Category: The ’70s

Newt’s top 10 rock albums of 1974

By Steve Newton I reckon it’s time for me to head back five decades and reminisce about what was truly rockin’ in the Year of Our Lord, 1974. I’ve listed my top ten studio albums alphabetically by title, and included three choice tracks from each disc to help you remember how wicked they really were. … Continue reading Newt’s top 10 rock albums of 1974

Remembering those old K-Tel Records compilations: 20 Original Hits! 20 Original Stars!

If you were a music fan back in the '70s, you no doubt heard about the products released by Winnipeg-based K-Tel International. There were K-Tel Records compilation albums advertised on TV all the time. "20 Original Hits! 20 Original Stars!" the announcer enthusiastically declared while trying to sell you maybe seven songs you liked and … Continue reading Remembering those old K-Tel Records compilations: 20 Original Hits! 20 Original Stars!

The 30 best title tracks of the ’70s, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

5 guys from Chilliwack High's Class of '75 rob hall photo By Steve Newton The title track wasn't always the best song on an album in the '70s. But when you were standing in the record store, rabidly poring over the brand new LP by your favourite band, that title could get deeply imbedded in … Continue reading The 30 best title tracks of the ’70s, from wicked to freakin’ awesome

I freakin’ love Uriah Heep’s live version of “Circus” with Ian Anderson on flute

By Steve Newton I was just searching around on YouTube for Uriah Heep's "Magician's Birthday", 'cause I needed a music-from-high-school fix, when I came across a concert video I'd never seen before, posted on the UriahHeepNetwork channel. It shows the band performing what is probably my favourite Heep song, the beautiful "Circus", off the Sweet … Continue reading I freakin’ love Uriah Heep’s live version of “Circus” with Ian Anderson on flute

25 rock albums from 1977 that are way better than Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell

By Steve Newton Since the death of Meat Loaf last Thursday I've been hearing an awful lot about his 1977 debut album, Bat Out of Hell. The media's been falling all over itself, declaring how it's one of the best-selling albums of all time--moving over 40 million copies--and how much people love the music on … Continue reading 25 rock albums from 1977 that are way better than Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell

The Climax Blues Band had a song about living together and free that Americans should take to heart right now

By Steve Newton It was clean-the-freakin'-basement day today, so I searched around for an album that might put me in the mood for getting some crap moved from one area to another. I settled on the Climax Blues Band's 1976 LP, Gold Plated, and the opening track on SIde One got me thinkin' that, man, … Continue reading The Climax Blues Band had a song about living together and free that Americans should take to heart right now

Tom Petty’s King of the Hill character buys Brownsville Station tix for primo view of Mike Lutz’s guitar solo

By Steve Newton I was channel surfing last night and came across a King of the Hill episode from 2006 that perked me up and made me yearn for the halcyon days of '70s arena rock. At the end of the Season 10 episode titled "Hank Fixes Everything", the recurring character Lucky--voiced by Tom Petty--buys tickets to … Continue reading Tom Petty’s King of the Hill character buys Brownsville Station tix for primo view of Mike Lutz’s guitar solo

The 70 greatest closing tracks of the ’70s

By Steve Newton Remember when the last track on an album would finish and you'd wish the music would just never end? Me too. "All Right Now" (Fire and Water, Free, 1970) “American Girl” (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, 1976) "Another Star" (Songs in the Key of Life, Stevie Wonder, … Continue reading The 70 greatest closing tracks of the ’70s

The 70 greatest opening tracks of the ’70s

By Steve Newton Remember how you'd set the needle down on the opening track of a new rock album and the first tune would just blow you the funk away? Me too. "(Ain't Nothin' But a) House Party" (Bloodshot, J. Geils Band, 1973) "All the Way From Memphis" (Mott, Mott the Hoople, 1973) "Already Gone" … Continue reading The 70 greatest opening tracks of the ’70s

Newt’s top 20 David Bowie songs of the seventies

By Steve Newton As everybody knows by know, pop-rock legend David Bowie has died. It's the worst loss for the music world since John Lennon was murdered, I reckon. A few days ago I did a blog about my personal remembrances of discovering Bowie as a teen in the seventies. Now here's my top 20 Bowie … Continue reading Newt’s top 20 David Bowie songs of the seventies