Fly by Night is such a great second album from Rush and it’s the first with the legendary Neil Peart on drums. This album was when Rush truly first found their sound.
@@mindful2864 I agree But they also learned how to adapt and work with Neal's complex lyrics. I mean take a look at the first album in a year later look at what makes up bytor and the snow dog. It's like night and day
I like Rush in spite of the shrill, nails on a chalkboard vocals of Geddy Lee. Great musician, great player, but man, that voice is piercing. If they hired a really talented singer with a decent voice, they’d be one of the best bands of all time. Instead they’re just mid. “That orig band with a singer who sounds like a drowning cat.”
@davidprice7162 That’s fine, to each their own. Funny enough when I first discovered Rush due to my dad playing Moving Pictures, I actually thought their singer was a chick. It actually surprised me to realize it was a guy.
# 29 Jeff Beck: Blow by Blow This will be one of Pete’s favorites this month. As I only got to know “Blow by Blow” a year ago through SoT, I am not yet familiar enough with this record to rank it higher. But it has at least made it into my TOP 31. # 30 Ted Nugent: Ted Nugent # 31 Supertramp: Crisis? What Crisis?
Day 3: "Welcome to My Nightmare" as the title for Alice Cooper's debut solo studio LP album released on the Atlantic Records label in Feb. of '75. Bob Ezrin produced and played on the record and I remember "Only Women Bleed" and the title track, though other Cooper fans rank some of the more hard driven rockers on the first solo Cooper LP much higher.
Blow by Blow -Jeff Beck. Kudos to Hugh Syme, designer of almost all Rush album covers. Imagine being Geddy and you're given lyrics by Neil on Beneath, Between and Behind: Ok, looks like I'll have to wait until song over then can breath. I'll give my fave albums of 2024. #31is Free Energy by Dummy. Any Stereolab fans out there? Well, if one shows ups you may dig this.
3. Journey - Journey Wow, what a debut by this band! It’s obviously much different than what would come later with the addition of Steve Perry, but man, this is a killer album. Of A Lifetime should be a rock radio staple. The instrumentals, Kohoutek and Topaz are furious fusion numbers. This is my favorite Journey album. It’s just excellent!
ZZ Top - Fandago! (#13) Saw this one posted multiple times throughout and I'm jumping in also. A unique entry into their blues/boogie rock canon being half live, half studio. The new studio tracks are absolutely brilliant and make this one worth spinning. Heard it On the X, Blue Jean Blues, and Tush are the well knowns. I dig the others as well, but probably Mexican Blackbird the most. The Little Ol' Band from Texas always keeps me smiling on the inside. Enjoyed their show in Gary, Indiana this past November with Elwood Frances carrying the torch from Dusty.
Hey Guard. I saw ZZ Top two years ago in Williamsport Pa.. Elwood Frances didn't miss a beat. Did you notice how skinny Billy and Elwood's legs were? I've seen better legs hanging out of a nest.
Today's pick is Thin Lizzy-Fighting. One of my favorite albums off all-time. Fighting is just about a perfect album showcasing the skills, songwriting and tightness of these iconic players. And, it is probably my 3rd favorite Lizzy record behind Jailbreak (which is a perfect record) and Johnny The Fox which speaks volumes. Phil Lynott, Scott Gorham, Brian Robertson and Brian Downey deliver the goods here during this peak period of the band. Great cuts like "For Those Who Love To Live", "Suicide", "Wild One" and "Freedom Song" lead the way of this classic.
My day 3 50 year old album is Camel - The Snow Goose. 1. Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here. Tribute to Syd Barrett. 2. Jethro Tull - Minstrel in the Gallery 3. Camel - The Snow Goose.
Todays pick: Aerosmith - "Toys In The Attic". Hard to believe this album came from the same band that went so drastically off the rails later on. Overplayed to death, but still some of the best American hard rock of the 70`s. Solid from start to finish.
#29 Ted Nugent - Ted Nugent This is a hard rock gem as the first solo album from Ted. “Stranglehold” is one of the legendary tunes in rock history. It never gets old. “Hey Baby”, “Snakeskin Cowboys” & “Queen of the Forest” are a few tunes that I really like here. But except for one slow song, there is no filler. Derek St Holmes sings perfectly with the music offered on this album. My recollection with Ted is from 1979 when I made the mistake of standing right in front of the amps. I couldn’t hear good for three days. He was the loudest guitarist that I ever saw. Legend has it that Ted always had one ear plugged so he didn’t lose his own hearing. Otherwise he was a crazy man live !!
#29 Budgie - Bandolier Budgie's fourth album...here there is an influence of funk music that gives another color to some songs. My favorite songs are "I Can't See My Feelings", "Napoleon Bona Part 1 & 2" and the song that opens the album: “Breaking All The House Rules” Albums That Are 50 Years Old in 2025 #29 Budgie - Bandolier #30 Steely Dan - Katy Lied #31 Tangerine Dream - Rubycon
My pick today: Eagles One Of These Nights.. First time I heard that guitar solo on the title track, That made me want to pick up a guitar. Randy just shines on this album also with Too Many Hands & Take It To The Limit.
Day 3 and pick 29 is for me, exactly the same as Pete today, FLY BY NIGHT by RUSH. As Pete says, it sees Rush now with Neil Peart behind the drum stool expanding their sound and pointing the way forward. IMHO the band sounds still a little more comfortable here than on Caress of Steel, despite the latter being arguably more musically ambitious. Can't add more to what Pete has said here.
This one will stack up at the back of the month for me. I love the debut, but this was a major step for sure. Even a bit more pop sensibility to some of it, yet continuing as hard and heavy in the same songs.
10cc - The Original Soundtrack. Their third studio album reaching no 3 in the UK chart and 15 in the US, standout tracks include "Life Is a Minestrone" and "I'm Not In Love" which became their second no 1 single in the UK and no 2 in the US.
Great pick Pete. Definitely a favorite of mine. 3) Black Oak Arkansas - Ain't Life Grand My introduction to Black Oak Arkansas was my cousin blasting their 1973 live set, Raunch 'N' Roll, on the 8-track player in his 1969 Chevelle when we were driving down to the Jersey shore. Shortly afterward I went out and bought what turned out to be the band's most commercially successful album, 1974's High On The Hog. It was not too long after that, that I saw them live, and they were great. From then on I was a fan. And this album made me like them even more. Released in early 1975, Ain't Life Grand was the band's sixth studio album. The record sounds better than their earlier albums, and it may actually be their best, with the exception of the live album. A cover of George Harrison's "Taxman" kicks the record off. The track sounds very different from The Beatles, with BOA giving it their own distinctive spin. Jim Dandy Mangrum almost sounds civilized on the ballad "Love Can Be Found", and "Diggin' For Gold", "Rebel, "Cryin' Shame", and album closer "Let Life Be Good To You" are some other highlights. Eventually the instability of lineup changes and a change of record labels would end the band's "golden era", but Ain't Life Grand still contains the unique flare that made Black Oak Arkansas one of the most underrated bands of the '70s. 1) Gary Wright - The Dream Weaver 2) Emmylou Harris - Elite Hotel 3) Black Oak Arkansas - Ain't Life Grand
Hey Chris. Ohhh, I love it when I know a little something about your picks. I used to own, "Aint Life Grand". When I was in college, I kept a lot of my records in my fraternity house. We had parties every weekend and crowds of people would come and go. Every now and then one of my albums would go missing. Your pick of the day was one of them and I never replaced it. Oh well, such is life I still have the vinyl version of "High on Hog" and used it for that "Favorite Southern Rock" series a couple of years back.
Hi Pete & everyone. Dave here. My pick today is YESTERDAYS by YES. No new album from the band in 1975 - they were on the Relayer tour (which I saw - spectacular!), but they released this compilation of tracks from their first two albums. Not necessarily their best tracks, but I thought the ones that best signalled the direction they would take, including the Roger Dean cover art. My favourite is Survival from their debut. Also here is an earlier live staple, Paul Simon's 'America', which they played when I first saw them live, on The Yes Album tour.
Hi Dave. I would have wished having witnessed those he legendary tours back then. You've been very lucky! I have not got the "Yesterdays" compilation album, after my neighbour and ex-school mate just got the YES debut album at the time. And "Survival" really is an early gem.
My pick. the late Frank Zappa "One Size Fits All" which I downloaded from Apple iTunes. I believe that was Pete Pardo's favorite # 1 album of Zappa's catalog!!!
