Moss Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 According to Tim Page, 1974 is the worst year for music ever. He makes a convincing case: 1974 "Billy don't be a hero""The night Chicago died""Your having my baby""Seasons in the sun""I honestly love you""Mockingbird" I happen to love the 70's too much, there has to be some worse years in the 80's and 90's but I still have to do my research to figure it out. I would love to hear what you think. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The High Heat Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 That year I heard MC Hammer every time I turned on the radio was pretty fucking awful. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anthony Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 1986? 1. That's What Friends Are For, Dionne Warwick, Elton John, and Gladys Knight2. Say You, Say Me, Lionel Richie3. I Miss You, Klymaxx4. On My Own, Patti Labelle and Michael McDonald5. Broken Wings, Mr. Mister6. How Will I Know, Whitney Houston7. Party All The Time, Eddie Murphy8. Burning Heart, Survivor9. Kyrie, Mr. Mister10. Addicted to Love, Robert Palmer Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouisvilleGreg Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Some notable 1974 records: * Autobahn - Kraftwerk * Bad Company - Bad Company (debut) * Badfinger - Badfinger * Before The Flood - Bob Dylan & The Band * Burn - Deep Purple * Caribou - Elton John * The Confessions of Dr. Dream and Other Stories - Kevin Ayers * Country Life - Roxy Music * Court and Spark - Joni Mitchell * Crime of the Century - Supertramp * Dandruff - Ivor Cutler * Dark Horse - George Harrison * David Live - David Bowie * Diamond Dogs - David Bowie * Desolation Boulevard - Sweet * Eldorado - Electric Light Orchestra * The End - Nico * Endless Summer - The Beach Boys * Exotic Birds and Fruit - Procol Harum * Fulfillingness' First Finale - Stevie Wonder * Good Old Boys - Randy Newman * Grateful Dead from the Mars Hotel - Grateful Dead * Grievous Angel - Gram Parsons * Hall of the Mountain Grill - Hawkwind * The Heart of Saturday Night - Tom Waits * Here Come the Warm Jets - Brian Eno * The Hoople - Mott the Hoople * Hotter Than Hell - Kiss * The Human Menagerie - Cockney Rebel (debut) * I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight - Richard and Linda Thompson * It's Only Rock 'n' Roll - The Rolling Stones * It's Too Late to Stop Now - Van Morrison * Jolene - Dolly Parton * June 1, 1974 - Kevin Ayers, John Cale, Brian Eno and Nico * Just a Boy - Leo Sayer * Kiss - Kiss (debut) * Late for the Sky - Jackson Browne * Live - Mott the Hoople * Natty Dread - Bob Marley * A Nice Pair - Pink Floyd * The Night the Light Went On (In Long Beach) - Electric Light Orchestra * Nightlife - Thin Lizzy * 1969: The Velvet Underground Live - The Velvet Underground * On the Beach - Neil Young * Planet Waves - Bob Dylan * Pretzel Logic - Steely Dan * Queen II - Queen * Rocka Rolla - Judas Priest * Rock 'n' Roll Animal - Lou Reed * Roxy & Elsewhere - Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention * Rush - Rush (debut) * Sally Can't Dance - Lou Reed * Second Helping - Lynyrd Skynyrd * Sheer Heart Attack - Queen * Shinin' On - Grand Funk Railroad * Soon Over Babaluma - Can * Spooky Lady's Sideshow - Kris Kristofferson * Standing on the Verge of Getting It On - Funkadelic * Starless and Bible Black - King Crimson * Starting Over - Raspberries * Todd - Todd Rundgren * Todd Rundgren's Utopia - Utopia (debut) * Up for the Down Stroke - Parliament * Veedon Fleece - Van Morrison * Winter in America - Gil Scott-Heron Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GtrPlyr Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Here's just a few of the albums from 1974: On the Beach - Neil YoungNatty Dread - Bob MarleyCourt and Spark - Joni MitchellGood Old Boys - Randy NewmanGrievous Angel - Gram ParsonsPussy Cats - Harry NilssonThe Heart of Saturday Night - Tom WaitsI Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight - Richard and Linda ThompsonThe Hoople - Mott the HoopleLate for the Sky - Jackson BrowneThe Lamb Lies Down on Broadway - GenesisWish You Were Here - BadfingerUp for the Down Stroke - ParliamentVeedon Fleece - Van MorrisonStanding on the Verge of Getting It On - FunkadelicSecond Helping - Lynyrd SkynyrdRock Bottom - Robert WyattKimono My House - SparksThe Human Menagerie - Cockney RebelBefore The Flood - Bob Dylan & The BandElis & Tom - Elis Regina & Tom Jobim If that's a bad year, I'd hate to see what he thinks a good year looks like. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Littlebear Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Special favorites of mine, along with Van's Veedon Fleece, that haven't been mentionned: Dory Previn - Dory PrevinMillie Jackson - Caught UpJesse Winchester - Learn To Love It Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mountain bed Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Every year in the history of (rock) music there have been absolutely wretched tunes that found their way to the radio. The tunes Moss listed for 1974 were fucking terrible, to be sure, but I'll submit that any year in the '80s were MUCH worse than '74. Kudos to L'Ville Greg & Gtr Plyr for listing some of the finest records ever made. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gobias Industries Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 The worst year for music was obviously 1264AD. The Gregorian chants coming out of that year were just ludicrously bad. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tongue-tied Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 The worst year for music was obviously 1264AD. The Gregorian chants coming out of that year were just ludicrously bad. Chants?? We would have given anything for chants! We were lucky to hear crows cawing back in 450AD. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sweet Papa Crimbo Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Chants?? We would have given anything for chants! We were lucky to hear crows cawing back in 450AD. Hey man...I was doing my best Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Winston Legthigh Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Zappa had two: Roxy & Elsewhere, and Apostrophe('). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
