(Re-) Discovering Great Rock Bands of the 60s/70s/...

[dubbmann]

Hi all,

One of the delights of the Interwebs is the ability to go exploring for old music that might have slipped by when we were younger (or still a gleam in our parents' eyes). We all listened to Led Zeppelin, the Who, etc, but there were some great bands back then that get short shrift on classic rock stations, etc. BTW, I'm not talking about the illegal filesharing, just things like YouTube.

As I type this I'm listening to Budgie on OGWT from 1975, performing "Who Do You Want for Your Love" and I'm just blown away by how smoking they were. My guess is that younger types probably never even heard of them, and though I knew of them back in the 70s it was mainly for the Roger Dean covers they had.

Anyway, what are some of your favorite lesser known rock (ie, guitar) bands you'd turn on the hip kid at the pub? Here's my quick list of some ...

1) Captain Beyond
2) Golden Earing (get past 'Radar Love', an OK song but not their best)
3) Cactus
4) Humble Pie (went on a Humble marathon the other day, listened to 5 CDs in a row, man Steve Marriot was a great f^#king guitarist and song writer)
5) Beebop Deluxe
6) Wishbone Ash
7) Blue Cheer

Whack up some of your fav's here!

Cheers,

d

[arkieboy]

(No great insights here - just general agreement)

I discovered Bebop a couple of years ago and it's had a profound effect on the way I play, especially considering how long I've been playing. Bill Nelson is a stunning guitarist...

I also saw Bernie Marsden playing Rory Gallagher songs at The Stables about a year ago: expected very little but came away feeling I'd seen something quite special

Lesson: never write anything or anyone off as too old or too unfashionable! I think the 70s were a golden age because people spent so much money (relatively) on music, supporting a wide range of diverse bands but equally I have written the 80s off for many years and am finding that was far too hasty a decision.

Steve

[Sam Inglis]

Vanilla Fudge!!!

[zenguitar]

Focus.

Slade.

Procul Harem.

ZZ Top.

Andy

[Humey]

Sir Lord Baltimore, great guitar tone...

[Kev Adams]

Man from S. Wales. Great guitar band

I agree about Humble Pie. Live at the Fillmore. good boogie
which reminds me...

Allman Bros Live at the Fillmore

Roy Buchanan- he was 'a bit older' i.e. over thirty (!) back then, sadly died some time ago. Great Telecaster-ist.

[caveman82]

1) Captain Beyond
2) Golden Earing (get past 'Radar Love', an OK song but not their best)
3) Cactus
4) Humble Pie (went on a Humble marathon the other day, listened to 5 CDs in a row, man Steve Marriot was a great f^#king guitarist and song writer)
5) Beebop Deluxe
6) Wishbone Ash
7) Blue Cheer

I love Blue Cheer, I have the first album on vinyl. Haven't listened to it in years, seeing their name reminded how f****** great that album is, must dig it out! Tbh, haven't heard much else of the other bands in that list, will check some out.

***
I've been listening to the Mirror Man Sessions by Beefheart pretty much on a loop recently. The guitar playing on the extended version of 'Kandy Korn' blows my mind.

[alfredo]

Stray Dog. Never met anyone who remembers them, but you'll more than likely know their lead guitarist - Snuffy Walden (themes for Thirtysomething, West Wing etc).

Their first album ('Stray Dog', would you believe) is quite superb and well worth seeking out. It's got the 'Best Intro To Any Rock Song. Ever' (IMHO) on the opening track 'Tramp (How It Is)'. Completely wrong foots you.

Don't bother with the second album 'While You're Down There' as they added a keyboard player and a new vocalist which completely changed the dynamic for the worse.

[narcoman]

I actually love "Radar Love"..... but I prefer "to the hilt"......

[muzines]

Stray Dog. Never met anyone who remembers them, but you'll more than likely know their lead guitarist - Snuffy Walden (themes for Thirtysomething, West Wing etc).

Yep. But then I'm a *massive* Snuffy fan...

[BigRedX]

The Pretty Things.

Although they made their name as rawer version of the Rolling Stones in the 60s their four 70s albums - Parachute, Freeway Madness, Silk Torpedo and Savage Eye are their classics IMO.

For me Parachute even 40 years on is still one of my all-time top 5 albums.

[Shambolic Charm]

The Pink Fairies

Proto punk in 1970! Their albums rarely do them justice. The first one Never Never Land is well produced but very soft, no rough edges which is almost the opposite to the Band themselves but the Single 'The Snake/ Do it' has to be one of the all time Great rock singles and few have ever heard of it!

