r/ClassicRock • u/Bitter-Aspect6184 • Jul 31 '25
70s Need new classic blues-rock recommendations
In recent years I've been a growing fan of classic rock sound and currently looking to try and expand my knowledge around the scenes. Led Zeppelin probably was my first 'love' for the classic rock/bluesy sound, which then led me to other bands (no pun intended).
I love The Doors, AC/DC, The Beatles, and enjoyed some Rolling Stones as well (although they didn't stuck with me as much). Recently I've also been listening to a lot of Pink Floyd stuff. I absolutely love The Dark Side of the Moon and currently engaging a lot with Wish You Were Here album. I also quite like Disraeli Gears by Cream—that bluesy sound just gets me. And Paranoid (the album) from Black Sabbath is immense. I'm not really a metalhead, but that particular album sounds really good.
Is there any recommendation based on the things that I listen to? Preferably something that's guitar and blues-rock based. It took a bit of time for me to really grasp The Doors and Pink Floyd, but something like them (something a little softer/more experimental) could also work. Cheers!
EDIT: Wow that's an overwhelming amount of recommendations, thank you! I'll be sure to try and listen to a lot of them, especially the ones that come up multiple times. This page might be great for me to come back every once in a while whenever I need something new as well. Appreaciate it!
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u/ZimMcGuinn Jul 31 '25
Humble Pie. And it’s precursor Small Faces. Also, Faces.
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u/Bulky_Goat_9624 Jul 31 '25
Cactus, Ten Years After, Peter Green era Fleetwood Mac, Pat Travers, Leaf Hound, Savoy Brown, Humble Pie, Mountain, Grand Funk Railroad, Sir Lord Baltimore. There’s a ton of great bands out there!
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u/CertifiedBA Aug 01 '25
Came here to say Cactus and Ten Years After....good picks
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u/Bulky_Goat_9624 Aug 01 '25
I remember getting that album because I liked the cover. Man that first track is face melting. I was hooked!
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u/Royal_Ad_2653 Jul 31 '25
Robin Trower, including his Procol work.
Foghat
ZZ
Mason Ruffner
John Butcher
Mean Gene Kelton
Bad Company
Savoy Brown
SRV
The Arc Angels
Thin Lizzie
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u/BahamaDon Jul 31 '25
Arc Angels! Their one studio album was Charlie Sexton and Doyle Bramhall 2, with SRV’s rhythm section Double Trouble, Chris Layton on Drums and Tommy Shannon on bass. .
The whole album is a tribute to Stevie after he was killed. It is a fantastic piece of bluesy rock art.
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u/Old_Coyote5931 Aug 01 '25
I was fortunate enough to see Doyle Bramhall 2 and his band at the Waterloo store in Austin. Got a photo and his autograph. I was a fan of his father Doyle Bramhall Sr who was a great drummer.
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u/PreparationKey2843 Jul 31 '25
Stevie Ray Vaughan, Allman Brothers, ZZTop, Marshall Tucker Band,
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u/SgtObliviousHere Jul 31 '25
Second ZZ Top. Especially their earlier albums.
Specifically...
ZZ Top
Rio Grande Mud
Tres Hombres
Fandango
Those are bloody awesome. Billy Gibbons at his best.
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u/Propaslader Jul 31 '25
ZZ Top are a must.
Head's In Mississippi
Rhythmeen
Legs
Tube Snake Boogie
La Grange
Just a few to get you going!
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u/PreparationKey2843 Jul 31 '25
They released all of their bluesy stuff in one album, "One Foot in the Blues." It's a kickass album with kickass blues. Maybe my favorite album from them (my favorite always changes).
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u/INTZBK Aug 01 '25
Don’t forget Waiting on the Bus/Jesus Just Left Chicago, Just Got Paid, Blue Jean Blues, Cheap Sunglasses, Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers, I’m Bad I’m Nationwide
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u/onedaysoon2561 Jul 31 '25
ZZTop - tres hombres (album )
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u/PeggysPonytail Jul 31 '25
Jesus just left Chicago and he’s bound for New Orleans. ❤️ Tres Hombres
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u/onedaysoon2561 Jul 31 '25
The very first album of ZZTop I ever bought .still get played regularly from beginning to end .
Absolutely love it .
Peak ZZTop.
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u/Slashs_Hat Jul 31 '25
I submit 'Nasty Dogs & Funky Kings'.
Love ZZ, LOVE this tune
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u/Sandman634 Jul 31 '25
Jeff Healey band
Finland's Erja Lyytinen. An amazing artist with a lot of good blues rock in her career.
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u/kimmeljs Jul 31 '25
I concur. She can display classic guitar techniques within one song and her slide work is fantastic. Great live shows too!
