1974-1977 COLLEGE YEARS

   The following albums I either bought or borrowed while at college in Oxford. Ones that were borrowed are only on the list if I later went on to buy them.    In my first and second years I was in digs, which was basically like bed and breakfast accommodation, and in that first year I wasn't even able to set up my record player, which was a bit of a downer, and I wasn't buying many records as a result.    I shared a house in my third year with my friend Finbar (Barry) Lillis, and we passed albums around between us. He was three or four years older than me, but no fan of the prog rock I'd liked in my early to mid teens. He contributed Bowie's Hunky Dory and a couple of crucial Velvet Underground records to this list, albums that are still today among my favourites. 

 

  The record shop in Oxford at that time was Sunshine Records at 31 Little Clarendon Street. Unfortunately there don't seem to be any photos of this shop on the internet, but I did find this shopping bag. The clearest memory of buying a record there was when I bought The Sex Pistols God Save The Queen in June '77, as even at that time when punk had been around for some time it felt quite a rebellious act. You literally didn't see punks in Oxford, and the staff at Sunshine Records had long hair, and weren't impressed with my choice.

   Only seven of the 1st 30 list survived various sell-offs over the years, whereas almost all of the college years albums remain in my collection to this day. The albums are listed by artist rather than by date of purchase.

        

                       1974-1977

Another Time, Another Place - Bryan Ferry 

Released: July 1974

   Mum used to gaze at the photo of Ferry on the inside of the gatefold sleeve. An album of covers, barring the title track, Ferry's first solo composition. Considered a bit of a sell out by some Roxy fans.

Country Life - Roxy Music 

Released: November 1974

*

   Not as good as For Your Pleasure or Stranded, but pretty decent nonetheless. In 2003, Country Life was ranked number 387 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. It was one of four Roxy Music albums that made the list (For Your Pleasure, Siren and Avalon being the others). Scandalously Stranded didn't make it. 7/10

Siren - Roxy Music

Released: October 1975

*

   Roxy Music were probably one of the most consistently successful UK bands of all time, after the Beatles and the Stones, and like David Bowie weren't really threatened by the excoriating fire of punk. Most albums contain at least a few filler tracks, but once again Ferry and Roxy deliver the goods, and the high quality standard of Roxy output is maintained. 7/10

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan - Bob Dylan

Released: May 1963

   Bob in peak protest mode. Blowin' in the Wind, Girl From The North Country, A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall and Don't Think Twice, It's All Right, were the standouts. Reached Number 1 in the UK Charts and 22 in the USA. Some of the songs were written in London, and Dylan cited trad folk singer Martin Carthy as a musical influence. Quality. 9/10

Bringing It All Back Home- Bob Dylan

Released: March 1965

   Clearly a GOAT of an album, packed with some massive tunes, like Mr Tambourine Man, Subterranean Homesick Blues, Maggie's Farm & It's All Over Now, Baby Blue. The album where Bob went electric and alienated half of his fan base, but reached a whole new audience. Reached Number 1 in the UK Charts and 6 in the USA. Quality. 10/10

[It's possible I bought one of these last two Dylan albums while at school.] 

Blood On The Tracks- Bob Dylan

Released: January 1975

*

   A return to form for Bob after a lean period. No point in listing the standout tracks from this album because they're all standouts. Oddly only reached Number 4 in the UK, but Number 1 in the US. 9/10

Desire - Bob Dylan

Released: March 1965

   Another classic album, albeit a slightly harder listen than Blood On The Tracks due to the slightly suspect audio quality/production. Number 3 in the UK and Number 1 in the US. 8/10

Birds of Fire - The Mahavishnu Orchestra

Released: January 1973

*

   May have been bought in the period between leaving school and starting at college. I think I gave or sold it to our housemate Steve who was a big fan of the band. Hard listen now. 5/10

The Velvet Underground & Nico

Released: March 12, 1967

   Another Greatest Album Of All Time contender. Certainly would feature in my top 10 list. Why? I'm Waiting for the Man, Femme Fatale, Venus in Furs, Run Run Run, All Tomorrow's Parties, Heroin, There She Goes Again, I'll Be Your Mirror, The Black Angel's Death Song and European Son. Say no more. 10/10

Andy Warhol's Velvet Underground Featuring Nico 
Released: Nov 1971 (Compilation)

   Great double album compilation featuring tracks from their first three albums. Buy it if you haven't already! 9/10 (Can't really give 10/10 mark for a comp).

