1977 - Part II A New Hope DONE- Top 10 Sex Pistols, Meco, Rocky, Kraftwerk, Saints, Marvin Gaye, JM Jarre, Stranglers, John Williams & Stevie Wonder (1 Viewer)

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Is 3 a day too much or should i drop to 2 per day for top 50?

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Is 3 a day too much or should i drop to 2 per day for top 50?

Whatever works for you.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#71 - Joan Armatrading - Willow
#12 out of 17 - Mainstream/Other

Now for one out of left field. Joan Armatrading is subsequently one of the artists i am looking for in the krista31 international thread and her birth at St Christopher and Nevis causes confusion. In various places her birth is listed as UK because St Kitts was a British territory, but others list the Carribean/West Indies as her birth. Anyway....Armatrading had been recording since 1973 and slowly building a fanbase. In 1976 she hit the top 10 in the UK with a cover of Love and Affection. This lovely little somg did nothing in the charts, like most of her follow up songs. Her subsequent hits include Rosie, Me Myself I, Drop the Pilot and I Love It When You Call Me Names.

 

[zamboni]

#71 - Joan Armatrading - Willow
#11 out of 17 - Mainstream/Other

Now for one out of left field. Joan Armatrading is subsequently one of the artists i am looking for in the krista31 international thread and her birth at St Christopher and Nevis causes confusion. In various places her birth is listed as UK because St Kitts was a British territory, but others list the Carribean/West Indies as her birth. Anyway....Armatrading had been recording since 1973 and slowly building a fanbase. In 1976 she hit the top 10 in the UK with a cover of Love and Affection. This lovely little somg did nothing in the charts, like most of her follow up songs. Her subsequent hits include Rosie, Me Myself I, Drop the Pilot and I Love It When You Call Me Names.

I pegged her as British - otherwise would have included her in my international list.

 

[Don Quixote]

#71 - Joan Armatrading - Willow
#11 out of 17 - Mainstream/Other

Now for one out of left field. Joan Armatrading is subsequently one of the artists i am looking for in the krista31 international thread and her birth at St Christopher and Nevis causes confusion. In various places her birth is listed as UK because St Kitts was a British territory, but others list the Carribean/West Indies as her birth. Anyway....Armatrading had been recording since 1973 and slowly building a fanbase. In 1976 she hit the top 10 in the UK with a cover of Love and Affection. This lovely little somg did nothing in the charts, like most of her follow up songs. Her subsequent hits include Rosie, Me Myself I, Drop the Pilot and I Love It When You Call Me Names.

If born in St. Kitts, I think she is okay for the worldwide list in krista’s thread. The prior draft was just born in the British Isles — not UK Commonwealth, more generally.

I don’t know if this Venn diagram helps. Last one was British Isles (in first image). Saint Kitts is listed in the first reply tweet, as Commonwealth realm.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#70 - Radio Birdman - New Race
#8 out of 10 - Australia

Like a lot of Punk bands, Radio Birdman didnt last long. Beset by infighting and label troubles they split up for the first time in 1978, just after their best known song Aloha Steve and Danno was released. New Race was their breakout in the underground scene and like any young ambitious band in Australia at the time, fled for either the UK or US. This led to internal tensions and their quick demise.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#69:- J.J. Cale - Cocaine
#11 Out of 17 - Mainstream/Other

After the Eric Clapton version made Tims list I debated including the JJ Cale version here. I do think it is better than ole slow hands. Others may disagree. The 1976 release of the album including Cocaine may have meant Tim did not consider it.
Cale and Clapton have worked together frequently and Clapton has recorded many of Cales songs going back to After Midnight in 1970.

 

[krista4]

If born in St. Kitts, I think she is okay for the worldwide list in krista’s thread. The prior draft was just born in the British Isles — not UK Commonwealth, more generally.

I don’t know if this Venn diagram helps. Last one was British Isles (in first image). Saint Kitts is listed in the first reply tweet, as Commonwealth realm.

