Concluding my look at the albums of 1977…
Another seminal debut album from 1977, Television’s Marquee Moon got me thinking about how the artists from this era were really bouncing off of each other in interesting ways.
Earlier this week, I heard so much Elvis Costello in The Jam’s first album, even though both artists debuted the same year. And in this album, I hear so much Talking Heads, whose debut album also came out in ’77.
Continuing my look at the albums of 1977…
I’ve been considering a Linda Ronstadt deep dive for awhile now, and I’m finally ready to commit. Something about her eighth studio album, Simple Dreams, charmed me enough to send me back through the rest of her catalog. Stay tuned for the details in future weeks.
In the meantime, I’ll sing the praises of this album, the best-seller of Ronstadt’s career and, at the time, the second best-selling album by any woman (after Carole King’s Tapestry). It even knocked Rumours from the #1 spot after 29 straight weeks.
Continuing my look at the albums of 1977…
1977 was a great year for debuts. Here’s just a small sample of artists who dropped their first album that year: The Clash, 38 Special, Iggy Pop, George Thorogood, Talking Heads, Elvis Costello, The Sex Pistols, Steve Winwood, Teddy Pendergrass, Peter Gabriel, Eddie Money, Reba McEntire, and Cheap Trick.
Add to that list the English rock band The Jam, whose In the City kicked off a successful six-year run that produced 18 consecutive Top 40 singles in the UK.
Continuing my look at the albums of 1977…
Prior to the Decades series, my knowledge of Heart was limited to the synth-pop of the band’s self-titled 1985 album, which featured the hits ‘These Dreams,’ ‘What About Love,’ and ‘Never.’
I was surprised by the band’s debut, 1976’s Dreamboat Annie, when I covered it as part of that year’s Decades roundup. I expected hard rock and got a much quieter, folksier album peppered with some heavy-hitters.
Continuing my look at the albums of 1977…
I always expect to know Crosby, Stills & Nash’s music better than I do. When the band’s third studio album, CSN, showed up on lists of notable 1977 releases, I figured it would feature several familiar tracks. But only first single ‘Just a Song Before I Go’ rang a bell.
The folk rock supergroup, both with and without Neil Young, has had a profound impact on American music, but very little impact on me. So I welcomed the chance to hear a bit more of their music.
Meet Me In Montauk 