The Snake
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hsa2Ni9rVDI

Do it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nagC41Pe4c4&feature=related

[hollowsun]

Not exactly 'rock' but bending towards a prog angle, the band England and their album 'Garden Shed'

Most excellent. It's (questionably illegally) on YouTube if you want a listen. As the name implies, very quirky English prog. Some unusual usage of Tron too.

Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM) is also a prog band (from Italy) from the same era who go sadly unnoticed.

[The Elf]

Here's a band I discovered in 1979. Changed the game for me...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7u7PtSHALE

[Frisonic]

+1 for the Pink Fairies! They totally rocked.

[Frisonic]

The Tubes were great. I saw them at the Oxford Playhouse back in the late 70s and their live show was amazing for the times.

I'd also like to rediscover the Brinsley Schwarz Band. Not just because Brinsley built my thinline tele but they were one of those 'greatest rock stars that never were'... They were the first band ever to do the 'Old Grey Whistle Test' live (almost closing the BBC down because of industrial action by the BBCs sound engineers in the process - many would be shocked to learn that the early programs were all lip synched). They were instrumental in establishing the London pub rock circuit, which was the springboard for Dire Straights among others, and arguably the genre of punk rock. Very much a live band, their bass player was Nick Lowe, who penned the IMO fabulous 'What's So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding', a classic Brinsley Schwarz Band song which their roadie went on to make his own (one Elvis Castello). Brinsley himself then went on to form 'The Rumor' and a long association with Graham Harper. And then to become one of the most respected luthiers around.

The story of how they failed to become superstars is a salutary reminder of two things: Firstly what life was like before we had such open borders as we do today, and what it was like for British musicians trying to work in the USA, visa problems and the like. And secondly how much of a cock up you can make out of a large marketing budget! Brinsley laughs about it now, and I happen to know that he is currently on a visit to NYC to lay down some tracks for someone, so it just goes to show you can't keep a great guitarist down.

[NickMattocks]

Anyone remember Home? Their guitarist was Laurie Wisefield later of Wishbone Ash (another great band).

Also, talking of bands who made an appearance or two on the Whistle Test, there was a great band fron S. Wales called Sassafras.

No Dice was another good band, but they were a bit later - around '77/'78

[grab]

From the 90s and still going strong, there's Porcupine Tree. They're still criminally under-known - if there was any justice, some of their shorter songs would be staples on rock shows.

Also Chris Isaak's backing band with their updated take on the 50s. Some of the songs are a bit weak (better to stick with the "Greatest Hits" for the most part than to get the albums) but James Calvin Wilsey never puts a foot wrong. Like Santana or Mark Knopfler, it looks so simple until you try playing it.

And going 50s again, Dick Dale. A legend amongst guitarists, practically unknown by anyone else. (Sample quote: "oh yeah, that guitar thing from Pulp Fiction...")

[The Elf]

From the 90s and still going strong, there's Porcupine Tree. They're still criminally under-known - if there was any justice, some of their shorter songs would be staples on rock shows.

Add Paul Northfield's production in there and it's top notch. 'In Absentia' remains one of the best albums of all time IMO.

[Sam Inglis]

The Pretty Things.

For me Parachute even 40 years on is still one of my all-time top 5 albums.

I *love* Parachute, and SF Sorrow is pretty great too. Never really got on with the 70s albums, though.

[Agamemnon]

Another band with a 'Roger Dean' cover were Greenslade. Brilliant bass player in Tony Reeves.

[Frisonic]

Did we forget to mention The Band? Maybe not rock enough for some, although they were a bit too electric for at least one audience in Newport Rhode Island back in '65... But few would argue how much influence they had on the development of the rock genre. To my mind some of the most articulate rock music ever written (they were pretty good at the roll too).

[4TrackMadman]

I've been sifting through some used LP stores as well, coming out with some 70s stuff. ELP, Deep Purple, Gary Moore.

Recently re-discovered Michael Schenker as well - his new instrumental CD is phenomenal.

[zenguitar]

And try Colosseum 2 'Electric Savage' some of Gary Moore's greatest and most ignored work.

Andy

[Martin Walker]

Talking of Budgie’s "Who Do You Want for Your Love", does anyone else remember Juicy Lucy - 'Who Do You Love'?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXmi6MokHsw

Martin