Artists That Released 2 Stellar Albums Within A Year In The 1970’s

[@tomgrych]

Always nice to see GP getting some love. I know it's one year too early (1969), but Fairport put out 3 in that year; "What We Did on Our Holidays, "Unhalfbricking", and "Liege and Lief". Thanks for another great concept.

[@tkingsley5761]

Great episode. I had listed these on your unsung albums of ‘74 episode, but for me the first two Poco albums as a quartet without Richie Furay ISeven and Cantamos) are stellar in every way. I remember, at the time of their release, being astonished and feeling lucky that both the Kinks and Poco had not only survived despite losing founding members but were creating new music, touring and had the ability to issue two superb albums in one calendar year (1975 in the case of the Kinks).

[@tomrobinson5776]

@@tkingsley5761 I need to listen to Seven and Cantamos. I love the Richie Furay period the best, but love parts of the Timothy B Schmidt period as well like Rose Of Cimarron, Head Over Heels. Even the post Timothy period like Legend had its gems.

[@tkingsley5761]

@@tomrobinson5776 Rose of Cimarron is a masterpiece, but all the “quartet” albums are rewarding listens. Head Over Heels is worth seeking out, both for Timothy Schmidt’s “Keep on Tryin’” but especially the Fagen-Becker composition “Dallas” where Rusty Young’s steel guitar soars, and Indian Summer is a great listen as well. All are pretty ambitious.

[@DanSPsych67]

Great Job Tom!!!! I Still Remember Trying To Recover From 74's " On The Beach" By Neil... Then He Clobbered Us With Those 2 In 75..... Wow!!!!

[@stevecowder4774]

Glad you brought up those 2 Bowie albums. Many fans don’t care much for those 2, but i really believe that they’re a couple of his absolute finest. Very original and artistic to say the least. And of course I’m completely on board with both of those Yes albums. I don’t really have any others to add. I’d say that you covered this topic as well as anyone could.👍

[@BillyPlaid]

Roxy Music - For Your Pleasure and Stranded in 1973; Foghat - Energized and Rock and Roll Outlaws in 1974; Grand Funk released two classic albums each in 1971 and 74 - all four had big hits.

[@AlterMann57]

1970 Grateful Dead released American Beauty and Workingman's Dead. Those two studio albums by the Grateful Dead are absolutely stellar. They were influenced by The Byrds with their introduction of Country music in the Sweetheart of the Rodeo album, so the Grateful Dead began including the steel guitar into some of their songs, and Jerry Garcia was also working with a side band (New Riders Of The Purple Sage) who played Country Rock exclusively. I know how much you love The Byrds (so do I), so I thought it was cool to point out the correlation between the two bands, even though The Byrds were an L.A. band and the Dead were strictly a San Francisco band, The Dead really admired and loved The Byrds music.

[@tomrobinson5776]

@@AlterMann57 Totally forgot about those 2 Dead albums. Never been a huge fan, but I absolutely love American Beauty. Not a bad track. Attics Of My Life is amazing.

[@jackruth2733]

Let's not forget Climbing and Nantucket Sleigh ride by Mountain.

[@bacarandii]

Wow, will we ever see that kind of prodigious bursts of creativity in popular music again? Would marketing departments allow it? "Look Sharp" and "I'm the Man" seemed to appear almost simultaneously, so I still think of them as virtually one album. They traded places on my turntable a lot in 1979. Those are two of the best SOUNDING records of the time, too. That was when Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson were sometimes lumped together (along with Graham Parker) as British "angry young men" of "new wave" pop-rock. They all grew from there, but I'm happy we have records of those stages in their development. Interesting, too, that two performers who made their US debuts at the Troubadour, Elton John and Neil Young, were both categorized as "folk rockers" at that point in their careers. Again, they proved to be much more eclectic than that...

[@LuxVivens9]

1964 Beatles-"With The Beatles", "Hard Day's Night" and "Beatles For Sale". Best year for the Beatles working together as a tight-knit group, IMHO.

[@pauldaniels2019]

Elton & Bowie also released 2 great albums in 1973: Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player & Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Aladdin Sane & Pinups.

