1974: The Worst Year for Music?

[Jahfin]

I'm not sure how many of you heard this feature on NPR's Morning Edition today but they tried to make a case for 1974 being the worst year for music. Examples used included "Seasons in the Sun", "Billy, Don't Be A Hero", "The Piano Man", "The Joker" and others. I agree with most of those except for "The Joker". Yep, Steve Miller may of gone downhill in the years following that but I'm still a fan of his early to mid 70s work and the blues stuff he did with Boz Scaggs in the 60s. Anyway, here's a link to the piece:

http://www.npr.org/rundowns/rundown.php ... te=current

And a link to a list of albums released in 1974, although it is by no means complete. Just going by this list I know that the Aerosmith, Buffett and Grateful Dead records were getting some heavy duty airtime on my turntable back then.

http://tinylink.com/?KfVk62FJRo

[ph4ever]

In order for me to make an intelligent comment on that I would first have to remember 1974........


hmmmmmm 74

1974


My junior year in high school








nope.......can't do it

[ragtopW]

Lets see haer is a partial list you decide
Daniel - Elton John Yesterday Once More - Carpenters Brother Louie - Stories We're An American Band - Grand Funk My Maria - B.W. Stevenson Angie - Rolling Stones Bennie and The Jets - Elton John
(I've Been) Searchin' So Long - Chicago Haven't Got Time For The Pain - Carly Simon Come Monday - Jimmy Buffett Rikki Don't Lose That Number - Steely Dan I Shot The Sheriff - Eric Clapton Jazzman - Carole King
Cats In The Cradle - Harry Chapin Lady Marmalade - Labelle You make Me Feel Brand New. Stylistics.
THE BALLROOM BLITZ The Sweet Another Park, Another Sunday - The Doobie Brothers
Another Saturday Night - Cat Stevens Clap for the Wolfman - The Guess Who
Don't Call Us, We'll Call You - Sugarloaf & Jerry Corbetta Don't Change Horses (in the Middle of a Stream) - Tower of Power Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd Free Man in Paris - Joni Mitchell Haven't Got Time For the Pain - Carly Simon If You Wanna Get to Heaven - Ozark Mountain Daredevils It's Only Rock & Roll (But I Like It) - The Rolling Stones Smokin' in the Boys' Room - Brownsville Station WOLD - Harry Chapin
Workin' at the Car Wash Blues - Jim Croce

[bearphin]

I would have to say that NPR has their collective heads up their transistors!! That is a great list of tunes!!!

Or maybe im just too old!!!!

[f2cdlzrd]

Ummmmmm.....1974

2 years before I was born, but I know some of those songs and they're great!

[ragtopW]

I would have to say that NPR has their collective heads up their transistors!! That is a great list of tunes!!!

Or maybe im just too old!!!!

You and me too Bear and I only took most of the songs I liked not even all
ans I left a lot of songs that other folks probably think better than the ones I took.

[Jahfin]

Lets see haer is a partial list you decide
Daniel - Elton John Yesterday Once More - Carpenters Brother Louie - Stories We're An American Band - Grand Funk My Maria - B.W. Stevenson Angie - Rolling Stones Bennie and The Jets - Elton John
(I've Been) Searchin' So Long - Chicago Haven't Got Time For The Pain - Carly Simon Come Monday - Jimmy Buffett Rikki Don't Lose That Number - Steely Dan I Shot The Sheriff - Eric Clapton Jazzman - Carole King
Cats In The Cradle - Harry Chapin Lady Marmalade - Labelle You make Me Feel Brand New. Stylistics.
THE BALLROOM BLITZ The Sweet Another Park, Another Sunday - The Doobie Brothers
Another Saturday Night - Cat Stevens Clap for the Wolfman - The Guess Who
Don't Call Us, We'll Call You - Sugarloaf & Jerry Corbetta Don't Change Horses (in the Middle of a Stream) - Tower of Power Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd Free Man in Paris - Joni Mitchell Haven't Got Time For the Pain - Carly Simon If You Wanna Get to Heaven - Ozark Mountain Daredevils It's Only Rock & Roll (But I Like It) - The Rolling Stones Smokin' in the Boys' Room - Brownsville Station WOLD - Harry Chapin
Workin' at the Car Wash Blues - Jim Croce

I'm not sure about all of those but I can definitely say the inclusion of "Freebird" is inaccurate. Skynyrd's second album (appropriately titled Second Helping) was released in 1974 and "Freebird" wasn't on that album, it was on their debut, Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd, which was released the year before.

