Top Ten... Alternative 70s

Continuing our new (mini) series of Top Tens, we're looking over the alternative classic of the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s. So, what do we mean by alternative? Well, alternative, for the purposes of these entries, means anything that is critically derided, overlooked by the public or just generally under-rated. Ultimately, though, it all comes down to how we argue it, so if you disagree, let us know!

FILMS - By The Writer

1. Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)
One of the few remakes to rival the original, Werner Herzog's haunting 1979 interpretation of Nosferatu ranks as one of the great director's classics. Herzog takes the vampire mythos back to Bram Stoker's 19th century, creating a haunting, almost otherworldly, atmosphere out of the gothic architecture of Germany and Transylvania. Regular star Klaus Kinski puts in one of his most magnetic performances and although Herzog made it simply to pay homage to the original (which he considers the finest German movie ever made), it stands on its own as a tribute to what a truly great director can create, even when working from someone else's film.

2. Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)
The 1970s saw the rise of American greats such as Coppola, Scorsese and Spielberg, but it also witnessed the first films from Peter Wier. Now best known for his work in Hollywood (Truman Show, Master and Commander) the Australian director made his name with this small-scale tale of three Aussie schoolgirls who disappear on a field-trip to the titular beauty spot. The film is an adaptation of Joan Lindsay's novel of the same name which, for a long time, was considered to be based on a true story. Of course, it isn‘t, but watching the haunting realism of Weir's film, you'll believe it is.

3. Network (1976)
Although well-regarded by film critics, Network is surprisingly overlooked by the general public considering how prescient it is. Telling the story of a news anchorman who becomes a ratings sensation after threatening to kill himself live on air, the film investigates and condemns the soulless TV executives who’ll do anything and exploit anyone to get the gullible public to tune into their channel. You get the feeling Simon Cowell is not a fan…

4. The Conversation (1974)
Made between Godfathers 1 and 2, Francis Ford Coppola's taut, paranoid thriller stars Gene Hackman as a surveillance expert who finds himself dragged into a deadly game of cat and mouse when he discovers a couple he is spying on may be about to be murdered. Sound familiar? It should, because The Conversation is basically Blow Up with sound instead of photos. But Coppola's direction, Hackman's tetchy performance and Walter Murch's revolutionary sound design make this film an overlooked and surprisingly original classic which perfectly reflects the post-Watergate paranoia of its time.

5. Logan's Run (1976)
Thanks to Star Wars, the 70s was packed with dodgy, cash-in sci-fi films. Logan's Run, however, is not one of them. Sure it's light and fluffy considering it depicts a dystopian society in which you're shot when you hit the age of thirty, but there's a sense of intelligent fun to it that so many sci-fis lacked at the time. Michael York makes for a cracking leading man, Jenny Agutter gets some entirely gratuitous nudity and the sets look superb, despite being very, very 70s.

6. The Hills Have Eyes (1977)
If you've only seen the fun but dumb remake of The Hills Have Eyes, rent this original. Though lacking the brutal terror of Last House on the Left and mainstream appeal of Nightmare on Elm Street, Wes Craven's sophomore effort is probably his most accomplished film to date, merging, as it does, the social concerns many horror films at the time investigated with genuine white knuckle fear that the remake simply couldn't touch.

7. Suspiria (1977)
Italian director Dario Argento has always been one of world cinema's most edgy horror directors, but this brutal tale of a young woman who discovers the ballet academy she is studying at is actually run by witches pushes him so close to maverick madman territory you wonder how it ever got made. The answer, of course, is that it's bloody scary, with Argento generating a bizarre sense of creeping fear through his use of colour, score (Goblin's soundtrack is the best any horror film has ever boasted) and good old fashioned scares - the one at the window at the start is a doozy.

8. Barry Lyndon (1975)
I can't say I particularly love Barry Lyndon. It's the only Kubrick film I struggle to sit through and I’ve only seen the whole thing in stages, rather than in one long go. Most people agree, feeling the film is too stately and slow to really grip. However, if Clockwork Orange showcased Kubrick the social critic and 2001 was Kubrick as philosopher, this is Kubrick the artisan as the late, great director crafts some of the most gorgeously shot and beautifully lit period scenes ever committed to celluloid.

9. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
Like the titular monsters, Invasion of the Body Snatchers is one of those films that just won’t go away. Already remade in 1993 as Body Snatchers and set for another reboot this year under the name The Invasion (I eagerly await the next film, ‘Of The’), the first attempt to modernise Don Siegel’s 1955 B-Movie classic was helmed by Right Stuff director Phillip Kaufman. Being made in the late 70s, it reflects the paranoia and general mistrust of the time perfectly and handed a first big role to Jeff Goldblum. For that alone it deserves legendary status.

