Jimmy and Carol Owens: "Tell the World in '73"

Released in 1973,

this album was greatly

influential in many young people's lives,

not the least my own;

but that is a tale for another blog.

Read more about Jimmy and Carol Owens HERE.

Cover by Woody Woodward Grafix

Jim Croce: "I Got A Name"

Released in late 1973,

a few months after Jim Croce died in a plane crash,

this was his fifth (5th) and last studio LP.

Read more about Jim Croce HERE.

James Gang: "Bang"

Released in 1973,

this was James Gang's sixth (6th) studio LP.

James Gang was one of the most notorious bands

EVER

for personnel changes.

Usually no more than three or four at a time,

during their first ten years they had nearly

twenty different band members.

After their first ten years (1966-76)

they broke up

until 1996 when Joe Walsh, Dale Peters, and Jimmy Fox

reunited to resurrect the fabulous sounds of the

James Gang.

Read more about James Gang HERE.

Cover Design: David Larkham

Photography: Ed Caraeff

Ralph Carmichael and Kurt Kaiser: "I'm Here. God's Here. Now We Can Start."

Released in 1973

in the heyday of "summer musicals"

for church youth groups,

and during the height of the 

"Jesus Movement."

This type of "contemporary musical context"

was the mainstream church's response

to the advent of what would soon 

come to be called 

"Contemporary Christian Music."

Evangelistic in nature and content,

these types of musicals

were very popular

and hugely successful.

This one also involved

Andrae Crouch and Danniebelle Hall.

Cover Art: Thel Eichmann

Jethro Tull: "A Passion Play"

Released in 1973,

this was Jethro Tull's sixth (6th) studio LP.

A "one-song" concept, progressive rock album,

it did not receive great reviews.

Nevertheless,

the album managed to reach #1 on the charts

in the U.S.

Read more about Jethro Tull HERE.

Homegrown: Volume One

Released in 1973,

this LP was the first in

what became a series of LPs

that included seven (7) compilations

of original songs by local artists

about San Diego;

plus one "greatest hits"

and an extra release in 1984

of previously unreleased tracks.

For more about the "Homegrown" series, go HERE.

Art Garfunkel: "Angel Clare"

Release in 1973,

this was Art Garfunkel's first solo LP.

More about this LP HERE.

Art Direction: Ron Coro

Photography: Jim Marshall

Carpenters: "Now & Then"

Released in 1973.

"Sing"

"This Masquerade"

"Yesterday Once More"

"Jambalaya"

and a killer medley of "oldies"

Art Direction: Roland Young

Photography: Jim McCrary

Illustrations:

front cover ~ Design Maru

inside cover ~ Len Freas

Perry Como: "And I Love You So"

Released in 1973,

this was something like the forty-seventh (47th) studio LP for Perry Como.

Read more about Perry Como HERE.

Tony Orlando & Dawn: "New Ragtime Follies"

Released in 1973,

this was Dawn's fourth (4th) studio LP.

Read more about Tony Orlando and Dawn HERE.

Peter Frampton: "Frampton's Camel"

Released in 1973,

this was Frampton's second (2nd) studio LP.

Includes the first release of

"Do You Feel Like We Do"

Read more HERE.

Henry Mancini: "Film Music"

Released in 1973.

I have waxed plenty eloquent

expressing my opinion

about Henry Mancini

and his music

in previous posts.

This LP underscores my point

(pun intended)

that Henry Mancini

is deservedly renowned

as a composer,

a pianist,

and an orchestra leader.

Elton John: "Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only the Piano Player"

Elton John's sixth (6th) studio LP, this one was released in early 1973.

It features two major hits: "Daniel" and "Crocodile Rock."

This LP ended up with another fan in Maryland.

Larry Norman: "So Long Ago the Garden"

This LP was released in 1973.  From that time til now it is among my favorite recordings.  Tracks such as "Baroquen Spirits" "Be Careful What You Sign" "Meet Me at the Airport (Fly, Fly, Fly)" "Soul Survivor" "Christmas Time" and - especially - "Nightmare #71" which would be on my Top Ten List (probably).

Great, amazing stuff.

Enoch Light: "Future Sound Shock"

I am an unabashed fan of Enoch Light's experimental jazz-lounge-symphony sounds.  At the time he was playfully but seriously nudging the bounds of "acceptable" traditional combinations of instruments and genres.

This particular LP was released in 1973, and it features the gatefold cover style that Enoch Light "invented" to accommodate the liner notes he always wanted to include with his recordings.

Aerosmith: "Aerosmith"

Released in 1973, Aerosmith's debut LP featured the song "Dream On," which gained some notice when it was originally released in 1973, but became a huge hit when it was re-released in 1976.

This album went to New Hampshire.

Various: "The Guitars That Destroyed the World"

Oddball though it is, this is a truly FANTASTIC album musically.  And the art, as you can see, is rather unique and strangely appealing.  The art is credited to "W. Weber."

The guitarists featured? Carlos Santana, Edgar Winter, Johnny Winter, Blue Oyster Cult, Spirit, John McLaughlin, Leslie West, Mountain, and the Mahavishnu Orchestra.

An amazing gem.

Released in 1973.

This LP went to an eager recipient in California.

Queen (eponymous)

Queen's excellent first LP, released in 1973. Queen is definitely in my top ten favorite bands of all time, maybe even in the top five. I've never been too great at making those kinds of lists because my tastes run such a wide gamut. What I know is that Queen is one of the maybe three bands for whom I consciously tried to own every LP.

Their music was still slightly raw and immature on this LP, but it is still crazy good.

This LP sailed out of my collection to find a home with another fan in California. Never fear. I saved all of the music digitally, so even though I can no longer touch and ponder the album itself, I can still listen to the music any time.

'Old and in the Way'

This delightful live album was recorded at The Boarding House in San Francisco, CA, in October 1973. The LP was released in February 1975. It is a great bluegrass experience, featuring the talents of Jerry Garcia (yes, THAT Jerry Garcia; i.e., of The Grateful Dead), Peter Rowan, Vassar Clemens, David Grisman, and John Kahn. The music is great fun, and Greg Irons' artwork on the album is priceless. In 1996, the Acoustic Archive Series released the rest of that live set on an album titled "That High Lonesome Sound."

The buyer of this album did fine by me. I should say he paid well because from my perspective these days I consider myself blessed if an album sells for more than fifty cents. Since this buyer spent more than nine dollars plus S&H (it traveled all the way from CA to OH), I count that as a bonus. On the other hand, who wouldn't want this LP in their collection?

Maybe I should buy it back...