Best 1976 P&J Album (POLL Closes 6 May)

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No. 4. Vote as you will.

Poll Results

OptionVotes
Eno: Another Green World (Island) 19
Ramones: Ramones (Sire) 16
Thin Lizzy: Jailbreak (Mercury) 11
Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life (Tamla) 7
David Bowie: Station to Station (RCA Victor) 6
Boston: Boston (Epic) 4
Joni Mitchell: Hejira (Asylum) 4
Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band: Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah... 2
The Modern Lovers: The Modern Lovers (Home of the Hits) 2
Blue Oyster Cult: Agents of Fortune (Columbia) 2
Richard & Linda Thompson: Pour Down Like Silver (Island) 1
Warren Zevon: Warren Zevon (Asylum) 1
Ry Cooder: Chicken Skin Music (Reprise) 1
Bob Dylan: Desire (Columbia) 1
Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band: Night Moves (Capitol) 1
Andy Pratt: Resolution (Nemporer) 1
The Wild Tchoupitoulas: The Wild Tchoupitoulas (Island) 1
Jeff Beck: Wired (Epic) 0
Linda Ronstadt: Hasten Down the Wind (Asylum) 0
Graham Parker & the Rumour: Heat Treatment (Mercury) 0
Arlo Guthrie: Amigo (Reprise) 0
Rod Stewart: A Night on the Town (Warner Bros.) 0
Jackson Browne: The Pretender (Asylum) 0
Boz Scaggs: Silk Degrees (Columbia) 0
The Dwight Twilley Band: Sincerely (Capitol) 0
Bob Marley and the Wailers: Live! (Island) 0
Graham Parker & the Rumour: Howlin' Wind (Mercury) 0
Kate & Anna McGarrigle: Kate & Anna McGarrigle (Warner Bros.) 0
Steely Dan: The Royal Scam (ABC) 0
Patti Smith Group: Radio Ethiopia (Arista)0


JN$OT, Thursday, 3 May 2007 11:19 (eighteen years ago)

Eno.

JN$OT, Thursday, 3 May 2007 11:20 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pj76.php

JN$OT, Thursday, 3 May 2007 11:22 (eighteen years ago)

At the time I would probably have said Station To Station, but for me the Modern Lovers just nudge ahead of the Ramones in the beginning of time department.

Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 3 May 2007 11:30 (eighteen years ago)

Poor Patti, down to no. 30 after nearly stealing the previous year's poll from Dylan.

JN$OT, Thursday, 3 May 2007 11:33 (eighteen years ago)

That Eno album is from 1975 tho?

Tom D., Thursday, 3 May 2007 11:34 (eighteen years ago)

Seger or Boston, probably (with Thin Lizzy & Warren Zevon possible dark horses). I'll decide later.

xhuxk, Thursday, 3 May 2007 11:38 (eighteen years ago)

The Eno release date was '76 in the US, I believe.

JN$OT, Thursday, 3 May 2007 11:41 (eighteen years ago)

Station To Station.

underpants of the gods, Thursday, 3 May 2007 11:43 (eighteen years ago)

Obligatory conspicuous-in-absence entry: I Want You.

Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 3 May 2007 11:45 (eighteen years ago)

Here's who to blame for the year's choices.

1974 veterans: Vince Aletti, Lester Bangs, Ken Emerson, Vernon Gibbs, Robert Hilburn, Stephen Holden, Greil Marcus, Dave Marsh, Janet Maslin, Ira Mayer, John Morthland, Paul Nelson, Kit Rachlis, Wayne Robins, Frank Rose, Bud Scoppa, Geoffrey Stokes, Ed Ward, James Wolcott.

1975 veterans: Georgia Christgau, Peter Herbst, Jerry Leichtling, Bruce Meyer, Lisa Robinson, John Rockwell, Tom Smucker, John Swenson, Ken Tucker, Mark von Lehmden, Charley Walters.

