1973 Albums

(No Pussyfooting) > Fripp & Eno

Artist: Fripp & Eno

Label: Island Records

Catalog#: HELP 16

Format: Vinyl

Country: United Kingdom

Released: 1973-11

Strawberry Bricks Entry:

Robert Fripp and Brian Eno paired up for this recording more than a year prior to its release. At the time, Eno was still in Roxy Music (but soon on his way to a solo career), while Fripp was busy recruiting for King Crimson. Recorded in Eno's front room, the album's centerpiece is "The Heavenly Music Corporation;" it's Fripp's guitar feed looped-back through two tape recorders. The result? You guessed it: heavenly music.

...Sounds Like This > Nektar

Artist: Nektar

Label: Bacillus Records, Bellaphon

Catalog#: BDA 7501, BDA 7501

Format: Vinyl

Country: Germany

Released: 1973

2nd > Agitation Free

Artist: Agitation Free

Label: Vertigo

Catalog#: 6360 615

Format: Vinyl

Country: Germany

Released: 1973

Strawberry Bricks Entry:

Agitation Free remained busy after recording their debut album, appearing in the cultural program for the 1972 Munich Olympics as well as touring France for a few months in 1973. Guitarist Stefan Diez deputized for their second album, titled 2nd; it also saw release on the Music Factory label. "First Communication" opens the album. With its guitars in unison, it offers a sound that has more similarities with the improvisations of American Southern rock than with the German krautrock of the day! Never mind though—the ensuing "Dialogue and Random" is pure electronic bliss.

A Passion Play > Jethro Tull

Artist: Jethro Tull

Label: Chrysalis

Catalog#: CHR 1040

Format: Vinyl

Country: United States

Released: 1973-07

Strawberry Bricks Entry:

Jethro Tull headed off to Michel Magne's famous Château d'Hérouville studio in France to record the follow-up to the previous year's Thick As A Brick. Unfortunately, the sessions were abandoned, and the band returned to England without a record. (The sessions were ultimately released on CD in 1993 as Nightcap.) Reconstituted in London, Tull started anew and recorded another album-length epic, this time centering on the altogether heavier topic of life and death. Though a concise edit (#8) was found for a single, A Passion Play is best taken whole.

A.R. IV > A.R. & Machines

Artist: Achim Reichel

Label: Zebra

Catalog#: 2949 008

Format: Vinyl

Country: Germany

Released: 1973

Abbiamo Tutti Un Blues Da Piangere > Perigeo, Il

Artist: Perigeo

Label: RCA Italiana

Catalog#: DPSL 10609

Format: Vinyl

Country: Italy

Released: 1973-09

Acqua Fragile > Acqua Fragile

Artist: Acqua Fragile

Label: Numero Uno

Catalog#: Dzsln 55656

Format: Vinyl

Country: Italy

Released: 1973-06-00

Air Cut > Curved Air

Artist: Curved Air

Label: Warner Bros. Records

Catalog#: K 46224

Format: Vinyl

Country: United Kingdom

Released: 1973-04

Strawberry Bricks Entry:

Following the departure of Darryl Way and Francis Monkman, Sonja Kristina and Mike Wedgwood regrouped as Curved Air and recruited two young prodigies: guitarist Kirby Gregory and keyboardist/violinist Eddie Jobson. Along with drummer Jim Russell, they made their debut on the 1973 album Air Cut. "The Purple Speed Queen" kicks off the album, propelled by Jobson's heavy organ and Gregory's up-in-the-mix guitar runs. "Elfin Boy" is a stark contrast: a gentle folk number with Kristina's voice to the fore.