[ph4ever]

Lets see haer is a partial list you decide
Daniel - Elton John Yesterday Once More - Carpenters Brother Louie - Stories We're An American Band - Grand Funk My Maria - B.W. Stevenson Angie - Rolling Stones Bennie and The Jets - Elton John
(I've Been) Searchin' So Long - Chicago Haven't Got Time For The Pain - Carly Simon Come Monday - Jimmy Buffett Rikki Don't Lose That Number - Steely Dan I Shot The Sheriff - Eric Clapton Jazzman - Carole King
Cats In The Cradle - Harry Chapin Lady Marmalade - Labelle You make Me Feel Brand New. Stylistics.
THE BALLROOM BLITZ The Sweet Another Park, Another Sunday - The Doobie Brothers
Another Saturday Night - Cat Stevens Clap for the Wolfman - The Guess Who
Don't Call Us, We'll Call You - Sugarloaf & Jerry Corbetta Don't Change Horses (in the Middle of a Stream) - Tower of Power Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd Free Man in Paris - Joni Mitchell Haven't Got Time For the Pain - Carly Simon If You Wanna Get to Heaven - Ozark Mountain Daredevils It's Only Rock & Roll (But I Like It) - The Rolling Stones Smokin' in the Boys' Room - Brownsville Station WOLD - Harry Chapin
Workin' at the Car Wash Blues - Jim Croce

I'm not sure about all of those but I can definitely say the inclusion of "Freebird" is inaccurate. Skynyrd's second album (appropriately titled Second Helping) was released in 1974 and "Freebird" wasn't on that album, it was on their debut, Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd, which was released the year before.

I will agree with you HOWEVER Freebird didn't get much airplay

[LIPH]

I will agree with you HOWEVER Freebird didn't get much airplay

Maybe not in 1974, but it's been way overplayed since then.

[ph4ever]

I will agree with you HOWEVER Freebird didn't get much airplay

Maybe not in 1974, but it's been way overplayed since then.

yea I should have said back then

[Jahfin]

I would have to say that NPR has their collective heads up their transistors!! That is a great list of tunes!!!

Or maybe im just too old!!!!

Did you click on the link I posted so you could hear the piece or are you going solely on what I posted because that is only the tip of the iceberg. Some of the other songs mentioned were Paul Anka's "She's Having My Baby", James Taylor and Carly Simon's "Mockingbird", and "I Honestly Love You" by Olivia Newton-John. I don't think they're saying EVERY song released that year were that atrocious, just the one's I've mentioned (and believe me, there's more).

Here's a list of some of the other records released that year (and some from Billboard's charts:

Joni Mitchell - Court and Spark
Bob Marley and The Wailers - Natty Dread
Gram Parsons - Grievous Angel
Richard and Linda Thompson - I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
Steely Dan - Pretzel Logic
Big Star - Radio City
Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Robert Wyatt - Rock Bottom
Van Morrison - It's Too Late To Stop Now
Kraftwerk - Autobahn
Neil Young - On the Beach
The Velvet Underground - 1969: The Velvet Underground Live with Lou Reed
Stevie Wonder - Fulfillingness First Finale
New York Dolls - Too Much Too Soon
King Crimson - Red
Tangerine Dream - Phaedra
Van Morrison - Veedon Fleece
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Second Helping
Roxy Music - Country Life
Lou Reed - Rock'n'Roll Animal
Herbie Hancock - Head hunters
John Cale - Fear
Queen -Sheer heart attack
David Bowie - Diamond Dogs
Bob Dylan - Planet waves
Bob Dylan/the Band - Before the flood
James Brown - The Payback
ELO - eldorado
Ann Peebles - I Can't Stand the Rain
Frank Zappa - Apostrophe (')
Can - Soon over Babaluma
Al Green - Al Green Explores Your Mind
Eno - Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)

From Billboard:

