7 Hated Classic Rock Albums In The ’70s You Now Love

One might assume that the flow of creativity in the ’70s made it an era where throwaway material was virtually nonexistent – and for that, you’d be wrong. Relatively, at least. Whether if an album was truly substandard or just too ahead of its time, here are some hated albums of the ’70s that people have come to love and accept as the years passed.

“Journey” – Journey (1975)

Before Journey settled for the arena-rock bacon, the band started as a jazz-infused progressive rock group. While their effort was admirable in the said genre, it was deemed too weak and generic when held to the standard of the style, making their self-titled debut one of their most unsuccessful releases.

“Thin Lizzy” – Thin Lizzy (1971)

Another part of the debut flop club is Thin Lizzy’s self-titled 1971 release. Again, it was a watered-down record that indicated how the band was struggling to find their sound. Guitarist Eric Bell said of their effort: “A lot of it was ad-libbed. The three of us just went for it in the studio because we were all smashed.” To be fair, they were new to the business.

“Exotic Birds and Fruit” – Procol Harum (1974)

Procol Harum’s fixation in recreating the feel of Exotic Birds and Fruit’s predecessor didn’t end up well for the record in general. While the thematic songwriting was on point, the production didn’t reach the aspirations of the band, even with the help of Beatles expert producer Chris Thomas and George Martin’s studio, AIR.

“The Clash” – The Clash (1977)

While London Calling saw the band at its peak form, another case of debut disappointment, but not due to their writing style. The production value was way too low at the time, along with the band’s lack of a veteran at the studio to help them.

“Walls And Bridges” – John Lennon (1974)

It was apparent that John Lennon didn’t really develop a liking to the rawness of his vocals, especially in the recording of 1974’s Walls and Bridges. The album had some genuinely great cuts to it if it weren’t for the incessant layering of effects and tricks on Lennon’s voice.

“Exile On Main Street” – The Rolling Stones (1972)

The misadventures of the Stones where they became fugitives of taxation net them one of the best albums they almost had – except it wasn’t. The Richards-Jagger tandem wasn’t as efficient as they were before or after, making for an inconsistent mix of material by the band.

“Welcome Back My Friends to the Show that Never Ends” – Emerson, Lake & Palmer (1974)

There wasn’t anything wrong with ELP’s wanting to make a live album that was intended to give the fans a concert experience at the comforts of their own homes. This wasn’t the case for their 1974 live album, however, with the means and technique of recording never really reaching the intended results.