I have fond memories of buying “Fly by Night” when it came out after seeing Rush on the television, I believe it was Don Kirchner’s Rock Concert. I think it was this Rush album that the Rolling Stone reviewer claimed Geddy’s voice was a cross between Robert Plant and Donald Duck.
Every now and then Joel, a song for the ages pops out of nowhere. For me, one of those songs has been "Fool For the City". I must have listened to it a thousand times and it never gets old.
Day 3: Golden Earring - Switch. With Eelco Gelling (from Dutch blues legends Cuby & the Blizzards and Robert Ian Stips (from the proggy Supersister) as additional musicians. Best known song from this record might be Kill Me (Ce Soir).
Good morning (afternoon, evening or night), Pete. Another fine SoT selection . Personal pick today (and again, not in any particular order) ? The tenth studio album by this British-American band released in July 1975. Though not the debut, the album is eponymously named - perhaps due to the recent addition of two new members bringing about a completely different overall sound for the band: Fleetwood Mac. Can remember hearing the music news on morning months before the release of the album that Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks were joining the band. That announcement really caught my attention due to my fondness for the one and done Buckingham Nicks album. The new line-up? Lindsey Buckingham on electric, acoustic, and resonator guitar, banjo, vocals; Stevie Nicks on vocals; Christine McVie on keyboards, synthesizer, and vocals; John McVie on bass guitar: and Mick Fleetwood on drums & percussion. The album reached #1 on the U.S. charts and was the #2 Billboard album of the year. It also charted - initially - in the U.K. Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway and has since charted in other countries/markets as well. Certified 7 times platinum in the U.S., 4 times platinum in Australia, platinum in the Canada and gold in the UK. 4 singles released from the album. The start of the juggernaut that would release Rumours two years later and go on to even larger sales and fame. Some song favorites? Well, pretty much the entire album. Though not my favorite album by the band - or even by this personnel line-up of the band - a significant album that remains played quite a bit. Thanks, Pete. Looking forward to your next selection.
Day3-Black Sabbath-Sabotage. This i think is the last good album featuring Ozzy. Great sounding album with classic songs,Hole in the Sky,The Writ,and my favorite song on the album Symptom of the Universe. It’s not my favorite Sabbath,but it’s awesome to listen too.This is my 3rd pick this month.
Great album!! Hard to believe that there's only 3 guys in the band making this music!! My pick today is an all instrumental from one of the best guitarists on the planet. We sadly lost this guy in 2023, but he left behind some great music!! Talking about Jeff Beck - Blow By Blow
This was my very first Rush album and I loved them right away! The artwork, the lyrical imagery, the fantastic musicianship - all of it! Such a great album and amazing to think how well they hit it on their second album with a brand new member.
I like Caress of Steel also Tom. I've had that album for maybe a year and a half. We listen to so much music here at SOT that I just haven't given your pick enough listens for it to really sink in. It won't make my list for this series but it just missed. I had it tied at #32 with Force It by UFO. It's score was 8.20 (B)
One of those times when I wish I was older and could have been introduced to great music earlier on in life. The first time that I heard this was the same time that I was played the 1978 triple album release, Archives, just after it's release that contained all the first 3 albums. Once you got past the initial 30 seconds of shock and almost horror of Geddy's voice, you begin to love more and more. On Fly By Night, everything is perfect, apart from the forgettable, play one and never again, Rivendell. Then there is that one, tingling moment that makes the hairs on the back of your hands stand up, following the acoustic and softer into to In the End. That pause that ushers in a very subtle change of tone in the air and the monstrous simple riff that blows the mind on the spot.
29. Bolan's Zip Gun by T. Rex Choice cuts: "Light of Love," "Think Zinc" 30. Extra Texture (Read All About It) by George Harrison 31. Mental Notes by Split Enz
KEITH JARRET - THE KOLN CONCERT- Legend is so overused, but this performance, including the prelude to the performance involving the piano, is a legend. So easy fifty years on to overlook how innovative JARRET was with these type of performances.
Pick #29: Kiss's Alive. Normally I'm not the biggest live album guy but with Kiss I figured I'd make an exception, even though there have been some debates as to how much of this is actually live. #31: Bad Company's Straight Shooter #30: Steve Hackett's Voyage of the Acolyte #29: Kiss's Alive
the 70's such a great decade for music especially rock!, now i'm not the old man saying get the hell out of my yard, but come on folks, we don't have that many great bands with that much great music and catalogs today, just my opinion. always love these shows Pete! thanks
03. Thin Lizzy--- Fighting. Great band great album. It was all coming together by this time. There isn't a track on this one I dislike. Been a fan since the beginning. It's a shame Phil died so young. This band is way more than just The Boys Are Back In Town. Favourite song from this one is Fighting My Way Back. The album grabbed on to me on my 8 track player and I went right back in to by the record as soon as I got paid again.❤❤❤❤.
Coincidentally, my 29 in no particular order is also Fly By Night by Rush. I actually listened to this after buying tomorrow’s choice by them😂 (a clue. It’s the one the band didn’t really like but I still love it). I was hooked.
Fly by night is one of my favorite albums of all time.. my pick is sabotage by Black Sabbath. Some people rag on it,but I love the new spacy take on things.
Day 3 / Pick # 29 = BOB SEGER - Beautiful Loser. Highlights are Katmandu & Nutbush City Limits. Several of the songs from this album formed the backbone of Bob & his Silver Bullet Band's Live Bullet album from 1976.
I'm a fan of Bob Segar too Gary. I don't have Beautiful Loser in my collection yet. I started collecting his albums in 1976 with his "Live Bullet" album.
Day 29 pick is Nighthawks At The Diner by Tom Waits. Done live with just piano drums sax and upright bass. Toms humor came through on songs like Eggs And Sausage In A Car With Susan Michelson. Better Off Without A Wife. On A Foggy Night and Warm Beer And Cold Women. Good Jazzy stories.
There you go What a fantastic album it almost made my list at the end but it's going to be on my honorable mentions. I love the way they made it sound like a late night club but it wasn't recorded at a club just simply recorded in a studio with a live audience. I'm a huge fan of his first five albums right out of the bat. I think that's another reason I became a Rickie Lee Jones fan to his ex-girlfriend just at quirky coolness that just kind of stood out.
Day 3, #29 - Prog genuis Mike Oldfield's OMMADAWN. Yep, every time we do a ranking of a year, Mr. Oldfield checks into my orbit. OMMADAWN is a two-record set; the third release, is primarily one piece of music. The album includes some world music and Mike's best guitar solos. By this point, he had achieved worldwide fame due to the 1974 single TUBULAR BELLS from the said album that was released in 1973.
Hello Pete and everyone. Today’s choice was the follow up to my favourite album from 1974. It is also the point when these guys started to become less of a band and more of a musical project for the two songwriters, accompanied by great session musicians: Steely Dan - Katy Lied Whilst this is undoubtedly an excellent set of songs, for me it doesn’t quite manage to capture the magic of their previous album. Many will disagree with that view, of course, which is why these lists are all about our personal opinions. Nos. 11-30 (not ranked) UFO - Force It Favourite Live Album : Blue Oyster Cult - On Your Feet Or On Your Knees
Hello Bryan, well we are on the same page today no question! Yes l certainly do know your pick today as you mentioned. Pretzel Logic your favourite album from 1974! Mine too, Katy Lied is still pretty damn good but just didn't quite measure up somehow, it's rather like Venus and Mars from Wings, l eagerly awaited the release of this album but was disappointed, probably due to the phenomenal album which preceded it. Just been listening to Spectral Mornings album by Steve Hackett, a Christmas present to myself 😊 Bye again.
Morning/Afternoon everyone: 1975 Day 3, and for pick #29 on my list we come to yet another debut album from a band that may not be the first name that springs to mind when someone mentions their particular genre, but whose catalogue- and their 70s albums in particular - can sit happily alongside the other greats of the genre and hold its head high... OUTLAWS "Outlaws" (Arista) Typical of the Southern Rock template you have three guitarists, yes, but they also, more unusually, share vocal duties too: Henry Paul, Hughie Thomasson and Billy Jones are the gentlemen in question. Opening with their first top 40 single, There Goes Another Love Song, you get ten tracks which, while clearly showing their influences, don't hold the band up as mere copycats, so while the likes of Skynyrd, The Allmans and the Eagles are clearly points of reference, here is a seriously talented band in its own right. And, if every great Southern Band has to have its own epic showpiece a la Freebird, Dreams or Boogie No More, then The Outlaws have their own too in the shape of the near 10 minute closing track, Green Grass And High Tides - and if 9 minutes 45 seconds of it isn't enough, then go to the live version which, on their Bring It Back Alive album, clocks in at 21 minutes...
