10. Mott The Hoople/Ian Hunter
Mott (1973)
All American Alien Boy (1976)
Ian Hunter and Mott The Hoople never gained the recognition they deserved, and Hunter's lyrics always reflected this. Where Mott hid behind a pretense of stardom's trappings, All American Alien Boy bitterly laid the truth of the matter on the line.
11. Genesis
Selling England By The Pound (1974)
The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway (1975)
Truly the most innovative and original of the art-progressive rock genre. Peter Gabriel's dramatic, if idiosyncratic vocals and persona were a perfect compliment to the rich texture and perfectly executed musicianship of Genesis.
12. Ramones
Leave Home (1977)
Rocket To Russia (1978)
The Buddahs Ramome (Glen's note — it was supposed to read "Bruddahs") came along at a perfect time, and influenced a generation of rockers who would top the charts two years later (Glen's other note — make that more like fifteen years later). Slashing guitars, dexedrine speed and irresistable Beach Boys harmonies marked these misunderstood innovators.
13. Supertramp
Crime Of The Century (1976)
Crime is an audio orgy which hits the listener on every level. It is a densely textured and produced masterpiece matched only by Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon this decade. Unfortunately, Supertramp have never matched the wall of sound "eargasm" of this record.
14. Elvis Costello
My Aim Is True (1977)
This Years Model (1978)
Armed Forces (1979)
Costello is undeniably the artist to watch in the eighties. His cynical, bitter lyricism combined with a seemingly unending arsenal of great pop tunes made him the most dynamic force of the late seventies. One wonders if he will burn out.
Sex Pistols
Never Mind The Bollocks (1977)
Although preceded three years by the New York Dolls, the Pistols brief cultural shock hit a stagnant rock scene in the face. The impact of this band is best measured by looking at rock's current direction. Short, non-excessive economical rock. This is why the Stones released Some Girls.
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Article comments
1 - Rob
Great list. I would put "Tonight's the Night" under Neil Young. It shows Neil at his burned-out best. Good thing he snapped out of the haze before we lost him and his genious.
2 - JC Mosquito
You had good taste in the 70's, Glen. Like many of us, a bit schizophrenic - how do albums by Pink Floyd as well as Ramones appear on the same list? 'S Ok - my own list probably has the MC5 right next to Emerson, Lake & Palmer.
Born to Run? Hm..... I was a metalhead at the time I first heard that. How could anyone claim this guy made great rock music? After all, he had a saxophone in his band, something which never appeared on Machine Head, or Master of Reality.
3 - Glen Boyd
I think we were all a bit schizo in the seventies JC. So if I ever did another of these lists, I'd probably run down all the metal stuff I liked back then. The two albums you mention would probably be there (though in Sabbath's case, I think I'd opt for Vol. 4 over Masters), as well people like Uriah Heep, Black Oak Arkansas, and pre-Agents of Fortune Blue Oyster Cult.
My list may not totally reflect it, but I majored in heavy mullet in the seventies. At least when I wasn't listening to Bruce, Neil, or Bob. Some things never change.
-Glen
4 - Alan
I would have included Kansas' Leftoverture and Van Halen's title album. What about Yes? Yes were to prog rock what paint is to wood.
5 - JC Mosquito
Glen - Vol 4 would be my Sabs choice also, but I didn't think anyone would get the reference.
And why is it I can never find a copy of Vol 4 on CD at a decent price?
In re: seventies schizo - I think people in general had a wider range in taste. I remember I used to have Sabs, Deep Purple, EL&Palmer, Jefferson Airplane, & CSN&Y in my collection, and that was when I was still in elementary school.
The general public's gravitation to particular genres is something I think developed after punk shattered the idea of rock as a social force - everyone fell back into a tribal state of mentality when it came to music and social status.
And that discussion could run book length, if anyone has a few spare months.
6 - suexian
i would have added King Crimson's "Red" ;)
7 - zingzing
roxy music-all up to 1974
brian eno-all up to 1977
bowie-you mentioned all of my least favorite... aladdin sane, station to station, low and lodger are personal favorites.
clash-s/t
wire-first 3
p.i.l.-first, second edition
joy division-unknown pleasures
chic-c'est chic, risque
leonard cohen-songs of love and hate
talking heads-more songs, fear of music
buzzcocks-anything they put out in the 70s
...it could go on forever.
8 - zingzing
didn't realize how british that list was... hrm. i like the americans too... and i completely forgot about the germans!
neu-neu!, neu! 2, neu! '75
faust-all
can-all up to 1974
kraftwerk- 1974-78
augh... i give up
9 - Glen Boyd
Well, thanks for all of the suggestions on stuff that should have been included. But I think you are all are all forgeting something. As I pointed out in the intro, I originally put this list together in 1980. All it really represents is what I thought the best records of the seventies were at the time.
So Zing, I hear ya on things on things like the Bowie/Eno Berlin trilogy. If I'd wrote this today, those could've very well made it. Ditto for Roxy, T. Heads, maybe even Wire. People like Yes and Crimson too. But in some cases, my deeper appreciation for those bands came much later.
Anyway, spirited discussion here so I thank you all for the comments.
-Glen
10 - Holly Hughes
That list holds up surprisingly well, doesn't it? And to answer your question about Elvis Costello -- no, he didn't burn out.
11 - Christopher Rose
Elvis Costello may not have have technically burned out but, in his change from passionately angry young man to weird beard serious artist, he sure got boring, which amounts to the same thing. Beards are bad!