Yep, we had the discussion in the British thread and made the decision to leave colonies and protectorates for the worldwide countdown, so she's good for this one.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

#71 - Joan Armatrading - Willow
#12 out of 17 - Mainstream/Other

Now for one out of left field. Joan Armatrading is subsequently one of the artists i am looking for in the krista31 international thread and her birth at St Christopher and Nevis causes confusion. In various places her birth is listed as UK because St Kitts was a British territory, but others list the Carribean/West Indies as her birth. Anyway....Armatrading had been recording since 1973 and slowly building a fanbase. In 1976 she hit the top 10 in the UK with a cover of Love and Affection. This lovely little somg did nothing in the charts, like most of her follow up songs. Her subsequent hits include Rosie, Me Myself I, Drop the Pilot and I Love It When You Call Me Names.

Looking back, there had to be some kind of payola going on with the Columbia House Music Club (or whatever it was called), because it seemed like Armatrading's LPs always seemed to be "featured" but she never got any airplay on the radio (at least, not in the U.S.). Most of that was because the music industry was filled with guys who were short-sighted bigots, of course - they never knew how to market Joan. If she came along today, she'd be a much bigger star.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Next up we return to Australasia with one of the most important musicians from the following era getting his first start in his big brothers band.

After that we have some disco fun with one of the biggest artists of the genre. They pumped out hit after hit. The man behind it all would become infamous a decade later

Last we have another assist with an international artist from Nigeria (adds another country to my Krista list)

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#68 - Split Enz - My Mistake
#7 out of 10 - Australasia

Split Enz had been around for a few years and were seen as artsy, weird and bizarre. This song marked a departure into a more commercial attempt. Tim Finn and Phil Judd had been co-leaders, but Judd was erratic in his behaviour and left after physical fights with Tim. It was suggested Finns younger brother Neil join. Tim described him alomg the lines of “he’s useless now, but just watch out”. I wish i had the exact quote, but it proved prophetic. After the relative failure of My Mistake and the album, the band were left without a deal and had to sign on to unemployment with huge debts. On a lucky break they recorded I See Red next and it was big enough to get them to the True Colours album which broke through into a huge international hit I Got You. Neil was now the leader, leading Tim to eventually go solo. Tim had a relatively modest successful solo album, while Neil eventually went on to form Crowded House.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#67 - Boney M - Sunny
#4 out of 7 - Disco

German songwriter Frank Farian was not an attractive man. He needed people to sing his songs. He attracted four immigrants from the carribean, three beautiful females with great voices and one male to front his band Boney M. An absolutely superb cover of Bob Marleys No Woman No Cry was followed by a european smash hit in Daddy Cool. This song followed. Its a cover of a 1966 hit, buts its a lovely cover. Full of joy and happiness. I just love it.
After this Boney M went massive, Ma Baker, Belfast, Rivers of Babylon b/w Brown Girl in the Ring, Rasputin, Marys Boy Child and Hooray Hooray its a holi holiday were global smashes, except in the US where only Rivers of Babylon got to #30.
Then the hits dried up.
Farian was never happy with the male vocalist in Boney M and imposed his own voice on the material instead....so the poor guy had to mime Farians singing voice except when Live. Farian let him sing there. This gave Farian his next great idea. But first he former Far Corporation to do a much derided cover of Led Zeppelins Stairway to Heaven. He then produced a Meat Loaf album.
Farian couldnt do the voice he wanted for his next project but his work with Boney M gave him the idea to do the pretty face, ugly vocalist trick. Rob Pilatus and Fabrice Morvern were roped in to be the faces of Milli Vanilli. The massive success was unexpected and caused serious issue leading to withdrawn grammys, lawsuits and the accidental death of Pilatus.
Farian continued on his merry way leading several more euro hits through the 90s

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#66 - William Onyeabor - Heaven and Hell
#5 out of 12 - International

Our fourth assist comes from Nigeria and yes the same artist will appear in my Krista list or be a backup lol. The animated clip is done for a lot of Williams youtube stuff. Quite fun. This track has a great feel with multi instruments kicking in at various stages.
I will let our assister add more, but i do enjoy this song.

