Apostrophe (‘) by Frank Zappa
Apostrophe (‘) was Zappa’s eighteenth album, released 22 March 1974
Eighteen albums into his career and Frank Zappa finally releases an album that contains his first hit single. The album became the most successful of his career reaching the top 10 on the US albums chart.
Favourite track: Zappa’s first Billboard Hot 100 single, “Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow”, an edit of several of the album’s tracks. It peaked at #86 in November 1974.
461 Ocean Boulevard by Eric Clapton
Clapton’s second solo studio album was released in July 1974
After a three year hiatus due to his heroin addiction, Clapton returned with his second solo studio album. Inspired by listening to old blues records and reggae he came up with an eclectic mix of material. His cover of Bob Marley’s “I Shot The Sheriff” out-performed the original, made the top 10 in nine countries and was his only chart-topping hit in the US.
Favourite track: His cover of Blind Willie Johnson’s “Motherless Children”
Living In The 70’s by Skyhooks
The brilliant debut album by Skyhooks which topped the Australian charts for 16 weeks
I think Australia was both ready for and simultaneously not ready for, a band like Skyhooks. They were like nothing that had come before in Australia. The unique songwriting talents of Greg Macainsh were about to make them household names with singles like the title track and their number one smash “Horror Movie”.
Favourite track: Maybe it is my twisted sense of humour, but I prefer the Red Symons composition “Smut”.
Bridge Of Sighs by Robin Trower
Bridge of Sighs is the second solo album by English guitarist Robin Trower
Produced by his former Procol Harum bandmate, Bridge Of Sighs was a top ten album in the US and charted for 31 weeks. His guitar work is exemplary and the album works well as a power trio workout similar to Cream. This is an album I only discovered 4 or 5 years ago thanks to a guitarist friend on social media.
Favourite track: The funky epic “Too Rolling Stoned”
The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway by Genesis
The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway was a double album released 29 November 1974
In what was to be his swan song with the band, this is the last Genesis album to feature Peter Gabriel as lead vocalist. The album is based on a story devised by Gabriel about Rael, a Puerto Rican youth from New York City who is suddenly taken on a very strange trip indeed. Much of the music was developed by jamming and improvising however Gabriel insisted on writing all the lyrics. He left the band after touring this album to launch his solo career.
Favourite track: “The Carpet Crawlers”
The Slabthrower 