A classic hard rock masterpiece. A must-listen recommended album.

Parisienne WalkwaysGary Moore

Gary Moore – Parisienne Walkways – Live HD

Gary Moore, the legendary guitarist from Ireland.

Active as a professional guitarist since his teens in the 1960s, he played in bands that made their mark on rock history, such as Thin Lizzy and Colosseum II, and is highly respected by many musicians as a true guitar hero—enjoying great popularity here in Japan as well.

In 1978, Moore released Back on the Streets, his first album under his solo name.

The classic Parisienne Walkways, co-written with Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott and later one of his signature instrumental numbers in live performances, is incredibly famous.

That soul-stirring, crying guitar tone is quintessential Moore.

From hard-hitting tracks showcasing technical, loud playing to sounds steeped in roots like jazz and blues, it’s an outstanding album you can fully savor.

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Look at YourselfUriah Heep

Uriah Heep – Look At Yourself

Uriah Heep is a long-established British hard rock band that adopted its current name in 1969 after its predecessor and continues to perform even now in the 2020s.

They are a band that epitomized the heyday of hard rock in the 1970s, and their beautiful harmonies achieved through skillful choral work and their sound, which puts the Hammond organ front and center, have earned them great popularity here in Japan as well.

Their early landmark Look at Yourself, released in 1971 as their third album, was given the Japanese title Taijikaku, a term with a somewhat esoteric ring.

It’s a superb record that, while rooted in quintessentially British wet, wistful lyricism, dazzling twin leads, and progressive song structures, also possesses a distinctiveness that reflects the influence of American rock.

It’s a sound tailor-made for Japanese tastes, packed to the brim with the stylistic beauty of 1970s hard rock, freely shifting between quiet and explosive dynamics!

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Doctor DoctorUFO

UFO – Doctor, Doctor (early live Schenker)

It’s written “UFO” and read “Yū-Ef-Ō.” They are one of the quintessential British hard rock bands that peaked in the ’70s, also famous for having the prodigy Michael Schenker—known for his trademark Flying V, which he played with dynamic flair—in their lineup.

Formed in 1969 around vocalist Phil Mogg, they brought in the German guitarist Schenker in 1973—then a member of Scorpions and still in his teens—and released the highly acclaimed classic Phenomenon in 1974.

Beginning with exemplary British hard rock staples like Doctor Doctor and Rock Bottom, Schenker’s passionate guitar tears across the record—at times hard, at times melodic—letting you fully revel in a hard rock sound imbued with distinctly British melancholy.

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Ace Of SpadesMotörhead

Motörhead – Ace Of Spades (Official Video)

Motörhead is a band that puts smiles not only on fans of hard rock and heavy metal, but also on those who love punk and hardcore.

Since their formation in 1975 until the passing of their charismatic frontman Lemmy Kilmister in 2015, they blasted out fast, hard, runaway rock ’n’ roll at full volume for four decades, earning outspoken admirers from musicians across genres.

While their musical style remained fundamentally consistent, the first album to pick up should be the 1980 masterpiece Ace of Spades.

It’s no exaggeration to say it contains everything about the band’s hard-edged sound; faced with the runaway rock ’n’ roll unleashed by their trio’s stripped-down ensemble, any fussy theorizing just melts away.

Try their wall-of-sound approach—distinct from the more “orthodox” brand of hard rock—and crank it up!

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The Boys Are Back In TownTHIN LIZZY

Thin Lizzy – The Boys Are Back In Town (Official Music Video)

Centered around Phil Lynott, who stood at the front as bassist and vocalist, Thin Lizzy’s hard rock sound—marked by melancholy twin leads from two Les Pauls and tight yet supple drumming—looked and sounded incredibly cool.

Ireland’s pride on the world stage, Thin Lizzy initially pursued an experimental sound that fused traditional Irish music with rock, but later shifted to the lineup mentioned above and joined the ranks of popular bands.

Their landmark album Jailbreak, released in 1976 as their sixth record, is well known in Japan under the title “Datsugoku” (Escape).

It’s a classic packed with fan favorites that scored single hits, starting with the immensely famous and catchy The Boys Are Back in Town, whose flowing twin-lead riff is iconic.

The album captures the band’s momentum and individuality at their peak in pure sonic form.

It’s also highly recommended for hard rock beginners, with plenty of catchy, pop-leaning melodies that are easy to enjoy.

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(Don’t Fear) The ReaperBlue Oyster Cult

Blue Oyster Cult – (Don’t Fear) The Reaper (Official Audio)

Many of you are probably familiar with the song “Godzilla,” which baseball player Hideki Matsui used as his walk-up music around 2003 when he joined the New York Yankees.

The track was created by Blue Öyster Cult, a hard rock band from the United States.

They formed the precursor to the band in New York in 1967 and made their full-fledged debut in 1972.

While they may not be widely known to the general public, they are a monumental presence that has had an enormous influence on later artists and bands.

Their 1976 album Agents of Fortune, which earned a Gold record, is one that can be called a signature work.

It features their biggest hit, the melodic “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper,” as well as rock ’n’ roll numbers like “True Confessions,” showcasing music that is far from being just hard rock; every track boasts high quality.

At the same time, the album’s distinctive character is marked by an occult-tinged madness that shimmers throughout.

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Are You ReadyGrand Funk Railroad

Are You Ready (Remastered 2002)

With its continental, crisp production, straightforward song structures, and a sound built around catchy melodies and riffs, it’s no exaggeration to say they helped lay the very foundation of American hard rock.

Formed in 1969, Grand Funk Railroad earned high praise for their outstanding live performances right from their debut and racked up numerous hit singles.

They boldly took on covers of oldies classics, and their unapologetically pop-leaning, straight-ahead musicality—combined with the superb musicianship that was said to have outshone even Led Zeppelin—made their live shows spectacular, winning them huge popularity not only in the U.S.

but also here in Japan.

The aptly titled Live Album, often cited as one of their signature works despite being a live recording, is a disc where you can fully savor their early, rough-and-ready style as a three-piece.

The unique chemistry of a trio packs in all the coolness and fun of ’70s hard rock.

By all means, crank it as loud as you can!

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