Loaded - The Velvet Underground

Released: November, 1970

*

   Released just after the departure of Lou Reed this was Velvets fourth album, (the one after Lou Reed doesn't even merit a mention). Apparently the album was supposed to be 'loaded' with hits, as requested by their label. Sweet Jane was the closed they came to achieving that goal. There was a bit of a change in the sound, with Mo Tucker not featuring on drums (as she was pregnant), and with Doug Yule singing four of the songs. 8/10

Live at Max's Kansas City - The Velvet Underground

Released: March 1969

*

   Live recording, poor audio quality, but atmospheric nonetheless. Hard not to listen to the conversations going on around the mic. 5/10

Hunky Dory - David Bowie

Released: December 1971

   Finbar introduced me to this album which I hadn't heard apart from Life On Mars, Changes and Oh! You Pretty Things. Now considered a timeless classic, which highlights Bowie's sublime song writing skills. 10/10

Young Americans - David Bowie

Released: March 1975

*

   Loved the change of direction, and loved Golden Years which was released in November. A big seller in the US for Bowie, who became, I believe, the third white person to perform on Soul Train after Elton John and the Average White Band. By some accounts, the shows producers assumed he was black when they heard the Young American single. 8/10

Station to Station - David Bowie

Released: January 1976

*

  The Thin White Duke was born. A slightly stark, unemotional album, which perhaps reflected Bowie's drug intake at that time. For me the tracks are all a bit too long. Stylistically drew on the look of The Man Who Fell To Earth movie that Bowie had just starred in. 

I was four rows from the front at the promotional Earl's Court show, which was spectacular. He pointed to me and my girlfriend during one song. Changes? 7/10

Changes One Bowie - David Bowie 

Released: May 1976

*

Very nice compilation. Similar cover typography as to Station To Station. 8/10

Low - David Bowie

Released: January 1977

*

   Up there with Hunky Dory in the 'Best Bowie album' stakes for me. In my all time best album Top 10. 10/10

Hissing of Summer Lawns - Joni Mitchell

Released: November 1975

   A bit of a mixed bag, but some great tracks, and some prominent fretless bass from Jaco Pastorius. 7/10

Kokomo - Kokomo

Released: 1975

*

   Exceptional blue-eyed soul from this British collective that included saxophonist Mel Collins from King Crimson. Still plying their trade today with seven or eight of the original members. Still a great live band. 8/10

AWB - Average White Band

Released: August 1974

*

Massive band for a time in the seventies after their worldwide hit Pick Up The Pieces. Soul/funk classic. 8/10

Gorilla - Bonzo Dog Doodah Band

Released: October 1967

*

Was a big fan of the Bonzos and this for me was them at their finest. 7/10

Rock n Roll Animal - Lou Reed

Released: February 1974

*

  Lou Reed goes full rock. As live albums this is ok. Always loved Sweet Jane, and this is a decent version. There's a lot of lead guitar twiddling by the slightly overlooked Dick Wagner. White Heat boogie style I didn't enjoy. It's all a bit 'Lou Reed meets The Allman Brothers Band' at times. 7/10

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   The years 1974-1977 were pivotal for music, with the falling out of favour of many of the old rock behemoths, the growth in the UK of a more down to earth 'pub rock', and eventually the explosion (both in the US and the UK) of punk.

Being taken to see Siouxsie and the Banshees at the Roxy on 26th March '77 (we just missed the Slits) was something of a life changer. I'd never experienced such an atmosphere before. It was like walking into a black and white movie being played at the wrong speed. None of that hippie nonsense of sitting around on the floor. Every one seemed to be on a mission, whizzing around, little groups and huddles everywhere, all dressed to the nines, Don Letts thundering reggae somehow seeming perfectly suited, despite the change of pace. No sense of menace or threat, it was just like being at the best party you'd ever been to, with people who were all members of a very cool secret society. 

   Although I was only twenty I somehow felt almost old, like I'd been missing out. By July I was living and working in London and going to punk gigs most nights of the week.

   I last visited the Roxy in '78 and it was clear that everything had changed. It somehow seemed tired and no longer innovative, and I suspect the energy that had made it so exhilarating had already moved on. As it should.