[1970s] Classic and hit songs of Japanese rock that blazed through the dawn era
When it comes to the era that laid the foundation for Japanese rock music, isn’t it the 1970s? The musicians and bands that emerged during this time had a tremendous impact on later Japanese rock.
Here, we introduce supreme masterpieces that colored the 1970s.
From famous bands everyone knows to musicians known only to the initiated, we’ve picked a wide range—so please find the tracks that suit you.
Now, please sit back and enjoy!
- [1970s] Collection of Japanese hit songs. Nostalgic masterpieces of Japan
- Dawn of Japanese Rock: A Collection of Debut Songs by 1970s Japanese Rock Bands
- Nostalgic yet fresh!? Classic masterpieces of Japanese rock from the 1970s and 1980s
- A collection of nostalgic hit songs and classics from the 70s
- Legendary Japanese rock masterpieces and hit songs of the 1960s
- Nostalgic Japanese hit songs from the 1970s: the golden age of idols and kayōkyoku (Japanese pop songs)
- The 1970s were the golden age of Western rock! Recommended classics and hit songs
- Debut songs by Japanese male artists from the 1970s
- Heart-touching, tear-jerking masterpieces from the Showa era
- [Classic Hits of the 70s] A Compilation of Western Songs Used in Commercials
- A roundup of debut songs by Japanese female artists from the 1970s
- Cool band: A rock band that represents Japan
- So nostalgic it feels new? Showa retro classics that colored Japan’s period of rapid economic growth
[1970s] Masterpieces and Hit Songs of Japanese Rock That Raced Through the Dawn Era (31–40)
Hell’s AngelsLAZY
In the 1970s, idol bands were all the rage.
However, because they were “idols,” there was a prevailing notion that they lacked real ability.
Amid that era, there was one idol band people said was different: Lazy.
The band’s vocalist was Hironobu Kageyama, a singer synonymous with anime songs who is now active worldwide as a member of JAM Project.
Their track Hell’s Angel lets you fully experience his overwhelming vocal prowess; it’s one of Lazy’s harder numbers, so if you want to check out a truly skilled idol band, this is a must-listen!
It’s the person we met at the museum, right?P-MODEL
P-MODEL is a band still beloved by many enthusiasts for its inventive progressive sound.
The band featured Susumu Hirasawa, the king of modern progressive music.
While their prime activity spanned the 1980s to the 2000s, their actual debut dates back to the 1970s.
Their song “Are You the One Who Was at the Art Museum?” served as the breakthrough that brought P-MODEL wider recognition.
Their uniquely original sound—unheard of in Japanese rock at the time—continues to command a powerful presence even today, amid an increasingly diverse musical landscape.
triggertsuisuto
Twist is a band that could fairly be said to have built Japanese hard rock.
It’s Masanori Sera’s band.
Twist was hugely active from the late 1970s into the 1980s.
While their appeal certainly lay in their musicality, what was most striking was Masanori Sera’s overwhelming vocal power.
Perhaps because he listened deeply to Black music, his singing was on a completely different level from other bands’ vocalists.
Gun no Tsumoto (Jūmonji) is one of Twist’s signature songs—a hard rock number still widely used across many media today.
Ramblin’ Ridermentanpin
They were a band known as the Japanese Grateful Dead.
Their lineup—unusual for the time—featured twin drums, twin lead guitars, plus vocals and bass.
Ramblin’ Rider is one of Mentanpin’s early singles; its exhilarating, fast-paced performance still feels fresh today and delivers a truly invigorating rush.
It is included as a bonus track on the 2014 reissue of the album “MENTANPIN SECOND +1.”
Yoko of the Port, Yokohama, YokosukaDOWN TOWN BOOGIE WOOGIE BAND
It was the band that featured Ryudo Uzaki, who later went on to great success as a composer.
The band’s name was reportedly coined by Uzaki as a deliberately long name to rival the Sadistic Mika Band.
“Minato no Yoko, Yokohama, Yokosuka” was their fourth single, released in 1975.
It became a million-seller and was famous enough to earn them their first appearance on that year’s Kohaku Uta Gassen.
In fact, it originally started out as the B-side.