30 ROXY MUSIC — STRANDED
Don’t tell anyone, but I think I accidentally reversed this and For Your Pleasure (#72) in a moment of spreadsheet/red wine confusion. Such things can happen when you’re scrambling to write 70+ reviews and take all those photos. Oops. In sum, this third album is terrific but I think its predecessor is better by a short half-head. [Released November 1973]
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29 GONG — ANGELS EGG
The pothead pixie schtick is still present, though more muted than on Flying Teapot. This means the various musical components flow together more satisfyingly, including sparkling contributions from guitarist Steve Hillage. Stupidly I sold my original vinyl copy when I bought the CD, little realising that censorship would make it a collectible item and my replacement copy would lose the female sun goddess, bringer of all life. File under delightfully eccentric hippy prog. [Released December 1973]
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28 FRANK ZAPPA — OVER-NITE SENSATION
Technically outstanding while being both melodic and accessible, the songs on Over-nite Sensation are some of Zappa’s most memorable. Unsurprisingly the LP was one of his most commercially successful. Equally unsurprisingly, the rise of dodgy sexual innuendo (and sometimes blatant porn) begins to cast a shadow over the Zappa aesthetic. [Released September 1973]
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27 CARAVAN — FOR GIRLS WHO GROW PLUMP IN THE NIGHT
One of the best albums by the Canterbury progressive rock outfit. It is certainly one of their most inventive and entertaining, with intricate arrangements and tight ensemble playing. Although violinist Geoffrey Richardson was initially heckled by change-resistant fans, his contribution is rejuvenating for the band. [Released October 1973]
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26 GRATEFUL DEAD — WAKE OF THE FLOOD
Many of the songs on Wake Of The Flood had been extensively road-tested, resulting in a confidence and clarity not always heard on the Dead’s studio albums. The combination of gentle Americana (“Stella Blue”) and epic vision (“Eyes Of The World”), make this record a cornerstone of the rambling castle that is the Grateful Dead. [Released November 1973]
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25 THIRSTY MOON — THIRSTY MOON
A kind of progressive krautrock-jazz hybrid, Thirsty Moon’s fully instrumental debut is spirited, complex, and richly satisfying. Add in a magnificent cover by Gil Funcius and you have the complete package for those who love Deutschland’s 70s alt-rock scene.
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24 KOLLEKTIV — KOLLEKTIV
A kind of progressive krautrock-jazz hybrid, Kollektiv’s (almost) fully instrumental debut is spirited, complex, and richly satisfying. It is also surprisingly experimental. Add in a cool (if disturbing) cover and you have the complete prog package for those who love Deutschland’s 70s alt-rock scene.
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23 THE WAILERS (BOB MARLEY & THE) — CATCH A FIRE / BURNIN’
Two albums in six months shows an impressive work ethic for a band who treated cannabis as an ever-present sacred ritual. Catch A Fire came out in April, and Burnin’ in October ’73. Both are brilliant; I can’t pick one over t’other.
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22 LITTLE FEAT — DIXIE CHICKEN
Lowell George dominates the Feat’s third LP, writing (or co-writing) 7 from 10 songs. The grooves are snaky, the mood laid back; here is the emergence of the signature Little Feat sound, and it sounds very good indeed. [Released January 1973]
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21 STEELY DAN — COUNTDOWN TO ECSTACY
The second Dan album is an edgier affair than their debut. ‘Skunk’ Baxter’s guitar shines on these tightly structured songs, many of which show the flashes of the jazz influences that would become increasingly overt. “Bodhisattva” and “My Old School” are Top Forty good while “Your Gold Teeth” is the jazziest. [Released July 1973]
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vinylconnection.com.au 
What was I doing in ’73 that so much of this was not on my radar? I’d failed micro-economics in ’72, having spent my time reading books like The Doors of Perception and Journey to Ixtlan instead of eco text books. Surely that should have set me up to explore prog in ’73, even if just to avoid studying eco 201, again.
D Don
B Ec (MRM*)
* Minimum Requirements Met
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That’s hilarious, DD. In the long term, pretty good decision-making on your part (except for the under supply of prog). 😉
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Yeah the Castaneda there seems it would have gone well with like any of these records from 73 right? The Marley, the hippy pixie, the kraut rock gosh, now I want to read that title! I’ve read two but they kind of blur together you know, all those witches and glowing cords hanging out and whatnot.
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What a great walk down Memory Lane!
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I’m late to the countdown, Bruce – but I’m excited to both catch up on what I’ve missed thus far & for what’s yet to come in the Top 20.
From what I recall, the Bob Marley / Steely Dan / and the other Roxy Music (your spreadsheet secret is safe with me!) were the ones from this group that made the 1001 list.
For me, I think Aladdin Sane / Goodbye Yellow Brick Road / Innervisions might be my current Top 3 from ’73, so I’ll be keen to learn where they end up!
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Hey, thanks for dropping by, Geoff.
I can’t give anything away, of course, as the sponsors would throw a fit, but I can hint that your Top 3 may well appear in the Top 20!
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Another cool batch, Bruce! As a fan of the Dan, I’m happy to see “Downtown to Ecstasy”. I’ve listened to and like Little Feat’s “Dixie Chicken”. I mostly know Roxy Music as a band playing on the radio. They got lots of good stuff and some interesting album covers – perhaps they should have called themself Racy Music! 🙂
Thanks to my dear music friend, I’m also happy to report I previously listened to Frank Zappa’s “Over-Nite Sensation.” While there’s no question he was a helluva musician, much of his stuff is too much over the top – that said, “Over-Nite Sensation” is among the most accessible Zappa music I’ve heard.
I also love Bob Marley and the Wailers. Perhaps in part because of ignorance I’d like to call him Mr. Reggae! I feel he was to that genre what Chuck Berry was to rock & roll.
Last but not least, let’s not forget about the Grateful Dead, a band that took me a while to get to, likely prior to being dead myself! As part of my dismal attempt to catch up several years ago, I probably listened to at least some songs from “Wake of the Flood”. The albums that kind of stuck the most with me are “Workingman’s Dead” and “American Beauty”.
Hey, that’s five out of 10! 🙂
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Polling well as we enter the upper reaches, Christian! 🙂
I agree that the Zappa is amongst his more accessible albums. Although any record that ranges from the brilliant social observation of “I’m the slime” to the, er, slime of “Dinah Moe Hum” is going to polarise audiences!
Reckon that many of us living far from the West Indies consider Bob Marley ‘Mr Reggae’. And why not? His was the voice that took it to charts across the world.
Wake Of The Flood sits very nicely with the Americana of Workingman’s Dead and American Beauty. Worth spinning again, perhaps? 😉
Roxy’s cover art aesthetic is worth an essay, let alone a post. But suffice to say there was nothing random about those first three covers (of which Stranded, as you note, is the raciest). I’m rather fond of Siren too.
Thanks for sharing your responses, Christian. Tschuss.
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I’m team For Your Pleasure.
Dinah Moe Hum is gross.
I only picked up on Wake of the Flood recently.feom Max’s blog.
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Ta for that pithy summary Graham. 🙂
I imagine you are enjoying the Grateful Dead. It’s one of their finest.
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Some new (old) ones for me along with a few a wore out. I think you could guess at the ones. Still making my way through your countdown.
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For Your Pleasure should still be #1!! Or possibly #2 after Space Ritual. I agree I think Over-nite Sensation is the last decent Zappa album, ‘I Am The Slime’ was a car singalong track when I was little. Angel’s Egg was one I bought for the first time this year and I really really like it.
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