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u/FishingForWorms90 Jul 31 '25
Jack White's newest album
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u/linniex Jul 31 '25
Underrated comment. Archbishop Harold is a burner. The whole damn album gets me going. LOVE LOVE LOVE that we still get new great music
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u/wookiewithabass Jul 31 '25
Check out Frank Marino \Mahogany Rush. The record realLIVE, the track Poppy.
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u/kimmeljs Jul 31 '25
The record "The Power of Rock and Roll" including the title track and "Crazy Miss Daisy"
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u/mostlygroovy Jul 31 '25
The Black Crowes
The Southern Harmony and the Musical Companion is one of the best albums ever made.
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u/jcowan99 Jul 31 '25
Ten Years After.
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u/Old_Coyote5931 Aug 01 '25
A Space in Time by Ten Years After released 1971! My first 8-track purchase when I got my first car, a 1969 VW Bug. Great memories!
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u/Jag- Jul 31 '25
You said the Stones but make sure you gave Let It Bleed some real listening time.
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u/Bitter-Aspect6184 Aug 01 '25
To be fair I haven't gone completely deep into the Stones, but Let It Bleed is one of their albums that I've listened and enjoyed haha
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u/KKYBoneAEA Jul 31 '25
One that I haven’t seen yet, I’d give Rush’s Self-Titled debut album a shot. It’s before Neil Peart joined, and so before they took off to go be Prog titans. The album is very bluesy rock. Tracks like Working Man, In The Mood, and Finding My Way especially.
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u/Sandman634 Jul 31 '25
Jeff Healey band
Finland's Erja Lyytinen is an excellent blues rock guitarist
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u/Professional-Map9195 Jul 31 '25
Johnny Winter
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u/916String Jul 31 '25
I’ll second this one. In particular the Johnny Winter And, Second Winter, and the Still Alive and Well albums. No finer blues rock than early Johnny Winter.
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u/Toonces348 Jul 31 '25
The Rolling Stones have a strong background in blues and a lot of their early stuff was very bluesy.
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u/-Palzon- Jul 31 '25
Just to name a few: Joe Bonamassa, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Gary Clark, Dick Dale, Jeff Beck, Jim Hendrix.
E: BTW, since you like Pink Floyd, you really must check out Porcupine Tree. Begin with Up The Downstair.
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u/ScorpionTrance Jul 31 '25 edited Jul 31 '25
Greg Allman's I'm No Angel album. Both sides have good solid tunes. Also Allman Brothers song Seven Turns.
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u/tehsecretgoldfish Jul 31 '25 edited Jul 31 '25
Raw Sienna, Blue Matter, and Looking In by Savory Brown.
*Savoy
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u/Alive-Falcon-3498 Jul 31 '25
Savory indeed so get your lions share
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u/tehsecretgoldfish Jul 31 '25
lol, that what happens when it’s too early to catch auto correct.
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u/Jupiter_Rising2212 Jul 31 '25
Tragically Hip - Earlier Stuff... As a starter, try New Orleans is Sinking
Good Luck in your search!
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u/Parsnip-toting_Jack Jul 31 '25
Jimi Hendrix has a double blues album that rocks. Also, Hooker n Heat a collaborative effort from John Lee Hooker and Canned Heat.
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u/mthenry54 Jul 31 '25
Kenny Wayne Shepard &The Jeff Healey Band are two that stand out to me. Aldo Stevie Ray Vaughn, early ZZ Topp, and Big Head Todd & The Monsters.
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u/bgrizzle Jul 31 '25
Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers (1966)
Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac (1968)
Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath (1970) (This is right on the cusp of when they went from a blues band to inventing heavy metal. If you liked Paranoid you’ll love this.)
Blind Faith - Blind Faith (1969) (Even more Clapton!)
Hot Tuna - Hot Tuna (1970)
Are You Experienced - Jimi Hendrix Experience (1967)
God I wish I could discover the golden days of Blues Rock again, have fun.
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u/powdered_dognut Jul 31 '25
Softer, experimental - The Mercury Program - Chez Viking, Cloudkicker - The Discovery
Blues rock - Rival Sons - Feral Roots, Scott Henderson - Dog Party
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u/PetieG26 Jul 31 '25
It may be a little mellow but The Wood Brothers are pretty damn good. Start with the Loaded album...
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u/GoalJust1614 Jul 31 '25
Australian band CHILD (first record)! Also Robin Trower and Frank Marino. I’m going with great yet off the cuff suggestions.
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u/Suspicious_Feature85 Jul 31 '25
Taddy Porter and Marcus King Band. They aren’t old enough to be classic rock but they are holding down the sound. Also the Black Keys and the Black Crows
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u/ManateeMan4 Jul 31 '25
Strong agree on Marcus King Band, and his solo albums. He deserves so much more recognition than he gets, insane guitar player and brilliant voice.
