NME Pop Poll Results For 1974

NME Pop Poll Results For 1974
Authored By John Nicholson

Every year I filled in the coupon and sent in my vote. And every year, the results issue was always waited for with baited breath. I’m surprised Rod’s Smiler album won this year’s vote, as it’s not his best work. But he always did manage to straddle both a pop and rock audience. 

Carl Palmer won three best drummer awards consecutively, and Clapton three running as best guitarist. The next two years would be won by Jimmy Page. Harsh on Steve Harley in this. He did have an unusual persona in Cockney Rebel but I always loved them. 

Hard to think of Bad Company as a new group now, but I remember their launch was a really big deal.Nice to see Kiki Dee get a shout for UK vocalist. This was around the time that she had a hit with I’ve Got The Music In Me and that is an absolute belter. 

Yes’ Relayer album artwork was a deserved winner. It’s my favourite of Roger Dean’s work along with Fragile. The inner sleeve of Relayer with lyrics printed on lovely textured grey paper is also excellent. Even the label was lovely.

 

‘Instrumental personality’ is a weird one. Quite what personality had to do with it odd. They only ran it from 1972 - 1977 and Mike Oldfield won each except the first, which Roy Wood picked up. If it had been instrumental group, surely Tangerine Dream would have won in this era. 

That fact Led Zep won group of the year is no surprise but Roxy picking up the UK ward showed just how quickly they had become incredibly popular, after just a couple of years. 

  • Album - Rod Stewart-Smiler
  • Bass - Paul Mccartney
  • Best Dressed Lp - Yes-Relayer
  • Discjockey - Noel Edmonds
  • Drums - Carl Palmer
  • Female Singer - Joni Mitchell
  • Female Singer Uk - Kiki Dee
  • Guitar - Eric Clapton
  • Instrumental Personality - Mike Oldfield
  • Klutz/Creep Of The Year - Steve Harley
  • Male Singer - Robert Plant
  • Male Singer Uk - Paul Rodgers
  • Most Overrated Single - Carl Douglas-Kung Fu Fighting
  • New Group/Most Promising - Bad Company
  • Piano/Keyboards - Rick Wakeman
  • Producer - Eddie Offord
  • Radio Show - Alan Freeman Show
  • Single - Bad Company-Can't Get Enough
  • Soul Act - Stevie Wonder
  • Stage Band/Live Act - Pink Floyd
  • Tv Show - The Old Grey Whistle Test
  • Vocal Group - Led Zeppelin
  • Vocal Group Uk - Roxy Music


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