Mike’s 1977

I agree with Tim, 1977 is one of the great years in recorded music history. A complete list of the 1977 records I own is available here, and my top 77 from 77 too.

Albums:

1. Talking Heads–Talking Heads: 77. An album to nod along with, rather than head bang to. Love Byrne’s optimism.
2. Television–Marquee Moon. Well, we all know this one by heart, don’t we? Even if I hadn’t already seen Tim’s list, I would have bet that many of the same albums would appear this month. And I would have also bet on this one appearing most often. I have a hard time imagining a list of the most-beloved 77 records without this one. Hard for me to pick any one song over another, which makes for a pretty great album, I’d say.
3. Keith Jarrett–The Survivors’ Suite. As with so many of his works, just intensely lovely and melodic. This is by far my favorite. Doesn’t seem to be available online.
4. The Clash–The Clash. I find that I don’t pull this one out very often, but each time I do I sure am glad I’ve done so. Just noticing now that four of these 10 albums are first releases. I agree with Tim on his selections, but this is another one where every last song is brilliant. Allow me to just add “Police and Thieves.”
5. Brian Eno–Before and After Science. Prefer the second side, which I would regard as some of the most beautiful music of the 20th Century. I mean, seriously, “Here He Comes,” “Julie With,” “By This River,” “Through Hollow Lands,” and “Spider and I” one after the other.
6. Joni Mitchell–Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter. Criminally underrated. Joni, and her band, at an entirely other level. Nothing else quite like it that I’ve ever heard. Have you noticed yet that each time I list this, or something from it, I don’t write anything. I find it indescribable, really.
7. The Stranglers–Stranglers IV (Rattus Norvegicus). “Jet” was nearly forty when this was recorded. Heh.
8. Van Der Graaf–The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome. I take it that many VDGG fans loathe this release, I suppose in much the way that some Genesis fans dislike post-Gabriel Genesis. Shorter songs, that may be more accessible, as though that were a bad thing in itself. Still plenty progressive, I’d say, however you want to define it. “Siren Song.”
9. David Bowie–Low
10. Pink Floyd–Animals. What a kick to be able to turn a son on to the Floyd. “Comfortably Numb” and the Wall is where it is at for him right now, as it was for me too initially. He’ll get to this and the early stuff on his own one day, I’m sure of it.
11. Tompall Glaser–Tompall Glaser and his Outlaw Band. Couldn’t restrain myself from listing one more album. Try the great Tennessee Blues.

Songs:
1. Anthony Phillips–“God if I Saw Her Now.” Hard as I’ve tried, I can’t say I really love any other Ant song. This is timeless.
2. The Motors–“Dancing the Night Away”
3. AC/DC–“Whole Lotta Rosie.” So juvenile, and thank god, I can’t help but continue to get a huge kick out of it.
4. NRBQ–“Call Him Off Rogers”
5. X-Ray Spex–Oh Bondage Up Yours/I’m a Cliche
6. Al Green–“Belle”
7. Bill Evans–“A Child Is Born”
8. Donna Summer–“I Feel Love”
9. Phil Manzanera/801–“Island”
10. Electric Light Orchestra–“Standing in the Rain”
11. Sex Pistols–“Anarchy in the U.K.” I admit it, I don’t ever play the entire album. I pull it out to play a specific cut or two, including, always, this one.

Knives in W11

Okay – so 1977 is the best year ever for music – so here’s my super-indulgent gull-wing Brazilian blow-back list.

Songs:

