256. Talking Book

Talking Book
Stevie Wonder
1972

Tracks
1. You Are The Sunshine Of My Life 
2. Maybe Your Baby 
3. You And I 
4. Tuesday Heartbreak 
5. You've Got It Bad Girl 
6. Superstition 
7. Big Brother 
8. Blame It On The Sun 
9. Lookin' For Another Pure Love
10. I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever) 


Honestly, just to be listening to anything other than bluegrass is a relief; I wouldn't care if it was someone scratching a chalkboard on loop.  However, I didn't risk listening to an album yesterday because it was my birthday and a bad album can put me in a horrible mood.  I am not sure if this is a good thing or not.


Anyway, everyone on Earth has heard of Stevie Wonder.  I myself have three songs on my iPod by him and that is saying something, since I am me.  Although you probably heard "Superstition" before, a lot of this album are unknown gems.  No one is as comforting or smooth as Stevie Wonder when he delivers a lyric.  Maybe these songs aren't the deepest ones he has ever come  out with (with the exception of "Big Brother") but it is still fun.  Check it out.

RATING: 4/5

255. Will The Circle Be Unbroken

Will The Circle Be Unbroken
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
1972

Tracks
1. Grand Ole Opry Song 
2. Keep On The Sunny Side 
3. Nashville Blues 
4. You Are My Flower 
5. Precious Jewel 
6. Dark As A Dungeon 
7. Tennessee Stud 
8. Black Mountain Rag 
9. Wreck On The Highway
10. End Of The World
11. I Saw The Light 
12. Sunny Side Of The Mountain 
13. Nine Pound Hammer 
14. Losin' You (Might Be The Best Thing Yet) 
15. Honky Tonkin'
16. You Don't Know My Mind 
17. My Walkin' Shoes 
18. Lonesome Fiddle Blues 
19. Cannonball Rag
20. Avalanche 
21. Flint Hill Special 
22. Togary Mountain 
23. Earl's Breakdown 
24. Orange Blossom Special 
25. Wabash Cannonball 
26. Lost Highway 
27. First Meetin' - Watson, Doc & Merle
28. Way Downtown 
29. Down Yonder 
30. Pins And Needles (In My Heart)
31. Honky Tonk Blues 
32. Sailin' On To Hawaii 
33. I'm Thinking Of My Blue Eyes
34. I Am A Pilgrim 
35. Wildwood Flower 
36. Soldier's Joy 
37. Will The Circle Be Unbroken
38. Both Sides Now


Oh dear god, the HORROR!!!!!  A pure bluegrass album complete with the twang, banjos, and songs about stupid subjects.  And it is extremely long.

Man, I haven't been this frightened since we listened to the Louvin Brothers.  This is probably of the most grating albums on the list.  I know I am not a hundred percent objective here, considering this is my least favorite genre.  I guess the best I can do is recommend listening to it if you want to track early bluegrass groups.

RATING: 1/5

254. Something/Anything?

Something/Anything?
Todd Rundgren
1972

Tracks
1. I Saw The Light 
2. I Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference 
3. Wolfman Jack 
4. Cold Morning Light 
5. Takes Two To Tango 
6. Sweeter Memories 
7. Intro 
8. Breathless 
9. Night The Carousel Burned Down 
10. Saving Grace 
11. Marlene 
12. Song Of The Viking 
13. I Went To The Mirror 
14. Black Maria
15. One More Day (No Word)
16. Couldn't I Just Tell You
17. Torch Song 
18. Little Red Lights
19. Overture 
20. Money/Messin' With The Kid 
21. Dust In The Wind 
22. Piss Aaron 
23. Hell It's Me 
24. Some Folks Is Even Whiter Than Me 
25. You Left Me Sore 26. Slut


This is one of those glorious hodge podges of pure gems.  I have no idea how to categorize this album; it represents so many genres.  This seems like it would be a Nina Simone-esque mess but it actually comes together beautifully.


