Animals, has almost the entire time I've been a Pink Floyd fan (since around 1991 or 1992), I have always seen as my favorite. And it was released January 23rd, so if the older version of me had heard it in 1977, it likely would been on top all year and not been topped. Although I love A Farewell to Kings and up to that point, I probably would consider that Rush's best album (of course not for long!, lol), but I doubt then and of course can rate it at the level of Animals.
Ironic as I'm finally finishing this extensive list, Roger Waters is playing in town tonight. And I've never actually seen him live (I heard him outside once or twice, lol), and he actually is playing half of Animals. (Pigs and Dogs) But I'm not going unfortunately per I saw Bent Knee on Monday and plan to see Bubblemath on Saturday. Plus I should get to sleep early tonight or my lack of sleep this week may catchup with me.
But hopefully another time (hopefully Roger isn't done, but at his age, who knows. If he needs money? I suppose it may not be). and if he were to play the whole Animals, I would not miss it. He's done Dark Side and The Wall to death, and the casual fans of course look to those 2 and then Wish You Were Here well before Animals for some reason. Likely Classic Rock radio and the length of the songs having to do with that.
Dave Kilminster does a lot of David Gilmour's parts, which is fine, but I have seen Animals live twice before (local MN band Soap did it), and Kilminster with Steven Wilson, so the loss doesn't feel so much. There's also plenty of videos on YouTube from the tour.
Anyway, beyond Animals though, 1977 was the year Punk was becoming big, but despite that., there was plenty of prog and jazz-rock. Even just Classic Rock, Power Pop and Psych stuff, many of which I of course listed below in the calendar, but know only from reputation or just ratings that I want to check out.
Styx, Ai Di Meols, Jethro Tull, Fleetwood Mac, Bowie, Queen, Steely Dan, Billy Joel, Journey's early music, etc. Deep Year with a couple of gems at the top.
1. Pink Floyd - Animals
2. Rush - A Farewell to Kings
3. Al Di Meola - Elegant Gypsy
4. The Grateful Dead - Terrapin Station
5. Renaissance - Novella
6. Annie Haslam - Annie in Wonderland
7. Steely Dan - Aja
8. Styx - The Grand Illusion
9. Yes - Going for the One
10. Jethro Tull - Songs from the Wood
11. Genesis - Seconds Out
12. Kansas - Point of No Return
13. Weather Report - Heavy Weather
14. Anthony Phillips - The Geese and the Ghost
15. Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
16. David Bowie - Low
17. Happy the Man - Happy the Man
18. Queen - News of the World
19. Billy Joel - The Stranger
20. David Bowie - Heroes
21. Journey - Next
22. Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel (Car)
23. Heart - Little Queen
24. Rick Wakeman - White Rock
25. Jeff Beck with the Jan Hammer Group - Jeff Beck with the Jan Hammer Group Live
26. The Muppets - The Muppet Show
27. Alan Parsons Project - I Robot
28. Bob Marley and the Wailers - Exodus
29. Elvis Costello - My Aim is True
30. The Beach Boys - Love You
31. Emerson Lake and Palmer - Works Volume 2
32. Genesis - Spot the Pigeon [EP]
33. Starcastle - Citadel
David Bowie - Low
rel January 14, 1977
Gentle Giant - Playing the Fool
rel January 18, 1977
Pink Floyd - Animals
rel January 23, 1977
Renaissance - Novella
rel January 1977
Return to Forever - Musicmagic
rel January 1977
Starcastle - Fountains of Light
rel January 1977
Rick Wakeman - White Rock
rel January 1977
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
rel February 4, 1977
Utopia - Ra
rel February 4, 1977
Television - Marquee Moon
Rel February 8, 1977
Jethro Tull - Songs from the Wood
rel February 11, 1977
Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel
rel February 25, 1977
Journey - Next
rel February 1977
Max Webster - High Class in Borrowed Shoes
rel March 1, 1977
Emerson Lake and Palmer - Works Volume 1
rel March 17, 1977
Jeff Beck with the Jan Hammer Group - Jeff Beck with the Jan Hammer Group Live
rel March 1977
Anthony Phillips - The Geese and the Ghost
rel March 1977
Shakti with John McLaughlin - A Handful of Beauty
rel March 1977
Weather Report - Heavy Weather
rel March 1977
The Clash - The Clash
rel April 8, 1977
Supertramp - Even in the Quietest Moments
rel April 10, 1977
The Beach Boys - Love You
rel April 11, 1977
10cc - Deceptive Bends
rel April 1977
Brand X - Moroccan Roll
rel April 1977
Al Di Meola - Elegant Gypsy
rel April 1977
Peter Hammill - Over
rel April 1977
Heart - Little Queen
rel May 14, 1977
Genesis - Spot the Pigeon [EP]
rel May 20, 1977
Dixie Dregs - Free Fall
rel May 27, 1977
Alan Parsons Project - I Robot
rel June 1, 1977
Bob Marley and the Wailers - Exodus
rel June 3, 1977
Crosby Stills and Nash - CSN
rel June 17, 1977
Hawkwind - Quark, Strangeness and Charm
rel June 17, 1977
The Muppets - The Muppet Show
rel June 25, 1977
Rainbow - On Stage
rel July 7, 1977
Styx - The Grand Illusion
rel July 7, 1977
Yes - Going for the One
rel July 15, 1977
Elvis Costello - My Aim is True
rel July 22, 1977
The Grateful Dead - Terrapin Station
rel July 27, 1977
Happy the Man - Happy the Man
rel August 1977
Rush - A Farewell to Kings
rel September 1, 1977
Talking Heads - Talking Heads:77
rel September 16, 1977
Steely Dan - Aja
rel September 23, 1977
Billy Joel - The Stranger
rel September 29, 1977
Klaatu - Hope
rel September 1977
Electric Light Orchestra - Out of the Blue
rel October 3, 1977
Kansas - Point of No Return
rel October 10, 1977
David Bowie - Heroes
rel October 14, 1977
Genesis - Seconds Out
rel October 21, 1977
Meatloaf - Bat Out of Hell
rel October 21, 1977
Queen - News of the World
rel October 28, 1977
Blue Oyster Cult - Spectres
rel October 1977
Santana - Moonflower
rel October 1977
Starcastle - Citadel
rel October 1977
Emerson Lake and Palmer - Works Volume 2
rel November 1, 1977
Brand X - Livestock
rel November 18, 1977
Chic - Chic
rel November 22, 1977
Eric Clapton - Slowhand
rel November 25, 1977
Joni Mitchell - Don Juan's Reckless Daughter
rel December 13, 1977
Café Jacques - Round the Back
rel 1977
Billy Cobham - Magic
rel 1977
FM - Black Noise
rel 1977
Goblin - Suspiria
rel 1977
Gryphon - Treason
rel 1977
Jan Hammer Group - Melodies
rel 1977
Annie Haslam - Annie in Wonderland
rel 1977
Pat Metheny - Watercolors
rel 1977
Hermeto Pascoal - Slave Mass
rel 1977
The Rubinoos - The Rubinoos
rel 1977
Lenny White - Big City
rel 1977
