Nazareth "Razamanaz" (1973)

Razamanaz
release date: May 1973
format: vinyl (6303 085 A) / digital (2006 remaster)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,62]
producer: Roger Glover
label: Philips - nationality: Scotland, UK

3rd studio album by Scottish hard rock band Nazareth is produced by Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover.

The Jam "In the City" (1977)

In the City [debut]
release date: May 20, 1977
format: vinyl (2383 447) / cd
[album rate: 4,5 / 5] [4,28]
producer: Vic Smith and Chris Parry
label: Polydor Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: A) 1. "Art School" (5 / 5) - 2. "I've Changed My Address" (4,5 / 5) - 3. "Slow Down" - 4. "I Got by in Time" - 5. "Away From the Numbers" (4 / 5) - - B) 1. "In the City" (5 / 5) (live) - 2. "Sounds From the Street" (4 / 5) - 3. "Non Stop Dancing" - 4. "Time for Truth" - 5. "Takin' My Love" - 6. "Bricks and Mortar" (4 / 5)

Studio debut album by The Jam released on Polydor Records and produced by Vic Smith [Vic Coppersmith-Heaven] and Chris Parry. Primary songwriter Paul Weller on lead vocals & guitar, Bruce Foxton on bass & additional vocals, and Rick Buckler on drums constitute the blasting trio who was leading the mod revival movement with strong bonds to The Kinks, The Who, and Small Faces back in a punk rock disguise. Pete Townshend and many others praised the band as the biggest thing since The Fab Four, and I was hooked from this and onward, although, my first real listen may have been All Mod Cons (1978).
The band was always in my top 5 of favourite artists from scratch and until Paul Weller left and put an end to the band in 1982.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5 stars ]

1977 Favourite releases: 1. Ramones Rocket to Russia - 2. The Clash The Clash - 3. The Jam In the City

Jimi Hendrix "Are You Experienced?" (1967)

Are You Experienced? [debut]
release date: May 12, 1967
format: cd (reissue)
[album rate: 4 / 5]

Track highlights: A) 1. "Foxy Lady" (5 / 5) - 2. "Manic Depression" - 3. "Red House" (4 / 5) - 4. "Can You See Me" - 5. "Love or Confusion" - 6. "I Don't Live Today" (4,5 / 5) (live) - - B) 1. "May This Be Love" - 2. "Fire" (5 / 5) - 3. "Third Stone From the Sun" - 4. "Remember" - 5. "Are You Experienced?"

Studio debut album by The Jimi Hendrix Experience originally released on Track Records (distributed by Polydor). Both style and sound of the album was something totally new as it was released. Hendrix shows his r&b-based source transformed into electrified psychedelic blues rock or acid rock. The Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Kinks, Small Faces, Buffalo Springfield, Frank Zappa, Cream, and many others had experimented with dubbing and started to bring in psychedelic elements to their sound but the Hendrix' feedback distortion was something new, and the tracks are refreshingly new. The album is naturally enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".

1967 Favourite releases: 1. The Velvet Underground and Nico The Velvet Underground & Nico - 2. Jimi Hendrix Are You Experienced? - 3. The Doors The Doors

BEST OF 1978:The Clash "Give 'Em Enough Rope" (1978)

Give 'Em Enough Rope
release date: Nov. 10, 1978
format: vinyl (reissue - CBS 82431) / cd
[album rate: 5 / 5] [4,87]
producer: Sandy Pearlman
label: CBS Records - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) 1. "Safe European Home" (5 / 5) - 2. "English Civil War" (4 / 5) - 3. "Tommy Gun" (4,5 / 5) - 4. "Julie's Been Working for the Drug Squad" (3,5 / 5) - 5. "Last Gang in Town" (4 / 5) - - B) 1. "Guns on the Roof" (3,5 / 5) - 2. "Drug-Stabbing Time" (4 / 5) - 3. "Stay Free" (5 / 5) - 4. "Cheapskates" (4 / 5) - 5. "All the Young Punks (New Boots and Contracts)" (4,5 / 5)
[ full album ]

