# 70's playlist - started with Gram Parsons, now what?? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 2, 2015, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-playlist-started-with-gram-parsons-now-what/739164 "2015-12-02T00:42:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2015, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-playlist-started-with-gram-parsons-now-what/739164/21 "2015-12-02T16:30:45Z")
For a totally different direction, I’ll suggest Kraftwerk, Yes, Roxy Music. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2015, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-playlist-started-with-gram-parsons-now-what/739164/22 "2015-12-02T16:32:11Z")
> [@oliversarmy](#): > > Ike Witt is kidding. Are you sure? _Someone_ out there must like it. Lou Reed, at least. Maybe. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2015, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-playlist-started-with-gram-parsons-now-what/739164/23 "2015-12-02T17:01:05Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Are you sure? > > _Someone_ out there must like it. Lou Reed, at least. Maybe. Lester Bangs certainly did. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2015, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-playlist-started-with-gram-parsons-now-what/739164/24 "2015-12-02T17:16:49Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > If you enjoyed Gram Parsons and like country rock in general, check out acts like Poco, Gene Clark, Pure Prairie League, Michael Nesmith (yes, the Monkee) or the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and of course Emmylou Harris’ wonderful seventies albums. Also Jerry Jeff Walker, specifically [this album](https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/jerry_jeff_walker/jerry_jeff_walker/). You may already be familiar with some of these, but: Be-Bop Deluxe, _Sunburst Finish_ – power pop Mott the Hoople, _Mott_ – glam rock Traffic, _The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys_ – groove rock King Crimson, _Larks’ Tongues in Aspic_ – art rock Gong, _Flying Teapot_ or _Angels Egg_ – art rock Al Stewart, _Modern Times_ or _Past, Present and Future_ – folk rock-pop Strawbs, _Bursting at the Seams_ – prog-folk-rock ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-playlist-started-with-gram-parsons-now-what/739164/25 "2015-12-02T17:27:19Z")
Like would be a strong word for how I feel about MMM, but I’ve heard all 4 sides. It’s got it’s moments. In the country vein, I can recommend Townes Van Zandt. _Live at the Old Quarter, Houston, Texas_ is his most reliable listen, I think. But, it is a live record of an acoustic act. It has crowd noise (murmurs, clapping along and such), and it’s a bit more hardcore country than Parsons’ work, but it is from the 70’s, and beautiful. If you like that, there’s a lot of other good songwriters and performers from the same scene. So, now that you know that about me. How about T. Rex?\* _Electric Warrior_ was great, possibly the greatest Glam Rock ever, if you don’t try to take it seriously. _The Slider_ is made of the same stuff. \*Yes, the mildly dead album tracks that should have been singles thread made me think to mention 'em. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2015, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-playlist-started-with-gram-parsons-now-what/739164/26 "2015-12-02T20:20:00Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > And for more folky music from across the pond, everything from Richard Thompson (with or without Linda), Sandy Denny and Fairport Convention’s seventies albums. > > Edit: And Nick Drake. Nick Drake was my immediate thought, as well. _Pink Moon_ being the obvious album. Just a man and his unique acoustic guitar stylings (with the occasional piano). Soulful, meditative, mystical, a bid sad. This is one of the must-listen-to albums of the 70s. You might also enjoy Serge Gainsbourg’s _Histoire de Melody Nelson_ if you don’t mind a kind-of “dirty old man” French music. Still pretty mellow; great melodies, orchestrations, and sexy. I was also going to mention Scott Walker’s _Scott IV_, but that’s 1969. If you haven’t heard it, you should. If you want something a little more rocking, I’ve got a few to start you off: Television - _Marquee Moon_ Buzzcocks - _Singles Going Steady_ Joy Division - _Unknown Pleasures_ The Clash - _London Calling_ ---
**Author:** ![journeyman\_southpaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5e9695/32.png) [@journeyman\_southpaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/journeyman_southpaw)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2015, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-playlist-started-with-gram-parsons-now-what/739164/27 "2015-12-02T20:31:32Z")
Todd Rundgren - _Something/Anything?_ ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2015, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-playlist-started-with-gram-parsons-now-what/739164/28 "2015-12-02T20:40:52Z")