 

[Don Quixote]

#66 - William Onyeabor - Heaven and Hell
#5 out of 12 - International

Our fourth assist comes from Nigeria and yes the same artist will appear in my Krista list or be a backup lol. The animated clip is done for a lot of Williams youtube stuff. Quite fun. This track has a great feel with multi instruments kicking in at various stages.
I will let our assister add more, but i do enjoy this song.

William Onyeabor may make my list too, but different song. Onyeabor’s use of synths is just mesmerizing. This song is off his debut album, but he put out a good number of great stuff in the following years, before leaving music in 1985. Luaka Bop, which made the video above, has done a good job in recent years of making his music more widely available (Luaka Bop was founded by David Byrne of Talking Heads) — one of the collections is entitled “Who Is William Onyeabor?” Interesting documentary about him here.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Next up we have a song that i have put in punk. Probably the wrong place, but we will see if theres any bite to it

After that we have a “controversial” song from a UK artist that was a big hit in Australia, but not in the UK where it was “banned”.

After that we finally have another legitimate entry into the Black category. Probably more disco, but there we go.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#65 - The Tubes - White Punks on Dope
#9 Out of 13 - Punk

Yes this song was released in 1975, but it didn’t chart and received no airplay due to its “racy” nature. Of course the small group of fans they had at the time knew the song before 1977 but the band were hardly Led Zeppelin. Of course punk happened and some enterprising record executive thoight lets throw songs out there with the word punk in them out as singles. The Tubes song got a re-release and reached #28 in the UK charts in 1977. So I am quite comfortable including it in this year. Less comfortable in putting it in the punk category, but its hardly mainstream/other. Maybe new wave? Ah who cares, it has the word punk in it....so punk it is.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#64 - Pussyfoot - The Way That You Do It
#9 Out of 12 - International

Another controversial release date. This one was released in the UK 1976 and promptly banned by the BBC for its overt sexuality. Somehow this song made it over to Australia late in the year and became one of the top selling singles of 1977. Its a really sweet song if you read it that way, but total filth dressed up with a pretty face otherwise. After listening to some stuff in the last decade with their blatant raw filth this song becomes charming again.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#63 - Heat Wave - Boogie Nights
#8 out of 10:- Black

After the debacle of Pere Ubu, finally an artist that belongs in the category. This song was incredibly popular back in the day reaching #2 in the UK, Canadian and the US charts. It got to #1 in New Zealand so small consolation. It seemed a certainty to be included in the film of the same name in the 90s, but the lead singer refused to allow its inclusion due to his born again christian status.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Next up we will have a punk/new wave day with 3 interesting tracks.
2 of the bands, in this form anyway, barely made it a year in the industry, but left at least one good track behind.

The other artist became hugely influential and a prime driver in the UK new wave movement. The song im including is definitely more punky but theres much more to them.....

 

[Leroy Hoard]

#65 - The Tubes - White Punks on Dope
#9 Out of 13 - Punk

Yes this song was released in 1975, but it didn’t chart and received no airplay due to its “racy” nature. Of course the small group of fans they had at the time knew the song before 1977 but the band were hardly Led Zeppelin. Of course punk happened and some enterprising record executive thoight lets throw songs out there with the word punk in them out as singles. The Tubes song got a re-release and reached #28 in the UK charts in 1977. So I am quite comfortable including it in this year. Less comfortable in putting it in the punk category, but its hardly mainstream/other. Maybe new wave? Ah who cares, it has the word punk in it....so punk it is.

When it comes to rock singer names, it's hard to top Fee Waybill.

