Van Morrison 1970

His Band and Street Choir

Van Morrison released two classic albums in 1970, Moondance, and His Band and Street Choir. Moondance is generally more highly regarded among the critics, but I actually prefer His Band and Street Choir. It's a little looser, more R & B influenced, plus it has "Crazy Face",  a strange little masterpiece of a song that only Van Morrison could write. In any case these are both brilliant albums which I have listened to dozens if not hundreds of times since the vinyl came out way back when. They both make my top ten for 1970.

Moondance back cover.

The Records - Shades in Bed (1979) - Injections in the Knee

1979 US release was just titled The Records, with a great album cover.

Absolutely one of the greatest power pop records ever made. Starry Eyes was  the hit, but every song is a winner, with Teenarama, Girl,  and Affection Rejected being the equal of that gem. Clever lyrics, great hooks and killer guitar abound, it's about as perfect a pop record as I can imagine. They followed up in 1980 with Crashes, just as good.

Shades in Bed, original UK release 1979

CD release with great bonus tracks 2002

A Long, Long Time Ago: David Bowie - The Man Who Sold the World (1970)

U.S. Cover, my favorite.

I picked this one up in the mid-seventies, after I had listened obsessively to several other David Bowie LPs (Hunky Dory, Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, etc.). I remember being struck by how different much of it sounded from those - the vocals at times strange, the guitars heavier, and there were some songs I didn't like (!). It grew on me though and became one my favorites, standing happily alongside those other masterpieces in my Bowie collection. 

U.K. I never really cared for this ugly cover.

This was the first David Bowie album recorded with producer Tony Visconti and guitarist Mick Ronson. Bizarre lyrics with science fiction themes, soaring vocals, creepy background vocals, monster riffs and blazing guitar solos from Ronson, all add up to a superb and satisfyingly odd album. The first three songs in particular ("Width of a Circle", All the Madman", "Black Country Rock") all rock like crazy and should be counted with Bowie's best. The only song I never really cared for is "Running Gun Blues", an anti-vietnam tale about a soldier who keeps killing after he gets back from the war. I still think it sticks out like a sore thumb.

Wearing a dress, the good old days when Bowie was still bi.

Bachman-Turner Overdrive II (1973) - takin' care of you-know-what

The 8-track, a genuine 1970s artifact

I've been listening to this on my iPod while walking to work. Back in the 70s I had it on eight-track tape. A magical medium the eight-track was, plastic casing with the cover glued on - usually resulting in bubbles and folds - and of course a song or two interrupted in mid-play for the track to change. Still, it was pretty cool for a few years at least and was around for the entirety of the 1970s.

Bachman-Turner Overdrive was also around for most of the 1970s. They formed in 1973 and released two albums that year, including this one, the imaginatively titled "II". It's good straight ahead working class rock 'n roll and included their first smash singles "Let it Ride" and "Takin' Care Of Business". There are some other decent songs, notably "Welcome Home" and "Tramp", and some surprisingly nimble guitar work from Randy Bachman. Not the greatest band ever, but an enjoyable album that I remember with fondness.

Favorite Album Covers: Muddy Waters by Phil Hays (1978)

Another gem from 1978, Muddy Waters' "I'm Ready", produced by Johnny Winter with a killer band including pianist Pinetop Perkins, guitarist Jimmy Rogers and harpist Big Walter Horton. A mix of blues standards and new original material, this was the middle record of three that Winter produced and my personal favorite. I admit that one reason I always liked this so much, besides the music, was the great portrait of Muddy Waters gracing the album cover. Painted by the late Phil Hays, it's about as congenial a portrait as I can imagine and a perfect invitation to the music within. Check out more of this illustrator's work here.

Kate Bush - "The Kick Inside" : strange phenomena from 1978

U.S. cover, the one I had.

The first LP by Kate Bush came out in 1978, one of the most extraordinary years in recorded popular music. Dozens of brilliant long players were released that year and it might be easy to overlook this  excellent debut. Bush was only 19 when this was recorded and it only made a small splash in the U.S. It was much bigger in her native England where her first single "Wuthering Heights" went to the top of the charts. Ostensibly a singer songwriter, she sounded nothing like the North American singer songwriters, certainly not like Joni Mitchell , Carole King or Carly Simon.

U.K. cover.

Kate Bush has a way of combining childlike wonder with an overt sensuality, especially evident in several songs here, "Moving", "Strange Phenomena" and "Oh To Be In Love" come to mind as being especially alluring. The first time I heard this it was like discovering a previously unknown forbidden world.

Japanese import.

As good as this recording was it only hinted at the genius that would emerge in subsequent releases. She'd get better each time as her songwriting became sharper and stranger, and the production and arrangements more wild, peaking with the incredible '80s albums "The Dreaming" and "Hounds of Love".

Of the three album covers pictured I definitely prefer the U.S. cover, maybe because it was the one I owned, but I think it's a great photograph. I find the U.K. cover too busy, and Kate is too small. The Japanese cover is okay but kind of boring. Her album covers would get better along the way.

Favorite album covers: Lou Reed by Tom Adams (1972)

Lou Reed's first solo album is not so bad. Not as great as some of the albums to follow, but not as bad as some either. Some pretty good songs, Wild Child and Lisa Says are especially fun. Worth checking out if you are a Lou fan. What I especially like about this release is the outstanding album cover art by Tom Adams, an illustrator who's most notable achievement is the great series of Agatha Christie book covers he did in the '60s and '70s. The name made of flowers with the hummingbirds I always loved and the little bird up front is quite touching, then there's a Faberge egg and a wave coming down the street. I assume all of these elements illustrate lyrics from the album in some way, but in any case it all looks really cool.

I remember when we were young and things used to be so pretty: The Vibrators - Pure Mania (1977)

Pure Mania, the Lp debut of The Vibrators, is one the great British punk albums from the greatest year of classic punk albums, 1977. This one got a lot of play in our household and sits right up there with debut albums by the likes of The Clash, Wire, The Adverts and The Stranglers. Like a lot of the early punk rock, it's basically high energy rock & roll with a snotty attitude and a sneaky sense of humor. Quite memorably tuneful and a bit wild, songs like "Into the Future", "Baby Baby", "Whips and Furs" and "Sweet Sweet Heart" encourage an ongoing affection some 34 years after it's release. Great album cover too.

Fun Fusion: The Billy Cobham - George Duke Band "Live" On Tour In Europe (1976)

Billy Cobham (drums), George Duke (keyboards), John Scofield (guitar), Al Johnson (bass)
A classic of the fusion genre. Great musicians, very funky high energy stuff played with a sense of humor often lacking in the genre. John Scofield is especially brilliant on guitar but everyone plays their butts off. Great album cover artwork by Cal Schenkel who did covers for Frank Zappa. I remember being quite fond of this album and the excellent artwork way back when. It has stood the test of time quite well. George duke offers some nice thoughts on the album here.