My first concert was Bread with opener Steely Dan in 1973. I was 15 years old. The following year, I took my 13-year-old brother to see ELP. We started our concert-going years at an early age.
I have always loved David Gates and Bread. Were they popular in the UK and Europe? It's a shame that nobody writes songs like that anymore. Their music brings back wonderful memories of my early teenage years.
Steely Dan were on their second tour and the lineup was amazing (see below). The guitar duo of Jeff Baxter and Denny Dias was pure delight to the eyes and the ears. This tour was for their Countdown To Ecstasy album.
David Palmer - Vocals
Denny Dias - Guitar
Donald Fagen - Vocals, Keyboards
Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter - guitar
Jeff Porcaro - Drums
Michael McDonald - Vocals, Keyboards
Walter Becker - Bass
Both bands played their hearts out to a very appreciative audience.
I saw ELP in 1974 for the Brain Salad Surgery tour, which was nothing short of spectacular. I went the first night with a friend, and it was so good I bought 2 tickets for the following night's show and took my younger brother. The show was recorded and released on the album 'Welcome Back My Friends...' Tickets for these shows were 6 dollars each
The final gig I will mention in the trilogy of early shows I attended was Cat Stevens touring for the Buddha and the Chocolate Box album in 1974. This album, plus 'Teaser and the Firecat' and 'Tea For The Tillerman', are among my favorite records ever. He and his band played all his hits. There was a feeling of peace and love throughout the venue. Music truly could bring the people of the world together. It's something I'd love to see happen in my lifetime
All three of these shows were at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.