I spend a lot of my time focused on new music. At points, it feels like too much time. Sporadically jumping from album release to album release in search of the new and shiny, the next big thing, in a way that risks full appreciation of the music. And strangely, the constant focus on “What’s next?” can being to feel like it perversely accentuates the passing of time.
This feeling is often strongest at the very end of the year, after I’ve finished working on my annual “Best of” lists, and of course gone through the existential ringer of another New Year’s Eve. Maybe not surprising then, that I’ve developed a pattern of starting each year recoiling back towards old favorites or music of the past. It was during one of these periods a few years ago that I realized how shallow my knowledge was of music from the 1970’s. I had memories of what my parents listened to when I was a kid, but what were they missing? I had years of forced exposure to “Classic Rock” radio that taught me a version of 70’s music, but mass media always flattens and over-simplifies art/culture.
So I began taking a deep dive into the 70’s, picking one year at a time to revisit. While I won’t claim I exhaustively scoured every musical corner of the 70’s, I did feel good about the process, having uncovered some new gems for myself and finding new appreciation for music I had maybe missed or left behind.
I bring this all up now given I am about to turn 50, so the year 1973 is particularly top of mind. That was a long time ago. In many ways, the world and music was much different then. At the same time, the fundamentals of what people get from music hasn’t changed. So in this post I’m not going to try and re-litigate some list of the absolute Top 10 Albums from 1973. Instead, I’m going to share what stood out to me as I used the viewpoint I have now as a 50 year old music fan in 2023 and I explored the music being released the year I was born. My hope is that it rekindles a love of something you’ve maybe forgotten along the way or it encourages you to do your own looking back with fresh ears.
FAVORITE MUSIC OF 1973
The “Best” Album?
I’ll start right off with something a bit controversial. Pretty much any review of 1973 will list Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon as the best album of the year. My take is that this may be true when doing the common thing of viewing past work through the perspective of “for it’s day.” Dark Side of the Moon was pretty mind blowing for a teenager in 1973, I won’t deny that. But for me listening to it now, without relying on nostalgia or some pre-built legacy bias… it just doesn’t float my boat. Besides, everyone knows it so let’s move on to more interesting things.
Most Exciting Re-Discovery
The biggest thing that hit me about 1973 was discovering what an amazing year it was for reggae and Afro-funk music. A flood of stellar albums were released that year thanks to the prodigious output of three amazing musicians who put out two albums each in ’73!
Afrodisiac and Gentleman by Fela Kuti & Africa 70
Funky Kingston and In the Dark by Toots and the Maytals
Burnin’ and Catch a Fire by Bob Marley and the Wailers
A Pair of Great Albums
While neither of these releases are considered the best albums put out by the respective artists, they both stood out to me as great pieces of music I would be happy to go back to at any time. On top of that, I found immense joy in listening to them together, hearing how these two iconic musicians were putting out very different, but equally enduring songs at the same point in time.
Call Me by Al Green
Shotgun Willie by Willie Nelson
My Favorite Album of 1973
The album I would personally consider my favorite was actually not a surprise or anything I had forgotten about. It was something I hadn’t listened to in a long time but revisiting it along side all the other music from that year actually solidified it’s stature for me. I’m a bit chagrined to admit I didn’t really get around to embracing Iggy Pop’s music until I was in my early 30’s, but once I took the time to look past the larger-than-life persona it was hard to deny the intense draw of his music, a draw created by his fierce energy. Today I find it hard not to hear how strongly Raw Power (and other Iggy albums) influences current music, and it’s this iconic nature that can lead to a misguided impression of being “of the past.” Thankfully, all you have to do is bring a fresh set of ears and you’ll be newly rewarded every time.
Raw Power by The Stooges
My Favorite Song of 1973
How many movie soundtracks has this song been used in? Whatever the answer, it’s not enough. An insanely catchy guitar lick, a chorus that speaks to us at any age.
“Ooh La La” by Faces
Not More Music Crap? 