Aerosmith & more

Walk This Way:
Classic Records
Turning 50

It's been 50 years since audiences heard Steven Tyler's signature raspy voice for the first time on now-classic tracks like "Somebody" and "Mama Kin." A whole half century! Before cell phones, before the advent of streaming, when the only way to truly discover a new artist was to drop the needle and listen to an entire record. 1973 was some year for music, with artists we now know as legends in their youthful heyday putting out albums we now know and love. With that, we thought we'd celebrate all at once, and commemorate some of our favorite vinyl records turning 50 this year.

Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon

There is really only one way to accurately describe The Dark Side of the Moon, and it's as an absolute masterpiece of progressive rock. While maintaining their psychedelic roots, the band elected to cut down the extended guitar solos and improvised instrumental sections in favor of a more cohesive package of music. Dark Side is a loose concept album, dealing with hardships in modern life through themes like finances, mental health, and our place in society. Dark Side remains a tremendously influential record and is even subject to a healthy dose of urban legend, a popular one being that the album perfectly syncs with The Wizard of Oz.

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Aerosmith — Aerosmith

In the early '70s, blues rock was dominated by bands coming out of the United Kingdom. In 1973, Aerosmith emerged with a distinctly American flair. The Boston-based outfit signed with Columbia Records a year prior and dropped their self-titled debut, introducing audiences to a sound that would dominate the airwaves during the decade. Aerosmith was gritty and grungy, but the songwriting talent of the Steven Tyler/Joe Perry duo was immediately apparent, especially on the anthemic "Dream On."

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Houses of the Holy — Led Zeppelin

In 1973, there was no band bigger than Led Zeppelin. They were tremendously innovative; their music was inspired by blues rock but with such a heavy element that they basically created hard rock, with guitarist Jimmy Page deemed one of rock's first shredders. Houses of the Holy was arguably Led Zeppelin at their peak, coming after their first four self-titled albums and featuring a sound far grander and polished than its forerunners. "No Quarter" is the highlight, featuring the band experimenting with progressive rock with a dynamic, epic tune. 

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Cosmic Slop — Funkadelic

There haven't been many creatives as eclectic or prolific as George Clinton, founder of Funkadelic. Originally a doo-wop singer, Clinton radically changed his style in the late '60s, combining elements of psychedelia and jazz with the burgeoning funk genre. Funakdelic was a uniquely heavy funk group, incorporating aspects of acid rock and even early heavy metal. Guitarist Eddie Hazel became known as a virtuoso, his fuzz and reverb-soaked guitar tone able to identify him easily. 

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Queen — Queen

Queen was Queen before they were, well...Queen. Their eponymous debut is an interesting look at the band before they developed their signature style and personality. It doesn't have the glitz and glam of future releases, and for Queen, it's shockingly heavy. What it does have, however, is a glimpse into the immense vocal talent of singer Freddie Mercury and the unique guitar tone of Brian May. Queen may not have the iconic tracks of some of their later albums, but stands on its own with a different sound and is a strong opening chapter in a truly legendary career. 

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I Got a Name — Jim Croce

1973 should have been a banner year for Jim Croce. He was arguably the biggest name in folk rock, at the height of his popularity after the release of Life and Times with I Got a Name due out later that year. Unfortunately, Croce was killed in a plane crash just a day prior to the lead single's release. Despite being just 30 years old at the time of his death, Croce's legacy speaks for itself. I Got a Name is a seminal folk rock record, and the title track remains one of his most well-known songs. 

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Quadrophenia — The Who

A remnant of the British Invasion, Quadrophenia is actually the third rock opera in the Who's expansive discography. The album tells the story of Jimmy, a young Who fan in mid-60s London. Jimmy is a mod during the onset of youth culture, something of an everyman for the times. Quadrophenia's finale is one of the Who's most iconic tracks, the powerful and emotional "Love, Reign o'er Me."

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Over-Nite Sensation — Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention

Remember when we said there were only a few creatives who could match George Clinton's eccentricity? Frank Zappa is one of those few. Zappa is one of the most interesting musical characters of the 20th century. Heavily inspired by jazz and classical music, Zappa applied those stylings to his unique brand of progressive rock, while playing guitar at a virtuoso level, as well. Over-Nite Sensation is one of his more conventional rock records, but Zappa's definition of conventional is still delightfully bizarre, especially on tracks like "Montana" and "Camarillo Brillo."

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Selling England by the Pound — Genesis

Already major players in the world of progressive rock, Selling England by the Pound came at a tumultuous time for Genesis. Media criticism had led to speculation that Phil Collins would be leaving the band, and not all members were convinced by the material they were recording. Still, Selling England has stood as one of the best records in Genesis' discography. The theme of the record revolves around English folk culture, but incorporates a healthy dose of jazz fusion, especially during the lengthy instrumental sections that have come to define the album. 

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Let's Get It On — Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye was on top of the world after the landmark releases of What's Going On and Troubleman. Gaye departed from the traditional soul stylings of the previous two records, dipping into funk for the first time on what has been called "one of the most sexually charged records ever recorded." Gaye tackled politics on his prior albums, but took on personal relationships and sex with this one, with the title track becoming one of the most well-known romance songs in musical canon. 

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Goodbye Yellow Brick Road — Elton John

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, to put it simply, is a stunning musical accomplishment. Elton John's compositions meshed perfectly with songwriting partner Bernie Taupin's lyrics, resulting in a virtually perfect top-to-bottom record. The album, along with John's flamboyant fashion sense and personality, vaulted him to superstardom, and tracks like "Candle in the Wind" and the title track have become some of his most identifiable. 50 years after the release of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, John retired as a performer after a long and legendary career. 

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