1974 Briefly Revisited: AotY

There was a ridiculous amount of really good music released during this award cycle.

If you only listen to one song: "Distant Lover" Live
In Amsterdam, Marvin Gaye

Albums, Revisited
Here are 15 albums I like, that also could have been nominated for 1974's Album of the Year.

Can't Buy a Thrill, Steely Dan
I always think I like Steely Dan more than I actually do. My Steely Dan introduction was Aja, Aja is my jam, and that beginning will forever color my opinion of the band. That said, this album (their debut) is totally good.

For the Roses, Joni Mitchell
I love Joni. I'm sure I've said it before.

The Dark Side of the Moon, Pink Floyd
This is another album that makes me think I like a band more than I actually do.

Let's Get It On, Marvin Gaye
True Story: Back in the days of albums-as-mp3s, I accidentally shifted "Let's Get it On" to be the last song of this album; otherwise, the tracks were in normal order. For years, maybe over a decade, I thought Let's Get It On was a daring album that subverted conventional thinking and buried its title track at the end of the album... a bold, high energy statement after an album's worth of teasing and foreshadowing.

I still prefer my accidental order.

(Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd), Lynyrd Skynyrd
Also a debut album.
Also a true story: This was my first time actually hearing the song "Free Bird".

Call Me, Al Green
Classic.

Closing Time, Tom Waits
Yet another debut album. I've loved "Lonely" from this album for years.

The Captain and Me, The Doobie Brothers
I, very specifically, love a good Southern Rock guitar lick.

Catch a Fire, The Wailers
The opening track, "Concrete Jungle", is either referenced or outright sampled in a Lauryn Hill song "Forgive Them Father".

Living in the Material World, George Harrison
I once said All Things Must Past was my favorite album by a Beatle, including all of the Beatles' albums. I stand by that, and this album is also pretty good.

Raw Power, The Stooges
I cannot comprehend the unadulterated thrill it must have been to use this album as your teenage rebellion's soundtrack.

Goats Head Soup, The Rolling Stones
The Stones are easy to love.

Aladdin Sane, David Bowie
This might be the first Bowie album I've enjoyed, so far. I think his specialness has been clear from other albums, but Aladdin Sane has stuck with me a bit more than the others.

Houses of the Holy, Led Zeppelin
I used to think Zeppelin I through IV were my true and only favorite Zeppelin albums. Luckily I've listened to Houses of Holy enough over the years to disabuse myself of that thought.

Talking Book, Stevie Wonder
This is a very good album.

The current One Man Academy (OMA) project is listening to the Grammy's Album of the Year nominees and re-choosing winners, absent of historical context.

Featured songs from this post: Spotify