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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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. 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.
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.
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…
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…
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:
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.
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.
Definitely. I didn’t think Seconds of Pleasure was as good as either artist’s solo work in their heyday, though.