 

[zamboni]

#65 - The Tubes - White Punks on Dope
#9 Out of 13 - Punk

Yes this song was released in 1975, but it didn’t chart and received no airplay due to its “racy” nature. Of course the small group of fans they had at the time knew the song before 1977 but the band were hardly Led Zeppelin. Of course punk happened and some enterprising record executive thoight lets throw songs out there with the word punk in them out as singles. The Tubes song got a re-release and reached #28 in the UK charts in 1977. So I am quite comfortable including it in this year. Less comfortable in putting it in the punk category, but its hardly mainstream/other. Maybe new wave? Ah who cares, it has the word punk in it....so punk it is.

When it comes to rock singer names, it's hard to top Fee Waybill.

Very interchangeable name: Wee Faybill or Bee Wayfill could have also worked.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

#63 - Heat Wave - Boogie Nights
#8 out of 10:- Black

After the debacle of Pere Ubu, finally an artist that belongs in the category. This song was incredibly popular back in the day reaching #2 in the UK, Canadian and the US charts. It got to #1 in New Zealand so small consolation. It seemed a certainty to be included in the film of the same name in the 90s, but the lead singer refused to allow its inclusion due to his born again christian status.

They were a fun band. Not particularly original, as they spent most of their time alternating between copying EW&F and the Commodores - but still made some good records. I saw them in concert right before their abrupt end as hitmakers in '79 and they put on a good show.

Once Rod Temperton quit to become a songwriting mercenary (he wrote the title tracks to both Off The Wall & Thriller, as well as about 1,000 other big hits) they kind of fell apart as a chart force in the US, but I've always thought they were set up pretty well to transition into the New Wave/dance rock scene of the early '80s - similar to what Kool & The Gang did, who basically ripped off Heatwave's last big hit ("The Groove Line") for approximately a dozen huge records in that decade.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

#63 - Heat Wave - Boogie Nights
#8 out of 10:- Black

After the debacle of Pere Ubu, finally an artist that belongs in the category. This song was incredibly popular back in the day reaching #2 in the UK, Canadian and the US charts. It got to #1 in New Zealand so small consolation. It seemed a certainty to be included in the film of the same name in the 90s, but the lead singer refused to allow its inclusion due to his born again christian status.

They were a fun band. Not particularly original, as they spent most of their time alternating between copying EW&F and the Commodores - but still made some good records. I saw them in concert right before their abrupt end as hitmakers in '79 and they put on a good show.

Once Rod Temperton quit to become a songwriting mercenary (he wrote the title tracks to both Off The Wall & Thriller, as well as about 1,000 other big hits) they kind of fell apart as a chart force in the US, but I've always thought they were set up pretty well to transition into the New Wave/dance rock scene of the early '80s - similar to what Kool & The Gang did, who basically ripped off Heatwave's last big hit ("The Groove Line") for approximately a dozen huge records in that decade.

Temperton leaving hurt them, but so did singer Johnnie Wilder being paralyzed after a car accident.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

#63 - Heat Wave - Boogie Nights
#8 out of 10:- Black

After the debacle of Pere Ubu, finally an artist that belongs in the category. This song was incredibly popular back in the day reaching #2 in the UK, Canadian and the US charts. It got to #1 in New Zealand so small consolation. It seemed a certainty to be included in the film of the same name in the 90s, but the lead singer refused to allow its inclusion due to his born again christian status.

They were a fun band. Not particularly original, as they spent most of their time alternating between copying EW&F and the Commodores - but still made some good records. I saw them in concert right before their abrupt end as hitmakers in '79 and they put on a good show.

Once Rod Temperton quit to become a songwriting mercenary (he wrote the title tracks to both Off The Wall & Thriller, as well as about 1,000 other big hits) they kind of fell apart as a chart force in the US, but I've always thought they were set up pretty well to transition into the New Wave/dance rock scene of the early '80s - similar to what Kool & The Gang did, who basically ripped off Heatwave's last big hit ("The Groove Line") for approximately a dozen huge records in that decade.

Temperton leaving hurt them, but so did singer Johnnie Wilder being paralyzed after a car accident.

