After initiating planning and sorting for 73 FROM ’73 in the middle of 2022, somehow the project got delayed; again and again. A number of the schedule blowouts arose from life intruding on music activities, annoying incursions I hoped had been redirected towards more gainfully employed bloggers as I mooched towards retirement; but in fact that was only part of the problem. The real difficult lay in the sheer number of 1973 albums I wanted to share, and the increasing diversity, or clanification if you will, of popular music. In the end, after a bold and confident introductory post in January, I gave up and shelved the whole project.
Yet it seemed a shame to both waste the work already completed and pass up the opportunity to share some excellent albums with friends and colleagues via these pages. So, in the twelfth month, we begin a presentation of Bruce’s fiftieth anniversary favourites. As always the rules are simple. Share your responses, objections, and favourites as we go and watch out for the toppermost of the poppermost somewhere between Christmas and New Year!
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73 DEODATO — PRELUDE
The Brazilian composer/pianist’s jazz-funk arrangement of “Also Sprach Zarathustra” was utterly irresistible and got serious radio time in ’73. The rest of the LP is thoroughly enjoyable too. I’m sure that for many this was their first taste of jazz-rock; it sure made an impression on me. [Released January 1973]
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72 ROXY MUSIC — FOR YOUR PLEASURE
With model and singer Amanda Lear gracing the cover, Roxy’s third album continues their strong run. It also sees the last appearance of Eno with the British art-rockers. For Your Pleasure is casually experimental in a 3am, somewhat wasted kind of way. “Do The Strand” kicks like a leather thigh boot while “In Every Dream Home A Heartache” remains a creepy classic. As for “The Bogus Man”, well! [Released March 1973]
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71 BUFFALO — VOLCANIC ROCK
Riffing, slamming heavy prog from the Australian legends. There was plenty of raucous rock and roll in Aus during the early seventies, but Sydney’s Buffalo were different: more insistent, heavier, harder. A rock quartet who took no prisoners; volcanic rock whose texture is definitely more granite than pumice. Featured in these pages back in 2018.
And now, a vertical gatefold album cover the likes of which we shall not see again. [Released August 1973]
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NEXT: #70 — 66
vinylconnection.com.au 
That just made my December. Brilliant idea to bring it back for the home stretch Bruce! The only one here I’m aware of is that Roxy one and your 3am reference feels about right ha ha. Thanks for sharing! Looking forward to this run up!
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Cheers Bill. I just did the calendar maths and it’s going to be frantic!
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Good stuff, Bruce! While I knew I had heard “Also sprach Zarathustra” in other non-classical music contexts, e.g., as opener of Elvis Presley’s “Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite” live album (coincidentally also a 1973 release), I wasn’t sure about Deodato. After checking it out, I can definitely confirm I’ve also encountered the Brazilian’s composer’s rendition, which I agree is pretty cool.
Amanda Lear is a name I hadn’t heard in decades. She was quite successful in Germany with a song called “Queen of Chinatown,” which I just looked up came out in 1977. When it comes to Roxy Music, I’m mostly familiar with music from their final two albums, which received a good deal of airtime on my favorable pop radio station in Germany.
I’m completely new to Buffalo and, as you may recall, my relationship with prog rock has been complicated. That said, I think I’ve become more open-minded about it. Based on sampling a few tracks from “Volcanic Rock”, I could see coming around to the music.
Looking forward to the rest of your series!
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Great comments, Christian! Try the early Roxy albums (first three); they are great and not prog at all. In fact, Roxy are my go to when someone asks ‘What the hell is Art Rock?’!
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For Your Pleasure w I understand cruise
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Oops, auto correct… For Your Pleasure would cruise into my top ten for 1973. I haven’t heard as many 1973 albums as you though.
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Yep. So arbitrary in many ways. Still, I do enjoy it when seeing a position here crystallises where someone else would put the album. In this case your high regard for FYP!
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Synchronicity yet again. Just yesterday I bought on the cheap the Buffalo Revisited: Volcanic Rock Live album put out last year by Dave Tice. I haven’t made time to listen to it however so can’t offer a review just yet.
I see various Deodatos in the used vinyl stacks all the time but have always felt put off. Without evidence nor personal experience, I somehow harbor the idea that his music is pretentious, jaunty ‘electro-plink’ (a genre I just made up). I guess Deodato now gets added to the long list of bands about which I should probably test my prejudices. As for Roxy Music, I feel like a blasphemer admitting that the band has failed to move me despite many attempted open-minded listens. Of course, this has not precluded my adding both CD and LP copies of Country Life to the collection…
Really glad you are doing the 73 from 73 series, VC!! I look forward to riding along.
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Now that’s fascinating; Dave Tice alive and well and giving it some Buffalo! Didn’t know anything about that.
I rather like Electro-Plink and expect to see it on a small section of my local store’s racks very soon. I’d imagine you could get Prelude cheaply in the US (CTI label tends to be a bit pricey Downunder) and it’s a good one to sample. I suspect it might be too, er, Cocktail-Cute for you.
Delighted to have you along for this roller-coaster, Vic.
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You #72 would be my #1 Bruce.
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That’s fair.
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I think its a nigh on perfect LP. I demand a recount!
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See my other comment.
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No, you see mine!
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Is it true that you are a reconciliation counsellor?
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I dabble a little bit on a strictly amateur basis Bruce.
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[…] Part 1: 73—71 […]
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[…] Albums #73 — #71 […]
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