January 23, 2008
Thirty years ago today ...
OK, so it's another Flashback Friday for Riffs. Just deal with it. While crafting this week's epistle, I stumbled upon this 1970s Fun Fact: From mid 1977 until mid 1978, only five different albums topped the Billboard chart.
They were:
"Rumours," Fleetwood Mac
"Hotel California," Eagles
"Simple Dreams," Linda Ronstadt
"Barry Manilow Live," Barry
and, of course, "Saturday Night Fever"
By comparison, in 2007, there were 37 different No. 1 albums. Evidence of share-the-love egalitarianism for the new millennium ... or just another sign that we're over-saturated with disposable music?
Look, I ain't saying those 70s records were all that. That list alone explains the birth of punk rock. I'm just saying that even if you hated every No. 1 album in 1977-78, at least you've heard of 'em, right? Today, you can live a happy, productive life and never spend a brain cell on knowing the track list of a modern-day album. They still make albums, don't they? They made at least 37 last year.
Comments
[January 26, 2008 11:54 AM]
Wayne GOSG : →http://www.myspace.com/gosgI remember it well...It was the best of times, it was the...Oh you know what I mean!
One of the things I miss in the age of Digital Downloads is the decline in the "album" as a concept. I long for the days when groups were forced by the market to create more than a single good track on a CD. But I'm sure in a few years the CD will also be viewed as a relic of "times gone by".
Welcome to the era of "Wow that was a hot song by...uh...ummm...oh you know...those guys."
BTW: Tad & Ralph I enjoy the new blog! I have to give props to Ralph...anyone who remembers "Not Shakespeare" gt points in my book!