By Roger Nead
February 1, 2005
DESERTED ISLAND DISCS PART II:
Here we go again! It’s my year-by-year listing of the 10 albums every music lover should have with them incase they find themselves lost on some deserted island, and there is no scary polar bears, or even that hairy Rupert guy to talk to. This week I give to you: 1970. Enjoy!
10) FREE YOUR MIND…AND YOUR ASS WILL FOLLOW by FUNKADELIC
In 1969 funkmaster GEORGE CLINTON found himself unable to use his group name THE PARLIAMENTS, due to legal reasons, so he took his backing band and recorded as FUNKADELIC. The bands second release “Free Your Mind…And Your Ass Will Follow” hit stores in the fall of 1970, and makes my list as the #10 album of that year (just barely squeezing by FRANK ZAPPA’S Chunga’s Revenge, and PINK FLOYD’S Atom Heart Mother). Including the single “I Wanna Know If It’s Good To You,” Free Your Mind peaked on the Billboard album chart at #92, and even though the recording quality of the album is fair at best, the funk is top notch. Best tracks: “Funky Dollar Bill,” “I Wanna Know If It’s Good To You,” and “Friday Night, August 14TH.”
9) LED ZEPPELIN III by LED ZEPPELIN
Zep turned down the electric guitar a bit on this more acoustic release, but it still rocks. III spent four weeks on the top of the US album chart, debuted in the #1 spot on the UK album chart, and features “Since I’ve Been Loving You,” one of the bands best songs. III is also noted for such classics as: “Gallows Pole,” “Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp,” and the single “Immigrant Song,” a #16 hit on the Hot 100. I don’t think III is as good as Zeppelin’s first two releases, but it’s still holds up way better than the best work of other 70’s rock icons like: GRAND FUNK RAILROAD, THE WHO, YES, FRIJID PINK, CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL and SANTANA.
8) HIS BAND & THE STREET CHOIR by VAN MORRISON
Despite receiving very poor reviews upon its release, His Band & The Street Choir makes my list as the #8 album of 1970. Morrison was just coming off Astral Weeks, and Moondance, so the pressure on the new album was massive. His Band & The Street Choir contained the pop hits “Domino,” and “Blue Money,” and then add to that: “Call Me Up In Dreamland,” “Give Me A Kiss,” and “Sweet Jannie,” and you’ve got yourself a great album, regardless of how it stacks up to the rest of the artist’s catalog. If Van thought this album was inferior to the previous two, he sure doesn’t show it. He sings the songs with such joy and excitement that it suggests he was either loving the fact that he could make a living as a musician, or maybe just a little drunk. Either way His Band & The Street Choir belongs in everyone’s music collection.
7) BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER by SIMON & GARFUNKEL
The biggest selling album of 1970, including the biggest selling single of 1970, and it was the swan song of one of rock music’s biggest selling duos of all time. This is one of those albums where every song is good enough for a single, although, only four singles were released from it: “The Boxer,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “Cecilia,” and “El Condor Pasa (If I Could).” I wouldn’t consider myself a SIMON & GARFUNKEL fan, but I like every song on this one (except maybe “So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright,” which I only tolerate). Paul and Art were one of the only popular artists to “go out on top,” even though they had several reunions, they never recorded another album of original material. Best tracks: “The Only Living Boy In New York,” “The Boxer,” “Keep The Customer Satisfied,” “Why Don’t You Write Me,” “Baby Driver,” and “El Condor Pasa.”
6) TRESPASS by GENESIS
Technically not their first album, but the one where I think they really began. Recorded prior to PHIL COLLINS and STEVE HACKETT, Trespass is all about PETER GABRIEL, and defines the cliché “Progressive-Rock” better than any other album of the time. Not for you if you don’t like long songs with long instrumental breaks, but Trespass does contain three of the English band’s best songs: “The Knife,” “Looking For Someone,” and “Dusk.” Don’t feel too bad if you’ve never heard of this album, Trespass failed to chart in the US or the UK. Hard to believe they’d be on top of the world fifteen years later with “Invisible Touch.”