2nd studio album release by The Clash, who went through a change of line-up after releasing its debut album as drummer Terry Chimes left and was replaced by Topper Headon (aka Nicholas Bowen Headon).
Somehow this was never credited as much as the debut album (1977) or as the highly praised successor, London Calling (1979). This is however, my favourite The Clash album, and I‘m very very close to rate the other two just as high as this one but here’s why. The debut album of '77 has of course a special status in punk rock and popular music history. The songs were raw, intense, and energetic but [... trying to say something negative about it] also much alike [whoo... careful now!], and then there’s the production aspect. Some would argue and say: “It’s punk rock you daft e-diot! Not friggin’ George Miiikel!!” Right, eh I get the point, but... even so, I think the debut has a (shallow) poor production sound compared to this one. And it’s a bit funny mentioning the production side because at the time this one was all brand new, people claimed that the production was too heavy, and way too 'polished', meaning too traditional rock related, and simply not punk rock enough. At that time that meant: not ugly enough, and not contrary to what else is around, which of course was a HUGE part of being correct 'punk'. The only pit fall about this argument is a focus on form and style instead of sound, lyrics and music - in essence what making music is all about! Anyway, compared to the punk rock iconic London Calling, my only negative remark about that is that it’s a little... weak [listen, I just said 'weak' about one of my favourite albums]. 'WEAK!???' Sorry, now don’t sue me. I love this band and that album is on my desert islands' list, I’m just trying to make a tiny little point here as to why I prefer Enough Rope, Okay?! Easy, for heaven's and Joe's sake - bless his soul wherever he enlightens everything. What I mean about 'weak' is that London Calling is not really a pure punk rock album altogether but more of a great pop / rock and rock album with some really fine pop / rock songs. It's songs like “The Right Profile”, “Wrong ‘Em Boyo”, “Koka Kola”, “Lover’s Rock”, “I’m Not Down” - all of which are just a wee bit too nice and sweet [stylistically, not lyrically, mind you!] and I end up skipping them in the (considerably) long run.
In my mind, Give 'Em Enough Rope has no weak spots - so that’s why... there you have it - it’s simply G R E A T. < period >
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Q Magazine 5 / 5 stars ]

1978 Favourite releases: 1. The Clash Give 'Em Enough Rope - 2. The Jam All Mod Cons - 3. Bruce Springsteen Darkness on the Edge of Town

Jethro Tull "Thick As A Brick" (1972)

Thick as a Brick
release date: Mar. 10, 1972
format: cd
[album rate: 4,5 / 5] [4,38]
producer: Ian Anderson
label: Chrysalis - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "Thick as a Brick (Part 1)" (4,5 / 5) - 2. "Thick as a Brick (Part 2)" (3,5 / 5)

5th studio album by Jethro Tull. Before going to the studio to record new material the band's drummer, Clive Bunker had left the band and was replaced by Barriemore Barlow. This is the bands [Ian Anderson's] response to music critics referring to Acqualung (1971) as a concept album. Anderson wanted to make a gimmick out of this release, so he really went all the way in making something that could only be labelled conceptual. However ironic the idea behind the album was founded, and created with inspiration from Monty Python's Flying Circus, it really is a musical masterpiece. The album consists of one composition, only divided into two halves (Part 1 and Part 2) due to the vinyl album format. The style is progressive rock blended with classical and folk. It's really a great composition that hasn't ceased to fascinate me. I think, I first heard the album back in the early '80s where I had found a vinyl copy at the local library. At this time, I knew of Heavy Horses and Songs From the Wood on vinyl and wanted to know more of the band. I recall, how great it was to unfold the newspaper version of the sleeve with its fictitious stories about a local community and the primary story about 8yo wonderkid 'Gerald Bostock'. Initially, I thought it was true, but having learned about the gimmick, I still found it pretty ingenious. The album reached number #5 in the UK but it topped the albums chart list in the US.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Rolling Stone, SputnikMusic 5 / 5 stars ]

1972 Favourite releases: 1. David Bowie The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars - 2. Lou Reed Transformer - 3. Jethro Tull Thick as a Brick

Françoise Hardy "Clair-obscur" ('Clair-obscur', 2000)

Joni Mitchell "Clouds" (1969)

Clouds
release date: May 1, 1969
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,07]
producer: Joni Mitchell, Paul A. Rothchild
label: Reprise Records - nationality: Canada

Track highlights: 3. "I Don't Know Where I Stand" - 4. "That Song About the Midway" - 8. "Songs to Aging Children Come" (3,5 / 5) - 10. "Both Sides, Now"

2nd studio album by Joni Mitchell is a fine acoustic folk and singer / songwriter album. The arrangements to Joni's singing voice are with little or no other additional instrumentation but her acoustic guitar like was the case on her debut album. I find this a more introvert and gloomier album than her acclaimed debut. This seems like the weaker difficult follow-up to a strong first album. However, the album was well-received, reaching number #22 in Canada and number #31 in the US and Mitchell was awarded a Grammy for Best Folk Performance in 1969.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5 stars ]