Strangely the things I remember most about 1977 are punk-related, but in researching this feature, I quickly realized that there were a lot of major happenings in '77 that, looking back, make it one of the more pivotal years in music.Most importantly, of course, Elvis Presley made what was to be his final public performance on June 26 at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana. Presley would be found in his Graceland home and later pronounced dead at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, TN, a day before he was scheduled to begin another string of U.S. tour dates.On July 24, Led Zeppelin would perform in Oakland, CA. Unbeknownst to them and their fans, it would be the original line-up's final U.S. performance.After a tumultuous parting with EMI in January, the Sex Pistols would fire original bassist Glen Matlock in February. With new bassist Sid Vicious in tow, they would orchestrate a press conference/contract signing in front of Buckingham Palace on March 11 to announce their new agreement with A&M Records. An after-party would take place at A&M's offices wherein Vicious would ransack the managing director's office. This did not sit well with label employees and the contract would be voided less than a week later.In February, Fleetwood Mac releases "Rumours", an album that would catapult them to stratospheric heights on the strength of hit singles "Go Your Own Way" (#10), "Dreams" (#1), "Don't Stop" (#3), and "You Make Loving Fun" (#9). The album would spend 31 weeks at #1 and go on to win a Grammy for Album Of The Year the following February.Signaling the height of disco-based elitism and excess, Studio 54 opens in New York City and becomes the place to see and be seen.Just in time for the Christmas shopping season, KISS release "Alive II" on November 28. Despite the lack of a Top 40 single, the album still managed a Top 10 U.S chart showing.Meatloaf rockets to the top of the charts with the bombastic concept album "Bat Out Of Hell". Produced by Todd Rundgren and conceptualized by Jim Steinman, the album would peak at #14, but sell consistently over the next several years, amassing sales of over thirty million copies worldwide.Championed by David Bowie and Iggy Pop, Devo are signed to Warner Brothers records and begin recording sessions with Brian Eno.Other bands to be signed to major label contracts this year include the Cars, Van Halen, and the Police.In January, David Bowie releases "Low" (#11), the first of what many refer to as his Berlin Trilogy because they were recorded with Brian Eno during a collaboration that began in, and would often return to, Hansa Studios in West Berlin. In October, David Bowie releases the follow-up effort "Heroes". The album peaks at #35 in the U.S. while breaking the Top 5 in Britain.Jimmy Buffett would forever establish himself as the King of Key West with his eighth solo album, "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes". It would become his first Top 20 album, propelled by the success of the hit single "Margaritaville", which peaked at #8 on the Pop singles chart. In addition to being a hit on the pop and easy listening charts, the album would also reach #2 on the country charts.Randy Newman enjoys dramatic chart success with his sixth solo album, "Little Criminals" thanks to the novelty-based popularity of the single "Short People". The song would peak at #2 on the Pop singles chart and become quite the career albatross for Newman, who would later achieve popularity as the composer of scores for such films as "Toy Story", "A Bug's Life", "Pleasantville" and "Meet The Parents".July sees the UK release of "My Aim is True", the debut album by Elvis Costello & The Attractions.In November, Eric Clapton releases his career-defining fifth studio effort, "Slowhand" (#2). It features such classic Clapton staples as "Wonderful Tonight" (#16), "Lay Down Sally" (#3), and the J.J. Cale-penned "Cocaine".In May, Heart release their se cond album, "Little Queen", which spawns the now-classic muscular radio hit "Barracuda" and proves their platinum debut effort the year before ("Dreamboat Annie") was no fluke.Peter Gabriel releases his first solo album in February. Produced by Bob Ezrin, the album also featured the guitar work of King Crimson's Robert Fripp.In October, Virgin Records releases the debut album by the Sex Pistols, "Never Mind The Bollocks". The use of the word "bollocks" (considered an obscenity in Britain) in the album's title added to the current public outrage surrounding the already-controversial punk band. All of this only served to fuel interest in the album, which went to #1 on the UK Albums chart.Billy Joel's fifth album is a breakthrough effort that reaches #2 on the U.S. Albums chart, fueled by the success of Top 5 single "Just The Way You Are". Subsequent singles "Movin' Out" and "She's Always A Woman" reach the Top 20 and keep the album firmly lodged in the Top 200 for 137 week s.Donna Summer's single, "I Feel Love", rocketed to #1 in the UK (and #6 in the U.S.), but was most notable for its groundbreaking production by Giorgio Moroder, who utilized synthesizers to create the lush, danceable disco groove, rather than orchestral instrumentation that so many prior disco hits had relied upon.In September, T. Rex leader Marc Bolan is killed in an auto accident."Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band", from the original "Stars Wars" film and performed by Meco, spends two weeks at #1.In October, Lynyrd Skynyrd's Ronnie Van Zandt, Steve Gaines and Cassy Gaines are killed in an airplane crash.In February, Manfred Mann's Earth Band would reach #1 with their cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Blinded By The Light". To date, it is the only version of a Springsteen song (including those released by Springsteen himself) to reach #1 on the U.S. singles charts.Thin Lizzy releases their sixth album, "Bad Reputation", in September. Only three of the four members of the band app ear on the cover, as guitarist Brian Robertson was intentionally left out after missing most of the sessions due to injuries from a bar brawl. He would officially leave the band after the album's release, to be replaced by a string of interim guitarists that include future Ultravox singer Midge Ure.Bill Conti's "Gonna Fly Now", the theme song from the movie "Rocky" lands at #1 in July.Steely Dan release "Aja" in September and experience their first taste of platinum success as the album rises to #3 on the Billboard Top 100 Albums chart. It features such well-known Steely Dan classics as "Deacon Blues" (#19), "Peg" (#11), and "Josie" (#26).The B-52's form in Athens, GA and play their first gig in April.Foreigner release their self-titled debut album in March. "Feels Like The First Time" and "Cold As Ice" are both U.S. Top 10 hit singles and the album reaches #4 on the Top 100.
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