September 1973 : Those We Missed

[Purchase]

Eccentric and spotty final album from an eccentric and spotty prog rock band that still couldn't find an American audience despite touring with Elton John and trading in their prog credentials for straight rock and roll.. Weeks after It's Only A Movie came out, Family disbanded at a party in which everybody got thrown into a swimming pool.

[Purchase]

Vagabonds of the Western World, Thin Lizzy's third album, is so close to the band's classic mid 70's sound but not quite there yet. Outside Ireland, sales remained flat. This is the last album to feature guitarist Eric Bell who would eventually be replaced by two axemen. Current CD pressings include the 1973 UK #6 hit single "Whiskey in a Jar".

[Purchase]

The follow-up to their classic Octopus, Gentle Giant's In A Glass House is lighter in instrumentation yet darker in its themes of imprisonment and, according to Columbia Records, so thoroughly uncommercial it wasn't released in the US until 2004. It was also made after the departure of one of the founding Shulman brothers, Sax player Phil. If you enjoy complex, quirky, clever prog rock you may fall in love this one.

[Purchase]

Linda Ronstadt's breakthrough fourth album wasn't an easy one to make. It took a year, $150,000 and three producers before Don't Cry Now was finally completed under the direction of Peter Asher who would be a pivotal force in the launching of Linda to super stardom. "Love Has No Pride", recorded in 1972 by Bonnie Raitt, became one of Ronstadt's signature songs. Do yourself a solid and play the video clip below. You'll see why.

{Out of Print}

Newlyweds Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge team on the album of duets, Full Moon, which would top the Country charts in November of '73. There's a nice cover of the Bobby Charles tune "Tennessee Blues" here.

40 Year Itch : My Friend The Sun

[purchase]

English hard rockers Family explore their softer side on this amazing track "My Friend The Sun" which kicks off side two of Bandstand, released in September of 1972. Family never really caught on in the US. They could be eccentric, (like most Brits). There was always plenty of inner band turmoil in Family and even a big break, like opening for Elton John on the second leg of his 1972 American tour, never led to great success in America.

Bandstand is a grower. Plenty of the hard rock Family had become known for. But more melodies as well. And that brings us back to "My Friend The Sun", which could have been a great lost cut from Rod Stewart's Every Picture Tells A Story. Released as a single in 1973, it failed to do much more than win some music fans fervent adoration for life.

Well, I know that you're lonely, come in from the cold
 Your shoes they need mending, your clothes they look old
Won't you pick up your pieces, it's never too late
Though it's never early to make a mistake
 As soon as you wake
Although there's been rain and it's coming again
Change has to be here obviously
 Though my friend the sun looks well on the run
He's there in the distance if you care to see