When digging through crates of records these days there is one type of album that I take a flyer on no matter what.
The 70′s rock album is a fascinating thing, pompous, over-produced and with needless guitar solo’s it’s often scoffed at and ignored but if you dig a little deeper most of these ‘Dad’s Driving Music’ LP’s have at least one killer track on them.
Whether it being a cosmic chugger, a trippy Balearic vocal or a chilled love song, the 70′s rock album is always worth considering.
This mix is a 70 + minute collection of tracks from some of my favourite albums and artists from this particular niche and it’s a little different to what I usually submit to the site. Proper “All Back to Mine” stuff here – 18 tracks that I regularly want to play to people (whether they want to hear them or not).
Given these tracks all come from loving albums I’ve included a little bit about the LP’s and some snaps of them should you see them out and about – there’s also a bit of info on where I picked them up and so on.
Niles – I Wanna Rock You
- Goddess of Fortune – Sri Isopanisad
- Black Sabbath – Planet Caravan
- The Section – The Garden of Ryoanji
- Justin Hayward & John Lodge – Who Are You Now?
- Wishbone Ash – 714
- Baby – The World is Waiting For You (South of the Border)
- David Gates – Lorilee
- The Marc Tanner Band – She’s So High
- The Movies – Yo-Yo
- Alan Parsons Project – Gemini
- Bo Hansson – Trial and Adversity
- T-Rex – Life’s A Gas
- Crosby, Stills & Nash – In My Dreams
- Sutherland Brothers & Quiver – Something’s Burning
- Attitudes – In A Stranger’s Arms
- Danny Kortchmar – Got To Say So Lover
- Fleetwood Mac – Tusk
- Baby – Brown Eyed Lady
- James Taylor – Bad Shoes
Goddess of Fortune – Sri Isopanisad from the album ‘Goddess of Fortune’ on Spiritual Sky
Picked up for 50p from Gisburn car-boot sale about 5 years ago this is a George Harrison produced album that, truth be told (and you’ll see a recurring theme throughout this post), I know next to nothing about. Beautiful Indian artwork on the front and a strange portrait of a child on the back – the album was released on Apple Records under the title and artist ‘The Radha Krsna Temple’ in 1970 with addresses to ISKCON temples worldwide. Clearly this was done during one of George’s more ‘creative periods.
Black Sabbath – Planet Caravan from the album ‘Paranoid’ on NEMS (1976)
I can’t quite believe that this is by Black Sabbath! I first heard this on AIR’s ‘Late Night Tales’ mix and picked it up a couple of weeks ago at Radar Records in Huddersfield. I’m fairly certain it was also featured on the H-Track ‘Balearock’ mix.
The Section – The Garden of Ryoanji from the album ‘Forward Motion’ on Warner Brothers (1973)
The Section were session musicians extraordinaire. Providing backing for artists like Carol King, James Taylor & Crosby, Stills and Nash they were an L.A. based ‘super-group’. Forward Motion was their debut studio album and it’s well worth picking up if you ever see it floating about. Their second album is the one to get though as it contains the Cosmic Disco classic and record bag staple ‘Street Pizza’. ‘Gardens…’ is a short acoustic track but most ‘Section’ pieces are more funk orientated with some awesome keyboard work.
Justin Hayward and John Lodge – Who Are You Now? from the album ‘Blue Jays’ on Threshold Records (1975)
Founders and existing members ,Justin Hayward and John Lodge, of the Moody Blues released this album in 1975 and it is, to my knowledge, their only album together outside of the band. The album itself if fairly run-of-the-mill folk but this track has a nice atmosphere to it. I picked this up for a pound on Church St. Market Stall in Manchester.
Wishbone Ash – 714 from the album ‘Front Page News’ on MCA Records (1977)
Hands up – I know nothing about Wishbone Ash.
I own two albums by them. This one which contains some great ‘Eagles-esque’ 70′s rock and a ‘Best of’ which isn’t all that much cop. This particular album was rescued from one of the many ‘bargain-bins’ in Vinyl Exchange a few years ago. One of the best 10p’s I ever spent.
Baby – The World is Waiting For You (South of the Border) & 17. Brown Eyed Lady from the album ‘Where Did All the Money Go?’ on Chelsea Records (1977)
This was found in skip. It was covered in shit and despite many cleans it’s still a little grubby sounding.
They are managed by Mr I. Mouse Ltd and their guitars are modified by Glen (Badass) Quan. I don’t know that all that much more needs saying.
David Gates – Lorilee from the album ‘Goodbye Girl’ on Elektra (1978)
David Gates was in Bread. The group, not the 1980′s scouse sit-com. He made this album in 1978 and it’s got two good tracks on it plus a cover of a Neil Young track. It cost me 50p and was purchased in Burnley’s Astonishing Sounds. That is all I have to offer on Mr David Gates (he is wearing a rather snazzy get-up on the cover though).
