# The best band/artist of the 1970s... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 9, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-band-artist-of-the-1970s/621394 "2012-05-09T15:17:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-band-artist-of-the-1970s/621394/1 "2012-05-09T15:17:47Z")
There will eventually be a poll in a week or two. Here’s how it works - Any band or musical artist nominated by more than one Doper in this thread will be entered in the poll. Wiki or YouTube links are encouraged. Discussion is encouraged. All opinions, however wrongheaded (eg. contrary to mine), will be welcomed. Dopers are welcome to submit more than one nomination. Not necessarily restricted to rock or pop - Jazz, fusion, blues, country, whatever - make your case. The Seventies-ness of any band or musical artist is itself rather subjective - I don’t personally associate a lot of punk or new wave bands with the 70s but rather with the 80s, although Sex Pistols, Talking Heads, XTC and Dead Kennedys all started out in the late 70s. Your call - the poll will determine whether your opinion is widely held or not. Just to make the collection of names easier for me, please **bold** or super-size the name of the band/artist. First off, I’d like to nominate **Gentle Giant**. Not as well known as Genesis or Strawbs, but fantastic musicians who made remarkable music. Some references - [Gentle Giant wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentle_Giant). [The Advent of Panurge](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oK4cuXJa7QE) live from German TV. (Who else would do lyrics based on Rabelais?) [Proclamation](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEFO_i8iUWY&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=AL94UKMTqg-9CRUMW92IGKT6TJeFqogXKq) - from the studio recording of ‘The Power and the Glory’. [Knots](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYUSB1QzPe0&feature=BFa&list=AL94UKMTqg-9CRUMW92IGKT6TJeFqogXKq) - from the studio recording ‘Octopus’. One of my all-time favourite bands… ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-band-artist-of-the-1970s/621394/2 "2012-05-09T15:21:44Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > The Seventies-ness of any band or musical artist is itself rather subjective - I don’t personally associate a lot of punk or new wave bands with the 70s but rather with the 80s, although Sex Pistols, Talking Heads, XTC and Dead Kennedys all started out in the late 70s. Your call - the poll will determine whether your opinion is widely held or not. That’s why music should be split into half-decades, because any music more than 5 years different than another will automatically feel out of place even if it is otherwise similar. So, having a “turn of the 70s” (i.e. 1968-1973) poll or an “early 70s” (1970-1975) poll would work, but music from 1975 doesn’t share much at all with the music from 1968. ---
**Author:** ![Lunar\_Saltlick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/977dab/32.png) [@Lunar\_Saltlick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lunar_Saltlick)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-band-artist-of-the-1970s/621394/3 "2012-05-09T15:38:57Z")
Well, you mentioned band or artist, so I’m going with **Leo Kottke** , who probably did his best, most aggressive and original work in the seventies (not that he’s been a slouch since then). I consider My Feet Are Smiling (1972) to be one of the all-time great albums. There are tons of great acts from the seventies, but Leo caught my attention way back when I was a kid, and he’s the only one from that era I really still keep up with. No links. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-band-artist-of-the-1970s/621394/4 "2012-05-09T15:41:27Z")
**Joni Mitchell** was at the top of her game in the 1970s. Just an \*incredible \*musician and songwriter. And she chose good band mates. I can’t think of anyone else who possessed similar talent during the same time period. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-band-artist-of-the-1970s/621394/5 "2012-05-09T15:43:55Z")
Frank Zappa ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-band-artist-of-the-1970s/621394/6 "2012-05-09T15:47:57Z")
Back then I was listening to a lot of **Jeff Beck** and **Jean-Luc Ponty**. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-band-artist-of-the-1970s/621394/7 "2012-05-09T15:48:36Z")
