20 ALLMAN BROTHERS — BROTHERS AND SISTERS
These days I might rate the 2nd Allman Brothers album higher in an “all eras” list, but even allowing for “first love” bias, this excellent example of Southern rock would poll well. From high octane opener “Wasted Words” through to the acoustic “Pony Boy”, this is a quality blues-rock album with spirited playing and a tasty Southern tang. [Released August 1973]
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19 GENESIS — LIVE
There is something thrillingly direct about this first live Genesis LP. I’ve written about it previously, but for me this collection of classic progressive rock compositions really comes alive in front of an audience. Electric. [Released July 1973]
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18 ELTON JOHN — GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD
Think double studio albums. Think singer-songwriters (though that is not strictly correct here as Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics). Name one from the 70s that is stronger—song for song—than GYBR. Depending on your tastes, perhaps you favour Exile, maybe London Calling, but they are both band albums. Really, it’s tough to find a more satisfying collection of pop-rock cuts than Elton John’s magnum opus. It seemed half the album received AM radio play at the time; people wanted MORE! In fact it was the second biggest selling record of 1973. [Released October 1973]
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17 FAUST — THE FAUST TAPES
A melange of cut-ups, off-cuts and sheer experimental bravado, The Faust Tapes also has moments of reflection and beauty. A kaleidoscopic album that does not fade away. And to think you could buy it, on release, for the price of a UK single! [Released May 1973]
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16 BILLY COBHAM — SPECTRUM
During a May break in the busy Mahavishnu Orchestra schedule, powerhouse drummer Billy Cobham nipped into the studio for a couple of days to record first solo album. With sterling support from Mahavishnu keyboard whiz Jan Hammer, Cobham produced an electrifying debut. From the opening moments of Tommy Bolin’s manic guitar solo (just him and Billy) to the funky finale, this is one of the finest jazz-rock albums of the decade. [Released October 1973]
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15 FAUST — IV
Faust IV opens with the monumental groove of “Krautrock” and ends with a gentle ramble in the countryside (“It’s a bit of a pain”). In between we have buzz saw guitars, twisted reggae and distorted piano vignettes. Sounds bewildering, yet IV is a more accessible album than anything else in their catalogue. It was my introduction to Faust (read the whole sad story here) and holds a special place in my musical heart. [Released September 1973]
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14 MADDER LAKE — STILL POINT
If this LP had received a European/UK release, Madder Lake could have been right near the top of the First Division of Prog. A melodic rock album crammed with songs both interesting and catchy, of the prog albums on this ’73 list it most resembles Badger’s One Live Badger (#49) except that the pieces are tighter in structure and better recorded (it’s not live). Two cuts were also hit singles in Aus! A Vinyl Connection favourite. [Released March 1973]
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13 NEIL YOUNG — TIME FADES AWAY
Tuneful and tortured, the story of Time Fades Away is a complex and traumatic one (more here). Frailty, grief and rage swirl through the music, making it timeless and powerful. The 50th anniversary re-issue adds an extra track—to the vinyl, no less!—which is an unexpected bonus, given the artist chose to disowned the album for decades. A Neil Young essential. [Released October 1973]
The 2023 anniversary re-issue includes a bonus track after “Last Dance”
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12 YES — YESSONGS
This magnificent, sprawling three record set was Vinyl Connection’s introduction to Yes. It can still perform that welcoming function as the excellent track selection and fabulous playing demonstrate exactly what the band were about. Add in a totally captivating (and over the top) Roger Dean cover and you have the perfect gateway drug for a lifetime obsession with records. And Yes. And Prog. And album cover art. [Released May 1973]
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11 DAVID BOWIE — ALADDIN SANE
Released while Bowie and the Spiders From Mars were touring (the Ziggy Stardust show), Aladdin Sane has strutting pop-rock and edgy art rock. It both diverges from and expands the musical ideas on Ziggy and sees Bowie surging forwards, panting for further fame like a dog on heat. [Released April 1973]
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NEXT: The Top 10! (Though not in one hit)
vinylconnection.com.au 
I’m a very very big fan of #16. I have never been able to stomach Elton John’s music very well at all, I charity shopped inherited copies of GYBR and that other one this year, I tried.
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Points for trying, Joe.
Great to hear you are a fan of Billy’s work, or at least this debut. Not a complete surprise as I recall you wrote a terrific piece on the debut Marhavishnu Orch LP some years back.
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Thank you Bruce, that’s kind. I own a couple of Billy C albums, but they are too out there for me, so far at least.
I rather like Elton these days, his last autobiography was a hoot – hell, I even enjoyed Rocket Man (film), but not his music.
