1973: The Year In Music

1973 – The US Supreme Court legalises most abortions. President Nixon announces the end of the Vietnam War. The American Psychiatric Association declares that homosexuality is not a mental illness. Queen Elizabeth II opens the Sydney Opera House. 600,000 people attend the “Summer Jam” rock festival, featuring The Grateful Dead, The Band and The Allman Brothers Band – at the time the largest ever audience at a pop festival. Lots of beginnings and ends this year!

I’ll be looking at the popular and highest-rated songs / albums of the year, giving my opinions on their musicality and longevity as well as an overall verdict for the year as a whole.

Before we begin, you can check out some of my related blog posts below:

Billboard Top 10 (Popular) Singles

Source: Wikipedia

10 – Touch Me in the Morning (Diana Ross)

Diana Ross’s vocals are always on-point, and while I was worried that “Touch Me in the Morning” would be too soppy it ended up being quite sweet and sincere.

9 – You’re So Vain (Carly Simon)

Unlike a lot of the songs I’ve heard from the era so far, “You’re So Vain” is still prominent on radios today.

Carly Simon gives a great performance with some ironic lyrics, and that’s Mick Jagger on uncredited backing vocals!

8 – Will It Go Round in Circles (Billy Preston)

I only knew Billy Preston from his cameo appearance on some tracks on The Beatles’ “Let It Be” album, so it was refreshing to hear some of his own music.

He’s a genius on piano, and the bluesy swing he constructed in “Will It Go Round in Circles” is lots of fun.

7 – Crocodile Rock (Elton John)

Unless I’m forgetting, I think “Crocodile Rock” is the first Elton John song I’ve covered on this retrospective. Hopefully it’s not the last!

This is such a fun song from start to finish, and I love Elton’s vocalisations in the bridge.

6 – Why Me (Kris Kristofferson)

“Why Me” is a slow country song, so it’s not for me. It’s not bad, per se, but it’s far from my musical tastes.

5 – My Love (Paul McCartney & Wings)

It’s great to see Paul McCartney back on one of these top tens, but “My Love” isn’t necessarily his best work.

I love how grand and heart-felt it is, but it has a hefty dollop of 70’s cheese too.

4 – Let’s Get It On (Marvin Gaye)

We’ve heard songs that allude to sexuality, but rarely do we get a song as steeped in sex appeal as “Let’s Get It On”.

Marvin Gaye’s vocals are phenomenal, and the instrumentation is easily one of the slickest of the year.

3 – Killing Me Softly with His Song (Roberta Flack)

Roberta Flack returns in 1973 with yet another gorgeous track, and I think “Killing Me Softly with His Song” is her very best.

It has an absolutely luscious chorus that demands to be sung along to, and the verses are gorgeous too.

2 – Bad, Bad Leroy Brown (Jim Croce)

There haven’t been many brazenly fun songs in 1973, but “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” is one of the most uproarious of the year.

I love the honky-tonk piano and guitar, and the chorus is catchy as hell.

1 – Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree (Tony Orlando and Dawn)

As is becoming increasingly more common as the years go by, 1973’s biggest hit is a bit of a disappointment in the grand scheme of things.

I quite like “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree” – the chorus and chord changes are clever enough, but I guess it sounds a bit tackier than I wanted.

FAVOURITE – “Let’s Get It On” (Marvin Gaye)

LEAST FAVOURITE – “Why Me” (Kris Kristofferson)

Top-Rated Songs

Source: http://www.besteveralbums.com

10 – The Great Gig In The Sky (Pink Floyd)

There are days when “The Great Gig In The Sky” is my least favourite from “The Dark Side Of The Moon” … but then again, being the “worst” song on the most legendary album isn’t so bad!

The female vocalist sticks around for a big longer than I wanted, but the overall drama of the track is superb.

9 – Money (Pink Floyd)

It’s all about Roger Waters bassline in this one – “Money” is one of the coolest tracks ever, and when I first started playing bass I made sure this was among the first tracks I memorised.

What makes this track so great other than the slick bassline is the expert metre changes, as well as the damning anti-capitalist lyrics.