I suppose the “standard pantheon” would include bands like: - Led Zeppelin - THe Rolling Stones (Mick Taylor, early Ron Wood periods) - The Who - AC/DC - Pink Floyd - Fleetwood Mac - 4th (?) gen with Buckingham and Nicks - The Eagles - Aerosmith - The Clash - The Ramones (Talking Heads?) - The Bee Gees - Elton John - Stevie Wonder (I want to add Marvin Gaye, Al Green and/or Earth Wind and Fire…) - David Bowie A start… ---
**Author:** ![heathen\_earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/13edae/32.png) [@heathen\_earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heathen_earthling)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-band-artist-of-the-1970s/621394/8 "2012-05-09T16:07:45Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > That’s why music should be split into half-decades, because any music more than 5 years different than another will automatically feel out of place even if it is otherwise similar. Even for 21st century music? My favourite “70s band” is **Throbbing Gristle** (1976-1981). Though they were fairly underground back then and I don’t think any videos exist of them prior to 1980. Here are some of their songs of the late '70s: [United](http://youtu.be/Y_mKDKKySls), [Hamburger Lady](http://youtu.be/lPrTUC7BDn4), [Persuasion](http://youtu.be/fCfqt74Jru8). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-band-artist-of-the-1970s/621394/9 "2012-05-09T16:18:42Z")
**Bruce Springsteen** and **Elvis Costello** came out of the seventies. eta: Bolded at the OP’s request. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-band-artist-of-the-1970s/621394/10 "2012-05-09T16:19:18Z")
All these acts should be on the ballot (even though there are numerous people on this list I don’t like) because EITHER: a) They were extremely popular for a substantial period of time (Peter Frampton is not on my list because he was HUGE but for just one year) b) They were extremely influential MANY Seventies acts I love(d) are not on this list because, in my opinion, they just weren’t popular enough or influential enough. Not everyone will agree with me, but I would never choose a band that I LOVED but which only had a cult following as “Best Act of the Seventies,” while several acts I DON’T particularly like (the Bee Gees, for instance) MIGHT be deserving of the title. Aerosmith Alice Cooper Bee Gees David Bowie Chicago Creedence Clearwater Revival Deep Purple John Denver Neil Diamond Eagles Fleetwood Mac Grateful Dead Hall & Oates Jackson 5 Billy Joel Elton John King Crimson Kiss Led Zeppelin Pink Floyd Queen The Ramones Rolling Stones Diana Ross Paul Simon Bruce Springsteen Rod Stewart Barbra Streisand Van Halen Stevie Wonder ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-band-artist-of-the-1970s/621394/11 "2012-05-09T16:32:07Z")
**The Stooges** - well, the debut album only _just_ missed the 70s **Television** - punk was a broad church **Bowie** - he had an astonishing decade, and I wonder how much of it he remembers **Pink Floyd** - I much prefer the post-Syd stuff **Joy Division** - Verged into the eighties, but very much a seventies band \*\*Roxy Music \*\*- Very inventive, even after Brian Eno left **Sly and the Family Stone** - should be on the list just for \*Family Affair \* **ABBA** - pop music done perfectly **Springsteen** - two of his best three albums were released in the 70s _Born to Run_, and _Darkness on the Edge of Town_ ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-band-artist-of-the-1970s/621394/12 "2012-05-09T18:05:40Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > I suppose the “standard pantheon” would include bands like: > > - Led Zeppelin > - THe Rolling Stones (Mick Taylor, early Ron Wood periods) > - The Who > - AC/DC > - Pink Floyd > - Fleetwood Mac - 4th (?) gen with Buckingham and Nicks > - The Eagles > - Aerosmith > - The Clash > - The Ramones (Talking Heads?) > - The Bee Gees > - Elton John > - Stevie Wonder (I want to add Marvin Gaye, Al Green and/or Earth Wind and Fire…) > - David Bowie > > A start… > [@astorian](#): > > All these acts should be on the ballot (even though there are numerous people on this list I don’t like) because EITHER: > > a) They were extremely popular for a substantial period of time (Peter Frampton is not on my list because he was HUGE