#10
BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS — NATTY DREAD
If, like your correspondent, you have tended to be a bit puzzled by reggae and respectfully bewildered by the deification of Robert Nesta Marley, may I recommend Natty Dread? This is Marley’s first album after parting company with Peter Tosh and you can almost hear him revelling in the freedom to express himself in all aspects of the music. From the fiery album cover to the meticulous and splendidly sparse production, this is a gem of an album. Yes, you have the hit ballad (“No Woman No Cry”) but there is a lot more. This is a political album (“Them Belly Full But We Hungry”) and a call to arms (“Rebel Music”). There are wonderful sonic touches too, like harmonica fills, humble little guitar solos, and sweet backing vocals from the I-Threes. Definitely worth spending time with.
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#9
NEIL YOUNG — ON THE BEACH
Considered one of the Canadian singer-songwriter-rocker’s finest albums, On The Beach is part of the celebrated “ditch trilogy” of the mid-70s. The themes of alienation and despair are present, but somehow softened by the folk-rock settings and more homespun production of this unassuming but powerful LP. With a pensive cover that (perhaps unintentionally?) evokes Planet of the Apes, the LP was not originally that well received but has become a Neil Young classic.
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#8
GENESIS — THE LAMB LIES DOWN ON BROADWAY
Disclosure: I have struggled towards and appreciation of TLLDOB over many, many years. In fact at one point I sold my pristine copy of the vinyl. The problem was the acute change of direction. Our expectations are layered onto what we already know. In this case, it was the progressive feast of 1973’s Selling England By The Pound. When I first heard Lamb, it didn’t sound like progressive rock at all and I promptly threw out the baby with the bathwater.
Time and periodic returns to the work have resulted in a shift in perceptions, best summarised by the following suggestion. If you are a rockdog-person, approach Lamb via the first record/disc. It embraces a range of rock styles, vocal moods, and familiar instrumentation. Indeed, the first progressive flourish—a keyboard fantasia from Tony Banks—arrives half way through the fifth track.
For progressive purists, start with the second half. This is much more Genesissy and will ease you into Peter Gabriel’s one-person rock opera, allowing you to more easily embrace this huge, often intense, rock meisterwerk.
[For a thoughtful reflection on the album that includes a summary of the torturous plot, check out Christian’s piece on Lamb, here.]
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#7
HARMONIA — MUSIC VON HARMONIA
Harmonia was a gold-plated krautrock supergroup. When Neu!’s Michael Rother joined the Cluster duo of Hans-Joachim Rödelius and Dieter Möbius a magical trio was formed. Contrasts and contradictions abound on Musik Von Harmonia. It is like having a picnic on a grassy tree-lined riverbank then driving down an Autobahn in an articulated lorry with a couple of loose wheels. I’ll post a full album review very soon, but for now suffice it to say that Musik Von Harmonia would be in my definitive list, “Die zwanzig besten Krautrock-Platten”.
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#6
KING CRIMSON — STARLESS AND BIBLE BLACK
The second (of three) albums many consider peak King Crimson. Lark’s Tongues In Aspic came in at #4 in the 1973 COUNTDOWN, while the those with sharp eyes and long memories will perhaps have noticed that 1974’s Red has not appeared in the current countdown. Yet.
Like Lark’s Tongues, Starless And Bible Black is powered by virtuoso drumming from Bill Bruford and fronted by the strong, confident vocals of John Wetton. Partially recorded on tour, but carefully cleaned, fairy-dusted and enriched in the studio, this is a powerful set of intelligent, engaging rock songs with diversions into instrumental intensity (“Fracture”). Try “The Great Deceiver” or “The Night Watch”. Brilliant stuff.
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Thoughts on any of these?
vinylconnection.com.au 
Personally I’d have Neil much nearer number one. Aside from that, I’ve got all of these apart from Harmonia, I was late to Krautrock.
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I’m sure you are not alone in considering ‘On the Beach’ a standout of the year, Paul. How much nearer the top, I wonder?
I’m thinking of doing a summary at the end and inviting everyone’s Top Ten, so thinking caps on!
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It wasn’t 1974 when I first heard Natty Dread. I’d heard Bob Marley a couple years earlier and wondered about the fuss. Then I started work in ’74 and eventually met Peter Lane. Pottering around his parents’ backyard a couple years later, talk turned to music and got to Marley. Hearing my ho-hum, he popped up to the veranda (or deck as it might be called today) and slipped on this LP. Soon I was convinced reggae was indeed pretty good stuff. A Little Rippa in fact.
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I hope I get time to listen to all these Rippas this week. It’s a great selection of contenders Bruce,
Thanks,
DD
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What a fine little anecdote, DD. And I love that Natty Dread worked some magic on both of us, albeit many years apart.
