Needle Drop Nation

Greetings everyone and welcome to episode 8 of Needle Drop Nation. I'm Jodie Barius and here is my lovely host Mr. Nicholas Wood. Today's episode is titled Heartbreak, Hope and Heavy Rotation.
Yeah. I love it.
And 1971 was a is a was a fantastic year um with music. And um Nick and I are going to be doing a special format for today's episode. Um and we wanted to celebrate several albums, actually several albums that really were the pinnacle in our minds as Gen Xers growing up and listening to the music at that time. Um as kids, remember it's a love letter. to our childhood. Um so we're going to make this a special edition um for you and for us. So um here we go. 1971 was a very important year also with the fact that number one um here in America uh television um banned um cigarette smoking ads as well as radio did ban um cigarette ads. Another thing that was Yes. Another thing that was important 1971 was was Apollo 14 um was was an successful mission in 1971 for um um the uh third or fourth landing on the moon.
So that's something that we can acknowledge.
Yeah,
right. And indeed very topical bag on trend totally.
Exactly. As we noticed and it's still going on today as you notice most recently. Right. Um but also So one of the things that I must say that was important that we had to note in the UK was there was the chance for remote learning to make education more accessible. In 1971 we saw that remote learning was possible um through television um and broadcasting and later suit followed in the United States. So something to keep in mind.
And for our UK listeners 71 was basically the year we went decimal.
Yes. And to top it off with history Charles Manson and his followers were found guilty. Well, thank goodness, you know, they were found guilty.
Exactly. Um, so let's start, let's continue with the meat and bones of this episode. So 1971 was the year where the amazing album from Marvin Gay, um, What's Going On was released. Now, it's a very dear album to me and to Nick, um, for several reasons because this is a change that you see in Marvin Gay and I want to just delve into the conceptualization. Um so Marvin um around the time in 1970 um and 69 um lost his close friend Tammy Terrell um from a brain tumor. So that happened. Um his brother uh was serving in the Vietnam War um and heard about the horror that was going on over there that got Marvin also depressed and he was also going through a lot himself. Um, a lot of changes um and definitely felt that it was time to reflect on what was happening in the world outward. Um, still racism still going on in the United States.
Yeah.
His buddy Obie Benson from the four tops was touring and literally saw this revolt, this police brutality event um that happened with students um and Obie wanted to um he actually wrote the song called What's Going On, presented to his friend Marvin Gay. Marvin actually liked it and literally wanted to collaborate with some downtown orchestral musicians uh in um Detroit um as well as um bring it up to Barry Gordy, his producer. Barry was so used to producing um Marvin's work um or being his manager with Marvin being the romantic type.
Yeah,
that was not in Marvin's complete um headsp space to be quite honest. He was dealing with depression, uh drug addiction. He lost his closest friend. He saw what was going on in the Vietnam War. Um racism still happening in the United States. Um so he moved forward and that's when the production of the album What's Going On came about. Um This album hit the top of the charts. It start it was released in January of 1971 and stayed on the charts for over I would say over like almost a year and a half uh with the four saints that came out. Yep.
That's incredible.
Yes.
What a beautiful voice that man had. That's what I what I quick to ask you, Joey. Was the musicians that they using was that the the uh the wrecking crew as they were called? Do you know?
I'm not sure. if it was the wrecking crew, but it was the orchest they were doing um he was working with professional orchestral um musicians that um did the um recordings for what's going on and you know, you know, he did different versions of that in the studio. He also did an ac capella version of it, recorded that solo um and then added layers, then added musician. And it's funny because Marvin had that type of um He can also conduct. He was able to add the layers of music into um what should be recorded for every track with every artist that he collaborated on that album. And believe me, it the fruits of labor came about in such a way where um this was I feel his best album from his career. Don't you agree, Nick?
Yeah. Soulful melodic um yeah the production values I think that's that's the thing. The layering is absolutely spot on. I think you couldn't I couldn't think of an even better one to be honest and and you're right and it summed up, you know, summed up the times that that he was going through and and the world was going through as well. And so, you know, from from that beautiful uh beautiful, mellow, gorgeous, soulful voice, I'm going to switch it up a little bit with uh because in 1971 it was Led Zep 4. for the album. So, Jimmy Paige, John Bonham on the drums. Who else do we have there? Robert Pl. Uh, John Paul Jones.
What a combination I have to say. And I've got to I have to thank my brother for my introduction to Lee. It wasn't in 71. It was probably nearer 76 77 that I first heard Lez for. First heard amazing drum slot and So
this is this is this is where it became uh where it became Yeah. the heavy heavy metal, heavy rock. Um they really really did uh do some incredible stuff and it was just such a great album. Um what were we going to talk about? Stairway to Heaven.