1976 freshpeople: Bobby Abrams, Dale Adamson, Lauren Agnelli a/k/a Trixie A. Balm, Billy Altman, Anonymous, Michael Barackman, Ken Barnes, Jon Bream, Jean-Charles Costa, Walter Dawson, Steve Demorest, Joan Downs, David Fricke, Mikal Gilmore, Jim Girard, Patrick Goldstein, Tom Hull, Rick Johnson, Steven Levy, Bruce Malamut, Jon Marlowe, Joe McEwen, Perry Meisel, R. Meltzer, John Milward, Teri Morris, Kris Nicholson, Richard Riegel, Joe Roman, Michael Rozek, Susin Shapiro, Ariel Swartley, Timothy White.

Late ballots: Colman Andrews, Patrick Carr, Matt Damsker, Peter Knobler.


Plus der dean, of course.

JN$OT, Thursday, 3 May 2007 11:47 (eighteen years ago)

HEJIRA 4EVA

(not that i've heard any of the others...)

lex pretend, Thursday, 3 May 2007 11:48 (eighteen years ago)

But did any critics really care about I Want You then or now.

x-post

JN$OT, Thursday, 3 May 2007 11:49 (eighteen years ago)

Actually, BOC would be a dark horse, too, I guess (is this Pazz & Jop's most metal year? At least until, like, whatever year that was that had Guns N Roses/Jane's Addiction/Metallica/Living Colour/etc?)

Anyway, I'm gonna go with Boston. RIP Brad Delp.

xhuxk, Thursday, 3 May 2007 11:52 (eighteen years ago)

ZEVON

Dom Passantino, Thursday, 3 May 2007 11:55 (eighteen years ago)

Andy Pratt: Resolution (Nemporer)

Who hell he?

Tom D., Thursday, 3 May 2007 11:59 (eighteen years ago)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Pratt_%28singer-songwriter%29

JN$OT, Thursday, 3 May 2007 12:01 (eighteen years ago)

I think maybe he died or something?

Cooler blips include Dr. Buzzard and Wild Tchoupitoulas. Goofier blips include Dwight Twilley (has anybody heard that album? Does it have "I'm On Fire" on it? I've never heard a whole album by him.)

xhuxk, Thursday, 3 May 2007 12:02 (eighteen years ago)

Oops, Andy Pratt is apparently live and, possibly, well. Great! I wonder who I was confusing him with.

xhuxk, Thursday, 3 May 2007 12:03 (eighteen years ago)

Funny I've never heard of Andy Pratt before

Tom D., Thursday, 3 May 2007 12:04 (eighteen years ago)

Where all the Ramones fans at?

JN$OT, Thursday, 3 May 2007 12:10 (eighteen years ago)

I voted for 'em

Tom D., Thursday, 3 May 2007 12:11 (eighteen years ago)

Yay.

JN$OT, Thursday, 3 May 2007 12:13 (eighteen years ago)

Obvious theory that for some reason I never thought of until right this second: All-time historical double-blipper Graham Parker did so well by luring in both the boring aging singer-songwriter folkie fans and the wild hard rockers who were ready for punk to happen (an intersection that likely helped Zevon and maybe Seger and Thin Lizzy as well). What's amazing, though, is that voters didn't split their votes between GP's two albums, which is what has almost always otherwise happened in such instances -- usually, if an act puts out two albums in a year, it hurts each of the albums P&J-wise. I'm trying to remember, though I think I know the answer: Has anybody ever put two albums in the Pazz&Jop top four (or maybe even top ten) before? I know Husker Du and Guns N Roses, in their double years, didn't come close. PJ Harvey, maybe?? But I don't think so. I think Graham is all alone.

xhuxk, Thursday, 3 May 2007 12:29 (eighteen years ago)

I voted for the Jailbreak

m coleman, Thursday, 3 May 2007 12:30 (eighteen years ago)

(Folkie/protopunk intersection probably helped BOC, too, obviously. And maybe some others...Bowie?)

xhuxk, Thursday, 3 May 2007 12:32 (eighteen years ago)

Geir to thread to bemoan absence of Heaven And Hell by Vangelis.

Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 3 May 2007 12:32 (eighteen years ago)

Dwight Twilley! (xpost)

Tom D., Thursday, 3 May 2007 12:33 (eighteen years ago)

I guess proto-punx were into GP but he seemed more s/s-ish to me.

and that was BOC's pop crossover album, no?

m coleman, Thursday, 3 May 2007 12:34 (eighteen years ago)

I wonder if many of the GP voters put both albums in their top 10?Christgau didn't, but who knows about the rest.

JN$OT, Thursday, 3 May 2007 12:36 (eighteen years ago)

Also, wasn't much of the Parker love basically just left-over Boss worship?

JN$OT, Thursday, 3 May 2007 12:39 (eighteen years ago)

as anybody ever put two albums in the Pazz&Jop top four (or maybe even top ten) before?

Didn't Elvis Costello do it in 1986?

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Thursday, 3 May 2007 12:46 (eighteen years ago)

Graham Parker, Elvis Costello, that figures

Tom D., Thursday, 3 May 2007 12:47 (eighteen years ago)

wasn't much of the Parker love basically just left-over Boss worship

now that you mention it I remember some bossheads at college -- they were legion then -- touting Parker well before Squeezing Out Sparks.

m coleman, Thursday, 3 May 2007 12:52 (eighteen years ago)

I Was That GP-Loving Proto Punk!

(To the extent that I completely wrote off My Aim Is True as a boring GP rip-off. Can't get it right all the time...)

Then as now, it's the Ramones. (Well actually it's Black and Blue, but never mind.)

mike t-diva, Thursday, 3 May 2007 12:52 (eighteen years ago)

Nope. Elvis' two '86 records ranked 2 & 9.

x-post

JN$OT, Thursday, 3 May 2007 12:54 (eighteen years ago)

Given the paucity (or semi-paucity) of metal, I'm surprised Rocks isn't on here, though not that surprised I guess given that critics didn't exactly love Aerosmith at the time. I'd choose it over any of the hard rock releases on that list, probably (except maybe Boston).

This is my least favourite year of the '70s. I kind of hated on the 1971 P&J results, but I think that was a much better year for singles at least....could be wrong. Not much on here I still listen to. Eno's a too-easy shoo-in for me. (Second would be Modern Lovers.)

sw00ds, Thursday, 3 May 2007 13:11 (eighteen years ago)

Nope. Elvis' two '86 records ranked 2 & 9.

That's what Chuck asked – has any other artist scored two top ten P&J albums? So, yes.

As for the list: my least favorite Steely Dan album and least favorite "major" Stevie Wonder album, no Aerosmith, crap Dylan and Stewart – quite nasty. My top five would run: Bowie-Aerosmith-Eno-Modern Lovers-Joni.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Thursday, 3 May 2007 13:15 (eighteen years ago)

Pretty interesting that Black and Blue isnt' on there--must've got really bad reviews, because I figured in 1976 they were still a perfunctory critic's choice.

(Actually, I forgot Bowie--between him and Eno, that's a tough choice.)

sw00ds, Thursday, 3 May 2007 13:17 (eighteen years ago)

Oh yeah! Black and Blue would likely make my top 20.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Thursday, 3 May 2007 13:18 (eighteen years ago)

Well yeah, but no one else put two records in the top 4 in any single given year.

x-post

JN$OT, Thursday, 3 May 2007 13:20 (eighteen years ago)

Another Green World is not *technically* 1976, but it's by far the best album on the list (and one of the best ever...word)

stephen, Thursday, 3 May 2007 13:21 (eighteen years ago)

all praise: Agents Of Fortune...(the ultimate pop-metal crossover?)

speaking of omissions, I'm surprised not to see Fly Like An Eagle on this list...if memory serves, it was at least as well received as the Boston and Thin Lizzy LP's...

henry s, Thursday, 3 May 2007 13:26 (eighteen years ago)

dont blame me i voted for thin lizzy

Dimension 5ive, Thursday, 3 May 2007 13:29 (eighteen years ago)

Has anybody ever put two albums in the Pazz&Jop top four (or maybe even top ten) before? I know Husker Du and Guns N Roses, in their double years, didn't come close.

