List of notable events in music that took place in the year 1974.

David Bowie in 1974
Count Basie in 1974

Specific locations

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Specific genres

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Events

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January–April

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May–December

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unknown date

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Bands formed

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Bands disbanded

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Albums released

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January

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February

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Day Album Artist Notes
1 It's Too Late to Stop NowVan MorrisonLive
What Were Once Vices Are Now HabitsThe Doobie Brothers-
8 Here Come the Warm JetsBrian Eno[17]
JoleneDolly Parton-
The Silent Corner and the Empty StagePeter Hammill-
13 That's a PlentyPointer Sisters-
14 ValentineRoy Harper-
15 BurnDeep Purple-
Old New Borrowed and BlueSlade-
18 KissKiss-Debut
20 PhaedraTangerine Dream-
Pretzel LogicSteely Dan-
25 Let Me in Your LifeAretha Franklin-
26 Lady of the NightDonna SummerNetherlands-only release
- BadfingerBadfinger-
If We Make It Through DecemberMerle Haggard-
Living and Dying in 3/4 TimeJimmy Buffett-
Love SongAnne Murray-
A New LifeMarshall Tucker Band-
Pure MusicChase-
Radio CityBig Star-
Rock 'n' Roll AnimalLou ReedLive
Saints & SinnersJohnny Winter-
Skeletons from the Closet: The Best of Grateful DeadGrateful DeadCompilation
Slaughter on 10th AvenueMick Ronson-
ThunderboxHumble Pie-
ToddTodd Rundgren-
Twin PeaksMountainLive
Unborn ChildSeals and Crofts-

March

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Day Album Artist Notes
1 MirageCamel-
Hatfield and the North Hatfield and the North Debut Album
Shinin' OnGrand Funk Railroad-
Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of TomorrowT.Rex-
4 WaterlooABBA-
6 Hard LaborThree Dog Night-
8 Queen IIQueen-
KansasKansasDebut
11 Chicago VIIChicago-
15 Get Your WingsAerosmith-
Pure SmokeySmokey Robinson-
18 Another Lonely SongTammy Wynette-
RushRushDebut/Canada
20 Good TimesElvis Presley-
21 Buddha and the Chocolate BoxCat Stevens-
22 On the BorderEagles-
ApostropheFrank Zappa-
25 Open Our EyesEarth, Wind & Fire-
28 The Golden ScarabRay Manzarek-
29 The HoopleMott the Hoople-
Starless and Bible BlackKing Crimson-
- Somethin's HappeningPeter Frampton-
Alive & KickingThe Delfonics-
BuffyBuffy Sainte-Marie-
HolliesThe Hollies-
Mighty LoveThe Spinners-
Now We Are SixSteeleye Span-
SevenBob Seger-
Slow DancerBoz Scaggs-
Phases and Stages Willie Nelson -
Refugee Refugee -

April

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Day Album Artist Notes
1 Meet The ResidentsThe Residents-
3 Live European TourBilly PrestonLive
5 Ragged Old FlagJohnny Cash-
Secret TreatiesBlue Öyster Cult-
Don't Be Fooled by the NameGeordie-
6 +'JustmentsBill Withers-
8 Desitively BonnarooDr. John-
12 Do It GoodKC and the Sunshine Band-
SevenPoco-
13 Paul Simon in Concert: Live Rhymin'Paul Simon[18]
15 Second HelpingLynyrd Skynyrd-
19 Big FunMiles Davis-
Caravan and the New SymphoniaCaravanLive
Seven SecretsFruupp-
Son of DraculaHarry NilssonSoundtrack
20 Bridge of SighsRobin Trower-
24 On StageLoggins and MessinaLive
26 Sweet Fanny AdamsSweet-
30 Houston (I'm Comin' to See You)Glen Campbell-
I Want to See the Bright Lights TonightRichard and Linda Thompson-
OkieJ.J. Cale-
- Carolina County BallElfUK
Positive VibrationsTen Years After-
Exotic Birds and FruitProcol Harum-
Fall into SpringRita Coolidge-
Gracias a la VidaJoan BaezSpanish language
Home, Home on the RoadNew Riders of the Purple SageLive
Live 'n' Kickin'West, Bruce and LaingLive
Midnight MushrumpsGryphon-
Riding HighChilliwack-
Road FoodThe Guess Who-
Skin TightOhio Players-
Unconditionally GuaranteedCaptain Beefheart & the Magic Band-
Zephyr NationalTom Fogerty-
Day Album Artist Notes
1 Kimono My HouseSparks-
3 Journey to the Centre of the EarthRick Wakeman[19]
QuoStatus Quo-
5 The Kids & MeBilly Preston-
8 Preservation Act 2The Kinks-
Sweet ExorcistCurtis Mayfield-
10 Too Much Too SoonNew York Dolls-
15 Live at Caesars PalaceDiana RossLive
Monkey GripBill WymanDebut
17 In for the KillBudgie-
PhenomenonUFO-
24 Diamond DogsDavid Bowie-
Bad CompanyBad CompanyDebut
27 UnrestHenry Cow-
28 If You Love Me, Let Me KnowOlivia Newton-John-
Sheet Music10cc-
30 The Night the Light Went On in Long BeachElectric Light OrchestraLive
- Rampant Nazareth
Hamburger ConcertoFocus-
Mr. NaturalBee Gees[20]
Back to OaklandTower of Power-
Body HeatQuincy Jones-
Boogity BoogityRay Stevens-
The Confessions of Dr. Dream and Other StoriesKevin Ayers-
Dark LadyCher-
L'isola di nientePremiata Forneria Marconi-
LotusSantanaLive
Rags to RufusRufus-
Rhinos, Winos and LunaticsMan-
Shock TreatmentEdgar Winter-
Slapp HappySlapp Happy-
Spooky Lady's SideshowKris Kristofferson-
Winter in AmericaGil Scott-Heron-

