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1970s music draft- Link to google spreadsheet in first post (2 Viewers)

I don't think Peter Asher knew what to do with Ronstadt. Part of it was the need to slot musicians into genres - the "You're No Good" link Eephus provided has Feliciano calling her a country artist, for just one example. I think she needed someone more like Todd Rundgren, who gave less than zero ####s about labels - to just turn her loose.
Binky the Doormat likes this​
 
So I chose "Rockaway Beach" as my punk single. It was an awful choice in some respects because, in hindsight, there's nothing particularly edgy about it like the song I almost took. But - hindsight again - the Ramones were more in touch with R&R's past than many of their contemporaries (there's Beach Boys love all over this record). Of course, that wasn't what hip audiences/writers wanted in the mid-70s - that would be THE NEXT BIG THING and ROCK IS DEAD and WE'RE POST-MODERN NOW. 40 years down the line, all of the fuss seems much ado about nothing to me. It's easy to draw a straight line from Chuck Berry through Johnny Rotten. To me, this is the Seeds next great single.

"Earthquake" never got any AOR airplay, at least not in my neck of the woods. Larry Graham's vocals on this song, though, rival anything Paul Rodgers or Alice Cooper could spit out (lol at Robert Plant sounding this tough, so I won't mention him...oops). And that bass! Flying Spaghetti Monster, that thing will (& and has with me) blow out the best speakers if you're not careful.

I fully expect both of these to come in last-in-category, but I don't care. I'm in a friends-with-benefits hook-up with the Ramones and an I-don't-give-a-flying-####-what-anyone-else-thinks about my "Earthquake" choice - that song would be in the doom metal HOF if Black Sabbath had the talent to write it.

 
17.xx - Lee Perry and The Upsetters - Musical Bones - 1975 album

An entire album of dub reggae and ska? Sure! This was a throwaway for Perry, but I love this album. Vin Gordon plays jazz trombone and some of the songs veer wildly toward straight funk and jazz. "Raw Chaw" was my favorite stoney song of my late 20's, so here this goes.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_DXlvBjrxQ

 
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I went back a while ago and listened to Ronstadt's "new wave" album Mad Love.  My roommate bought a copy in 1980 and I remember we all made fun of it (and him) because the record was such an obvious poseur career turn.
"How Do I Make You" holds up just fine, IMHO.

 
ITTOD gets swept under the carpet because of the stature Zep's previous releases. On it's own merit it is a great album. Fool in the Rain, All My Love are great songs but my favorite is the opener In the Evening. Just love Page's distorted guitar on that one.
I'm Gonna Crawl is my favorite song off that album. Great album.

 
I don't think Peter Asher knew what to do with Ronstadt. Part of it was the need to slot musicians into genres - the "You're No Good" link Eephus provided has Feliciano calling her a country artist, for just one example. I think she needed someone more like Todd Rundgren, who gave less than zero ####s about labels - to just turn her loose.
Rundgren would undoubtedly get drafted earlier in a Music Producers Draft but I think you're underestimating Asher's contribution to the 70s El Lay sound.  The producer's role in gaining an artist's trust, selecting suitable material and coaxing out great performances is just as critical as stamping a sonic imprint on a record.

Asher seems more like a relationship type of guy.  His claim to fame is working with Ronstadt and James Taylor over long, multi-album stretches.  None of those albums were groundbreaking, pantheon works but they were commercially successful and aren't embarrassments today.  Other than Todd himself, Rundgren's career consists of a lot of one-offs.  A number of bands had a single "produced by Todd Rundgren" record in their catalog and then moved on to work with others.  I don't know why that is although Andy Partridge wasn't happy with their relationship during Skylarking.

My analogy is baseball managers.  Asher is a players' manager guy like Chuck Tanner or Ned Yost while Rundgren is a guy with a distinctive style like Billy Martin or Whitey Herzog.  Both were successful with the right cast of players.  I think given some of Ronstadt's insecurities as an artist, she was probably better off with Asher.

 
I need to post two to get caught up.

