*** 1970's Album Draft - Commentary Thread ***

[Erik]

Inspiration Information - Shuggie Otis (1974)

More a triumph of atmosphere, mood and production than content - the album is very short and many of its 9 tracks are instrumentals - Inspriation Information is one of those "lay back with headphones and let the waves of sound hit you" kind of experiences. The reclusive genius Otis took 3 years to make this album - an eternity back then - and played every note himself. There are two top-notch songs in the title track and "Aht Uh Mi Hed," and a lot of fantastic playing and effects across the rest of it.

[Erik]

Osibisa is one of those bands I know I would like, given my love for Santana and Mandrill, but I've yet to invest the time in learning their stuff.

[senorsheep]

Maybe it's time to reconsider your assertion that the 70s weren't that good for albums.

Or reconsider my assumption that you guys know what the good 70's albums are.

[senorsheep]

Huge douchebag. I anxiously await the inevitable defense of his actions.

Prince, or Robbie Robertson?

[DMT]

This album essentially created a new genre of music, Dawg, a merging of bluegrass with jazz. I almost selected this instead of [i]Old & In the Way[/b] but I couldn't find the whole album on YT.

David Grisman Quintet - David Grisman Quintet (1976)

[DMT]

Inspiration Information - Shuggie Otis (1974)

Totally spaced on this one, love it!

[johnnya24]

Sorry to ruin your plans.

Just happy it got picked.

[johnnya24]

Damnit, in addition to Van the Man, also forgot to pick Cold Fact by Sixto Rodriguez ... sorry buddy ... forgotten about all over again!



Some other artists that were overlooked:

Popular:

ABBA
Status Quo (I really don't know any Quo records, just songs)
Supertramp
Free
Scorpions
Procol Harum

Proto/punk/post-punk/Kraut:

PIL
Nick Lowe
Suicide
Can / Cluster / Faust

Singers / solo:

Tim Buckley
Syd Barrett
Nico
Serge Gainsbourg

Soul / Funk

Gil Scott Heron
Kool and the Gang
Aretha Franklin
Smokey Robinson
Bobby Womack
Barry White
Wilson Pickett
The Isley Brothers
Roberta Flack

Jazz and Other

Dr John
Steve Reich

[BuckyBuckner]

Damnit, in addition to Van the Man, also forgot to pick Cold Fact by Sixto Rodriguez ... sorry buddy ... forgotten about all over again!

It was on my list but I never got to it.

[BuckyBuckner]

Some other artists that were overlooked:

Proto/punk/post-punk/Kraut:

Nick Lowe

I thought someone picked Labour of Lust.

ETA: Swamp picked it.

[Erik]

Proto/punk/post-punk/Kraut:

Graham Parker. He has a devoted fanbase and critics love him, but he was shut out despite most of what's considered to be his best albums being released in the '70s.

[Erik]

I thought someone picked Labour of Lust.

They did. Also Supertramp had two albums picked, if you count Sheep's re-entry.

[johnnya24]

A few albums I had listed:

Bob Marley - Burnin' / Natty Dread
Bobby Womack - Understanding
Gram Parson - Grievious Angel
Issac Hayes - The Issac Hayes Movement
Jefferson Airplane - Volunteers (another 1970 UK release)
Leonard Cohen - New Skin For The Old Ceremony
Nick Drake - Pink Moon / Bryter Layter
Sixto Rodriguez - Cold Fact
Suicide - Suicide
Van Morrison - Veedon Fleece / Saint Dominic's Preview / His Band And The Street Choir

[BuckyBuckner]

Graham Parker. He has a devoted fanbase and critics love him, but he was shut out despite most of what's considered to be his best albums being released in the '70s.

I always mean to get more into him. I have Squeezing Out Sparks but I always forget to listen to it.

[Erik]

Soul / Funk

Gil Scott Heron
Kool and the Gang
Aretha Franklin
Smokey Robinson
Bobby Womack
Barry White
Wilson Pickett
The Isley Brothers
Roberta Flack

Aside from the Isleys and Aretha, I see all of these acts as singles artists. Or, in Scott-Heron's case, just as interested in spoken word as in music, which isn't my thing over the course of a full album.

Fun fact: Bill Withers and his wife met at a Gil Scott-Heron concert.