The allure of 70s glam rock! A host of masterpieces that colored a dazzling chapter of music history

Search and DestroyIggy & The Stooges

Iggy & The Stooges – Search And Destroy (Bowie Mix) (Audio)

This is a track by the American band Iggy and the Stooges, often hailed as the godfathers of protopunk.

Released as a single in June 1973, it was also included on the landmark album Raw Power, mixed by glam rock icon David Bowie.

The song voices the feelings of a young person who thinks society has abandoned them, calling themselves a “cheetah walking down the street,” torn between destructive impulses and a hunger for recognition.

Its machine-gun-like guitar riff and feral vocals radiate a raw energy that stands apart from glittering glam rock.

It was memorably used in Wes Anderson’s film The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.

When you feel the urge to tear everything down, why not surrender yourself to this roaring wall of sound?

Cum On Feel The NoizeSlade

Slade – Cum On Feel The Noize • TopPop

You’ve probably heard its dynamic riff and unforgettable chorus somewhere! Slade, a powerhouse band that rose to popularity with a style between glam rock and hard rock, delivered one of the genre’s indispensable classics with their signature anthem “Cum On Feel The Noize.” As evidenced by Quiet Riot’s later cover becoming a massive hit, the song combines both an aggressive edge beloved by metal bands and a glamorous vibe—how cool is that? The lyrics and music were written by Slade’s vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea.

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This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us (This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us)Sparks

Sparks – This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both Of Us (Official Video)

50th anniversary! I was surprised to hear that Sparks just held concerts in Japan.

The handsome Russell Mael and the mustachioed Ron Mael—the visually mismatched Mael brothers—released the 1974 album Kimono My House, whose cover photo of a woman in a kimono with eccentric makeup and a loosely tied obi still leaves a strong impression today.

This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us was a hit that climbed to No.

2 on the UK charts.

It’s still thoroughly enjoyable to listen to now.

Third UncleBrian Eno

Third Uncle (Remastered 2004)

Brian Eno, hailing from England and also known for his work with Roxy Music.

This track, included on the classic album Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) released in November 1974, was a forerunner of proto-punk.

Its obsessively repeated bassline and knife-sharp guitar gradually set the listener’s nerves on edge.

In a cold, affectless voice, he reels off a strange scene where canned goods, pork, and “you” are placed on the same level.

Perhaps it depicts the self disintegrating beneath the glamorous mask of glam rock.

The fact that Bauhaus, titans of gothic rock, later covered it speaks to its considerable influence.

How about this as a companion for a night when you want to sink into the intelligent, cool madness lurking behind a glittering era?

Benny and the JetsElton John

Elton John – Bennie And The Jets (Official Music Video)

Opening with audience cheers and a striking piano riff, this track appears to be influenced by the glam rock boom and was crafted by the legendary British musician Elton John.

Included on the classic 1973 album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and released as a single in February 1974, it soared to No.

1 on the U.S.

charts.

The song depicts a fervor for a futuristic, sci-fi-style fictional band.

You can practically picture their stage show—dazzling costumes and performances that captivate the crowd.

Its live-like immediacy, despite being a studio recording, transports you to the glittering world of the 1970s.

Why not give it a listen on a night when you want to forget the everyday and lose yourself in a sparkling spectacle?