K's 1973 SPECIAL - The 173 Best Singles of 1973 (50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition) [2023] (8 x CD's)
Continuing on with my 'best singles' compilations, here is an excellent overview of 1973.
After extensive research into virtually every single released in the UK, USA and around the world in 1973, I've compiled the absolute cream of the crop of the year. Many, many tracks have been included that you just never see on compilations using the latest highest quality digital remasters released to date. In fact, quite a few of the tracks were banned by the BBC at the time, which makes this collection a little more interesting, plus I made a point of incorporating all original 7" single mixes that were different to the album versions where appropriate.
In pop, it was the year of the Hairy Monsters - Slade, Sweet, Gary Glitter, Wizzard and Suzi Quatro, who while sticking to the glam style programme of unfeasibly high heels, pudding bowl fringes and spangly make up, were a good deal more laddish than effete predecessors like Bolan and Bowie - especially Suzi Quatro. Their cartoonish pop stomped all over the opposition, though the biggest hit of the year belonged to the softies - Dawn's ‘Tie a Yellow Ribbon’.
Gone: Peters & Lee were an unlikely combination - he a blind, middle-aged pianist, she an insipidly blonde warbler but with their Number One, ‘Welcome Home’, they proved there was still a big market for almost maliciously mawkish MOR in the early Seventies.
Album of the year: Innervisions - Stevie Wonder
Single of the year: 'Cum On Feel the Noize' - Slade
Band/artist of the year: Slade
1973 belonged to: Slade who ruled the charts - straight in at number one with 'Cum On Feel the Noize', 'Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me' and 'Merry Xmas Everybody'.
Key event of the year: Bowie sheds another pop skin onstage at Hammersmith Odeon, “retiring” Ziggy Stardust Prog-rock continued to sell in droves while maintaining a very low profile.
Mike Oldfield's mellifluously mediocre Tubular Bells spent months in the charts, thanks perhaps to its being used in the soundtrack to The Exorcist, while Pink Floyd ascended to rock god-dom with Dark Side of the Moon, whose lofty anti-consumerist message was the ultimate soundtrack to any home equipped with stereo hi-fi unit and shagpile carpet.
With rock cosmically remote and pop hyper-silly, only The Strawbs touched base with the “real” world. Their ‘Part of the Union’ broadly satirized the endless industrial disputes of the Heath era.
The best music was coming from black America - Stevie Wonder, The Isleys, Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield - out of sight but still in touch.
Enjoy!
K
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Track lists
CD1
01 T. Rex 20th Century Boy 3:37
02 Suzi Quatro 48 Crash 3:55
03 Geordie All Because of You 2:43
04 Diana Ross All of My Life 3:27
05 Mott the Hoople All the Way from Memphis (Original 1973 7" Single Edit) 3:24
06 Mungo Jerry Alright, Alright, Alright 2:50
07 Kiki Dee Amoureuse 4:08
08 Aretha Franklin Angel 4:28
09 Wizzard Angel Fingers (A Teen Ballad) 4:32
10 The Rolling Stones Angie 4:32
11 First Choice Armed and Extremely Dangerous (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 2:48
12 Tony Christie Avenues and Alleyways (Theme from the ATV television series "The Protectors") 3:19
13 Nazareth Bad Bad Boy 3:58
14 Wizzard Ball Park Incident 3:41
15 The Sweet The Ballroom Blitz 4:01
16 Judge Dread Big Eight 3:21
17 The Sweet Block Buster! 3:12
18 The Heptones Book of Rules 3:31
19 Nazareth Broken Down Angel 3:45
20 Hot Chocolate Brother Louie 4:59
21 Suzi Quatro Can the Can 3:36
CD2
22 Geordie Can You Do It (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 3:14
23 Status Quo Caroline (Original 1973 7" Single Edit) 3:48
24 Faces Cindy Incidentally 2:36
25 Detroit Spinners Could It Be I'm Falling in Love 4:13
26 Mud Crazy 3:11
27 Slade Cum On Feel the Noize 4:24
28 Led Zeppelin D'yer Mak'er 4:22
29 Cozy Powell Dance with the Devil 3:33
30 Barry Blue Dancin' (on a Saturday Night) 3:11
31 Elton John Daniel 3:55
32 David Cassidy Daydreamer 2:48
33 Suzi Quatro Daytona Demon 3:59
34 10cc The Dean and I (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 2:52
35 Roy Wood Dear Elaine 4:09
36 Eagles Desperado 3:33
37 The Three Degrees Dirty Ol' Man (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 3:13
38 Roxy Music Do the Strand 4:02
39 Barry Blue Do You Wanna Dance? 3:54
40 Gary Glitter Do You Wanna Touch Me? (Oh Yeah) 3:19