16.12: "Teacher", Jethro Tull  [link]  (1970 Song)
   Love hearing that bass drop throughout Martin Barre's rhythm line. Also love Barre's guitar licks "answering" Ian Anderson's vocal refrain. And yes, comes complete with flute solo :D  

17.10: "What You Won't Do For Love", Bobby Caldwell  [link]  (1979 Song)
   "I came back to let you knoooow ... !" Smooth as silk. Love the horns. Cool interview and live performance from the CBS Early Morning Show circa the late '90s.

 
Rundgren would undoubtedly get drafted earlier in a Music Producers Draft but I think you're underestimating Asher's contribution to the 70s El Lay sound.  The producer's role in gaining an artist's trust, selecting suitable material and coaxing out great performances is just as critical as stamping a sonic imprint on a record.

Asher seems more like a relationship type of guy.  His claim to fame is working with Ronstadt and James Taylor over long, multi-album stretches.  None of those albums were groundbreaking, pantheon works but they were commercially successful and aren't embarrassments today.  Other than Todd himself, Rundgren's career consists of a lot of one-offs.  A number of bands had a single "produced by Todd Rundgren" record in their catalog and then moved on to work with others.  I don't know why that is although Andy Partridge wasn't happy with their relationship during Skylarking.

My analogy is baseball managers.  Asher is a players' manager guy like Chuck Tanner or Ned Yost while Rundgren is a guy with a distinctive style like Billy Martin or Whitey Herzog.  Both were successful with the right cast of players.  I think given some of Ronstadt's insecurities as an artist, she was probably better off with Asher.
Well said, and you've made me re-think it some.

But I think think some of Linda's insecurities were because she was coddled by Asher. ( the "best girl singer" and all that) I have no way to prove that, of course - just kind of reading between the lines. I dunno......I think some early prodding by someone who knew how to handle her would have gotten her to where she wasn't so.....wooden. Maybe Todd wasn't the guy, but I think Asher wasn't.

Anyway, her career was what it was and it was a great one. Linda wasn't the first or the last who was a "coulda been greater" artist.

 
17.10: "What You Won't Do For Love", Bobby Caldwell  [link]  (1979 Song)
   "I came back to let you knoooow ... !" Smooth as silk. Love the horns. Cool interview and live performance from the CBS Early Morning Show circa the late '90s.
Screw you, Doug. And I mean that in the warmest, most generous possible way. Seriously - #### you.This was a "back pocket" selection for me if I got in trouble.

Double Serious - great pick.

 
17.xx Songs of Love and Hate-Leonard Cohen (1971 Album)

Dark as death metal, but it's folkish singer/songwriter.  Cohen is a great poet/lyricist, and like Dylan his songs are frequently better in cover versions.  I think this set is his best overall and I think it is best sung by him because the subject matter is so personal and depressing.
I should listen to more Cohen. I love "Suzanne." There was a great pop-punk cover of it by the Parasites back in the '90s.

And you want to travel with her/And you want to travel blind...

 
It's not spotlighting if no one is going to draft it, right? :shrug:

Cohen's 1977 album "Death of a Ladies' Man" deserves more attention than it gets.  It's produced by Phil Spector who seems like the last person you'd expect to work with Cohen.  The end product isn't as weird as you'd expect but it's a long way from the spare sound of most of Cohen's other records.   Cohen reportedly hated it as did most contemporary audiences.  But it's unique, I'll give you that and probably has improved with age. 

It's arguably Spector's last great production.  After this, he only worked with the Ramones, Yoko and Starsailor.  None are as strangely affecting as this record. 

When I was in college, there was this weird drunk grad student named Sigurd who lived across the hall and played this record constantly for some reason.  I can't listen to it without thinking of Siggy.

Appreciation article by Liel Liebovitz - http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-arts-and-culture/music/118825/wall-of-crazy

 One night, at around 4 in the morning, as another recording session cascaded to an end, Spector stumbled out of his booth and into the studio. In one hand, he held a .45 revolver; in the other, a half-empty bottle of Manischewitz sweet kosher wine. He put his arm around Cohen’s shoulder and shoved the revolver into the singer’s neck. “Leonard,” he said, “I love you.” Not missing a beat, Cohen replied, “I hope you do, Phil.”

