1973 in British Music

The Story of 1973

Glam peaked and prog grew, but dark clouds were gathering. David Bowie killed off Ziggy Stardust on stage at the Hammersmith Odeon in July, a dramatic end to the most theatrical tour British pop had ever seen. He released 'Aladdin Sane', the Ziggy goes to America album with the iconic lightning-bolt cover. Pink Floyd released 'The Dark Side of the Moon', a masterpiece that would spend an unprecedented 741 weeks on the Billboard chart, its meditation on madness, money and mortality connecting with millions. Led Zeppelin released 'Houses of the Holy', pushing their sound in new directions. The Who released 'Quadrophenia', their ambitious double album about mod culture. Roxy Music's 'For Your Pleasure' was art-rock perfection. Elton John was now a global superstar – 'Your Song', 'Crocodile Rock' and 'Daniel' making him the biggest solo artist in the world. But glam was fading, and the first tremors of punk were still years away. The oil crisis and three-day week cast a shadow over Britain. Pop felt increasingly escapist, and the economic reality suggested the party couldn't last. 1973 was the last truly glamorous year of the golden age.