The 1970s may well prove to be the most compelling decade in all of popular music. That period saw the emergence of the Singer-Songwriter, the beginnings of Americana, and a slew of brilliant albums from new rock groups. We begin with five of our favourite records from artists who made an impact, and not just from record sales. These artists went on to make great music in many subsequent releases.
These five albums stood up to repeated listening over the years and deserve rediscovery today. They are a treasure for younger fans interested in exploring something other than the widely-known albums from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Eagles. Enjoy, and feel free to comment below!
This 1976 British release from Graham Parker and his band The Rumour brought a talented and passionate singer to the forefront, with terrific songs that might have come from Van Morrison or Bruce Springsteen in their early days. Parker evinced a lyrical bent with a punk-rock attitude. The music of Howlin’ Wind was both horn-based R & B and reggae-influenced. The title track said it all . Parker sang it out “I’m gonna howl”. Producer Nick Lowe directed this stunning debut that influenced both Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson (two more of our 5 picks).
Released in 1975 to wide acclaim for its smash hit “I’m Not In Love”, this English band is under-estimated to this day for their willingness to explore the boundaries of the popular song. The four members of the group were a songwriting machine for The Hollies, The Yardbirds, The Mindbenders and many others. Kevin Godley and Lol Creme in particular were further influenced by art and cinema. The Original Soundtrack is a pastiche of everything, including lyrics that surpassed cleverness. Witness “One Night in Paris”, a songwriting and production triumph.
1978 saw the release of one of the greatest pop debut albums in history: the self-titled The Cars. From its opening notes of “Good Times Roll”, you can’t help but be hooked. This is power pop at its best, and remains as exciting today as it did more than 45 years ago. The album is a non-stop series of wonderfully crafted songs, brilliantly played and sung, supported by innovative synths that remain unmatched today. If there were a perfect record in pop history, this one may well be it. Name another if you can, and then listen to The Cars. There’s nothing like it.
English. Punk-rocker. Alternative. Distinct and original songwriter. Better than average singer backed by a stellar country band from California, Clover. Produced by Nick Lowe. Changed his name from DP Costello to Elvis in honour of Presley. These are the facts. Then there is the flavour. This 1977 album was a diverse collection of urgency and tenderness, with the standout being the gorgeous “Alison”, quickly covered by Linda Ronstadt. Who could have foreseen just how far Costello would travel from My Aim Is True, all the way to Burt Bacharach and Diana Krall?
Have we saved the best for last? Joe Jackson is a talent beyond measure, debuting in 1979 in the midst of disco fever. Look Sharp! begins on a high note with “One More Time”, segues into “Sunday Papers” and then soars into the unforgettable “Is She Really Going Out With Him?” This is perhaps the most elegant power-pop / new wave imaginable, with a heavy reggae influence. The title track “Look Sharp!” is a great rocker about a man looking for substance and meaning in an unreal world. Joe went on to release many wonderful records, but this one retains a compelling freshness to this day.