Here is some very rare and very good hard rock: [Wicked Lady - Psychotic Overkill (album)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9wKizlSovo) [Iron Claw - 1970-1974 (album)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcGhHXLBa9g) ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2015, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-playlist-started-with-gram-parsons-now-what/739164/29 "2015-12-03T02:26:51Z")
Warren Zevon - _Warren Zevon_ Warren Zevon - _Excitable Boy_ Two of the best albums of the 70’s. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2015, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-playlist-started-with-gram-parsons-now-what/739164/30 "2015-12-03T04:24:00Z")
If you like live performance albums at all, I’d suggest giving \*\*Waiting for Columbus \*\*by \*Little Feat \*a try. For my money, it’s the tightest live album ever. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2015, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-playlist-started-with-gram-parsons-now-what/739164/31 "2015-12-03T11:57:52Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Nick Drake was my immediate thought, as well. _Pink Moon_ being the obvious album. Just a man and his unique acoustic guitar stylings (with the occasional piano). Soulful, meditative, mystical, a bid sad. This is one of the must-listen-to albums of the 70s. > > You might also enjoy Serge Gainsbourg’s _Histoire de Melody Nelson_ if you don’t mind a kind-of “dirty old man” French music. Still pretty mellow; great melodies, orchestrations, and sexy. > > I was also going to mention Scott Walker’s _Scott IV_, but that’s 1969. If you haven’t heard it, you should. > > If you want something a little more rocking, I’ve got a few to start you off: > > Television - _Marquee Moon_ > Buzzcocks - _Singles Going Steady_ > Joy Division - _Unknown Pleasures_ > The Clash - _London Calling_ Hah, **pulykamell** , we have a very similar taste in music, I noticed it before. I was going to recommend _Singles Going Steady_ and _Marquee Moon_ as well, but refrained because the OP mentioned that they got punk/new wave covered. But now I might as well throw in some more suggestions in that vein, try _Crossing The Red Sea With The Adverts_ by the Adverts, all albums by the Undertones, the first four by the Stiff Little Fingers and Australian punk, _(I’m) Stranded_ by the Saints. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2015, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-playlist-started-with-gram-parsons-now-what/739164/32 "2015-12-03T13:58:31Z")
Yes, Television’s Marquee Moon is a perfect, wonderful album. Heck, if we are venturing outside Country Rock, you would have to listen to **Big Star’s** music - the first two albums are offered on 1 CD. The great music and sad story of Big Star is well known to music geeks and their work still sounds wonderful today. When I hear Mod Lang, Back of a Car, She’s a Mover and September Gurls I just love it. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-playlist-started-with-gram-parsons-now-what/739164/33 "2015-12-03T15:45:13Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Hah, **pulykamell** , we have a very similar taste in music, I noticed it before. I was going to recommend _Singles Going Steady_ and _Marquee Moon_ as well, but refrained because the OP mentioned that they got punk/new wave covered. But now I might as well throw in some more suggestions in that vein, try _Crossing The Red Sea With The Adverts_ by the Adverts, all albums by the Undertones, the first four by the Stiff Little Fingers and Australian punk, _(I’m) Stranded_ by the Saints. You know, I actually glossed over the early punk/new wave stipulation and just saw the “no disco” in the OP. Regardless, in case the OP has a hole in their collection, we have our recommendations out there. 🙂 Oh, yeah, **Big Star** is a must, too. I would also suggest the Modern Lovers self-titled album. If the OP wants to dip his toe into a genre known as “Krautrock,” the Kraftwerk recommendation is great, but also try Neu! (they are all, hypnotic, instrumental records. I’ll go with Neu! 1 as the album to start with, but I like Neu! 2 and Neu! 75, as well.) If you like the band Stereolab, it’s worth listening to, as you’ll note the influences on them. Also, Can’s _Tago Mago_. Also, XTC’s _Drums and Wires_ if the OP hasn’t gotten to it. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2015, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-playlist-started-with-gram-parsons-now-what/739164/34 "2015-12-03T16:25:13Z")