June

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Day Album Artist Notes
2 The PsychomodoCockney Rebel-
5 GarciaJerry Garcia-
7 In My LifeCilla Black-
8 Paradise and LunchRy Cooder-
14 Everyone Is Everybody ElseBarclay James Harvest-
15 Back Home AgainJohn Denver-
19 Marvin Gaye Live!Marvin GayeLive
20 Before the FloodBob Dylan & The BandLive
24 CaribouElton John-
Endless SummerThe Beach BoysCompilation
Long Live LoveOlivia Newton-John-
26 HolidayAmerica-
27 From the Mars HotelGrateful Dead-
AquaEdgar Froese-
28 HellJames Brown-
June 1, 1974Kevin Ayers, John Cale, Brian Eno, and Nico-
- Axe VictimBe-Bop Deluxe-
Cicero ParkHot Chocolate-
Land's EndJimmy Webb-
Only Want You For Your BodyBuffalo-
Remember Me This WayGary GlitterLive
SolidThe Groundhogs-
Stars & Stripes ForeverNitty Gritty Dirt BandLive
TobyThe Chi-Lites-
Walking ManJames Taylor-
WonderworldUriah Heep-
Mysterious Traveller Weather Report

July

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August

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Day Album Artist Notes
6 Can't Get EnoughBarry White-
7 I Can Stand a Little RainJoe Cocker-
9 Feats Don't Fail Me NowLittle Feat-
Perfect AngelMinnie Riperton-
13 Live at the Opera HousePointer SistersLive
19 Porter 'n' DollyPorter Wagoner and Dolly Parton-
Pussy CatsHarry Nilsson-
So FarCrosby, Stills, Nash & YoungCompilation
20 Do It BabyThe Miracles-
Live It UpThe Isley Brothers-
22 Paper LacePaper LaceUS
30 Hergest RidgeMike Oldfield[22]
New Skin for the Old CeremonyLeonard Cohen[19]
- Welcome Back My Friends to the Show That Never Ends... Ladies and GentlemenEmerson, Lake & PalmerLive
Greatest HitsAlice CooperCompilation
AWBAverage White Band-
CountryAnne MurrayCompilation
Light of LoveT.RexUS only; compilation plus new material
Verities & BalderdashHarry Chapin-
Merle Haggard Presents His 30th AlbumMerle Haggard-
Not FragileBachman–Turner Overdrive-
SailorSailorDebut
Slow FluxSteppenwolf-
Tooth Fang & ClawTed Nugent and The Amboy Dukes-
We Had It AllScott Walker-
Men Opening Umbrellas Ahead Vivian Stanshall -

