Urban75 Album of the Year 1973

[Knotted]

26= - John Cale - Paris 1919



There was a moment there when I thought this wasn't going to make it. He beat Lou Reed, he would be pleased with that but I recon this is a low placing.

 

[Knotted]

26= Faust IV



A bit of a revisit to the oddball song formats of their second album but a bit more psychedelic and a bit more fun this time.

 

[Knotted]

26= Roxy Music - Stranded



Brian Eno's favourite even if he wasn't on it.

 

[Knotted]

26= Kool and the Gang - Wild and Peaceful



Does what it says on the tin. Low down funky grooves and some super cool chill outs. Scientists of sound mathematically putting it down.

 

[Knotted]

25 - Planxty - The Well Below the Valley



Take a minute to listen to this. Drop everything and listen to this.

 

[Knotted]

24 - Funkadelic - Cosmic Slop



Another album that I've never gotten round to before. Not their best but far from their worst.

 

[Knotted]

23 - Dr John - In the Right Place



Another album I've not listened to before. The Meters are on this one and it's a really cool laid back sound but with The Meters rhythm section. Oh yeah.

 

[Knotted]

22 - Alice Cooper - Billion Dollar Babies



A splendid example of rock musicianship/excess, but I feel I'm missing something without the stage shenanigans.

 

[Knotted]

21 - King Crimson - Larks Tongues in Aspic



And... an album I know. The furthest the Crimson boat was ever pushed out. Free improvisation and a couple of cracking tunes and their prog rock rhythmic work out standard. It's probably their best IMO.

 

[Knotted]

Top 20 tomorrow. Where is it all heading?

 

[The39thStep]

Hopefully we’ll have our feet on the ground

 

[Serge Forward]

23 - Dr John - In the Right Place

View attachment 385518

Another album I've not listened to before. The Meters are on this one and it's a really cool laid back sound but with The Meters rhythm section. Oh yeah.

I didn't know that. The Meters were a brilliant band. Their 'Just kissed my baby' is possibly one of the greatest funk tunes ever.

 

[Knotted]

Hopefully we’ll have our feet on the ground

I'll see you on the dark side of the moon

 

[Idris2002]

30 - Planxty

View attachment 385510

Shamefully I'd never heard of this band before and I don't know it's history.

Well, you see, you have to go back 800 years . . .

 

[krtek a houby]

30 - Planxty

View attachment 385510

Shamefully I'd never heard of this band before and I don't know it's history. But this is proper unfussy trad folk music - story and telling with great vocal delivery. I now love this. I need more. Also the solos. DAMN.

Good documentary here from a while back.

 

[ska invita]

Just checked my list and I forgot to vote for Fela. Annoying.
I meant to but was rushed

 

[belboid]

I am hoping we will go into Space. But in a more ritualistic manner.

 

[Knotted]

I am hoping we will go into Space. But in a more ritualistic manner.

Yeah yeah and end on the dark side of the moon. I read you.

 

[andysays]

37 - Neu 2

View attachment 385498

The second slightly less interesting album from the most motorik krautrock band.

Oops, I forgot about this one.

Would probably have made the lower reaches of my top 20 had I remembered, so I'll listen to it now as penance.

 

[Knotted]

20 - Upsetters - Black Board Jungle



Sorry to say I don't know this one, but it's amazingly advanced for its time. Dope....

OK officially my favourite reggae/dub album of 1973. Maybe ever...

 

[Knotted]

19 - Studio One Presents Burning Spear



Roots reggae with tremendous chill groove.

 

[Knotted]

18 - Steely Dan - Countdown to Ecstasy



Not as familiar with Steely Dan as I should be but I recognise they were hugely important - who else was mixing jazz, pop and rock quite like this?

 

[Knotted]

17 - Curtis Mayfield - Back to the World



Not familiar with this one, but it's very similar to his previous three albums. That golden soul-funk thing that only Mayfield can do.

 

[Raheem]

18 - Steely Dan - Countdown to Ecstasy

View attachment 385611

Not as familiar with Steely Dan as I should be but I recognise they were hugely important - who else was mixing jazz, pop and rock quite like this?

Never heard this, but the title suggests a concept album based on a day in the life of a student.

 

[Knotted]

16 - Al Green - Call Me



Really not my cup of tea but there's a lot of music around now that sounds like this, so I guess hugely influential. Smoothest of smooth soul.

 

[Knotted]

15 - Roxy Music - For Your Pleasure



Question - What is the danceable solution to teenage revolution?

Answer - The Strand!

Question - What do they do on the tables at Quagliemo's place (or Mabels)

Answer - It's The Strand, Knotted, it's the Strand

I still spring this quiz on anyone who is still willing to talk to me.

 

[Knotted]

14 - Kraftwerk - Ralf und Florian


The last non-canonical (according to Ralf and Florian) Kraftwerk album and the first solidly synth excursion.

 

[Knotted]

13 - Sly and the Family Stone - Fresh



Maybe it doesn't have the big numbers of Riot but it grooves even harder.

 

[Knotted]

12 - Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon



If you haven't formed an opinion on this then lucky you.

 

[Knotted]

11 - Hawkwind - Space Ritual



It's fitting that the best Hawkwind album is a live album.