I loved the music from the 1970s. It had so much to offer. Rock, soul, glam, folk, funk, and indeed punk then new wave. When it comes to classic albums there were loads of them. Many of those still stand the test of time today too.
You can probably stick a pin in any week’s album charts that decade and have a real chance of finding a superb record. Even if it is a rather random way to go about it. Kind of like an old-school pre-technology equivalent of a streaming service algorithm picking music you’ll like.
Among all those 1970s albums though are quite a few that might have been overlooked. They didn't sell in huge numbers, nowhere near the millions. For whatever reason, some albums just won’t have made it onto your music radar. Here are five you might have missed. The artists aren't huge superstars, but were all great performers and these all deserve to be heard by more listeners.
Five 1970s albums you may have missed hearing
Nick Lowe - Jesus of Cool
What a great title for the debut album from musician Nick Lowe! Although that’s the UK name, in the US it came out under Pure Pop For Now People. That feels like a lame and somewhat bland attempt to avoid any offense, I’m sure none was intended!
Lowe is a great songwriter and producer, working closely with Elvis Costello in particular and as an in-house producer for Stiff Records. This 1978 album showed he could do it at the mic himself too. It hails back to his pub rock background but brings in a variety of clever pop and new wave songs with catchy choruses.
It’s another album that deserved better chart success and more attention, only as far as 127 on the Billboard 200 and 22 on the UK album charts. The tracks included and their order varied from UK to US. There were further variations with a 2008 deluxe release and a special World Record Store Day version in 2022.
“So It Goes” was Lowe’s first single, it was also the first single for Stiff Records. Another great tune. On the initial release though the main track on all versions was the standout “I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass”. When I say standout track, this doesn’t mean the only great song in the album. If you like it though, you’ll like the rest as the quality is very high throughout the album. It really is a cool album, and maybe pure pop is a decent description to use in an album title.
Be-Bop Deluxe - Sunburst Finish
This is one of my favourite albums. I had to buy a CD copy to replace the almost worn-out vinyl version I bought back in the 1970s. Sunburst Finish, released in 1976, was the third album from Be-Bop Deluxe and by far their best. It’s filled with brilliant songs and had a rare hit UK single for the band in “Ships In The Night”. In a big nod to the overlooked status, the single did only reach number 23 and the album sales were around 60,000.
Be-Bop Deluxe were perhaps crossovers of a few genres. A bit art, or glam rock, sometimes pop rock or even prog-pop perhaps. There's a touch of reggae in that hit single which also has various other styles prevalent plus some excellent keyboard riffs and harmonies linking it all together.
All of that ties in with the band mainstay Bill Nelson holding back on his guitar virtuoso extremes, cutting back to some excellent guitar playing but without losing himself on wandering solos as he did in previous albums. There’s still room for some brilliant Nelson solos, but they are under control here.
The album also supports Nelson’s decision to add Andy Clark on keyboards to the recording band for it. Clark had previously played with the band on live gigs. His keyboards, as “Ships In The Night” very capably showed, gave a new edge to the band's sound.
There isn't a poor tune on the album. And more styles emerge throughout. The opener “Fair Exchange” shows off those keyboards but also has an air of Queen in the intro guitars. “Like An Old Blues” has, as you might expect, a great rocky blues theme to it.”
“Blazing Apostles” has rips of the Peter Gunn Theme on guitar here and there. “Sleep That Burns” has an incredibly catchy chorus and guitar run. It’s another favourite song from the album. If you haven't heard Sunburst Finish, please do play it soon. It's from a band at their peak.
Ian Hunter - Ian Hunter
Ian Hunter will be known best by many as the lead singer of the early 1970s band Mott The Hoople. His no-nonsense singing style worked perfectly with the band and rock and roll. Although their biggest hit, “All The Young Dudes” was written by David Bowie, Hunter was the main songwriter for the band.
Hunter was under increasing pressure to write more songs for the band and in late 1974 he collapsed with nervous exhaustion in New York. That was a key trigger for him leaving the band just weeks later. Hunter then collaborated with guitarist Mick Ronson on this self-titled debut solo album, released in 1975 and many others to follow.
The album opens with “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” a great song that was a top 20 UK hit for Hunter as a single. Have you ever heard a cooler, cockier, and cockney-accented opening word on a song as Hunter announcing himself with “Allo” on this track? It follows a simple but effective opening guitar riff and kicks the song off brilliantly. By the time the full guitars and piano have kicked in it's rocking along very nicely indeed.
Have a listen to the gentler and more emotional sound of “Boy” with lyrics about David Bowie. It could have been by Bowie himself. Alongside that epic track from Hunter, there are many more excellent songs, rockers like “I Get So Excited”, the bluesy but upbeat “Who Do You Love” or a ballad in “It Ain’t Easy When You Fall”, which cleverly links up with a poem by Hunter, “Shades Off”.
It’s amazing to think Hunter was feeling pressured about writing songs but then delivered so many for this first album soon after. This is a superb album. It wasn't a huge seller, with modest chart success in the UK at number 21, but only up to 50 in the US. Ian Hunter definitely deserved more from this album.
The Rezillos - Can’t Stand The Rezillos
If it’s about music in the 1970s then there has to be a punk album included. This one by The Rezillos is fun, pacy, and clever. That's three words that don’t fit with many punk bands but are a perfect fit for this Edinburgh band and their album. Even the title Can’t Stand The Rezillos is tongue firmly in cheek.
The stand-out track was the single “Top Of The Pops” which appeared in the top UK BBC TV pop show at that time. Which the band duly did, helping the record reach number 17. It's a good example of the style of the album and a bright, energetic song too.
After the album's release, a tour came to an abrupt and early end when singer Fay Fife hit a voice problem. The band split up shortly afterward in November 1978 but agreed to reform briefly for one final gig that December. The gig was recorded for a live second album. If we ignore a compilation album and a new album years later in 2015 after more reforming, Can’t Stand The Rezillos is pretty much it all from the band in that punk late 1970s phase.
The Rezillos covered some 1960s songs in the album including a version of beat classic “Glad All Over” originally by the Dave Clark Five and the Merseybeat favourite from Gerry and the Pacemakers, “I Like It”. There was also what sounds much more like a traditional punk song "Somebody's Gonna Get Their Head Kicked in Tonite". That too was a cover of a 1969 track by Earl Vince and The Valiants, who were actually Fleetwood Mac under another name.
Thankfully it’s a joy and one to treasure. Less political angst and rage than typical punk records, it's a bit more mainstream and lighter, but still with a strong punk flavour. There is perhaps a similarity to the style of the B52s with a 50s and 60s rock and roll vibe. If you have missed this one, it’s worth your time for a play.
XTC - White Music
White Music is the debut album from UK band XTC. Led by Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding, they were post-punk and early new wave but also had quirky and tuneful pop songs. The album came out in 1978 and had modest success. Up to number 38 in the UK, it didn't have any real impact in the US. Even though a few of the songs would be a great fit there.
It’s certainly in the category of being overlooked by the masses, even though music aficionados will probably nod and know it well. A couple of singles were released from the album, “Statue Of Liberty” and “This Is Pop”, but neither hit the right end of the charts. That’s a shame as they were both worthy of success. They each had that XTC blend of guitar and keyboard with neat lyrics and a catchy, emerging punk-era beat and chorus.
White Noise is full of great songs and energy. There’s a definite hint of bands like Blondie and the New York Dolls in there. The punk tones are there in-depth on the short blast of “Do What You Do” and “New Town Animal In A Furnished Cage”. And then there’s perhaps an unusual choice of a cover song with Bob Dylan’s “All Along The Watchtower”. It’s certainly not a bland sound-like remake. A jerky rhythm matched with bluesy harmonica makes this version quite different.
White Noise was the forerunner for many more great albums and hit songs from XTC. They developed further from this raw but fun start into poppier-sounding tunes. It’s a good starting point if you have missed out on the band and their brand of music.