That was uh you know absolute genius. Black Dog, you know,
Black Dog's fantastic.
Yeah, they were just other ones. Was it Four Sticks as well? I think this is on that one.
Mhm. Yeah.
And just, you know, it was just their, it was like I've arrived album,
you know. I think they were at the kind of almost at their at their peak. They could not they could not do something as good, I don't think. But yeah, it was just fantastic and big both sides of the pond, I believe.
Absolutely. I feel that, you know, they actually hit as soon as they hit touring um here in the United States back in 1968. What an amazing support that they got from like you know from West Coast from the psychedelic you know the psychedelic you know u community out there um such creativity of course that they immersed into you know the um audience as well as other artists out there then also coming here to the east coast you know was amazing and being able to have venues like you know um Madison Square Garden you know the Builtmore they just were kicking butt. And actually what was interesting in America, they were accepted and embraced in America when they were growing,
you know, and then coming back to England. Um, it was an honor for them because they were so well loved in the United States from ever since they released released their first album and everybody was anticipating the next album. Here Comes Led Zeppelin 4. Oh my gosh. Mindblowing. ing storytelling lyrics, Stairway to Heaven, right? Great orchestration. Jimmy Paige with his brilliance um trying to work with the music engineers on this album and uh Black Dog what is like one of the early inspirations to heavy metal. I mean, if you really think about it and it's that that album is, you know, no one it was amazing how they were I mean truly, you know, well um received um of them being in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to be quite honest.
Great great ensemble
and again but brilliant individual musicians as well and that's that's the nice thing that you know they all come together at the right time. I don't think there's anyone that was that was better than anybody else. I think that was one of one of the things which made it work so well. And from a you know from a Brit side you know we have no concept of just how big the states is. If We really don't. So for for a band for a band to come from little old British Isles uh and make it big in the States is just completely mindblowing. It really is. Even even to this day, I I'm stunned. And when we get some some British uh
some British British Grammy winners, but um but hey, Grammys in 19 Well, it relates to 1971, but literally she swept the board in 1972. um was Carol King.
Yes.
She had an amazing 1971.
So Carol King, this um wonderful songwriter who's been songwriting since the late 50s, early 60s for the Charels and um some of the girl bands. Um you know, we see uh Will You Still Love Me was um one of the major songs that she wrote for them. And then as time went along um the album with Tapestry we're talking about is it's a great album. Um, even up to this day, I have people, you know, Nick, I hear people who are younger than us that if you would say, "What's my top 10 albums of my life?" I'm talking about Gen Xers, um, you know, millennials, even Gen Z's because they they that was their parents' top album, which is Tapestry, you know, beautiful songs that really talked about reality like It's too late. Um, you know, the song that I feel that, you know, you got a friend. Um, you're talking about true, beautiful songs that hit the very core that someone can really relate to while they're listening to her. Um, the album so much, highly deserved, got four Grammy awards. Um, and um, you know, for Carol King, you know, her fruits of labor we could say as a team, you know, from being a young songwriter really paid off you know and welldeserved for her. So I tapestry was like definitely I called multi-generational
multi you know in pop rock you know um music history to be quite honest. So yes 1971 again another great year of music.
Uh absolutely well as we say the great year of music Jody just guys if you're listening to this just listen to the playlist Jod's put together. I mean, man, Jody said it was the most edited playlist she's put together because it's hard to choose. We've got you got T-Rex. Get it on. You got the Rolling Stones with Brown Sugar. Um, stay with me with her faces. Absolutely. Ain't no sunshine real withers. This is just over and over again. Barbara O'Reilly, the Who. I didn't realize The Who was so big in the States until I chat to you, Jody. I'll be honest.
Oh my goodness. I mean, You know, it's just one of the things is is that when you think about it and you talk about great rock and roll music, you know, I always say it connects to the blues, the guitar, and everything. And then that truly resonates depending on where you are in part of the world. You listen to it and you're like, that is exceptional, you know, that's an exceptional music. That's exceptional vibe. And that's what Pete brings people together, you know, when you think about it. So, yep. The hoop is you're talking about Brilliant guitarist, you know, Pete Townsen.
Yeah. Fant again. Fantastic basist. John Nistle. Craziest drummer I believe ever to have walked the planet. Keith Moon. Goodness. Goodness. Nobody knows what he Well, I say goodness only knows what he was on. I think everyone knew what he was on.
Exactly. What was he on at the time when they were recording this?