5) ERIC BURDON DECLARES “WAR” by ERIC BURDON & WAR
As the 60’s became the 70’s, Burdon left THE ANIMALS behind and hooked up with a new band, one with a Funky-Latin based Soul sound. I wouldn’t call this WAR’S best album, but I think it’s the best stuff Burdon put out. The single “Spill The Wine” is one of the best pop singles of the entire decade, and the album also contains musical tributes to ROLAND KIRK (“Vision Of Rassan”) and MEMPHIS SLIM (“Blues For Memphis Slim”), not to mention a 13-minute take on Loudermilk’s classic “Tobacco Road.” Like many of my picks this is an album that is best listened to on a vinyl record, and while under the influence (of what is up to you), definitely the best “chill” record of 1970.
4) LOADED by THE VELVET UNDERGROUND
Another “Classic” that’s generally not received as well as the artist’s other releases, Loaded was the Underground’s second post JOHN CALE release, and features two of the bands best-known songs: “Sweet Jane,” and “Who Loves The Sun.” After Loaded’s release LOU REED complained that the album was re-mixed without his consent, quit the band, and for a few years the music business entirely. Luckily, Reed came back and began releasing solo albums around 1972. Though most fans will think I’m mad (or stupid), I gotta pick Loaded as my favorite VELVET UNDERGROUND LP. It doesn’t have the significance of 1967’s The Velvet Underground & Nico (produced by ANDY WARHOL), but it’s probably the most “pop” release from the band, and it’s the most LOU REED of the bunch. Best tracks: “Rock And Roll,” “New Age,” “Sweet Jane,” and “Cool It Down.”
3) LET IT BE by THE BEATLES
Not the last album recorded by the Fab-Four, but the last released, “Let It Be” was a very fitting end to the group. Recorded live in the studio in 1969, it was also filmed for a documentary to be called Get Back. The experience was so bad for THE BEATLES, they decided to hit the studio for one more album: Abbey Road, and although it’s a better album, it’s much less important. Besides all the bickering (which is very apparent on the film, re-titled: Let It Be, and for many years very hard to find on video) this album is also noted for being re-mixed by PHIL SPECTOR, the first and only BEATLES album to be done this way, and quite shocking considering the album was meant to be a very basic “back-to-roots” record. McCartney was especially annoyed with Spector’s mixing, and was very vocal about it. Harrison actually quit the band mid-way through the recording of Let It Be, but was persuaded to return. Despite all the trouble the album eventually saw a release in May of 1970, a month after the official “break-up” of THE BEATLES. Regardless of your opinion of the album, the film Let It Be is required viewing for every true rock and roll fan. Best tracks: “I’ve Got A Feeling,” “Across The Universe,” “The Long And Winding Road,” and “Let It Be.”
2) MOONDANCE by VAN MORRISON
The second VAN MORRISON LP to make the list, and the best record he ever recorded. Unlike “His Band & The Street Choir” critics went “ga-ga” for Moondance, and it’s easy to see why. The self-produced album kicks off strongly with: “And It Stoned Me,” and it never lets down. Only one single released from the album: “Come Running,” but Moondance contains some of Van’s best known songs: “Into The Mystic,” “Crazy Love,” and the jazzy title track, which was used to perfection in John Landis’ AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON. Moondance is definitely the best album to start off a VAN MORRISON relationship (with the possible exception of his first Greatest Hits collection), and is the record to which all of Van’s material is compared.