Maybe the best of all the southern rockers, Sir Iain. Great pick, I think I'll buckle up for the live version this weekend. I grew up with a Billy Jones myself. But who didn't??
Hey Iain. I know about your pick but I don't own their debut album yet. I've got their Ghost Riders album on vinyl and their greatest hits called, "Green Grass & High Tides" on CD. I had a blast at a concert of theirs at the "University of Scranton" back in1980. I'll never forget that some gorgeous University of Scranton student spent the whole time watching that concert on top of my shoulders. (No, nothing happened after that show. I just drove with my college roomate back to my school. I was used by another delectable female once again...Curses!)
My Day 3 pick is an album released on June 16, 1975 and recorded in 1974 at Sound City Studios (Van Nuys, California and produced by a few of the founding members of the band im talking about the seventh studio album by American band War, Why Can't We Be Friends? If you don't know War they are a mix of progressive soul,[11][17] funk rock,[3] black rock,[19] jazz-rock,[20] Latin rock[21] and Latin jazz. Track listing edit All tracks composed by War (Papa Dee Allen, Harold Brown, B.B. Dickerson, Lonnie Jordan, Charles Miller, Lee Oskar, Howard E. Scott), except where indicated. Note: The CD edition does not break "Leroy's Latin Lament" into sections. "Don't Let No One Get You Down" (War, Jerry Goldstein) - "Lotus Blossom" (War, Francie Nelson) - "Heartbeat" - "Leroy's Latin Lament (Medley)" - "Lonnie Dreams" - "The Way We Feel" (War, lyrics: Keri Oskar) - "La Fiesta" - "Lament" - "Smile Happy" - "So" - "Low Rider" (War, Jerry Goldstein) - "In Mazatlan" - "Why Can't We Be Friends?" (War, Jerry Goldstein) - Singles from Why Can't We Be Friends? "Why Can't We Be Friends?" Released: April 1975 "Low Rider" Released: May 14, 1975 Charts edit Year Album Chart positions[4] US US R&B AUS[5] 1975 Why Can't We Be Friends? 8 1 81 Beginning in 1996, "Low Rider" featured for several years on British television in adverts for Marmite, as part of their 'Love it or hate it' campaign.[8][9] The song was covered by nu metal band Korn on their 1996 studio album Life Is Peachy.[10] A decade earlier, Beastie Boys sampled "Low Rider" on their song "Slow Ride", from 1986's Licensed to Ill.[11] In 1999, Barry White recorded a version on his album Staying Power. "Low Rider" was later used as the theme song for the George Lopez self-titled ABC sitcom, which ran from 2002 to 2007.[12] The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2014.
Fly By Night is my favorite Rush album. I remember hearing it at a friend's house when I was 12 in 1984. We were just getting into Rush. I liked how different it was from the first album. I love every song except Rivendell. To this day, I can't make it through the whole thing. But such a Great Album, they were laying the groundwork for what was to follow.
Day 3 Kiss Alive, you wanted the best and you got, the hottest songs played live: duece, black diamond, rock n roll all nite, got to choose, hotter than hell, firehouse, strutter, etc
Fly By Night was my introduction to Rush, probably in late 75 or early 76, when I was 8 years old. As you said the cover is what initially got my attention. I used to go into my older brothers room when he was away and flip through his records Fly By Night was out and I, again was drawn to the cover. Rush has been my favorite band since then. It still takes me back to that day every time I listen. And it still sounds great 50 years later. Like you I never got the Zeppelin connection as I did not think they sounded alike at all. Big Zeppelin fan though and would have to say Physical Graffiti is my favorite from them. I am enjoying this series By-tor......what a song. The version on All the Worlds a Stage is epic! As you also said I too really enjoy hearing the bass upfront. This is one of the many things that drew me to Rush, Yes and The Who
My album purchasing dwindled in 1975 as marriage, rent, etc reduced spending funds. And my better half influenced some purchases and that included today's selection. Abba's first release self titled "Abba". Many songs on the radio established Abba as a musical power.
My Day 3 Pick: War - Why Can't We Be Friends? Believe it or not, this is the seventh album from this L.A. based funk/Latin pop/rock/soul hybrid group. And it's an absolute banger of an album from opener "Don't Let No One Get You Down" to the closing title track. Other highlights for me into "Heartbeat," "Smile Happy" (the intro later being sampled by Shaggy on his 2000 hit "It Wasn't Me"), and of course "Low Rider."
The good thing about this series you'll show albums that I havn't listened to in ages and then I'll want to go dig them put for a spin after watching the video cheers Pete!
Face the music by ELO a strong album with a collection of very fine different songs, from "poker" to "one summer dream" to "fire on high" with it,s genious intro.
My choice for today is the debut solo album by Ian Hunter. Featuring Mick Ronson in numerous roles on the album, my favorite songs are the album openers Once Bitten Twice Shy and Who Do You Love!
Today my pick #29 is Foghat fool for the city. Classic album, title track amazing, slow ride a classic. 29. Foghat- fool for the city 30. Ted Nugent Self titled debut 31. BTO- Head on
Stackridge -- "Extravaganza." Fourth LP by the British seven man prog band, one of engineer Geoff Emerick's favorite groups. Ten tracks of brilliant writing and musicianship produced by Tony Ashton and the band. Includes Grease Paint Smiles, Happy In the Lord, Who's That Up There With Bill Stokes and Spin Around the Room -- "Feeling like the sun who rose to find it's three o'clock The sun who rose to greet itself and found it's way too hot, Like a pauper's dying daughter who's counting what she's got Or an up and coming actress who's finding that she's not..."
Hi Gadget, another band name I know well - I suspect you've picked them before - but again, woefully ignorant of their material... homework time I suppose!
BATTLE ROYALE #3 between favorite albums of 1975 & 2024 For this series and all the annual series to follow, I’ve come up with an accurate grading system that allows for an exacting point grading system to determine where a recording accurately falls from best to worst in my personal album collection for that particular year. Here’s that system: F=0; D-=1; D=2; D+=3; C-=4;C=5;C+=6; B-=7; B=8; B+=9; A-=10; A-11; A+=12. Coming in at #29 for favorite albums of 1975…EQUINOX by STYX TRACK GRADING: 1-LIGHT UP (PROG ROCK) B 2-LORELEI (POP & PROG ROCK) A- 3-MOTHER DEAR (PROG ROCK) B 4-LONELY CHILD (PROG ROCK) B 5-MIDNIGHT RIDE (HARD ROCK) B+ 6-BORN FOR ADVENTURE (HARD ROCK & PROG ROCK) B+ 7-PRELUDE 12 (ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENTAL) B 8- SUITE MADAME BLUE (PROG ROCK) B+ CUMULATIVE ALBUM SCORE IS 69/8 SONGS=8.6250 (B) Coming in at #29 for favorite albums of 2024…THE SKULL 3 BY LEGIONS OF DOOM. TRACK GRADING: 1-BEYOND THE SHADOW OF DOUBT (Doom) B+ 2-ALL GOOD THINGS (DOOM) B+ 3-LOST SOUL (DOOM) A- 4-A FORCE OF REASON (DOOM) B+ 5-BETWEEN DARKNESS & DAWN (HEAVY METAL/DOOM) A- 6-INSECTICIDE (HEAVY METAL/DOOM) B+ 7-HEAVEN (HARD ROCK) B 8-HALLOW BY ALL MEANS (DOOM) B+ Cumulative album scoring: 73/8 songs=9.125 (B+) From this pick and for the rest of this month’s series, I can highly recommend all of my chosen 2024 albums. The year just past has been a stellar year for music. As long as you enjoy the specific genre of music from whatever album is chosen then, chances are you’ll relish the music as much as I do. As always, you’ll be the final judge of that. Winner of BATTLE ROYALE #3 is SKULL 3 by LEGIONS OF DOOM BATTLE ROYALE SCORE TO DATE: 1975:2 2024:1
As a lifelong Styx fan, this is one of their more underrated ones. Dennis DeYoung took the reins on this one. I rated it somewhere between a 4.0 and 4.5 (8.5/10). Light Up, Lorelei, and Suite Madame Blue show up on their setlists to this day.
