I had cause today to reflect on the iniquity that is the veneration bestowed upon Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Freebird". Frankly tedious, and with lyrics that are easily arguably depressingly misogynist, it was released in 74.
Only a year earlier, Steely Dan had released an album with far superior guitar soloes, on "Bodhisatva" and "Boston Rag". In 74 itself, they did Any Major Dude, with some of the tastiest guitar work around, albeit not an extended solo.
In 74 Santana's version of Black Magic Woman was only 4 years old, and he was producing more great guitar work on Borboletta at the time Freebird was wasting radio airspace.
And of course the Allman Brothers "Brothers and Sisters" rarely spent more than a day off our decks that year.
I despair.