All right, so the "game" he comes up with in the middle of the album is really strange.  Still, I think this is one of the best albums of the 70s.  He has a very sweet voice, whether he is singing a ballad or a fast song.  My personal favorite was "I Wouldn't Have Made A Difference" which is really bittersweet:

A really fun album that is hard to describe so check it out! RATING: 5/5

253. Clube Da Esquina

Clube Da Esquina
Milton Nascimento and Lo Borges
1972

Tracks
1. Tudo Que Voce Podia Ser
2. Cais 
3. O Trem Azul
4. Saidas E Bandeiras 
5. Nuvem Cigana 
6. Cravo E Canela 
7. Dos Cruces 
8. Um Girassol Da Cor De Seu Cabelo
9. San Vincente 
10. Estrelas 
11. Clube Da Esquina No 2 
12. Paisagem Da Janela
13. Me Deixe Em Pas
14. Os Povos 
15. Saidas E Bandeiras (2) 
16. Um Gosto De Sol 
17. Pelo Amor De Deus 
18. Lilia 
19. Trem De Doido
20. Nada Sera Como Antes
21. Ao Que Vai Nascer


More international music which is always a treat; we are exposed to it so little.  There are a lot of musical languages out there and I hardly think English tops the list.  This time it is Portuguese!


I cannot speak a word of Portuguese.  In fact, I don't think I have ever even heard someone speaking Portuguese, except of course, in this journey.  Maybe I just need to get out more!  Anyway, the language is already beautiful but setting it to music is like a poetic explosion.  Of course, I can't understand the lyrics but from what I looked up, the lyrics are just as beautiful as the music.


The book says that this band was heavily influenced by the Beatles and it is clearly seen throughout this album that their main source of inspiration was Sgt. Pepper.  Check it out; this is certainly another treasure I wouldn't have experienced without the list.


RATING: 5/5

252. Home Is Where The Music Is

Home Is Where The Music Is
Hugh Masekela
1972

Tracks
1. Part Of A Whole
2. Minawa
3. The Big Apple
4. Unhome
5. Maseru
6. Inner Crisis
7. Blues For Huey
8. Nomali
9. Maesha
10. Ingoo Pow-Pow (Children's Song)


Well, the hand surgery is over and it has seemed to affect me in a way I can't quite put my finger on (no pun intended).  I just feel overwhelmingly apathetic to almost everything, even reading and watching movies.  I am trying to push through it, of course, starting with this album.  And, as luck would have it, it is jazz.  FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Not just jazz.  Really long tracks of jazz that was extremely hard to find.  We here at the 1001 blog (me) are familiar with this guy because he was married to a much loved favorite, Miriam Makeba.  Yes, it was interesting to hear a African twist on American jazz.  But not exactly the welcoming hug I was hoping for.  I might have to scroll through the sunshine pop archives.

RATING: 3/5

251. Transformer

Transformer
Lou Reed
1972

Tracks
1. Vicious
2. Andy's Chest
3. Perfect Day
4. Hangin' 'Round
5. Walk On The Wild Side
6. Make Up
7. Satellite Of Love
8. Wagon Wheel
9. New York Telephone Conversation
10. I'm So Free
11. Goodnight Ladies


I have surgery tomorrow that I am really nervous about.  All I want to do is get my mind off it, read my book, and listen to some good music.  Maybe have some cupcakes too.


This album has a big personality, which you have to respect, whether you like it or not.  I happened to like it.  Once David Bowie got popular, he concentrated his efforts on making his friends popular, like Lou Reed.  You can definitely hear Bowie's influence in this album.  This may seem surprising from the cover, but Lou actually has a really calming voice which I need right now.


His songs were wild and fun.  Definitely something you should check out.

