Some were huge hits in their time, but for various reasons have fallen by the wayside over the years.
Others were never more than cult successes, but have proven highly influential. A few fall into neither category, but simply deserve to he heard. These, then, are the brilliant, forgotten classic rock albums that deserve a place in any serious collection.
Brilliant, forgotten classic rock albums
1. J.J. Cale Naturally (1971)
The great J.J. Cale was always an 'under the radar' kinda guy, appreciated more by fellow musicians than by hordes of fans. But since his death in 2013, he seems to have dropped off the radar altogether, with few modern musicians claiming him as an influence.
Released in 1971, ‘Naturally’ was his debut, establishing his signature blend of laid-back jazz, blues and country, which Dire Straits were later to take to the bank. Several artists covered songs from the album, notably Eric Clapton, who made ‘After Midnight’ his own, and Southern rock kings Lynyrd Skynyrd, who cut a brilliant version of ‘Call Me the Breeze’.
2. Poco Rose of Cimarron (1976)
How come the Eagles became so big while fellow country rock aces Poco remained minnows? It’s one of rock’s greatest mysteries, though Rusty Young’s title tack to 1976’s Rose of Cimarron is the equal of anything Don Henley’s mob recorded at the time. And, of course, bassist Timothy B. Schmit – he of the distinctive high-pitched voice – later joined the Eagles.
This should have been their breakthrough, having abandoned virtually all of their original country influences in favour of classy AOR, but it was not to be. A string of great albums followed, including Legend (1978), Blue and Gray (1981) and Ghost Town (1982), but Poco never achieved the success they so richly deserved.
3. Wishbone Ash Argus (1972)
Every band that has ever used a twin lead guitar assault – from Thin Lizzy to Iron Maiden – owes Torquay’s very own Wishbone Ash a debt of gratitude as pioneers of the from. 1972’s Argus was their most commercially successful release, peaking at number three on the UK album chart. It’s a magnificent collection of songs that deifies categorisation, taking in elements of prog and hard rock alongside a hint of folk.
‘Blowing Free’ and ‘The King Will Come’ formed cornerstones of their live set for years afterwards. Alas, line-up changes and declining commercial fortunes ensued and there are currently two Wishbone Ashes. The official version is led by guitarist Andy Powell, while legal action has forced Martin Turner to maintain his punishing touring schedule as Martin Turner Ex. Wishbone Ash.
4. Utopia Deface the Music (1980)
So close to the '70s, and by such a '70s icon, that we're giving it a free pass here. Todd Rundgren sure was a busy little bee in the 1970s and early 1980s, exploring AOR, pop and progressive rock as a solo artist and with his band Utopia. But we’re not going to celebrate his best known albums here.
In 1980, for reasons best known to himself, Todd decided to release a homage to the Beatles. The songs are all originals rather then covers, though they’re recorded with such attention to detail that they could easily be Fabs offcuts.
Indeed, there’s much fun to be had listening to the likes of ‘Where Does the World Go To Hide’, ‘I Just Want to Touch You’ and ‘Everybody Else Is Wrong’ and trying to work out which Beatles songs they’re based on. Alas, most punters couldn’t be bothered and reacted to the album with puzzlement – which has been a feature of Rundgren’s career. It is, however, ripe for rediscovery.
5. The Enid In the Region of the Summer Stars (1976)
An instrumental concept album based on the Tarot released at the height of punk? Little wonder In the Region of the Summer Stars didn’t exactly set the charts alight. But it’s a brilliant piece of classically influenced symphonic prog rock, created in the most difficult of circumstances.
The Enid’s original singer had committed suicide prior to the recording, so it was then decided to make the album entirely instrumental. Initially released on BUK Records, a subsidiary of EMI, the album was unavailable for years after many of the master tapes were lost. A few of these were eventually recovered and a slightly altered – some might say inferior – version of the album was made available in 1984. Grab a copy of the original release (pictured above) if you can.
6. Creedence Clearwater Revival Cosmo’s Factory (1970)
Another great American band whose stock seems to have fallen in recent years, despite the endorsememt of The Dude in ‘The Big Lebowski’, Creedence were simply fabulous. And Cosmo’s Factory is the connoisseur’s choice. The album spent nine weeks at number one in the US back in 1970 and eventually went four times platinum. That’s hardly surprising given that it contains such classics as ‘Up Around the Bend’, ‘Lookin’ Out My Back Door’, ‘Run Through the Jungle’, ‘Long as I Can See the Light’ and that epic cover of ‘I Heard It Through the Grapevine’.
7. Supertramp Crime of the Century (1976)
Too pop to be prog and too prog to be mainstream, Supertramp were (like fellow Brits 10cc) always difficult to pigeonhole, which probably explains why they’ve fallen off the radar despite enjoying enormous success at their peak. That said, it wasn’t always plain sailing. The public neglected to buy their first two albums and A&M were losing patience by the time they all moved to a Somerset cottage to work on what was to become their breakthrough, 1974's Crime of the Century.
- Supertramp are one of 15 huge 1970s bands that no one talks about anymore
These sessions proved so productive that leftover songs were used on the 1975 follow-up Crisis? What Crisis? and as late as 1982’s Famous Last Words. Roger Hodgson’s ‘Dreamer’ gave the band their first taste of singles cart success, while Rick Davies’s ‘Bloody Well Right’ was also a hit – but only in the US. The parent album peaked at number four in the UK, giving Supertramp the success they so richly deserved.
