Category Archives: Uncategorized

     I remember hearing the name “The Grateful Dead” as a young music fan, and thinking that this must be a really intense hard rock band.  As we all know now, that couldn’t be further from the truth.  Deep in country-folk rock roots, The Dead will always be known as one of the most powerfulContinue reading “The Grateful Dead “Workingman’s Dead” (1970)”

     As a casual observer of the Jackson 5 for most of my life, I always assumed that while Michael was clearly the lead performer of the group, I never fully appreciated the degree to which he carried the group until recently, including listening to today’s album, “ABC”.  That is a lot of pressure toContinue reading “The Jackson 5 “ABC” (1970)”

     As noted in the last blog, we sadly reach the end of the proverbial long and winding road for the Beatles, with “Let It Be”, their last released studio album before they permanently disbanded as a group.  Cursed from the start, this album showcases what they were still capable of at their very best,Continue reading “The Beatles “Let It Be” (1970)”

     1970 brings us the implosion of the Beatles, in all of its messy presentation.  After the release of Abbey Road in 1969, John informed the band he was leaving, which was underscored with several tense meetings and discussions over business management and finances.  We will see that the ill-fated “Let It Be” album willContinue reading “Paul McCartney “McCartney” (1970)”

     For the first time in a while, we come back to jazz, with a familiar face being jazz trumpet legend Miles Davis.  Like all genres of music, jazz and Miles specifically continued to evolve through the 1960s and early 1970s, and his highly rated album “Bitches Brew”, which is the #87 rated album onContinue reading “Miles Davis “Bitches Brew” (1970)”

     I don’t know about most of you, but before I saw the movie “Searching for Sugarman”, I had never heard of Detroit folk-rock singer Sixto Rodriguez, who recorded and performed, simply as Rodriguez.  Now before you run off to Google to look him up, I will warn you now.  His sad, fascinating and intriguingContinue reading “Rodriguez “Cold Fact” (1970)”

     Another day of hard-rocking power chords, we revisit the live album for one of the most celebrated live albums in rock music history.  Fresh off their success with the rock opera “Tommy”, The Who set out to record a live album to reinforce their ability to be relevant and vital as a live act,Continue reading “The Who “Live at Leeds” (1970)”

     1970 brings us what I consider to be one of the first, if not the first, origins of heavy metal.  We feature today, the debut of Black Sabbath, aptly named “Black Sabbath”.  Not only is this album #355 on Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Greatest Album of All Time, it is #1 on loudwire.com’s TopContinue reading “Black Sabbath “Black Sabbath” (1970)”

     You may recall that the last Doors album, “The Soft Parade”, featuring songs like “Touch Me”, was a pretty notable departure from their rock and roll roots.  Today’s album, “Morrison Hotel” brings us back to that place, with a good dose of blues rock injected as well.  Some of their very best guitar-based songsContinue reading “The Doors “Morrison Hotel” (1970)”

     Synonymous with the early 1970s is the singer-songwriter, whether it be guitar or piano based.  Today we encounter one of the best ever, James Taylor, on his second album, “Sweet Baby James”.  Well received, this album is rated #182 on Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.      Like most of hisContinue reading “James Taylor “Sweet Baby James” (1970)”