 
Dark as death metal, but it's folkish singer/songwriter.  Cohen is a great poet/lyricist, and like Dylan his songs are frequently better in cover versions.  I think this set is his best overall and I think it is best sung by him because the subject matter is so personal and depressing.
I should listen to more Cohen. I love "Suzanne." There was a great pop-punk cover of it by the Parasites back in the '90s.

And you want to travel with her/And you want to travel blind...
I think Cohen is at his best live. He has some live albums out there. His voice is deeper now, but I like it that way. Leonard live

 
simey said:
17.xx - 25 or 6 to 4 - Chicago (1970 song)

This band has not be represented yet in the draft, so I'm going to welcome them to the party. I'm a sucker for horns, and this band knew how to blow. Terry Kath was a fantastic guitar player as shown on this song, and Chicago really missed him after he died in '78. 



 
Nice simey!   My intro into Chicago. Was never a giant fan of horns ...but these guys were good.

Gotta mark that off my list ... :kicksrock:

 
17.xx - Yes, Close to the Edge - 1972 Album

How much one likes this pick depends on how much one likes prog rock - because they were full on prog here. I recently saw them do this entire album at the Beacon in NYC (basically the entire original band, minus singer. But they guy they got - from a Yes tribute band - sounded so good even all the hardcore fans said he sounded better than Jon Anderson - Steve Howe was awesome, too).    




 
Love, love, love.  So easy to turn it on and get lost in this stuff. 

Prog gets a bad name.  It was primary rock in those days.  

 
I had the 45, and my sister and I would dance to it. Meanwhile you were in your crib soiling your diapers. 
Nice, I was chasing 30-something girls at 20 years of age.    

Why?

Because I had no idea that women would actually do those kinds of things.  They were dirty, dirty girls.  

And I loved them so.  :wub:

 
So I chose "Rockaway Beach" as my punk single. It was an awful choice in some respects because, in hindsight, there's nothing particularly edgy about it like the song I almost took. But - hindsight again - the Ramones were more in touch with R&R's past than many of their contemporaries (there's Beach Boys love all over this record). Of course, that wasn't what hip audiences/writers wanted in the mid-70s - that would be THE NEXT BIG THING and ROCK IS DEAD and WE'RE POST-MODERN NOW. 40 years down the line, all of the fuss seems much ado about nothing to me. It's easy to draw a straight line from Chuck Berry through Johnny Rotten. To me, this is the Seeds next great single.

"Earthquake" never got any AOR airplay, at least not in my neck of the woods. Larry Graham's vocals on this song, though, rival anything Paul Rodgers or Alice Cooper could spit out (lol at Robert Plant sounding this tough, so I won't mention him...oops). And that bass! Flying Spaghetti Monster, that thing will (& and has with me) blow out the best speakers if you're not careful.

I fully expect both of these to come in last-in-category, but I don't care. I'm in a friends-with-benefits hook-up with the Ramones and an I-don't-give-a-flying-####-what-anyone-else-thinks about my "Earthquake" choice - that song would be in the doom metal HOF if Black Sabbath had the talent to write it.




 
I support everything here - EXCEPT NO ####### CRACKING ON BLACK SABBATH GDAMMIT!!!

 
Rundgren would undoubtedly get drafted earlier in a Music Producers Draft but I think you're underestimating Asher's contribution to the 70s El Lay sound.  The producer's role in gaining an artist's trust, selecting suitable material and coaxing out great performances is just as critical as stamping a sonic imprint on a record.

Asher seems more like a relationship type of guy.  His claim to fame is working with Ronstadt and James Taylor over long, multi-album stretches.  None of those albums were groundbreaking, pantheon works but they were commercially successful and aren't embarrassments today.  Other than Todd himself, Rundgren's career consists of a lot of one-offs.  A number of bands had a single "produced by Todd Rundgren" record in their catalog and then moved on to work with others.  I don't know why that is although Andy Partridge wasn't happy with their relationship during Skylarking.