[@tomrobinson5776]

@@pauldaniels2019 That’s right. 😉 Love those albums.

[@DavidDykes-dm9lc]

Bro, Tumbleweed Connection is one of my All-time favorite albums, period!! So glad I subscribed!!😊

[@tomrobinson5776]

@@DavidDykes-dm9lc Thank you 😉

[@blackearwax]

Was just waiting for you to bring the Kinks into this

[@simonagree4070]

Tend to agree with all your picks -- even when I don't share your enthusiasm for the artist, I can acknowledge their achievements. As for my own enthusiasms, well, there's Brian Eno, with Here Come The Warm Jets and Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy), both 1974, and The Ramones, with their first album mid-'76 and Leave Home, beginning of '77. You could have just as easily paired Tonight's The Night with On The Beach, too. Oh, and Iggy, of course, with The Idiot and Lust For Life, both 1977.

[@simonagree4070]

Oops, forgot my favorite hobby-horse, Gong, with Flying Teapot and Angel's Egg, both 1973.

[@kevtruth]

Good call with the Iggy albums. Totally forgot those

[@DaveGoldShow]

Everything Elton did up through Goodbye Yellow Brick Road was fantastic! Did you include that on your best double albums?

[@tomrobinson5776]

@@DaveGoldShow You’re right. An amazing run of albums from 1970-1975.

[@RobertBischoff-oi7fp]

I'd include Atomic Rooster's debut and Death Walks Behind You.

[@danieli.9252]

I just listened to Look Sharp. Makes me think JJ is underrated still.

[@thomasandersen6719]

Great to se Graham Parkers first 2 albums on the list...I think it is my fave two albums ever

[@keefer-k8266]

Don't forget CCR - 1970: Cosmo's Factory/Pendulum; Genesis - 1976: A Trick of the Tail/Wind & Wuthering; Ramones - 1977: Leave Home/Rocket to Russia; and Motorhead - 1979: Bomber/Overkill.

[@paulsontag9233]

Gordon Lightfoot 1974 Sundown 1975 Cold on the Shoulder Don’t be fooled by the same hits being played to death…the deep tracks are ALL just as good. Loved to hear about Neil Young’s albums. Cortez the Killer is so trippy. Same for Elton John. Where to Now St. Peter gives me tingles.

[@GabrielSoma5899]

Agree 'Cherokee Bend' on Cold on the Shoulder and the 'Watchman's Gone' on Sundown are two of Gordon Lightfoot's best story songs.

[@chrisboerger465]

Great list. I would add Blondie's Plastic Letters and Parallel Lines in 1978. The former is obviously overshadowed by the latter, which is a pop/new wave classic, but in my mind they're both great. Also, Leave Home and Rocket to Russia by the Ramones. Curtis Mayfield had two or three years with two albums to his name, including 1974 with Sweet Exorcist and Got To Find a Way. Oh, and the first two XTC albums. Not classics, but likable, and very much of the times. BTW, Fool's Gold is actually my favorite Graham Parker song. Perfect closing track, there's just something about it...

[@Rosyglowofchristmas]

Soap Opera and Schoolboy's In Disgrace two absolute treats..............hugely entertaining mid period Kink albums!

[@seed_drill7135]

Zappa: Over-Nite Sensation and Apostrophe both came out in 1974 (though Over-nite was credited to "The Mothers").

[@simonagree4070]

Over-Nite was actually '73, but it did proceed Apostrophe by only a few months. My Zappa pair would be Waka/Jawaka and The Grand Wazoo, similar short gap in 1972.

[@dmk7700]

Brian Eno - Here Come The warm Jets & Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) (1974) John Cale - Slow Dazzle & Helen Of Troy (1975) Roxy Music - Thrill Of It All & Stranded (1973) Savoy Brown - Raw Siena & Looking In (1970) Bloodrock - Debut & #2 (1970) Quicksilver Messenger Service - Just For Lover & What About Me (1970) Grand Funk Railroad - #2 Red Album & Closer To Home (1970)

[@riodiooo]

The second Roxy album is named For Your Pleasure.

