The Big Three of pre-'80s Hard Rock / Heavy Metal

Edited by David_D - January 11 2025 at 15:22

The same, with Uriah Heep making it a Big 4, and possibly Jethro Tull, who were voted the best Heavy Metal band - beating Metallica - at the Grammy Awards. 

David_D wrote: Cristi wrote: what about making it Big 4 and have Uriah Heep in here as well?  no thanks

David_D wrote: Cristi wrote: because Uriah Heep is not a relevant band for early heavy music, or why?  quality over quantity

Rush
Deep Purple
Aerosmith

I think BS, DP and LZ is a very fair big three, especially for the Prog Related lounge in which this topic resides -- it's the same three of which I would have thought of first. As a general classic "proggy" band list with at least three albums I like considerably, then I would include Atomic Rooster (but I would not expect it). I'm not that into Deep Purple generally, but do like the 60s stuff (even if a little too much covering imo, though I like those). With the oft called masterpiece Child in Time, I way prefer the earlier It's a Beautiful Day's Bombay Calling and the Vince Wallace renditions.

I'm choosing my favourite albums from the three regardless of if they are the best examples of hard rock/ heavy metal from the bands (to be more insightful and relevant is way above my pay grade), and I'm not doing lives, otherwise The Song Remains the Same would be listed.

With Black Sabbath my preferences tend to be chronological:
- Black Sabbath
- Paranoid
- Master of Reality

Deep Purple is aboiut the 60s for me
- Deep Purple
- Shades of Deep Purple
- The Book of Taliesyn

With Led Zeppelin, I love so much but Houses and Physical Graf to me are most loved. While in Through the Out Door often gets rated low, I love it, especially for "Carouselambra". In the words of Willie Dixon, and later sung by Jim Morrison, I guess I'm a Back Door Man, at least when it comes to some albums. I don't rate the fourth as highly as a great many, although I adore "Four Sticks", and like all of the B side really very much. "Rock and Roll" especially lowers the value of that album for me.

- Houses of the Holy
- Physical Graffiti
- In Through the Out Door
- II
- I
- III

- IV
- Presence

Atomic Rooster or Budgie would have been my next ones on the list after those 3.

David_D wrote: Cristi wrote: what about making it Big 4 and have Uriah Heep in here as well?  Anyway, if it should be Big Four, I would consider The Who as the best candidate.

Grumpyprogfan wrote: Rush Deep Purple Aerosmith

Edited by David_D - May 11 2023 at 11:09