By Roger Nead
February 21, 2005
DESERTED ISLAND DISCS PART III:
1971 was a very tough year, so many good releases it took me an extra week to narrow it down to ten. But here goes my official Top 10 albums from 1971!
10) NURSERY CRYME by GENESIS
Sheltered underneath a Paul Whitehead designed record sleeve depicting a deranged nanny playing croquet with the severed heads of her young charges, GENESIS’ 1971 release Nursery Cryme was recorded after PETER GABRIEL broke his ankle halting the band’s tour promoting their previous release Trespass. Cryme is the first GENESIS release to feature new drummer PHIL COLLINS on a lead vocal (the track “For Absent Friends”) and it helped cement the act as a leader in the British progressive rock movement. Although it didn’t make the charts in the US or the UK, the John Anthony produced disc features “The Music Box” a shining moment in the career of GENESIS and Gabriel, which features some of Peter’s best flute work, some haunting harmony vocals by Collins, and some real nice low-key keyboard by the usually overrated TONY BANKS. The lyrics of “The Music Box” tell the story of a young boy who is killed by his sister with a croquet mallet (inspiring the cover art), and comes to her as a ghost when she begins playing his music box. The ghost seeks his revenge while the nearly eleven minute opus builds to powerful, chilling conclusion. Lovely, yet horrifying…just like my life!
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9) CHEECH & CHONG by CHEECH & CHONG
“It’s me…Dave! Open up…I got the Stuff” The first disc to make my Top 10 which isn’t a music album, is the first release by “stoner” comedy duo CHEECH & CHONG. “Oh yeah, that’s the one we gave the ten dollars, the bottle of booze, and the hooker to” Although the record comes off as if a couple of dopers got high and turned on a tape recorder, it’s actually a routine of carefully thought out, and well written classic comedy, featuring some of C&C’s best bits, including “Dave,” “Vietnam,” “Trippin’ In Court,” and “Crusin’ With Pedro De Pacas” a routine that found it’s way into their first film UP IN SMOKE. “You like my car man?…Oh yeah, I really like the dingle balls” Trust me, one doesn’t have to be under the influence to laugh at this, it is honestly very funny. A little somethin’ wouldn’t hurt though. “Oh wow man, tell ‘em Roger ain’t here man!”
8) LOVEJOY by ALBERT KING
Underrated and overlooked blues man ALBERT KING rose from the St. Louis blues scene in the 1950’s, and was a major influence to guitarists like JIMI HENDRIX and ERIC CLAPTON. King recorded for many legendary record labels like Parrot, Atlantic, Bobbin, King, and Stax, who released his 1971 outing Lovejoy. The album kicks off with a rendition of the Stones’ #1 hit “Honky Tonk Women,” that surpasses the original in soul and guitar licks (I bet even Keith would agree), track 4 on the album: “She Caught The Katy (And Left Me A Mule To Ride)” is one of those blues numbers that lives on forever, and nobody does it like Albert. Every track on Lovejoy is a classic, but the albums highlight is “Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven,” which Stax Records released as a single (#38 R&B, #103 Pop), the song is filled with some of the best guitar playing ever recorded, and some simple, yet profound truths, “Everybody wants to go to heaven…but nobody wants to die.” Although he had announced a few retirements in his life, King continued to perform until his death in 1992.
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7) STICKY FINGERS by THE ROLLING STONES
The first Stones record of the 1970s and the first to be released on their own self-titled record label, Sticky Fingers is probably best identified by it’s controversial Andy Warhol designed cover of a well endowed man’s crotch area, and featured a working zipper (and was to feature a pop out balloon, but marketing determined the cost was too high). The album kicks off with the bands sixth number one hit “Brown Sugar” featuring some of Mick’s most mumbled singing, and also included their top 30 hit “Wild Horses,” but some of the best tracks on Sticky Fingers were non-singles, like: the bluesish “Sway,” the rocking “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking,” “Sister Morphine” featuring guitar great RY COODER, a song that’s very strong musically, but I think Jagger’s vocals leave a bit to be desired, and “Moonlight Mile,” one of the Stones’ prettiest songs, which was recorded without KEITH RICHARD.
6) MEDDLE by PINK FLOYD
This was the album where PINK FLOYD first “clicked.” Leaving behind the psychedelia of SYD BARRETT, and the pretentiousness of Ummagumma, ROGER WATERS and company followed up the much quieter ballad laced Atom Heart Mother with an album that contains a great rock song (“One Of These Days”) a snappy pop song (“San Tropez”) a twangy blues song about a hound dog (“Seamus”) a haunting ballad that could easily fit on The Wall or Wish You Were Here (“A Pillow Of Winds”) a 23 minute rock epic (“Echoes”) which would become one of the groups most anticipated live numbers, and a truly amazing inspirational six minute ditty (“Fearless”) which I think ranks among the best Floyd songs. Meddle is as much underrated as PINK FLOYD’S next release Dark Side Of The Moon is overrated, and is really worth getting acquainted with.
