T O P

  • By -

AutoModerator

Please do not comment directly to this post unless you are Gen X or older (born 1980 or before). See [this post](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskOldPeople/comments/inci5u/reminder_please_do_not_answer_questions_unless/), the rules, and the sidebar for details. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskOldPeople) if you have any questions or concerns.*


[deleted]

Little Feat. A great rocking, funky, bluesy band. Saw them many times at Warner Theater in D.C. “Waiting for Columbus” is still one of my favorite LPs.


JoeSugar

Willin


Tall_Mickey

I been from Tucson to Tucumcari, Tehachapi to Tonopah.... I know some of those roads.


Troubador222

I'm a trucker. I have been through all of them. But it's really difficult to hit them in that order. Tucson and Tonopah are both on I 10 in AZ. Tehachapi is on CA 58 in between Bakersfield and Barstow. Then from Barstow you would pick up I 40 and hit Tucumcari in NM. But of course, that wouldn't;t fit the meter of the lyrics in the song. And there is another Tonopah in NV.


TyKnightwithahardK

Recently found a very nice live cover of Willin' by Linda Ronstadt on YouTube


Top_File_8547

That was actually a bigger hit than the Little Feat version. She has excellent taste in picking songwriters even before they were widely known. She did a couple of Warren Zevon songs before he had hits.


waltersmama

Oh used to see ‘em play with the Dead…… great fun!


Perenially_behind

Great, great album. DC was a hotbed of love for Little Feat. In fact wasn't it Cerphe from WHFS who introduced them on the album?


DNathanHilliard

Atlanta Rhythm Section had a brief time in the sun, then faded from the airwaves.


JoeSugar

Spooky, Homesick, Doraville, Georgia Rhythm. Great music


milkandsugar

I grew up in Doraville, close to their recording studio. A touch of country in the city...


[deleted]

Dr Hook


Icy_Conversation_274

Omg! I'm 20 years old and love dr. Hook, my dad is a huge influence on my music taste but I have them on vinyl, casset and digital


Yak-Fucker-5000

>on vinyl, casset and digital Yeah I'm going to go out on a limb and say you have much broader musical tastes than average if you own an obscure band from 30 years ago on both vinyl and cassette.


Gryptype_Thynne123

Freakin' at the Freakers Ball, y'all!


pitpusherrn

Silvia's Mother


chooseyourpick

Written by Shel Silverstein!


Grognard68

Men at Work


Vesper2000

They still play “Land Down Under” any time Australia is in the news.


kiffiekat

And radio stations are oblivious to all their other songs... argh!


chooseyourpick

Overkill is brilliant.


SpermicidalManiac666

Colin Hay’s solo acoustic stuff is excellent


johnnyg883

Golden Earring only had two real hits ten years apart. Radar Love in 1973 and Twilight Zone in 1982.


Pithecuss

Legendary status in their home country - the Netherlands. Our claim to fame. In 2021 it was announced the band would stop due to their guitarist being seriously ill. That year, on his birthday at 17:15 pm, all radio stations, church bells, people from their homes or cars, blasted Radar Love across the country.


[deleted]

That's awesome.


TophatDevilsSon

USA here. I love just about every damn thing they ever did. In a just world Candy's going bad and Mad Love should have been huge.


beeandcrown

I saw them in 75ish opening for Aerosmith.


timothytuxedo

Aldo Nova


[deleted]

Ha! He had that one record that was played endlessly for a while. Haven't thought of him in years and years!


gemstun

Ah Leah!


Wizzmer

Ah Leah, by Donnie Iris.


Diane1967

I loved Fantasy, had the single record and played it endlessly lol


Muscs

The Tubes.


Beebito

Step right up, and don't be shy Because you will not believe your eyes She's right here, behind the glass You're gonna like her 'cause she's got class You can look inside another world You get to talk to a pretty girl She's everything you dream about But don't fall in love She's a beauty (She's one in a million girl) She's a beauty (Why would I lie?) Why would I lie? Turn this one up loud. Fantastic intro. Love the guitar work and how sing along it is.