8 – Free Bird (Lynyrd Skynyrd)

Holy moly, how is Free Bird not in the top three highest-rated songs of the year? Are the voters on besteveralbums.com deaf or something?!?

It’s one of the most rousing tracks ever, with a chorus that gives me goosebumps and a guitar showdown for the ages.

7 – Breathe (Pink Floyd)

“Speak To Me” may be the official first track on “The Dark Side Of The Moon”, but everyone knows that “Breathe” is when the album kicks into high gear.

Pink Floyd set the cosmic / psychedelic tone perfectly straight out the gate, and David Gilmour’s vocal delivery is entrancing.

6 – Firth Of Fifth (Genesis)

“Firth Of Fifth” starts with a virtuoso piano suite and doesn’t let up for the remaining eight minutes.

It’s a really beautiful track, as Genesis once again excel in making each of their distinct sections unique and sonically engaging.

5 – Eclipse (Pink Floyd)

Pink Floyd went all-out in making “Eclipse” an album closer like no other, and I think they succeeded.

It’s the dramatic high point of the album, with every instrument and musical idea returning for the grand finale.

4 – Love, Reign O’Er Me (The Who)

This is The Who as we’ve never heard them before – grand and cinematic, with expanded production and bold songwriting.

“Love, Reign O’Er Me” has amazing instrumentation across the board, and I love Roger Daltrey’s vocals in the chorus.

3 – Brain Damage (Pink Floyd)

An ode to past band member Sid Barrett, “Brain Damage” is as beautiful as it is haunting.

It comes near the end of “The Dark Side Of The Moon”, and I tend to view it as the beginning of that album’s glorious climax.

2 – Us And Them (Pink Floyd)

“The Dark Side Of The Moon” is an album comprised of many fantastic songs that act as showpieces in their own right, and “Us And Them” is a true stand-out.

It’s slow and methodical, with fascinating lyrics and spoken-word breakdowns intercut with brilliant saxophone and piano solos before the belting choruses shine through.

1 – Time (Pink Floyd)

I remember the first time I heard “Time” as a young boy getting into Pink Floyd, and music was never the same again.

I’d never heard such a beautiful, complex example of Rock mastery, and the guitar solo and choruses never fail to give me goosebumps.

BEST SONG OF 1973 – “Time” (Pink Floyd)

Top-Rated Albums

Source: http://www.besteveralbums.com

5 – Quadrophenia (The Who)

Double albums can be quite the risk for a Rock band, but The Who took the premise and excelled.

This is the band firing on all cylinders, with each member providing top-level instrumental and vocal work.

4 – Selling England By The Pound (Genesis)

Early Genesis was a force to be reckoned with, and “Selling England By The Pound” is one of their very best works.

The band juggle shorter songs with longer epics, and each track brings something unique and interesting to the mix.

3 – Houses Of The Holy (Led Zeppelin)

It might not be the most well-renowned Led Zeppelin album, but “Houses Of The Holy” has some great tracks in its own right.

Tracks like “Over the Hills and Far Away” and “D’yer Mak’er” are still popular today, and I find songs like “The Song Remains The Same” and “The Crunge” to be criminally underrated.

2 – Innervisions (Stevie Wonder)

Stevie Wonder is only going from strength to strength as the years roll by, and “Innervisions” is his best work yet.

He’s starting to perfect the groovy songwriting and production, and tracks like “Living For The City” and especially “Higher Ground” are considered classics.

1 – The Dark Side Of The Moon (Pink Floyd)

It’s “The Dark Side Of The Moon”. It’s a classic. It’s my second favourite album of all time behind “Abbey Road”. Since I’ve already talked about the majority of the tracklist in the highest-rated songs list, I’d be better off talking about its lingering cultural impact.

Everyone knows and adores this album – it has sold over 50 million copies, and on its release it charted on the Billboard Top 200 Albums for 14 years straight. I don’t think any other album will ever be as seismic-shifting as this.

BEST ALBUM OF 1973 – “The Dark Side Of The Moon” (Pink Floyd)

Final Thoughts

1973 was a year dominated by “The Dark Side Of The Moon”, but as a result a lot of the other music seems insignificant in comparison.

Overall Grade: B-

Aaaaand that’s my list! You can check out some of my latest blog posts below: