10 Unforgettable Blues Rock Bands of the 1970s
The 1970s was a golden age for blues rock, as the genre hit its stride with bands that combined the soulful essence of the blues with the raw energy of rock. These groups not only pushed the boundaries of what blues rock could be but also left an enduring legacy that continues to inspire musicians today. Here are 10 unforgettable blues rock bands from the 1970s that helped define the era.
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin elevated blues rock to stadium-filling heights. Their music fused heavy riffs with bluesy grooves. Jimmy Page’s guitar mastery and Robert Plant’s emotive vocals created a dynamic duo that became synonymous with the genre. The band’s ability to innovate while paying homage to their blues roots set them apart as legends of the decade. Their groundbreaking live performances pushed the boundaries of what a rock concert could be, setting a high standard for the entire genre. With a catalog of timeless albums, they continue to influence countless musicians across generations.
The Allman Brothers Band
Blending blues with Southern rock, The Allman Brothers Band created a sound that was both intricate and deeply emotional. Their live performances, such as the iconic At Fillmore East album, showcased their ability to jam while staying true to the blues. Guitarists Duane Allman and Dickey Betts crafted intertwining solos that became the band’s signature, leaving a lasting impact on blues rock. Their music captured the soulful heart of the South while appealing to a broad audience with its authenticity. Even after lineup changes, the band’s commitment to their blues-inspired roots ensured their enduring legacy.
ZZ Top
This Texas trio brought a distinctive swagger to blues rock with their gritty sound and sharp sense of humor. Albums like Tres Hombres (1973) introduced tracks that became instant classics, driven by Billy Gibbons’ searing guitar tone. ZZ Top’s unique blend of Texas blues and rock ‘n’ roll made them one of the most recognizable acts of the 1970s. Their ability to craft catchy, groove-laden songs ensured both commercial success and critical acclaim. Whether in the studio or on stage, their larger-than-life personas added to their unforgettable charm. This Texas trio brought a distinctive swagger to blues rock with their gritty sound and sharp sense of humor.
Derek and the Dominos
Derek and the Dominos, a short-lived yet profoundly influential blues rock band of the early 1970s, emerged as a vehicle for Eric Clapton’s creative ambitions. Formed in 1970, the group featured an all-star lineup: Clapton on guitar and vocals, Bobby Whitlock on keyboards and vocals, Carl Radle on bass, and Jim Gordon on drums. Their sound was a seamless blend of blues, rock, and soul, steeped in raw emotion and virtuosic musicianship. The band’s sole studio album, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (1970), is widely regarded as a masterpiece. Featuring the iconic title track “Layla” is a deeply personal exploration of heartbreak and passion. Collaborations with Duane Allman added an extra layer of brilliance.
Free
Free brought raw simplicity to blues rock showcasing Paul Kossoff’s expressive guitar work and Paul Rodgers’ soulful vocals. Their minimalist approach, driven by tight grooves and emotional intensity, made them stand out. Free’s ability to create music that was both powerful and unpretentious cemented their place in blues rock history. Their chemistry as a band was palpable, with each member contributing to their distinctive sound. Even after their breakup, the members went on to influence the genre through their subsequent projects. Fire and Water, released in 1970 featured the great title track along with hits like “All Right Now” and “Mr. Big.” Despite the band’s greatness, Free remains under appreciated and has yet to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Foghat
With hits like “Slow Ride” and “I Just Want to Make Love to You,” Foghat became synonymous with blues-based hard rock. Their energy and driving rhythms made them a staple of ’70s rock radio and live circuits. With a penchant for infectious grooves and a high-energy approach to blues rock, Foghat’s live performances became legendary, as captured in their iconic Foghat Live album (1977). Their relentless touring schedule earned them a loyal following, and their tight musicianship set them apart from their contemporaries. Beyond the hits, their deep cuts reveal a band deeply rooted in the blues tradition, blending raw passion with polished rock sensibilities.
Canned Heat
Though their peak began in the late 1960s, Canned Heat carried their boogie-heavy blues rock sound well into the 1970s with albums like Future Blues (1970). With hits like “Let’s Work Together” in the 1970s, they blended traditional blues with a modern, upbeat energy. Canned Heat was a significant force in the development of blues rock during the 1970s, bridging the gap between traditional blues and more experimental rock sounds .The band’s unique sound and approach influenced many of their contemporaries and contributed to the wider acceptance of blues rock during that era.