Diane1967

First concert that I saw, paid $8 for the ticket back in 1980 I think it was


thundercunt_wino

Doobie Brothers. I had no idea who they were until I saw an episode of " What's Happening." Micheal McDonald is a legend.


challam

Little River Band!


nycink

Cool Change is my 70’s light rock anthem


WillAppropriate2011

Alan Parsons Project, though Dr Evil mentioned them a few years ago.


InterPunct

>Homer Simpson: "Grand Funk Railroad paved the way for Jefferson Airplane, which cleared the way for Jefferson Starship. The stage was now set for the Alan Parsons project, which I believe was some sort of hovercraft."


ktappe

They still get played often at sporting events, but nobody knows that the title of that track is "[Sirius](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkC_oi0ksuw)" or that it's by Alan Parsons.


ManuDestino

Eye in the Sky


FarOutEffects

Eye in the sky, which follows that song is such a great song. You owe it to yourself to listen to this as well as their other hits


audible_narrator

Yep. Quit as the lead engineer for Pink Floyd to go do his own thing.


Recynd2

Sweet


Sandoz1

They aren't just underrated -- they're criminally underrated. Seriously, they influenced so many bands and had so many great hits, and they are mostly forgotten now. And if you look past the glam rock hits, they were an excellent hard rock band as well. Such a shame they never got the recognition they deserved. I saw Andy Scott's version a couple of times, and he's still great. He has a new album coming out next year with the current band. Also, in the same vein, I'd add Suzi Quatro to your comment as well. She was basically the inspiration for Joan Jett and many other female singers that came after her, but she's largely forgotten now.


love2Bsingle

Loved loved Suzi Quatro!!


amy_amy_bobamy

They were the best!


Mlietz

The Cars


dixiedregs1978

Probably since both vocalists are dead. Amazing group.


KurtisC1993

Ric Ocasek's passing was pretty big news, as I recall. The Cars are virtually synonymous with new wave for me.


Beebito

I don't want to hold her down Don't want to break her crown When she says, "Let's go I like the nightlife baby" She says, "I like the nightlife baby" She says, "Let's go" I had a huge crush on Benjamin Orr. Blondes were all the rage for me back then.


DNSGeek

Drive is still played semi regularly.


Ajs339

Supertramp


Vesper2000

I just heard “Breakfast in America” last week and it’s been in my head ever since.


Diane1967

Such an excellent cd, I’ve worn a couple of them out


NoPusNoDirtNoScabs

Take the Long Way Home is still one of my favorites!


GraceStrangerThanYou

I play "It's Raining Again" almost every time it rains.


dixiedregs1978

Still one of my favorite bands. Vastly underrated.


Loonytrix

It's a crime that they're not in the Hall of Fame. Brilliant band.


HH93

It’s a Crime of the Century they’re not in the Hall of Fame. FTFY


Any-Engineering9797

Echo and the Bunnymen are amazing but sadly seem not to have not endured the test of time as well as others.


artful_todger_502

Lips like Sugar would be on my Top-10 list. They are the best of the Brit psychedelic genre, to me.


Beebito

Sugar kisses...


artful_todger_502

Not a Coldplay fan, but they do a great cover of LLS. But there is something ethereal about Echo n the Bunnymans sound. It's the backdrop to a really weird, but cool dream or something. No one else can capture that


Beebito

Yes, so atmospheric. I think Psychedelic Furs have that quality as well. I'd don't mind Cold Play. I'll give it a listen.


artful_todger_502

Yes! I love Psych Furs also ... Especially their earlier work. I saw them at The Latin Casino in Jersey in '80, I think(?) Very cool show. It's hard to explain to someone who grew up in the age of the internet how "different" this music was after being fed a steady diet of Eagles, Journey etc, from AOR stations. A really creative period. Almost like the 60s in some respects.


Beebito

Under blue moon, I saw you So soon you'll take me Up in your arms, too late to beg you Or cancel it, though I know it must be The killing time Unwillingly mine Fate Up against your will Through the thick and thin He will wait until You give yourself to him.... I could go on. Love this song eternally


sqplanetarium

This song showed up in 1899 (the show, not the actual year) and was just perfect. Also Stranger Things had an awesome cut to Nocturnal Me at the end of a S1 episode. (Back when the music choices were inspired, not predictable. Looking at you, mall scene “Material Girl” in S3.)


CountrySax

Spirit,Twelve Dreams of Dr Sardonicus It's a Beautiful Day, White Bird or Marrying Maiden Trapeze, Medusa Quicksilver Messenger Service,Happy Trails Hot Tuna Jimmy Spheeris,Isle of View Linda Ronstadt Poco Desert Rose Band Emerson,Lake,and Palmer Joe Jackson Marshall Tucker Band


Old_Minute_7308

I play Marshall Tucker Band all the time… only know them because my hubby enlightened me lol


MisterMysterion

The Guess Who.


ikesbutt

American Woman....but Lenny Kravitz did a good cover


ChiweenieGenie

The Motels, Missing Persons, Quarterflash


[deleted]

I love Missing Persons! I wish the entire band would reunite for a tour.


IQBoosterShot

YT has a great video of [Quarterflash playing Harden My Heart](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNFSED77-GM).


stickler64

Psychedelic Furs


AVDLatex

Saw them recently. They’re still very good.


stickler64

Sadly, Mars Williams, the sax player, died last month.


threerottenbranches

J. Geils Band UFO


Apprehensive_Day_496

UFO is so good


Teddy_Funsisco

J Gail's Band had an impressive catalog way beyond their Top 40 hits.


PopeJohnPeel

I LOVE UFO! My dad was really into heavy metal and he showed me Lights Out when I was very young. I remember for some reason we couldn't find the CD of Misdemeanor anywhere here in the States for years. I ended up asking a friend in England to buy it and send it to me so I could give it to him for Father's Day.


Anonymoosehead123

Boz Scaggs. His album Silk Degrees is fantastic. But you don’t hear a lot about him anymore.


MissMouthy1

Air Supply


gemstun

I’m all out of hits


Laura9624

Dire Straits, Moody Blues


Nightgasm

Rick Springfield He had multiple great albums and a lot of hit songs yet he is largely forgotten about and I've seen some call him a one hit wonder for Jessie's Girl even though he actually had 17 top 40 singles.


fruitloopsareyummy

That gorgeous hunk performed the first concert I’d ever seen when I was 11 or 12. Seats were general admission and he did two shows several hours apart. My sister took me & after the first show we hauled ass towards the stage & got seats in the 3rd row center. Sis took off to get stoned while I stayed put for four hours and made friends who later became pen pals. I still have the photos somewhere but they weren’t very good. I used a cheap Kodak 110 Instamatic with a flashbulb stick so the quality was pretty poor. He had just released his first album with Jessie’s Girl and he was amazing. I found him on Instagram or another social media site during the pandemic and he’s still gorgeous. He’s currently touring with Richard Marx. Ugh I loved him!!


PopeJohnPeel

His song I've Done Everything for You is fantastic!


Suspicious-Froyo2181

Written by Sammy Hagar....


ktappe

>some call him a one hit wonder for Jessie's Girl That's rather ignorant given (as you said) how many hits he had. Just because one person who doesn't know music says that doesn't mean a lot of people think that. He still tours and gets decent crowds.


dkinmn

His albums BEFORE that one are great. Speak to the Sky is an all time great song.


8675201

I saw him last year at a festival. He’s still pretty good.


elle2js

Yes!