I get he and his brother Keith mixed up. Both were good, if not really distinctive, singers.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#62 - Dead Boys - Sonic Reducer
#11 out of 17 - New Wave

This late 1977 release had me vexed. Is it a 77 song or a 78? 1977 won out.
With a reputation as “the rowdiest and most violent groups of the era”, they were hardly helped by the almost quaint album title “Young, loud and snotty”. Trying to continually shock and provoke, leads to a short shelf life and so it was. Barely a year after the release of this song it was over. This song is a reminder of their potential.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#61 - Ultravox - Young Savage
#10 out of 17 - New Wave

The frontman at the time, John Foxx, would go on to have a reasonable solo career and the band itself would thrive when Midge Ure became the singer. When Foxx led the band, record sales were not great, but their influence was huge. They morphed the punk/new wave sound to perfection and were recording with Eno and Lillywhite in 1977, well before a certain well known Irish band. This song is more punky in nature, but theres something not quite right about it. It almost sounds too manufactured. Much better was to follow

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#60 - Richard Hell and the Voidoids - Blank Generation
#7 out of 13 - Punk

Another in the blink and you will miss it during the punk revolution was Richard Hell. He was a past member of group we have already seen in the Heartbreakers and as a man in his late 20s was seen as an old man by his contemporaries. That experience led to a more rounded recording and the quality is evident to this day. Blank Generation was a failed attempt at an anthem. It was seen as hugely influential on the Sex Pistols, but John Lydon denies the US rockers and Malcolm McLarens versions of events

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Next up we start getting serious....we already have.
My list starts getting into ones that would make the top 100 overall if i included Tims

First we have a band that should have been massive in the US like they were in the UK and Australia. This song was their only US top 40 hit. Oddly enough the lead singer had a massive top 5 hit with another artist who was huge internationally, but never had a top 40 hit in the US. Although people will know who she is. Their duet was an oddity for both

After that we have one of the biggest acts over the next 10 years with an early song

Lastly we have an artist who is much more well known as a producer and older brother to two guys in one of the biggest bands of all time. Even though he is an accomplished producer he has a huge songwriting catalog. An early hit was a global smash, rare for Australians in the 60s.

 

[krista4]

Loved all three of today's picks. Well, OK, I don't know the Ultravox one and will have to listen, but I love it in theory. Getting into some really good stuff right now. I also enjoy the daily previews a lot, even though I never figure out the teasers.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Lastly we have an artist who is much more well known as a producer and older brother to two guys in one of the biggest bands of all time. Even though he is an accomplished producer he has a huge songwriting catalog. An early hit was a global smash, rare for Australians in the 60s.

I think I know this one. He's associated with a certain day of the week.

 

[zamboni]

Lastly we have an artist who is much more well known as a producer and older brother to two guys in one of the biggest bands of all time. Even though he is an accomplished producer he has a huge songwriting catalog. An early hit was a global smash, rare for Australians in the 60s.

I think I know this one. He's associated with a certain day of the week.

Easy there.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#59 - Smokie - Livin Next Door to Alice
#5 out of 8 - International 1’s

This song was an early one written by the famous Chinn/Chapman production team in 1972. Over the next few years they would have massive hits with first the Sweet, then Mud and Suzi Quatro and then Smokie and Racey, among others like Toni Basil. Chapman himsekf would go on to even bigger things and be a key collaborator for Blondie, Tina Turner and the Knacks My Sharona.
Chinn/Chapman had most of their hits outside the US, but in the UK they had 19 top 40 hits in 1973/4 alone with just Mud, Quatro and the Sweet. This song was given to some Australian band who did nothing with it in 1972 and layed dormant until up and coming british band Smokie got their hands on it. It went number #1 in a dozen or so countries, was #5 for the entire year of 1977 in Australia and even became Smokies only hit in the US
Quatro was maybe better known to US audiences as Leather Tuscadero on Happy Days. As a singer she failed to break the top 40 in the US with several stalling in the 40s. The lead singer of Smokie, Chris Norman dudnt really have much of a solo career, but combined they recorded Stumblin In, which went to #4 in the US. Much, much higher than any of their other material.

