Tubular Bells - Mike Oldfield (1974)

Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells is a standout in popular music history. A friend had the tape - a reel tape - and we sat transfixed listening to it. The world had certainly been given a shake. But Oldfield's challenge was never met by anyone else and TB proved to be a freakish event which later landed in a freak's movie, The Exorcist. The album could never had happened had it not been for the advent of the multi-track recorder but MO is an accomplished musician and went on to record many albums, some very creative pieces like Amarok. YouTube Listen.

Hide In Your Shell - Supertramp (1974)

Growin up is never easy and in this song Supertramp tap into late developers (and not so late developer) blues. 'Hide in your shell for the world is out to take you for a ride' or something like that. But apart from the words, all of Supertramp's music arrangement was thoughtful and elaborate. All that said however, for me most of the songs meld into each other but maybe its because I didn't spend much time with them. This one though I remember listening to in my own bluesy times.

Kedron Brook - Kevin Johnson (1974)

Evocative description of a bygone era coupled with a flowing waltz and Kevin's masterly delivery. Great touch with the concertina.

Rikki Don't Lose That Number - Steely Dan (1974)

Ricky

Alright, no, this is not just a politically correct entry, a song about gay love, it is a great construction. It lives like a well structured building like most of Steely Dan's other music but this one has a good melody.

Doug Ashdown - Winter In America (1974)

The personal anguish expressed in this song drives the melody and the chorus is truly inspired. I heard this around a time when I was travelling and the images of the hotel room and waking up to strangers rang true. He was in America and I was in the Greek Islands and I was familiar with Doug Ashdown from my days attending the folk circuit in Sydney. The song is about searching and belonging and finding yourself, a time of growing up