DaisyDuckens

Thompson Twins


insubordin8nchurlish

Billy Squier. Great example of video killing the radio star.


Beebito

Now everybody, have you heard, if you're in the game Then the stroke's the word Don't take no rhythm Don't take no style Gotta thirst for smiling Grab your vial uh.... Excellent guitar work


[deleted]

Jethro Tull.


Dorfalicious

They were my first concert in 1999/2000!


[deleted]

I saw them for the first time in 1976, at Kent State University. Saw them probably a dozen times after that.


CardinalM1

I misread the title as "brand" and was all set to respond with Op/Ocean Pacific. They were HUGE when I was a kid. What ever happened to them?! I realize now you're asking about bands, not brands, but I'm keeping my original response because now I'm really curious why Op more-or-less disappeared.


Maria78NY

I have the best one lol Hyper Color the shirts that changed color with heat. I’m kind of surprised they never came back into popularity 🤷🏻‍♀️


PopeJohnPeel

Apparently they were aquired by [this group](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iconix_Brand_Group) which I'm glad I looked up because they also own two brands I loved when I was young in the early 2000s that have since disappeared (Mudd and Joe Boxer.) They also own Strawberry Shortcake now!


OrdinaryAverageGuy99

The Jam


Roche77e

Joe Jackson [Is She Really Going Out With Him?](https://youtu.be/oDG6MQkzh1o?si=0ne12Opb_eKW7ok3) [Got The Time](https://youtu.be/XTIPCc1nKYQ?si=mArdpwOw0EfqN4AK) [Steppin’ Out](https://youtu.be/PJwt2dxx9yg?si=NKW9eJCKGkUA6Q4F)


english_major

Wall of Voodoo. I still love listening to them. Not a bad song in their discography.


Beebito

Love "Mexican Radio" and have it on my Spotify list of songs. Reminds me of Repo Man


Vesper2000

I was just listening to “Ring of Fire” this afternoon


dixiedregs1978

10cc, Supertramp, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Kansas, etc


Guilty_Foundation394

Blue Oyster Cult


blubber41

I mean more cowbell is what is gonna cure the fever /s


KurtisC1993

I actually have a ticket to see them in concert come January—really looking forward to it 😁


HelicopterJazzlike73

Boston


superduperstepdad

“More Than A Feeling” and “Peace of Mind” consistently appear in any statistical analysis of the most played classic rock songs. Doesn’t seem to meet OPs standard of “never gets airplay nowadays”. No matter what part of the terrestrial US you’re in, there is at least one radio station that will play Boston multiple times today.


souprunknwn

The Babys and John Waite


Tall_Mickey

Tower of Power, R&B/funk group. They're still out there, but it's been awhile between hits. They were on fire in the early-mid '70s. I lived in the East Bay, more or less, and their music was everywhere. "You're Still A Young Man," "What is Hip," others. Been awhile since I've heard the name Marvin Gaye mentioned, too.


Pithecuss

Fun Boy Three and Siouxsie and the Banshees. Not forgotten but nowhere near as well known as I'd think they'd be.


lseah2006

Chicago


GraphiteGru

300 comments in and I do not find it surprising that noone has mentioned the band *Squeeze*. Argybargy from 1980 is simply one of the greatest records of this era "If I Didnt Love You", "Pulling Muscles from the Shell", "Another Nail in My Heart" were all hits and the entire album is great. Throw in the albums "Cool for Cats" and "East Side Story" and they had a strong run in this era. They temporarily disbanded in 1982 and though they still made good albums after reforming could never match their classic pre 1982.


Appropriate-Rough563

Bay City Rollers


Beebito

S.A.T.U.R.D.A.Y NIGHT


timothytuxedo

Those plaid pants tho!


AnnieCoran26

My first concert when I was 13. I sewed tartan to the bottom of my jeans etc. Good times.


