Need a solid dose of 1970s rock music nostalgia? These four bands are sorely underrated and have more or less been lost to time. However, I think these four forgotten rock bands from the 1970s could stand to see a resurgence in popularity in the 2020s. And if you’ve never heard of them, you might just fall in love with them today.
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Head East
Head East is still together today, but this rock band from Illinois got their start way back in 1969. The band has had quite the revolving door of members, but their “classic” lineup can be heard on several of their 1970s releases.
Flat As A Pancake, their debut record, was a substantial hit in 1975. However, their self-titled 1978 record was the one to pull in quite a bit of chart attention. That album hit No. 78 on the Billboard 200, and it also did well on the Canadian charts. If you love late-1970s hard rock, that would be the album to take for a spin.
Mahogany Rush
This Canadian heavy metal outfit peaked in the 1970s, though they lived far beyond that up until their breakup in 2021.
Mahogany Rush is a great example of the era’s pool of underrated guitarists. Lead guitarist Frank Marino was often compared to Jimi Hendrix during the band’s heyday. If you are a fan of The Grateful Dead and also enjoy a little bit of heavy metal and jazz, any of their albums from the 70s will do. Child Of The Novelty from 1974 was their most popular release.
Uriah Heep
Remember Uriah Heep? This hard rock and prog outfit formed in 1969 and is still together today. This outfit was closely associated with the 1970s rock scene in England.
Today, they’re revered as one of the biggest pioneers of hard rock and progressive rock. Still, far too few have heard of them. Demons And Wizards from 1972 was the band’s biggest international success from the 70s, and it’s a wild ride from start to finish.
Off Broadway USA
This entry on our list of forgotten rock bands from the 1970s is a bit of a deep cut, in my opinion.
Off Broadway USA was formed at the end of the 1970s. They only released one album that decade, the 1970 release On, but it was such a success that I simply had to include the band on this list. Off Broadway USA disbanded in 1983 after just two studio albums.
Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns
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