Pounding Decibels- A Hard and Heavy History

Unknown Soldier · 10-16-2012, 01:26 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.