8. Boston Boston (1976)
Back in 1976, Tom Scholz – a perfectionist, multi-instrumentalist MIT graduate who built his own recording studio in his basement – wrote and recorded the first Boston album and was rewarded with one of the biggest selling debuts of all time. Mind you, it very nearly didn’t happen. Record label Epic were keen that it should be recorded in a professional studio, but Scholz was adamant that he could only work alone.
Fortunately, he got his way and produced this brilliant hard rock classic, which opened with the superb ‘More Than a Feeling’. Singer Brad Delp was the only other member of the band to receive a songwriting credit. Trouble was that Scholz resisted all pressure to become more prolific. Gaps between albums became longer and longer and eventually it took 11 years for Boston to follow 2002’s Corporate America with Life, Love & Hope, which reached only number 37 on the US Billboard chart. Today, they are undeservedly but a footnote in rock history.
9. Cat Stevens Tea for the Tillerman (1970)
Cat Stevens’ conversion to Islam came as a surprise to all except those who’d been paying close attention to his questing, spiritual lyrics. 1970’s Tea for the Tillerman was his big commercial breakthrough, though its immediate predecessor Mona Bone Jakon is just as worthy of inclusion here.
Songs like ‘Wild World’ and ‘Father and Son’ sealed his crossover appeal between rockers and ‘easy listening’ enthusiasts. Alas, following his conversion to Islam in 1977, the former Cat abandoned music altogether. He returned as Yusuf Islam, eventually releasing an album of new recordings, An Other Cup, in 2006, but he never regained the popularity he enjoyed in the 1970s.
10. Eno Here Come the Warm Jets (1974)
Between Roxy Music and his ambient years, Eno recorded several great solo albums, of which 1974’s Here Come the Warm Jets was the first. Working with regular collaborator Robert Fripp (himself in the middle of a rich streak of King Crimson albums), as well as members of Hawkwind and the Pink Fairies, the great boffin fashioned this eclectic collection of songs which incorporated glam rock and avant-pop stylings. Although the album wasn’t a huge commercial success on release, it is periodically rediscovered by new generations of curious and adventurous listeners.
11. Thin Lizzy Jailbreak (1976)
Lizzy’s breakthrough album, and their first UK top ten hit, is packed with classic songs featuring that distinctive twin lead guitar assault. 'The Boys Are Back in Town', 'Cowboy Song', 'Emerald' and the title track would stay in their set for decades. Alas, despite the best efforts of guitarist Scott Gorham to keep the band’s music alive, they have faded of late and it will take another Metallica or Guns N’ Roses (both of whom have championed Lizzy) to come along and remind modern audiences how outstanding they were at their peak.
12. Rod Stewart Every Picture Tells a Story (1971)
The sight of Rodney wiggling his bottom and demanding to know whether we thought he was sexy was enough to put off most rock enthusiasts, but for a while in the early seventies he was untouchable. Even John Peel thought he was great. Released in 1971, Rod’s third solo album Every Picture Tells a Story was a huge critical and commercial success, with the hit single ‘Maggie May’ giving him the breakthrough he needed, topping he UK chart for five weeks.
It’s a fabulous collection of songs by Bob Dylan, Tim Hardin and Arthur Crudup, alongside originals like Stewart and Ronnie Wood’s title track. The album sold by the truckload around the world, establishing Rod’s solo career, but tends to be rather overlooked today.
13. Caravan In the Land of Grey and Pink (1971)
Caravan’s masterpiece from 1971 failed to chart, but remained hugely popular among connoisseurs of the Canterbury Scene, who also flocked to purchase Steven Wilson’s magnificent 40th anniversary 5.1 surround sound remix. Side One (as we used to call it) had shorter songs such as the lovely psychedelic whimsy of ‘Golf Girl’, ‘Love to Love You (And Tonight Pigs Will Fly)’ and the title track, while Side Two was given over entirely to the wonderful epic ‘Nine Feet Underground’ – which, to many listeners, represents Caravan at their peak.
14. Camel Moonmadness (1976)
The Snow Goose (1975) would be the obvious selection from British prog rockers Camel, but Moonmadness, from the following year, is less weighed down by its heavy concept. Which isn’t to say it doesn’t have a concept: the idea was that each of band’s members should have one track based on their personality. Drummer Andy Ward, for example, was ‘Lunar Sea’, which perhaps helps to explain why he left Camel in 1983. Indeed, this was the last Camel album to feature the original line-up. Today, only founder Andrew Latimer remains, leading a terrific modern incarnation of the band, who remain cult heroes rather than the Pink Floyd-level stars they richly deserve to be.
Moonmadness was an artistic highpoint, featuring a return to vocals after the all-instrumental Snow Goose album, though many of its highpoints are instrumental, from opener ‘Aristillus’ to the aforementioned ‘Lunar Sea’ (the longest and most immersive track on the album).
15. Gentle Giant Octopus (1972)
This list wouldn’t be complete without at least one Gentle Giant album. Indeed, there are those who would argue, persuasively, that you could fill the whole thing with Gentle Giant albums. So let’s go with their best known release. 1972’s Octopus – AKA the one with the Roger Dean cover – peaked at number 34 on the UK chart, but deserved to be a great deal more popular.
The trouble was that GG were too clever for their own good, being inspired by great works of literature and philosophy. The vocally complex ‘Knots’ is inspired by the work of psychiatrist R.D. Laing, ‘A Cry for Everyone’ is inspired by Albert Camus, and album opener ‘The Advent of Panurge’ is based on books by François Rabelais. Not your standard pop fare, in other words. Ray Schulman’s splendid ‘Dog’s Life’, however, really is just about a dog (or, possibly, the band’s long-suffering roadies).
- Octopus features on our list of the 21 greatest prog rock albums of all time
Artist pics Getty Images