As an aside, Normans replacement, Alan Barton was formerly of awful group Black Lace who had a monster hit with Agadoo. Barton sung in Smokie for years before dying in a car crash. To raise money for his family, this song was re-released with a comedian Roy Chubby Brown stating “Alice, Alice, Who the **** is Alice” over the chorus. It was a big hit in the UK.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#58 - Cheap Trick -He’s a Whore
#10 out of 17;- Mainstream

This is the standout track on their debut album Cheap Trick. At the time the band were building a following and didnt impact the charts on any level with their debut. Cheap Trick would release 5 singles, none were He’s a Whore, in 1977, including I Want You To Want Me on the follow up album. Surrender in 1978 was the first burst of national attention. The much superior Live at Budokan version of InWant You to Want Me broke them. He’a a Whore is such a simple song, but its a cracker.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#57 - Flash and the Pan - Hey St Peter
#6 out of 10 - Australia

In a meeting described by an Australian music magazine as the most important in Australian music history occured in 1964 when Harry Vanda met George Young. They went on to form Australas first big rock band the Easybeats. Friday on My Mind is the big international hit. 7 top 10 hits in Australia in 18 months was unheard of. The band imploded when further international success did not follow, but Vanda and Young became a formidable force as songwriter/producers. They took over the Australian airwaves with John Paul Young (Love is in the Air), Easybeats lead singer Stevie Wright, Ted Mulry Gang, Rose Tattoo, the Angels, William Shakespeare and biggest of all the band with Georges younger brothers Malcolm and Angus, AC/DC.
Flash and the Pan was their vanity project. Hey St Peter was one of a few hits from them. At the time Vanda and Young were unstoppable. In Australis first Hall of Fame induction in 1988 they were in the inaugural group.

 

[Gr00vus]

#58 - Cheap Trick -He’s a Whore
#10 out of 17;- Mainstream

This is the standout track on their debut album Cheap Trick. At the time the band were building a following and didnt impact the charts on any level with their debut. Cheap Trick would release 5 singles, none were He’s a Whore, in 1977, including I Want You To Want Me on the follow up album. Surrender in 1978 was the first burst of national attention. The much superior Live at Budokan version of InWant You to Want Me broke them. He’a a Whore is such a simple song, but its a cracker.

One of my all time favorite tunes. I think it was in my top 50 list a few years back.

 

[Gr00vus]

#57 - Flash and the Pan - Hey St Peter
#6 out of 10 - Australia

In a meeting described by an Australian music magazine as the most important in Australian music history occured in 1964 when Harry Vanda met George Young. They went on to form Australas first big rock band the Easybeats. Friday on My Mind is the big international hit. 7 top 10 hits in Australia in 18 months was unheard of. The band imploded when further international success did not follow, but Vanda and Young became a formidable force as songwriter/producers. They took over the Australian airwaves with John Paul Young (Love is in the Air), Easybeats lead singer Stevie Wright, Ted Mulry Gang, Rose Tattoo, the Angels, William Shakespeare and biggest of all the band with Georges younger brothers Malcolm and Angus, AC/DC.
Flash and the Pan was their vanity project. Hey St Peter was one of a few hits from them. At the time Vanda and Young were unstoppable. In Australis first Hall of Fame induction in 1988 they were in the inaugural group.

This was a mainstay in the late 70s / early 80's on KROQ here in Los Angeles (Pasadena really). Love this tune. Fits your New Wave category as well.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

JML, are you only posting one song per artist?

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

JML, are you only posting one song per artist?

Yes, but there are 5 .....i think....exceptions.

One artist has 3....probably 4 songs. One, probably 2 are already listed
Two artists have 2 songs each, 1 already listed each
Two artists havent had a song listed yet, but will have 2 in the top 54.