I don't I don't think he needed to be on anything. I think he was
he just had his own, you know, um
his own thing. Yes.
Exactly. hold a beat. I remember seeing a great interview with um Roger Daltry, the lead singer, who was saying that, you know, at the end of the day, he didn't do the drink and drugs because one of them had to stay sober to know what they were doing.
And Roger Dalty was athletic. I mean, you know, if you if you see his builds, I think he was involved in sports, you know, as a young person. And uh yeah, I mean, I I cannot ignore when you see Roger Daltry, you're like, "Wow, even as he got older, how um attractive he was but yes
I yeah I have to say even as a man I would say he was a very very good-looking man
yes yes but um you know also another thing we talk about the title of this episode um you know heartbreak hope um you know
greatest thing exactly and heavy rotation you know one of the songs you know that you can really that really resonates with heavy rot ation is, you know, um a former beetle.
It is incredible. John Lennon brought out in magic. Uh and this is one of again one of my favorite songs just just I just listen to it and I know you know I know lots of I was grown I was brought up as a as a good churchgoing boy. Um but yeah, imagine there's no heaven. It's easy if you try and no hell either. And that was the thing and and it stayed with me. all the way through when I had my little band as a as a youngster in my teens. Uh, one of the places we wanted to play was our local church. And so we'd got we agreed it all. The the the the vicar, the priest said, "Yep, no problem." The church warden said it was okay. Um, and then when one of them saw what we were going to play and we sat we had Imagin Imagine and he was like, "I'm not sure you could play that in a church."
Wow. Really?
Yeah. Really anti But it's timeless and it's one of those beautiful songs and you know what? Yeah, just imagine
no wars, everyone just being peaceful and that was that was what he gave. Um that was his great gift to the world sadly way too soon taken away.
Then also think about there was another thing that we had to take into consideration Nick you know um you and I talk about commercials and music and
and what was interesting about 1971 was, you know, this was a time when, you know, the baby boomers were already having their kids, right? So,
yeah,
you know, whether kids that were just born or kid, you know, depending on when they had their kids, but it was a time when they, you know, parents shared with their children music, you know, at a very young age. So whether they were listening to the radio, listening to the eight track, or watching television, songs were intentional on commercials and and Nikki brought it up on our conversation which was uh the special commercial from
it is it's a commercial that that's the thing I don't this is the crazy thing I don't particularly remember the commercial I'd like to give the world a coke but the song I'd like to teach the world to sing with the new seekers that one absolutely was played by radios parents
all the time I was five and is you know it's one of those songs that is ingrained into me to think the new seekers what happened to the old seekers bit but that's how my 5-year-old mind worked you know
what happened to the old ones but I like the new ones so that's that's all good and then to realize later in life I was like oh my goodness it was actually it was a commercial song as opposed to a an absolutely great song so I really I love it so if you know for all the things that cope yeah it might not be good for your teeth and your sugar levels and things like that. But they did they did give us I'd like to give the world a cake. They brought us a beautiful tune. So I think we can forgive them. Even Cherry.
Oh yes.
That that goes later on in line. That's later on. That that's a millennial thing. Okay. But anyway, so as we're talking like you see how I like to like just brush that off and blame another generation for that. But um as we move on to that on that note, one of the things though that um also um exemplifies that feeling of harmony at home and singing together were some of the albums and tracks that were released in 1971. You know, we've got you know MLAN's Bye-bye Miss American Pie.
Yeah,
it I could see I kids we were sing we were singing when we were kids too as well. It you know it it builds a feeling of patriotism. That was what I felt when you know we're singing it together as children and also um you know um Joy to the World by three dog night you
yeah two brilliant song and again you talk about patriotism and I think I got to I do envy the states for their for for for their sense of patriotism that I feel we've never really had a UK song or no one no one's actually made a song about being how great the UK is probably because it doesn't rhyme very much with stuff Oh no.
Um I didn't remember Elton John years a few years ago doing one I was made in England or something. Just didn't just didn't work. Didn't have the same vibe as you know American pie or indeed Springsteen born in the USA.
Born in the USA.
I think I think all our all our um like national uh national heroes and things they were they were written although those tunes were written 100 years beforehand. So land of hope from Glory and things like that. We need a We need a updated pop version. And if he was still alive, I would want this man to do it. We want to talk about him because we love his music. We could have had his old album Honky Dory on a show of his own. David Bow, what can I say? Yes,
he was he was of the red hair, no eyebrows, super glam rock. And the Honky Dory album came out in 1971 with two of my favorite tracks, Life on Mars which is just gorgeous. And of course, you think it's bigger running in the States. Changes
changes.
