Events in 1974
- Pete Townshend joined Eric Clapton on stage in Greensboro, North Carolina; Keith Moon also performed.
- Jeff Baxter and Jim Hodder left Steely Dan, while Donald Fagen and Walter Becker decided to continue as a studio project.
- Bad Company’s debut album “Bad Company” reached No. 3 on the UK album chart and also reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart.
- Jeff “Skunk” Baxter left Steely Dan and joined The Doobie Brothers.
- Anne Murray headlined the Schaefer Music Festival in Central Park, New York City, while Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band and Brewer & Shipley appeared as supporting acts.
- “Feel Like Makin' Love” by Roberta Flack was at No. 1 on the U.S. R&B chart.
- Labelle released the single “Lady Marmalade.”
- KISS performed at the Morris Civic Auditorium in South Bend, Indiana.
- Grateful Dead performed at the Civic Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- ABBA scored their first U.S. Top 10 hit with “Waterloo,” which reached No. 6. The song also reached No. 1 in the UK, Norway, the Netherlands, Germany and Ireland.
- Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young performed at Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
- Brian Harvey, singer with the British pop group East 17, was born. In 1994, the group had the U.K. No. 1 hit "Stay Another Day" along with a number of other successful singles and albums.
- Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young performed at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City, New Jersey. During the concert, they announced to the audience the news of President Richard Nixon's planned resignation and shared the news with the audience before performing the protest song "Ohio".
- Recording began on David Bowie's album "Young Americans" at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia.
- Eric Clapton received a gold record for the album "461 Ocean Boulevard", which contained his No. 1 hit "I Shot the Sheriff". The album was later certified platinum in the U.S. for sales of more than one million copies.
- Roberta Flack's song “Feel Like Makin' Love” received a gold certification.
- Gilbert O'Sullivan released “A Woman's Place/Too Bad” in the UK on MAM Records.
- Roberta Flack reached her third US No. 1 with “Feel Like Makin’ Love”. After her producer left while she was working on her fifth album, she mixed the song herself and was credited as producer under the name Rubina Flake. The song became the first track produced by a female solo artist to reach the top of the US chart.
- John Denver's eighth studio album “Back Home Again” spent one week at No. 1 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart. It included the hits “Annie's Song” (US #1, UK #1), “Back Home Again” (US #5), and “Thank God I'm A Country Boy” (US #1). The album was certified gold in England and triple platinum in America.
- The Allman Brothers Band performed at the August Jam festival at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina. The lineup also included Emerson Lake & Palmer, Foghat, Black Oak Arkansas and Marshall Tucker Band.
- Rory Gallagher performed at The Agora club in Cleveland, Ohio.
- An American singer and television presenter was born. With Scissor Sisters, she had a UK number-one album in 2004.
- Neil Peart made his first appearance as a member of Rush, replacing drummer John Rutsey. The concert took place in Pittsburgh.
- Neil Peart made his first appearance with Rush at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as they opened for Manfred Mann and Uriah Heep.
- Drummer Max Weinberg made a mistake during a performance when, instead of watching Bruce Springsteen's cue, he focused on a girl in the audience; Ultimate Classic Rock compared the incident to a moment from the film This Is Spinal Tap.
- Aerosmith performed at the Civic Center in Charleston, West Virginia.
- Eric Clapton reached No. 1 on the US album chart for the first time as a solo artist with the album “461 Ocean Boulevard”, which began a four-week run at the top. The album also reached No. 3 in the United Kingdom, while the single “I Shot the Sheriff” reached the Top 10 in nine countries and became Clapton's only single to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- Paper Lace reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 with the song “The Night Chicago Died”, where it remained for one week. The song also reached No. 1 in Australia and New Zealand and reached the Top 3 in the United Kingdom and Canada. The band's manager subsequently contacted Chicago mayor Richard Daley seeking a ceremonial reception but received a very dismissive response.
- The Three Degrees began a two-week run at No. 1 on the UK singles chart with the song “When Will I See You Again”. The group initially did not particularly like the song, but changed their minds after its international success.
- Keyboardist Patrick Moraz was hired as a replacement for Rick Wakeman in Yes. He remained for three years and appeared only on the album Relayer before Wakeman returned for the album Going for the One.
- Aerosmith performed at Westboro Speedway in Westboro, Massachusetts.
- Patrick Moraz replaced Rick Wakeman in Yes.
- AC/DC performed at Festival Hall in Melbourne, Australia.
- Elvis Presley began his 11th season at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas. The opening night featured a completely new program and the packed showroom gave him several standing ovations. Elvis performed in the Peacock suit and sang, among others, “Big Boss Man”, “Proud Mary”, “Down in the Alley”, “Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues”, “Never Been to Spain”, “It’s Midnight”, “If You Talk in Your Sleep”, “I’m Leavin’”, “Let Me Be There”, “Softly, as I Leave You”, “If You Love Me Let Me Know”, “Love Me Tender”, “Polk Salad Annie”, “Promised Land”, “My Baby Left Me”, “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, “Fever”, “Hound Dog” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love”. The program also featured an appearance by Telly Savalas.
