The same month President Nixon lowered the national speed limit to 55 to conserve fuel during the energy crisis, Happy Days premiered on TV and gold hit a record high $161 an ounce (it’s $1,945 today), these were the top 10 rock albums on January 26, 1974. What a lineup!

• 10. The Dark Side Of The Moon - Pink Floyd

  While it was surely impressive Pink Floyd’s eighth studio album was still on the chart almost a year after it was released, no one would know just how long that run would be – over 15 years! This week, The Dark Side of The Moon was #10.

• 9. Mind Games - John Lennon

  In an amazing burst of creativity, John Lennon wrote all the songs for his fourth studio album in just one week, all while being under surveillance by the FBI, separating from his wife Yoko Ono, and beginning a relationship with his and Yoko’s assistant, May Pang.  Mind Games peaked here at #9…#9…#9 on January 26, 1974.

• 8. Laid Back - Gregg Allman

  Gregg Allman had thought about doing a solo album to help him cope with his brother Duane’s passing, and he put together a wonderful collection of rock, R&B and even gospel influenced songs, and he called it Laid Back. On the countdown this week, it was #8, and this is his incredible solo version of the Allman Brothers’ “Midnight Rider.”

• 7. Quadrophenia - The Who

  Pete Townshend wasn’t successful with a rock opera he attempted to make after Tommy, that became Who’s Next, but the next Who work WAS.  In fact, Townshend has said that he thinks Quadrophenia was the last truly great album The Who ever made.  That’s arguable, but it did peak at #2 before dropping here to #7 on January 26, 1974.

• 6. Ringo - Ringo Starr

  The third solo album by Ringo Starr was not only a star studded affair, featuring the other three Beatles, Marc Bolan, The Band, Harry Nilsson, Steve Cropper and Martha Reeves, but it was the biggest solo album of his career.  Ringo peaked at #2, and drops this week to #6 on the Thursday Top 10 Countdown.

• 5. Brain Salad Surgery - Emerson, Lake And Palmer

  Taking the title from a rather off color line from Dr. John’s 1973 song “Right Place, Wrong Time,” Emerson Lake, And Palmer’s Brain Salad Surgery marked the start of band’s own record label, Manticore.  The success of this album no doubt helped the profits of their newly found record company, as it was the #5 rock album on January 26, 1974.

• 4. Band On The Run - Paul McCartney And Wings

  Denny Laine, longtime Wings guitarist, will be coming to town City Winery on February 11, and he’ll no doubt be telling stories about the making of this album, Band On The Run.  Paul’s classic album is the #4 rock album on this week’s countdown.

• 3. The Joker - Steve Miller Band

  The breakthrough album for Steve Miller was The Joker, his eighth studio album and the #3 rock album on January 26, 1974.

• 2. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John

  It’s regarded by many as Sir Elton John’s finest work, the brilliant Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, written in short time and recorded quickly, it’s one of classic rock’s greatest albums and it is our #2 rock album on the Thursday Top 10 Countdown.

• 1. You Don't Mess Around With Jim - Jim Croce

  Topping the charts was the third album by a singer songwriter whose career, and life, was cut far too short.  Coming off of sales of a song re-released from this album after he passed, the album shot up to the top of the charts, giving him his second #1 album in a matter of weeks.  #1 on January 26, 1974 was You Don’t Mess Around With Jim by Jim Croce.

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