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Wow, you’re really getting into the final stretch of your formidable countdown. The thought of ranking 74 albums would give me anxiety, so kudos to you for doing this. And thanks for the shoutout regarding “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.” While I like the album, even though it’s prog rock, the plot is really friggin’ strange!
I’m also delighted to see Bob Marley, who remains my go-to artist when I’m in the mood for reggae, and Neil Young, another longtime favorite. As much hit and miss as he has been, I just love the man! And when Neil hits, damn, he hits! While I’m sure Neil doesn’t mind, it’s kind of ironical “On the Beach” became beloved among many Neil Young fans. After all, it was part of Neil’s “Ditch Trilogy,” his deliberate attempt of self-sabotage after the immense mainstream success of “Harvest.”
And once again you impress with a German krautrock group I had never heard of before. “It is like having a picnic on a grassy tree-lined riverbank then driving down an Autobahn in an articulated lorry with a couple of loose wheels.” Love it, Bruce! 🙂
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Formidable is indeed the word, Christian. And somehow it gets bigger each year. 😉
Yes, I see (hear?) Neil Y the same way as you. It is hit and miss with him, and some of the misses are pretty forgettable. Of course, although the ditch trilogy is loved by committed Young fans, commercially they were not at all successful compared to Harvest. My favourite – not just the trilogy but his whole catalogue – is Time Fades Away, ironically one of Neil’s least favourite albums. Ah well.
I’ll post the Harmonia article soon.
Thanks, as always, for your thorough sharing!
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Thanks, Bruce, “Time Fades Away” is an interesting pick! I guess in my case, it would be way more predictable: “Harvest” or “Harvest Moon” or, frankly, “Decade,” even though the latter as a compilation could be considered as cheating. But this collection is packed with one great song after the other.
I’ll be looking for your Harmonia post. Meanwhile, I’m going to check whether my streaming providers include any music by the krautrockers! 🙂
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Ooo, I’m glad to see Harmonia and “Starless and Bible Black” place so highly. Of the ’72-74 Crim studio albums, I listen to this one the most, by far. I usually go with various live takes on “Red” and “Larks” songs in lieu of the studio versions. You’ve got me pondering my Best of ’74 list, and while when I do things like that, I generally try to not have multiple entries by the same artist, it’s hard for me to dodge that with Crim and Eno offering career highlights within that 12-month period . . .
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The songs on these KC albums are really strong, aren’t they? Partly due to the exceptional musicianship, of course, but augmented by the contribution of Richard Palmer-James whose lyrics were consistently interesting and well-crafted.
After the Countdown concludes, I do want to create a space for people to share their 1974 lists, so start jotting things down, Eric!
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I smell prog!! I love the Marley and the sheer wasted astringency of ‘On The Beach’. I also rate the Harmonia really highly too. But I have to confess despite being a Gabriel era Genesis fan (casual variety) I’ve never bonded with Lamb, a fault that I have absolutely no doubt is mine, not the LPs.
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I don’t imagine that Au de Prog is an entirely unexpected olfactory stimulus in these parts, Joe. In fact I expected to see you enter wearing a mask.
You know, I haven’t even finished the series, but am already pondering some placements I’d alter. Lamb is a case in point. I worked so hard to like it, but really it is ranked too high. If I could borrow the Tardis, I’d swap it with Wyatt’s Rock Bottom (#21).
I know you are a big fan of Bob. Is Natty Dread amongst your fave Marley LPs?
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This comment was meant for Bruce only so dont be confused. While I’m at it, Bruce and I came up with another name for “Prog” a while ago. it was good but i forgot it. Any thoughts? Now back to the original thoughts……..
You prompted me to spin ‘Starless’. What a great record. They dominated my listening back then (Along with those Lamb guys, Yes, ELP etc I think you know the drill). When I listened to it , ‘Lament’ kind of summed up the band to me. A King Crimson musical masterpiece. What a ride. Lets see how much music we can put into one cut? No one better than BB.
That Lamb record is another music treat for me. Surprise after surprise. All good. Pretty solid list Bruce. Only #7 is unknown but I will soon rectify that. As usual, ove your personal connections.
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We’re in our element in the ’73-’76 period, aren’t we CB?
I remember that conversation but not the outcome. Must have been the wine or the herbs or the moon or something.
If you need more urging re Musik Von Harmonia, I’m putting up a post on it tomorrow morning (Aus time). Not that I think you’ll need any convincing. Kuintessential krautrock.
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On The Beach and Lamb are top ten for as well, I think. I should hear that Harmonia one.
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[…] #10 — #6 […]
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Some great albums there. I have several of these and love them all. On the Beach is probably top of the pile, with Lamb not far behind. A good year for music no doubt.
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And diverse, too!
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