1974 Greatest Hits:

1. Takin Care Of Business - Bachman Turner Overdrive (BTO)
2. The Loco-motion - Grand Funk
3. Some Kind Of Wonderful - Grand Funk
4. Piano Man - Billy Joel
5. You're My First, My Last, My Everything - Barry White
6. Dancing Machine - Jackson Five
7. Jungle Boogie - Kool and the Gang
8. Can't Get Enough Of Your Love Babe - Barry White
9. Another Saturday Night - Cat Stevens
10. Cat's In The Cradle - Harry Chapin
11. Wildwood Weed - Jim Stafford
12. Kung Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas
13. Billy Don't Be A Hero - Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods
14. TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia) - MFSB
15. Boogie On Reggae Woman - Stevie Wonder
16. Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynrd
17. The b**** Is Back - Elton John
18. Waterloo - Abba
19. Doctor's Orders - Carol Douglas
20. Ain't Too Proud To Beg - Rolling Stones
21. Hooked On A Feeling - Blue Sude (1990's "the dancing baby song")
22. For The Love Of Money - O Jays
23. My Melody Of Love - Bobby Vinton
24. It's Only Rock and Roll - Rolling Stones
25. The Payback - James Brown
26. Bennie and the Jets - Elton John
27. Mocking Bird - James Taylor and Carly Simon
28. Everlasting Love - Carl Carlton
29. Honey, Honey - Abba
30. Clap For The Wolfman - Guess Who
31. I Shot The Sheriff - Eric Clapton
32. Then Came You - Dionne Warwick and the Spinners
33. Let It Ride - BTO
34. Whatever Gets You Through The Night - John Lennon
35. Rikki Don't Lose That Number - Steely Dan
36. Jazzman - Carole King
37. Midnight Rider - Greg Allman
38. You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet - BTO - Bachman Turner Overdrive
39. Get Dancin' - Disco Tex and the Sex-O-Lettes
40. Beach Baby - First Class

This year's Top Hits, according to Billboard Magazine:

1. The Way We Were - Barbra Streisand
2. Seasons In The Sun - Terry Jacks
3. The Streak - Ray Stevens
4. (You're) Having My Baby - Paul Anka
5. Kung Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas
6. Billy, Don't Be A Hero - Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods
7. Annie's Song - John Denver
8. The Loco-Motion - Grand Funk
9. TSOP (The Sound of Philadaelphia) - MFSB/Three Degrees
10. I Can Help - Billy swan
11. Rock Your Baby - George McCrea
12. I Honestly Love You - Olivia Newton-John
13. Bennie and the Jets - Elton John
14. The Joker - Steve Miller band
15. Then Came You - Dionne Warwick and the Spinners

[Tiki Bar]

I like 'em! Brings back a lot of fond memories as an 8 year old! Those WERE the good old days!

[pair8head]

I would have to say that NPR has their collective heads up their transistors!! That is a great list of tunes!!!

Or maybe im just too old!!!!

Well said.

[Jahfin]

I would have to say that NPR has their collective heads up their transistors!! That is a great list of tunes!!!

Or maybe im just too old!!!!

Well said.

What list of tunes are you referring to? The ones I posted or the ones NPR included in their commentary? I must be in the minority at this web site because I don't see how ANYBODY could consider Paul Anka's "You're Having My Baby" a great tune. I know it's all a matter of opinion anyway, but other than "The Joker" I was pretty much in agreement with the NPR feature, the rest of those tunes sucked ass.

[12vmanRick]

You know. Some of the big artist didn't put out milestone albums that year but there are some MAJOR classic songs and albums that year!

[Sidew13]

Born on Date
Me----June 1974
Pooh--Sep 1974

so a pretty good year IMHO

[ragtopW]

Born on Date
Me----June 1974
Pooh--Sep 1974

so a pretty good year IMHO

MY lil sis IN March of '74

[prrthd1987]

13 years before my time! But I like music from the 70's

[tully mars]

Did you click on the link I posted so you could hear the piece or are you going solely on what I posted because that is only the tip of the iceberg. Some of the other songs mentioned were Paul Anka's "She's Having My Baby", James Taylor and Carly Simon's "Mockingbird", and "I Honestly Love You" by Olivia Newton-John. I don't think they're saying EVERY song recently that year were that atrocious, just the one's I've mentioned (and believe me, there's more).