1) NO DICE by BADFINGER
A band with a tragic tale (both of the founding members committed suicide), that was constantly being compared to THE BEATLES (they were signed to THE BEATLES Apple label, and had musical and production assistant by all four members), BADFINGER left behind a collection of some of the most underrated rock tunes of all-time. No Dice contains the Top Ten smash “No Matter What,” but for some odd reason no follow-up single was released. It does, however, contain the original, and best version of the rock standard “Without You,” (which was a #1 hit for HARRY NILSSON, and a Top 5 hit for MARIAH CAREY), and other brilliant songs like: “I Can’t Take It,” “Midnight Caller,” and “I Don’t Mind,” a BEATLES inspired song that I think is better than just about anything THE BEATLES ever did. No Dice is surely my favorite album of 1970, but not the best album from BADFINGER (more on that next week!)
OK, that’s it for 1970. Keep in mind these are only my opinions and I welcome you to disagree (in fact, feel free to email me your picks!) If you missed my choices for 1969, check out last weeks column. Tune in next time for my Top Ten albums of 1971!
U.S. Singles Chart:
Here are this week’s Top 10 singles:
1) Let Me Love You by MARIO
2) 1, 2 Step by CIARA Featuring MILLY ELLIOTT
3) Lovers And Friends by LIL JON & THE EAST SIDE BOYZ Featuring USHER & LUDACRIS
4) Soldier by DESTINY’S CHILD
5) Drop It Like It’s Hot by SNOOP DOGG Featuring PHARRELL
6) How We Do by THE GAME Featuring 50 CENT
7) Disco Inferno by 50 CENT
8) Boulevard Of Broken Dreams by GREEN DAY
9) Bring Em Out by T.I.
10) Over And Over by NELLY Featuring TIM McGRAW
U.S. Album Chart:
Here are this week’s Top 10 albums:
1) The Documentary by THE GAME
2) American Idiot by GREEN DAY
3) Encore by EMINEM
4) Crunk Juice by LIL JON & THE EAST SIDE BOYZ
5) Get Lifted by JOHN LEGEND
6) Breakaway by KELLY CLARKSON
7) Confessions by USHER
8) The Red Light District by LUDACRIS
9) Now 17 by VARIOUS ARTISTS
10) Destiny Fulfilled by DESTINY’S CHILD
Top 10 Most Downloaded Tracks:
Here is this week’s Top 10 Hot Digital Tracks:
1) Boulevard Of Broken Dreams by GREEN DAY
2) 1, 2 Step by CIARA Featuring MISSY ELLIOTT
3) How We Do by THE GAME Featuring 50 CENT
4) Since U Been Gone by KELLY CLARKSON
5) Disco Inferno by 50 CENT
6) Get Right by JENNIFER LOPEZ
7) Drop It Like It’s Hot by SNOOP DOGG Featuring PHARRELL
8) Let Me Love You by MARIO
9) Mr. Brightside by THE KILLERS
10) Over And Over by NELLY Featuring TIM McGRAW
Modern Rock Tracks:
Here are this week’s Top 10 Modern Rock tracks:
1) Boulevard Of Broken Dreams by GREEN DAY
2) Scars by PAPA ROACH
3) Cold by CROSSFADE
4) Look What You’ve Done by JET
5) Mr. Brightside by THE KILLERS
6) All Because Of You by U2
7) I’m Not OK (I Promise) by MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE
8) Pain by JIMMY EAT WORLD
9) Home by THREE DAYS GRACE
10) Save Me by UNWRITTEN LAW
U.K. Singles Chart
Here are the Top Ten singles in the UK:
1) Goodies by CIARA Featuring PETEY PABLO
2) A Fool Such As I by ELVIS PRESLEY
3) Galvanize by THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS
4) Wires by ATHLETE
5) Tumble And Fall by FEEDER
6) Breathe In by LUCIE SILVAS
7) Somebody Told Me by THE KILLERS
8) Out Of Touch by UNITING NATIONS
9) Take Me Away by STONEBRIDGE Featuring THERESE
10) Staring At The Sun by ROOSTER
MY WEEKLY TOP 10
1) Undone by OWSLEY
2) The Girl Who Stole The Eiffel Tower by DEATH RAY DAVIES
3) Mary by SCISSOR SISTERS
4) What’s Wrong Is Everywhere by THE JEALOUS SOUND
5) The Girl With Golden Hair by THE ONLY CHILDREN
6) Blue River by SIDEKICK MAFIA
7) Sad And Lonely by SECRET MACHINES
8) Pretty Sara by ROCKETSHIP
9) All My Real Friends by HIGH HOLY DAYS
10) How Good It Can Be by THE 88
FUN & GAMES:
LISTEN TO THE MUSIC:
THE ‘70S
Hear the official weekly Billboard Top 50 chart from 33 years ago February 1ST, 1972!