Actually, Flip Your Wig and New Day Rising both made top 10, though neither made top 5.

sw00ds, Thursday, 3 May 2007 13:39 (eighteen years ago)

(in 1985)

sw00ds, Thursday, 3 May 2007 13:39 (eighteen years ago)

I agree, though, about two albums in a year hurting rather than helping, and I think Husker Du are probably a good example of that. I don't think it's inconceivable[/] that New Day Rising or Flip Your Wig could've won that year, if the other had never been released. I mean, it's hard to say, given that it was still "hardcore" and probably didn't have quite the reach of Talking Heads...but I bet one of those albums would've beat [i]Tim for #2.

sw00ds, Thursday, 3 May 2007 13:46 (eighteen years ago)

[/i]damn, did i just create an html mess...

sw00ds, Thursday, 3 May 2007 13:46 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, but that was a pretty dreadful year for albums.

JN$OT, Thursday, 3 May 2007 13:50 (eighteen years ago)

Yes, I completely agree--'85 is awful.

sw00ds, Thursday, 3 May 2007 13:51 (eighteen years ago)

damnit

sw00ds, Thursday, 3 May 2007 14:31 (eighteen years ago)

Can't remember much of what's on Black And Blue other than "Fool To Cry," on which evidence it would appear that Mick Jagger was trying to show those Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds who's boss.

Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 3 May 2007 14:32 (eighteen years ago)

said the hard-of-tuning Mick Jagger?

sw00ds, Thursday, 3 May 2007 14:37 (eighteen years ago)

Black & Blue was really good, and like Rocks, really should have been included. Rocks is considerably better though.

JN$OT, Thursday, 3 May 2007 14:38 (eighteen years ago)

Boston by a half a mile over Songs in the Key of Life. That Boston record is one of the most underrated in rock history, I think.

Jiminy Krokus, Thursday, 3 May 2007 14:38 (eighteen years ago)

Great songs on Black and Blue besides "Fool to Cry": "Crazy Mama," "Hand of Fate," "Memory Motel." I'd award this an A-.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Thursday, 3 May 2007 14:40 (eighteen years ago)

I don't know, I like the Boston record just fine, but it's kind of inconsistent. Don't Look Back was better.

x-post

JN$OT, Thursday, 3 May 2007 14:42 (eighteen years ago)

why are we all whispering?

henry s, Thursday, 3 May 2007 14:43 (eighteen years ago)

Waiting for the mods to take care of it.

JN$OT, Thursday, 3 May 2007 14:44 (eighteen years ago)

Did I start the whispering by forgetting to close my itals or something? Sorry.

Jazzbo, Thursday, 3 May 2007 14:48 (eighteen years ago)

BOC, with Boston a close second.

Bill Magill, Thursday, 3 May 2007 14:56 (eighteen years ago)

Ornette didn't have a new album out in '76

I am sitting on a copy of Body Meta right here. Way to get to the essence of my point btw.

Also, Ohio Players, Bootsy, loads more.

Saxby D. Elder, Thursday, 3 May 2007 14:57 (eighteen years ago)

Body Meta might have been recorded in 1976 but it wasn't released until 1979, when I bought it out of 23rd Precinct.

Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 3 May 2007 15:01 (eighteen years ago)

What a weak year.

M.V., Thursday, 3 May 2007 15:05 (eighteen years ago)

And on a related note: where the hell is my beloved Agharta?

x-post

JN$OT, Thursday, 3 May 2007 15:06 (eighteen years ago)

Body Meta might have been recorded in 1976 but it wasn't released until 1979, when I bought it out of 23rd Precinct.

I don't know what 23rd Precinct is but the rest is incorrect.

Saxby D. Elder, Thursday, 3 May 2007 15:08 (eighteen years ago)

my guess for what critics would've voted for single of the year? "The Boys Are Back in Town."

sw00ds, Thursday, 3 May 2007 15:11 (eighteen years ago)

[i]try this

sw00ds, Thursday, 3 May 2007 15:12 (eighteen years ago)

[/i]reverse tag theory--failed.

sw00ds, Thursday, 3 May 2007 15:12 (eighteen years ago)

23rd Precinct is a record shop in Glasgow, Scotland, in which country the Ornette Coleman album Body Meta was released in the year of 1979, there being other countries on the planet. Perhaps you didn't get taught that in the workhouse.

Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 3 May 2007 15:13 (eighteen years ago)

I voted for eno, with Ramones or Boston or BOC a close second. I was six then, so I was actually only listening to Boston at the time, which my dad had on heavy rotation. Probably my first favorite album.

pj, Thursday, 3 May 2007 15:15 (eighteen years ago)

Hmm, I had no idea Boston and BOC were so acclaimed at the time. I'd probably take Boston right now but I don't really want to vote without listening to more of these albums. Those two, Joni Mitchell, and Eno are all really good and the Patti Smith has some really good stuff.

Sundar, Thursday, 3 May 2007 15:22 (eighteen years ago)

Christ, I just remembered Bob's two '75 releases ranked 1 and 4. That certainly beats this year's GP showing.

massive x-post

JN$OT, Thursday, 3 May 2007 15:37 (eighteen years ago)

Wow, great year and a fine list - I wouldn't mind owning the lot. I think. (Never heard of Andy Pratt.) Still a bit d'void of funk, tho...

My choice? Songs In The Key Of Life: Not only my first P&J winner, but also the first record I ever bought myself. (Paid nearly NINE DOLLARS!) So Stevie makes it for historical merit alone. Plus it's a damn fine recording too, tho I certainly play BÖC more. (Not to mention Talking Book.)

Myonga Vön Bontee, Thursday, 3 May 2007 16:42 (eighteen years ago)

For the curios: Here's Andy Pratt's one hit (from '73) in all it's glory. The clip is audio only, unfortunately.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyMafOMitIs

JN$OT, Thursday, 3 May 2007 19:49 (eighteen years ago)

Curious that is.

JN$OT, Thursday, 3 May 2007 19:50 (eighteen years ago)

I'll go with Songs in the Key of Life here, with Royal Scam and Ramones as close runners up.

o. nate, Thursday, 3 May 2007 20:36 (eighteen years ago)

The two best 1976 albums were both by Genesis. Neither are in the P&J list, which isn't "A New World Record" by ELO either. So, voted for Stevie Wonder then.

Geir Hongro, Thursday, 3 May 2007 21:32 (eighteen years ago)

Good.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Thursday, 3 May 2007 21:35 (eighteen years ago)

This was tough, but I picked Ramones just above Eno, the Modern Lovers, and Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band.

Matos W.K., Thursday, 3 May 2007 22:13 (eighteen years ago)

wow what an awesome year for music...it says something that the shit i would consider my second tier choices are like BOC, Desire, and Pour Down Like Silver, which are amazing records.

actually i'm not going to vote. too hard.

M@tt He1ges0n, Thursday, 3 May 2007 22:15 (eighteen years ago)

(I could have happily voted for Stevie or Marley as well. And I liked other records here too.)

Matos W.K., Thursday, 3 May 2007 22:17 (eighteen years ago)

I'll rep for Sincerely, the only Twilley I own. Nice one, though. It does have "I'm on Fire."

I voted for Ramones. My next four: Bowie, Dr. Buzzard, Eno, Zevon. I count this as a pretty great year, actually.

Others missing from the poll: Blondie, two Skynyrd LPs, two Funkadelic LPs.

If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Thursday, 3 May 2007 22:22 (eighteen years ago)

xposts

If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Thursday, 3 May 2007 22:22 (eighteen years ago)

i boringly voted for the ramones cause i do love that record, but i have a real soft spot for a bunch of this shit via my mom's record collection. she must have gone on a buying spree in 76, cause I have inherited the stevie, dylan, kate & anna, joni, zevon, ry cooder & marley on this list from her. i guess becuase I associate these with her, i think of a lot of them as being much earlier, like 72-74... but yeah nice work, 1976, and thanks, moms!

fritz, Thursday, 3 May 2007 22:23 (eighteen years ago)

kate & anna would be my #2. great record.

fritz, Thursday, 3 May 2007 22:24 (eighteen years ago)

my guess for what critics would've voted for single of the year? "The Boys Are Back in Town."