but for just one year) > > b) They were extremely influential > > MANY Seventies acts I love(d) are not on this list because, in my opinion, they just weren’t popular enough or influential enough. Not everyone will agree with me, but I would never choose a band that I LOVED but which only had a cult following as “Best Act of the Seventies,” while several acts I DON’T particularly like (the Bee Gees, for instance) MIGHT be deserving of the title. > Aerosmith > Alice Cooper > Bee Gees > David Bowie > Chicago > Creedence Clearwater Revival > Deep Purple > John Denver > Neil Diamond > Eagles > Fleetwood Mac > Grateful Dead > Hall & Oates > Jackson 5 > Billy Joel > Elton John > King Crimson > Kiss > Led Zeppelin > Pink Floyd > Queen > The Ramones > Rolling Stones > Diana Ross > Paul Simon > Bruce Springsteen > Rod Stewart > Barbra Streisand > Van Halen > Stevie Wonder All of the bands/artists listed by **WordMan** and **astorian** strike me as entirely appropriate to include on the ballot, so if any of them need a second, consider them seconded. Also I’d at least consider **Elvis Costello** **Cheap Trick** **Electric Light Orchestra** **Bob Dylan** and at least three of the Beatles, as solo artists ( **John Lennon** , **Paul McCartney** (with & without Wings), and **George Harrison** ) When the time comes to vote for just one, my vote is _probably_ going to go to Stevie Wonder. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-band-artist-of-the-1970s/621394/13 "2012-05-09T18:16:44Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > Any band or musical artist nominated by more than one Doper in this thread will be entered in the poll. Seconding: **Gentle Giant Frank Zappa Pink Floyd Roxy Music King Crimson** Adding: **Jethro Tull** **Yes** **Emerson, Lake & Palmer** ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-band-artist-of-the-1970s/621394/14 "2012-05-09T18:19:53Z")
Add: **Robin Trower** **Montrose** (one album only) And they were cheesy but popular; **Three Dog Night**. My number one vote will go to **Creedence Clearwater Revival**. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-band-artist-of-the-1970s/621394/15 "2012-05-09T18:21:28Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > My number one vote will go to **Creedence Clearwater Revival**. Even if you judge them only on what they did during the 70s? ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-band-artist-of-the-1970s/621394/16 "2012-05-09T18:25:43Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Even if you judge them only on what they did during the 70s? No, you are right, they were mostly toast by 1971. Their best years were the late '60s. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-band-artist-of-the-1970s/621394/17 "2012-05-09T18:27:51Z")
Probably my favorite decade for music. Although not my _favorite_,\*\* Led Zeppelin\*\* owned the 70’s. Nobody was bigger or more infamous. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-band-artist-of-the-1970s/621394/18 "2012-05-09T18:30:42Z")
> [@heathen\_earthling](#): > > Even for 21st century music? That timeframe gets extended but only for a year or two in the 21st century. 2002 music definitely feels out of place compared to 2009 music, even within the same subgenre to me. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-band-artist-of-the-1970s/621394/19 "2012-05-09T18:39:14Z")
The 1970s was the decade I started to really actively listen to music. My favourites at the time were: **Elton John** **Queen** **The Who** **The Cars** **Deep Purple** **Nazareth** **Kiss** (Yeah, I know. I still like them though!) **ELO** **Billy Joel** **John Lennon** **Supertramp** **Boston** and **Van Halen** at the end of the decade too. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-band-artist-of-the-1970s/621394/20 "2012-05-09T18:43:09Z")
**Stevie Wonder** wins this. _Talking Book_, _Innervisions, Songs in the Key of Life_, et al. Plus he toured with the Stones and played Sesame Street. Stevie Wonder owned the 70s because his appeal was so much broader than any other act listed, and his talent was never more on display. He wrote the lyrics, composed, produced, and often played every instrument you’re hearing on the track, especially so with _Innervisions_. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-band-artist-of-the-1970s/621394.md?page=2)