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Ah, GYBR carries me back to my youth. It wasn’t the very first rock LP I owned (that was Fragile), but it may have been two or three. The John/Taupin partnership is quite impressive…and productive!
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They were a pretty amazing team. Especially considering they were rarely in the same country, let alone room!
Really, if one only had one Elt LP, it would be this one, wouldn’t it?
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Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy comes close (for me), but yes: I think it would need to be GYBR!
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At age 11, GYBR was my first LP. Been a fave ever since.
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It’s that kind of record, isn’t it?
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I’m lucky enough to have seen both Elton and Madder lake perform in Melbourne. There’s also plenty of other good stuff in this list that I’ve listened to … in the past.
I reckon the top priority will be to look for Billy Cobham on YouTube, even if it will bring back memories of my mate Steve getting a copy of Spectrum for 40¢ from an op-shop a few years back.
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Crank it up, DD!
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The revised set up in the sunroom is stonking. I’ll see how much the Decibel Limiter in the kitchen can stand
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Well, at least I recognize most artist names in this batch, perhaps also because we’re getting closer to your top-rated albums! 🙂
I’m mostly drawn to the Allmans and Elton John, which I find are both outstanding albums. I also dig Bowie, though favorite remains the predecessor “Ziggy Stardust” and, of course, Neil Young, though I know more of the album than the actual music.
Yes and Genesis are two prog rock groups I’ve warmed to, so I guess there’s some hope prog rock and I might become friends one day! 🙂
While I haven’t heard Yessongs, I recognize most tracks on the album and agree it does look like a great intro to early Yes. From Genesis, I’ve only heard songs from their second and third live albums “Seconds Out” and “Three Sides Live.” I haven’t heard “Genesis Live” though recognize some of the song titles.
Looking forward to your top 10!
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Yes, Christian, we are more ‘global’ in the upper reaches! 🙂 (Not on purpose, of course)
Ziggy topped the 72 From ’72 list, so I’m with you there. Still, an #11 place the following year isn’t too shabby! And how about this. If I continued this series up to 80 from ’80, Bowie would have a Top 20 entrant in every year bar one. He was phenomenal.
I am delighted to hear that there are coy sideways glances happening between you and prog. Go on, ask her for a dance (though she’s pretty limber!).
Hopefully more recognition and a couple of surprises still to come.
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There’re coming from all sides at me – Deke (Deke’s Vinyl Reviews) on the heavy metal front, Jeff (Eclectic Music Lover) on the new music front) and you on the prog rock front – I love it! 🙂
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The Allman Brothers… I love Brothers and Sisters. I like Southbound a lot off of that album. Just curious…I know it’s the year before…Eat A Peach or Brothers and Sisters? No wrong answers on this one…but I always preferred Eat A Peach a little more for some reason but love them both.
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Oh and if I don’t talk to you soon…have a happy holiday!
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Cheers, man. Same to you and your close ones.
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The sheer epic nature of the live cut of Mountain Jam is jaw-dropping while the studio LP has some gorgeous tunes and playing. Meanwhile, Bs & Ss is such a complete record. Max, the answer has to be ‘both please’, doesn’t it? 😊
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Correct Answer!
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Genesis Live is a classic. Shame they never rounded it off with a version of Suppers Ready. Banks apparently thought they were not doing it justice. Maybe it’s better being a single disc though. I struggle more and more with Elton. I’ve been searching for the Billy Cobham. I tried playing Yessongs the other week and it still sounds a bit odd maybe it’s the live mix of it. 73 certainly was a good year.
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The sound on Yessongs is indeed sub-par. Perhaps not even Steven Wilson can do anything with it!
’73 was indeed an excellent year, and perhaps the pinnacle of prog?
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Overwhelmed with goodness. I’m stuck for words. I will be giving Madder Lake a go on such a high rating on the Bruce – O – Meter.
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Do it!
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I’m going to check out that live Genesis album! And I think I have that Faust tapes one though I’m afraid of it. It’s one of hundreds I inherited from my step-dad John, many of which are likely pre-73 even. So exciting to be winding down to the end! I think I had Yessongs also. Or another compilation perhaps that was such a nice intro, as you say, to all of it. Thanks Bruce!
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Nice to see Sir Reginald Kenneth Dwight in the Top 20, Bruce – Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding, what a way to open the album!
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Yes, isn’t it! I remember hearing it on the radio and thinking, Wow! That’s Elton?
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Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Blithesome Trefmas, to you, Bruce!
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Why thank you Geo. May yours be Trefic too.
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[…] Albums #20 — #11 […]
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[…] sounds making incursions into the rock mainstream. Drummer Billy Cobham’s Spectrum (October 1973, #16 in the ’73 Countdown) was hugely influential. “Spectrum changed my whole musical outlook,” Beck said. “I thought, […]
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