5) AL GREEN GETS NEXT TO YOU by AL GREEN
Reverend Al is best known for his smooth soul ballads, like “Let’s Stay Together,” and “I’m Still In Love With You,” but Gets Next To You, his second album for the HI label, is a showcase for his rougher hard-core blues rasp. First track, a cover of the TEMPTATIONS #1 hit “I Can’t Get Next To You,” is nearly raw enough to be JAMES BROWN, and made it to #60 on the Hot 100. Not that Gets Next To You isn’t chock full of Al’s signature love ballads like: “Are You Lonely For Me, Baby,” “Tired Of Being Alone,” his first Top 20 hit, and a soulful cover of THE DOORS’ #1 hit “Light My Fire,” but the album also features some of the hardest blues-laced funk that Green could muster. Check out: “I’m A Ram,” “Driving Wheel,” “You Say It,” “Right Now, Right Now,” and “All Because.” Next To You even features “God Is Standing By,” a traditional gospel cover like that which Al would later become known for. Al Green Gets Next To You doesn’t contain a bounty of well-known hits like his next three releases do, and it doesn’t really score too well as “make-out music” but truly soul doesn’t get any better than this.
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4) MADMAN ACROSS THE WATER by ELTON JOHN
Elton John is truly a musical chameleon, always changing his style to keep up with pop music standards, which is why he holds the record for the longest non-stop stretch of Top 40 hits (twenty-nine years). However, despite the enormous length of his career, Elton truly hit his creative stride between 1970-1972. I’m not exactly sure if that’s because he hadn’t been spoiled by his massive success yet, or if it was just because he was a curious young artist without much to lose. Anyway, the music on Madman Across The Water truly speaks for itself. First track “Tiny Dancer” is one of his best-loved classics, despite the fact it only reached #41 on the singles chart. Madman’s biggest hit “Levon” (#24 Feb 1972) is an amazing display by lyricist Bernie Taupin, and really makes me wonder how this could’ve been the same guy who wrote that cheesy “Candle In The Wind” song. There are many other great songs on Madman Across The Water, for example: “All The Nasties” “Rotten Peaches” and “Goodbye” but my favorite track on the album, as well as my all-time favorite John song is the deeply satisfying title track, with it’s perfectly produced string accompaniment, Elton’s breaking vocals, and Taupin’s unnerving lyrics, it remains one of the 70’s greatest hits.
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3) THERE’S A RIOT GOIN’ ON by SLY & THE FAMILY STONE
Recorded right around the time Sly’s drug problems began causing turmoil with his personal and professional life, There’s A Riot Goin’ On was a real creative high for this “soul writing poet.” The albums first single “Family Affair” knocked ISAAC HAYES soul classic “Theme From Shaft” out of the #1 spot, and sat at the summit for a month. Riot itself topped the album chart for a couple of weeks at Christmas time 1971, and produced two more hit singles: “Runnin’ Away” (#23 in March 1972), and “Smilin’ (#42 in May 1972). There’s A Riot Goin’ On also contains classics like “Spaced Cowboy” a funky cowpoke masterpiece, “Just Like A Baby,” a moving soul ballad, and a new version of their #1 funk hit “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” called “Thank You For Talkin’ To Me Africa.” Riot is an essential record in the history of black music, in both style and substance, and it managed to be controversial, critically acclaimed, and popular with the general public, three things that rarely went together in the early ‘70s. More than any other R&B group, SLY & THE FAMILY STONE truly broke through all race barriers, and this is easily their shinning moment.
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2) ALL DAY MUSIC by WAR
It’s pretty tough to put WAR’S music into one category, it’s part soul, part rock, part pop, part blues, part funk and all mixed up in a giant Latin pot. All Day Music is technically the fourth WAR album, although their first two releases were as ERIC BURDON’S backing band, and their first solo album WAR released earlier in 1971 kinda came and went quickly. All Day Music was the album, and song that really established WAR as the ultimate chillin’ band. The title track was the summer crusin’ theme of ’71 (at least that’s what I’m told, sadly, I’m too young to remember) but even today I can’t think of any song that more visually captures a Sunday in the park in July, except maybe WAR’S top 10 hit “Summer” from 1976. “Slippin’ Into Darkness” the albums second hit single, is a funk classic and like “All Day Music” never fails to put pictures in my head. Where most music is ideal for background entertainment, whenever I put this album on I always seem to stop what I’m doing and just find a comfortable place to sit and let WAR take me on a little trip. Ordinarily I’d let you in on what the albums best tracks are, but I can’t decide. Every song’s a winner here, “Get Down,” “Nappy Head,” “There Must Be A Reason,” “That’s What Love Will Do,” and the final number, a seven plus minute live stomp “Baby Brother,” which was cut in the studio and released as a single in 1973 as “Me And Baby Brother,” I can’t even decide which version of this song I like more. It just makes me dizzy thinking about it. And, believe it or not “All Day Music” is not even close to being WAR’S best album! Don’t mind me though, WAR has been one of my all-time favorite bands since I was a teenager.
