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The 1970s - the golden years of power pop
Power pop originated in the 1970s when bands like Badfinger and the Raspberries recreated the excitement of the British Invasion with a bit more edge. Power pop declined somewhat in the middle of the decade, but the birth of 'new wave' gave new life to the genre with the appearance of acts like the Knack, the Pezband and the Rubinoos.
One of the greatest pop band of all time, the Knack rank as my favorite group of the "new wave" and perhaps even of the 70s. I often get strange looks from people when I confess my undying love of this group, known mainly for their overplayed hit "My Sharona." However, there's much more to the Knack. Click here to read my essay about the group and why I feel they are the most under-rated power pop band of all time.
Badfinger drew comparisons to the Beatles perhaps more than any other power pop group. They were the most successful group signed to Apple Records, except of course for the Fabs. Their first single, "Come and Get It" was written by Paul McCartney and their subsequent Apple releases were produced by none other than George Harrison and Beatles roadie Mal Evans. But Badfinger managed to rise above the stigma of merely being a carbon copy of the Beatles. Their sound had a slightly harder edge that effectively reflected the jam-rock of the early 1970s. Pete Ham and Tom Evans were excellent song writers and great vocalists, who just happened to evoke images of Lennon and McCartney at the microphone. Several of their singles are prototypes of the power pop genre ("No Matter What" and "Baby Blue.") "Without You," from their second album is a timeless classic and their third record, "Straight Up," is perhaps the first essential power pop album. Their story is rather tragic, beginning with a myriad of financial woes and ending with the suicides of Ham and Evans.
The Raspberries
The Raspberries seemed out of place when they emerged from Cleveland in the early 1970s. They wore matching suits and revived melodic, harmony-driven pop pioneered by bands like the Beatles, the Beach Boys and the Byrds. Their primary songwriter and singer, Eric Carmen, had some classical piano training which added complex chord changes to his blissfully silly pop songs. Although the concept was not particularly original, Carmen's soaring voice that combined the sweetness of McCartney and the hard edge of Daltrey gave the band a unique sound. Eric also had a sappy side, evidenced by their first single 'Don't Want To Say Goodbye,' that he would fully explore as a solo artist. However, on the Raspberries' albums, he often leaned more heavily upon the power of early rock and roll, which he combined expertly with his beautiful melodies. Their first and biggest nationwide hit, 'Go All The Way,' perfectly encapsulates the genius of Carmen's songwriting, with Who-inspired riffs leading into nearly perfect Beach Boys-styled harmonies. The result is irresistable, over-the-top pop music that is impossible to dismiss. Most of the band's four albums contain songs with equal power, like 'I Wanna Be With You' from Fresh, 'Tonight' from Side Three and 'Overnight Sensation' from Starting Over.
Big Star is one of the few power pop acts to achieve both critical and cult success. Led by former Box Top Alex Chilton and Chris Bell, the band released three classic albums in the early 1970s that refined and expanded the melodic pop music pioneered by the Beatles, the Byrds and the Beach Boys. Part of the reason this band has earned the respect of critics was their ability to combine excellent melodies with an off-kilter, artistic flavor thanks mainly to Chilton. '#1 Record' and 'Radio City' are two of the finest examples of the genre, ranking up there with the Beatles' best albums. 'Third Record' moves into darker and more experimental territories, that influenced hundreds of indie rockers in the years that followed.
Paul McCartney had that most successful solo career of all the Beatles, perhaps because his music was also the most commercial and pop-oriented. He was the first solo Beatle to form a band after the break-up and Wings dominated the pop charts in the 70s. More importantly, the band had nearly as much influence on the power pop genre as Paul's former band. With McCartney as its leader, there was little doubt that Wings would be successful and continue to have a huge impact on pop music. While Paul certainly dominated the group's direction, he relied heavily on two musical companions that helped shape Wings' sound. His wife Linda is an essential part of the band's vocal sound with her high harmonies. Denny Laine became more than just Paul's sideman; his dark husky voice and great songs giving the band added character. Wings hit their stride with the classic 'Band on the Run,' recorded by Paul, Linda and Denny after the original drummer and lead guitarist quit. The following three albums featured quintessential Wings lineup, adding Jimmy McCullough on lead guitar and Joe English on drums. The fantastic live set 'Wings Over America' captures the band at its peak during the 1976 World Tour and is strong evidence of their huge influence on power pop.
Chicago's Pezband, led by the unique and appealing vocalist Mimi Betinis, released a pair of excellent power pop albums in the late 1970s on the Passport label. Their first self-titled album brings 60s teen pop into power pop's new wave and the result is a fun, light-hearted record. Their second, Laughing In The Dark, rocks a little harder and contains two of the greatest tracks from the era, "Stop! Wait A Minute" and "Come On, Madeline." Their two live discs are even heavier and capture manic performances of their originals and even some blues-rock numbers.
The members of the Rubinoos, named after lead singer Jon Rubin, met in a San Francisco high school where they spent their time jamming and listening to old 45s. In 1977 they signed with Berserkly Records and released a self-titled debut that sounded like a cross between early rock and roll and the Raspberries. They had a minor hit with 'I Think We're Alone Now,' a perfect power pop rendition of the Tommy James classic. Their second release, 'Back to the Drawing Board,' leans more heavily towards the Raspberries' sound and features the excellent "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend," featured on Rhino's power pop compilations. Both albums are classics from the period, although their second is a much better showcase of guitarist Tommy Dunbar's writing skills and Rubin's incredible voice. Check out their official website and read about their current projects.
More 70s Bands and Links:
Cheap Trick- One of the great power pop bands of the 70s and one of the most unlikely looking bands. Rick Neilson's songs hit a creative peak with 'Surrender' from the brilliant 'Heaven Tonight' LP. Their first four albums are essential, while the latter half of their career is one of my guilty pleasures.
Elvis Costello- Because of his attitude and arrival in 1976, Elvis was sometimes lumped in with the punk movement. But he has more in common with his pop influences that range from Motown to country. He was a brilliant spokesperson of his time, his lyrics filled with biting sarcasm and cynicism. Throughout his career, he's always emphasized strong melodies and catchy hooks, which will appeal to power pop fans. His enormous influence on rock music was recognized with his induction to the Hall of Fame in 2003.
Queen- They're not really power pop, more like majestic glam rock. But their sound has influenced many artists in the genre, especially they're distinctive background vocals.
Electric Light Orchestra- Out of the ashes of the Move, Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne set out to effectively combine classical motifs with rock music with ELO. Wood left after the first album, but Lynne carried on and eventually sold millions of albums with his orchestral rock. Jeff is an outstanding guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, whose music emphasizes lavish production and wonderful melodies, as the best pop music should. ELO recorded several essential albums of the decade including 'Eldorado,' 'A New World Record' and 'Out of the Blue.'
Sweet- The pop version of glam rock that produced a string of irresistible hits including, 'Ballroom Blitz,' 'Fox on the Run' and 'Little Willy.'
Fotomaker- Members of the Raspberries and the Rascals that produced a couple of decent pop albums in the late 70s.
Mott The Hoople- They fell into the glam rock category because Bowie wrote their biggest hit, 'All the Young Dudes.' However, the rest of their music is more about melodic rock than glam, coming off like a harder version of the Kinks.
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