[@dmk7700]

@@riodiooo My bad

[@DanHintz]

You forgot The Stranglers: the debut LP Rattus Norvegicus and the follow-up No More Heroes both came out in 1977. Both were in the UK top 10 at the same time if I recall correctly. Best UK band of all-time.

[@elliottkolker4321]

Absolutely! The Kinks were the band of the 70's. Elton Johns "I Need You to Turn To": subline. On any given day, "Burn Down the Mission" ismy favorite Elton John. I recall buy a set of Advent Floor Speakers, smoking a bowl of has and blasting "Mission." I saw the notes of the score dancing around the dark room. Didn't much get into Joe Jackon's first album, but "It's Different for Girls" made me a fan."I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)"---Is there any sonwriter better than Stevie att his best, And this is his best, although I prefer "Inner vision as an album, Higher Ground (Fuck the Chile Pepper), Golden Lady (saw Sammy Davis Jr prance to this on TV. Even he couldn't ruin it for me. I love epics, and "Living for the City" is an epic...

[@tomrobinson5776]

Innervisions is pure magic from start to finish.

[@pawelpap9]

Paul McCartney. 1971 - Ram, Wild Life 1973 - Red Rose Speedway, Band On the Run. In other words, McCartney did it twice in 1970s and I should be awarded special price for pointing it out.

[@carmaigdeforest7284]

I spent enough of my misspent youth listening to Grateful Dead records that I don't think I would be able to leave their 1970 releases Workingman's Dead and American Beauty, off this list. But I don't begrudge your omitting them. On the other hand, gabba gabba what the hey, no RAMONES?! in the '70s, that band released four absolute bangers in the space of two-and-a-half-years (April '76 -Sept. '78)! Any consecutive pair of them passes the within-a-year test. You need two in the same -*-calendar-*- year? You got Leave Home and Rocket To Russia -- both released in 1977, and each as stunning as any Yes album.

[@tomrobinson5776]

@@carmaigdeforest7284 I totally forgot about those two Dead albums. Both are great especially American Beauty.

[@carmaigdeforest7284]

@ - well there you go. Curious if you agree with me about the Ramones '70s run (4 masterpieces in 2.5 years, including 2 in the same calendar year, Leave Home and Rocket to Russia 😇

[@tomrobinson5776]

@ I like The Ramones, but have never been a huge fan. Love the first record.

[@petercena9497]

Emerson Lake and Palmer and Tarkus, both 1971. The Yes Album didn't start climbing the charts till the fall, so the release of Fragile was delayed in the U.S. until Jan 72.

[@roberttee9790]

So in the US that would then mean Fragile and Close to the Edge were both released in 1972. 👍

[@stevenkaminsky]

I always loved how the Kinks' "Soap Opera" could be taken two ways. In the first way, the Star takes the place of the Ordinary Guy, like Mr. Fetish said. In the second way, there is no Star. The Ordinary Guy is the victim of a schizophrenic episode called delusions of grandeur, in which just thinks he is The Star taking over an Ordinary guy's life.

[@syater]

Look Sharp ! For me, still one of the best debut albums ever.

[@DavidCKendall]

Bang on accurate with calling out 'Tumbleweed Connection' as Elton John's finest.

[@DenmarkL-j5v]

1974 - Queen II and Sheer Heart Attack. Two great albums in one year from Queen.

[@LarsPop-Tartus]

Saw Joe Jackson at his warm-up at Sounds of Brazil NYC small club for the album “ Big World”. He was unbelievable.

[@onusgumboot5565]

"Elton John" was Eltons second album. His first was called " Empty Sky." My sister had a copy of it. It was probably better than Tumbleweed Connection. Although it's been decades since I heard it last. The only track I clearly remember is the the title track. I still have the melody stuck in my head. Elton has said he didn't remember recording Tumbleweed connection, and can't remember any songs from it. It was a high time for him. Literally. He was high all the time.