THE ‘80S
Hear the official weekly Billboard Top 50 chart from 23 years ago
February 1ST, 1982!
REMEMBER THESE?:
Here are the official Top Ten Charts, 6, 16, 26, and 36 years ago this week:
FEBRUARY 1, 1999:
1) …Baby One More Time by BRITNEY SPEARS
2) Angel Of Mine by MONICA
3) Have You Ever? by BRANDY
4) Nobody’s Supposed To Be Here by DEBORAH COX
5) All I Have To Give by BACKSTREET BOYS
6) I’m Your Angel by R. KELLY & CELINE DION
7) Jumper by THIRD EYE BLIND
8) Angel by SARAH MCLACHLAN
9) Save Tonight by EAGLE-EYE CHERRY
10) Hands by JEWEL
FEBRUARY 1, 1989:
1) When I’m With You by SHERIFF
2) Straight Up by PAULA ABDUL
3) When The Children Cry by WHITE LION
4) Born To Be Baby by BON JOVI
5) Wild Thing by TONE LOC
6) Armageddon It by DEF LEPPARD
7) The Way You Love Me by KARYN WHITE
8) Don’t Rush Me by TAYLOR DAYNE
9) All This Time by TIFFANY
10) Two Hearts by PHIL COLLINS
FEBRUARY 1, 1979:
1) Le Freak by CHIC
2) Y.M.C.A. by THE VILLAGE PEOPLE
3) Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? by ROD STEWART
4) A Little More Love by OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN
5) Too Much Heaven by BEE GEES
6) My Life by BILLY JOEL
7) Every 1’s A Winner by HOT CHOCOLATE
8) Fire by THE POINTER SISTERS
9) September by EARTH, WIND & FIRE
10) I Will Survive by GLORIA GAYNOR
FEBRUARY 1, 1969:
1) Crimson And Clover by TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS
2) Everyday People by SLY & THE FAMILY STONE
3) Worst That Could Happen by BROOKLYN BRIDGE
4) Touch Me by THE DOORS
5) I Heard It Through The Grapevine by MARVIN GAYE
6) I’m Gonna Make You Love Me by DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES & THE TEMPTATIONS
7) I Started A Joke by THE BEE GEES
8) Hooked On A Feeling by B.J. THOMAS
9) Soulful Strut by YOUNG-HOLT UNLIMITED
10) Build Me Up Buttercup by THE FOUNDATIONS
ROCK & ROLL TRIVIA QUESTION:
LAST WEEKS QUESTION:
In June of 1968 four completely different songs debuted on the Hot 100 all with the same title. What was the title?
THE ANSWER:
I bet you thought about this, and quickly your mind went to: “Here Comes The Judge!” Believe it or not that line was so popular in the summer of ’68 that four songs with that title (or variations of it) charted simultaneously!
SHORTY LONG, PIGMEAT MARKHAM, THE MAGISTRATES, and THE BUENA VISTAS all shared space on the Hot 100 with songs called “Here Comes The Judge.” Incase you didn’t know, the line originated on the popular TV series ROWAN & MARTIN’S LAUGH-IN, by comedian Markham.
THIS WEEKS QUESTION:
This “Best New Artist” Grammy winner’s biggest hit peaked at #1, and her second biggest hit peaked at #50. Oh yeah, she’s also a distant relation to actor George Clooney. Who is she?
Answer next week!
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