The 1970s were a golden age for rock, funk, soul, and experimental sound. While bands like Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, and Fleetwood Mac became household names, countless others slipped through the cracks—despite their extraordinary talent. These groups pushed boundaries, wrote brilliant songs, and left a lasting influence, even if history forgot their names. Dust off your vinyl and rediscover these 17 forgotten ’70s bands who were, in truth, musical geniuses.
1. Gentle Giant
Progressive rock fans still swear by Gentle Giant’s complex harmonies, shifting time signatures, and Baroque influences. Too weird for the mainstream, too brilliant to ignore.
2. Big Star
They never sold many records, but their melodic power pop influenced generations—from R.E.M. to The Replacements. Alex Chilton was writing indie-rock decades before it had a name.
3. Fanny
One of the first all-female rock bands signed to a major label, Fanny could shred with the best of them. David Bowie called them “extraordinary.” History is finally catching up.
4. The Raspberries
Led by Eric Carmen, this band blended British Invasion sparkle with raw garage energy. “Go All the Way” was a glam-pop masterpiece hiding in plain sight.
5. Can
This German krautrock band wasn’t just ahead of their time—they were in another dimension. Their hypnotic, experimental sound shaped post-punk, electronic, and ambient music.
6. Little Feat
They fused New Orleans funk, swampy blues, and rock into something entirely their own. Lowell George’s slide guitar work was legendary, and their live shows were next-level.
7. The Roches
Three sisters, one guitar, and tight harmonies that veered from whimsical to haunting. Their offbeat lyrics and intricate vocals were unlike anything else.
8. Nazz
Featuring a young Todd Rundgren before his solo fame, Nazz was proto-power-pop with psychedelic overtones. “Open My Eyes” sounds like a blueprint for future rock radio.
9. Blue Öyster Cult
Known for “Don’t Fear the Reaper,” but forgotten for their catalog of innovative, literary, sci-fi-infused rock. They were thinking man’s metal—long before the term existed.
10. Be-Bop Deluxe
Glam rock, prog, and art rock all collided in Bill Nelson’s ambitious vision. Their albums were sonically rich and lyrically surreal—yet somehow still catchy.
11. Silver Apples
Technically a ’60s band, but their influence rippled into the ’70s underground scene. They were pioneering electronic rock when everyone else was still tuning guitars.
12. Renaissance
Fronted by Annie Haslam’s soaring five-octave voice, Renaissance blended classical music and progressive rock into elegant epics. Think rock opera meets symphony hall.
13. The Sensational Alex Harvey Band
Part glam, part punk, all attitude. Their theatrical performances and genre-blurring sound made them cult heroes in Europe—but largely forgotten elsewhere.
14. Captain Beyond
Formed by former members of Deep Purple and Iron Butterfly, this band delivered cosmic hard rock with wild time changes and trippy grooves. A prog-metal pioneer before the genre existed.
15. Crack the Sky
Critics loved them. Fans adored them. And yet… somehow they never broke through. Their clever lyrics, tight musicianship, and theatrical flair made them a true hidden gem.
16. The Only Ones
Best known for “Another Girl, Another Planet,” The Only Ones were punk-adjacent power-pop geniuses with poetic flair. Johnny Thunders meets The Kinks.
17. Trapeze
Funky, heavy, and soulful, Trapeze helped launch Glenn Hughes (later of Deep Purple) and delivered some of the most groove-laden hard rock of the decade.