1975 Hit Ranked 'Most Underrated '70s Rock Song' Still Deserves More Attention

"Green Grass and High Tides" by The Outlaws has been ranked the most "underrated '70s rock song" according to a ranking compiled by TheTopTens.

While the song remains one of The Outlaws' biggest hits, it rarely gets the attention it deserves for its contributions to '70s rock. It was never released as a single, but merely as the closing track on the 1975 album Outlaws.

'Green Grass and High Tides' Is A Heavy, 10-Minute Rock Song

Lengthy, guitar-driven rock ballads were at a premium in the 1970s, with songs like "Free Bird", "Layla", and more essentially cornering the market of this particular subgenre. The Outlaws' addition to the trend may not be as high-profile as those examples, but it's just as impressive and propulsive.

The song has two extended guitar solos that drive the song forward—one in the beginning and one that carries the song to a thrilling climax towards the end. Meanwhile, frontman Hughie Thomasson delivers strong, powerful vocals that discuss the history of the rock genre and its legacy over music as a whole.

Thomasson is reported to have once said: "I wrote that song in St. Augustine, Florida. We went to a cookout on the beach and everybody forgot to bring their guitars. I was standing by the ocean and there was a breeze and the words kept coming to me. It’s about all the rock stars I liked that died had come back and were playing a show just for me. Like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jim Morrison. And eventually more of course."

The song's title was reportedly taken from the 1966 Rolling Stones compliation album "Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass)", though Thomasson never explained the relevance of this album over The Outlaws' song.

The song remained The Outlaws' biggest hit throughout their career, serving as their set closer whenever they performed live. The band gained particular attention for their 20+ minute cover of the song, which can be found on the live album Bring It Back Alive.