Looking Through Time: 1974

Story posted February 5, 2019 in Arts & Entertainment by CommRadio Arts & Entertainment Staff.

With the anniversaries of culturally important albums sprouting up each and every year, the CommRadio Arts & Entertainment Department will be diving into albums from select years and breaking down their impact. Here are the albums from 1974:

Queen - "Sheer Heart Attack"

An album that almost wasn’t graced upon the world, Queen’s third studio album, "Sheer Heart Attack," was the group’s first huge breach into international success and the band’s first instance of their now legendary glam-rock sound. Hastened by medical emergencies and impending deadlines, Queen was working day-and-night to write and construct this extraordinary record. Comprised of music written within a desperate two-week period, with one member in the hospital, the group was forced to get creative in their attempt to complete the album on time.

Going as far as thaving to leave the room on their recordings for Brian May, the group’s electric guitar player, to later add in his contributions, the group was seemingly being pulled at all ends. Working between four recording studios, most of the songs featured on the album were written in studio.

One such track is the classic, “Killer Queen” written by Freddie Mercury himself in only one day. The fast-paced distressed recording of this album is evidently engraved in each track of this revolutionary record. Songs such as “Flick of the Wrist” and “Stone Cold Crazy” feature an impressive representation of the band’s innovative and eccentric rock sound. While other tracks such as “Now I’m Here,” written by May when he was hospitalized, “In the Lap of the Gods” and “Lily of the Valley” showcased the budding unique Queen brand sound that would later be perfected on their next cherished release, "A Night at the Opera."

Against all odds, the group’s determined efforts very much paid off, granting the group their first album to reach the top twenty in the United States. An album which effectively thrust the band into international and commercial success, "Sheer Heart Attack" captures on record one of the band’s most critical moments in its history and invites its listener to be subjected to an adrenaline rushing attack at all sides, just as the group had been during the album’s recording.

- Scott Perdue

David Bowie – "Diamond Dogs"

The late, great David Bowie was never short of original ideas in the music industry. Most people remember Bowie’s impeccable talent and style from his creations of the 1970s. From "Hunky Dory" to "Ziggy Stardust," the 1970s were an innovative time for music and David Bowie. His 1974 hit album, "Diamond Dogs," is no different. Never short of ideas, the album focuses around the dystopian universe of the George Orwell novel, “1984.”

The audience is immediately thrown into the lovechild of Bowie and Orwell with a narrative, electronica opening track, “Future Legend,” which flawlessly transitions to the rest of the album. If the futuristic tone of the album wasn’t enough for audiences to listen, "Diamond Dogs" includes one of Bowie’s most popular hits, “Rebel Rebel.” David Bowie is unquestionably one of the best artists of the 1970s, and "Diamond Dogs" is certainly one of the greatest albums of 1974.

- Jade Campos

 

The Rolling Stones - "It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll"

It is difficult for any Rolling Stones album to top "Exile on Main Street" from 1972, and "It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll" proves just that. Although it carries the distinct sound and style only The Rolling Stones can deliver, it is somewhat forgettable. It sounds almost like an attempt to repeat Exile with all its hard-rock sounds and Southern-American twang. It is easily lost in the wave of incredible music from the 1970s, but it is still a must for any die-hard Stones fan just for the title track, “It’s Only Rock ‘N Roll (But I Like It).”

It has the power to compete with “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” as the anthem for The Rolling Stones. The song is all about simply enjoying rock ‘n roll music with no strings attached. This may seem overdone, but The Stones prove it is a theme that never goes out of style complete with Mick Jagger’s wide vocal range and Keith Richard’s irreplaceable guitar riffs. However, the track easily outshines the album for the most casual listeners or the extreme fans and makes "It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll" fall short of expectations during a great time in The Rolling Stones’ discography.

