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What’s your 1971?

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What’s your 1971?

There was an interesting observation in the Afterword CD swap reviews thread that ‘1991 was your 1971’. Setting aside the Spurs-esque ‘1’s’ part of this, it touches on a thought: that we will all have our own 1971. Not the greatest year ever, but the greatest year for us. For me it’s 1979. I’m 14 and reading NME and going to gigs for the first time. I look back and the albums released this year form the very core of musical tastes. I didn’t buy all these at the time of course on my pocket money, but everywhere I look 1979 is a ground zero for my music. So what’s your 1971 and is it better than 1979?

The Jam – Setting Songs The Clash – London Calling Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures The Cure – Three Imaginary Boys Buzzcocks – Different Kind of Tension (saw them on this tour) Stiff Little Fingers – Inflammable Material Talking Heads – Fear of Music Entertainment – Gang of Four Join Hands – Siouxsie and the Banshees Blondie – Eat to the Beat Ruts – The Crack Skids – Scared to Dance Magazine – Secondhand Daylight Wire 154 The Fall » Continue Reading.

Hepworth 1971 – Sweepstake Result

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I’ve read the book and am ready to deliver the result. The album he gives a good kicking to is What’s Goin’ On. At one point, he suggests Rock critics often choose it as a great only because they feel guilty about favouring white acts. Other than that, he seems to like everything he mentions. @Rigid-Digit nominated four albums, The Faces A Nod Is As Good As A Wink, Cat Stevens Teaser, Black Sabbath Masters Of Reality & Rod’s Every Picture. He loves them all. In fact, my impression is that the Rod album is his second favourite of 1971 after Who’s Next. The biggest surprise, to me, is that he rates The Carpenters (the album), scuppering @Didley-Farquar ‘s chances.

In the absence of someone selecting the criminally under-rated What’s Goin’ On, I’m having to go with the ignored. The following nominations, neither act nor album, are mentioned:

@retropath2 – Commander Cody’s Lost in The Ozone @ernietothecentreoftheearth – Shirley Collins & The Albion Country Band’s No Roses @The-Actual-North – Mogul Thrash @Hawkfall – Flower Travelin’ Band » Continue Reading.

Hepworth 1971 Sweepstake

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Which album will Hepworth *criminally* under-rate or overlook in his forthcoming book? Everyone puts in a fiver. Half the kitty goes to the winner and the other half goes to Syrian refugees. I decide the winner after reading the book.

I am disqualified from taking part but my money would be on the King of Rock & Roll, Elvis Presley. By 1971, he was no longer breaking new ground but his album of that year, Elvis Country or I’m 10,000 Years Old, is one of his very best. He cares about these songs and sings them with the passion and charisma of a true believer. This Southern boy has an intimate knowledge of all things Country: Western Swing, Blues, Traditional, Bluegrass, Gospel, Countrypolitan. As do the band of Nashville’s finest. It is also one of his weirdest LPs (disorientating snippets of I’m 10,000 Years Old are used as a bridge between the songs) with his weirdest cover (a sweet picture of Elvis as a child). I reckon Mr Hepworth will forget it exists, despite its quality.

While you think about your nominations, here’s a virtually piano less Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.

http://youtu.be/dWZIxLoolKs

Rock And Roll Perfection In 1974

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Homer Simpson said, “Everyone knows Rock & Roll attained perfection in 1974. It’s a scientific fact.”

Of course, it’s a gag. The trope that 1974 was a terrible year for Rock is as prevalent as 1971 is its peak and just as wrong. Let’s demonstrate that 1974 wasn’t as bad as it’s made out to be and that Homer could be right.

As a first witness, I call Steely Dan. They may have sacked the band for Pretzel Logic but, my, it’s a wonderful record. More than that, it is rock perfection.

As a taster, here is the closing track, Monkey In My Soul.