I was looking at the UK NME readers' poll of 50 years ago. Did you vote on these things? I did for a few years as a teenager, until I realised it was pointless. But now, they’re a good snapshot of where everyone was at. At least those who voted. I did suspect they just invented them, though obviously have no proof of that. 1975’s poll referred to 1974’s releases and performers. The best stage band was Genesis. Best singer, Paul Rodgers, an obvious choice because Bad Company was riding high and voted best new act. Can’t Get Enough was the best single. Relayer was the best dressed album, but best album was Smiler by Rod Stewart, a bit controversial for 1974 when so many great records came out. But we forget how big and universal his appeal was back then, bridging pop and rock audiences.
Oddly enough, he wasn't the best world male singer, that was Robert Plant. The female was Joni Mitchell, the British female was Kiki Dee, not a massive amount of choice to be fair. The best drummer was Carl Palmer and his metal drums.
Mike Oldfield won best instrumentalist, though who else could have, and Best TV show was predictably OGWT again, who else? Klutz of the Year was Steve Harley. I remember loving Cockney Rebel, but there was hostility towards him, I think because it was perceived he was a bit pretentious or something. It went over my head. Producer was Eddie Offord who had delivered Relayer for Yes
Best British group was Roxy Music, which had a big display in HMV of the Country Life album, which made me feel a bit funny. Eno had left, and Eddie (or Edwin, as the sleeve notes had it) Jobson had joined them and added texture. They were a big rock/pop crossover at the time, clearly appealing to both genres.
Alan Freeman Show won the best radio show, and it was an education every Saturday afternoon. Noel Edmunds won best DJ, not John Peel, who usually won. Stevie Wonder took away the Soul Award.
Looking through the yearly results, when they had a keyboard vote, Rick Wakeman and The Stranglers’ Dave Greenfield won every year. When they had guitarists, which they didn’t every year, it was usually Clapton and Page, though I must say, we fought endlessly about that. Each proclaiming their choice the best.
Because a lot of bands had hits but were still regarded as ‘rock’, they tended to do best in the polls and sometimes there were some odd choices, such as The Shadows as Best Instrumentalists in 1971.
By the early 80s, The Jam were sweeping the board every year, and I think such things only interested teenagers who were a bit overfocused. But for a time, the results in NME, Sounds, and Melody Maker were always poured over, as indeed were the Creem ones, which were regarded amongst our brethren as more ‘serious,’ meaning we liked the results better.
UK NME readers' poll - 50 years ago...
