Hello and welcome to the Rock n Coasters podcast, I am one of your hosts, Michele Forto. To kick off the new year we are starting something new every week. We are going to talk about the top metal albums of the year and share some cool facts from back in time. Sit back kids, this is going to be a wild ride.
Up first is 1972, the year I was born. It is hard to believe that some much time as passed and I will be 51 in May. With all that time, I have heard a lot of music come and go. On June 1972 five men were arrested breaking into Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters at Watergate Complex in Washington D.C., an event seen as a catalyst for the eventual downfall of President Richard Nixon. Doritos were introduced in 1964 as plain tortilla chips. Taco flavor was introduced in 1967 and nacho cheese in 1972. Time Warner launched HBO (Home Box Office).
Quotes:
“Nothing runs like a Deere”
– John Deere
“Nobody does it like Sara Lee”
– Sara Lee
Rock ‘n’ roll is a wide ranging term that has seen many different evolutions over the years, but by the time 1972 came around you could start to see acts that weren’t just content with the catchy ditties that populated radio in the ’50s and early ’60s. A harder sound had emerged and its there we find our focus for this list, recounting the Best Hard Rock Album of Each Year Since 1970.
Even these hard rock sounds branched off in different directions, from the guitar-centric rock of the early ’70s into the evolution of the punk movement. By the time the ’80s came around, we saw metal spin off of a more radio ready version of rock. At the end of the era, you began to see things branch out even further with industrial rock also making its presence felt. The ’90s saw a grittier version of hard rock labeled grunge dominating the early part of the era, while elements of more beat-driven music yielded the nu metal era of the late ’90s and early 2000s.
Now lets get to the music.
1972: Deep Purple, ‘Machine Head’
Deep Purple grabbed the ‘70s by the horns, igniting rock ‘n’ roll with ‘In Rock’ as the new decade arrived. Fanning the flames with ‘Fireball,’ the Brits’ career skyrocketed in 1972 with the release of ‘Machine Head.’ Little did the band realize they had a timeless classic on their hands with “Smoke on the Water,” which is now often times the first riff any aspiring guitarist learns to play. Both “Highway Star” and “Space Truckin’” roared with a proto-metal rage, helping to distinguish the line between hard rock and what would become heavy metal in the coming years.
So, guys, what do you think? Do you think you will like this series? Please let us know in the comments and on our social channels, just search Rock n Coasters podcast. Also, do us a favor and hit that subscribe button. One more thing watch your podcast feed on Thursdays as we will do the same format for the top metal albums too.
I am your host, Michele Forto, see you next time.