@@guarddl9522 I'm a pretty big Styx fan myself. They come into their prime recording years in about two years from Equinox. (As always, that's just In my opinion.)
Supertramp-Crisis? What Crisis? To me, one of the progiest Supertramp albums. It was co-produced by the band and Ken Scott, with Ken also doing the engineering. It was the first Supertramp album recorded in America(at A&M Studios in L.A). It was also recorded at the Who's Ramport Studios(as was crime) and Scorpio Sound. It starts with Easy Does It and Sister Moonshine, which both have Roger Hodgson on electic sitar. Another one of my favorites is Lady. That should have been a hit. A Soapbox Opera has strings, and Poor Boy has some jazziness. The Meaning is mystical, and The Two Of Us has pump organ by Roger, and harpsicord by Rick. When people compare Rush to Zep, it's mainly the first two Zep albums. I hear it. I also hear some Black Sabbath. Rivendale has Geddy on classical guitar. Alex's guitar work on that song reminds me Steve Hackett. It's weird seeing photos from that era of Neil with no mustache. He also had a mullet early on
My pick for today is from Germany's heavy rockers Scorpions with their 3rd LP In Trance. Some of the highlights for me on here are the atmospheric title track, the Uli Roth led Dark Lady and heavy rockin Robot Man
Wings- Venus and Mars The modern Mozart continued the mid '70s mastery of pop rock. Listen to what the Man Said hit #1. Venus and Mars, mellow then Rock Show rocks hard. Thereafter came many more hits in 76 and beyond. Dave Mason played Guitar on it a bit, too
Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd
Favorite track
Wish You Were Here
My third pick is Sabotage by Black Sabbath. It's almost a perfect album by Sabbath.
The Thrill of it all is my favorite track on the album.
Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks
songs: Tangled Up in Blue, Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts, Shelter from the Storm
Nice.
dont't know this Album
Didn't know you were a fan of Zimmy. I use to have this album waaay back in the mists of time.
@@theomoor8513 i'm not a huge dylan fan, but this is a great album with my favorite dylan song, "Tangled..."
@@garyh.238 only one i own. lol
Day 3: Jethro Tull - Minstrel in the Gallery
Day 2: Hatfield and the North - Rotter's Club
Day 1: Gentle Giant - Free Hand
Fly by Night is such a great second album from Rush and it’s the first with the legendary Neil Peart on drums. This album was when Rush truly first found their sound.
@@mindful2864 I agree
But they also learned how to adapt and work with Neal's complex lyrics.
I mean take a look at the first album in a year later look at what makes up bytor and the snow dog. It's like night and day
I like Rush in spite of the shrill, nails on a chalkboard vocals of Geddy Lee. Great musician, great player, but man, that voice is piercing. If they hired a really talented singer with a decent voice, they’d be one of the best bands of all time. Instead they’re just mid. “That orig band with a singer who sounds like a drowning cat.”
@davidprice7162 That’s fine, to each their own. Funny enough when I first discovered Rush due to my dad playing Moving Pictures, I actually thought their singer was a chick. It actually surprised me to realize it was a guy.
@ he does have a pretty high register. I actually like his more mellow, lower singing, but that high pitch thing he does just isn’t for me.
# 29 Jeff Beck: Blow by Blow
This will be one of Pete’s favorites this month. As I only got to know “Blow by Blow” a year ago through SoT, I am not yet familiar enough with this record to rank it higher. But it has at least made it into my TOP 31.
# 30 Ted Nugent: Ted Nugent
# 31 Supertramp: Crisis? What Crisis?
@@Paul_Progressive Excellent pick Paul.
Day 3: "Welcome to My Nightmare" as the title for Alice Cooper's debut solo studio LP album released on the Atlantic Records label in Feb. of '75. Bob Ezrin produced and played on the record and I remember "Only Women Bleed" and the title track, though other Cooper fans rank some of the more hard driven rockers on the first solo Cooper LP much higher.
@@peterm.fitzpatrick7735 Great pick Peter. I'm sure this will be on many people's lists, including mine.
Blow by Blow -Jeff Beck. Kudos to Hugh Syme, designer of almost all Rush album covers. Imagine being Geddy and you're given lyrics by Neil on Beneath, Between and Behind: Ok, looks like I'll have to wait until song over then can breath. I'll give my fave albums of 2024. #31is Free Energy by Dummy. Any Stereolab fans out there? Well, if one shows ups you may dig this.
3. Journey - Journey
Wow, what a debut by this band! It’s obviously much different than what would come later with the addition of Steve Perry, but man, this is a killer album. Of A Lifetime should be a rock radio staple. The instrumentals, Kohoutek and Topaz are furious fusion numbers. This is my favorite Journey album. It’s just excellent!
ZZ Top - Fandago! (#13)
Saw this one posted multiple times throughout and I'm jumping in also. A unique entry into their blues/boogie rock canon being half live, half studio. The new studio tracks are absolutely brilliant and make this one worth spinning. Heard it On the X, Blue Jean Blues, and Tush are the well knowns. I dig the others as well, but probably Mexican Blackbird the most. The Little Ol' Band from Texas always keeps me smiling on the inside. Enjoyed their show in Gary, Indiana this past November with Elwood Frances carrying the torch from Dusty.
Great choice. Fav tracks are Heard It On The X and Tush. 🎉
Enjoyed seeing them in Dallas
@@guarddl9522 Excellent pick.
Hey Guard. I saw ZZ Top two years ago in Williamsport Pa.. Elwood Frances didn't miss a beat.
Did you notice how skinny Billy and Elwood's legs were? I've seen better legs hanging out of a nest.
@@tomp8463 Thanks. Yea, those classics are good enough not to be worn out.
#29. Bob Seger--"Beautiful Loser"--First rock concert I ever went to was to see Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band with my dad
Today's pick is Thin Lizzy-Fighting. One of my favorite albums off all-time. Fighting is just about a perfect album showcasing the skills, songwriting and tightness of these iconic players. And, it is probably my 3rd favorite Lizzy record behind Jailbreak (which is a perfect record) and Johnny The Fox which speaks volumes. Phil Lynott, Scott Gorham, Brian Robertson and Brian Downey deliver the goods here during this peak period of the band. Great cuts like "For Those Who Love To Live", "Suicide", "Wild One" and "Freedom Song" lead the way of this classic.
Excellent pick, Yoke
@@stoneyj.5538 Thanks Stoney
killer
Great pick. Love Rosalie too.
@@independenceltd. Thanks Independence
Day 3: Return To Forever - No Mystery
Day 2: Mahavishnu Orchestra - Visions Of The Emerald Beyond
Day 1: Rush - Fly By Night
Great pick. Later on my list.
Pick #3 for me is my favorite album by this band and that album is Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
My day 3 50 year old album is Camel - The Snow Goose.
1. Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here. Tribute to Syd Barrett.
2. Jethro Tull - Minstrel in the Gallery
3. Camel - The Snow Goose.
Instrumental prog goodness!
Three great albums, good pick with Camel!
Todays pick: Aerosmith - "Toys In The Attic". Hard to believe this album came from the same band that went so drastically off the rails later on. Overplayed to death, but still some of the best American hard rock of the 70`s. Solid from start to finish.
Classic pick Jeffrey
nice
@@jeffreyrobinson9120 hi Jeffrey. Awesome pick and article
Much closer to the end of the month for me JR. Going to try to rank the top 20, just spewing out anything I can think of for the first 10 or so.
@@yokerecords803 Thanks Yoke.
#29 Ted Nugent - Ted Nugent
This is a hard rock gem as the first solo album from Ted. “Stranglehold” is one of the legendary tunes in rock history. It never gets old. “Hey Baby”, “Snakeskin Cowboys” & “Queen of the Forest” are a few tunes that I really like here. But except for one slow song, there is no filler. Derek St Holmes sings perfectly with the music offered on this album.
My recollection with Ted is from 1979 when I made the mistake of standing right in front of the amps. I couldn’t hear good for three days. He was the loudest guitarist that I ever saw. Legend has it that Ted always had one ear plugged so he didn’t lose his own hearing. Otherwise he was a crazy man live !!
@@richardbooth6063 hi Richard. Excellent pick and article
Great pick Richard, I saw Nugent during this album tour. My favorite Nugent LP
Hey Richard, great pick!
