10 Underrated Classic Rock Albums Of The '70s

Power pop has been ingrained in pop culture for so long that it's easy to take it for granted. Somewhere in between the ending of the Beatles and the birth of hair metal, bands like the Cars and Cheap Trick were coming to the forefront with guitar rock filled to the brim with hooks. Though each of these acts have made fantastic records, why does no one ever bring up Big Star?

Operating out of the Memphis in the early '70s, these guys were making pop music with a rock edge long before any of the cool kids were doing it. Across the band's ironically named #1 Record, they showcase some of the greatest power pop ever created, from the hard rock swing of "Don't Lie To Me" to the downtempo power of "The Ballad of El Goodo."

While the band would see somewhat of a resurgence when "In The Street" became a staple of That '70s Show, the band had already fizzled out after the loss of songwriter Chris Bell. Even if the good times may be over, the fantastic tunes across this record have gone on to inspire every pop rock act going forward from Weezer to Fountains of Wayne.