- Harry Nilsson asked John Lennon to produce the album Pussy Cats. During the recording, a drug-fuelled jam session took place that included the only known joint recording session by John Lennon and Paul McCartney after the Beatles split up.
- The Three Degrees reached No. 1 on the UK singles chart with “When Will I See You Again”. It was their only UK No. 1 single. The group was popular with Prince Charles in the 1970s and in 1978 performed the song at the celebration of his 30th birthday at Buckingham Palace after he said it was his favourite song.
- Elvis performed an evening and midnight show at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas. The program included, among others, “Also Sprach Zarathustra”, “See See Rider”, “I Got A Woman/Amen”, “Love Me”, “It's Midnight”, “Proud Mary”, “Big Boss Man”, “Fever”, “Promised Land”, “Love Me Tender”, “Polk Salad Annie”, “If You Talk In Your Sleep”, “Why Me Lord”, “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, “Hawaiian Wedding Song”, “Let Me Be There” and “Can't Help Falling In Love”. The evening show featured the Blue Swirl costume, while the midnight show featured Turquoise Phoenix.
- REO Speedwagon, Elvin Bishop and The Allman Brothers Band performed at Bosse Park in Evansville, Illinois.
- Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young performed at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland.
- Elvis Presley performed at 8:30 p.m. and at midnight at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas before 2,200 spectators. The evening setlist included “Also Sprach Zarathustra”, “See See Rider”, “I Got A Woman/Amen Folsom Prison Blues” (excerpt), “Love Me”, “If You Love Me”, “It's Midnight”, “Big Boss Man”, “Fever”, “Love Me Tender”, “All Shook Up”, “I'm Leavin'”, “Softly, As I Leave You”, “Hound Dog”, “You Gave Me A Mountain”, “Polk Salad Annie”, “If You Talk In Your Sleep”, “Why Me Lord”, “Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel”, “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, “Let Me Be There”, “Hawaiian Wedding Song” (2 false starts) and “Can't Help Falling In Love”. The midnight setlist included “Also Sprach Zarathustra”, “See See Rider”, “I Got A Woman/Amen”, “Love Me”, “If You Love Me”, “It's Midnight”, “Big Boss Man”, “Fever”, “Love Me Tender”, “All Shook Up”, “I'm Leavin'”, “Softly, As I Leave You”, “Hound Dog”, “You Gave Me A Mountain”, “Polk Salad Annie”, “If You Talk In Your Sleep”, “Why Me Lord”, “Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel”, “Hawaiian Wedding Song”, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”, “Let Me Be There” and “Can't Help Falling In Love”.
- Carole King released the single “Jazzman”.
- During the recording of David Bowie’s album “Young Americans”, fans kept watch outside Philadelphia's Sigma Sound Studios and at 5 a.m. were invited into the studio to listen to a playback of the album while Bowie observed their reactions to the music.
- On August 22, 1974, Elvis Presley performed two shows at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas before 2,200 spectators. The evening show began at 8:30 p.m. and included Also Sprach Zarathustra, See See Rider, I Got A Woman/Amen, Love Me, If You Love Me, It's Midnight, Big Boss Man, Fever, Love Me Tender, All Shook Up, I'm Leavin', Softly, As I Leave You, Hound Dog, You Gave Me A Mountain, Polk Salad Annie, If You Talk In Your Sleep, Why Me Lord, Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel, Heartbreak Hotel, Hawaiian Wedding Song, Let Me Be There and Can't Help Falling In Love. Elvis wore the 1974 American Eagle suit. The midnight show included Also Sprach Zarathustra, See See Rider, I Got A Woman/Amen, Love Me, If You Love Me, It's Midnight, Big Boss Man with a reprise, Fever, Love Me Tender, All Shook Up, I'm Leavin', Softly, As I Leave You, Hound Dog, You Gave Me A Mountain, Polk Salad Annie, If You Talk In Your Sleep, Why Me Lord, Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel, Help Me, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Let Me Be There and Can't Help Falling In Love. Elvis wore a simple beige two-piece leather suit.
- Aerosmith performed at the Parthenon Theatre in Hammond, Indiana, a former 1920s cinema with a capacity of more than 2,500 people.
- Elvis Presley performed an evening and midnight show at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas, both with a capacity of 2,200. The evening performance began at 8:30 p.m.; the source mentions, among others, “Big Boss Man”, “Fever”, “The Wonder Of You”, “If You Talk In Your Sleep” and “Can't Help Falling In Love”. During the midnight performance, he wished Kathy Westmoreland a Happy Birthday.
- Eric Clapton remained at number one on the US album chart with “461 Ocean Boulevard”. John Denver was second with “Back Home Again”, Elton John third with “Caribou”, Stevie Wonder moved up to fourth with “Fulfillingness' First Finale”, and Bachman-Turner Overdrive II was fifth. Also in the Top 10 were Bad Company, Loggins & Messina, Robin Trower, Bob Dylan & The Band, and Paul McCartney & Wings.
- John Lennon claimed that he saw a UFO from the balcony of his New York apartment, which he shared with May Pang. He described it as a typical flying saucer surrounded by lights, with a red light on top. He later recorded the date and time of the alleged sighting, August 23, 1974 at 9 p.m., in the notes to the album “Walls and Bridges”.