@@melaniethurber5117Thanks Melanie
@@yokerecords803That’s cool Yoke…Thanks
#29 Budgie - Bandolier
Budgie's fourth album...here there is an influence of funk music that gives another color to some songs. My favorite songs are "I Can't See My Feelings", "Napoleon Bona Part 1 & 2" and the song that opens the album: “Breaking All The House Rules”
Albums That Are 50 Years Old in 2025
#29 Budgie - Bandolier
#30 Steely Dan - Katy Lied
#31 Tangerine Dream - Rubycon
Great pick. On my list in a couple of days.
@@sabinoabdala5685 Great pick Sabino.
Awesome choice
Great pick and story Sabino my favorite album by them Aint No Mountain is my favorite song.
Day 29: Styx- Equinox
Day 31: Lynyrd Skynyrd- Nuthin’ Fancy
Day 30: The Allman Brothers Band- Win, Lose or Draw
Superb!
@@kamranmalik8546 Excellent choice Kamran.
My pick today: Eagles One Of These Nights.. First time I heard that guitar solo on the title track, That made me want to pick up a guitar. Randy just shines on this album also with Too Many Hands & Take It To The Limit.
Can't understand why Too Many Hands rarely gets a mention! One of the their best songs!
Day 3 and pick 29 is for me, exactly the same as Pete today, FLY BY NIGHT by RUSH. As Pete says, it sees Rush now with Neil Peart behind the drum stool expanding their sound and pointing the way forward. IMHO the band sounds still a little more comfortable here than on Caress of Steel, despite the latter being arguably more musically ambitious. Can't add more to what Pete has said here.
@@jerryattwooll4864 hi Jerry. Great write up.
@@jerryattwooll4864 hi Jerry. Great article
This one will stack up at the back of the month for me. I love the debut, but this was a major step for sure. Even a bit more pop sensibility to some of it, yet continuing as hard and heavy in the same songs.
@ziggyzagzi8017 Thank you Ziggy.
@@jerryattwooll4864 hi Jerry. Interesting article
10cc - The Original Soundtrack.
Their third studio album reaching no 3 in the UK chart and 15 in the US, standout tracks include "Life Is a Minestrone" and "I'm Not In Love" which became their second no 1 single in the UK and no 2 in the US.
@@andrewcarr5923 hi Andrew. Awesome pick
Great choice there! I still love 10cc's first two albums though to this day. However Blackmail from Original Soundtrack is my favourite 10cc song.
@@melaniethurber5117 Thanks Melanie.
@@keithjones6023 Thanks keith, like many other bands of the era their 70's albums are probably their best.
Terrific pick, Andrew. Probably my favourite by the band, although all of the first four are excellent.
Day 3 - ELO's Face The Music. Has the hits Evil Woman and Strange Magic with some great deep cuts like Fire On High, Poker, and One Summer Dream.
Day 3 : ' A Night At The Opera ' - Queen ...
Great pick Pete. Definitely a favorite of mine.
3) Black Oak Arkansas - Ain't Life Grand
My introduction to Black Oak Arkansas was my cousin blasting their 1973 live set, Raunch 'N' Roll, on the 8-track player in his 1969 Chevelle when we were driving down to the Jersey shore. Shortly afterward I went out and bought what turned out to be the band's most commercially successful album, 1974's High On The Hog. It was not too long after that, that I saw them live, and they were great. From then on I was a fan. And this album made me like them even more.
Released in early 1975, Ain't Life Grand was the band's sixth studio album. The record sounds better than their earlier albums, and it may actually be their best, with the exception of the live album.
A cover of George Harrison's "Taxman" kicks the record off. The track sounds very different from The Beatles, with BOA giving it their own distinctive spin. Jim Dandy Mangrum almost sounds civilized on the ballad "Love Can Be Found", and "Diggin' For Gold", "Rebel, "Cryin' Shame", and album closer "Let Life Be Good To You" are some other highlights.
Eventually the instability of lineup changes and a change of record labels would end the band's "golden era", but Ain't Life Grand still contains the unique flare that made Black Oak Arkansas one of the most underrated bands of the '70s.
1) Gary Wright - The Dream Weaver
2) Emmylou Harris - Elite Hotel
3) Black Oak Arkansas - Ain't Life Grand
Great pick fun Band
@@christophercoles4401 hi Chris. Fantastic article and pick
Cool pick, Christopher.
Excellent choice and write up Chris, I've been trying to get physical copies of their catalogue for years now but the prices are of the charts.
Hey Chris. Ohhh, I love it when I know a little something about your picks. I used to own, "Aint Life Grand". When I was in college, I kept a lot of my records in my fraternity house. We had parties every weekend and crowds of people would come and go. Every now and then one of my albums would go missing. Your pick of the day was one of them and I never replaced it. Oh well, such is life
I still have the vinyl version of "High on Hog" and used it for that "Favorite Southern Rock" series a couple of years back.
Hi Pete & everyone. Dave here. My pick today is YESTERDAYS by YES. No new album from the band in 1975 - they were on the Relayer tour (which I saw - spectacular!), but they released this compilation of tracks from their first two albums. Not necessarily their best tracks, but I thought the ones that best signalled the direction they would take, including the Roger Dean cover art. My favourite is Survival from their debut. Also here is an earlier live staple, Paul Simon's 'America', which they played when I first saw them live, on The Yes Album tour.
@@gaiaeternal5131 hi Dave. Awesome pick and article
@@melaniethurber5117 Thanks, Melanie.
Hi Dave. I would have wished having witnessed those he legendary tours back then. You've been very lucky! I have not got the "Yesterdays" compilation album, after my neighbour and ex-school mate just got the YES debut album at the time. And "Survival" really is an early gem.
Nice pick Gaiaeternal. Kind of essential just for "America".
They were wonderful right from the start, They were able to have a truly unique combo of sounds and superior vocals
My pick. the late Frank Zappa "One Size Fits All" which I downloaded from Apple iTunes. I believe that was Pete Pardo's favorite # 1 album of Zappa's catalog!!!
I have fond memories of buying “Fly by Night” when it came out after seeing Rush on the television, I believe it was Don Kirchner’s Rock Concert. I think it was this Rush album that the Rolling Stone reviewer claimed Geddy’s voice was a cross between Robert Plant and Donald Duck.
Still crazy after all these years, Paul Simon
That live version of "By-Tor" on "All The World's A Stage" is perfect. Alex's solo in the middle is iconic!
Ranking them:
Day 3. Foghat - Fool for the City
highlights: “Fool for the city” “Slow Ride”
Cool pick Joel
classic
Sweet
Every now and then Joel, a song for the ages pops out of nowhere. For me, one of those songs has been "Fool For the City". I must have listened to it a thousand times and it never gets old.
@@andymudrock322 , I concur.
Day 3: Golden Earring - Switch. With Eelco Gelling (from Dutch blues legends Cuby & the Blizzards and Robert Ian Stips (from the proggy Supersister) as additional musicians. Best known song from this record might be Kill Me (Ce Soir).
Good morning (afternoon, evening or night), Pete. Another fine SoT selection . Personal pick today (and again, not in any particular order) ? The tenth studio album by this British-American band released in July 1975. Though not the debut, the album is eponymously named - perhaps due to the recent addition of two new members bringing about a completely different overall sound for the band: Fleetwood Mac. Can remember hearing the music news on morning months before the release of the album that Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks were joining the band. That announcement really caught my attention due to my fondness for the one and done Buckingham Nicks album. The new line-up? Lindsey Buckingham on electric, acoustic, and resonator guitar, banjo, vocals; Stevie Nicks on vocals; Christine McVie on keyboards, synthesizer, and vocals; John McVie on bass guitar: and Mick Fleetwood on drums & percussion. The album reached #1 on the U.S. charts and was the #2 Billboard album of the year. It also charted - initially - in the U.K. Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway and has since charted in other countries/markets as well. Certified 7 times platinum in the U.S., 4 times platinum in Australia, platinum in the Canada and gold in the UK. 4 singles released from the album. The start of the juggernaut that would release Rumours two years later and go on to even larger sales and fame. Some song favorites? Well, pretty much the entire album. Though not my favorite album by the band - or even by this personnel line-up of the band - a significant album that remains played quite a bit. Thanks, Pete. Looking forward to your next selection.
@@johnmichaelwilliams6694 hi John. Interesting article and awesome pick
This could have been titled the next generation
@@melaniethurber5117 Thanks, Melanie.
@@ziggyzagzi8017 Right you are, ZZ. Thanks for commenting.
@@johnmichaelwilliams6694 Excellent choice and great commentary, John.