Oh man, I love that song myself. Judy from David Bowie. Yeah. And it's interesting um Nick, when you mention about that album, one thing that I must say is that Hunky Dory was an album that literally showed one of the best songwriting of Bowie. Um even though it wasn't, you know, in the forefront in the United States as as the albums that came afterwards um you know with Ziggy Stardust Let's Dance um and also you know um other albums that he's collaborated with other artists like with Iggy Pop. I think one of the things I would say about Hunky Dory if you were to say what would be the best album of David Bowie songwriting it would be Hunky Dory. What do you think?
I mean it'd have to be right up there because because They are just classic songs and you know it's one there's another one as well that's escaping me. There's a third one on that album which is also brilliant. I'm going to have to go and look it up.
Um
but yeah no it's fantastic and yeah he collaborated with he did a lot of stuff with um Mark Bolan and T-Rex cuz
Mark from T-Rex. Yeah
they they they were big buddies for for years and years and years because they lived down the same road virtually same part of London. And then also they were
and the glam rock movement, you know, they did that the collaboration together. T-Rex was also Bang Aong came out that year.
Exactly.
One of my favorite glam rock songs ever is and I I remember I do remember as a kid uh I think they gave Mark Bowden had a a TV show probably a bit later in the 70s.
Mhm.
I remember David Bowie being on it and them reminiscing, you know, about about how it all started. But, you know, when they were both two two mega stars just just chatting about how you back in the day when they were four and but they had the same vision the same dream and and yeah yeah the writing talent of of David Barry I mean how he just changed himself constantly this is really this was like the the biggest hits he's had since Space Odity so and again all these so Jody is just you just realize just the sheer volume of work. They were churning out all the time. And you know, we're talking one, sometimes two full albums a year. They just had so much inspiration.
Mhm.
Spare time.
Motivation. You know what it is?
Motivation.
Motivation. When they go on tour, they get inspired and they can't wait to hit the studio. What was interesting about Led Zeppelin at one point was that they would be recording in different parts of the United States a track. and and bring it back to um you know a studio um where they can actually sum up the album you know and get it together um producing it. It's interesting how you're right how artists then whether it's Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, you know um Elton John, they literally artists at that time were able from like start with one album a new album like And then on from the late from the previous year and then before you know it, it's the end of 1971, they're going to be doing they're going to be releasing an album soon. And we see that frequency even in the 80s to be quite honest when when we cover um you know artists in the 80s, you'll see like when like artists like Durandan actually did something very similar too as well. So
and it's it's true and I I remember seeing uh seeing a documentary about it actually talked about um Bruce Springsteen, who will obviously be coming to very soon, and the fact that, you know, he's he's out reason why they gave these young artists big big album deals or long-term album deals because it took the first two or three albums for them to actually get their groove and and to find what it was and then normally their third or fourth albums would be the ones which uh paid for some of the rather iffy earlier ones.
But yeah, we can we can cover that. But they they just generated a a whole t of music with the beneficiaries. Oh, you pretty things. That was the other one on the funky dog.
That was That's a be That's a great song, too. Yes.
So, yeah. Oh, I'm going to have to go listen to it again now, Jody.
I know. Like I said, you and I can do like a whole like five episode, five part on David Bowie, you know.
Yeah. And we probably will
if we if we sticking to our 20 minute schedule, you know, we'd have to be we'd have to be per album.
Yes,
you never get these old back catalog in.
But definitely everybody listen to the um Spotify playlist that's going to be linked below. Um you know, you definitely can have the opportunity to listen to this podcast on uh iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music. Um wow. And uh you know, I wanted to um on behalf of Nick and I, we wanted to thank you all for really um um you know, following us since the very first episode. I mean, it's it's we're really celebrating to say this is our eighth episode, our second months.
Yeah, second month.
Happy month anniversary.
There you go, buddy. There you go.
You're the best.
You're the best. So, um and next week we've got a nice, um, you know, episode in store for you. It'll be focusing on the year 1972.
1972. Another good year. I was six.
It was.
Yes.
But you're right, Jody. You're right. Go check out the playlist. We got We got Artha Franklin on there. We got the Jacksons. All sorts. I mean, you've got some some weird Welsh singer, but Shirley Button with Diamond Forever.
Lots of fantastic tunes. So, yeah, do go check out the soundtrack. If you like listening to us on our little podcast, please give us a review, a good one, of course. Um, we'd love to. We'd love to feedback. And if you want us to feature any particular song from 1972, obviously just uh message us, reach out to us. Our details in the in the show notes and let us know and we'll gladly include it.