September

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Day Album Artist Notes
5 Dancing MachineThe Jackson 5-
6 Hall of the Mountain GrillHawkwind-
Rocka RollaJudas PriestDebut
Rollin'Bay City Rollers-
ThrustHerbie Hancock-
9 Tarzana KidJohn Sebastian-
10 Good Old BoysRandy Newman-
Roxy & ElsewhereFrank Zappa and The Mothers of InventionLive
13 Heroes Are Hard to FindFleetwood Mac-
I've Got My Own Album to DoRonnie WoodSolo Debut
Late for the SkyJackson Browne-
Look at the FoolTim Buckley-
NightbirdsLabelle-
16 Starting OverRaspberries-
Love Is Like a ButterflyDolly Parton-
20 Beaded Dreams Through Turquoise EyesRedbone-
24 McGearMike McGear-
25 Nightmares...and Other Tales from the Vinyl JungleThe J. Geils Band-
27 SerenadeNeil Diamond-
- David EssexDavid Essex-
EldoradoElectric Light Orchestra-
The Power and the GloryGentle Giant-
Sally Can't DanceLou Reed-
1969: The Velvet Underground LiveThe Velvet UndergroundLive
Tina Turns the Country On!Tina Turner-
SlipstreamSherbet-
Felix CavaliereFelix Cavaliere-
Good Things HappeningBrotherhood of Man-
Hard Core PoetryTavares-
Ladies Love OutlawsTom Rush-
Light of WorldsKool & The Gang-
No OtherGene Clark-
Peace on YouRoger McGuinn-
The Ramblin' ManWaylon Jennings-
Sneakin' Sally Through the AlleyRobert PalmerSolo Debut
StreetlightsBonnie Raitt-
WindowsJon Lord and Eberhard SchoenerLive
When the Eagle FliesTraffic-
Where Have I Known You BeforeReturn to Forever-
Wrap Around JoyCarole King-
Hot Wire Trapeze

October

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Day Album Artist Notes
1 FearJohn Cale-
Barry Manilow IIBarry Manilow-
ButterFlyBarbra Streisand-
2 Al Green Explores Your MindAl Green-
4 From the Album of the Same NamePilot-
The Impossible DreamThe Sensational Alex Harvey Band-
Odds & SodsThe WhoOuttakes and rarities compilation
SmilerRod Stewart-
Todd Rundgren's UtopiaUtopia-
Walls and BridgesJohn Lennon-
YouGong-
5 Veedon FleeceVan Morrison-
7 Living in the 70'sSkyhooks-
11 Lost in a DreamREO Speedwagon-
Paper MoneyMontrose-
Rock and Roll OutlawsFoghat-
Streetlife SerenadeBilly Joel-
14 War ChildJethro Tull-
15 The Heart of Saturday NightTom Waits-
18 It's Only Rock 'n RollThe Rolling Stones-
19 War BabiesHall & Oates-
22 Hotter Than HellKiss-
25 Crime of the CenturySupertramp-
Natty DreadBob Marley-
This Is The Moody BluesThe Moody Bluescompilation[19]
29 David LiveDavid BowieLive
- BorbolettaSantana-
ClimaxOhio Players-
Dancehall SweetheartsHorslips-
Dragon FlyGrace Slick / Paul Kantner / Jefferson Starship-
The Gregg Allman TourGregg Allman-
Guitar SolosFred FrithDebut
Homeless BrotherDon McLean-
Inspiration InformationShuggie Otis-
It'll Shine When It ShinesOzark Mountain Daredevils-
Just a BoyLeo Sayer-
The MirrorSpooky Tooth-
Mother LodeLoggins and Messina-
Not Just Another Bunch of Pretty FacesIf-
QuatroSuzi Quatro-
RedKing Crimson[23]
Reunion: The Songs of Jimmy WebbGlen Campbell-
Slow MotionMan-
SouvenirsDan Fogelberg-
A Stranger in My Own Back YardGilbert O'Sullivan-
Waitress in a Donut ShopMaria Muldaur-