My analogy is baseball managers.  Asher is a players' manager guy like Chuck Tanner or Ned Yost while Rundgren is a guy with a distinctive style like Billy Martin or Whitey Herzog.  Both were successful with the right cast of players.  I think given some of Ronstadt's insecurities as an artist, she was probably better off with Asher.




 
Couldn't agree more Eephus.  Todd was a record company hit man.  He was sent in to "fix ####" and make hits.  

 
18.11 - "I've Got A Name" - Jim Croce (singer-songwriter song)

Link

I just wrote this long-assed, pretentious essay about this record that wouldn't post (lucky you). I'm not a lyrics guy, but this song hits home in a way few others do.

 
18

Spill the wine, Eric burdon and war 1970 song

Simply a fun song anyone with a pulse can't help but turn it up and sing along 

Even uncle Phil digs it

I dreamed I was in a Hollywood movieAnd that I was the star of the movieThis really blew my mindThe fact that me an overfed long haired leaping gnomeShould be the star of a Hollywood movie, hmmmBut there I wasHmm, I was taken to a placeThe hall of the mountain kingsI stood high by the mountain topsNaked to the worldIn front ofEvery kind of girlThere was long one's, tall ones, short ones, brown onesBlack ones, round ones, big ones, crazy ones...

 
18.xx - Welcome Back - John Sebastian - 1976 song

Straight from Wiki is the link about the actual song, because their write-up is better than my nostalgic self from my youth when I loved this song. This song has extra emotional pull for me because AZ lifted the vocal hook for his "Once Again," and thematically used it on "I'm Back," a massively underrated rap song. Both songs by AZ sort of reaffirmed how great the song was, how great sampling is, and how much I love synthesis in music. Fair Use and sound collages in the right hands are utterly exhilarating. Every music fan knows this, it's up to the artists and the corporations to make licensing easier for everybody.

:political horse off, back to the music:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welcome_Back_(John_Sebastian_song)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZzEzDkeHzI

AZ:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaFJd3Remss

 
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18.11 - "I've Got A Name" - Jim Croce (singer-songwriter song)

Link

I just wrote this long-assed, pretentious essay about this record that wouldn't post (lucky you). I'm not a lyrics guy, but this song hits home in a way few others do.
In all seriousness, this intrigues me. Now I want to listen to the song, and hear the story.

TELL THE STORY! 

 
got some catching up to do  my rd.16 pick:

Oh, Bondage, Up Yours!  X-Ray Spex  (punk/post punk song)

"some people think little girls should be seen and not heard ..."

the "D.I.Y." and 'empowerment' ethos of the movement are on full display here ... led by Poly Styrene  - a (self-described) 'natty haired'  Brixton teenager, in braces - of Irish/Scottish/Somali descent - and her unconventional band (another female, Lora Logic, on lead sax?!? punk as ####!) deliver a blistering tirade against the rampant consumerism of the (then) modern world.

an unlikely success story from late '77, it embodies all that made the first wave of punk so refreshing and vital ... before the farfarfar left wing moonbats and fashion vics hijacked the movement 

it's a glorious, cacophonous middle finger, shoved right in yer face - as good as it ever got in the era.

 
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18.xx - Billy Joel - Piano Man (1973 song)

There are probably a number of better ranked songs that I could have picked here, even from this artist or year.  But sometime you just have to grab your favorites and this is my #1 Billy Joel tune.  As a kid growing up, this was one of my dad's favorite artists, so I heard this one a lot when he cranked the Pioneer rack system.  And since my wife and I caught Billy as our first concert together, seems appropriate to add to my draft board.

 
18.xx - Billy Joel - Piano Man (1973 song)

There are probably a number of better ranked songs that I could have picked here, even from this artist or year.  But sometime you just have to grab your favorites and this is my #1 Billy Joel tune.  As a kid growing up, this was one of my dad's favorite artists, so I heard this one a lot when he cranked the Pioneer rack system.  And since my wife and I caught Billy as our first concert together, seems appropriate to add to my draft board.
There might not be a better ranked song from Billy Joel.  This is easily a top 3 to me and I'd guess my #1 wouldn't be the highest ranked for most. 