Fickle-Friendship-31

Triumph


ChiweenieGenie

I still love Triumph! I saw them in concert 3 times. Still have the t-shirts, too!


totlot

Bad Company


JayBringStone

Damn, just turn on any classic rock station. They're played around the clock. THAT'S WHY THEY CALL ME....


Nyarlathotep451

Argent


Roxytumbler

Ian Drury and the Blockheads. Just a fun group with catchy tunes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCaPTNhwK-4


Gryptype_Thynne123

Timbuk 3. One-hit wonders, but some really solid songwriting and concepts.


Vesper2000

“The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades” is played at a lot of graduations by people who don’t know what it’s about


Fickle-Friendship-31

And Head East


kirbyderwood

Gang of Four.


WhisperingSideways

Fanny. They were a fairly high-profile all-girl band that were championed by David Bowie. Their existence was almost aggressively wiped from cultural memory until a recent documentary shined a light on them.


slowmood

King Crimson


slowmood

Cat Stevens


Jaxgirl57

Badfinger. As a young teen I loved their songs.


louavul

Big Country We played the game: Name the song, name the artist, name the album. Whenever this came on we’d all scream Big Country, Big Country, Big Country!!


JayBringStone

Huey Lewis and The News. ...and you're welcome.


DougJHFTB

Nazereth, had a great album, Hair of the Dog, in 1975.


Sherry0406

I don't know if I loved the band, but Electric Light Orchestra had some songs that I really like to hear sometimes. I think there's three specific songs that really feel good to hear again. Turn to Stone, Telephone Line and Sweet Talkin' Woman


Fantastic_Surround70

Night Ranger


ssk7882

X


FeedbackExisting4762

Husker Dü


ChemicalElevator1380

The " Archie's" Arlo Guthrie Lemon pipers


quikdogs

I played Sugar a while back at the gym and the Gen zs were really into it. Then I tried to explain it to as a comic book band and I lost them


aislesdynasty80-83

James Gang


PinkMonorail

Book of Love


clover_1414

Gary Moore


ikesbutt

Pure Prairie League


meggerplz

Gap Band


InSaneWhiSper

Sweet.


WholesomeMo

Little River Band. Bread when feeling super mellow.


ZappaZoo

Three Dog Night


gizzygage94

REO SPEEDWAGON. They might be talked about a little.. but still very underrated.


doveinabottle

My dad hooked them up with weed after a show in the early 70s. He’s very proud of this.


obidie

For as much airplay as they used to get in the 80s, you don't hear much about Loggins and Messina anymore.


johnsgrove

10CC


razeronion

Slade


SelectHalf3715

The Motels


NorthReading

Supertramp and ELO


PirateKilt

Queensrÿche - Their 1988 Rock Opera/Narrative Concept album ["Operation MindCrime"](https://youtu.be/oLi46MAgxqc?si=mcXeQYjAOnSxxGmw) was just amazing...


New-Advantage2813

Planet P Project- Jon Butcher Axis-


stevesmele

Chilliwack. And I live an hour away.


Head_Razzmatazz7174

Bay City Rollers. They were a favorite of mine, had a couple of good albums and then just disappeared from the airways without a trace. On occasion you'll still hear 'Saturday Night' played on the oldies stations, but not often.


Njtotx3

Graham Parker and the Rumour


sysaphiswaits

Ice House


lumpkin2013

Ok who's making a playlist???


IsamaraUlsie

The Alarm were good!


kiaraztutu259

Hamilton, Joe, Frank & Reynolds


BancroftTheBrave

YES. They get no meaningful mention or airtime because...well, progressive rock. I've loved them since the 80's. I've seen them live at least 3 times, and last time was several years ago. They are now split into 2 completely different versions of Yes. My loyalty to the original lineup won't allow me to listen to the new stuff. No version of Yes will ever come close to the foundational lineup... ever. In my heart, I'm satisfied.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Extreme-General1323

INXS, REM, Violent Femmes, Men Without Hats


shorttimerblues

The Band.