41 The Jackson 5 Doctor, My Eyes 3:14
42 David Bowie Drive-In Saturday 4:30
CD3
43 Mud Dyna-Mite 2:58
44 The Simon Park Orchestra Eye Level (Theme from the Thames Television series "Van der Valk") 2:22
45 The Who 5:15 (Original 1973 UK Track Record 7" Single Mix) 4:52
46 Roy Wood Forever 4:19
47 The Edgar Winter Group Frankenstein (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 3:27
48 Clifford T. Ward Gaye 3:35
49 Gilbert O'Sullivan Get Down 2:41
50 Bob Marley & the Wailers Get Up, Stand Up 3:17
51 Roger Daltrey Giving It All Away 3:28
52 The Osmonds Goin' Home 2:26
53 Jimmy Helms Gonna Make You an Offer You Can't Refuse 3:42
54 Elton John Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 3:15
55 T. Rex The Groover 3:23
56 Bryan Ferry A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall (Original 1973 7" Single Edit) 3:24
57 Paul McCartney & Wings Helen Wheels 3:47
58 The Sweet Hell Raiser 3:17
59 Gary Glitter Hello, Hello, I'm Back Again 3:22
60 Alice Cooper Hello, Hooray 3:03
61 Al Green Here I Am (Come and Take Me) 4:14
62 Stevie Wonder Higher Ground (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 3:11
63 Focus Hocus Pocus (1973 US 7" Single Version) 3:24
64 Mott the Hoople Honaloochie Boogie 2:43
65 Barry White Honey Please, Can't Ya See (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 2:59
CD4
66 Ronnie Lane & Slim Chance How Come? (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 3:09
67 Mud Hypnosis 2:47
68 Ann Peebles I Can't Stand the Rain 2:29
69 Gary Glitter I Love You Love Me Love 3:11
70 Bob Marley & the Wailers I Shot the Sheriff 4:40
71 The Intruders I'll Always Love My Mama (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 3:09
72 New York City I'm Doin' Fine Now 2:50
73 Barry White I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 4:10
74 Ann Peebles I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down 2:44
75 Gary Glitter I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am!) 3:29
76 Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes If You Don't Know Me By Now 3:24
77 Millie Jackson It Hurts So Good 3:11
78 String Driven Thing It's a Game (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 3:35
79 David Bowie The Jean Genie 4:08
80 Looking Glass Jimmy Loves Mary Anne (Original 1973 7" Single Edit) 3:25
81 Steve Miller Band The Joker (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 3:33
82 Dolly Parton Jolene 2:37
83 Eddie Kendricks Keep on Truckin', Pt. 1 (Original 1973 7" Single Edit) 3:33
84 Queen Keep Yourself Alive 3:47
85 Roberta Flack Killing Me Softly with His Song 4:47
86 Bob Dylan Knockin' on Heaven's Door 2:32
87 David Essex Lamplight 2:53
88 The Osmonds Let Me In 3:36
CD5
89 Slade Let The Good Times Roll / Feel So Fine (Original 1973 US 7" Single Version) 3:46
90 Marvin Gaye Let's Get It On (Original 1973 7" Single Edit) 3:54
91 David Bowie Life on Mars? (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 3:50
92 Paul McCartney & Wings Live and Let Die 3:13
93 Don Downing Lonely Days, Lonely Nights (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 3:11
94 Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes The Love I Lost, Pt. 1 (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 3:36
95 Robert Knight Love on a Mountain Top 2:29
96 The O'Jays Love Train 2:59
97 The Who Love, Reign o'er Me (Original 1973 7" Single Edit) 3:10
98 Love Unlimited Orchestra Love's Theme (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 3:39
99 David Bowie The Man Who Sold the World (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 3:59
100 Gladys Knight & the Pips Midnight Train to Georgia (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 3:52
101 John Lennon Mind Games 4:12
102 Pink Floyd Money (1973 US 7" Single Edit) 3:59
103 Charlie Rich The Most Beautiful Girl 2:42
104 Slade Move Over (Original 1973 Japan 7" Single Version) 3:45
105 Alvin Stardust My Coo Ca Choo 2:47
106 Slade My Friend Stan 2:42
107 Paul McCartney & Wings My Love 4:10
108 Barry White Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 4:02
109 Cockerel Chorus Nice One Cyril 2:44
110 Alice Cooper No More Mr. Nice Guy 3:07
111 Ike & Tina Turner Nutbush City Limits 2:58
CD6
112 Led Zeppelin The Ocean (Original 1973 7" Single Edit) 4:23
113 Rod Stewart Oh! No Not My Baby 3:41
114 Medicine Head One and One Is One 3:27
115 Gilbert O'Sullivan Out of the Question 3:01
116 Led Zeppelin Over the Hills and Far Away 4:51
117 Status Quo Paper Plane 2:59
118 Marie Osmond Paper Roses 2:40