Actually, that was the NME writers' 1976 Single of the Year.

mike t-diva, Thursday, 3 May 2007 22:30 (eighteen years ago)

I just voted for the last one that I'd heard and liked— Dr. Buzzard's... Call it poll fatigue.

I eat cannibals, Thursday, 3 May 2007 22:32 (eighteen years ago)

23rd Precinct is a record shop in Glasgow, Scotland, in which country the Ornette Coleman album Body Meta was released in the year of 1979, there being other countries on the planet. Perhaps you didn't get taught that in the workhouse.

No I don't know anything about the 23rd Precinct, how provincial and ignorant I am! (and I am sorry but I don't know what you mean about "workhouse" but unless it is something to do with the Ivy League then it has nothing to do with me).

I have however studied rather intensively the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his wife and I would give anything to someday visit there and try that record shop after a pilgrimage to the tea room.

I do think that it's a bit weird to get all testy about the accuracy of a release date when you are not taking into account its country of origin. In a thread like this it's absurd really.

Saxby D. Elder, Friday, 4 May 2007 01:32 (eighteen years ago)

Well, it really weirds me out how threads like this inevitably involve one guy who says "but such and such album came out in [year the album came out in England, as if that matters when you're talking about a poll done in the U.S.]," not to mention at least one other guy who complains about how "I can't believe that [album by some band that critics didn't pay attention to, or at least meet much of a consensus on, until 10 or 20 years later] didn't make the poll." Shocker: Lots of great albums don't place in Pazz & Jop (just like every other critic's poll ever done, anywhere.) So what else is new?

I think "Boys Are Back in Town" won Rolling Stone's singles poll, too, though I could be wrong.

And Have Moicy! is a great album, by the way.

xhuxk, Friday, 4 May 2007 01:49 (eighteen years ago)

HEJIRA 4EVA

(not that i've heard any of the others...)

-- lex pretend, Thursday, May 3, 2007 7:48 AM (14 hours ago)

i am perpetually stunned by your ignorance

lfam, Friday, 4 May 2007 02:03 (eighteen years ago)

not that i've heard all of them, but at least fifteen

lfam, Friday, 4 May 2007 02:03 (eighteen years ago)

I voted for the Ramones in haste - and then noticed the Modern Lovers slightly below on the list. DAMN.

Mordechai Shinefield, Friday, 4 May 2007 02:19 (eighteen years ago)

"I can't believe that [album by some band that critics didn't pay attention to, or at least meet much of a consensus on, until 10 or 20 years later] didn't make the poll." Shocker: Lots of great albums don't place in Pazz & Jop (just like every other critic's poll ever done, anywhere.)

I am guilty of this. I always forget that these P&J poll things refer to the actual P&J poll of that year and then I get all outraged.

It's something my therapist and I are working on.

Saxby D. Elder, Friday, 4 May 2007 04:32 (eighteen years ago)

For me, nothing here can match Jailbreak

QuantumNoise, Friday, 4 May 2007 05:37 (eighteen years ago)

Have Moicy! is indeed fucking great (and really funny, too). Probably my 2nd or 3rd choice from this list.

x-post again

JN$OT, Friday, 4 May 2007 06:30 (eighteen years ago)

Last day to vote on this one too.

JN$OT, Saturday, 5 May 2007 16:15 (eighteen years ago)

Results: Eno beats Ramones!

JN$OT, Sunday, 6 May 2007 03:14 (eighteen years ago)

Also, is anyone as surprised as me that Jailbreak came in 3rd? It's a terrific record, I just never thought it would garner this much support on ILM; thoughroughly beating both Wonder and Bowie. And what about poor Bruce down to only one vote.

JN$OT, Sunday, 6 May 2007 15:07 (eighteen years ago)

Poor Bruce? Wrong thread.

JN$OT, Sunday, 6 May 2007 15:08 (eighteen years ago)


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