Pounding Decibels- A Hard and Heavy History

Unknown Soldier · 10-15-2012, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musicfanatic

I bet if I had a flat screen monitor, one that's in the widescreen variety, I'd be able to view your last couple with Youtube vids without having to scroll left to right. Getting one here soon, I hope...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neapolitan

At first I thought US was only posting two videos too. I have a flat screen and it doesn't make a difference, if they were line up 2X2 it might help, but maybe his prefers the ascetic of having them juxtapose four across on the bottom.

I just basically posted 4 videos left to right because 1) I have a large flatscreen monitor 2) 4 vids are what fits nicely across my screen and looks well 3) I didn't want huge posts per album 4) I thought 4 vids is a good sampler for each album.

Unknown Soldier · 10-15-2012, 04:03 PM

Also Check This Out........
This is an extra album from the same year that I've chosen, that either just missed the final cut, I think could be of interest, or even from a different genre that could be of interest or influence on the hard rock/heavy metal genre.

Flower Travellin' Band Anywhere 1970 (Polydor)
Hard Rock

The Flower Travellin' Band despite the psychedelic/folky name were a Japanese hard rock band that sounded like a weird mixture of Led Zeppelin meets King Crimson on some of their material. That's all I'm going to say about them at the moment, as their second album and their crowning achievement Sartori features on my 1971 list which will be shortly coming up and that would seem to be the ideal time to really talk about them. So let's just speak briefly about this their debut album. First off it has a great cover, which shows the band members in their birthday suits and in true 'Easy Rider' style. The album itself, is a great covers album approaching the quality of Vanilla Fudge's debut album which came out a few years earlier. There are some great choices on here from contemporary covers of King Crimson's "21st Century Schizoid Man" and Black Sabbath's "Black Sabbath" and cover versions of older songs "Louisiana Blues" by Muddy Waters and "House of the Rising Sun" by the Animals. The Black Sabbath cover is ok but it's the King Crimson cover that is the outstanding one on the album.

The Batlord · 10-16-2012, 09:10 AM

You know, as good as this thread is, I can't help but notice that you've left out The Stooges. Is that because you don't consider them "metal" enough to be on this thread, or do you just not like them?

Unknown Soldier · 10-16-2012, 02:26 PM

Albums that missed the cut.........
Other good albums worth checking out that were also released in 1970, but weren't quite good enough to make the top 10 and are listed below in no set order, so the best of the rest:

James Gang
Rides Again 1970
The crowning pinnacle of the band, with their mid-western funky sounding vibe, has some great moments and really pains me to leave this off the list. Guitarist Joe Walsh would go from strength to strength after this.

Uriah Heep
...Very 'eavy...Very 'umble 1970
Following in on the shirt tails of Deep Purple, to whom they shared a huge musical resemblance. Their debut album has some great early Uriah Heep gems, but is ultimately let down by too many lengthy and misfocused songs.

Mountain
Climbing! 1970
A hard rocking blues essential with some interesting musical moments, that really should've made the top 10 (there was a lack of space). For the second year running Leslie West has to make do with a position outside the 10.

Blue Cheer
The Original Human Being 1970
As far as I'm concerned their finest work, far removed from the feral and bombastic sound of their first few albums, the band had gradually moved into a more diverse direction and this was the result, highly underrated.

Free
Highway 1970
The album that saw the commercial downfall of the band, as the band made the mistake of going too mellow on this release and the cover didn't help either! Has some great stuff and "Be My Friend" may be their best ever song.

Grand Funk Railroad
Closer to Home 1970
With the band tightening things up even more and even musically advancing into mellower territory this is a good album, but it just doesn't quite have the same magic as the first two albums...but it does have its moments.

MC5
Back in the USA 1970
The most complete studio album put out by the band, as they take their basic rock 'n' roll base sound, strip it down and fuse it with their sheer energy. Song for song stronger than the debut, but just not as sizzling!

Warhorse
Warhorse 1970
When Nick Simper parted ways with Deep Purple he eventually wound up in Warhorse, who put out a proggy hard rock sound not too far removed from Deep Purple. This their debut album was a competent blend of prog and hard rock.

Bloodrock
Bloodrock 2 1970
Bloodrock never ever put out anything as impressive as their debut album again, but their second album which contained lighter themes, was also their best selling record as well. It contained the influential, superb and creepy "D.O.A" single.

Cactus
Cactus 1970
A supergroup primarily featuring members of Vanilla Fudge, Amboy Dukes and the Detroit Wheels. This album their debut set and the follow up One Way...Or Another are two albums certainly worth checking out, before they went downhill.

