# Worst band of the Seventies? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 5, 2012, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021 "2012-05-05T21:04:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/101 "2012-05-07T19:57:27Z")
Worst of the 70’s? I’ll go with Tony DiFranco and the DiFranco Family. Worst of the list? 10cc in a cake walk. I would need 15 minutes and Wikipedia to name a single song / record / album they ever put out. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/102 "2012-05-07T20:23:48Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Worst of the list? 10cc in a cake walk. I would need 15 minutes and Wikipedia to name a single song / record / album they ever put out. Betcha keep their album on the wall to hide a nasty stain that’s lying there, eh? ---
**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 7, 2012, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/103 "2012-05-07T20:24:36Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Worst of the list? 10cc in a cake walk. I would need 15 minutes and Wikipedia to name a single song / record / album they ever put out. That just proves that they’re the closest thing to an _obscure_ band on the list. As others have said, don’t judge them by the hits. In their original formation (with Kevin Godley and Lol Creme in the band), on albums like _Sheet Music_ and _How Dare You_, they were an extremely accomplished and witty art-pop outfit. Adherents to the punk credo that rock ‘n’ roll can’t be cerebral will dismiss them as clever-clever, but only Steely Dan and Sparks could touch them in the wit department. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/104 "2012-05-07T20:29:47Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > That just proves that they’re the closest thing to an _obscure_ band on the list. As others have said, don’t judge them by the hits. In their original formation (with Kevin Godley and Lol Creme in the band), on albums like _Sheet Music_ and _How Dare You_, they were an extremely accomplished and witty art-pop outfit. Adherents to the punk credo that rock ‘n’ roll can’t be cerebral will dismiss them as clever-clever, but only Steely Dan and Sparks could touch them in the wit department. I’ll buy all that. If you ask me, a poll called “Worst Band of the 70’s” that then goes on to list 9 of the best bands of the 70’s, and one that I’m just not that familiar with, is putting one on the spot, n’est pas? ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2012, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/105 "2012-05-07T23:14:15Z")
> [@santosvega](#): > > This is so very true. Except for the part about Yes because they were awesome. For some reason, the sound of Yes rubbed me the wrong way; maybe it was just the usually very alto lead vocal. On the other hand, the instrumental work was top notch. I forgot to mention in my [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=647676) about throwing away books with callous abandon the book of Steve Howe acoustic guitar solos I used to have. Although most of the selections really weren’t arranged for solo guitar, it was worth it just for “The Ancient”. Damn, I miss that book. I only got rid of it because I had learned “Mood For A Day” and “The Ancient”, and thought I’d _never_ forget how to play them! Regarding progressive rock, I tended to prefer ELP and especially Genesis, before they went pop. That reminds me–we need a poll for which 1970s band went on to become the worst 1980s band…there can only be one answer… ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/106 "2012-05-08T00:22:33Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > That reminds me–we need a poll for which 1970s band went on to become the worst 1980s band…there can only be one answer… Heart? 😃 Actually I like These Dreams ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/107 "2012-05-08T00:53:26Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Heart? 😃 Actually I like These Dreams Starship ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/108 "2012-05-08T01:49:30Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > For some reason, the sound of Yes rubbed me the wrong way; maybe it was just the usually very alto lead vocal. On the other hand, the instrumental work was top notch. That was exactly the problem with _Yes_, that it was all about the top-notchiness of their instrumental work (and complexity of arrangements, etc.). That is why _The Sex Pistols_ had to happen. ---
**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 8, 2012, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/109 "2012-05-08T02:28:01Z")
To each age, its art. To that art, its freedom. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/110 "2012-05-08T02:30:58Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > For some reason, the sound of Yes rubbed me the wrong way; maybe it was just the usually very alto lead vocal. Ironically enough, I’ve always thought that your screen name sounded like the title of a Yes song. 😉 ---
**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:** [May 8, 2012, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/111 "2012-05-08T03:00:17Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > To each age, its art. To that art, its freedom. _“Art for art’s sake; money for god’s sake”_ --10cc ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/112 "2012-05-08T04:11:28Z")
Abba eos… ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/113 "2012-05-08T04:17:41Z")
