T.N.T. by AC/DC
AC/DC’s second Australian studio album was released less than 10 months after their debut
T.N.T. was a significant improvement on High Voltage and it laid down the blueprint for all future AC/DC albums. The album features their own compositions along side one Chuck Berry cover. You could be forgiven for thinking they wrote them all as in their hands even “School Days” sounds like one of their own. Classic stuff.
Favourite track: “It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll)”
Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
The album’s themes include music business criticism, alienation and missing Syd Barrett
Wish You Were Here had big shoes to fill following up The Dark Side Of The Moon. Although not received well universally by critics at the time it has since stood up well. This was my favourite Pink Floyd album for many years, but I think I now prefer Animals.
Favourite track: All nine parts (although split in two on the album) of the composition created as a tribute to founding member Syd Barrett, “Shine On You Crazy Diamond”
Welcome To My Nightmare by Alice Cooper
The debut solo album by Alice Cooper after the breakup of his band of the same name
A concept album based around a series of nightmares of a child named Steven, a character that would return in some of Cooper’s later work. This album features a talented group of musicians that were the core of Lou Reed’s band and their experience really adds to the album’s overall sound. Much is owed to the production work of Bob Ezrin, who had produced four albums with the original Alice Cooper band before this. He would go on to produce another six albums with Alice after this one. For me this is Cooper’s finest work and a pinnacle he has not come near since.
Favourite track: “Steven”
Dressed To Kill by KISS
The third studio album released by KISS in only 13 months
Due to the Casablanca label being in dire financial straits at the time, Dressed To Kill was produced by label owner Neil Bogart and the band themselves as they could not afford a producer. It may not be their best-sounding album accordingly, but the songwriting was still going strong. The studio version of “Rock And Roll All Nite” was released as a single from the album but it did not do well, only rising to #69 on the charts. The live version from Alive! released 6 months later was the one that made it to #12 and helped it to become the band’s signature song.
Favourite track: “Rock Bottom”
Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen
Born To Run was recorded with what would be the definitive line-up of the E Street Band
Springsteen was given an enormous recording budget and took 14 months to finish the album. Six months were spent on the title track alone! The album features some of his best known pre-Born In The USA songs. Described by some critics at the time as “magnificent”, who am I to disagree with that assessment?
Favourite track: “Thunder Road”
The Slabthrower 