Here’s my seventh musical retrospective on the best albums released, by year. My previous “Best Albums” lists covered 1976, 1977, 1975, 1978, 1974, and 1979 (in that order).
—– Summation —–
1973 was a relatively weak year in pop music, with several one-hit wonders from artists who never again reached the same heights. Dozens of flash-in-the-pan singers and groups crowded the charts, most notably Vicki Lawrence’s “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia,” King Harvest’s “Dancing in the Moonlight,” Focus’s “Hocus Pocus,” and even “Dueling Banjos” from the movie “Deliverance.” This forgettable phenomenon tumbled off the cliff of absurdity when Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods’ “Billy—Don’t Be a Hero” hit the #1 spot in the UK, USA, and Australia, remaining there for eight excruciating weeks. Absolute dreck. Fortunately, a select few great albums managed to rise above the mass mediocrity of really bad hit songs. Pink Floyd’s unconventional concept album The Dark Side of the Moon helped to salvage what could have been a brutal year otherwise.
It’s not exactly a news flash that I spend many hours every day online. Most of the time, I’m multi-tasking. That’s my excuse anyway—-and I’m sticking to it.
Recently, for no apparent reason, I’ve noticed a sharp increase in the number of MAGA posts that litter my screen. More like A BOMBARDMENT of batshit.
Robert Duvall died today. He was 95. I don’t know of any actor (or public figure) who looked pretty much the same as they appeared 64 years ago. Consider this image from the 1962 movie, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” one of Duvall’s first film roles. Add a few wrinkles and sun spots, and this could just as easily be Duvall in his final film scene. His voice may have been a little scratchier with age, but it otherwise remained unchanged.
But this is about something deeper and more meaningful — what’s on the inside.
Here’s my sixth musical retrospective on the best albums released, by year. My previous “Best Albums” lists covered 1976, 1977, 1975, 1978, 1974 (in that order).
Summation: 1979 was an astounding year for rock, one of the best ever. This was highly unexpected given that R&B/Soul dominated so much of the mid-1970s, combined with the mass popularity of disco. Pop music was about to experience a seismic shift into New Wave and other variations, as well as the birth of MTV, which would soon steamroll over the entire musical landscape. So, to see how many great rock albums were released that year was a surprise. Some may call this the last great year for traditional rock.
In yet another caustic display of willful cruelty and orchestrated provocation, the Trump Regime has now banned the universal symbol of LGBTQ+ rights. The Trump Regime has removed the banner of equality for gay people and indeed *all* people — represented in the joyful multi-colors of the rainbow.
WINS — 181 LOSSES — 143 PUSH — 7 NET WIN/LOSS — +$1,860. LAST WEEK’S RESULTS — 8-4-0 (+$125.) STARTING BANKROLL: $10,000 CURRENT BANKROLL: $11,860. ALL WAGERS ARE FOR $100 EACH AND ARE PRICED AT THE STANDARD 110/100 VIG, (UNLESS NOTED OTHERWISE)
Here’s my fourth retrospective. Based on positive feedback to three previous “Best Albums” lists from 1976 and 1977 and 1975, today focuses on 1978. I was age 17 then, which for most teens is a glorious age of musical awakening.
This was lackluster year in music. If this were a writing assignment, I’d turn it down. Insert criticism here.
Summation — I rate 1978 as one of the worst collections of music in the era 1960-1990, probably of this entire “best of” series. Sure, there were many excellent albums released which will be discussed. I just don’t see an abundance of greatness. I see a few dozen really good albums, then quite a drop off.