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1) STRAIGHT UP by BADFINGER
I know what you’re thinking…Another BADFINGER album at #1?…sigh! But what can I say, if you don’t know BADFINGER, you’ve got to check it out, if you do, then you know what I’m talking about. Straight Up was meant to be a GEORGE HARRISON production, but George left mid way through to organize the concert for Bangladesh (which BADFINGER participated at), so production duties then went to the equally impressive TODD RUNDGREN. Straight Up didn’t fare as well on the charts as the bands previous entry No Dice, but I like it better, and it was the only BADFINGER album to produce two hit singles. The first, “Day After Day” produced by, and featuring Harrison on guitar, is the bands biggest pop single (#4) and I think it’s a better song than anything any member of the BEATLES put forth. The second single, “Baby Blue” (#14 in March of ’72) was produced by Rundgren, and was BADFINGER’S final Top 40 hit. Both of Straight Up’s hit singles were composed by guitarist PETE HAM, but every song on the album is great. Some standout’s: Ham’s bluesy opening track “Take It All,” Evan’s very Beatlesque “Money,” JOEY MOLLAND’S toe tappin’ “Suitcase,” “Sometimes,” which could’ve easily been pulled off THE BEATLES Revolver album, and the soulfully profound “Perfection,” which is even more moving considering that writer PETE HAM hung himself to death a mere three and a half years later. BADFINGER only released one more album on the Apple label, 1973’s Ass, which I predict will come up on that year’s top ten!
But what about: Some of ‘71’s biggest, most respected releases are absent from my Top 10, like LED ZEPPELIN IV (The one with “Stairway To Heaven”), CAROL KING’S Tapestry, JANIS JOPLIN’S Pearl, and ISAAC HAYE’S Soundtrack to Shaft. That doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with them, they’re just not what I consider to be “Must-Haves.”
OK, that’s it for 1971. Keep in mind these are only my opinions and I welcome you to disagree. Tune in next time for my Top Ten albums of 1972! Plus, I’ll review some new CD releases, and maybe a little more Pop Chart Trivia.
U.S. Singles Chart:
Here are this week’s Top 10 singles:
1) Let Me Love You by MARIO
2) Candy Shop by 50 CENT Featuring OLIVIA
3) Boulevard Of Broken Dreams by GREEN DAY
4) 1, 2 Step by CIARA Featuring MILLY ELLIOTT
5) How We Do by THE GAME Featuring 50 CENT
6) Disco Inferno by 50 CENT
7) Lovers And Friends by LIL JON & THE EAST SIDE BOYZ Featuring USHER & LUDACRIS
8) Soldier by DESTINY’S CHILD
9) Since U Been Gone by KELLY CLARKSON
10) Rich Girl by GWEN STEFANI Featuring EVE
U.S. Album Chart:
Here are this week’s Top 10 albums:
1) Seventeen Days by 3 DOORS DOWN
2) The Documentary by THE GAME
3) American Idiot by GREEN DAY
4) Gemini by BRIAN MCKNIGHT
5) Totally Country Vol. 4 by VARIOUS ARTISTS
6) Get Lifted by JOHN LEGEND
7) It’s Time by MICHAEL BUBLE
8) Be As You Are: Songs From An Old Blue Chair by KENNY CHESNEY
9) All The Best by TINA TURNER
10) Confessions by USHER
Top 10 Most Downloaded Tracks:
Here is this week’s Top 10 Hot Digital Tracks:
1) Candy Shop by 50 CENT Featuring OLIVIA
2) Boulevard Of Broken Dreams by GREEN DAY
3) Rich Girl by GWEN STEFANI Featuring EVE
4) Since U Been Gone by KELLY CLARKSON
5) Get Right by JENNIFER LOPEZ
6) 1, 2 Step by CIARA Featuring MISSY ELLIOTT
7) Disco Inferno by 50 CENT
8) How We Do by THE GAME Featuring 50 CENT
9) You And Me by LIFEHOUSE
10) Mr. Brightside by THE KILLERS
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) Mr. Brightside by THE KILLERS
4) I’m Not OK (I Promise) by MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE
5) Little Sister by QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE
6) Save Me by UNWRITTEN LAW
7) Home by THREE DAYS GRACE
8) Work by JIMMY EAT WORLD
9) Hysteria (I Want It Now) by MUSE
10) Cold by CROSSFADE
U.K. Singles Chart
Here are the Top Ten singles in the UK:
1) Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own by U2
2) Wooden Heart by ELVIS PRESLEY
3) Like Toy Soldiers by EMINEM
4) Soldier by DESTINY’S CHILD
5) Almost Here by BRIAN MCFADDEN
6) Black And White Town by DOVES
7) Angel Eyes by RAGHAV
8) Only U by ASHANTI
9) Galvanize by THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS
10) Goodies by CIARA Featuring PETEY PABLO
FUN & GAMES:
LISTEN TO THE MUSIC:
THE 70’S
Hear the official weekly Billboard Top 50 chart from 34 years ago February 22nd, 1971!