1. All This and More (The Dead Boys) – The Dead Boys don’t get enough credit for their amazing sound, and the influence they clearly had on the Sex Pistols. This is one of the greatest punk anthems – gives me shivers.
2. Complete Control/White Man In Hammersmith Palais (The Clash) – IMO ‘Complete Control’ is one of the best rock songs ever. Perfect guitar sound. ‘White Man in Hammersmith Palais’ is the Clash’s best song. Real reggae – real punk – real good.
3. Breakdown (Buzzcocks) – Formed immediately after hosting one of the first Pistols gigs, this seminal Manchester band released the first Independent UK punk single ‘Spiral Scratch E.P.’ It is still one of the most modern and arresting releases of the UK punk scene.
4. Stranded (The Saints) – Meanwhile – in Australia (!) The Saints were crafting their own distinctive punk sound – one of my favourite Rock vocals of all time.
5. Young Savage (Ultravox) – and before they became popular as one of the early UK electro groups, Ultravox had a tight punk ethic.
6. Marquee Moon (Television) – this is just an amazing song, regardless of the confusing genres typically assigned to Television.
7. Let There Be Rock (AC/DC) – I have to admit that I can’t really stand AC/DC – but I highly recommend watching the documentary ‘Let There Be Rock’ and witness the weirdness of the original Bon Scott-led line up. In 1977 AC/DC were womanizing hard-drinking Aussie scumbags with a great sense of humour. This is by far their best song IMO – Bon Scott all the way.
8. Hanging Around/Peaches/No More Heroes (The Stranglers) – yeah that’s right – my #7 is three singles by The Stranglers. This band had so much potential, but somehow never broke out like they deserved to. I think the punks were confused by the beardy drummer and the keyboard arpeggios – that’s what makes them brilliant.
9. Three Little Birds (Bob Marley & The Wailers) – I typically loathe Bob Marley’s music – not only is it overplayed to the point of exhaustion, but I get very tired of the constant Rasta preachiness and squeeky clean production. That said – this is one of the most positive songs of all time and I love it. Check out Naomi Campbell in this video!
10. Lust For Life (Iggy Pop) – not a huge Iggy fan, but its just one of the greatest songs from the punk era. Jim Morrison would have been proud. This is the best version BTW – Manchester 1977 filmed for Tony Wilson’s TV show.
11. Psycho Killer (Talking Heads) – Its good.
12. Short People (Randy Newman) – they got no reason.
13. Billericay Dickie (Ian Dury) – If you haven’t seen it – I highly recommend ‘Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll’, a biopic of Ian Dury starring Andy (Gollum) Serkis. One of the best music movies ever made, regardless if you’re a fan of Dury or not (I wasn’t til I saw it!)
14. Rockin’ All Over The World (Status Quo) – I don’t know if this band is even known in the US, but they’re a bit of a joke in the UK, which is a shame. A truly great (if predictable) rock band. This is their biggest hit – stick your thumbs in your belt-loops, take a rock stance and start headbanging.

Albums:

1. ABBA: The Album (ABBA) – This album accompanies the excellent ‘ABBA: The Movie’ which contains some of the best concert footage of the band. If you think ABBA are shit – watch them live. ABBA: The Album is my favourite ABBA album for a number of reasons – the production is awesome – check out Benny/Bjorn’s supertight production on ‘Hole In Your Soul’, as well as the proto-LLoyd-Weber vocal breakdowns and Agnetha’s insanely high scream! The album kicks off with the Pink Floyd-esque ‘Eagle’ – moves on to superhits  ‘Take A Chance on Me’ and ‘The Name of the Game’ as well as the saccharine and rather hateful ‘Thank You for the Music’ (hey – its ABBA – there’s gotta be something terrible on every album!) And perhaps you can forgive Benny & Bjorn for Mama Mia the musical, when you listen to the powerful  ‘I Wonder’ and the insane ‘I’m a Marionette’, both part of a mini-musical performed live during this era of touring. If you feel like taking a chance on ABBA, start here.
2. Never Mind The Bollocks Here’s The Sex Pistols (Sex Pistols) – Best album ever.
3. Rocket To Russia (Ramones) – if I was going to recommend a Ramones album to anyone, it would be this one. Ramones at their purest. Highlights are ‘Rockaway Beach’, ‘Here Today Gone Tomorrow’ their classic ‘Sheena is a Punk Rocker’, the psychedelic ‘Teenage Lobotomy’ and their version of ‘Surfin Bird’. I read an interview with album producer Tony Bongiovi (Jon Bonjovi’s cousin) where he talks about recording ‘Surfin Bird’. Apparently they recorded the backing track first, and then Joey did a vocal take. There was no click-track or marker where he was supposed to come back in after the psychedelic section, and he nailed the timing, first take. He credits Joey Ramone as one of the greatest musicians he’s worked with.
4. From Here To Eternity (Giorgio Moroder) – Moroder is the best dance producer ever, and this is his best album. Non-stop frickin’ awesome. Own it.
5. The Clash (The Clash) – Debut album, fast, gritty, nasty, awesome. I personally prefer the US version (released years later) that includes different versions and extra tracks, but the original UK version is consistent and no-nonsense. Highlights for me are Mick Jones’ ‘Protex Blue’ and the genre-defining ‘Police Thieves’.
6. Trans Europe Express (Kraftwerk) – its trippy from start to end – everyone should take the time to listen to this album every few years. Truly beautiful.
7. Damned Damned Damned (The Damned) – totally raw, totally rock ‘n’ roll, totally punk. Brian James’ guitar is stunning, Scabies drums are amazing – Sensible’s bass and vocals are brilliant and Vanian’s at his best. A perfect album and heavier/faster/punker/funnier than all the rest.
8. Motörhead (Motörhead) – not their best, but a seminal metal album. White Line Fever.
9. Low (David Bowie) – not to be out-done by the punk scene that he had unwittingly fostered, Bowie takes us on a very spooky and Germanic journey into the bleak future. Side two all the way.
10. Young Loud and Snotty (The Dead Boys) – my #1 song is from this album, but the rest of it is pretty good as well, especially ‘Caught With The Meat in Your Mouth’ which has got to be one of the best song titles ever, right?
11. Star Wars (John Williams) – Leia’s theme. Damn!

Oh yeah – ‘Knives in West Eleven’ is a lyric from the Clash’s 1977 b-side ‘1977’ – one of their worst songs.