What the hell??? Did you actually mean “What was the BEST band of the 70’s”? Because at least half that list could qualify. And none of them are even CLOSE to the genuine worst. Without even thinking very hard: [Bay City Rollers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUwW108ITzw) [Hamilton Joe Frank and Reynolds](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_3QqzI23sE) ABBA Wings The Osmonds The Partridge Family Tony Orlando and Dawn The Archies [Edison LIghthouse](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr6H1a7YUac) Brownsville Station [Three Dog Night](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnyh6i9NvmE) [BAchman Turner Overdrive](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LNH27s5ULE) [REO SPeedwagon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgT_mJXbvCQ) [America](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd2Ch6WBeQU) [Bread](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqXek853SDE) Starland Vocal Band [Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=H0lKmznjgfQ) ---
**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:** [May 8, 2012, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/114 "2012-05-08T04:24:35Z")
You left out Screaming Lord Sutch and his Heavy Friends. ---
**Author:** ![notsoheavyd3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/85e7bf/32.png) [@notsoheavyd3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notsoheavyd3)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/115 "2012-05-08T04:40:07Z")
I’ve got to go with Orleans mostly because they did that song that sounds like a bad Coke jingle, IE “Still the One”. (I was honestly embarrassed for John McCain when he used that as a campaign song because it’s such a terrible song. The man had no taste in music. Even more embarrassing is that they actually got upset he was using it instead of pretending that somebody else wrote that abomination.) ---
**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:** [May 8, 2012, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/116 "2012-05-08T04:59:07Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > What the hell??? > > Did you actually mean “What was the BEST band of the 70’s”? Because at least half that list could qualify. > > And none of them are even CLOSE to the genuine worst. Without even thinking very hard: > > [Bay City Rollers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUwW108ITzw) > [Hamilton Joe Frank and Reynolds](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_3QqzI23sE) > ABBA > Wings > The Osmonds > The Partridge Family > Tony Orlando and Dawn > The Archies > [Edison LIghthouse](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr6H1a7YUac) > Brownsville Station > [Three Dog Night](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnyh6i9NvmE) > [BAchman Turner Overdrive](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LNH27s5ULE) > [REO SPeedwagon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgT_mJXbvCQ) > [America](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd2Ch6WBeQU) > [Bread](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqXek853SDE) > Starland Vocal Band > [Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=H0lKmznjgfQ) ABBA? Really? My tastes tend to veer towards punk and post-punk, but those guys knew how to write great melodies. Fantastic pop band. Maybe I haven’t been exposed to enough Bay City Rollers, but I haven’t heard anything particularly objectionable in their music, yet they’ve been mentioned numerous times. I’m not sure what I’m missing. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/117 "2012-05-08T05:41:49Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Maybe I haven’t been exposed to enough Bay City Rollers, but I haven’t heard anything particularly objectionable in their music, yet they’ve been mentioned numerous times. I’m not sure what I’m missing. A headache. They are unmitigated complete pop crap! ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/118 "2012-05-08T13:00:26Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Maybe I haven’t been exposed to enough Bay City Rollers, but I haven’t heard anything particularly objectionable in their music, yet they’ve been mentioned numerous times. I’m not sure what I’m missing. Oh yes, _The Bay City Rollers_ achieved a special sort of suckiness that has possibly never been equaled before or since. They _almost_ managed to produce the sort of merely inoffensive and bland, teenybop pop rock that always clogs the pop charts, but there was just something weirdly _wrong_ about their sound. I think it was that the tempos were always a bit off, in a way that was almost creepy: everything was just very slightly too slow. And, if you lived in Britain in the early '70s, because they were a huge hit with the pre-teen girl demographic, you just could not escape them. The suffering was horrendous! ---
**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 8, 2012, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/119 "2012-05-08T14:16:47Z")
I had a devastating teenage breakup with a girl that I’d had a massive crush on for a year. Two months after we broke up, she founded a petition and letter writing group to bring the Bay City Rollers to my home town for a concert. I knew then that it would never have worked out between us… ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021/120 "2012-05-08T14:19:15Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Oh yes, _The Bay City Rollers_ achieved a special sort of suckiness that has possibly never been equaled before or since. They _almost_ managed to produce the sort of merely inoffensive and bland, teenybop pop rock that always clogs the pop charts, but there was just something weirdly _wrong_ about their sound. I think it was that the tempos were always a bit off, in a way that was almost creepy: everything was just very slightly too slow. And, if you lived in Britain in the early '70s, because they were a huge hit with the pre-teen girl demographic, you just could not escape them. The suffering was horrendous! I thought it was the fact that (in America) they had a Saturday morning show wedged in between _Sigmund and Sea Monsters_ and _H.R. Puffinstuff._ Not to mention the ridiculous semi-matching tartan jump-suits they wore. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-band-of-the-seventies/621021.md?page=7)