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u/CommissarCiaphisCain Jon Lord Jul 31 '25
Deep Purple Mark III with Coverdale and Hughes. Great blues based rock.
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u/Joanr719 Jul 31 '25
Blues Traveler - Traveler's Blues, funky blues mixed with fusion jazz and rock. This is such a fun listen.
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u/kingjaffejaffar Jul 31 '25
Montrose, UFO, Burn era Deep Purple, Robin Trower, Jimi Hendrix, Nazareth, Foghat, Derek & the Dominos, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers
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u/odinspirit Jul 31 '25
Gotta check out Free.
Greatest blues rock band formed by teenagers that ever was.
Their talent was immense.
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u/CloneCone30 Aug 01 '25
The Grateful Dead
They have some great blues / rock stuff. Uncle John’s Band is a favorite of mine.
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u/WiillRiiker Jul 31 '25
Here are two songs off the top of my head you might like. Enjoy!
Clapton and Winwood - Double Trouble
https://youtu.be/dfWUKXRh5qk?si=FVe1OuLz0ehGwVsv
Ry Cooder (Lenny Kravitz also on guitar) playing an old Fats Domino song.
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u/Honest_Grade_9645 Jul 31 '25
Electric Flag’s “Long Time Coming”. Michael Bloomfield was lead player on this one, and he is a stellar player. The album rocks with blues and soul.
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u/Unusual-Pioneer Jul 31 '25
Also the original Blood Sweat and Tears album with Al Kooper.
Child is Father to the Man
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u/ConfidentBig3252 Jul 31 '25
Free Bad company Lynyrd Skynyrd Little Feat ZZ Top Jimi Hendrix James Gang. BTO-Bachman Turner Overdrive Tom Petty
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u/pawesome_Rex Jul 31 '25 edited Jul 31 '25
Early Jethro Tull is blues rock. You may also like Fleetwood Mac pre Nicks/Buckingham joining the band. Likewise the First album of Yes is more bluesy but Yes is worth a listen (Yes (1969), and Time and a Word are the first two albums. Anything between Time and a Word and Drama is worth giving a listen but Drama is where the sound of the band made a sharp turn and anything from Drama on is not the same style as their older stuff). King Crimson and Emerson, Lake, and Palmer are two additional recommendations. Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Big Brother and the Holding Company
Of note, At the time of the bands you mention there was also a large folk rock movement in England. You may want to try:
Sandy Denny; The Strawbs; Fairport Convention; Steeleye Span; Fotheringay; Renaissance;
Other Prog Rock similar to what you’ve listed above:
Genesis (Foxtrot, Nursery Cryme, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, etc.); Marillion; Glass Hammer; Robot God; Budgie; Early Peter Gabriel; Blue Oyster Cult;
Odd choices that would be wildcards which you might like:
Magma; Earth; Hawkwind; Trees;
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u/Junior_Hearing7486 Jul 31 '25
I don’t owe you a thang - Gary Clark Jr
It may not have come from the period of time some of these other suggestions have but it certainly could have.
The live version is great too.
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u/Hot_Direction6627 Jul 31 '25
Early AC/DC.... songs like "Ride on", and "Long way to the top", "She's got the Jack".....
Maybe also try The Delta bombers..... possibly Hillbilly Moon Explosion, if you want a blues-rock/rockabilly sound.....
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u/FrmrFanOfLife Jul 31 '25
They're not from the classic era but I bet you'd really like The Heavy Eyes. Heavy fuzzy, bluesy riffs. https://youtu.be/mKbVFujHTmw?si=l8EeceN_ch9jKc0_
Also, The Black Keys. https://youtu.be/1uHC28E4TSc?si=ZE-xrkaaaLZv8zJI
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u/Vast_Vegetable9222 Jul 31 '25 edited Jul 31 '25
Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR)
Dire Straights. Listen to Water of Love
Slash: Orgy of the Damned
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u/leslieb127 Jul 31 '25
Susan Tedeschi - Just Won't Burn
Tedeschi Trucks Band (Susan with her husband Derek Trucks)
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u/BahamaDon Jul 31 '25
ZZ Top, especially their first three albums.
Also, from Eliminator, “I Need You Tonight” is a scorcher. Short but sooo sweet.
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u/HomeOrificeSupplies Jul 31 '25
Black Sabbath’s first album. The title track is doomy as hell, but after that, the entire album is legit blues rock.
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u/Hour_Message6543 Aug 01 '25
A lot of good recommendations and I’ve listened to all of it.
I don’t see The Who listed, but they’re a must especially Who’s Next, Live at Leeds and Quadraphenia.