119 The Strawbs Part of the Union 2:57
120 New York Dolls Personality Crisis 3:42
121 Ringo Starr Photograph 3:57
122 Billy Joel Piano Man (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 4:36
123 Hudson-Ford Pick Up the Pieces 2:35
124 Sylvia Pillow Talk (Original 1973 7" Single Edit) 3:55
125 Faces Pool Hall Richard 4:26
126 Roxy Music Pyjamarama (Original 1973 Island 7" Single Mix) 3:04
127 Golden Earring Radar Love (Original 1973 UK 7" Single Edit) 3:43
128 ABBA Ring Ring (Bara Du Slog En Signal) (Original 1973 Swedish 7" Single Version) 3:08
129 David Essex Rock On 3:21
130 The Stylistics Rockin' Roll Baby (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 3:15
131 Mott the Hoople Roll Away the Stone (Original 1973 UK 7" Single Version) 3:07
132 Electric Light Orchestra Roll Over Beethoven (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 4:33
CD7
133 10cc Rubber Bullets (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 4:08
134 Elton John Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting 4:55
135 Wizzard See My Baby Jive 4:58
136 Hall & Oates She's Gone (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 3:25
137 Leo Sayer The Show Must Go On (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 2:53
138 Electric Light Orchestra Showdown (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 4:09
139 Slade Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me 4:29
140 First Choice Smarty Pants (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 2:39
141 Deep Purple Smoke on the Water (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 3:47
142 David Bowie Sorrow 2:53
143 Bob Marley & the Wailers Stir It Up 5:31
144 Roxy Music Street Life 3:29
145 Stealers Wheel Stuck In the Middle with You 3:24
146 Stevie Wonder Superstition 4:09
147 Focus Sylvia 3:30
148 The Isley Brothers That Lady (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 3:14
149 Nazareth This Flight Tonight 3:21
150 Dawn featuring Tony Orlando Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree 3:24
151 Carpenters Top of the World 3:02
152 Diana Ross Touch Me in the Morning (Original 1973 7" Single Edit) 3:27
CD8
153 T. Rex Truck On (Tyke) 3:09
154 Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells (Original 1973 7" Single Edit) 3:17
155 Donny Osmond The Twelfth of Never 2:41
156 Aretha Franklin Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do) 3:28
157 Lou Reed Walk on the Wild Side 4:13
158 Genesis Watcher of the Skies (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 3:42
159 Peters & Lee Welcome Home 3:33
160 Dennis Brown Westbound Train 3:03
161 Highly Likely feat. Tony Rivers Whatever Happened to You? (Theme from the BBC TV series "Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?") 3:49
162 Thin Lizzy Whiskey in the Jar (1973 7" Radio Promo Edit) 3:43
163 Timmy Thomas Why Can't We Live Together (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 3:31
164 Gilbert O'Sullivan Why, Oh Why, Oh Why 3:52
165 Free Wishing Well 3:35
166 Lynsey de Paul Won't Somebody Dance with Me 3:51
167 Carpenters Yesterday Once More (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 3:59
168 Stevie Wonder You Are the Sunshine of My Life (Original 1973 7" Single Version) 2:52
169 Limmie & Family Cookin' You Can Do Magic 2:58
170 Carly Simon You're So Vain 4:18
171 Donny Osmond Young Love 2:25
172 Wizzard I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday 4:39
173 Slade Merry Xmas Everybody 3:26
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thank you B.B another good one tks mate
ReplyDeleteHi Aussie.
DeleteI meant to put it out on Saturday but got caught up. Enjoy.
Cheers.
Thank you for this great series you have made enjoy the background that accompanies each download
ReplyDeleteThanks, msann.
DeleteI hope you enjoy this set.
Cheers.
K has outdone himself not least by setting the bar so low as to include the likes of 'Nice One Cyril'
ReplyDeleteAh 1973. A year of stagflation (recession plus 9% inflation), industrial unrest, oil crises, price controls and IRA terrorism. Little wonder people's taste in music was lets say a tad frivolous and on the Glam side. It was the last year that all 4 Beatles each had top thirty entries in the UK Chart. It was also a year of pop nostalgia. Not only was there Bowie's Pin-Ups but the Who released Quadrophenia, Ringo gaves us the covers dominated 'Ringo', Bryan Ferry remnisced about 'These Foolish Things' and Rod Sang It Again and the cinemas drew us out to see American Graffiti and That'll Be The Day.
