7 Great Classic Rock Bands Without a Great Album

When it comes to classic rock, some bands just don’t get the attention they deserve. While they have talented members and some great songs, they never managed to release a truly standout album. Here’s a look at seven classic rock bands that fit that description.

Bubble Puppy

Bubble Puppy was formed in Texas in 1966. Rod Prince and Todd Potter handled lead guitar and vocal duties, joining forces with drummer David Fore and bassist Roy Cox. The band aimed to create a dual lead guitar powerhouse and succeeded in a way, inspiring other bands to adopt the same concept.

Their one-hit wonder, “Hot Smoke and Sassafras,” peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Top 100 in 1969. Despite this success, Bubble Puppy struggled to maintain momentum and eventually split in 1970. They briefly reunited under different names but never managed to reach the same level of fame.

Country Joe And The Fish

Country Joe McDonald is famous for his solo performance at Woodstock, where he led the crowd in a cheer as part of his anti-war anthem, “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-To-Die Rag.” The band was known for songs promoting drug use, free love, and anti-war themes, forming in 1965 in California’s San Francisco scene.

Despite their unique sound blending country, folk, rock, and blues, they never gained the widespread popularity of peers like Jefferson Airplane or Grateful Dead. Hits like “Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine” created a cult following, but frequent lineup changes led to their disbandment in 1970.

Kensington Market

Kensington Market was a Canadian band that made waves in the 1960s. With members like Luke Gibson on vocals and Eugene Martynec on keyboards, they became known for their live shows in Toronto. Despite their charisma on stage, the band members were quite introverted offstage.

Their 1968 album “Avenue Road” included the song “I Would Be the One,” which became a minor hit in Canada but failed to impress in the U.S. They released another album, “Aardvark” in 1969, but the band split the same year due to various issues, including personal hardships among members.

Big Star

Big Star, formed by Alex Chilton and Chris Bell, is one of those bands remembered more fondly today than they were in their active years. Chilton had earlier success with The Box Tops, but Big Star’s first album, “1 Record,” released in 1972, didn’t get widespread attention despite critical praise.

Songs like “Thirteen” and “In The Street” found later success through covers and TV themes, but the band struggled with their record label’s poor marketing. They disbanded in 1974, gaining a cult following only years later as other bands cited them as influential.

Spooky Tooth

Spooky Tooth was a British band that made waves with their album “Spooky Two” in 1969. Known for their unique twin keyboard sound, they included tracks like “Better by You, Better than Me,” later covered by Judas Priest. Despite their talent, they couldn’t break into the mainstream.

After their initial split in 1970, one of their members, Gary Wright, found solo success with his hit “Dream Weaver.” The band saw various reunions over the years but never had an album that catapulted them to fame. They remained appreciated mostly by rock music enthusiasts.

Humble Pie

Humble Pie was a supergroup formed in 1969, featuring Steve Marriott of Small Faces and Peter Frampton. They brought together blues, rock, and soul, and had some notable live performances. Despite the talent in the band, their studio albums never reached significant commercial success.

Their 1971 live album “Performance Rockin’ the Fillmore” highlighted their powerful stage presence but studio records didn’t sell well. Frequent lineup changes and internal tensions made it hard for Humble Pie to sustain long-term success, leading to their eventual breakup in the mid-1970s.

Moby Grape

Moby Grape was another band from the San Francisco scene, known for merging rock, blues, and psychedelic music. They formed in 1966 and had a promising start with their self-titled debut album in 1967, which received critical acclaim but faced poor promotion.

Their potential was undermined by counterproductive marketing strategies and legal issues, which led to the band’s early disintegration. Despite their strong musicianship and interesting songs, Moby Grape never managed to deliver a groundbreaking album, remaining a lesser-known name in rock history.