Deep Purple, Machine Head album is a classic
See if Dire Straits does anything for you.
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u/7865435 Aug 01 '25
Check out the orion album by king buffalo, you probably would enjoy songs,orion,sleeps on a vine, drinking from the river rising ,kerosene. Kerosene, the opening of the song sounds like stranglehold by nugent
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u/fotoman888 Aug 01 '25
If you’re into Cream, you’re ready for the source: The Blues. Robert Johnson. Willie Dixon. Muddy Waters. B.B. King. Howlin’ Wolf. John Mayall. Stevie Ray Vaughan. The list is literally endless. Delta blues, Chicago blues, Cajun (not really blues, but a blend of Acadian folk and blues). When you think you’re done, you’ve only just begun, and it’s a short leap to various types of jazz (Django Reinhardt), then circle back to rockabilly and blues/rock ‘n’ roll…
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u/throughhyperspace Aug 01 '25
A few I haven't seen mentioned..
The Yardbirds - live at the BBC has Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Paige on it
The Animals
The Who
The White Stripes and plenty of Jack whites other work
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u/L1ndaTesoro Aug 02 '25
The Black Crowes, Creedance Clearwater Revival, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Joe Bonamassa
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u/Gumbysfriend Aug 02 '25
Gary Moore. Kenny Wayne Shepherd ...Gary Clark Jr...Beth Hart .Jonny Lang..
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u/BeachBumVI1988 Aug 02 '25
Credence Clearwater Revival. Chicago, the first two albums.T-Rex.Led Zeppelin
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u/houseDJ1042 Aug 02 '25
Give Greta Van Fleet a listen they’re to me the spiritual successors to Zeppelin. And I’ve been listening to Gary Clark Jr he’s got some great bluesy rock that might tickle your fancy
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u/Bitter-Aspect6184 Aug 07 '25
I actually love GVF and Battle at Garden's Gate is a monster of an album!
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u/No_Leg6935 Aug 02 '25
There’s some great new acts to check out. JD McPherson, McKinley James, GA-40
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u/EclecticSpirit1963 Aug 02 '25
Agreed, most don't even recognize early Fleetwood Mac as even being Fleetwood Mac. "Oh, Well", is a true classic.
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u/EclecticSpirit1963 Aug 02 '25
Can't go wrong with Canned Heat, should of been bigger but were nowhere as good looking band as Led.
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u/b_o_m Aug 02 '25
If you want that same vibe from someone current rather than 50 years ago, check out Glorious Sons, Des Rocs and The Band Feel.
A modern take on classic rock
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u/Suburban-Dad237 Aug 02 '25
Definitely give animals by Pink Floyd a listen-to. And if you liked Disraeli gears, you will probably like the rest of creams rather small discography. As well as the Blind faith album.
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u/Stllrckn-72 Aug 03 '25
Check out the Cream live in Detroit in 1967. There’s a double CD available: https://youtu.be/d5hyL_VPX2U?si=nzEY-6Y8USs6E9SN
Here’s The Who at Fillmore East in 1968: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJ51yXNWJSWzf2aqo__ZJ0HqZMiyD0dYU&si=-N1lyASWMr8fa1MT
Here’s some earlier Pink Floyd: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kAc6x90dz0ECmWwY3MSmuT1sHrL9p6bSI&si=46wPHE9BAMy_vqZ1
Here’s a prog band from back in the day. Van der Graf Generatot: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kOWdkl7AREpLB5vkYkhbv94GHycru9xHY&si=0gZrDtMLhzgF7KPx
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u/T2151270 Aug 03 '25
Bad Company, Black Crowes, and Queen. For something different... Yes, Rush, Blue Oyster Cult
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u/Sad-Consequence-2015 Aug 03 '25
The Temperance Movement
Hokie Joint
Spin Doctors album: if the river was whiskey
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u/Equivalent_Ferret900 Aug 03 '25
Farm by Farm
One of the most sought for records (thank god reissues exist)
It’s a hot album made of a few extremely good songs that all have a blues feel to them
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u/coydog33 Aug 03 '25
Late to the game, but check out JUNKYARD. Specifically their debut album of the same name.
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u/Friendly_Tap_2500 Aug 04 '25
Albert King
Freddie King
Jimi Hendrix
Howlin Wolf
Eddie9V
Rev. Payton and his big damn band
Warren Zevon
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u/Slacabormorinico Aug 04 '25
Check out Derek and the Dominoes live at the Fillmore. I listen to it almost once a week. The Bonnie and Delaney live with Clapton is also very good, I think the entire domino band is in that line up.
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u/Fab4Evuh Jul 31 '25
Early Fleetwood Mac!