Featured Album:
The Eagles – Greatest Hits Volume One 1971 1975
This is a series of articles looking at albums from 1960 to whatever year we end up in.
I will select a featured album for each year and the link for the whole album, Plus list the songs on it.
As before, it is not just about the songs and tunes, it is very much about memories, and good ones, I hope.
Not everyone will like my choices of course, and you may remember some from each particular year that you feel should have been included, so do please post a link to the song.
This week I write from a stupidly big house with the boiler broken and not hot water or heating. I have found an electric heater, so various parts of my body are no longer dropping off. Reminds me of growing up as a kid in a council house with single glaze windows, the only room with warmth was the living room, even though you had to make a fire in the morning. Outside loo as well! I still remember a tin bath at great grandma’s house, and it being used for us kids when we stayed there. Tell the kids that today and they will not believe you.
In 1976 I was in my first proper unit in Hameln and our squadron was to do our first tour in NI. Belfast, mainly building sangers and mortar protection on roofs, with the occasional sleeping policemen. 4 months of training early in the year followed by 4 months in Belfast. Terribly busy indeed, but the training was fun. Belfast itself in them days was pretty grim, I had the opportunity of working there in 2010, I refused to go out. Taxi to work and back, stayed in the hotel for 2 weeks. Far too many bad memories for me, and life should not be about bad memories, the brown stuff happens, get over it. It is the spirit we need in the times of rabid silliness.
Track listing
| Side one | ||||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
| 1. | “Take It Easy” (from Eagles, 1972) | Frey | 3:29 | |
| 2. | “Witchy Woman” (from Eagles) | Henley | 4:10 | |
| 3. | “Lyin’ Eyes” (from One of These Nights, 1975) |
|
Frey | 6:21 |
| 4. | “Already Gone” (from On the Border, 1974) |
|
Frey | 4:13 |
| 5. | “Desperado” (from Desperado, 1973) |
|
Henley | 3:33 |
| Side two | ||||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
| 1. | “One of These Nights” (from One of These Nights) |
|
Henley | 4:51 |
| 2. | “Tequila Sunrise” (from Desperado) |
|
Frey | 2:52 |
| 3. | “Take It to the Limit” (from One of These Nights) |
|
Meisner | 4:48 |
| 4. | “Peaceful Easy Feeling” (from Eagles) | Jack Tempchin | Frey | 4:16 |
| 5. | “Best of My Love” (from On the Border) |
|
Henley | 4:35 |
Personnel
Eagles
- Glenn Frey– guitars, vocals; piano
- Bernie Leadon– guitars, backing vocals; banjo, pedal steel, mandolin
- Randy Meisner– bass guitar, vocals
- Don Henley– drums, vocals
- Don Felder– guitars on “Lyin’ Eyes”, “Already Gone”, “One of These Nights”, and “Take It to the Limit”
Such great talent. They continue to perform with Glenn Frey’s son (Deacon) taking his position and when Randy could not get the vocals, he was replaced with the talented Timothy Bruce Schmit, then later the awesome Vince Gill joined. To me, not only the best band ever, but still the best band ever.
More writings on this album here: The Eagles
So, on we go with 1976:
The Top 10 Albums with a You Tube hyperlink on the title:
Top Tip: Right-click and open in new tab
| Top Albums of 1976 | ||
| 1 | Abba | Greatest Hits |
| 2 | The Beach Boys | 20 Golden Greats |
| 3 | Demise Roussos | Forever And Ever |
| 4 | Wings | Wings At The Speed Of Sound |
| 5 | Rod Stewart | A Night On The Town |
| 6 | John Denver | Live In London |
| 7 | Glen Campbell | 20 Golden Greats |
| 8 | Neil Sedaka | Laughter And Tears |
| 9 | The Eagles | Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 |
| 10 | Slim Whitman | The Very Best Of Slim Whitman |
ABBA still riding high, super band, Beach Boys, still a regular on my playlist. Wings were flying high at the time, some good stuff I thought. Always loved a bit of Rod, this includes “Tonight’s the Night, “The first Cut”, “The Killing of Georgie” and some great other tracks. Big shout to John Denver, loved his TV series as well, always made me laugh and great tunes. Glen Campbell of course, includes “Rhinestone Cowboy”, “Witchita Lineman” and “By the time I get to Phoenix”, superb tracks. Neil Sedaka with some awesome tunes, I find him a bit like Dylan, outstanding songwriter and much of his stuff is covered so much better. I was not a big lover of C&W at the time, but these days I often listen to Slim Whitman, Johnny Cash and of course you know I love a bit of Willie.
Dreadful Demise Roussos, appearing everywhere on the telly and radio. Cannot think of a single heterosexual male that liked him. All the mums and wives did though.
Overall, this top 10 from 1976 is as good as 1974 and will only be beaten by the upcoming 1977. Some of my favourite other albums not in the top 10 are below, I think some utterly, bigly, awesome stuff.
The Eagles – Hotel California – My second favourite album of all time, with my most favourite song of all time, “Hotel California”
Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band – Night Moves – Excellent
Thin Lizzy – Jailbreak – I know there are lot of fans out there, super guitarists, great tracks.
Ramones – Ramones – I am not a fan of pun in general, but this band was different, in that they could actually play instruments and the singing ain’t bad either.
Stevie Wonder – Songs in the Key of Life – the unmistakeable sound of Stevie, some classics on this.
Leo Sayer – Endless Flight – Always been a big fan.
Earth, Wind & Fire – Spirit – I love Disco and say this band live.
The Doobie Brothers – Takin’ It to the Streets – Lovely
Electric Light Orchestra – A New World Record – They simply do not know hot to do a bad tune, yet there is even better to come.
Blondie – Blondie – I never bought this, but this is Blondie in the more punk days, they were rather slated when they “sold out” and became making great pop records.
Golden Earring – Contraband – Surprisingly good band, this of course has “Radar Love”.
David Bowie – Station to Station – Not my favourite album of his but includes some favourites.
Genesis – A Trick of the Tail – Snigger, click if you dare.
Richard Pryor – Are You Serious??? – Not a pop album, but I remember listening to this on many occasions. Brings back happy memories where a comedian was funny. Warning: Not suitable for Snowflakes.
Scoring:
As you know I like to review your “tunes” that you post.
*Note. Anyone scoring a Morrissey (lowest score possible) will be reported and blocked.
Hat tips to:
https://www.albumoftheyear.org/ratings/8-all-music-highest-rated/1976/1 these give the top 100 selling charts for each year
http://www.everyhit.com/chart1.html these give the top 10 songs for each year
https://www.youtube.com/ you know them.
Next Time: 1977, quite possibly the best ever year for pop music.
Featured image: Steve Alexander, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
© Phil the ex test manager 2021