Day3-Black Sabbath-Sabotage. This i think is the last good album featuring Ozzy. Great sounding album with classic songs,Hole in the Sky,The Writ,and my favorite song on the album Symptom of the Universe. It’s not my favorite Sabbath,but it’s awesome to listen too.This is my 3rd pick this month.
Ozzy's voice is on fire, Cuz
Great pick.
My Pick today is RUSH Caress of Steel , it's the third studio album from the Legends! released on September 24, 1975
Great album!! Hard to believe that there's only 3 guys in the band making this music!! My pick today is an all instrumental from one of the best guitarists on the planet. We sadly lost this guy in 2023, but he left behind some great music!! Talking about Jeff Beck - Blow By Blow
Day 3:
Jethro Tull - Minstrel in the Gallery
This was my very first Rush album and I loved them right away! The artwork, the lyrical imagery, the fantastic musicianship - all of it! Such a great album and amazing to think how well they hit it on their second album with a brand new member.
29. Rush - Caress of Steel
Great pick Tom, one of my favorite Rush LPs.
No doubt about it Tom P
I like Caress of Steel also Tom. I've had that album for maybe a year and a half. We listen to so much music here at SOT that I just haven't given your pick enough listens for it to really sink in. It won't make my list for this series but it just missed. I had it tied at #32 with Force It by UFO. It's score was 8.20 (B)
Right on Tom absolutely!!! Pete’s pick today and Caress of Steel both on my list ⭐️
Excellent choice, Tom. An awesome album.
One of those times when I wish I was older and could have been introduced to great music earlier on in life. The first time that I heard this was the same time that I was played the 1978 triple album release, Archives, just after it's release that contained all the first 3 albums. Once you got past the initial 30 seconds of shock and almost horror of Geddy's voice, you begin to love more and more.
On Fly By Night, everything is perfect, apart from the forgettable, play one and never again, Rivendell.
Then there is that one, tingling moment that makes the hairs on the back of your hands stand up, following the acoustic and softer into to In the End. That pause that ushers in a very subtle change of tone in the air and the monstrous simple riff that blows the mind on the spot.
29. Bolan's Zip Gun by T. Rex
Choice cuts: "Light of Love," "Think Zinc"
30. Extra Texture (Read All About It) by George Harrison
31. Mental Notes by Split Enz
Straight Shooter- Bad Company
@@inmyhouse11 Great choice. One of my all time favourite albums.
Great pick. Later on my list.
great
KEITH JARRET - THE KOLN CONCERT- Legend is so overused, but this performance, including the prelude to the performance involving the piano, is a legend. So easy fifty years on to overlook how innovative JARRET was with these type of performances.
@@shaunogle530 hi Shaun. Don’t know your pick but your article is very interesting.
Pick #29: Kiss's Alive. Normally I'm not the biggest live album guy but with Kiss I figured I'd make an exception, even though there have been some debates as to how much of this is actually live.
#31: Bad Company's Straight Shooter
#30: Steve Hackett's Voyage of the Acolyte
#29: Kiss's Alive
No denying this one Hair!
29. Against the Grain- Rory Gallagher
30. Fighting- Thin Lizzy
31. USA- King Crimson
29. Face the Music - ELO
@@dtltmtgt hi dtlt. Awesome pick. Coming up on my list
Day 3: Tangerine Dream - Rubycon
Day 2: 10cc - The Original Soundtrack
Day 1: Triumvirat - Spartacus
the 70's such a great decade for music especially rock!, now i'm not the old man saying get the hell out of my yard, but come on folks, we don't have that many great bands with that much great music and catalogs today, just my opinion. always love these shows Pete! thanks
03. Thin Lizzy--- Fighting. Great band great album. It was all coming together by this time. There isn't a track on this one I dislike. Been a fan since the beginning. It's a shame Phil died so young. This band is way more than just The Boys Are Back In Town. Favourite song from this one is Fighting My Way Back. The album grabbed on to me on my 8 track player and I went right back in to by the record as soon as I got paid again.❤❤❤❤.
@@jeffreyflint6286 hi Jeffrey. Excellent pick and article
Nice one Jeffrey, as you said, we are on the same wavelength today :)
Great pick. Later on my list.
@@jeffreyflint6286 Great pick Jeffrey.
Awesome pick Jeffrey!
One of my favorites from my favorite band
Coincidentally, my 29 in no particular order is also Fly By Night by Rush. I actually listened to this after buying tomorrow’s choice by them😂 (a clue. It’s the one the band didn’t really like but I still love it). I was hooked.
Deep Purple - Come Taste The Band
//Steve Hillage - Fish Rising
//ZZ Top - Fandango!
Excellent choice Monte!
Simply, one of their very best.
Great pick Monte. My favorite post-Blackmore Purple LP
Hey Monte, great pick!
Hey Monte nice choice! Just picked the record of this one at my record haul in Lexington that I posted on Jamie's page! Still need to jam to it!
Day 3 - Crisis? What Crisis? - Supertramp
Day 2 - Searchin’ for a Rainbow - The Marshall Tucker Band
Day 1 - Tommy Bolin - Teaser
@@charliecasey5425 Great pick, Charlie.
@@charliecasey5425 hi Charlie. Awesome pick
That one's on my wish list to get!
Great one Charlie that's on my list too
Fly by night is one of my favorite albums of all time.. my pick is sabotage by Black Sabbath. Some people rag on it,but I love the new spacy take on things.
Day 3 / Pick # 29 = BOB SEGER - Beautiful Loser. Highlights are Katmandu & Nutbush City Limits. Several of the songs from this album formed the backbone of Bob & his Silver Bullet Band's Live Bullet album from 1976.
Great pick, Gary.
@@garyh.238 hi garyh. Awesome pick
@@garyh.238 hi garyh. Awesome pick and article
I'm a fan of Bob Segar too Gary. I don't have Beautiful Loser in my collection yet. I started collecting his albums in 1976 with his "Live Bullet" album.
@@garyh.238 hi Garyh. Awesome pick and article
Day 29 pick is Nighthawks At The Diner by Tom Waits. Done live with just piano drums sax and upright bass. Toms humor came through on songs like Eggs And Sausage In A Car With Susan Michelson. Better Off Without A Wife. On A Foggy Night and Warm Beer And Cold Women. Good Jazzy stories.
@@dennisstratton6508 hi Dennis. Awesome pick and write up.
There you go
What a fantastic album it almost made my list at the end but it's going to be on my honorable mentions.
I love the way they made it sound like a late night club but it wasn't recorded at a club just simply recorded in a studio with a live audience.
I'm a huge fan of his first five albums right out of the bat.
I think that's another reason I became a Rickie Lee Jones fan to his ex-girlfriend just at quirky coolness that just kind of stood out.
Nice pick Dennis.
Great pickband article Dennis.
Thank you jeffrey
Day 3
My pick today is:
America
“Heart”
1 Seals and Crofts “I’ll Play for You”
2 Bruce Springsteen “Born to Run”
3 America “Heart”
Great pick.
@@tomp8463thanks Tom
Excellent pick, Melanie.
@@rickmay6932thanks Rick
@@tomp8463thanks Tom
#3 Fleetwood Mac - Self Titled.
Pete. I gotta go with you. Fly by night. Great album and album cover. I love this album. A plus, my friend!
Day 3, #29 - Prog genuis Mike Oldfield's OMMADAWN.
Yep, every time we do a ranking of a year, Mr. Oldfield checks into my orbit.
OMMADAWN is a two-record set; the third release, is primarily one piece of music. The album includes some world music and Mike's best guitar solos. By this point, he had achieved worldwide fame due to the 1974 single TUBULAR BELLS from the said album that was released in 1973.
Hello Pete and everyone. Today’s choice was the follow up to my favourite album from 1974. It is also the point when these guys started to become less of a band and more of a musical project for the two songwriters, accompanied by great session musicians:
Steely Dan - Katy Lied
Whilst this is undoubtedly an excellent set of songs, for me it doesn’t quite manage to capture the magic of their previous album. Many will disagree with that view, of course, which is why these lists are all about our personal opinions.
Nos. 11-30 (not ranked)
UFO - Force It
Favourite Live Album : Blue Oyster Cult - On Your Feet Or On Your Knees
Hello Bryan, well we are on the same page today no question! Yes l certainly do know your pick today as you mentioned. Pretzel Logic your favourite album from 1974! Mine too, Katy Lied is still pretty damn good but just didn't quite measure up somehow, it's rather like Venus and Mars from Wings, l eagerly awaited the release of this album but was disappointed, probably due to the phenomenal album which preceded it.
