracks such as 'I Know what I Like', 'Dancing with the Moonlit Knight', as well as the anthemic 'Firth of Fifth' with Tony Banks' eye-wateringly charismatic piano intro and leitmotif throughout, SEP, hit #3 in the UK charts and truly brought the band into the spot lights.
Finally, I wonder that no one has seemingly mentioned Wings' now legendary 'Band on the Run', which ended up being the top selling album in both UK and AU in the following year, with its late 1973 release. It was recently inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Two big hits, including 'Jet', and the title track, remain staples in Sir Paul's astonishingly long-lived tour presence to this day.
One thing is for sure, 1973 was quite a year for the pops. I DO think both the previous 2 years were better, however. And now we can do this again next year!
Yes, 1973 was quite the year! And your additions are excellent (though, despite his near-mythic status, I really can't stand solo McCartney - including 'Band on the Run', so that one would have never made my list). The Genesis album is truly great - I'm a long-time fan of the Peter Gabriel era - and I considered adding 'I Know What I Like', but that one'd already showed up in The Bus 2.35 ('Kubla Khan') and I try very hard not to repeat tracks. Limiting the playlist to five means only some make the cut ... but a lengthy playlist of these means I can hopefully include them at some point in the future!
This was definitely the era of album and conceptual rock. As for Sir Paul, I understand some distaste, but I never thought of Wings as he being solo but rather simply another band with him leading it and writing most of the material. I trust you have followed the much more heroics of Steve Hackett and his 'Genesis Revisited' series which really are some of the best DVD concerts I have ever seen. That period of music is certainly Genesis' very best.
To be honest, I've not seen the Hackett DVDs - but will be checking them out ASAP. Thanks for the suggestion!
There's two I own (filmed in 2015-6) but he more recently toured again in 2019 so there may be others.
https://www.amazon.ca/Genesis-Revisited-Live-Royal-Albert/dp/B00GSO8I1U
This links to the other media including cds. Great shows!
WOW! I am definitely on the same wavelength as you on this one. Monumental year of music! I love all of your highlights. When asked the question we have all been asked at some point, "If you could only listen to one album....." my answer is always Quadrophenia.
Yes, I really enjoyed putting this one together! It's an amazing year for music - as if things just came together at the right time. And as for Quadrophenia ... I've not listened to that in years (many, many years), but a few weeks ago it popped up on a playlist. Suffice it to say it's been listened to in its entirety - and I've heard it like never before. An amazing accomplishment.
Great one Bryan. Love all that stuff. My favourite from '73 is Blue Oyster Cult's Tyranny and Mutation. Probably their best, and before they got really commercial.
Very glad you liked this one! Yes - '73 was quite the year for music, and I'll definitely need to check that album out as it's been FAR too long since I heard anything off of that one.
Great post! 1973 was indeed a great year for music! I was in college, so couldn’t afford to buy many albums, but I had a great cassette recorder.
Cocteau’s quote? I call “Excréments de taureaux!” It sounds good, but it doesn’t hold up.
Glad you liked the post - and, yes, it was a hell of a year for music! If only Dark Side of the Moon had been released, that would have been enough ... but, no. They had to just heap brilliance upon brilliance on us!
Love it Bryan! For some reason, 1973 is a touchstone year for me--it was the year I really started to pay attention to music, so I know these albums well. It was the year I turned 9 years old! That quote at the end really landed with me too ...
It was definitely a great year, and though I was only 4 the radio was always on. And as for being 9 and switching onto music, I can completely relate: '78 in my bedroom, playing with my Star Wars figures with the radio on in the background. Music suddenly became very important! Glad you like the post - and I like the quote, too!
Goodbye yellow brick road had great songs on it, though I have to say that candle in the wind was, IMO, a dirge whose lyrics were meaningless drivel, with a huge helping of sentimental mush when it became an anthem for princess Diana. Cf Imagine. Well that's my opinion anyway.
I CANNOT STAND that song. Hands down.
Ps Tommy was brill
It was - I like the Russell version, but years ago I saw it live and was amazed.