What are the most underrated & most overrated 1960/70s bands?

1. 77

   MickeySrposted 13 years ago

   I'll give my own answer after I see some of yours - I'm hoping, of course, that someone sees the 'overratedness' of the band I think is terribly overrated and sees the 'underratedness' of the band I think is terribly underrated.

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      rebekahELLEposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      hmm, I have a feeling I know which band you are going to name as overrated for the 60's. I'm probably not going to agree..
      
      I love 60's music, but certainly, without a doubt, it would be the Monkees, or do they even count?
      
      overrated 70's would be KISS.
      
      
      underrated
      
      60's - Zombies? their melodies were beautiful.
      70's - Uriah Heap

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      1. 77

         MickeySrposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         . . . I wondering how you have an idea, or, feeling, what bands I would name and why you assume we'll disagree?
         
         I think that The Monkees were unjustly maligned and I very much agree that KISS was overrated - those bands shoul be reversed . . . The Monkees put out some decent Pop tunes while KISS is the band that was a joke.

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         1. 78

            Uninvited Writerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I agree with you

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      2. 78

         Uninvited Writerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I agree with you too The Zombies should be as well-known as the Beatles.

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         1. 85

            rebekahELLEposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            'some of their songs were better arranged than the Beatles. 'She's Not There' was their debut hit in 1964 which charted at #2 in US and Canada, #12 in UK. They had a few more hits and by 1968, Time of the Season didn't even chart in UK. It charted #1 in Canada and #3 in US.
            
            Now when you say Zombies, young people think Twilight! They were part of the British invasion of the 60's.

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   2. 77

      MickeySrposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Ok, here's my answers, and I'm very tempted to just say 'here's the right answers' but I'm trying to remain reasonable.
      
      I count The Rolling Stones as the most overrated band of their era. In the beginning, with Brian Jones, when they were doing "Paint It Black", "Get Off My Cloud", "Satisfaction" and that stuff they were great - when when Brian Jones died and Keith Richards and Mick Jagger took over the band's direction they turned a great British invasion Blues-based band into an overblown Pop arena show . . . listen to their live performances from the last 20 or 30 years, if not for the addition of Ronnie Wood they would be unlistenable. The Animals were better, Small Faces were better, The Yardbirds were better, Savoy Brown was way better, and The Who was (and is) a far, far better band. The Stones have a long and storied history and they have a handful of great old song - but listen to them, they simply aren't even close to 'the greatest rock & Roll band in the world'.
      
      Now, listen to Cactus - the most underrated band of their era. Cactus was made-up from the remains of Vanilla Fudge, Mitch Ryder's Detroit Wheels, & The Amboy Dukes, so the members had already seen big success, but no one ever heard of Cactus - so they couldn't play small venues but couldn't fill stadiums, so they tried to tour with big names and open their shows. But they were so stunningly good,  Hendrix wouldn't let them open for him, Zeppelin fired them after one night, they just couldn't find anyone who let them on the same stage. After just 3 LPs they just couldn't keep going. Tell these guys don't destroy the Stones and scores of other more notable bands - turn it up all the way and listen to each of these ~
      
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-RCAW2b … re=related
      
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTFJNRpc … re=related
      
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCBrQQlc … re=related
      
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2W97Tef … re=related
      
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSZQ-8j2 … re=related

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   3. 54

      Shinkickerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Underrated artistes I would venture would be BADFINGER and the great Blues guitarist RORY GALLAGHER.
      
      Overrated for me would definitely be EMERSON LAKE and PALMER

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   4. 69

      cdub77posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      MickeySr:
      
      Great question, and thanks for turning me onto Cactus.  I've enjoyed this whole discussion.
      
      I have to premise my answer with the fact I was born in 77, so I don't know what was big or not at the time, but I do know what I love and can't understand why it wasn't bigger.
      
      I feel Nick Drake is one of the most underrated musicians of all time, not just the time.  I think he is worth mentioning.  Also, I think Brian Eno's early solo work (Warm Jets, Tiger Mountain, Green World, Science) is some of the greatest subverted pop I've heard, Beatles included.  Robert Fripp's guitar work alone blows me away.
      
      I won't continue to just name bands, but I do think Skip Spence is still underrated, and so are bands like Gong and Can (who is so influential it isn't even funny).
      
      Also, your argument against the Stones helps me articulate things I've felt but just didn't know enough about them to put into words.  Thanks!
      
      I'm totally not disagreeing with your choice of Cactus...I'm going to listen to them right now.

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2. 69

   Alastar Packerposted 13 years ago

   Arguably the Marshall Tucker Band for most underrated- a large selection of their hit songs are constantly played on classic rock stations- multiple platinum and gold records- still not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame- disgraceful.