THE 80’S
Hear the official weekly Billboard Top 50 chart from 24 years ago
February 22nd, 1981!
REMEMBER THESE?:
Here are the official Top Ten Charts, 8, 18, 28, and 38 years ago this week:
FEBRUARY 22, 1997:
1) Wannabe by SPICE GIRLS
2) Un-Break My Heart by TONI BRAXTON
3) Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down by PUFF DADDY Featuring MASE
4) I Believe I Can Fly by R. KELLY
5) Don’t Let Go (Love) by EN VOGUE
6) You Were Meant For Me by JEWEL
7) I Believe In You And Me by WHITNEY HOUSTON
8) Nobody by KEITH SWEAT
9) In My Bed by DRU HILL
10) Discotheque by U2
FEBRUARY 15, 1987:
1) Livin’ On A Prayer by BON JOVI
2) Jacob’s Ladder by HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS
3) Keep Your Hands To Yourself by GEORGIA SATELLITES
4) Will You Still Love Me by CHICAGO
5) You Got It All by THE JETS
6) Somewhere Out There by LINDA RONSTADT & JAMES INGRAM
7) Respect Yourself by BRUCE WILLIS
8) (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!) by BEASTIE BOYS
9) Big Time by PETER GABRIEL
10) Ballerina Girl by LIONEL RICHIE
FEBRUARY 15, 1977:
1) New Kid In Town by EAGLES
2) Love Theme From “A Star Is Born” (Evergreen) by BARBRA STREISAND
3) Blinded By The Light by MANFRED MANN’S EARTH BAND
4) Fly Like An Eagle by STEVE MILLER BAND
5) I Like Dreamin’ by KENNY NOLAN
6) Enjoy Yourself by THE JACKSONS
7) Torn Between Two Lovers by MARY MACGREGOR
8) Night Moves by BOB SEGER & THE SILVER BULLET BAND
9) Dancing Queen by ABBA
10) Weekend In New England by BARRY MANILOW
FEBRUARY 15, 1967:
1) Kind Of A Drag by THE BUCKINGHAMS
2) Love Is Here And Now You’re Gone by THE SUPREMES
3) Ruby Tuesday by THE ROLLING STONES
4) I’m A Believer by THE MONKEES
5) Georgy Girl by THE SEEKERS
6) The Beat Goes On by SONNY & CHER
7) Gimme Some Lovin’ by THE SPENCER DAVIS GROUP
8) Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye by THE CASINOS
9) (We Ain’t Got) Nothin’ Yet by BLUES MAGOOS
10) Baby I Need Your Lovin’ by JOHNNY RIVERS
ROCK & ROLL TRIVIA QUESTION:
LAST 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?
THE ANSWER:
It probably would’ve been a lot easier if I had said she was related to PAT BOONE! It is, of course, DEBBY BOONE. Debby’s first hit “You Light Up My Life,” spent ten weeks at #1, but the follow-up single “California” (released after she won the cursed “BNA” Grammy) only made it to #50.
Debby married Gabriel Ferrer, the son of singer ROSEMARY CLOONEY in 1979, and George is Rosemary’s nephew, making George and Debby distant relations.
An interesting side-note: the week that Debby’s “California” was peaking at #50, BOZ SCAGGS was peaking at #49 with “Hollywood.” What a coincidence!
THIS WEEKS QUESTION:
Below is a list of six top pop artists. Each had several hit records (including #1’s), but only one of these artists did not reach the Billboard Top 50 with a “disco” hit. Which one stayed away from disco?
THE ROLLING STONES
JOHN TRAVOLTA
ROD STEWART
THE BEACH BOYS
BARBRA STREISAND
PAUL McCARTNEY
Answer next week!
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