RATING: 5/5

250. Close To The Edge

Close To The Edge
Yes
1972

Tracks
1. Close To The Edge
2. And You And I
3. Siberian Khatru


250!!  The goal has officially been reached, ladies and germs.  We are one-fourth of the way through this remarkable journey.  This calls for cake and pink champagne.  Unfortunately, neither one of these things are in my reach right now.  This calls for someone else to bring me cake and pink champagne.  Step to it!


While I wait for you to bring me these things, we can talk about the Yes album.  More progressive rock.  Don't let the three tracks fool you; these songs are incredibly long.  Surprisingly, it is not as pretentious as you think it would be.  "Close To The Edge" is actually a pretty catchy track and I really don't feel like they are playing down to us or trying to push an intellectual message.  It is just good music.


Fun and innovative.  Happy one-fourth of the way through day!


RATING: 4/5

249. Made in Japan

Made in Japan
Deep Purple
1972

Tracks
1. Highway Star
2. Child In Time
3. Smoke On The Water
4. Mule
5. Strange Kind Of Woman
6. Lazy
7. Space Truckin'


Wow, what a fail.  I wanted to reach 250 today but have to leave for a sleepover with my sister before I can listen to 250.  SO CLOSE!!!!


Damn, I guess I will just hit that milestone tomorrow.  On to Deep Purple.  I am not a huge fan of these guys but they are in the book a lot so I guess I have to play nice.  Their "sound" is still there and pretty much the same, whether you love it or hate it.  However, these tracks are exceptionally long; "Space Truckin'" is almost twenty minutes.  That is way too long for a single track in my opinion.


A pretty fun album but if you want to check these guys out, I would go for Machine Head any day.

RATING: 3/5

248. Slayed?

Slayed?
Slade
1972

Tracks
1. How D'you Ride
2. Whole World's Goin' Crazee
3. Look At Last Nite
4. I Won't Let It 'Appen Agen
5. Move Over
6. Gudbuy T'Jane
7. Gudbuy Gudbuy
8. Mama Weer All Crazee Now
9. I Don' Mind
10. Let The Good Times Roll/Feel So Fine


Oh, lord.  This "cutesy" misspellings these guys are doing is unbelievably annoying, not only to type but to look at.  Just a complete massacre of the English language.  The former copy editor in me is dying inside.


I was, however, kind of digging this album.  These guys are really extreme and loud so I do not suggest listening to them if you are nursing a headache.  The songs, though, are strangely infectious, I found myself wanting to scream with them.  Still, I liked them while simultaneously loathing myself.  You can tell from every aspect of this album that these guys must be incredibly obnoxious.  I felt like they were trying to be extremely loud just to distract people from the fact that the lyrics basically made no sense.

For awhile, they succeeded with me.

RATING: 2/5 

247. Superfly

Superfly
Curtis Mayfield
1972

Tracks
1. Little Child Runnin' Wild 
2. Pusherman 
3. Freddie's Dead
4. Junkie Chase [Instrumental] 
5. Give Me Your Love (Love Song)
6. Eddie You Should Know Better
7. No Thing on Me (Cocaine Song) 
8. Think [Instrumental]
9. Superfly


They have sneaked another movie soundtrack into the list!  Curiously enough, it is from another blaxploitation movie.  Why can't it be from Grease or The Sound of Music??


Like I said, this album is from the movie Superfly which I haven't seen.  I checked up on it though and it is on my 1001 movie list and on Netflix Watch Instant so I will definitely watch it soon.


Anyway, you can't help but compare to this album to Shaft, and by all accounts, it falls short.  They are actually pretty similar except this one doesn't have the awesome "Theme from Shaft" which made Hayes' album.  Also, Mayfield tries to rock a sexy falsetto voice which kind of falls flat, though I have to give him props for the effort.  Kind of reminded me of Andy from The Office:

I mean, this album is not completely awful but if we are going to include movie soundtracks, there are absolutely amazing movie musicals to choose from.  A pity...