November

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Day Album Artist Notes
1 AutobahnKraftwerk-
CantamosPoco-
Fly to the RainbowScorpions-
Silk TorpedoThe Pretty Things-
2 Love Me for a Reason The Osmonds
8 Elton John's Greatest HitsElton JohnCompilation
Encore: Live in ConcertArgentLive
Man of MiraclesStyx-
NightlifeThin Lizzy-
The Prince of Heaven's EyesFruupp-
SaturnightCat StevensJapan; Live
Sheer Heart AttackQueen-
StormbringerDeep Purple[19]
11 PropagandaSparks-
15 Country LifeRoxy Music-
Desolation BoulevardSweet-
Goodnight ViennaRingo Starr-
Wish You Were HereBadfinger-
16 Kung Fu Fighting and Other Great Love SongsCarl DouglasDebut
18 The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's FeastRoger Glover-
19 Heart Like a WheelLinda Ronstadt-
22 The Lamb Lies Down on BroadwayGenesis-
Get Up with ItMiles Davis-
25 John Dawson Winter IIIJohnny Winter-
Woman to WomanTammy Wynette-
29 Bluejeans & MoonbeamsCaptain Beefheart-
Fire on the MountainCharlie Daniels Band-
RelayerYes-
Slade in FlameSlade-
- 7-TeaseDonovan-
BrujoNew Riders of the Purple Sage-
Country Heart 'N SoulFreddie Hart-
Do It ('Til You're Satisfied) (album)B. T. ExpressDebut
FireOhio Players-
Got to Find a WayCurtis Mayfield-
Highly Prized PossessionAnne Murray-
LiveMott the HoopleLive
Miles of AislesJoni MitchellLive
MyopiaTom Fogerty-
Out of the StormJack Bruce-
Sedaka's BackNeil SedakaCompilation
Soon Over BabalumaCan-
Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)Brian Eno-
There's the RubWishbone Ash-
Where We All BelongMarshall Tucker BandDouble LP; half studio, half live

December

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Release date unknown

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Biggest hit singles

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The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the charts of 1974.

# Artist Title Year Country Chart entries
1Carl DouglasKung Fu Fighting1974JamaicaUK 1 – Aug 1974, US BB 1 – Nov 1974, Canada 1 – Nov 1974, Netherlands 1 – Oct 1974, France 1 – Sep 1974, Austria 1 – Dec 1974, Germany 1 – Jan 1975, Ireland 1 – Oct 1974, Australia 1 for 3 weeks Jul 1975, Switzerland 2 – Nov 1974, South Africa 2 of 1974, Norway 3 – Oct 1974, US BB 5 of 1974, Global 7 (10 M sold) – 1974, Sweden 8 – Aug 1998, POP 9 of 1974, Italy 10 of 1975, US CashBox 11 of 1975, Scrobulate 12 of disco, Australia 22 of 1974, Germany 27 of the 1970s, RYM 84 of 1974, OzNet 842
2MudTiger Feet1974United KingdomUK 1 – Jan 1974
3ABBAWaterloo1974SwedenUK 1 – Apr 1974, Switzerland 1 – Apr 1974, Norway 1 – Apr 1974, Germany 1 – May 1974, Ireland 1 – Apr 1974, Netherlands 2 – Apr 1974, Austria 2 – May 1974, Canada 3 – Jun 1974, France 5 – Apr 1974, US BB 6 – Jun 1974, Scrobulate 6 of Swedish, Australia Goset 10 – Jul 1974, South Africa 14 of 1974, POP 23 of 1974, Global 33 (5 M sold) – 1974, RYM 33 of 1974, Germany 49 of the 1970s, Italy 51 of 1974, Europe 55 of the 1970s, US CashBox 84 of 1974, OzNet 413, Acclaimed 1016
4Steve Miller BandThe Joker1974United StatesUK 1 – Aug 1990, US BB 1 – Nov 1973, Netherlands 1 – Oct 1973, Ireland 1 – Sep 1990, Canada 2 – Dec 1973, Norway 2 – Nov 1990, Switzerland 5 – Oct 1990, Austria 6 – Oct 1990, Germany 7 – Jan 1991, Australia Goset 7 – Feb 1974, France 8 – Dec 1973, US CashBox 10 of 1974, Poland 11 – Sep 1990, DDD 13 of 1973, US BB 21 of 1974, POP 33 of 1974, RYM 61 of 1973, Scrobulate 62 of 70s, Virgin 84, TheQ 297, Germany 399 of the 1990s, OzNet 561, Acclaimed 1721
5George McCraeRock Your Baby1974United StatesUK 1 – Jun 1974, US BB 1 – Jun 1974, Netherlands 1 – Aug 1974, Austria 1 – Oct 1974, Switzerland 1 – Aug 1974, Norway 1 – Sep 1974, Germany 1 – Jan 1975, Canada 2 – Jun 1974, France 4 – Aug 1974, Germany 7 of the 1970s, Global 7 (10 M sold) – 1974, Italy 11 of 1974, Australia 20 of 1974, Australia Goset 37 – Aug 1974, RYM 39 of 1974, US CashBox 40 of 1974, Acclaimed 807

