Most Underrated ’70s Rock Albums That Still Found (Some) Success

These are the most underrated '70s rock albums that we still can't believe didn't sell more.

As we all now know, even the greatest bands can release an album that for one reason or another doesn’t see commercial success.

Maybe it’s timing. Maybe it’s an experimental sound that didn’t resonate with critics. These albums just don’t go platinum like many thought they would.

But that doesn’t mean these albums aren’t good or weren’t even popular with the most passionate fans. These are the most underrated ’70s rock albums that we still can’t believe didn’t sell more.

5. ‘Secret Treaties’ by Blue Oyster Cult

eBay

Year released: 1974

Total albums sold: 500,000

“Secret Treaties” was the third studio album from Blue Oyster Cult. It spent a solid 14 weeks on the U.S. album charts but peaked at No. 53. Disappointing sales numbers led a lot of people to forget what’s considered to be one of rock’s most underrated albums.

Surprisingly, the band didn’t write any of the lyrics for this album. But you know who was a major contributor? Future punk poet Patti Smith as well as producer Sandy Pearlman and rock critic Richard Meltzer.

4. ‘Get Your Wings’ by Aerosmith

Discogs

Year released: 1974

Total albums sold: 3 million

Aerosmith’s second album, “Get Your Wings,” lands on this list as a result of bad timing. Because the band’s debut album, “Aerosmith,” had a delayed release, its second album came out just two months later.

Fans simply didn’t have enough time to catch up, but many believe “Get Your Wings” was actually better than the band’s first. With hits like “Seasons of Whither,” “Same Old Song and Dance” and “Lord of the Thighs,” this album was only a prelude to what was to become.

3. ‘In Through the Out Door’ by Led Zeppelin

Amazon

Year released: 1979

Total albums sold: 6 million

Led Zeppelin’s last album, like most bands’ last albums, was a hot mess from the start. First, it only took three weeks to put together. Considering that most quality albums take about a year to produce, the band’s effort was seriously taken into account. And because critics were, well, critical, fans didn’t know what to anticipate.

The truth? The band still managed to impress and even experimented with some Latin-based material. After all, “Fool in the Rain” was a product of this album.

2. ‘Burn’ by Deep Purple

Amazon

Year released: 1974

Total albums sold: 8 million

The eighth studio album from Deep Purple came with a lot of changes that could have gone one of two ways. First, the band brought on bassist and vocalist Glenn Hughes, formerly of Trapeze, and then decided to bring on unknown David Coverdale as the lead vocalist.

With these replacements, it wasn’t surprising that the band’s overall sound also changed, incorporating boogie rock and blues into its standard hard rock sound. But Deep Purple fans embraced the changes, and it reached No. 3 in the U.K. and No. 9 in the U.S.

1. ‘Don’t Look Back’ by Boston

Amazon

Year released: 1978

Total albums sold: 8 million

Timing is yet again the reason for Boston’s second album to earn the top spot on this list. Unlike Aerosmith, however, this one was a result of too long a wait.

After a successful debut album, the band took more than two years to produce “Don’t Look Back,” which became a problem for impatient fans. However, it was very much worth the wait and included some of the band’s best hits to this day, including “Don’t Look Back” and “Feelin’ Satisfied.”

For more underrated rock albums that deserve more credit, check out “15 Most Underrated Rock Albums of All Time.”