RATING: 2/5

246. Harvest

Harvest
Neil Young
1972

Tracks
1. Out On The Weekend
2. Harvest 
3. Man Needs A Maid 
4. Heart Of Gold 
5. Are You Ready For The Country 
6. Old Man 
7. There's A World 
8. Alabama 
9. Needle And The Damage Done 
10. Words (Between The Lines Of Age)


Man, the pressure is on to like this album.  Fortunately, it is not that hard since this is probably the most famous of all Neil Young albums.  Of course, the haters have to say that this album is misogynistic, particularly because of the track "Man Needs A Maid".  Actually, it seems to be more offensive to men since it is pretty much saying that males are completely useless.  Have you ever seen an all male living space?  Young may have a point.


I have heard Neil Young being compared to Bob Dylan a lot, but I have to say that I like Young infinitely better.  Everything about him is softer somehow; his voice, his lyrics, even his harmonica is less overwhelming. You have probably heard his hits, but just in case:

My personal favorite is "Harvest" but there is not a single bad track on the album, albeit it is a bit depressing.

RATING: 5/5

245. Can't Buy A Thrill

Can't Buy A Thrill
Steely Dan
1972

Tracks
1. Do It Again
2. Dirty Work 
3. Kings 
4. Midnight Cruiser
5. Only A Fool Would Say That
6. Reelin' In The Years
7. Fire In The Hole
8. Brooklyn (Owes The Charmer Under Me)
9. Change Of The Guard 
10. Turn That Heartbeat Over Again


I am in the midst of an album marathon since I am excited to get to the landmark 250.  Armed with only a Quaker's chewy chocolate bar and my Rousseau book, one woman will make it.  Unless of course, it gets too late in which case I have plans.


Here's another band that you probably have never heard of before: Steely Dan.  I really pictured a bunch of motorcycling bad asses but here is a picture:

Disappointing.  Just a less attractive version the Beatles (except for the creepy guy on the left who looks more like Charles Manson).

Anyway, this obscure band also plays an obscure genre: jazz rock.  Actually, I just looked them up and apparently they are more famous than I thought they were (also found an article titled "All Steely Dan Fans Are Assholes").  Chalk it up to my minimal understanding of music.

I, not being an asshole (most of the time), did not really like this album.  The sound was fun and unique.  However, the lyrics got on my nerves.  They seemed to just keep repeating the name of the song, kind of like what Lou Bega does.  Still, jazz rock was pretty fun and I hope there is more on the list.

RATING: 3/5

244. Vol. 4

Vol. 4
Black Sabbath
1972

Tracks
1. Wheels of Confusion/The Straightener
2. Tomorrow's Dream
3. Changes
4. FX
5. Supernaut
6. Snowblind
7. Cornucopia
8. Laguna Sunrise
9. St. Vitus Dance
10. Under the Sun/Every Day Comes and Goes


Whenever people would mention that they liked heavy metal in the past, I would mention something vague about liking Black Sabbath (I did really enjoy paranoid) and they would kind of smirk, saying things like "you would like Black Sabbath".  First of all, what does that even mean?  Secondly, I didn't truly understand why it was embarrassing to like Black Sabbath.  Now I get it.


This album is just a mess.  The songwriting quality of this band has never really been strong, but this is an all time low.  Of course, they don't have a singer who can make up for the stupid lyrics so it is overall just awful. I guess I can smugly recommend their earlier works to people.  Or I could stop trying to impress a certain attractive gentleman with my horrible music taste.

RATING: 1/5

243. #1 Record

#1 Record
Big Star
1972

Tracks
1. Feel 
2. Ballad of el Goodo 
3. In the Street 
4. Thirteen 
5. Don't Lie to Me 
6. India Song 
7. When My Baby's Beside Me 
8. My Life Is Right 
9. Give Me Another Chance 
10. Try Again 
11. Watch the Sunrise 
12. St 100/6


I am going out tonight so I have enlisted my sister to do my hair, dress me, and do my make up.  This might be a short post because I am pretty sure I will receiving orders soon on how to fix...all this.  I imagine the scene will play out like this:

Anyway, back on topic.  I have never heard of these guys before.  Apparently, some of these songs are in That Seventies Show but I never got into that show mostly because I hate everyone involved.  Still, this was a pretty enjoyable album.  Not memorable in the slightest bit, but a fun little pop rock gem.

