8th Day of Christmas Past
1973
World events provided a varied backdrop for the 1973 holiday season. During that year, the first American prisoners of war in Vietnam were released, and President Nixon declared that peace was near. The Senate Watergate hearings began, and President Nixon declared that he was “not a crook.” The Supreme Court overturned all state laws banning abortions, in its Roe vs Wade decision. And George Steinbrenner bought the New York Yankees.
Big Beginnings
On New Year’s Eve, two groups who would influence rock music for the rest of the decade and beyond made their live debuts: AC/DC at the Chequers Bar in Sydney, Australia and Journey at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco.In November, Neil Young opened at the Palace Theater in Manchester, England, backed by The Eagles.
In December a small night club opened on New York City’s lower east side. CBGB would become the epicenter of Punk Rock, serving as the launch pad for the careers of Patti Smith, Blondie, Ramones, and many others.
Brian Eno is booted out of Roxy Music, and releases his first solo album, Here Come the Warm Jets.
Billy Joel finally breaks through with the release of his second solo album, Piano Man in November.
Lynyrd Skynyrd bursts on the scene with their debut album, Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd, containing what will become their trademark single "Free Bird."
Tragic Endings
- Gram Parsons (Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers) dies of a drug overdose. His second solo album, Grievous Angel, is released in December 1973, three months after his death.
- Jim Croce dies in a plane crash in Louisiana just three days before the release of his third album, I Got a Name.
- Bobby Darin is just 37 when he dies of a heart attack a few days before Christmas.
- Jerry Lee Lewis, Jr., drummer in his father’s band, dies in a car wreck in Mississippi.
- John Rostill (The Shadows) is electrocuted in his home recording studio.
Holidays On the Charts
- Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road begins a two year run on the U.S. album chart, including eight weeks at #1.
- Ringo Starr releases his second solo album, Ringo, and the first of his two #1 singles, "Photograph." George Harrison supplies harmony vocals and guitar.
- The Allman Brothers release what will become their highest and longest charting album, Brothers and Sisters. It goes to #1 and remains on the chart for 56 weeks.
- Grand Funk Railroad’s We’re An American Band goes to #1, and serves as the basis for what would become the band's nickname.
- Led Zeppelin hits #20 with "D'yer Mak'er" from Houses of the Holy.
- The Who’s second rock opera, Quadrophenia goes to #2 on the album charts.
- Jefferson Airplane peaks at #3 with "Miracles," their highest charting single to date.
FM Radio Gets Album Oriented
In many markets, radio programmers were playing Top 40 singles on their AM stations, and rock albums on their FM stations. Boston’s WBZ-FM was among the first of those Album Oriented Rock stations, as evidenced by their Boston’s Top Albums survey for Christmas week 1973.In November, 30 U.S. radio stations broadcast what was alleged to be a live Mott the Hoople concert. It turned out that it had been recorded in the studio, with applause dubbed in.
1973 Holiday Season Releases
David Bowie – PinupsGenesis – Selling England By the Pound
John Lennon – Mind Games
Roxy Music – Stranded
Bruce Springsteen – The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle
Yes – Tales From Topographic Oceans
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