Top 40 Chart hit singles

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Song title Artist(s) Release date(s) US UK Highest chart position Other Chart Performance(s)
"Ain't Too Proud to Beg"The Rolling StonesOctober 197017n/a11 (France)14 (Canada) - 15 (US Cash Box Charts) - 23 (US Record World magazine)
"The Air That I Breathe"The HolliesJanuary 1974621 (Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa)See chart performance entry
"Already Gone"EaglesApril 197432n/a12 (Canada)n/a
"Always Yours"Gary GlitterJune 1974n/a11 (Ireland, United Kingdom)11 (Australia) - 14 (Germany) - 25 (Netherlands [Dutch Top 40])
"Amateur Hour"SparksJuly 1974n/a77 (United Kingdom)12 (Germany) - 19 (Ireland)
"Annie's Song"John DenverJune 1974111 (Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, United States)See chart performance entry
"Another Saturday Night"Cat StevensJuly 19746191 (Canada)See chart performance entry

Other Chart hit singles

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Notable singles

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Song title Artist(s) Release date(s) Other Chart Performance(s)
"Can I Sit Next to You, Girl"AC/DCJuly 197450 (Australia)
"Hey Joe" / "Piss Factory"Patti SmithNovember 1974n/a
"September Gurls"Big StarMay 1974n/a

Other Notable singles

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  • "Ake, Make, Pera ja mä" b/w "Perjantai on mielessäin" - Hector
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Opera

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Births

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Deaths

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Awards

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References

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  1. George Clark, "Mr Feather Made a Life Peer: Mr Whitelaw Honoured". The Times (2 January 1974): 1.
  2. Mark Bego (2001). Cher: If You Believe. Taylor Trade Publishing. p. 91. ISBN 9780815411536.
  3. Stephen Walsh, "ECO/Leppard", The Times (23 February 1974): 9.
  4. Stanley Sadie, "Württemberg Chamber Orchestra", The Times (28 February 1974): 16.
  5. Anon., "Royal Festival Hall" [classified ad], The Times (2 March 1974): 11; Bryce Morrison, "London Debuts", The Times (13 March 1974): 19.
  6. William Mann, "Prey/Hokanson", The Times (5 March 1974): 10.
  7. Stanley Sadie, "RPO/Vonk", The Times (11 March 1974): 11.
  8. Harry, Bill (2000). The John Lennon Encyclopedia. Virgin. pp. 927–9. ISBN 978-0-7535-0404-8.
  9. Agence France-Presse, "Violin by Guarnieri sold for $140,000", The Boston Globe (26 April 1974): 28.
  10. Hopkins, Jerry; Sugerman, Danny (1995). No One Here Gets Out Alive. Mass Market Paperback. p. 377.
  11. Sunday Telegraph, 23 May 2004. Portsmouthsinfonia.com, Accessed 1 April 2013
  12. Hoge, Warren (July 19, 2001). "Bonkers for Music, Cheer and Glory; For Britons, It's Time for the Proms, That Exhilarating Feast". The New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
  13. "As stated on Johnny Ramone's official Facebook page". Facebook.com.
  14. Benitez-Eves, Tina (February 19, 2024). "On This Day: AC/DC Lost Frontman Bon Scott in 1980". Americansongwriter.com. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  15. Herb Cole, "Drum Corps Notes: 13 Units compete in Invitational", The Boston Globe (Sunday, 29 September): A 12.
  16. Anon., "Names and Faces in the News", The Boston Globe (20 October 1974): 2.
  17. Warwick, Neil; Jon Kutner; Tony Brown (2004). The Complete Book of the British Charts: Singles and Albums. Omnibus Press. p. 244. ISBN 1-84449-058-0.
  18. AllMusic - Still Crazy After All These Years> Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 "BRIT Certified Awards". Bpi.co.uk. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  20. "Mr. Natural - Bee Gees | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  21. Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. p. 684. ISBN 9780862415419.
  22. The Great Rock Discography. 1995. p. 603. ISBN 978-0-86241-541-9.
  23. Crimson, King. "Red". Dgmlive.com. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  24. "RPM Top 100 Singles - July 6, 1974" (PDF). Collectionscanada.gc.ca.
  25. "Mikael Åkerfeldt". Opeth – Official Website. September 24, 2011. Archived from the original on September 24, 2011. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  26. "Selma og sönggenið". Dagblaðið Vísir - DV. May 21, 2005. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  27. "Natasja Saad". Gravsted.dk. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  28. Don Michael Randel (1996). "Atterberg, Kurt". The Harvard Biographical Dictionary of Music. The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-674-37299-9