friday random ten, 1972 edition
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Artist:
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Album:
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Track:
1. Tanya Tucker, "Delta Dawn." She first heard the song when Bette Midler sang it on the Tonight Show. After her own version was a hit, Helen Reddy took the song to #1. Tucker was 13 years old when she cut her record.
2. The O'Jays, "Back Stabbers." 1972 was one of the greatest years for popular soul and R&B, as one after another catchy track with socially-conscious lyrics rose up the charts. Hard to find a better example than this one ... the album was great as well.
3. Mott the Hoople, "All the Young Dudes." One of the all-time coulda-shoulda-woulda bands, Mott the Hoople tried a little of everything, some of it was great, stardom was almost theirs, and then they faded away. Mott was their greatest album, but this song was their greatest moment. Even now, it can be used to demonstrate the coolness of, say, Juno MacGuff. The rare song with two iconic guitar parts, the opening notes, and the unstoppable chord progression that fills the chorus. The video features Ian Hunter, David Bowie and Mick Ronson.
4. War, "The World Is a Ghetto." Another 1972 soul classic, this one with some jazz to tart up the message. War first recorded as Eric Burdon's backup band, but thankfully moved past that stage. The video features a different kind of geto.
5. Stevie Wonder, "Superstition." And the hits just keep on coming. Shuffle play is, well, shuffling things into a bit of a mess, but here's Yet Another R&B Great From 1972. At the time it felt like they'd never quit coming.
6. The J. Geils Band, "Looking for a Love." Their story was a lot like Mott's ... second-level faves who inspired a cult but never seemed to push their popularity to the highest level. In the case of J. Geils, though, they finally had their hits ... and broke up soon after. Of course. They were among the great live acts of the 1970s.
7. Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, "Groupie (Superstar)." It's as if there are two kinds of artists on this list: black chart-toppers with terrific singles, and white cult faves who never quite made it. Delaney & Bonnie were wonderful together, both as artists and as a couple. So of course they broke up. But not before they produced several fine albums, featuring sidemen like Eric Clapton and the Dominos. Bonnie co-wrote this one with Leon Russell ... it first appeared as a B-side to a 1969 single, but it didn't make an album until 1972, which is why I get to include it here. The Carpenters had the most famous version, called simply "Superstar." All of you Karen Carpenter fans who hate me so much, Bonnie Bramlett is who I'm talking about when I talk about great singers rather than people who sing great. Bonnie was the first white Ikette, and later had a regular role on Roseanne, which is where the video link will take you.
8. The Temptations, "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone." Well, tracks 2 4 5 8 would make a nice set.
No disrespect to the Tempts ... this is an all-time great song ... but as I was typing this (I usually write them a day in advance), news came through that E Street band keyboard player Danny Federici has died. I have nothing more to say.
9. Donna Fargo, "The Happiest Girl in the Whole USA."
10. Ray Charles, "America the Beautiful."
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