Big Star and Jerry Jeff Walker? [Is there an echo in here?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18903683&postcount=17) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2015, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-playlist-started-with-gram-parsons-now-what/739164/35 "2015-12-03T16:27:12Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > You know, I actually glossed over the early punk/new wave stipulation and just saw the “no disco” in the OP. Regardless, in case the OP has a hole in their collection, we have our recommendations out there. 🙂 > > Oh, yeah, **Big Star** is a must, too. I would also suggest the Modern Lovers self-titled album. If the OP wants to dip his toe into a genre known as “Krautrock,” the Kraftwerk recommendation is great, but also try Neu! (they are all, hypnotic, instrumental records. I’ll go with Neu! 1 as the album to start with, but I like Neu! 2 and Neu! 75, as well.) If you like the band Stereolab, it’s worth listening to, as you’ll note the influences on them. Also, Can’s _Tago Mago_. > > Also, XTC’s _Drums and Wires_ if the OP hasn’t gotten to it. Oh yes, Big Star, seconded or thirded. “I never travel far, without a little Big Star”. The aforementioned _# 1 Record_ and \*Radio City \* are essential for a 70s playlist, in fact the pinnacle of power pop, but if the OP is a bit more adventurous, they can also try out _3rd/Sister Lovers_. Radically different, eerie and haunting, but very moving and ahead of its time. Check out [Kangaroo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3dYmtbLs20), one of the weirdest but yet compelling songs recorded in that decade. And who else would call a pop song _Holocaust_, other than Alex Chilton? As for your other recommendations, all seconded. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2015, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-playlist-started-with-gram-parsons-now-what/739164/36 "2015-12-03T16:30:10Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Oh yes, Big Star, seconded or thirded. “I never travel far, without a little Big Star”. The aforementioned _# 1 Record_ and \*Radio City \* are essential for a 70s playlist, in fact the pinnacle of power pop, but if the OP is a bit more adventurous, they can also try out _3rd/Sister Lovers_. Radically different, eerie and haunting, but very moving and ahead of its time. Check out [Kangaroo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3dYmtbLs20), one of the weirdest but yet compelling songs recorded in that decade. And who else would call a pop song _Holocaust_, other than Alex Chilton? > > As for your other recommendations, all seconded. Yeah, #1 Record/Radio City are absolute essential. “September Gurls” is perhaps the perfect pop song, and “13” is the greatest song of adolescence ever written. Just brilliant music. Agreed on Sister Lovers, as well. It’s hard for me to pick a favorite from their (sadly limited) output. ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_Urquhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gordon\_Urquhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_Urquhart)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2015, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-playlist-started-with-gram-parsons-now-what/739164/37 "2015-12-03T17:20:19Z")
It’s great to see the love for Big Star in this thread – a quick note, for those who don’t know: the 2012 documentary [Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2290151/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) is currently streaming on Netflix. I enjoyed it immensely (and it prompted me to purchase the Chris Bell album _I Am the Cosmos_ – another good recommendation for those looking for quality but lesser-known stuff, btw). I heard _The Ballad Of El Goodo_ on the radio yesterday afternoon – it’s a top-5 song of all time in my book. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2015, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-playlist-started-with-gram-parsons-now-what/739164/38 "2015-12-03T17:25:21Z")
> [@Gordon\_Urquhart](#): > > It’s great to see the love for Big Star in this thread – a quick note, for those who don’t know: the 2012 documentary [Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2290151/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) is currently streaming on Netflix. I enjoyed it immensely (and it prompted me to purchase the Chris Bell album _I Am the Cosmos_ – another good recommendation for those looking for quality but lesser-known stuff, btw). Awesome! Thanks for the tip. I know what I’ll be queuing up later today. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2015, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-playlist-started-with-gram-parsons-now-what/739164/39 "2015-12-03T17:38:43Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Awesome! Thanks for the tip. I know what I’ll be queuing up later today. 🙂 Me, too! Thanks! And **JKellyMap** - cool, sorry I missed your mention upthread. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2015, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-playlist-started-with-gram-parsons-now-what/739164/40 "2015-12-03T22:13:28Z")
So I’m assuming you listened to the Flying Burrito Brothers, right? What about Doug Sahm? Steely Dan and early Chicago aren’t “lesser known”, but they’re damn good, and belong on any 70s playlist. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-playlist-started-with-gram-parsons-now-what/739164.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/70s-playlist-started-with-gram-parsons-now-what/739164.md?page=3)