I could have miscounted.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Tomorrow we see a mixed bag
First up we go to the black category with some funky ****. Should have it higher, but cant do that for everything

After that we have a very topical song for 1977. The subject of this song was involved in high end court cases, future movies and this song.

Lastly an electronic master and one of only two artists left who have yet to see pick when they have multiple. The last one has two in the top 30. This electronic artist will see another of theirs very very high.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#56 - War - Galaxy
#7 Out of 10 - Black

This is such a fun track. This is one I will also be including, or a secret identity will be lol, in the Krista31 thread. I keep looking at where I rank it and wonder why I dont have it higher on both lists. War have been an odd group in musical history. Starting out with Eric Burdon from the Animals, it was always an odd mix. If you look at the wiki description of the band......”War is a musical crossover band that fuses elements of rock, funk, jazz, Latin, rhythm and blues, psychedelia, and reggae. According to music writer Colin Larkin, their "potent fusion of funk, R&B, rock and Latin styles produced a progressive soul sound” you can see there were few like them.
Have War not been respected enough?

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#55 - Adverts - Gary Gilmores Eyes
#6 out of 13 - Punk

Even as a young boy I can remember the name Gary Gilmore being in the news in 1976 and 1977. I didnt understand the complexities of the case, but he shared his name with the local cricket hero so I had my interest piqued. Gilmore sued and won the right to be executed for his crimes. If my research is right there hadnt been an execution in the US for 10 years until he won. Not gonna get into a death penalty argument but it seems bizarre.....i will leave it at that. Anyway, the Adverts were also fascinated by the case, especially how he was leaving his body available for transplants. Imagine looking through Gary Gilmores eyes. Outside this song The Adverts contribution to the music scene was minimal and they soon disbanded, but they always have this moment.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#54 - Jean Michel Jarre - Oxygene II
#5 out of 9 - Electronic

French musician Jean Michel Jarre had a leg up thanks to his father Maurice being a prominent contributor to film scores over the years. Lawrence of Arabia, Dr Zhivago, A Passage to India, Witness etc.....his list is long of accomplished score work. The apple didnt fall far from the tree as his son Jean Michel not only developed an interest in music, but he became a pioneer on the electronic scene. Oxygene the album is such a breathtaking piece of work. His previous recorded work was amateur doodling in comparison. The leap is similar from Kraftwerks prior work to Autobahn. They found their zone. Needless to say we will see Jarre a bit later in the countdown with his more well known work from the album. This piece is the follow up single to the better one, but its damn hypnotic in its own right.

 

[timschochet]

Very much enjoying this thread and learning about so many of these tunes that I was unaware of.

I WAS aware of “Blank Generation”, and much like “Chinese Rocks” it was a whiff on my part not to include it.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Next up our final 3 before we get to the top 50 and drop to 2 a day.

First of all is the last of our international assists. A superstar in his genre

After that we have a Disco song that was very brave, but important for 1977. I didnt discover it until Chris Lowe of the Pet Shop Boys included it on his excellent Back to Mine compilation. Neil Tennants back to mine compilation was as pompous as **** and unlistenable.

Our 51st song is from the second album of a band that would explode in the next couple of years. Im talking massive. This song was not a hit, but it shows all the attitude that made the female lead a star.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

#56 - War - Galaxy
#7 Out of 10 - Black

This is such a fun track. This is one I will also be including, or a secret identity will be lol, in the Krista31 thread. I keep looking at where I rank it and wonder why I dont have it higher on both lists. War have been an odd group in musical history. Starting out with Eric Burdon from the Animals, it was always an odd mix. If you look at the wiki description of the band......”War is a musical crossover band that fuses elements of rock, funk, jazz, Latin, rhythm and blues, psychedelia, and reggae. According to music writer Colin Larkin, their "potent fusion of funk, R&B, rock and Latin styles produced a progressive soul sound” you can see there were few like them.
Have War not been respected enough?