Just been listening to Spectral Mornings album by Steve Hackett, a Christmas present to myself 😊
Bye again.
@@bryanbyrde8338 hi Bryan. Excellent pick and article
@@bryanbyrde8338 hi Bryan Excellent pick and article
@@bryanbyrde8338 hi Bryan. Awesome pick and article.
hey buddy good pick , didnt make my list , but was in the next 5 or so
29. Styx - Equinox
30. Deep Purple - Come Taste the Band
31. Supertramp - Crisis? What Crisis?
my #29 pick today is
queen
night at the opera
fav track " im in love with my car"
@@bengalgangster hi Bengal. Excellent pick.
@@melaniethurber5117 hi mel thanx
Great pick Bengal.
Excellent choice and song pick, bengal. 🎶💜💜
@@weirddebbiem1619 thanx deb💜💜
My pick for Day 3 (#29 in my countdown)
Styx - Equinox
Morning/Afternoon everyone: 1975 Day 3, and for pick #29 on my list we come to yet another debut album from a band that may not be the first name that springs to mind when someone mentions their particular genre, but whose catalogue- and their 70s albums in particular - can sit happily alongside the other greats of the genre and hold its head high...
OUTLAWS "Outlaws" (Arista)
Typical of the Southern Rock template you have three guitarists, yes, but they also, more unusually, share vocal duties too: Henry Paul, Hughie Thomasson and Billy Jones are the gentlemen in question.
Opening with their first top 40 single, There Goes Another Love Song, you get ten tracks which, while clearly showing their influences, don't hold the band up as mere copycats, so while the likes of Skynyrd, The Allmans and the Eagles are clearly points of reference, here is a seriously talented band in its own right.
And, if every great Southern Band has to have its own epic showpiece a la Freebird, Dreams or Boogie No More, then The Outlaws have their own too in the shape of the near 10 minute closing track, Green Grass And High Tides - and if 9 minutes 45 seconds of it isn't enough, then go to the live version which, on their Bring It Back Alive album, clocks in at 21 minutes...
Maybe the best of all the southern rockers, Sir Iain. Great pick, I think I'll buckle up for the live version this weekend. I grew up with a Billy Jones myself. But who didn't??
On my list as well. Simply one of the greatest southern rock albums.
@@iainhead9898 Awesome pick Iain! I love Outlaws, in my top ten this month
Hey Iain. I know about your pick but I don't own their debut album yet. I've got their Ghost Riders album on vinyl and their greatest hits called, "Green Grass & High Tides" on CD. I had a blast at a concert of theirs at the "University of Scranton" back in1980. I'll never forget that some gorgeous University of Scranton student spent the whole time watching that concert on top of my shoulders. (No, nothing happened after that show. I just drove with my college roomate back to my school. I was used by another delectable female once again...Curses!)
@@iainhead9898 Nice choice and write up Iain.
My Day 3 pick is an album released on June 16, 1975 and recorded in 1974 at Sound City Studios (Van Nuys, California and produced by a few of the founding members of the band im talking about the seventh studio album by American band War, Why Can't We Be Friends? If you don't know War they are a mix of progressive soul,[11][17] funk rock,[3] black rock,[19] jazz-rock,[20] Latin rock[21] and Latin jazz.
Track listing
edit
All tracks composed by War (Papa Dee Allen, Harold Brown, B.B. Dickerson, Lonnie Jordan, Charles Miller, Lee Oskar, Howard E. Scott), except where indicated. Note: The CD edition does not break "Leroy's Latin Lament" into sections.
"Don't Let No One Get You Down" (War, Jerry Goldstein) -
"Lotus Blossom" (War, Francie Nelson) -
"Heartbeat" -
"Leroy's Latin Lament (Medley)" -
"Lonnie Dreams" -
"The Way We Feel" (War, lyrics: Keri Oskar) -
"La Fiesta" -
"Lament" -
"Smile Happy" -
"So" -
"Low Rider" (War, Jerry Goldstein) -
"In Mazatlan" -
"Why Can't We Be Friends?" (War, Jerry Goldstein) -
Singles from Why Can't We Be Friends?
"Why Can't We Be Friends?"
Released: April 1975
"Low Rider"
Released: May 14, 1975
Charts
edit
Year Album Chart positions[4]
US US
R&B AUS[5]
1975 Why Can't We Be Friends? 8 1 81
Beginning in 1996, "Low Rider" featured for several years on British television in adverts for Marmite, as part of their 'Love it or hate it' campaign.[8][9] The song was covered by nu metal band Korn on their 1996 studio album Life Is Peachy.[10] A decade earlier, Beastie Boys sampled "Low Rider" on their song "Slow Ride", from 1986's Licensed to Ill.[11] In 1999, Barry White recorded a version on his album Staying Power. "Low Rider" was later used as the theme song for the George Lopez self-titled ABC sitcom, which ran from 2002 to 2007.[12] The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2014.
I got to say that's an awesome pick Vipe! The two hits are spectacular
@ziggyzagzi8017 the title is very catchy and everytime I listen to low rider I feel like I'm driving in a Topless roof car
Hell yeah! My pick today as well!
Fly By Night is my favorite Rush album. I remember hearing it at a friend's house when I was 12 in 1984. We were just getting into Rush. I liked how different it was from the first album. I love every song except Rivendell. To this day, I can't make it through the whole thing. But such a Great Album, they were laying the groundwork for what was to follow.
My pick for day 3 from 1975 is :"Toys at the Attic" by Areosmith.
@@danielfuentes3226 hi Daniel. Awesome pick
@melaniethurber5117 Thank you Melanie.Take care Melanie.✌
We`re in sync today, Daniel.
Kansas. Song for America
Day 3 Kiss Alive, you wanted the best and you got, the hottest songs played live: duece, black diamond, rock n roll all nite, got to choose, hotter than hell, firehouse, strutter, etc
Fly By Night was my introduction to Rush, probably in late 75 or early 76, when I was 8 years old. As you said the cover is what initially got my attention. I used to go into my older brothers room when he was away and flip through his records Fly By Night was out and I, again was drawn to the cover. Rush has been my favorite band since then. It still takes me back to that day every time I listen. And it still sounds great 50 years later. Like you I never got the Zeppelin connection as I did not think they sounded alike at all. Big Zeppelin fan though and would have to say Physical Graffiti is my favorite from them. I am enjoying this series By-tor......what a song. The version on All the Worlds a Stage is epic! As you also said I too really enjoy hearing the bass upfront. This is one of the many things that drew me to Rush, Yes and The Who
Early onset, I heard them first in '79
Aerosmith - 'Toys in the Attic'
Not only because it rocks, but I think it's their most fun album.😎👍
Great pick.
@@uncledenny2570 hi Denny. Excellent pick
@melaniethurber5117 Good morning Melanie! Thank you!
Big 10
Excellent choice, Denny. An awesome album.
My album purchasing dwindled in 1975 as marriage, rent, etc reduced spending funds. And my better half influenced some purchases and that included today's selection. Abba's first release self titled "Abba". Many songs on the radio established Abba as a musical power.
My Day 3 Pick:
War - Why Can't We Be Friends?
Believe it or not, this is the seventh album from this L.A. based funk/Latin pop/rock/soul hybrid group. And it's an absolute banger of an album from opener "Don't Let No One Get You Down" to the closing title track. Other highlights for me into "Heartbeat," "Smile Happy" (the intro later being sampled by Shaggy on his 2000 hit "It Wasn't Me"), and of course "Low Rider."
The good thing about this series you'll show albums that I havn't listened to in ages and then I'll want to go dig them put for a spin after watching the video cheers Pete!
for today my pick is Rush-Fly by night
Face the music by ELO a strong album with a collection of very fine different songs, from "poker" to "one summer dream" to "fire on high" with it,s genious intro.
My pick for today is Against the Grain, Rory Gallagher
excellent
@@independenceltd. thanks
My pick for today is Kiss. Alive great live album 1975.
My choice for today is the debut solo album by Ian Hunter. Featuring Mick Ronson in numerous roles on the album, my favorite songs are the album openers Once Bitten Twice Shy and Who Do You Love!
@@keithulrich1235 hi Keith. Excellent pick
@@melaniethurber5117 Thanks Melanie.
Terrific choice Keith!
@@razor7394 Thank you!
