# British Hard Rock ca. 1970-75 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 23, 2018, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-hard-rock-ca-1970-75/824959 "2018-11-23T00:11:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [November 23, 2018, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-hard-rock-ca-1970-75/824959/1 "2018-11-23T00:11:04Z")
This has always been a field a bit neglected by me, though I’ve read rock lexicons in the eighties where all those bands were honorary mentioned. I mean stuff besides the three 60’s legends and progenitors, the Stones, the Who and the Kinks, which also made very good and groundbreaking music at that time, but rather the second tier bands. That shouldn’t sound derogative, but it sure was hard to compete with those classic bands. Let me explain, I’m looking for bands like the Faces, Mott The Hoople or Humble Pie. I recently dug deeper in the canon of those bands and was overwhelmed. This is the sound I’m going for, not actually rather heavier acts like Deep Purple, Led Zep, Uriah Heep or Sabbath, I like THAT sound too, but I got it covered. Haha, I’m just listening to “Stay With Me”, maybe I’m just looking for boogie bands :). It’s hard to describe, but I think there was a bunch of British bands with a harder edge at that time that got a little bit neglected by rock historians and which I’m just about to explore. I think bands like Tin Lizzy, Spooky Tooth, Colosseum or Atomic Rooster could also fit the bill. So please share, recommend or even rave about early seventies British hard rock! ---
**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:** [November 23, 2018, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-hard-rock-ca-1970-75/824959/2 "2018-11-23T00:20:35Z")
Too late to edit: Thin Lizzy of course :smack:. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2018, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-hard-rock-ca-1970-75/824959/3 "2018-11-23T00:40:30Z")
Well, if you’re looking for boogie bands, there’s always Foghat. ---
**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:** [November 23, 2018, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-hard-rock-ca-1970-75/824959/4 "2018-11-23T00:51:59Z")
[Status Quo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwQHDZYX3ao) are pretty much the epitome of an early '70s British boogie rock act that didn’t achieve much popularity outside the UK. Mungo Jerry (of “in the summertime when the weather is hot” fame) had some other songs like [“Baby Jump”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-NnH7_s0oE) which fit the bill. [Wishbone Ash](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXQrtesxaXE) also has some stuff that qualifies. ---
**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:** [November 23, 2018, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-hard-rock-ca-1970-75/824959/5 "2018-11-23T00:52:44Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Well, if you’re looking for boogie bands, there’s always Foghat. And of course Status Quo :D. But yeah, thanks, I think that’s exactly what I’m looking after. I could swear that I’ve read about Foghat a long time ago in some rock anthology or lexicon, but I’ve never listened to them. I’ll check them out. (though you know how hard it is to play the boogie. There are boogie songs with two chords lasting 20 minutes which are hypnotic and two minute boogie songs which are boring…) ---
**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:** [November 23, 2018, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-hard-rock-ca-1970-75/824959/6 "2018-11-23T00:59:57Z")
> [@journeyman\_southpaw](#): > > [Status Quo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwQHDZYX3ao) are pretty much the epitome of an early '70s British boogie rock act that didn’t achieve much popularity outside the UK. > [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > And of course Status Quo :D. Sorry, a nitpick, Status Quo is a band that didn’t get much popularity outside of the UK AND Germany :D. I know all their hits, they’re still constantly played on oldie stations here. They are a three chord cliche, and I like them ;). ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2018, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-hard-rock-ca-1970-75/824959/7 "2018-11-23T01:01:16Z")
He ain’t British, but I bet he fits the bill anyway. You ever heard of a fella named Rory Gallagher? They don’t get no better. Here, a few examples: 1970 Isle Of Wight 1974 Irish Tour https://www.youtube.com/embed/qhih0IZHYNs?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PLDDAYQXk_M64PuzcFv1ujnUL1LmiVlJ0_ 1977 acoustic [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rxChSF5GUB8/hqdefault.jpg "Rory Gallagher - Pistol Slapper Blues\_Too Much Alcohol - 2/14/77 RTE Studios, Dublin") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxChSF5GUB8) ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2018, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-hard-rock-ca-1970-75/824959/8 "2018-11-23T01:02:05Z")
