A History of Pop Music – Albums 1977

Featured Album:

Fleetwood Mac – Rumours

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.

In 1977 I was doing yet another tour in NI, this time in Dungannon and Coalisland. this time not as engineers, but as infantry. I am pleased to say no one in our Squadron died. There were some entertaining times, our section land rover got turned over by a culvert bomb. Fortunately for us, the vehicle was packed out with people and equipment, so just a few bruises. I hated that A41 radio, it was bloody heavy, and you had to carry a spare battery, however, as I was wearing it, I suspect it could have saved me from any serious injury. I shall not forget the “lurks” either, lots of days and nights spent outside hiding in ditches to keep an eye on things, never have I loved ladies tights so much, with long johns as well! Happy days.

Track listing

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
1.	“Second Hand News“	Lindsey Buckingham	Buckingham	2:56
2.	“Dreams“	Stevie Nicks	Nicks	4:14
3.	“Never Going Back Again“	Buckingham	Buckingham	2:14
4.	“Don’t Stop“	Christine McVie	C. McVie with Buckingham	3:13
5.	“Go Your Own Way“	Buckingham	Buckingham	3:43
6.	“Songbird“	C. McVie	C. McVie	3:20

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
1.	“The Chain“	Buckingham Mick Fleetwood C. McVie John McVie Nicks	Buckingham with C. McVie and Nicks	4:30
2.	“You Make Loving Fun“	C. McVie	C. McVie	3:31
3.	“I Don’t Want to Know“	Nicks	Nicks with Buckingham	3:15
4.	“Oh Daddy“	C. McVie	C. McVie	3:56
5.	“Gold Dust Woman“	Nicks	Nicks	4:56

Fleetwood Mac

Lindsey Buckingham– vocals, guitars, dobro, percussion
Stevie Nicks– vocals
Christine McVie– vocals, keyboards, synthesizer
John McVie– bass guitar
Mick Fleetwood– drums, percussion, electric harpsichord on “Gold Dust Woman”

A bit like “Bridge Over Troubled Waters”, “Bat Out of Hell”, and “Brother in Arms”, this is another that can usually be found in most peoples collection.

Recorded with the intention of making “a pop album”, the album’s music featured a pop rock and soft rock sound characterized by accented rhythms and electric keyboards such as the Fender Rhodes or Hammond B3 organ. The members partied and used cocaine for much of the recording sessions, and its completion was delayed by its mixing process, but was finished by the end of 1976. Following the album’s release, Fleetwood Mac undertook worldwide promotional tours. Rumours became the band’s first number one album on the UK Albums Chart and also topped the US Billboard 200. The songs “Go Your Own Way”, “Dreams”, “Don’t Stop”, and “You Make Loving Fun” were released as singles, all of which reached the US and UK top 10.

Rumours was an instant commercial success, selling over 10 million copies worldwide within just a month of its release. It garnered widespread acclaim from critics, with praise centred on its production quality and harmonies, which frequently relied on the interplay among three vocalists and has inspired the work of musical acts in different genres. It won Album of the Year at the 1978 Grammy Awards. It has sold over 40 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time. Domestically, it has received Diamond certifications in several countries, including the UK, Canada, and Australia, and has been certified 20× platinum in the US.

More writings on this album here: Rumours

So, on we go with 1977:

The Top 10 Albums with a You Tube hyperlink on the title:

Top Tip: Right-click and open in new tab

Top Albums of 1977
1	Abba	Arrival
2	The Shadows	20 Golden Greats
3	Diana Ross & The Supremes	20 Golden Greats
4	Fleetwood Mac	Rumours
5	Original Soundtrack	A Star Is Born
6	Bread	The Sound Of Bread
7	Various artists (K-Tel)	Disco Fever
8	Abba	Greatest Hits
9	The Eagles	Hotel California
10	Leo Sayer	Endless Flight

A certain Mr Loaf put out an album, but only just out late this year, so it will wait until next week.

ABBA still at the top, Arrival has “Dancing Queen” Knowing Me, Knowing You”, “Money, money, money”. I do like their tunes. I have always been a fan of The Shadows, this one has some of their best ever. Opening track on the Diana Ross one is “Where did our Love go”, I defy anyone to not like this. A Star is born features Barbara Striesand and another all-time favourite of mine, Kris Kristofferson. The Sound of Bread is a classic, with the opening tune of “make it with you” Disco Fever starts off with Baccara and “Yes sir I can boogie”, awesome. My most favourite songs of all time, “Hotel California” how good is this, it is beyond awesome. Leo Sayer still in the top 10, I think his songs are superb and this album has some classic tracks.

Overall, this top 10 from 1977, in my view, is the best year ever, even beating 1974. Some of my favourite other albums not in the top 10 are below: Enjoy.

Ramones – Rocket to Russia – Punkish but I did, and still do like The Ramones.

Sex Pistols – Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols – Not really one of my favourites, I think most of it is utter shite. (For Bobo, as promised, that is my *full*, and *even-handed* review.

David Bowie – Heroes – back to proper music now.

David Bowie – Low – some more proper music here.

Dave Edmunds – Get It – Amazing performer, rock ‘n’ roll at its finest.

The Gregg Allman Band – Playin’ Up A Storm – Did not here this much at the time, I am late convert. Tis good stuff.

Bill Withers – Menagerie – Lovely Day

Thin Lizzy – Bad Reputation – I know we have some Lizzy fans, enjoy.

Bob Marley & The Wailers – Exodus – I played this a lot.

Eric Clapton – Slowhand – Awesome

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: