Five fantastic songs from the 1970s that don't get played enough

Nazareth - “Bad, Bad Boy” 

Scottish band Nazareth and their gravel-voiced singer Dan McCafferty deserve more airplay all around. It’s been a while since I heard any of their hard-rocking tunes played. Not even the softer ballad of “Love Hurts”. The song that came to mind first though, when I think about Nazareth is “Bad Bad Boy”. 

Released in 1973 from their third studio album Razamanaz, it was produced by Roger Glover, Deep Purple bass player. Opening with a great guitar riff we’re soon into bluesy boogie rock and some great vocals by McCafferty, including some partly spoken lines. The song rocks brightly throughout, raising the tone at the end with a key change that McCafferty matches perfectly. Great song, where has it been all this time?

Focus - “Sylvia”

Another classic song. Dutch band Focus and their music leaped to greater prominence in the UK, and beyond after featuring on BBC TV show The Old Grey Whistle Test in December 1972. “Sylvia” had been released in Holland in April of that year as a single. The BBC TV appearance saw interest in the band rocket and the song was released in the UK in January 1973, after some hurried and late vinyl pressing to meet the huge demand. 

The single hit number four in the UK and 89 in the US. It was the biggest hit for Focus. Fans loved the intricate guitar playing of Jan Akkerman. The way that blends with Thijs van Leer on a Hammond organ is superb. Van Leer adds only very occasional vocal sounds on this instrumental classic.  It was their follow-up, “Hocus Pocus, where he went full-blown yodel. Another couple of songs I’ve realized I've missed hearing.

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