# Sometimes you just want to Kick Out the Jams and go Flirtin' With Disaster **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 4, 2006, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-you-just-want-to-kick-out-the-jams-and-go-flirtin-with-disaster/351245 "2006-04-04T13:29:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Mal\_Adroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@Mal\_Adroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mal_Adroit)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-you-just-want-to-kick-out-the-jams-and-go-flirtin-with-disaster/351245/41 "2006-04-06T12:42:03Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > Couldn’t believe Big Star was so unknown once I finally heard them. I bet a lot of people our age probably discovered them thanks to Westerberg and Co. A shout out must go to the Bangles as well (yes, The Bangles). They did a version of “September Gurls” on the same album as gadamn “Manic Monday.” It was the first Big Star song I’d ever heard. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-you-just-want-to-kick-out-the-jams-and-go-flirtin-with-disaster/351245/42 "2006-04-06T13:08:18Z")
How many in this thread are familiar with \*\*Zebra’s \*\* early 80s output? Since they’re local to the New Orleans (and Long Island, NY) scene, they still get plenty of airplay on local classic rock stations. … **Loopydude** comes correct with his mention of **Big Star**. It’s weird what bands get huge and which ones don’t. There are probably a trillion alternate Earths on which **Big Star** are freakishly popular. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-you-just-want-to-kick-out-the-jams-and-go-flirtin-with-disaster/351245/43 "2006-04-06T13:15:25Z")
> [@mamboman](#): > > Bob Seger was never major, major league was he? Seems like Springsteen got all the street cred, but for my money Bob always kicked Bruces over-rated, sanctimonious, dull as dishwater arse. Sure, Segar was major, though he achieved it relatively late. He was recording in the late 60s, but did hit it very big starting with “Night Moves” in 1977, with six albums in a row hitting the Billboard top ten, plus five top ten singles. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-you-just-want-to-kick-out-the-jams-and-go-flirtin-with-disaster/351245/44 "2006-04-06T13:15:33Z")
> [@scotandrsn](#): > > There’s a dispute that the Beatles were one of the top three classic rock bands? 😕 Yeah. Just because they are an undisputed giant band that played classic rock doesnt make them an undisputed giant Classic Rock band. Some stations don’t even play them that frequently, focusing more on the harder 70’s sound. Even the ones that do stick to their middle to late stuff that can properly be called “Classic Rock” instead of just rock or rock-pop. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-you-just-want-to-kick-out-the-jams-and-go-flirtin-with-disaster/351245/45 "2006-04-06T13:23:27Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > **Loopydude** comes correct with his mention of **Big Star**. It’s weird what bands get huge and which ones don’t. There are probably a trillion alternate Earths on which **Big Star** are freakishly popular. Probably not. Big Star was good (I liked their album when the first came out), but they were not likely to be popular no matter what. I’ll mention **[Spirit](http://tinyurl.com/zztjo)**. Four excellent albums, but no one remembers them at all. “The Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus” is one of the great rock albums of all time. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-you-just-want-to-kick-out-the-jams-and-go-flirtin-with-disaster/351245/46 "2006-04-06T13:28:56Z")
**Big Star** was hamstrung by their record label, Stax, who was in the process of disintegrating as Big Star came out. They had no money for promotion or even distribution (I think I remember reading that their records had fewer than 100k copies pressed). Big Star got lots of favorable reviews and played some successful shows in NYC. If they had been with a record company with any clout, their story might have been different. Sorry for the hijacking, maybe we should start an “Obscure bands it’s a damn shame never made it” thread. For that one, I nominate **The Plimsouls**. I think the OP is more about the 2nd line hard rock acts of the 70s/80s. They were at least moderately successful, or at least quite a few people have heard of them, but they never really made to the big leagues. There are a few of those I still haven’t seen mentioned, such as **Robin Trower, Triumph, Uriah Heep, Wishbone Ash, Hawkwind, Budgie, The Outlaws, Detective, Derringer, Mahogany Rush, Hot Tuna** , and a host of others I can’t remember at the moment, but I’m sure will come to me shortly after I post. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-you-just-want-to-kick-out-the-jams-and-go-flirtin-with-disaster/351245/47 "2006-04-06T13:30:58Z")
**Blackfoot** , **April Wine** , **Moxy**. Someone has already mentioned Nazareth, Nugent, Head East, Judas Priest. I’d have to dig out my albums, probably a few more in there that would meet the OP… ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-you-just-want-to-kick-out-the-jams-and-go-flirtin-with-disaster/351245/48 "2006-04-06T13:40:35Z")
> [@An Arky](#): > > I seem to remember someone posting in one of those “what’s the best concert you’ve seen?” threads about seeing **Big Star** opening for **Badfinger**. Wouldn’t that be something? > > Big Star just put out a new album, believe it or not, but I saw bad reviews of it. I don’t think they’re touring or anything, maybe because of Chilton losing his house to Katrina. **Big Star** LOVE them. I’ve got the 3rd CD - frankly, it is great. It’s not #1 Record or Radio City - but what is? It is a solid three-star CD - entirely worth getting. **Wolfmother** - really great. They are a bit too Led Zep - could the song “Woman” sound more like Robert Plant? But I really enjoy them… ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-you-just-want-to-kick-out-the-jams-and-go-flirtin-with-disaster/351245/49 "2006-04-06T13:46:08Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > **Big Star** LOVE them. I’ve got the 3rd CD… THat came out wrong - I mean, I have Third/Sister Lovers and do enjoy that. Heck, I have Chris Bell’s I Am the Cosmos and enjoy that. But I am referring to the latest Big Star, In Space… :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:** [April 6, 2006, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-you-just-want-to-kick-out-the-jams-and-go-flirtin-with-disaster/351245/50 "2006-04-06T15:19:04Z")
**Rockpile** : Together and as solo artists, _Nick Lowe_ and _Dave Edmunds_ put out some great stuff. **Utopia** : _Todd Rundgren’s_ band went through quite an evolution, from the early dueling synthesisers to the faux-Beatles “Deface The Music”. Of course, he’s had a pretty respectable career as a solo artist and producer as well. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2006, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-you-just-want-to-kick-out-the-jams-and-go-flirtin-with-disaster/351245/51 "2006-04-06T15:53:12Z")
> [@Small Clanger](#): > > Hey I’m the one that gets to bring in the Soft Boys round here (and they were surely not on any tier when they were together\*). I didn’t bring them up since I couldn’t see them fitting in a thread with ::winces:: _Molly Hatchett_ and ::shudders:: _Blue Oyster Cult_ in the OP. > > If tier x bands count I vote for **Doll by Doll** who were as serious as the Soft Boys were whimsical, **woodstock** you seem a knowledgeable chap, you ever heard of them? > > And there’s the **Waitresses**. > \*how well known are they in the US now? Nope, never heard of **Doll by Doll** , but now I’ll be sure to check them out. **The Soft Boys** are definitely more known in the U.S. now than they were when they came out, thanks to Robyn’s brief period of relative popularity and mentions by members of R.E.M. in interviews and reissues, but that’s not saying much. They (and Robyn) are basically off the radar except to hipsters/indie types who grew up in the 80s. > [@blondebear](#): > > Rockpile: Together and as solo artists, Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds put out some great stuff. Definitely. I didn’t think _Seconds of Pleasure_ was as good as either artist’s solo work in their heyday, though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-you-just-want-to-kick-out-the-jams-and-go-flirtin-with-disaster/351245.md?page=2)