10. King Kong (1976)
Yes, of course, the 1976 remake of King Kong is terrible. Jeff Bridges and Jessica Lange look hopelessly out of their depth, the attempt to update the classic story simply shows how silly the idea of a giant ape is and Kong himself, well, best leave poor Kong alone. But there's still something stupidly entertaining about the 76 remake. It’s like watching a primary school child’s interpretation of a great Shakespeare play and, although I know it‘s wrong, I just can’t help but be charmed by it every time I watch it.

ALBUMS - By The Editor

1. Dennis Wilson - Pacific Ocean Blue (1977)
Dennis was the great enigma of the Beach Boys and of the Wilson brothers. The only one in the group who was actually a surfer, he only became their drummer because Mrs Wilson made Brian and Carl include him. Often more interested in the partying and girls than the music, he still went on to be one of the most talented songwriters in the group. Pacific Ocean Blue was his only solo album and lives up to all the promise of the songs he wrote for the band in the 70s. It sounds nothing like the Beach Boys and is all the better for it.

2. Gene Clark - No Other (1974)
David Crosby and Gram Parsons may be two better known former Byrds, but Gene Clark still produced one of the best albums of any of them. Unfortuately, when No Other was released in 1974, its baroque-pop stylings and rather pretentious-sounding lyrics were pretty much laughed at, and hardly anyone bought it. More than 30 years on, we can see that they were all missing out on not just one of the most underrated albums of the 70s, but also one of the best.

3. Lou Reed - Lou Reed (1972)
An example of an album that is not only underrated by the critics and fans, but also by the artist themselves. At a time when the Velvet Underground were starting to achieve some fame after they had split, there was plenty of interest in Lou Reed's solo career. He seemed to be a little unsure of himself at this stage and ended up re-recording some forgotten VU tracks and the end result was largely ignored by critics and fans, with Transformer arriving later in the year to proper launch Reed upon the world. However, his debut is still very enjoyable.

4. George Harrison - George Harrison (1979)
By the late 70s, Harrison's patchy solo career was already drifting into obscurity and this excellent self-titled release was 'just another George Harrison album', overshadowed by the impending return to the limelight of John Lennon and the commercial successes of Paul McCartney and Wings. However, with great tracks like Love Comes To Everyone, Blow Away, Faster and the beautiful Your Love Is Forever, this is a real underrated masterpiece from the former Beatle.

5. Steve Cropper - With A Little Help From My Friends (1971)
Steve Cropper was a member of Booker T And The MGs and played guitar on some of the greatest hits by Stax superstars like Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett and Sam & Dave. In 1971 he finally got the chance for some solo action of his own, and despite the hints from the title that there might be some famous names providing vocals for him, it's his guitar that shines through in a load of excellent instrumental soul tracks.

6. Betty Davis - Betty Davis (1973)
She married Miles Davis and had alleged 'liaisons' with Jimi Hendrix, so it was no surprise that Betty Davis had a few tricks of her own when it came to music. Hard-edged funk was the name of the day on her solo release, with the lyrics focusing on sex and sleaze and just having a good time (all of which was a bit much even for her wild husband) and with a great rhythm section backing her up, it's a shame she didn't get the chance to really grow and live up to the promise of this album.

7. Kiss - Ace Frehley (1978)
In 1978, Kiss came up with the idea of expanding upon their individual characters by allowing each member to release a 'solo' album under the general Kiss brand. All on the same day. Of the four records, Ace Frehley provided the best, even though he didn't push the envelope quite as much as Gene Simmons or Peter Criss when it came to moving away from the kind of music Kiss were making at the time. He was always the coolest member of the band and songs like Rip It Out and Snow Blind just demonstrate why he should have been given more chances to shine by the two leaders of the group.

8. Frank Sinatra - Trilogy (1979)
Having released some of the best albums of the 50s and 60s, Sinatra hardly released anything at all in the 70s, spending most of his time performing instead. So when he returned with a three-record set called Past - Present - Future, eyebrows were raised. It provided him with one of his signature tunes, New York New York, and the Past and Present sections are very easy for fans to enjoy. What makes it interesting though is the Future, where he does sci-fi, singing songs by Gordon Jenkins all about space travel. It's madness, but it works. Not that you'll many people who agree.

9. Frank Zappa - Joe's Garage (1979)
Another lengthy album, Joe's Garage is one of the best examples of Zappa's mixture of cautionary tales of groupies and government censorship with his wacky toilet humour. At times it can go off the rails and the sheer length of it can be off-putting, but it's one of Zappa's best and most cohesive albums and the narration by the Big Brother-esque Central Scruntiniser is hilarious.

10. Bunny Wailer - Blackheart Man (1976)
Never as renowned as either of the other two original Wailers (Bob Marley and Peter Tosh), Bunny Livingstone was arguably just as talented and while his solo debut remains a critical rather than commercial triumph, he has at least gone on to become one of roots reggae's elder statesman purely by outliving the other two. Closing track This Train is one of the best songs of the genre ever and there's no weak tracks here.