The '70s Quietly Live On

Jeez, talk about yer trapped in amber. Not only did Bob Dylan hit #1 (with the decidedly old-fashioned sounding Modern Times), not only did Neil Young release a protest album (Living With War), but did anybody have any idea that Bob Seger, Elton John, Peter Frampton, Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton and J. J. Cale (together, no less), and Meat Loaf all released new albums in the last year? Were there any ripples in the pond when the Who (minus Entwistle and Moon, of course, since they're, um, dead) released their first studio album in 22 years? Fine, but it's all trumped by this: there is a new Cat Stevens album out. No kidding. Under his not-so-new Islamic name, Yusuf Islam. (It's called An Other Cup).

Who knew? Apart from the first two, I hadn't heard about any of this. The closest thing I've heard to the '70s lately is Röyksopp on that Geico caveman ad and Sam Roberts on vinyl....

Posted by: MIKE JOHNSTON, looking nervously over shoulder for Fleetwood Mac