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The mid seventies


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Old 09-12-2012, 17:51
Glenn A
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Forget what the punks tell you, the music scene around 1975/76 was actually quite good with Queen at their peak, Rainbow proving to be an excellent replacement for Deep Purple, the birth of disco, but the era to me is also defined by one and two hit wonders. In particular Robin Sarstedt, the Starland Vocal Band, John Miles and Pilot stand out.
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Old 09-12-2012, 18:00
rfonzo
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After a couple of releases the sales may pick up?
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Old 09-12-2012, 18:16
mgvsmith
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Dr Feelgood's 'Stupidity' was released in September 1976, the first ever live album to go to No 1 in its first week of release.
Dr Feelgood remain one of England's greatest ever live bands, were stalwarts of 'pub rock' and precursors to the most creative period of British music (1977-80).

It was a great period.
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Old 09-12-2012, 18:37
Glenn A
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Dr Feelgood's 'Stupidity' was released in September 1976, the first ever live album to go to No 1 in its first week of release.
Dr Feelgood remain one of England's greatest ever live bands, were stalwarts of 'pub rock' and precursors to the most creative period of British music (1977-80).

It was a great period.
Would you rate Be Bop Deluxe from this period who certainly had their own style and the very underrated Fox
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Old 09-12-2012, 19:36
tortfeasor
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There was great music around in the early and mid Seventies. It's trite to say that it was a period solely concerned with naff stuff. Yes, things needed a shake up but you didn't really need to look that hard to find quality songs. The reggae and soul from around that period is some of the best of the decade. As for albums, you're spoiled for choice.

A lot of music documentaries (and I think it's music documentaries that have a lot to answer for) have focused on the fact that acts like the Bay City Rollers and Brotherhood of Man had #1 hits that topped the charts for weeks. Granted they did but these documentaries don't point out that if you look at top 30 charts for those years, they're full of classic songs that are still being played today. Nor do they point out that whilst 'Bye Bye Baby' went on to top the chart for weeks in 1975, when it entered the singles chart 'Pick up the Pieces' by the Average White Band and 'Dreamer' by Supertramp entered at the same time and charted higher.

They seldom seem to make references to the fact that there were DJs who championed album tracks on national daytime radio (e.g. Johnnie Walker) and that there were excellent bands making fantastic music that didn't get singles in the top 20 but nevertheless made classic music. Nor do they emphasise that in addition to Top of the Pops, you had programmes like the Old Grey Whistle Test with classic performances by diverse artists and bands.
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Old 09-12-2012, 21:39
Glenn A
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There was great music around in the early and mid Seventies. It's trite to say that it was a period solely concerned with naff stuff. Yes, things needed a shake up but you didn't really need to look that hard to find quality songs. The reggae and soul from around that period is some of the best of the decade. As for albums, you're spoiled for choice.

A lot of music documentaries (and I think it's music documentaries that have a lot to answer for) have focused on the fact that acts like the Bay City Rollers and Brotherhood of Man had #1 hits that topped the charts for weeks. Granted they did but these documentaries don't point out that if you look at top 30 charts for those years, they're full of classic songs that are still being played today. Nor do they point out that whilst 'Bye Bye Baby' went on to top the chart for weeks in 1975, when it entered the singles chart 'Pick up the Pieces' by the Average White Band and 'Dreamer' by Supertramp entered at the same time and charted higher.

They seldom seem to make references to the fact that there were DJs who championed album tracks on national daytime radio (e.g. Johnnie Walker) and that there were excellent bands making fantastic music that didn't get singles in the top 20 but nevertheless made classic music. Nor do they emphasise that in addition to Top of the Pops, you had programmes like the Old Grey Whistle Test with classic performances by diverse artists and bands.
I agree. It's like the tired old argument punks put out that nothing happened between 1974 and 1977. Actually the era was good for music if you overlook the naff bits, though The Wombles have a certain charm. Could something like My Resistance is Low by Robin Sarstedt make the charts now?
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Old 09-12-2012, 23:16
Bevrinton
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There will only ever be one superstar of the 70's and that is the legend himself Leo Sayer . Just thinking of him on stage commanding an audience with his disco dancing skills while singing one of his many cheeky foot tapping songs makes my toes curl .
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Old 10-12-2012, 09:11
mushymanrob
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totally disagree.

imho the mid 70's was one of the dullest periods ever.

'overlook the naff'... but you cant! yes there were a few great tracks, but the majority were lame, uninspiring.

'afternoon delight' was a prime example.... how wet was that? jeez...

1976 was one of my worst ever years (personally), third up from 1990 and 1989. (the worst).

thank god punk came along and re-ignited interest in creating exciting new music.
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Old 10-12-2012, 09:13
mushymanrob
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I agree. It's like the tired old argument punks put out that nothing happened between 1974 and 1977. Actually the era was good for music if you overlook the naff bits, though The Wombles have a certain charm. Could something like My Resistance is Low by Robin Sarstedt make the charts now?
lol... shot yourself in the foot there...the friggin WOMBLES? robin sarstedt only got in the charts then because they were naff....
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Old 10-12-2012, 10:23
mgvsmith
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Would you rate Be Bop Deluxe from this period who certainly had their own style and the very underrated Fox
I still have Be-Bop Deluxe's 'Sunburst Finish' and the Fox album. Also, Bowie's 'Station to Station' is from January 1976.
Brian Eno's 'Another Green World' and 'Discreet Music' are from 1975.
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Old 10-12-2012, 11:08
snukr
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Old 10-12-2012, 12:12
Jon Ross
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totally disagree.

imho the mid 70's was one of the dullest periods ever.

'overlook the naff'... but you cant! yes there were a few great tracks, but the majority were lame, uninspiring.

'afternoon delight' was a prime example.... how wet was that? jeez...

1976 was one of my worst ever years (personally), third up from 1990 and 1989. (the worst).

thank god punk came along and re-ignited interest in creating exciting new music.
This thread, and this quote in particular, reminds me of the quote by the late Tony Wilson, founder of Factory Records:

It's impossible to remember how dull the mid-seventies were. Anyone who claims that the mid-seventies were somehow interesting, in particular people who put together Old Grey Whistle Test compilations, should be shot, basically, because it was a dreary, dreary period of culture.
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