At the same time Richard Nixon was re-elected President, HBO was launched in the U.S. and The Count (aka Count von Count) made his first appearance on “Sesame Street,” these were the top 10 rock albums in the country, and what a lineup this is!!
10. Distant Light - The Hollies
Allan Clarke of the Hollies said he wrote this song “in about five minutes”, and it was a big hit for the band. “Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress” comes from Distant Light, the #10 rock album on this week’s countdown.
9. Thick As A Brick - Jethro Tull
One band, with one album, that featured just one track..and it was over 43 minutes long. Jethro Tull’s Thick As A Brick wasn’t a concept album but, rather, a parody on them, after his last album Aqualung was termed a concept work by critics. Parody or not, the music was wonderful and, after hitting #1, it dropped to #9 on November 3, 1972.
8. School's Out - Alice Cooper
All five members of the Alice Cooper Band got songwriting credits on their iconic summer song, “School’s Out.” It’s the title track from this week’s #8 rock album on MGK’s Thursday Top 10 Countdown.
7. Toulouse Street - The Doobie Brothers
Named after a street just off the French Quarter in New Orleans, Toulouse Street was the breakthrough album for The Doobie Brothers, largely due to this song, “Listen To The Music.” This was also the first Doobies album to feature two drummers! The album peaked here at #7 on November 3, 1972.
6. Demons And Wizards - Uriah Heep
Formed in London in 1969, Uriah Heep are still together playing shows all over the UK. They were quite popular over there, and had one hit song in the U.S., this track called “Easy Livin’.” It’s off of the #6 rock album on the countdown this week, Demons And Wizards.
5. Trilogy - Emerson, Lake And Palmer
In early 1972, the British music publication NME reported that Emerson, Lake and Palmer were on the verge of breaking up. That couldn’t have been further from the truth, as the band had just completed their third studio album, Trilogy. While there was no impending breakup, Greg Lake did say in an interview how difficult the album was to make from a technical perspective. Difficult, maybe, but technically and musically, this album is outstanding and was #5 on November 3, 1972.
4. Honky Chateau - Elton John
Honky Chateau was the name Elton John gave to both his fifth studio album, and the place where it was recorded. It was made in the south of France at an 18th century mansion called Château d’Hérouville. It was the first of three albums Elton and the band would make there, including their masterpiece Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and it was the first of SIX number one U.S. albums in a row for Elton. On this week’s Thursday Top Ten Countdown, it’s #4.
3. Chicago V - Chicago
Recorded in just 10 days, Chicago V by Chicago was the group’s first album to top the charts. After doing so, it slips to to #3 on November 3, 1972.
2. Never A Dull Moment - Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart capitalized on the succcess of his breakthrough album, Every Picture Tells A Story with a followup album that featured virtually the same lineup of musicians, including his Faces bandmates! At #2 on this week’s Thursday Top 10 Countdown is Never A Dull Moment.
1. Days Of Future Passed - The Moody Blues
At the top of the chart this week is the second album by this wildly popular British band. Amazingly, it took five years for the album to hit #1, thanks to steady play on FM radio of several of the album’s mystical tracks. The #1 rock album on November 3, 1972 was Days Of Future Passed by The Moody Blues.
Catch MGK’s Thursday Top 10 Countdown every Thursday afternoon at 5 with Andre Gardner, and a repeat airing Sunday nights at 8 on MGK!