Fwiw, I probably won't be drafting my favorite as it doesn't fit my theme.  But it's tempting. 

 
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18.xx - The Wheel - Jerry Garcia (1972 song)  

"The Wheel" is one of the many good songs on Jerry's 1972 solo debut.  This song (and several others off the album) was played often at Dead shows.







The wheel is turning and you can't slow down,
You can't let go and you can't hold on,
You can't go back and you can't stand still,
If the thunder don't get you then the lightning will!









 
18.xx Emmylou Harris- Pieces of the Sky (1975 album)

I have been in need of a country album and was going to pick an outlaw record and then realized I haven't drafted a single female artist yet. Emmylou's first record after Gram Parsons died and while she would make better records later, this was the one that made her a star.  Boulder to Birmingham is fantastic and her voice is so beautiful I would listen to her sing casserole recipes or the "L" section of the white pages.

 
18.xx - Undercover Angel - 1977 Song

One piece of the 70's that's (so far) under-represented is that breezy 70's top-40 pop. Yes, it's not as cool and long-lived as the classic rock and punk we've largely been drafting, but you couldn't escape it in the 70's. Some were goofy, but most were about sex in some way (like this one). If you went to the beach in 1977, you heard this song over and over from smaller pre-boom box radios. I don't care what your taste in music is, this song is extremely listenable, and perfectly captures that mid to late 70's vibe. 

 
Allman Brothers Band "Blue Sky"- classic rock/hard rock song

Perhaps my favorite song of all time so I decided to take it here. The duo guitar solos of Duane Allman and Dicky Betts are what makes it so great for me. 

 
Allman Brothers Band "Blue Sky"- classic rock/hard rock song

Perhaps my favorite song of all time so I decided to take it here. The duo guitar solos of Duane Allman and Dicky Betts are what makes it so great for me. 
Great song. The vocal melody makes it for me.

 
18.xx - Undercover Angel - 1977 Song

One piece of the 70's that's (so far) under-represented is that breezy 70's top-40 pop. Yes, it's not as cool and long-lived as the classic rock and punk we've largely been drafting, but you couldn't escape it in the 70's. Some were goofy, but most were about sex in some way (like this one). If you went to the beach in 1977, you heard this song over and over from smaller pre-boom box radios. I don't care what your taste in music is, this song is extremely listenable, and perfectly captures that mid to late 70's vibe. 
This won't be the last song of this type taken

 
By the way - since this is a 70s music draft - Sirius XM's 70s channel is playing Casey Kasem's American Top 40 from this week in 1979.

 
18.xx Emmylou Harris- Pieces of the Sky (1975 album)

I have been in need of a country album and was going to pick an outlaw record and then realized I haven't drafted a single female artist yet. Emmylou's first record after Gram Parsons died and while she would make better records later, this was the one that made her a star.  Boulder to Birmingham is fantastic and her voice is so beautiful I would listen to her sing casserole recipes or the "L" section of the white pages.
Emmylou could sing one of Trump's unintelligible screeds and I'd listen to it. If there's a Heaven, angels up there probably look down and say "how the #### do I compete with THAT voice?"

 
rd.17 selection

Jesus Christ Superstar  - Carl Anderson (and cast)  - 1973 song 

wherein the mystery of His message gets all funked up, due to the dynamic vocal gymnastics of Mr. Anderson (as Judas Iscariot)

grabs ya from the git go, then furiously chugs along with that classic 70s funk feel ... a song i grew to love at a very early age, and still dig as if it's the first time hearing it.

 
18.xx - Undercover Angel - 1977 Song

One piece of the 70's that's (so far) under-represented is that breezy 70's top-40 pop. Yes, it's not as cool and long-lived as the classic rock and punk we've largely been drafting, but you couldn't escape it in the 70's. Some were goofy, but most were about sex in some way (like this one). If you went to the beach in 1977, you heard this song over and over from smaller pre-boom box radios. I don't care what your taste in music is, this song is extremely listenable, and perfectly captures that mid to late 70's vibe. 
This won't be the last song of this type taken
:goodposting:  I have some coming up.

 

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