Put a bunch of old musicians in a room together and eventually the conversation becomes centered on old venues they’ve played, old songs they’ve performed, and fellow musicians and their fortunes, good or bad. In some ways, this parallels the talk of old soldiers exchanging war stories of battles, equipment, and comrades-in-arms.
Extending the metaphor, studio albums might be considered the equivalent of military campaigns: extended, planned operations that focus on particular objectives. And like military campaigns, some albums are deemed essential to the historical record, while others – regardless of their quality or importance – fade over a period of time.
Sure, milestones like Hotel California, Dark Side of the Moon and Back in Black deserve to be highlighted in the narrative of popular music, but there are many other albums celebrating their 40th through 50th anniversaries that are beginning to enter a twilight zone where reside all that is ignored or forgotten.
What follows is a list of 50 albums released or recorded 40 to 50 years ago during the period from 1968 through 1978. Many of these albums caught the attention of the record-buying public for a short while but eventually faded into obscurity, unremembered in the current age. Some have gone on to become cult classics loved by only a small but loyal fan base. And some of these albums just never caught on, period.
The list is by no means exhaustive or definitive: Most people have their own personal choices for what they consider to be great lost recordings. As well, this list sticks mostly to releases by bands as opposed to individuals. Finally, it focuses mostly on artists that are usually classified as hard rock and/or progressive rock groups.
So – in roughly chronological order (and with random commentary):
Family – Music in a Doll’s House (1968)
Spooky Tooth – It’s All About (1968)
The Pretty Things – S.F. Sorrow (1968): Considered to be one of the first rock operas/concept albums.
Andromeda – Andromeda (1969)
Touch – Touch (1969)
Humble Pie – As Safe As Yesterday Is (1969)
Taste – On the Boards (1970): Led by the late, great Rory Gallagher on guitar.
The Stalk-Forrest Group – The St. Cecilia Recordings (1970): The original Blue Oyster Cult sessions, rejected by their record label and not released until 2001.
Iron Butterfly – Metamorphosis (1970)
The Move – Shazam (1970)
Josefus – Josefus (1970)
Steppenwolf – Steppenwolf 7 (1970): A band that ought to be remembered for more than just “Born To Be Wild.”
Trapeze – Medusa (1970): An early group of hard-rock veteran Glenn Hughes.
Procol Harum – Home (1970)
Bloodrock – Bloodrock (1970)
Atomic Rooster – Death Walks Behind You (1970)
Fuse – Fuse (1970): A couple of members would go on to form Cheap Trick.
Leaf Hound – Growers of Mushroom (1971)
Orang-utan – Orang-utan (1971)
UFO – UFO2: Flying (1971): More psychedelic than their better known recordings.
Mountain – Nantucket Sleighride (1971)
Cactus – Restrictions (1971)
Virus – Thoughts (1971)
Mott the Hoople – Brain Capers (1971): From before their breakthrough with David Bowie’s “All the Young Dudes.”
MC5 – High Time (1971): Considered to be one of the godfathers of punk rock.
Demian – Demian (1971)
Silverhead – Silverhead (1972)
Captain Beyond – Captain Beyond (1972)
Warhorse – Red Sea (1972)
REO Speedwagon – R.E.O./T.W.O. (1972)
Nercromandus – Orexis of Death (1973): Recorded 1973; released 1999. Sometimes described as a proggier version of Sabbath, there was some talk of them becoming Ozzy’s backing band when he first went solo.
Slade – Slayed (1973)
Wishbone Ash – Wishbone Four (1973)
Sharks – First Water (1973)
Budgie – Never Turn Your Back on a Friend (1973): Fans of the first Rush album would probably like this.
Badfinger – Wish You Were Here (1974)
Nazareth – Rampant (1974)
Scorpions – Fly to the Rainbow (1974)
Ted Nugent’s Amboy Dukes – Tooth, Fang & Claw (1974): From when Ted was known more for his guitar playing than his politics.
Stray Dog – While You’re Down There (1974)
Man – Rhinos, Winos & Lunatics (1974)
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band – Tomorrow Belongs to Me (1975)
Hot Tuna – America’s Choice (1975)
Kansas – Song for America (1975)
Mahogany Rush – Strange Universe (1975)
Triumph – Triumph (aka In the Beginning) (1976)
Grand Funk Railroad – Good Singin,’ Good Playin’ (1976): Produced by Frank Zappa.
British Lions – British Lions (1977)
Lake – Lake II (1978)
Starcastle – Fountains of Light (1978)
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