- Jade Campos

Yes - "Relayer"

By the time "Relayer" was released in 1974, Yes had already established themselves as one of the most influential groups in the progressive rock canon. With this, their seventh record, the band looks to rebound from the tumultuous recording sessions that surrounded their previous album, "Tales from Topographic Oceans," which nearly tore the band apart. After infighting, drummer Bill Bruford and keyboardist Rick Wakeman left the group. With those two legends gone, it was up to Alan White and Patrick Moraz to fill their roles, bringing with them a jazz-fusion sound that separates "Relayer" from Yes’s previous albums.

As for the songs, there are only three. The first track, “The Gates of Delirium”, is an astonishing 22-minute odyssey that takes up the entire A-side of the vinyl release. It is a musical suite which spans genres through its full composition. The hard-rocking “Sound Chaser” steals the show. Over its nine minutes, it presents experimental instrumentation, a beautiful moment of reflection and finally an aggressive edge to Yes not often seen. Bassist Chris Squire and guitarist Steve Howe are given free reign on this track, and the product is one of the highlights of their careers. Wrapping up the record is the serene “To Be Over,” a tasteful sendoff that concludes the journey the previous two songs undertook. Jon Anderson’s vocals stand out most of all, but he is backed by Howe’s singing guitar and Moraz’s complementary keyboard.

While "Relayer" did not leave as much of a cultural mark as albums like The Yes Album "Fragile" or "Close to the Edge," it is still regarded as one of the most vital works in the history of progressive rock. This record also proved that Yes would be capable of weathering the many lineup changes that would come to afflict them in the future.

- Billy Jackson

 

Blue Öyster Cult - "Secret Treaties"

One of the grandfathers of hard rock and heavy metal, Blue Öyster Cult inspired countless underground bands with their combination of campy-cool lyrics and fantastic songwriting. While it was a charting success upon release, "Secret Treaties" has grown as a cult classic after the band broke through to superstardom on subsequent albums. A noted influence to metal powerhouses like Metallica and Ghost, this album still continues to affect the modern rock landscape.

Characterized by Buck Dharma’s bluesy guitar playing and keyboard harmonies, and Eric Bloom’s unique vocal style, Blue Öyster Cult’s sound is infectious and their songs are catchy as sin. The theatrical presentation and the macabre or supernatural subjects of their music also help to distinguish their musical identity. "Secret Treaties" kicks off with the tracks “Career of Evil” and “Subhuman,” each of which are driven by inventive and compelling guitar riffs. These are each great building blocks for the record, and they are compounded upon by the solid, though not as spectacular, “Dominance and Submission” and “ME 262.”

What really sets this album apart are the final three tracks. “Harvester of Eyes” lives on as one of the best-remembered works of the band’s career. It is groovy, slick and features one of the best guitar solos of the seventies. Immediately following it is the incredible “Flaming Telepaths.” A not-so-subtle comparison between drug addiction and horror movie tropes, this is one of the most unique rock hits of the era, right down to the 80s-style synth stings. It boasts a great guitar solo, and the use of a single repeated piano note gives this song incredible atmosphere.

Finishing the album is “Astronomy,” which stands out as an exemplary power ballad. Bloom’s vocals on this track are entrancing, and the guitar/keyboard hook will be stuck in listener’s heads for days. When it inevitably pays off with a cathartic jam from the guitar and drums, including some exhilarating drum fills, the song bursts out with an energy unmatched elsewhere on this record.

As one of the great early metal records, "Secret Treaties" is the album which allows Blue Öyster Cult to stand among contemporaries like Deep Purple, Rainbow and Black Sabbath. "Secret Treaties" is a tightly-written and expertly performed classic which inspired many rock music trends that live even until today.

-Billy Jackson

 

 

Scott Perdue is a sophomore majoring in Secondary Education. To contact him, email rsp5246@psu.edu.

Jade Campos is a freshman majoring in print journalism. To contact her, email jmc7727@psu.edu.

Billy Jackson is a junior majoring in Film/Video production. If you would like to contact him, you can do so by sending an email to wjj5064@psu.edu.