Continuing my look at the albums of 1976…
My late 80s high school friend group was more into 70s rock bands than 80s pop and New Wave. Our favorites were The Who, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin.
That Led Zeppelin fandom, for me at least, spanned six albums: Led Zeppelin II, III, and IV, plus Houses of the Holy, Physical Graffiti, and In Through the Out Door. 1976’s Presence never broke through.
The #1 song in America the week of April 13, 1985, was a charity single that sold more than 20 million copies, becoming the eighth best-selling single of all time worldwide. I’m referring, of course, to ‘We Are the World,’ a song conceived as a way to raise money for and awareness of the famine in Africa.
‘We Are the World’ was written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson and performed by a laundry list of music stars. The song featured so many big names that it’s easier to list the major 80s icons who weren’t there: namely, Prince and Madonna.
Throwing back to the week of April 12, 1975, we find Elton John atop the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Philadelphia Freedom.’ This was John’s fourth #1 hit on the chart on his way to seven in his career.
This was the first song John and lyricist Bernie Taupin ever wrote as a standalone single. John wanted to honor his friend Billie Jean King, who had become an international voice for feminism after her defeat of Bobby Riggs in the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ tennis match. The song was named for the Philadelphia Freedoms, King’s team in the World Team Tennis league.
Continuing my look at the albums of 1976…
My favorite thing about the Decades series is when I get to fill in a glaring blind spot.
I’ve heard the name Joan Armatrading before, but I couldn’t have told you her nationality, her musical style, or her period of peak popularity. Gun to my head, I would have predicted she was an American folk artist in the Joni Mitchell vein, probably big in the 60s and early 70s.
Continuing my look at the albums of 1976…
I’ve had a gut feeling for awhile that I’m going to find a Carpenters album that really knocks my socks off.
I have a soft spot for easy listening cheese when it’s done well, and especially when I really connect with the vocals. And Karen Carpenter, whatever else you think of her and her brother Richard, has an amazing voice.
Meet Me In Montauk 