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   1. 77

      MickeySrposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Some of the bands and solo performers not yet in, or took way too long to get in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is indeed disgraceful (Darlene Love, one of the greatest voices of our time, just got in last year!? Talk about underrated.). . .
      
      . . . what about most overrated?

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3. 85

   rebekahELLEposted 13 years ago

   oh, no real reason, I know some feel the Beatles were overrated or Led Zeppelin, but I think those bands were even much better than we knew.

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   1. 77

      MickeySrposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I thought maybe you knew me from somewhere or thought you could tell from reading my Hubs or something - you're just saying you have a feeling that, like many others, I probably think that . . . etc - right?
      
      I agree; I think even when asserted to be the biggest band ever, many don't realize how goof The Beatles were. Zeppelin I think was great - but Page, as a player, is overrated. As a studio producer he was impressive, but as a guitar player he was not as great as many would assert him to be. The drumming was the biggest ingredient that made Zeppelin sound like Zeppelin . . . and while Plant was good, he wasn't as good (like the best) as many assert.

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      1. 75

         Mighty Momposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         RIP John Bonham!

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4. 83

   IzzyMposted 13 years ago

   Not a band as such, but how on Earth did David Essex achieve superstardom as a singer when he couldn't actually sing.
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G2lqY3Nuk0

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5. 78

   Uninvited Writerposted 13 years ago

   Most overrated in my opinion?
   
   1960s - Can't think of one right now
   1970s - KISS
   
   Most underrated?
   
   1960s - Spanky and our Gang
   1970s - America

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6. 0

   juliafranceschiniposted 13 years ago

   The 60's and 70's was a great time for music. I think bands nowadays are overrated.
   
   But underrated: Love

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7. 69

   Alecia Murphyposted 13 years ago

   KISS I would agree with as overrated from the 70s. I'm not sure about the 60s.

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8. 75

   Mighty Momposted 13 years ago

   This is a GREAT topic.
   Hmmm.
   
   Overrated 1960s
   IDK, Tiny Tim? (not a band)
   Bobby Goldsboro (not a band)
   
   Underrated 1960s
   The Moody Blues
   Donovan (again, not a band)
   
   Overrated 1970s
   Boston
   (I also personally dislike many of the really popular bands of the era including Doobie Brothers, Chicago, Van Halen (exception being EVH on guitar), Eagles
   Also think Steely Dan is overrated
   Oh yes and (gag me) Jefferson Starship (NOT Airplane tho!)
   
   Underrated 1970s
   ELO
   Mott the Hoople
   And yes, KC and the Sunshine Band (hey, we've already established the Monkees were underrated, I feel that KC made a HUGE cultural impression!!!)

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9. 0

   TTC12posted 13 years ago

   Underrated:
   Be Bop Deluxe
   Automatic Man
   Canned Heat
   Rory Gallagher
   
   Overrated:
   REO Speedwagon
   Boston
   KISS
   Supertramp
   
   I'll stop there.

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10. 82

    SimeyCposted 13 years ago

    OK so I am biased, but I'd say the most under-rated band (at least by the so-called experts) is Rush.
    
    The three members were voted 'best musicians of the seventies' - (Although I cannot find the actual article!) and have produced progressive rock for almost 40 years. Their style has adapted and changed over the years and they are seeing a resurgence with thousands of new fans after being included in several movies over the last few year and by being featured in several of the Guitar Hero and Rock Band games.
    
    Neil Peart is arguably the best technical rock drummer of all time, and all of the members are amazing musicians.
    
    Rolling Stones has a hard time categorizing them and this often leads to them being given 'luke warm' reviews - however all of their albums have gone gold, platinum or multi-platinum.
    
    They are one of the best live bands around and continue to rock crowds in excess of 10,000.

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11. 0

    TTC12posted 13 years ago

    Agree on Rush!   One of the best bands in the world. Seeing them in concert is a amazing experience. World class musicians all the way.

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    1. 77

       MickeySrposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       TTC12,
       
       Shucks - you had me with underratedness of Canned Heat and your entire overrated list, but you lost me with Rush . . . they would be in my overrated column.

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       1. 0

          TTC12posted 13 years agoin reply to this

          Rush just gets killed by the press. If you look  beyond the sci-fi image, you will see three of the best musicians in rock. I can see where some don't like them, though. I appreciated the talents of all musicians, whether overrated of underrated. Some just get more press than others!

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12. 61

    misternatcarterposted 13 years ago

    Underrated:
    Traffic, The Kinks, Santana
    
    Overrated: Boston, Supertramp,  Blue Oyster Cult
    
    Fleetwood Mac with Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham is overrated;  before them is underrated.

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