I’M trying to figure out the bounds of the category you are looking for. Can you please put bands like King Crimson(are they too Progressive and not hard enough ?) or Cream (already counted as first rate?) in term of your criteria? ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2018, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-hard-rock-ca-1970-75/824959/9 "2018-11-23T01:04:12Z")
Wait, sorry, cream was pre 70. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2018, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-hard-rock-ca-1970-75/824959/10 "2018-11-23T01:08:33Z")
Here’s a vote for Slade. They didn’t make it in the US first time around, but they had a small comeback with “Run Runaway” in the early eighties. ---
**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:** [November 23, 2018, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-hard-rock-ca-1970-75/824959/11 "2018-11-23T01:17:10Z")
[quote=“bobot, post:7, topic:824959”] He ain’t British, but I bet he fits the bill anyway. You ever heard of a fella named Rory Gallagher? They don’t get no better. Here, a few examples: 1970 Isle Of Wight 1974 Irish Tour https://www.youtube.com/embed/qhih0IZHYNs?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PLDDAYQXk_M64PuzcFv1ujnUL1LmiVlJ0_ 1977 acoustic [/QUOTE] Check, yeah, got Rory covered. And if I said British, in my definition of British musical acts and culture itself of course the Republic counts. ---
**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:** [November 23, 2018, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-hard-rock-ca-1970-75/824959/12 "2018-11-23T01:24:46Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > I’M trying to figure out the bounds of the category you are looking for. > Can you please put bands like > King Crimson(are they too Progressive and not hard enough ?) or > Cream (already counted as first rate?) > in term of your criteria? Ok, I think I can do that. Right, King Crimson are a tad too progressive and separate from basic rock that I wouldn’t count them for this thread (though I like the band and prog rock).I’m thinking rather in the vein of bands like the Stones or the Faces, blues-based, straight rocking bands. Cream, though based in the sixties anyway, I wouldn’t even count, way too much 15 minute improvisations than 3 minute fast rockers. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2018, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-hard-rock-ca-1970-75/824959/13 "2018-11-23T01:26:47Z")
NM (Hawkwind ain’t nothing like the Stones…even though they did cover Gimme Shelter) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2018, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-hard-rock-ca-1970-75/824959/14 "2018-11-23T01:27:18Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2018, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-hard-rock-ca-1970-75/824959/15 "2018-11-23T01:30:14Z")
Boogie bands, eh? The band [Birmingham](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJFlLC4WCvg&t=1162s) is hard rock that almost crosses into psychedelic soul. ---
**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:** [November 23, 2018, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-hard-rock-ca-1970-75/824959/16 "2018-11-23T01:36:32Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > NM > (Hawkwind ain’t nothing like the Stones…even though they did cover Gimme Shelter) Funny. Very funny. I just got to check them out in the last two days, after years and years of only knowing one song, of course “Silver Machine”. I listened to “Space Ritual”, “Hall of the Mountain Grill” and “Quark, Strangeness & Charm”, and those albums were all, well, bombastic. I think you’ve got me there with my current obsession :D. ETA: well that was strange, you deleted your post about Hawkwind while I was composing an answer. I stand by my high regard of Hawkwind. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2018, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-hard-rock-ca-1970-75/824959/17 "2018-11-23T01:41:17Z")
As well you should! Cheers! (ETA: I was going to link to their cover of Gimme Shelter, but it really doesn’t hold a candle to the original.) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2018, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-hard-rock-ca-1970-75/824959/18 "2018-11-23T01:43:15Z")
How about some [UFO](https://youtu.be/aP5ikQpTR3c)? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2018, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-hard-rock-ca-1970-75/824959/19 "2018-11-23T01:53:38Z")
[Heronimus Fin](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVJGF1AjurA&t=628s) is pretty good straight-ahead hard rock if you can ignore the cover picture that is so “edgy” it might be banned in Germany. ---
**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:** [November 23, 2018, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-hard-rock-ca-1970-75/824959/20 "2018-11-23T01:53:53Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > How about some [UFO](https://youtu.be/aP5ikQpTR3c)? Yes, that’s definitely a band I should check out. It’s a kind of shame that Rudolf Schenker always played in better bands than his brother and is always noted as an ace guitarist, but got little of the fame of his Scorpion brother Michael. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-hard-rock-ca-1970-75/824959.md?page=2)