[@tomrobinson5776]

@@onusgumboot5565 That’s amazing…

[@painless465]

1974 has 2 of these; Brian Eno-Here Come the Warm Jets and Taking Tiger Mountain ( by Strategy) King Crimson -Red and Starless and Bible Black 1973; Roxy Music-For Your Pleasure and Stranded

[@nimishpatel8572]

The Stranglers from 1977 - Rattus Norvegicus and No More Heroes

[@jessem470]

I got to go with 79 2 doubles and 1 single album Zappa Joes Garage Act 1 Joes Garage Act 2&3 Sheik Yerbouti

[@kevtruth]

I know Anthrax covered Joe Jackson's Got The Time. American Beauty and Workingman's Dead in 1970. Zappa: One Size Fits All (my favorite of his) and Bongo Fury in '75. CCR 1970? Elton with Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Don't Shoot Me... in 1973.

[@tomrobinson5776]

@@kevtruth That’s right. “Got The Time” is the track Anthrax covered. 😉

[@Wayner71]

Yeah, 'Zuma' is great. You have to be careful what version you get though. A CD version a friend gave me sounded incredible. I bought a CD copy myself and the sonics were much less impressive. Different mixes of albums/songs are a big problem. The vinyl of 'Zuma' must be the preferred option here. Cheers.

[@SH-ud8wd]

Is Exile On Main St. 2 albums?

[@tomrobinson5776]

@@SH-ud8wd Sure why not? 😉

[@dreammachine2013]

Grateful Dead, Ramones, Yes, Graham Parker, Black Sabbath all released two powerful great albums within one year. Fairport Convention even three🎉

[@dreammachine2013]

And the there were Mountain, Poco and Iggy's The Idiot & Lust for Life, produced by Bowie! I saw Iggy 1977 in Bristol with David Bowie on keys! Absolutely brilliant👍 🤩

[@TheNadzed]

1970: Black Sabbath: Black Sabbath codified Metal, later Paranoid best metal album I was 9. Changed my life

[@jayhawkjd8565]

A nice nod to Graham Parker ... hes so overlooked. Squeezing Out Sparks is an all-time great record! Peace.

[@tomrobinson5776]

@@jayhawkjd8565 Absolutely. A perfect record. 😉

[@willieluncheonette5843]

There are 4 in the first year punk really took over. 1977...Ramones, The Jam ,The Stranglers and The Damned

[@quaid667]

A Trick of the Tail and Wind and Wuthering by Genesis 1976. Queen 2 and Sheer Heart Attack by Queen 1974.

[@ArenHill]

Frank Zappa - 'The Grand Wazoo' and 'Waka/Jawaka' - both in '72.

[@Jonny_C73]

King Crimson “Starless…” and “Red” both came out in 1974

[@gerardocarroll1158]

The Idiot & Lust for life by Iggy Pop, both released in '77, The Idiot is an absolute classic.

[@duncanleith9172]

Right at the very start of the decade: Stone the Crows and Ode to John Law

[@dannyschneider553]

Santana abraxas and Santana 3

[@glendoucet5726]

Uriah Heep - Demons and Wizards, The Magicians Birthday….

[@georgemathie8123]

Here are a few that come to mind 1974 King Crimson starless and Bible black and red, 1973 Paul McCartney red rose speedway and band on the run, 1979 simple minds life in a day real to reel cacophony, 1978 xtc White music and go to and 1973 spooky tooth you broke my heart, so I busted your jaw and witness

[@seed_drill7135]

At the risk of being pedantic, Empty Sky was Elton John's debut. Doesn't alter your point, though.

[@tomrobinson5776]

@@seed_drill7135 I always forget about Empty Sky. It wasn’t released in the U.S. till the mid 70’s, but was his first official release in other countries.

[@seed_drill7135]

@@tomrobinson5776 I was building my Elton collection in the 1980s' and 1990's and only have it on CD, so I didn't know it was initially unreleased in the US!

[@mikeknowles5848]

Sparks - Kimono My House and Propaganda, 1974 Iggy Pop - The Idiot and Lust For Life, 1977

[@russellkroeker2822]

Grand Funk Live and Survival both 1971.

[@tomrobinson5776]

@@russellkroeker2822 Love that self titled red album from ‘69.

[@russellkroeker2822]

That's my favorite GF record!​@@tomrobinson5776

[@LarsPop-Tartus]

Low was great

[@total.stranger]

👍😃

[@micolsen9824]

Deep Purple Machine Head/Made in Japan (1972)