Playlist: 70s Rock

I know.  A lot of my entries are about music, but dammit, I love it so I can't help it.  This post is going to be about bands from the 70s, so some of you kids are going to have to ask an adult for clarification.  Try to keep up.

Van Halen

Anyone who follows me on twitter may have noticed that I've tweeted a bit about VH in the past week or so.  I started listening to Van Halen II in my car the other day and all of those memories of hanging out with my older brother and his friends started to hit me.  I then listened to their eponymous album Van Halen, then Women and Children First followed by Diver Down.  Granted, Women and Children First is from 1980 and Diver Down is 82, but that's just semantics.  If you claim to love rock but you don't love Van Halen then you are a poseur.

Heart

No, I'm not talking about the 80s debacle of "These Dreams" and other truly gaggifying songs.  I'm talking about 70s Heart.  Dog and Butterfly, Little Queen, and Dreamboat Annie.  It's surprising, but my brother and his friends used to play Dreamboat Annie as much as they played Van Halen II.  Why not?  Heart rocked like dudes.  I would put Ann Wilson's voice and Nancy Wilson's playing up against any of the guys playing today.  Just listen to "Barracuda" which has one of the best opening guitar riffs of all time to see what I mean.  Listen to Ann's vocals in songs like "Crazy On You" "Magic Man" or "Straight On" and you will hear what is, in my opinion, the best female voice in rock history.

Supertramp

For my money, there are very few albums as good as Breakfast In America.  The title song is awesome, as is "The Logical Song," "Goodbye Stranger", "Take the Long Way Home", and "Gone Hollywood".  If you've never heard any of these songs, do so immediately.  The music has a jaunty feel to it which flies in the face of their sardonic lyrics.  While you're at it don't miss some of their other great songs like "Dreamer" "Give a Little Bit" "School" and "Bloody Well Right".  So I guess you'd better get Breakfast In America and Crime of the Century.  Well worth it, I promise you.

Styx

Fuck Mr. Roboto.  Just kidding, I kind of like that song, but their 70s music is so much better.  Okay, they're a little schlocky, but they still have some great songs.  My favorite is "Renegade".  It just brings back a lot of happy childhood memories.  "Lady" "Babe" and "Come Sail Away" are also great.

Queen

I think everyone knows by now that I love Queen.  If Ann Wilson has the best female voice in rock history then Freddie Mercury has the best male voice.  I just love songs like "Killer Queen" "Don't Stop Me Now" "You're My Best Friend" "Somebody to Love" and of course "Bohemian Rhapsody".  Anyone who doesn't love Queen is crazy, and not in a good way.

The Who

Okay, I realize that they actually got their start in the 60s, but their 70s music rocks like a motherfucker.  Albums like Who's Next, which has some classic Who songs like "Baba O'Riley" "Won't Get Fooled Again" "Getting In Tune" and "Behind Blue Eyes".  There's also Who Are You which has some of my favorites like "Who Are You" and "Sister Disco" (which is what my brother used to call me - long story).  If you are able to listen to The Who without the stereo at full volume, jumping on your couch, playing air drums or air guitar, then you are a better man than I.  It's been a lifelong struggle.

Led Zepplin

Duh.  How can you have a discussion on 70s rock and not talk about Led Zepplin?  It would completely nullify my entire thesis.  What can I say about them that would be interesting and new?  I mean, it's obvious that they fucking rock like no other and that all of their albums are great.  Is it cliche that my favorite album is Led Zepplin IV?  Probably, but I don't give a fuck.  Hopefully, the fact that my favorite Zepplin song is not "Black Dog", "Rock and Roll" or "Stairway to Heaven', but is instead "Misty Mountain Hop" might help me to redeem myself.  If only just a little. 

There are so many other groups from this era that I could name.  AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, etc., but I don't want to be writing this blog forever.  Hopefully, everyone who reads this will agree with me since I have impeccable taste. Mostly.