Looking Through Time: 1977
With the anniversaries of culturally important albums sprouting up each and every year, the CommRadio Arts department will be diving into albums from select years and breaking down their impact. Here are the albums from 1977.
Billy Joel – The Stranger
Often regarded as his magnum opus, The Stranger was released by Billy Joel in September 1977. It’s a terrific record that perfectly displays the lyrical talent and musical diversity that Joel possesses.
The Stranger is filled all throughout with many of Joel’s most recognizable tunes. In fact, the album produced four singles, all of which charted in the U.S. Top 40.
The Stranger starts off strong with the infectious “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)” and it keeps on rolling from there. Next is the title track, which perfectly blends disco and rock. The record also features “Just the Way You Are,” a monster of a love song that won Joel Grammy awards for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Perhaps Joel’s greatest triumph is “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant,” a three-part suite that tells a tale of young love and heartbreak. The second side begins with the beautiful “Vienna,” followed by the energetic and mildly controversial “Only the Good Die Young.” The album then continues with the bittersweet ballad, “She’s Always a Woman,” before closing with two of Joel’s most underappreciated numbers, “Get It Right the First Time” and “Everybody Has a Dream.”
From start to finish, The Stranger is extraordinary. It’s no wonder that it still stands today as Joel’s best-selling studio album. Future records like 52nd Street and Songs in the Attic would also prove to be excellent pieces of work, but The Stranger remains his very best. It’s a must-listen for any fan of the piano man or rock and roll in general. – DJ Bauer
The Sex Pistols - Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols
1977 was the year of the punk album, with the Sex Pistols’ only studio album being the most controversial of them all. Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols is an anti-government, politically incorrect, crude and brash collection of songs, which represented the dissolution, anarchic style of the band and this album helped shape the punk scene as a whole, with the Clash and many others inspired after going to Sex Pistols concerts and not only took influence from their sound, but their fashion style as well. Johnny Rotten, Sid Vicious and the rest of the band, inspired by the lack of hard rockers and annoyed that people like Billy Joel were classified as Rock and Roll, create a sound like no other on this unique release.
Between “God Save The Queen,” which was banned from the airwaves during the Queen’s Jubilee that year, and “Anarchy in the U.K.” with its controversial references to the growing unrest during The Troubles, the band had earned many critics and many others that tried to silence the message, but the band was the voice of a generation in Britain and were one of - if not the most - influential punk acts ever, despite only ever producing one studio album, which is a testament to the impact of it. This album is the epitome of what Punk was, both as a genre and movement, and is a must listen to fans of the genre. - Owen Paiva
Fleetwood Mac – Rumors
The year 1977 produced an immense amount of creativity and wickedly talented music from many artists. Bands such as Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead, Queen and David Bowie had some of their most successful and critically acclaimed albums released in this year. It seemed as if every classical music artist whose songs hold nostalgia and a place on the Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All-Time were in their total prime. Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors was among these albums and with it came a new sound, new situations and a new legacy. While it was the band’s eleventh studio album, Rumors held a spot in the Billboard 200 as the number one album for 30 non-consecutive weeks. It became the band’s second record to reach number one after only ten years of playing together.
The band was in a tough situation at the time of the recording. Divorces, breakups, tensions and other factors threatened to break up the band, but after the release of the album, it is credited to be the reason that the band continued to make music and tour for many years following. Rumors also reached number one in the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. All major US trade publications (Billboard, Cashbox, and Record World) named it Album of the Year and in Feb. 1978, the band actually did receive the Grammy for Best Album of the Year. By March of the same year, the band had sold over 10 million copies worldwide and by 1980, only three years after its release, 13 million copies had been sold. As of 2012, the album is the 6th best-selling album in U.S. history. – Lilly Adams
James Taylor – JT
1977 was a year of success for many famous musical artists, including singer/songwriter James Taylor. Taylor shared with fans a new side to his music on his first release for Columbia Records. The record was titled JT. The 12 track album ranges from upbeat to a slow and somber tone. This variation allowed for Taylor to explore himself and grow deeper in his lyrics on each track rather than aiming to appeal to a mainstream audience.
It would be the first album where Taylor allowed himself to open up to fans on an emotional level. “Another Grey Morning” was a song where the lyrics most noticeably alluded to depression and unhappiness. This was a big step for Taylor as he stepped out of his comfort zone to show the fans that even he experienced sadness at times. Despite a shift in lyrical messages, the singer did not stray from his powerful vocals and instrumental influences on this album. Sticking to his acoustic guitar roots, Taylor dabbles in several genres by touching on blues, folk, rock and even country. The song “Bartender Blues” even reached number six on the Country Music Charts after being covered by George Jones in 1978.
JT was and will remain a monumental album in James Taylor’s career as it is one of his highest selling album in the United States. This album would be followed by many years of success for the singer. – Jenna Minnig
Pink Floyd – Animals
Pink Floyd is commonly cited as the greatest progressive rock band of the 1970s. The albums The Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here support this idea, as these two records are often regarded among the greatest of all time. However, Pink Floyd’s underappreciated classic, Animals, is just as fantastic as either of these albums.
Around this time, bassist Roger Waters was beginning to take creative control of Pink Floyd. This is evident in Animals as dark, political themes are far more prominent on this record than any of the band’s previous releases.
Animals is bookended by “Pigs on the Wing 1” and “Pigs on the Wing 2,” two short, sweet, acoustic tracks that contrast greatly with the interior of the album. “Pigs on the Wing 1” is followed by “Dogs,” a massive 17 minute epic that describes the dogs of the world: people who will backstab and lie to each other for personal gain. Next is “Pigs: Three Different Ones,” a rage-filled rant about society’s pigs: the men at the top who give orders, sit on their rears and watch as the dogs tear each other apart. The final track of the middle trio is “Sheep,” a musical portrayal of the mindless masses who do as they’re told without a second thought.
Animals embodies the best of what Pink Floyd has to offer. David Gilmour’s guitar work is second to none. Waters’ cutting lyricism is evident in lines like “have a good drown as you go down all alone” and “you’re nearly a laugh but you’re really a cry.” Even the album cover is iconic. Through and through, Animals is an incredible piece of work. Not only is it one of Pink Floyd’s greatest accomplishments, but it’s also one of the greatest records in rock history. – DJ Bauer
DJ Bauer is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email metakoopa99@gmail.com.
Owen Paiva is a freshman majoring in film/video. To contact him, email owenpaiva@sbcglobal.net.
Lilly Adams is a freshman majoring in film/video. To contact her, email lillyadams11@gmail.com.
Jenna Minnig is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email jkm5756@psu.edu.
