Television formed in 1973. The original lineup consisted of Tom Verlaine, Billy Ficca, Richard Lloyd, and Richard Hell; Hell would part ways with the band (he formed the Heatbreakers w/ ex-New York Dolls member John Thunders, and later Richard Hell and the Voidoids), and Fred Smith took over as the group's bassist. Marquee Moon, Television's debut album, came in 1977, and it was a critical smash with a dedicated cult following even to this day. Despite close associations w/ the punk scene, Television was not a typical punk act. Verlaine and co. were influenced by avant-garde jazz and garage rock, and their sound was cleaner and more technically proficient than the raw, three-chord spurts that defined some of the other iconic groups. Check the 10-plus minute-long title track, w/ a slithering guitar solo from Verlaine, Fred Smith's fearsome bass work, and Ficca's clattering toms. Other highlights include "Elevation," "Venus," and "See No Evil," you can hear how the album ushered in post-punk and helped shape alternative rock, and why bands like R.E.M., Joy Division, Sonic Youth, U2, Echo & the Bunnymen, and the Strokes have referred to the group as a huge influence.