Here's a list of some of the other records released that year (and some from Billboard's charts:

Joni Mitchell - Court and Spark
Bob Marley and The Wailers - Natty Dread
Gram Parsons - Grievous Angel
Richard and Linda Thompson - I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
Steely Dan - Pretzel Logic
Big Star - Radio City
Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Robert Wyatt - Rock Bottom
Van Morrison - It's Too Late To Stop Now
Kraftwerk - Autobahn
Neil Young - On the Beach
The Velvet Underground - 1969: The Velvet Underground Live with Lou Reed
Stevie Wonder - Fulfillingness First Finale
New York Dolls - Too Much Too Soon
King Crimson - Red
Tangerine Dream - Phaedra
Van Morrison - Veedon Fleece
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Second Helping
Roxy Music - Country Life
Lou Reed - Rock'n'Roll Animal
Herbie Hancock - Head hunters
John Cale - Fear
Queen -Sheer heart attack
David Bowie - Diamond Dogs
Bob Dylan - Planet waves
Bob Dylan/the Band - Before the flood
James Brown - The Payback
ELO - eldorado
Ann Peebles - I Can't Stand the Rain
Frank Zappa - Apostrophe (')
Can - Soon over Babaluma
Al Green - Al Green Explores Your Mind
Eno - Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)

From Billboard:

1974 Greatest Hits:

1. Takin Care Of Business - Bachman Turner Overdrive (BTO)
2. The Loco-motion - Grand Funk
3. Some Kind Of Wonderful - Grand Funk
4. Piano Man - Billy Joel
5. You're My First, My Last, My Everything - Barry White
6. Dancing Machine - Jackson Five
7. Jungle Boogie - Kool and the Gang
8. Can't Get Enough Of Your Love Babe - Barry White
9. Another Saturday Night - Cat Stevens
10. Cat's In The Cradle - Harry Chapin
11. Wildwood Weed - Jim Stafford
12. Kung Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas
13. Billy Don't Be A Hero - Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods
14. TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia) - MFSB
15. Boogie On Reggae Woman - Stevie Wonder
16. Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynrd
17. The b**** Is Back - Elton John
18. Waterloo - Abba
19. Doctor's Orders - Carol Douglas
20. Ain't Too Proud To Beg - Rolling Stones
21. Hooked On A Feeling - Blue Sude (1990's "the dancing baby song")
22. For The Love Of Money - O Jays
23. My Melody Of Love - Bobby Vinton
24. It's Only Rock and Roll - Rolling Stones
25. The Payback - James Brown
26. Bennie and the Jets - Elton John
27. Mocking Bird - James Taylor and Carly Simon
28. Everlasting Love - Carl Carlton
29. Honey, Honey - Abba
30. Clap For The Wolfman - Guess Who
31. I Shot The Sheriff - Eric Clapton
32. Then Came You - Dionne Warwick and the Spinners
33. Let It Ride - BTO
34. Whatever Gets You Through The Night - John Lennon
35. Rikki Don't Lose That Number - Steely Dan
36. Jazzman - Carole King
37. Midnight Rider - Greg Allman
38. You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet - BTO - Bachman Turner Overdrive
39. Get Dancin' - Disco Tex and the Sex-O-Lettes
40. Beach Baby - First Class

This year's Top Hits, according to Billboard Magazine:

1. The Way We Were - Barbra Streisand
2. Seasons In The Sun - Terry Jacks
3. The Streak - Ray Stevens
4. (You're) Having My Baby - Paul Anka
5. Kung Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas
6. Billy, Don't Be A Hero - Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods
7. Annie's Song - John Denver
8. The Loco-Motion - Grand Funk
9. TSOP (The Sound of Philadaelphia) - MFSB/Three Degrees
10. I Can Help - Billy swan
11. Rock Your Baby - George McCrea
12. I Honestly Love You - Olivia Newton-John
13. Bennie and the Jets - Elton John
14. The Joker - Steve Miller band
15. Then Came You - Dionne Warwick and the Spinners

ummm did ya forget...Living and dying in 3/4 time?

[Jahfin]

ummm did ya forget...Living and dying in 3/4 time?

First of all, *I* didn't compile the lists, I found them on other web sites. This is also further evidence that apparently very few bothered to click on the links I posted at the beginning of the thread. The second link takes you to a list of albums released in 1974 which includes Living and Dying in 3/4 Time and A1A.