5 Glam Rock Records For Vinyl Fans

Too Much Too Soon, by the New York Dolls
The New York Dolls are arguably the poster children for glam, and their first album is hailed as both a glam rock classic and as a seedling of punk rock. However, their second album, Too Much Too Soon, saw the band improve on production and recording quality from their previous, self-titled album. Too Much Too Soon is not only a raw, lean album, it’s in many ways their best. “Babylon” and “Puss ‘N Boots” have that big, obvious rock ‘n’ roll swagger that even the Rolling Stones would envy, and guitarist Johnny Thunders performs lead vocals on “Chatterbox,” signaling his later solo career. Their cover of the Cadets’ “Stranded in the Jungle” is really fun, too.

When Slade Rocked the World, by Slade
A favorite of British rockers and Dr. Who fans alike, Slade was a legitimate phenomenon in the UK, selling more singles than any other British group in the 1970s. They were also the first British band to have three singles start at number one. This box set includes four of the band’s best records (Slade Alive!, Slayed?, Old New Borrowed And Blue, and Slade In Flame) and sheds some light (especially for American fans who may have never heard of them) on why they were so popular. Not only was their music unpretentious and punchy, with great riffs and Noddy Holder’s double-barrel vocals, but the band didn’t take themselves too seriously, either. This one’s a must-own.

Roxy Music, by Roxy Music
Specializing in the artier side of glam, Roxy Music’s self-titled debut finally brought the sexy and nerdy sides of rock music, and specifically glam rock, together. The band made their eclectic tastes known immediately with this album, from the piano intro and wild saxophone bleats in “Re-Make/Re-mode” to the moonlike synth effects in “Ladytron.” Every song is laced with musical inside jokes and self-effacing lyrics, making the band’s music as stylish as their dandy aesthetics. If nothing else, Roxy Music reminds us we don’t have to be lunkheads in tight pants to enjoy rock ‘n’ roll. There’s room for intellectuals to have a good time with it, too.

Strung Up, by Sweet
Sweet, best known for the song “Ballroom Blitz,” is a band that gets underestimated a lot. Their early chart success is credited almost entirely to their songwriters, and their decline is blamed on the band simply not having the goods. The live recordings on Strung Up should put the latter notion to rest for good; however fast Sweet’s fall from grace may have been, they were a killer live act. The guitar has plenty of guts and the rhythm section is probably the meatiest you’ll hear in glam rock, especially on tracks like “Done Me Wrong All Right.” And as good as that is, “Burning/Someone Else Will” is even better, performed with a growling, undeniable sexual charm.

16 and Savaged, by Silverhead
Silverhead doesn’t get much press these days, and when they do, it’s usually to point out that singer Michael Des Barres also played the Murdoc character on MacGuyver. However, they were a really solid glam band who released two albums, 16 and Savaged being their second. What makes this album so great is guitarist Robbie Blunt, who would go on to work with Robert Plant. Blunt’s riffs are the centerpiece of the band’s lean, tight approach to glam, and they compliment Des Barres’ sleazy-Rod-Stewart voice perfectly. The two best tracks on this record are the opener, “Hello New York,” and the explosive “Bright Light,” which builds into a chaotic rager that sounds almost Zeppelin-esque.