RATING: 3/5

242. Machine Head

Machine Head
Deep Purple
1972

Tracks
1. Highway Star 
2. Maybe I'm A Leo
3. Pictures Of Home 
4. Never Before 
5. Smoke On The Water 
6. Lazy 
7. Space Truckin'


This has to be a quick one because I have to get some sleep.  Incidentally, I listened to this album while trying to go to sleep.  That was not one of my best plans.


This is another heavy metal album (where is Leonard Cohen when I am trying to get some rest).  We had seen Deep Purple way back at 188.  I would put a link up but I just looked back at that post and it seemed I was incredibly lazy that night and did not write a lot.  Just like tonight, actually.  And this is why I wanted to do the blog with two people!


I should probably start talking about the album since I just yawned like a snake unhinging its jaw. I was actually mildly impressed.  It was catchy and fun, if a little bit kitschy. This isn't exactly the fault of the album; it is just a bit dated.  So entertaining, yes.  But essential listening?  Nope!


RATING: 3/5

241. Sail Away

Sail Away
Randy Newman
1971

Tracks
1. Sail Away
2. Lonely At The Top 
3. He Gives Us All His Love 
4. Last Night I Had A Dream 
5. Simon Smith And The Amazing Dancing Bear
6. Old Man
7. Political Science
8. Burn On
9. Memo To My Son 
10. Dayton, Ohio - 1903
11. You Can Leave Your Hat On 
12. God's Song (That's Why I Love Mankind)


Randy Newman.  The name should sound slightly familiar to all children from the nineties (damn you if it doesn't).  Apparently, he got to score a bunch of movies (including Toy Story) because he knew the guy who was head of 20th Century Fox music.  This fact is my utterly fascinating way to kick off 1972! I absolutely hated this year for movies (besides The Godfather, of course), let me tell you.


Anyway, this was a really depressing album.  We are back to musicians sending stupid anti war messages with no solutions.  It is getting incredibly obnoxious.  Really, Newman, did you not agree with the WWII bombings?  How completely original!


Besides that, kind of boring and unoriginal.  


RATING: 1/5

240. Hunky Dory

Hunky Dory
David Bowie
1971

Tracks
1. Changes
2. Oh! You Pretty Things
3. Eight Line Poem
4. Life on Mars?
5. Kooks 
6. Quicksand 
7. Fill Your Heart 
8. Andy Warhol 
9. Song for Bob Dylan 
10. Queen Bitch
11. The Bewlay Brothers


This album marks the end of 1971.  I told you guys earlier that my father said that this is when good music stopped.  We shall see...


Does anyone not like Bowie?  I became familiar with him when I the did one of his songs in Moulin Rouge!; see if you can hear it...

Most of us are familiar with his hits, but it is impressive to listen to his complete albums.  I do love Bowie, but this album was full of some hits and misses.  The hits, of course, being songs like "Changes" while the misses are songs like "Andy Warhol" when Bowie is trying to be edgy. Can't anyone just have plain old fun anymore without trying to be all deep and pretentious?  Still, a five star album. RATING: 5/5

239. Electric Warrior

Electric Warrior
T-Rex
1971

Tracks
1. Mambo Sun
2. Cosmic Dancer
3. Jeepster
4. Monolith
5. Lean Woman Blues
6. Get It On
7. Planet Queen
8. Girl
9. Motivator
10. Life's A Gas
11. Rip Off


This album does not make any sense and that is what makes it fun!


