February 1970 proved a fertile breeding ground for incendiary music to be released. Many of the albums that arrived within that momentous month have become iconic, while others that weren’t all that popular at the time are now considered cult classics.
Videos by American Songwriter
In addition, a couple of these albums helped to create new genres of music that are still quite popular today. Let’s look back at five LPs released 55 years ago this month that have held up incredibly well throughout the years.
Morrison Hotel by The Doors
Considering the state of The Doors as they hit the new decade, it didn’t seem like they were capable of reaching back to their peaks of early days. You could argue they exceeded those peaks on Morrison Hotel. They finally proved they could rock out with abandon and swagger, while still giving off enough of those psychedelic vibes that they kept their unique identity in the rock world intact. It opens with the thundering “Roadhouse Blues” and, with other stomping high points like “Peace Frog” and “Waiting for the Sun,” it doesn’t really let up much from there.
Funkadelic by Funkadelic
Look at the song titles throughout the debut album by Funkadelic, and you can tell George Clinton knew he was doing something that was a bit indefinable at the time. He asks, “Mommy, What’s a Funkadelic?” on the opening track. Later, he ponders the notion of “What is Soul.” Even when he insists he and his merry band of cohorts were simply making “Good Old Music,” the aural evidence suggests a new style taken from a blend of many others. Funkadelic was establishing the funk genre right before our ears.
Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath
While George Clinton and Funkadelic were materializing funk in the U.S., four no-names (at least at that point) from Britain were formulating a different kind of rock and roll. Black Sabbath’s debut album might not have the hooky songs that would help them break even wider (that would come on their second album, which came out later that year), the formula for heavy metal was pretty much in place. What stands out now is how strong the instrumental chemistry from this quartet was sizzling from the start, making Ozzy Osbourne’s menacing pronouncements almost superfluous.
Sweet Baby James by James Taylor
Although James Taylor had already released a solo debut in 1968, his 1970 release Sweet Baby James might well be considered the proper start of his career. That’s the point when he and producer Peter Asher realized the best way to present him was as simply as possible, relying on his innate charisma and the warmth of his melodies to carry the day. The amiable title track even acts as a kind of an introduction to this new version of him. Other highlights on this LP include the spunky “Steamroller Blues” and the lushly melodic “Anywhere Like Heaven.”
Nilsson Sings Newman by Nilsson
At the time this album was released, the two principals had already received a lot of critical love. But they were far from their respective commercial breakthroughs. Nilsson Sings Newman wouldn’t change any of that. But what a fantastic combination of talent this quirky yet affecting album turned out to be. Harry Nilsson managed to sweeten some of the acidity that naturally crept into Randy Newman’s compositions, and the vocal layering gives it all a patina of baroque pop lushness. On “Living Without You,” Harry proves the ultimate interpreter for Randy’s woeful brand of heartache.
Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.