- Seth Brooks Binzer, known as Shifty Shellshock, American rapper and singer and co-founder and frontman of rap-rock group Crazy Town, was born in Los Angeles, California. With the group, he had the 2001 US number-one single “Butterfly”.
- Elvis Presley performed at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas in the evening show at 8:30 p.m. and again at midnight, in both cases before approximately 2,200 people. The evening show included „See See Rider“, „Big Boss Man“, „The Wonder of You“, „If You Talk in Your Sleep“ and „Can't Help Falling in Love“, while the midnight show included „See See Rider“, „It's Midnight“, „Big Boss Man“, „Bridge Over Troubled Water“ and „Can't Help Falling in Love“.
- Eric Clapton topped the U.S. album chart with „461 Ocean Boulevard“. Also in the Top 10 were John Denver, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Bad Company, Loggins & Messina, Robin Trower, Bob Dylan & The Band and Paul McCartney & Wings.
- Chicago reached No. 1 on the U.S. Easy Listening chart with „Call On Me“.
- Paul Anka and Odia Coates began a three-week run at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with „(You're) Having My Baby“. The song was Anka's 24th U.S. Top 40 hit, reached No. 6 in the U.K., also topped the Cashbox Best Sellers chart and later received a gold certification from the RIAA. Despite condemnation from feminist groups, it reached the top of the chart.
- Traffic played their final live performance at the annual Reading Festival in the U.K. Also performing that day were Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames, Greenslade, Heavy Metal Kids, G.T. Moore, Thin Lizzy and Procol Harum.
- Elvis Presley performed an evening and a midnight concert at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas for approximately 2,200 spectators. The evening programme included “See See Rider”, “I Got A Woman/Amen”, “Big Boss Man”, “Fever”, “The Wonder Of You”, “Polk Salad Annie”, “If You Talk In Your Sleep” and “Why Me Lord”. The midnight programme was similar and also included “Bridge Over Troubled Water”.
- Both of Elvis Presley's scheduled concerts at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas were canceled because of his exhaustion.
- As part of Women's Equality Day, the National Organization of Women presented Paul Anka with the “Keep Her In Her Place” award for his song “(You're) Having My Baby”.
- Rush performed at The Agora in Cleveland, Ohio.
- Elvis Presley performed an evening concert and a subsequent midnight concert at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas. Songs included “See See Rider”, “I Got A Woman/Amen”, “Love Me”, “Fever”, “Polk Salad Annie”, “If You Talk In Your Sleep”, “Why Me Lord” and “Can't Help Falling in Love”. After the previous concert, Elvis painted the decorative angels on the showroom wall black.
- Guitarist Andrew White of the English indie rock band Kaiser Chiefs was born. In 2005, the band reached No. 3 in the UK with the album “Employment”, which sold more than three million copies and won three Brit Awards, including Best British Group.
- Hawkwind performed at Home Park in Windsor, England.
- Peter Turner, founding member and bassist of the rock band Elbow, was born in Manchester, England. Elbow won the Mercury Music Prize for their 2008 album “The Seldom Seen Kid” and the Brit Award for Best British Group in 2009.
- Elvis Presley performed at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas before an audience of 2,200. During the evening, he gave an 8:30 p.m. concert as well as a midnight concert. During the evening performance, he gave an extensive karate demonstration with Red West; he put on a karate uniform over his stage costume and spoke at length about his knowledge of karate. He wore a two-piece Mermaid costume. The setlist included "Big Boss Man", "Fever", "An American Trilogy", "Suspicious Minds", "How Great Thou Art", "Let Me Be There", and "Can't Help Falling in Love". A recording of the evening performance was released under the title "Larger Than Life", while a recording of the midnight performance exists under the title "Las Vegas Show".
- Elton John released “The Bitch Is Back”.
- Singer, songwriter, rapper and co-founder of the pop and hip-hop group LFO Richard “Rich” Cronin was born in Boston, Massachusetts.
- Barry White reached No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe".
- Carole King released the album "Wrap Around Joy", which reached No. 1 on the U.S. albums chart.
- John Lennon testified in federal court that the Nixon administration had sought to deport him because of his participation in anti-war demonstrations during the Republican convention in Miami, Florida, in 1972. He also said he suspected that his phones had been tapped and that he had been followed by government agents. The federal appeals court overturned the deportation order on October 7, 1975.
- Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones was quoted as saying that he had stopped using drugs after a doctor told him he had six months to live.
- The Osmonds reached No. 1 on the British singles chart with their version of Johnny Bristol's "Love Me for a Reason".
- The final episode of The Partridge Family was broadcast on ABC. A total of 96 episodes were produced.
- The Rolling Stones released the album "Goat's Head Soup".
- Traffic performed their final live show at the annual British festival in Reading. Also on the bill were Alex Harvey, 10cc, Focus, Steve Harley and Procol Harum. A weekend ticket cost £5.50.
- Aerosmith performed at the Cape Cod Coliseum in South Yarmouth, Massachusetts.