Whilst K seems dismissive of the album scene that year the songs he's included in this collection tell a different story many of which were featured on that years top albums. Elton released Dont Shoot Me and Yellow Brick Road, McCartney released Red Rose Speedway and Band On The Run, Harrison released Living In The Material World, The Stones, Goat's Head Soup, David Bowie - Aladdin Sane and Pin-Ups, Lennon released Mind Games, Lou Reed - Berlin, Stooges - Raw Power, Free - Heartbreaker, Slade - Slayed, Quo - Piledriver & Hello, Paul Simon - There Goes Rhymin Simon, Eagles ~ Desperado, America ~ Hat-trick, Two from Yes - Yessongs & Tales From The Topographic Ocean, Genesis - Selling England by The Pound etc etc and there was the debut from Queen and over the pond one from Lynyrd Skynyrd and of course SImon & Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water and Greatest Hits still kept outselling most albums released that year. Then there was Floyd's monster of an offering.
Certainly the single charts were full of the new Philly sound and Tamla but beyond the charts a lot more was going on with bands such as the Jam, Be-Bop Deluxe, The Skyhooks and Television all forming in 1973 and bands as diverse as Bachman Turner Overdrive, Queen, Cockney Rebel and KC And The Sunshine Band making their debuts debuts.
What I am surprised at given the deserved focus on US soul is the omission of The Temptations and their two classic singles Papa Was A Rolling Stone and Law of The Land from the Masterpiece album, Bloodstone's Natural High also deserve consideration as more generally shouts for Albert Hammond's - Free Electric Band, Brownsville Station - Smokin In The Boys Room, Paul Simon's - Love Me Like A Rock and Take Me To The Mardi Gras, America's - Muskrat Love, Marmalade's - Our House Is Rockin', Don McLean - Dreidel, Hawkwind's - Urban Guerilla, the Kinks Sweet Lady Genevieve and the belatedly but aptly released Where Have All The Good Times Gone , The Stooges - Raw Power & Search & Destroy, Cockney Rebel - Sebastian and Deep Purple's - Woman In Tokyo most of whom seem equally as earthly as the Strawbs homage to industrial action.
Of course in the US, Watergate and withdrawal from Vietnam War were the dominant news stories and it was the latter that really pushed Tie A Yellow Ribbon into the pop music stratosphere given its references to prodigal homecoming and by association returning US war veterans (with their families doing exactly that for them).
Thanks for the interesting post K.
PS And with bands like Slade and Sweet it was always a good idea to check out the B-Sides which were often far less frivolous offerings than the A-side.....
Thanks, Manny Kent,
DeleteAlways good to keep rolling the ball.
"K" says in response to "What I am surprised at given the deserved focus on US soul is the omission of The Temptations and their classic single Papa Was A Rolling Stone." Papa Was A Rolling Stone was released on September 28, 1972 and is included in my 1972 best singles overview.
Cheers.
Thanks !!...Looking forward to 1970, 1971 and 1972 !
ReplyDeleteIn The Early 70's The Singles A Sides Were Targetted At The Younger Audience, Not Expected To Flip To The B Side, That Was Left To Big Brother/Sister Who Discovered The Rockier Sides.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tell.
DeleteInteresting point.
I hope you are enjoying this set.
Cheers.
"Back To The Future"!
ReplyDelete(Nice to see a 1973 50th Anniversary a year early!)
This should probably have a"Not to be opened until 2023" sticker!
But wait.............it is dated 2023........very future proof thinking.
Great as always
Cheers
Stephen
😃
DeleteThis is magnificent. '73 was the year I started watching Top of the Pops with my older sister. She was a fan of The Osmonds, David Cassidy, Bay City Rollers, etc. but I was more drawn to Glam Rock acts even at that age. Thanks as ever BB & K. SPx
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, SleeyPete.
DeleteThis has inspired more Glam set to be posted. Whatch this space.
Cheers.
Thank you so much for all your great work.
ReplyDeleteI have sucessfully downloaded 1972 and 1978 -1982 but the links on the post above isn´t working.
Could you please repost the links for 1973?
Many thanks in advance
Hi Stones64.
ReplyDeleteNew links established tested and working.
Cheers.
Thanks for your response.
ReplyDeleteMy mainsource for interresting tracks has until now been a YouTube channel of AnotherProf (https://www.youtube.com/@anotherprof3408) which mainly focus on the U.S market of records and song hits.
Your excellent blogg seems to, among other things, also focus on the british charts history and so on.
This is perfect for me.
All the best.
Hi Stones64.
DeleteGlad to hear that this blog offers something you are interested in. Enjoy your visits.
Cheers.