yermom Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Cohen's "New Skin For the Old Ceremony" is from '74. That's definitley in my top ten of all time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Cohen's "New Skin For the Old Ceremony" is from '74. That's definitley in my top ten of all time. Hmm - so if I wanted to broaden my Cohen collection beyond the Best Of, this would be the first place to go? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
yermom Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 I say yes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CortezTheKiller Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Seeing that all these top albums of the 21st Century lists are making the rounds, I'm not sure you could pick a year in the past decade that would top these ten albums from '74. On the Beach/Neil YoungPlanet Waves/Bob Dylan & The BandSpooky Lady's Sideshow/Kris KristoffersonBefore the Flood/Bob Dylan & The BandRock 'n' Roll Animal/Lou ReedSecond Helping/Lynyrd SkynyrdIt's Only Rock 'n' Roll/The StonesPretzel Logic/Steely DanGrevious Angel/Gram ParsonsThe Heart of Saturday Night/Tom Waits Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lamradio Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 1986? 1. That's What Friends Are For, Dionne Warwick, Elton John, and Gladys Knight2. Say You, Say Me, Lionel Richie3. I Miss You, Klymaxx4. On My Own, Patti Labelle and Michael McDonald5. Broken Wings, Mr. Mister6. How Will I Know, Whitney Houston7. Party All The Time, Eddie Murphy8. Burning Heart, Survivor9. Kyrie, Mr. Mister10. Addicted to Love, Robert Palmer That year takes the cake in my book. I mean, Eddie Murphy for Gods sake.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GtrPlyr Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Hmm - so if I wanted to broaden my Cohen collection beyond the Best Of, this would be the first place to go?That, and Songs of Leonard Cohen, Songs from a Room, Songs of Love and Hate, and I'm Your Man. Can't go wrong with any of those. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
people are leaving Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 In addition to what's been posted - Brian Eno - here come the warm jetsGene Clark - no otherBe Bop Deluxe - axe victimWillie Nelson - phases and stages Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wild Frank Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 To echo other posters: 1) Genesis: The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway (Arguably their best record)2) Neil Young: On The Beach (Arguably his best record)3) Van Morrison: Veedon Fleece (Arguably his best record)4) Tom Waits: Heart Of Saturday Night (Not his best but pretty damm good)5) Bob Dylan: Blood On The Tracks (Arguably his best record* * Never sure if Blood On The Tracks was '74 or '75. If not, Planet Waves was out in '74. ....So, it was a pretty good year. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 * Court and Spark - Joni Mitchell * Fulfillingness' First Finale - Stevie Wonder * Grievous Angel - Gram Parsons * I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight - Richard and Linda Thompson * Late for the Sky - Jackson Browne * On the Beach - Neil Young * Pretzel Logic - Steely Dan * Standing on the Verge of Getting It On - Funkadelic * Veedon Fleece - Van MorrisonThese alone disqualify 1974 from the "worst year ever" debate. Also released in 1974: Radio City by Big Star. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Wild Frank Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Just thinking about.....'Veedon Fleece' is a pretty special album. I'm gona have to go a give it a spin. The first five tracks (Side one) is perfect. Certainly up there in my top five of all time type list thing, along with On The Beach. Actually the last three tracks (side two) of On The Beach are perfect too...so if you combined the pair you would officially have the best album ever made. 1) Fair Play2) Linden Arden Stole The Headlights3) Who Was That Masked Man4) Streets of Arklow5) You Don't Pull No Punches But You Don't Push The River6) On The Beach7) Motion Pictures8) Ambulance Blues Nice!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GtrPlyr Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Also released in 1974: Radio City by Big Star.Nice! One of my all-time favorites. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
yermom Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 That, and Songs of Leonard Cohen, Songs from a Room, Songs of Love and Hate, and I'm Your Man. Can't go wrong with any of those.What have you got against "Various Positions?" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mjpuczko Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 wow, minus signs & winds of change, that is god awful. (i'm a sucker for poison songs though) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bleedorange Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 I'm torn -- that 1986 list is pretty bad, but I think 1991 sucked too. Top 10 according to Billboard: 07. More Than Words » Extreme I had a roommate in college that bought a guitar and learned one song to play. That was it. (This was in 1999.) It was awful. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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