The Marc Tanner Band – She’s So High from the album ‘No Escape’ on Asylum Records (1979)
If you see this album buy it. This track is shit-hot and on the other side there is a lethal disco-not-disco number.
Better known as a producer than a singer/songwriter this was his only ‘personal’ album. Tanner has produced allsorts from alt-rock to an ‘electropop’ album at the back end of last year.
The Movies – Yo-Yo from the album ‘Double A’ on GTO Records (1977)
Whilst looking (with no particular success) for information on the movies I found this review of the track. Detailed…
“Yo-Yo” is certainly no less moody. In fact, it’s a lot darker than its flippant title would portend. As a brief instrumental intro, Mick Parker solos on electric piano over a midtempo, jazzy, conga-laden groove. The lyrics are a bit elusive, but seem to suggest some sort of character study. Just who is this Yo-Yo fellow? He seems rather chameleonic. Parker contributes a second electric piano solo after a couple of verses. One more verse, then the tune kicks into high-octane with a double-time conga break. This leads into a sort of Latin-inspired nonsense refrain, and a high-energy instrumental section featuring yet another Wurlitzer solo, an acoustic piano solo and a great, rolling solo from Julian Diggle on timbales, followed by a fadeout over a repeat of the refrain section.
Alan Parsons Project – Gemini from the album ‘Eye in the Sky’ on Arista Records (1981)
I recently read a review online that was casting it’s eye over the re-releases of APP albums on CD. This CD, it said, was awful & perfect for those that thought Tenacious D were a credible rock band. Bollocks. This album contains the interstellar ‘Mammagamma’, Radio 2 favourite ‘Eye in the Sky’, ‘Sirius’ & this particular ‘Beach Boys’ esque echoey chorus. Well worth a look in and rarely more than about £4.
Bo Hansson – Trial & Adversity from the album ‘Music Inspired By Watership Down’ on Charisma Records (1977)
“In this Wild World the fondest & the best are the most tried, most troubled, and distress’d.” Crabbe
T-Rex – Life’s A Gas from the album ‘Electric Warrior’ on Fly Records (1971)
Simon still hasn’t bought this album or anything by T-Rex despite spontaneously combusting every time I play him a track by them that he’s never heard. Of all the T-Rex albums this is my favourite but sadly not one that you see all that often going cheap. Despite this you should pick it up if you see it. ‘Rip Off’ is in my Top 10 tracks of all time.
Crosby, Stills & Nash – In My Dreams from the album ‘CSN’ on Atlantic (1977)
Apparently one of them is from Nelson. So that’s make Nelson worthy for one reason now (seriously, the place is an absolute dive – those considering CSN pilgrimages you’ve been warned). I got this LP on the advices of Mr Simon Ashton as it contains two of his favourites in Dark Star and Fair Game. My copy has the same sticker on both sides which is confusing so this may not actually be the name of the track meaning you’ll have to get the album and check.
Sutherland Brothers & Quiver – Something’s Burning from the album ‘Slipstream’ on CBS (1976)
The Sutherland Brothers & Quiver appeared on The Basil Brush Show on 13 November, 1976, where they performed Secrets. They also appeared on Top of the Pops on 7 June, 1979, presented by Jimmy Saville, where they performed Easy Come, Easy Go. Others appearing that night included The Tourists, The Skids, E.L.O., Elvis Costello, Linda Lewis, Roxy Music, Sister Sledge, Blondie, Nick Lowe & Eddie Grant. It’s not just misty-eyed nostalgia – music really isn’t as good as it used to be…
Attitudes – In a Stranger’s Arms from the album ‘Good News’ on Darkstar Records (1977)
Yet another appearance from a certain Danny Kortchmar (and not his last), Attitudes was Danny’s ‘Space Rock’ project in the late 70′s. A lot of it is fusion stuff but this album contains at least half a dozen solid funk-rock tracks. This album was ridiculously difficult to find but I managed to pick up their eponymous debut album in Huddersfield recently for next to nothing so that’s made up for it.
Danny Kortchmar – Got To Say So Love from the album ‘Kootch’ on Warner Bros (1973)
Ah, yes, Danny Kortchmar again. Not content with being a superb session musician, producer and guitarist for his rock band he also does a fine line in good old fashioned american song book crooning. My copy of this album inexplicably contains the biro’d word ‘Wanker’ on Kootch’s leg – that said he is wearing a white suit so perhaps it’s not wholly unjustified.
Fleetwood Mac – Tusk from the album ‘Tusk’ on Warner Bros (1979)
Apparently this album cost over a million dollars to make. Whilst not critically acclaimed this is, I think, their most interesting album and as it cost me about £2 I’m not going to start ripping into it here.
James Taylor – Bad Shoes
Hush hush this one kids.
So there you have it, hope you get some use from the info and enjoy the music.
Comments are, as ever, appreciated and helpful.
