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These days more rock rags than you can shake a schtick at are trying to emulate CREEM's patented lunatic irreverence when applying captions to their photos. However, only our special breed of Boy Howdy-imbibing scribes can muster the state of inspired dementia necessary for mastering the sublimely silly art of photo-synopsis. Of course, should any staffer suffer a temporary bout of caption-writer's block, we simply beat the funny out of them.
On another note, CREEM is proud to present it's first "Dream Boxset," culled exclusively from the best year in rock (in this author's opinion, at least), 1972. The Brits love these sort of lists, and now it's CREEM's turn! Since emulation, appropriation, and outright thievery have long been the very foundation on which rock 'n' roll is built, who are we to insist on unremitting originality?
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—Cheers,
Boy Howdy
May 2003
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impression on me. While I do like orange carpet and brown kitchen cabinets, I don’t ultimately think it was the furnishings. I never missed Colombo or All in the Family, but it wasn’t the TV shows, either.
I realize there was probably better music in '66, '67, '68 and definitely '69; but I guess there was just more of it in 1972. It was "album rock" at it’s pinnacle. It seemed that whoever recorded a rock 'n' roll album in 1972 was at their finest. From 1967 onward, rock music became more and more of a business and 1972 was the crest just before it all started to get (as Hunter S. would say) “a little too weird for me."
From Bowie's Ziggy Stardust to the Stones' Exile On Main Street, 1972 was the year rock 'n' roll let it’s hair down. Even if you weren’t crazy about a particular group, chances are in '72 they delivered their most memorable work to date. Bands like Jethro Tull, Deep Purple and Yes recorded the music that distinguishes them to this day.
It was also the first year albums started clocking in over 35 minutes... well, some of 'em. The caliber of the greats—like Mott’s Dudes, and Roxy’s debut—was unlike anything released before. It was commercial yet dangerous, melodic yet raw. The rules changed, and 13-year-old boys daydreamed of their wild snorting British heros while suffering through Algebra class. AM and FM were about to split for good. These days everything comes down to "The Boxed Set", so here it is... 1972 style... but first: |
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—Chris Carter
May 2003
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1. David Bowie |
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The Rise & Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars |
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2. Rolling Stones |
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Exile On Main Street |
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3. Mott The Hoople |
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All The Young Dudes |
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4. T. Rex |
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The Slider |
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5. Roxy Music |
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Roxy Music |
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6. Jethro Tull |
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Thick As A Brick |
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7. Rod Stewart |
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Never A Dull Moment |
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8. Alice Cooper |
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School's Out |
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9. Todd Rundgren |
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Something/Anything |
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10. Jethro Tull |
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Living In The Past |
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11. Big Star |
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No. 1 |
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12. Badfinger |
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Straight Up |
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13. Lou Reed |
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Transformer |
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14. Cat Stevens |
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Catch A Bull At Four |
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15. Stevie Wonder |
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Talking Book |
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16. Deep Purple |
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Machine Head |
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17. Joni Mitchell |
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For The Roses |
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18. Lou Reed |
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Lou Reed |
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19. Yes |
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Close To The Edge |
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20. Nick drake |
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Pink Moon |
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21. Elton John |
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Honky Château |
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22. Black Sabbath |
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Vol. 4 |
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23. Pink Floyd |
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Obscured By Clouds |
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24. The Mothers |
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Just Another Band From L.A. |
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25. Deep Purple |
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Made In Japan |
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26. Slade |
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Alive! |
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27. Steely Dan |
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Can't Buy A Thrill |
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28. Blue Öyster Cult |
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Blue Oyster Cult |
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29. The Kinks |
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Everybody's In Showbiz |
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30. The Edgar Winter Group |
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They Only Come Out At Night |
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31. Curtis Mayfield |
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Superfly [soundtrack] |
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32. Chicago |
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33. Paul Simon |
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Paul Simon |
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34. Al Green |
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I'm Still In Love With You |
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35. Emerson Lake & Palmer |
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Trilogy |
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36. Stevie Wonder |
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Music In My Mind |
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37. Caravan |
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Waterloo Lilly |
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38. The Allman
Brothers Band |
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Eat A Peach |
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39. Free |
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Heartbreaker |
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40. John & Yoko/
Plastic Ono Band |
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Sometime In New York City |
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