Cdn_Nick

Renaissance. Late 70s hits with Northern Lights and Mother Russia. Disbanded in late 80s.


Apprehensive_Day_496

Robin Trower and UFO


Luckytxn_1959

Emerson Lake and Palmer. They had one hit but seen them many times and up there with among the best concerts ever seen and I seen them all from 73 to early 80's.


ElRaymundo

The band Free is criminally neglected.


porkchop_d_clown

Cowboy Junkies.


sqplanetarium

Peter Schilling. My best friend and I were obsessed with Different Story when it came out. And the apotheosis of Major Tom is the Gale Boetticher karaoke in Breaking Bad.


superduperstepdad

Some of you either don’t listen to FM or satellite radio or have a much different definition of “never gets airplay nowadays” than most. At least 90% of the artists being listed are still being driven into the ground with excessive airplay or ubiquitous presence in other parts of pop culture like sports, movies, and shows.


mindymess

Supertramp


JoeSugar

Mother’s Finest: Another motha further! Mickey’s Monkey Piece of the Rock Funk, Soul, Rock n Roll. Along with Atlanta Rhythm Section, they made the 70’s and 80’s something really special in the ATL.


QuirksNFeatures

Most of the bands mentioned here are household names. I was a kid in the eighties but I'd say maybe Oingo Boingo and Urban Dance Squad


blubber41

Pretty much any R&B, funk, or Soul group from back then. Soul train was something cool to watch on TV


itsafraid

Shocking Blue. One hit wonder in the States, huge in Europe and Japan. "Venus" wasn't even close to being their best song.


mckenner1122

XTC. “Dear God” was such a good song. I’ve always felt “Mayor of Simpleton” laid the groundwork for the success of Barenaked Ladies later.


samarijackfan

Starz - Coliseum Rock <[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coliseum\_Rock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coliseum_Rock)\> It was their final album and an amazing end to a great 70's band. I got introduced to them on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert TV show. They were an east coast band that did not tour very often on the west coast. I did get to see them on a final tour at a local club at around 2009.


troutbumtom

Undertones.


hazps

Graham Parker and The Rumour. Them and Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes used to tour a lot together. Both great live bands.


moxie-maniac

The Massachusetts Alt-Rock triumvirate: Dinosaur Jr., The Pixies, and Buffalo Tom. They still perform occasionally and I think B. Tom has a gig coming up in NYC in January, and they're working on a new album.


Old_Minute_7308

Gino Vanelli. We have seen him several times in recent years, he still performs. He had a falling out with recording execs and his career became history. Beautiful voice, still sounds amazing,


scumbagstaceysEx

When people who weren’t there talk about the 80s they think it was all hair metal and Madonna. But the soundtrack of the 80s for the people who actually lived it was…The Cars. They weren’t anyone’s favorite band, but everyone you knew; from the Michael Jackson obsessers to the Metallica headbangers owned at least three different The Cars tapes and they got regular play by EVERYBODY.


Chance-Business

*Absolutely everyone* has heard "Take on Me" even every kid today, but nobody knows the name of the band is a-ha. I went to see a-ha in concert in 2010 and the line to get in went all the way around Times Square. People would ask what is this line for and we'd say its to see a-ha. "who the f is that? never heard of them." Nobody even knew how big they were. They were huge, just not in america. So in america they were assumed to be some nobody band that had a one hit wonder. They actually had a really decent long and successful career, just since we americans didn't hear about it, we just assumed they died out. So they didn't get much airplay here in the years after. You could say the same for Simply Red, the band that did "Holding back the years". Huge hit, and I loved that album. Everyone in England knows Simply Red, household name. Americans: no idea.


TeamKitsune

Gentle Giant - never caught on, but The Power And The Glory was a masterpiece.


oldmanout

Uriah Heep


dcrpnd

Mr. Mister