After all this hippies with anti war messages (I am a pacifist myself but these guys never offer any solutions; the term "armchair analyst" comes to mind), it was nice to get a little nonsense.  Having a musician in this book who doesn't think he knows everything is actually quite the refreshing change.  Lyrics like "i'm like a beggar in the sand with the sky in my hand" are nonsensical but it is okay, because the music is entertaining.  This guy is exactly what the doctor ordered.


RATING: 4/5


Is the song "Get It On" like in a commercial or something?

238. Nilsson Schmilsson

Nilsson Schmilsson
Harry Nilsson
1971

Tracks
1. Gotta Get Up
2. Driving Along
3. Early In The Morning
4. Moonbeam Song
5. Down
6. Without You
7. Coconut
8. Let The Good Times Roll
9. Jump Into The Fire
10. I'll Never Leave You


This has to be a rather quick post because I am exhausted and I still want to write a movie post.


This album was a total clusterfuck.  Excuse the language, but really, there is no better descriptor.  There was so many genres and so much variety that I felt I was listening to ten different artists.  While some may call this versatile, I found it messy.  Also, "Coconut" was obnoxious.


I have to go dive into bed now with the me gusta face.  Too messy for my taste.


RATING: 2/5

237. John Prine

John Prine
John Prine
1971

Tracks
1. Illegal Smile
2. Spanish Pipedream 
3. Hello in There 
4. Sam Stone 
5. Paradise 
6. Pretty Good 
7. Your Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore 
8. Far from Me 
9. Angel from Montgomery 
10. Quiet Man 
11. Donald and Lydia 
12. Six O'Clock News 
13. Flashback Blues


I inwardly groaned when I read that this guy was supposedly the next Bob Dylan.  Even if I liked Dylan, I think this comparison is pretty unfair to both of them.  Not only are those huge shoes to fill but their styles are relatively different.


This is a surprising album.  Prine sings songs with a kind of country simplicity so you think the songs are going to be on normal, innocent country topics like killing women and bedbugs (I have encountered multiple songs on those topics on this journey).  However, he is actually sending deep, political messages.  By now I am getting a little sing of anti war songs but with a southern twist, it actually sounded original.


Better than I expected and some of the songs are genuinely funny.  Check it out.


RATING: 4/5

236. White Light

White Light
Gene Clark
1971

Tracks
1. The Virgin 
2. With Tomorrow 
3. White Light 
4. Because Of You 
5. One In A Hundred 
6. Spanish Guitar 
7. Where My Love Lies Asleep
8. Tears Of Rage
9. 1975


The Byrds just do not quit, do they?  I have a feeling their members will be creeping up even through the nineties (maybe I should fix that sentence).


I have to go to dinner soon so this will have to be a nice and short review.  This is a shame, though, since this guy deserves a lot of praise.  This album is sweet and catchy...and shit I have to go.  Listen to it!


RATING: 5/5


What do you mean "edit it again later"?  That is not an option just because!  So there!

235. Teenage Head

Teenage Head
Flamin' Groovies
1971

Tracks
1. High Flyin' Baby
2. City Lights
3. Have You Seen My Baby
4. Yesterday's Numbers
5. Teenage Head
6. 32 20
7. Evil Hearted Ada
8. Doctor Boogie
9. Whiskey Woman


Really, The Flamin' Groovies?  The only thing flaming is the name of your band (A-O!).  But seriously folks...


This is another interesting little gem that I would have never discovered if it wasn't for the list.  Apparently they broke up shortly after this because they weren't cut out for the US music scene.  I got excited reading about this album, though, because it is described as a throwback to the Beatles.  Yay!


I loved it.  If I had to date it just by listening to it, my guess would have been mid sixties.  I know it doesn't seem like a big deal that it sounds around six years older than it is, but I personally don't really like the direction that music is heading in during the 70s.  Ahead of us, we got disco and funk on the horizon.  Yuck.  My dad has a theory that they stopped making good music after 1971 and I am finding myself agreeing with him...


This album has often been compared to Sticky Fingers but I just do not see the similarities: this is so much better!


RATING: 5/5