They have not been. Almost all their material was money until about 1979 or so.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

#55 - Adverts - Gary Gilmores Eyes
#6 out of 13 - Punk

Even as a young boy I can remember the name Gary Gilmore being in the news in 1976 and 1977. I didnt understand the complexities of the case, but he shared his name with the local cricket hero so I had my interest piqued. Gilmore sued and won the right to be executed for his crimes. If my research is right there hadnt been an execution in the US for 10 years until he won. Not gonna get into a death penalty argument but it seems bizarre.....i will leave it at that. Anyway, the Adverts were also fascinated by the case, especially how he was leaving his body available for transplants. Imagine looking through Gary Gilmores eyes. Outside this song The Adverts contribution to the music scene was minimal and they soon disbanded, but they always have this moment.

This was not Gilmore’s only connection to music. His brother Mykel was a music writer for Rolling Stone, among other outlets.

 

[otb2huffing]

#55 - Adverts - Gary Gilmores Eyes
#6 out of 13 - Punk

Even as a young boy I can remember the name Gary Gilmore being in the news in 1976 and 1977. I didnt understand the complexities of the case, but he shared his name with the local cricket hero so I had my interest piqued. Gilmore sued and won the right to be executed for his crimes. If my research is right there hadnt been an execution in the US for 10 years until he won. Not gonna get into a death penalty argument but it seems bizarre.....i will leave it at that. Anyway, the Adverts were also fascinated by the case, especially how he was leaving his body available for transplants. Imagine looking through Gary Gilmores eyes. Outside this song The Adverts contribution to the music scene was minimal and they soon disbanded, but they always have this moment.

i get that you included this for it's topical relevancy, but "One Chord Wonders" is as staunch a Brit Scene '77 anthem as there be ... and easily the much better track, imo.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

#53 - Fela Kuit - Zombie
#3 out of 12 - International

This is the last of our assists. It is a highly revered piece of music that takes on a repressive nations military. Not a light subject. The music is high quality stuff. I know its not my genre of knowledge, so I will let our assister jump in or anyone else who wants to, talk more about this one

 

[FairWarning]

#63 - Heat Wave - Boogie Nights
#8 out of 10:- Black

After the debacle of Pere Ubu, finally an artist that belongs in the category. This song was incredibly popular back in the day reaching #2 in the UK, Canadian and the US charts. It got to #1 in New Zealand so small consolation. It seemed a certainty to be included in the film of the same name in the 90s, but the lead singer refused to allow its inclusion due to his born again christian status.

i thought this was going to be in the top 2H of the original countdown.

 

[Don Quixote]

#53 - Fela Kuti - Zombie
#3 out of 12 - International

This is the last of our assists. It is a highly revered piece of music that takes on a repressive nations military. Not a light subject. The music is high quality stuff. I know its not my genre of knowledge, so I will let our assister jump in or anyone else who wants to, talk more about this one

I’m the assister here. I suppose I’ll let the Wikipedia page for the song tell the story. The song itself is great with some great brass and strong Afrobeat, but I can’t think of another song with the power to bring the wrath of the country’s military quite like it, which, in this case, caused the unfortunate death of Kuti’s mother.

The album was a scathing attack on Nigerian soldiers using the zombie metaphor to describe the methods of the Nigerian military. The album was a smash hit with the people and infuriated the government, setting off a vicious attack against the Kalakuta Republic (a commune that Kuti had established in Nigeria), during which one thousand soldiers attacked the commune. Kuti was severely beaten, and his elderly mother Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti was thrown from a window, causing fatal injuries. The Kalakuta Republic was burned, and Kuti's studio, instruments, and master tapes were destroyed. Kuti claimed that he would have been killed if it were not for the intervention of a commanding officer as he was being beaten. Kuti's response to the attack was to deliver his mother's coffin to the main army barrack in Lagos and write two songs, "Coffin for Head of State" and "Unknown Soldier", referencing the official inquiry that claimed the commune had been destroyed by an unknown soldier.