Unknown Soldier · 10-16-2012, 04:51 PM

The Live Album Section 1970

The 1970s were the era of the live album and I could never do this journal justice unless one or two live albums were mentioned each year. Hard rock and heavy metal like other genres had its fair share of great albums as well. By placing certain live albums here in this section, it also helps me to free up places in the 'Top 10' list as well.

Grand Funk Railroad Live Album 1970 (Capitol)
Blues Rock-Hard Rock

How Florida must've rocked that night!

The Album
As far as live albums went in 1970, the Who's Live at Leeds put most other live albums into the shade, but as one of the biggest acts in the world Grand Funk Railroad who were at the height of their commercial success and put out what I think was a great representation of their live show. This is a live album that splits opinions and garnered negative opinions when it came out in 1970, but then again most heavy bands often got negative views! Certain opinions have long since regarded this as a flawed live album, whilst other opinions such as mine think it captures the band well! The production of Terry Knight gives some real excitement and energy to the recording, which was achieved without any re-mixing, over-dubs or enhanced techniques. The album was recorded between June 23-25 1970 in Florida and lasts for 76 mins, needless to say it was a double set that covered four vinyl sides and the bulk of the material was garnered from the band's first two studio albums (both on my 1970 list). The band sampled the superb "Mean Mistreater" from their future third album Closer to Home which would become the bands biggest selling album to date (on my albums missed the cut list for 1971). The band make excellent choices for the album, including some of the best tracks from their first two albums and are really in their element on songs like "Paranoid" "In Need" and "Heartbreaker" as the band really jam out as expected. On longer tracks "T.N.U.C" and "Into the Sun" they jam out even longer! There is a good cover of the Animals song "Inside Looking Out" on the album as well. Grand Funk Railroad were at times like a force of nature and this album captures a good chunk of that force.

Mark Farner- Guitar/Vocals
Mel Schacher- Bass
Don Brewer- Drums

Production- Terry Knight
Florida 1970

Unknown Soldier · 10-17-2012, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

You know, as good as this thread is, I can't help but notice that you've left out The Stooges. Is that because you don't consider them "metal" enough to be on this thread, or do you just not like them?

I was aware that The Stooges had been left off, but there comes a time when certain borderline bands have to be left off, otherwise the scope of the journal just becomes too big and less focused. So bands that I'd consider more proto-punk= Stooges, prog rock= Atomic Rooster, space rock= Hawkwind and even bands like The Who that played loud have been left off for these reasons. I really like the Stooges as well and their albums quality wise would easily make these lists.

I may well find a way to fit some of this stuff in and could possibly fit in a section for them. Any ideas how?

The Batlord · 10-17-2012, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

I was aware that The Stooges had been left off, but there comes a time when certain borderline bands have to be left off, otherwise the scope of the journal just becomes too big and less focused. So bands that I'd consider more proto-punk= Stooges, prog rock= Atomic Rooster, space rock= Hawkwind and even bands like The Who that played loud have been left off for these reasons. I really like the Stooges as well and their albums quality wise would easily make these lists.

I may well find a way to fit some of this stuff in and could possibly fit in a section for them. Any ideas how?

I would say that if MC5 get included, then at least Funhouse should qualify, but whatevs. But, I figured Atomic Rooster would be in for sure!

Blarobbarg · 10-17-2012, 12:13 PM

Great thread, Unknown Soldier. I've mostly been lurking, but have been enjoying since the beginning. Keep it up.

Unknown Soldier · 10-17-2012, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

I would say that if MC5 get included, then at least Funhouse should qualify, but whatevs. But, I figured Atomic Rooster would be in for sure!

I've now figured a way to include these albums

The Stooges debut is now on page.5 post 35. I'll put up Funhouse and Atomic Rooster soon as they fit the new category for 1970.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blarobbarg

Great thread, Unknown Soldier. I've mostly been lurking, but have been enjoying since the beginning. Keep it up.

Glad you're enjoying and lurkers are always welcome.

The Batlord · 10-18-2012, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

I've now figured a way to include these albums

The Stooges debut is now on page.5 post 35. I'll put up Funhouse and Atomic Rooster soon as they fit the new category for 1970.

Dude, that was a great review. I think it's awesome that you're willing to go above and beyond for your thread. I definitely can't wait for Funhouse. Iggy is a ****ing force of nature. I love how his nihilism is not only unfocused, but that he delights in it. He is just the essence of self destructive misanthropy.

10-17-2012, 12:13 PM	#68 (permalink)
Blarobbarg Do good. Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Posts: 2,065	Great thread, Unknown Soldier. I've mostly been lurking, but have been enjoying since the beginning. Keep it up. __________________ https://rateyourmusic.com/~Blarobbarg ｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆　^my RYM^　｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆ (◠‿◠✿)