In February, 1973, “The Midnight Special” debuted on NBC, keeping us music lovers up late at night, the Sixers lost their 20th game in a row, the price of gold hits a record $95 per ounce (it’s almost $1850 an ounce today), and these were the top 10 rock albums we were jamming to:

• 10. Transformer - Lou Reed

  Lou Reed released his first two albums in the span of seven months, and his second was the biggest of his career. At #10 on the countdown, Transformer.

• 9. Trilogy - Emerson, Lake And Palmer

  The fourth album by former members of King Crimson, The Nice and Atomic Rooster, known as Emerson, Lake And Palmer, saw the band get their first top 5, with Trilogy, a difficult album to make by all accounts, but a brilliant work.  On February 16, 1973 it was #9.

• 8. Honky Chateau - Elton John

  Elton John titled his 5th album after the French mansion where they made it – The Château d’Herouville, just outside Paris, and also known as Honky Chateau. It was his first of 6 number one albums in the row in the U.S. and, after spending some quality time at the top spot, it’s #8 on the countdown this week.

• 7. Never A Dull Moment - Rod Stewart

  Rod Stewart didn’t mess with success.  He employed many of the same musicians – including his Faces bandmates – on the followup to his monster Every Picture Tells A Story album with Never A Dull Moment, the #7 rock album on our Thursday Top 10 Countdown.

• 6. Space Oddity - David Bowie

  Thanks to a renewed interest in the title track, RCA Records re-released David Bowie’s 1969 album Space Oddity, to great success, and it wasn’t long before everyone knew the story of Major Tom.  The album was #6 on February 16, 1973.

• 5. Can't Buy A Thrill - Steely Dan

  The lead singer on this song was Steely Dan’s original front man, David Palmer.  He left after the second album, as Donald Fagen became the band’s lead singer, but that’s Palmer on “Dirty Work” – an incredible Steely Dan song from their debut album Can’t Buy A Thrill.  It’s our #5 rock album this week.

• 4. Who Do We Think We Are - Deep Purple

  On first pressings of this next album, the opening track is spelled “Woman From Tokayo” – just like Ian Gillen sings it on the song.  It was corrected on subsequent pressings of Who Do We Think We Are by Deep Purple, #4 on February 16, 1973.

• 3. Homecoming - America

  With the release of their second album, America began the quirky habit of choosing one word titles for their next six albums, all beginning with the letter H. It all started with Homecoming, sitting at #3 on this week’s Thursday Top 10 Countdown.

• 2. Seventh Sojourn - The Moody Blues

  The Moody Blues were working like fiends, releasing albums and touring to support them.  After their seventh album and tour, they took a five year hiatus from touring and recording.  The seventh album was called Seventh Sojourn, and it drops to #2 on February 16, 1973 after hitting #1.

• 1. No Secrets - Carly Simon

  At the top of the chart this week is the third album by a legendary singer/songwriter, who took stories of her life and wrote incredible songs about them.  She hired a young producer to help her see her vision to vinyl, and she recruited some of the top session players and singers in the business as her stellar backing band, including a former Beatle and a member of the Rolling Stones.  #1 on February 16, 1973 was No Secrets by Carly Simon.

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