Camel The Snow Goose. Even better live.
Fly by Night and Caress of Steel Rush
There you go that's what I'm doing too
Rush and Neil Young I'm doubling down
Physical Graffiti
Deep Purple- Come Taste The Band
Nice pick Captain, my personal favorite post-Blackmore Purple album
@ Thanks mate. A magical record a very special one for me.
@@captainbeyond7469 Cool, kind of for me too.
@@captainbeyond7469 Cool pick Captain. Happy New Year! Cheers! 🍻
@ Happy New Year good sir. Cheers 🍻
Today my pick #29 is Foghat fool for the city. Classic album, title track amazing, slow ride a classic.
29. Foghat- fool for the city
30. Ted Nugent Self titled debut
31. BTO- Head on
Excellent choice, Tyler.
Great pick. Mine too.
@@weirddebbiem1619 Thank you Debbie
@@JoelPrice253 Thank you Joel
@tylerpatterson4787 You're welcome, Tyler
fly by night album, one of my very first thoughts: Holy Sh*t this guy can sing higher than Plant!
And it was all so new, back in the day😊
Stackridge -- "Extravaganza." Fourth LP by the British seven man prog band, one of engineer Geoff Emerick's favorite groups. Ten tracks of brilliant writing and musicianship produced by Tony Ashton and the band. Includes Grease Paint Smiles, Happy In the Lord, Who's That Up There With Bill Stokes and Spin Around the Room --
"Feeling like the sun who rose to find it's three o'clock The sun who rose to greet itself and found it's way too hot,
Like a pauper's dying daughter who's counting what she's got Or an up and coming actress who's finding that she's not..."
@@gadgettheratboy9051 hi Gadget. Interesting pick and article. Never heard of this band before.
What in the world?!?!? 7 Sun worshipers? I'm going to listen to it.... Snow on the way toward DC G-Boy
One of John Peels go to bands. Unique band.
Great pick Gadget, Friendliness is my favourite but this runs it close.
Hi Gadget, another band name I know well - I suspect you've picked them before - but again, woefully ignorant of their material... homework time I suppose!
BATTLE ROYALE #3 between favorite albums of 1975 & 2024
For this series and all the annual series to follow, I’ve come up with an accurate grading system that allows for an exacting point grading system to determine where a recording accurately falls from best to worst in my personal album collection for that particular year. Here’s that system: F=0; D-=1; D=2; D+=3; C-=4;C=5;C+=6; B-=7; B=8; B+=9; A-=10; A-11; A+=12.
Coming in at #29 for favorite albums of 1975…EQUINOX by STYX
TRACK GRADING:
1-LIGHT UP (PROG ROCK) B
2-LORELEI (POP & PROG ROCK) A-
3-MOTHER DEAR (PROG ROCK) B
4-LONELY CHILD (PROG ROCK) B
5-MIDNIGHT RIDE (HARD ROCK) B+
6-BORN FOR ADVENTURE (HARD ROCK & PROG ROCK) B+
7-PRELUDE 12 (ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENTAL) B
8- SUITE MADAME BLUE (PROG ROCK) B+
CUMULATIVE ALBUM SCORE IS 69/8 SONGS=8.6250 (B)
Coming in at #29 for favorite albums of 2024…THE SKULL 3 BY LEGIONS OF DOOM.
TRACK GRADING:
1-BEYOND THE SHADOW OF DOUBT (Doom) B+
2-ALL GOOD THINGS (DOOM) B+
3-LOST SOUL (DOOM) A-
4-A FORCE OF REASON (DOOM) B+
5-BETWEEN DARKNESS & DAWN (HEAVY METAL/DOOM) A-
6-INSECTICIDE (HEAVY METAL/DOOM) B+
7-HEAVEN (HARD ROCK) B
8-HALLOW BY ALL MEANS (DOOM) B+
Cumulative album scoring: 73/8 songs=9.125 (B+)
From this pick and for the rest of this month’s series, I can highly recommend all of my chosen 2024 albums. The year just past has been a stellar year for music. As long as you enjoy the specific genre of music from whatever album is chosen then, chances are you’ll relish the music as much as I do. As always, you’ll be the final judge of that.
Winner of BATTLE ROYALE #3 is SKULL 3 by LEGIONS OF DOOM
BATTLE ROYALE SCORE TO DATE:
1975:2
2024:1
Nice! I have a 2-1 score for 1974. I went with Opeth yesterday. 😂
As a lifelong Styx fan, this is one of their more underrated ones. Dennis DeYoung took the reins on this one. I rated it somewhere between a 4.0 and 4.5 (8.5/10). Light Up, Lorelei, and Suite Madame Blue show up on their setlists to this day.
Just buy a hair of the chinny chin chin!
@@guarddl9522 I'm a pretty big Styx fan myself. They come into their prime recording years in about two years from Equinox. (As always, that's just In my opinion.)
Hey Andy, I had Equinox back in the day....somewhere along the journey through the mists of time, I lost it. Some fine trax on it.
Hi Pete. Excellent choice in Rush. Here is my pick for day 29.
Pick# 29 - AC/DC - T.N.T
Today's pick is Nazareth Hair of the Dog. Solid rock album. Miss Misery, the title track, and Love Hurts. This album steam rolls you.
In alphabetical order #3
Bad Company- Straight Shooter
1. Aerosmith- Toys In The Attic
2. Angel- s/t (Debut)
3. Bad Company- Straight Shooter
Don't you know you're a shooting star?
Great pick. Later on my list.
@ love Paul Rodgers he has such a killer pure rock voice
Scorpions...In Trance.......This album was very popular in small town Oshawa....Canada...in 1975..........
Day 3 - “Fleetwood Mac”, S/T
@@sirkazom5760 hi Sirkazom. Excellent pick
@ Thanks Melanie!
Day 3's pick is Queen "A Night At The Opera"
#29 Heart "Dreamboat Annie"
Cool pick Ramon
Was that released early in Europe or something? Oh, looks like Mushroom released it early in Canada. Interesting!
@@Fastnbulbous1969It was released by Mushroom Records in Canada, September 75. Then, in Europe and USA in February 76.
@@Fastnbulbous1969, I debated on which year to turn this album and went with 1976. Same with AC/DC.
Good Canadian Label release date!!
Supertramp-Crisis? What Crisis? To me, one of the progiest Supertramp albums. It was co-produced by the band and Ken Scott, with Ken also doing the engineering. It was the first Supertramp album recorded in America(at A&M Studios in L.A). It was also recorded at the Who's Ramport Studios(as was crime) and Scorpio Sound. It starts with Easy Does It and Sister Moonshine, which both have Roger Hodgson on electic sitar. Another one of my favorites is Lady. That should have been a hit. A Soapbox Opera has strings, and Poor Boy has some jazziness. The Meaning is mystical, and The Two Of Us has pump organ by Roger, and harpsicord by Rick. When people compare Rush to Zep, it's mainly the first two Zep albums. I hear it. I also hear some Black Sabbath. Rivendale has Geddy on classical guitar. Alex's guitar work on that song reminds me Steve Hackett. It's weird seeing photos from that era of Neil with no mustache. He also had a mullet early on
Great choice there, one for later. A Soap Box Opera is one of my favourite Supertramp songs.
Toys In The Attic - Aerosmith, my 2nd favourite by them. Yes indeed!
Great pick. Later on my list.
Day 3- My 29th favourite album, I'm going with Rush Fly By Night
My pick for today is from Germany's heavy rockers Scorpions with their 3rd LP In Trance. Some of the highlights for me on here are the atmospheric title track, the Uli Roth led Dark Lady and heavy rockin Robot Man
@@logancollins7097 hi Logan. Excellent pick.
Great pick Logan, my favorite Scorpions LP
Yep, on all counts!
Excellent choice, Logan. An awesome album.
@@melaniethurber5117 Thank you Mel
Wings- Venus and Mars
The modern Mozart continued the mid '70s mastery of pop rock. Listen to what the Man Said hit #1.
Venus and Mars, mellow then Rock Show rocks hard.
Thereafter came many more hits in 76 and beyond.
Dave Mason played Guitar on it a bit, too
Nice choice, Ziggy
Great pick today, ZZ.
Excellent
My Choice yesterday
@@ziggyzagzi8017 hi Ziggy. Awesome pick and article
Hi, Ziggy. Great pick. I've also got that awesome album.
Uriah Jeep -Return to Fantasy
Jeep 😂
Great pick. Later on my list.