1977 was a solid year for albums. It was a big year for punk and Fleetwood Mac, so that's interesting. My list of contenders is wide ranging and there were some tough cuts. Since I didn't include live albums for Mt. Rushmore consideration, Cheap Trick got screwed over in this whole exercise. I had intended to put their debut album on this year's Mt. Rushmore, but couldn't fit them in. While I'm disappointed with this result, Cheap Trick at Budokan is still the greatest live album ever. The other contenders that missed the cut for 1977 are: Jackson Browne Running on Empty, Pink Floyd Animals, ELO Out of the Blue, RUSH Farewell to Kings, The Jam In the City, Foreigner's debut, Kansas Point of No Return, Peter Gabriel Car, Television Marquee Moon and Queen News of the World. Not a bad list of runners up.
Number one is an album I was not aware of in 1977, but it's a masterpiece; Pink Flag by Wire. Pink Flag was very influential for many alternative bands of the Eighties and Nineties, such as R.E.M. and Guided by Voices. It was punk adjacent, but smart. I have posted on this album previously, so please go back and check that out.
Number two couldn't be further removed from Wire, Steely Dan's Aja. Steely Dan's fusion of yacht rock and jazz and clever lyrics is right in my sweet spot. Combine this with stellar session players, Aja is an amazing set of songs. The standout for me is "Deacon Blues". I love the last verse, "This is the night of the expanding man. I take one last drag as I approach the stand. I cried when I wrote this song. Sue me if I play too long. This brother is free. I'll be what I want to be". "Peg" and "Josie" were big hits and I also love "Black Cow". Finally, a shout out to Tom Scott who is one of my favorite sax players.
I didn't intend on putting Rumours by Fleetwood Mac on my Mt. Rushmore, but I can't be a dick. So, that's my number three. Fleetwood Mac ruled 1977 and theses songs are great. Obviously, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham were the stars and changed the bands sound when they were brought in. However, I feel Christine McVie is the secret weapon of the group. Literally, the three albums everyone had in the Seventies were Rumours, Tapestry and Frampton Comes Alive. True facts.
Finally, the other album the defined 1977, Never Mind the Bollocks by The Sex Pistols. Every song on here is tremendous, except "Abortion", which hasn't aged well. I remember crashing at my friends house, listening to his older brothers records and hearing this for the first time. It blew my mind. This is also when I first heard Frank Zappa's Joe's Garage. Even though there was a lot of bullshit involved with The Sex Pistols, this was obviously one of the most important albums in rock history.
Looking forward to 1976, I have another revisionist number one. The competition for the other three spots should be pretty stiff. Another solid year. Peace.
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