Ten Years After
Known for their electrifying performance at Woodstock, Ten Years After carried their momentum into the 1970s with albums like Cricklewood Green. Alvin Lee’s lightning-fast guitar work was the centerpiece of the band’s sound, blending blues, rock, and jazz influences. Their high-energy style and dedication to the blues made them a favorite of the era. With their improvisational prowess, they became a live powerhouse that captured the spirit of the decade. The band’s recordings continue to inspire guitarists and blues enthusiasts alike.
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones were at the forefront of blues rock during the 1970s, blending raw energy and musical sophistication to create a sound that resonated with audiences worldwide. They explored the depths of blues and rock, infusing their music with a gritty authenticity that defined the era. The Stones’ commitment to the blues genre not only paid homage to its roots but also pushed its boundaries, making it accessible to a broader, modern audience. Their impact on blues rock in the 1970s solidified their place as one of the greatest and most influential bands in music history.
Savoy Brown
One of the British blues boom’s enduring acts, Savoy Brown, led by Kim Simmonds, merged Chicago blues influences with a hard rock edge. Albums such as Looking In (1970) and Hellbound Train (1972) showcase their memorable guitar riffs and storytelling lyrics. The band’s evolving lineup kept their sound fresh while remaining true to their blues rock roots.
Nice to see 2 of my favorites, Foghat and Savoy Brown get mentioned. I always felt those two bands were often overlooked and under appreciated. Of course, there are lots of other blues rock greats we shouldn’t forget about-Rory Gallagher, Johnny Winter, Roy Buchanan, etc.
My thoughts exactly
Forgot was born out of Savoy Brown alumni.
Agree with Tom 💯
I agree with those left out bands should be on there with John mayall. I did see all those bands but free. Ten Years After blew me away. But seeing Muddy Waters in 72 put me to the Blues
TYA first band I saw, supported by Supertramp, Salford Uni…awesome
Canned heat supported rory gallagher many times,how come canned heat are one of thee best,and I quote,’we should not forget rory gallagher’,yis have it wrong,guys,go back to your music lessons.
Buchanan is never mentioned when talking about guitar greats but I think he was a master.
Totally agree, have never seen his name in any top 100 guitarist listing.
Roy Buchanan truly was one of the best.
I agree!!!
Yea and Betty Crocker is a great baker buuuut we’re not talking about bakers or guitarist
I couldn’t agree more. I still love Savoy Brown, sadly never got to see Foghat. Also loved Gallagher, Winter and Buchanan. Great guitarists!
I would have added Climax Blues Band also
It’s great that someone remembers Roy Buchanan.
Roy Buchanan. Brilliant! Very few so called rock fans have ever heard of him.
Couldn’t agree with you more..
I agree first heard Savoy brown in 70 I think. Them and Taj Mahal
Obviously this gent knows nothing of the “Real” Blues Bands of the 70’s. The majority of these bands can’t even be considered full blues bands! The Stones left blues behind w&en they found out that Rock n Roll made the hard cash. You totally missed John Mayhall and others that were “true” blues masters!
The title says blues rock bands
Absolutely.
Some people don’t know the difference between a band and a guitarist..
Some other Most Honourables could be,
Blodwyn Pig,
Tramline,
Juicy Lucy
Status Quo
Bakerloo
and
McKenna Mendelson Mainline
The title of the article is “Blues Rock Bands”, not “Blues Bands”.
Some people don’t know the difference between blues and blues rock… But there will be people here that will say it’s the same thing.. But we know
The title, and intent, of this article is “10 Unforgettable Blues Rock Bands of the 1970s”, not “10 Unforgettable Blues Bands of the 1970s”.
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I’m glad you mentioned Nicky Hopkins. ‘The Session Man’ documentary about his life and his music has just been released in the US on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Session-Man-Mike-Treen/dp/B0DBPKT9K7/ Enjoy!
Joss Stone!
No Humble Pie?
Joss Stone wasn’t born until 1987.
Article is about 1970s artists.
You forgot Fleetwood Mac when the chick did album art work and sang some backups
Where is John Myall check surname spelling
How could you forget Sliding Dog?
Mountain?
Groundhogs. Maggie Bell Stone the Crows, Robin Trower, Blodwyn Pig- etc. the list is endless
Most Definitely – Roy Buchanan – The Master of the Telecaster.
Any doubts, check out Roy’s Live LP “Live Stock” – killer chops, fretwork, and string bending.
One of the (all) excellent tunes – “Roy’s Bluz”
https://youtu.be/8mr9I7g1A7o?feature=shared
All white bands
Good comment, it’s all about the music, skin colour is secondary, seen MrSipp this year what a guy
WHAT ABOUT JOHNNY WINTER?
They were great no matter the music subject matter but they set sound track history whenever they touched blues or rock..over and over.
Wrecking Crew.
All excellent bands, definitely Jonny Winters should be there, I was drawn more towards more locals that were never in the right place at the right time i.e. Camas City Limits, Diversified Stock, Big Goat and the Heard.
Paul Butterfield BB with Michael Bloomfield- untouchable
I always see Butterfield Blues Band ignored cuz they weren’t rock band!! Some of their earlier songs such as “shake your money maker” and “Born in chicago” were very strong blues and rock sounds!!! Bloomfield was a God!!
All good bands,but Peter Greens Fleetwood Mac is as good and probably better than most on the list.Everytime I listen to the early Peter Green I appreciate him more.Genius and soul at it’s finest
The title of the article is “Blues Rock Bands”, not “Blues Bands”.
No Humble Pie?
Cactus was as good as any of these bands and hailed one of the most underrated blues rock guitarists in Jim McCarty. Also born of the mid to late sixties and continuing into the 70s were early Fleetwood Mac, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, The Jeff Beck Group, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, and of course Johnny Winter.
No need to worry man just lean back and toke n choke on a fatty while going to Alaska where the moose and the Eskimo play.
Jeff Beck Group is missing.
Robin Trower
With all of your wonderful picks/selections, who in this list of “top 10 blues artists” would said selections replace?
LOVE these bands – I have LPs\cassette recordings\CDs of all of them except one or two.
No J. Geils Band? No Quicksilver Messenger Service? No John Mayall? Paul Butterfield Blues Band? No Charlie Musselwhite’s Southside Band? Just sayin’ those other bands are imitative, and one or two blues tunes does not a blues rock band make.
Humble Pie needs to be on the list.
So pleased that The Allman Brothers were 2nd. Duane was the best guitarist ever.
I’m just so glad that I’m now in my 7s and have seen live the likes of Led Zeppelin, Rory Gallagher, ZZTo0,Eric Clapton, Humble Pie,Free,Bad CompanyAC-DC ,Chicago Climax Blues,Keef Hartley Band,Wishbone Ash,Rolling Stones,DeepPurple,Status Quo and many others.
I’m sorry but to leave out Humble Pie is just a sin.
I Wanna “stir the soup” an throw in Black Sabbath (as Led Zeppelin is mentioned) although their two first albums were released in the end of 60’s in 1970. Heavy blues (rock) influences in their albums in the Ozzy era. And not to mention (in my very subjective point of view) one of the best blues songs ever: Deep Purple, When Blind Man Cries (1972 Machine Head; including a couple of other very bluesy structured rockers).
Chicken Shack?
I look at most of lists produced here and there are times I disagree with either interpretation or content but one thing I have noticed is that even among those who post comments there doesn’t seem to be a wide range of blues rock artists in the genre.
To be fair, I am only looking at the artists that appear on Blues Rock Review when I make my statement. It does seem to me that you could combine almost all of the lists from the last couple of years that appeared, note the artists that appear and end up with the same core group of them (I’d be guessing at the actual number) along with a smaller core group of outliers that are not as well known (or popular) but people feel they deserve mentioning.
I think it’s time for a bit more thought into the category of lists. It might generate more interest in what the compiler is saying, educate some people into other artists and make feedback or comments more interesting, engaging and less argumentative. Newer artists (lists) in the genre are great, I enjoy finding out about those I haven’t yet heard but lists of this type are now boring and repetative.