Continuing my look at the albums of 1976…
Before I get to nine albums I gave my first real listen for this series, I want to run through a handful of 1976 albums I have written about already as part of artist deep dives.
My favorite of the bunch is Jackson Browne’s The Pretender, which ended up as my fifth favorite of his 14 albums. Recorded in the backdrop of his wife’s death by suicide, the album is a lot more upbeat than you’d expect.
The week of April 6, 1965, found Freddie and the Dreamers atop the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘I’m Telling You Now,’ a Merseybeat track that had success in the UK two years earlier. When it was rereleased for the U.S. audience, it gave the band their only chart-topping hit.
The song kicked off a minor dance craze called “The Freddie,” which basically consisted of extending your arms and legs as if you’re doing half-assed jumping jacks. You can see it in the Ed Sullivan clip of this song.
Throwing back to the week of April 5, 1955, we have a trio of repeats atop the Billboard chart: Bill Hayes’ ‘The Ballad of Davy Crockett,’ Johnny Maddox’s ‘The Crazy Otto Medley,’ and The McGuire Sisters’ ‘Sincerely.’
At #4 that week, on its way to peaking at #3, was Georgia Gibbs’ recording of ‘Tweedle Dee.’ Gibbs had another song — ‘Dance With Me Henry (Wallflower)’ — in the top ten at the same time.
Continuing my look at the albums of 1976…
The most influential debut of 1976 was the self-titled first release of punk rock band Ramones. This is one of those albums to which Brian Eno’s famous quote about The Velvet Underground’s debut applies: very few people heard it, but everyone who did started a band.
Running 14 tracks and under 30 minutes, Ramones is a collection of fast, furious, funny songs — head-bangy but deceptively melodic.
Continuing my look at the albums of 1976…
Today’s debut album is mostly a forgettable introduction to a band with great things in its future. But two great songs that (almost) bookend the album make sure it can’t be dismissed entirely.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ self-titled debut didn’t sell very well and received little attention from U.S. critics. It actually fared much better in the UK, where today’s SOTD gave the band their first Top 40 hit.
Meet Me In Montauk 