Name Your Underappreciated Recordings

WJGreer · #1 12-27-2008, 10:00 AM

What are your "favorite" recordings that, for whatever reason, didn't catch on for an artist who was otherwise well known?

I'll start us off:

Living Colour, Time's Up. This record was, IMO, musically and artistically fabulous. Excellent playing by everyone, and the songs were all a little different and many very compelling. It was not nearly as successful as "Vivid", which came before it, and Living Colour was never the same after.

Mr. Mister, Go On. Their previous CD, "Welcome to the Real World" had three or four top ten hits on it. "Go On" was an abject failure. Ironically, it was 10 times the record that "Real World" was. Still one of my favorite CDs ever, despite the somewhat dated sounding production.

Billy Idol, Charmed Life. This one may have sold fairly well in its day, but I don't think it ever got the credit it deserved as a musician's album. Check out the players in the liner notes - Jimmy Johnson, Randy Jackson, Nathan East, and others - just on bass! Also an awesome mix from beginning to end.

Others?

The Mock Turtle Regulator · #2 12-27-2008, 11:23 AM

The Cult - Beyond good and evil. criminally underpromoted by Atlantic due to the usual story of A&R personnel changes leaving the label uninterested in a project.
the first I knew of its release was seeing it on sale in an independent shop on oxford street.
Chris Wyse & Martyn Lenoble on bass, Matt Sorum on drums.
favourite songs; Rise, Nico, True Believers, My bridges burn.
personally I reckon it blows away anything QOTSA (to name a unit-shifting heavy guitar rock act at the same time) have ever done.

Psychedelic Furs - World Outside

I borrowed this on cassette from my local library on a whim, and "In my head" floored me- it sounds like the sequel to "Heaven".
it probably came along at the wrong time- 1991 when grunge and indie were prevalent, and 80's style synth-goth(ish)-rock was very much out of fashion- give it 15 years though and it would have fitted in fine alongside the Killers & co.

Tears For Fears- Everybody loves a happy ending

a brilliantly-written and produced Beatles-psychedelia-inspired album.
Curt Smith plays some great Macca-style basslines.
this suffered from lack of airplay pretty much everywhere.

WJGreer · #3 12-27-2008, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Tears For Fears- Everybody loves a happy ending

a brilliantly-written and produced Beatles-psychedelia-inspired album.
Curt Smith plays some great Macca-style basslines.
this suffered from lack of airplay pretty much everywhere.
suffered from

It's good? I am a big Orzabal fan and have been wondering about that one. I agree, totally underpromoted.

gweimer · #4 12-27-2008, 03:03 PM

Sharks - First Water. I know it was pretty well received in the UK, but over here, most people never heard of it. Some great lyric lines out of Andy Fraser in this post-Free venture with guitar wizard, Chris Spedding.

jerry · #5 12-27-2008, 04:43 PM

+1, on Times Up, Muzz Skillings killed on that album. I got my new/used copy from a radio station with a memo attached from the program director saying "don't ever put this crap on the air", sad!!!!!!!
I also thought the third CD 'Stain' was great album! It's very sad to me that they never seemed to get the audience they deserved. I have theories, but I won't bore people here with them.

+1 on Sharks too.
I have a lot of underappreciated favorites but I'll add 'Kiko' by Los Lobos, a great album by one of the best rock bands out there.

gweimer · #6 12-29-2008, 12:34 PM

Quote:

I have a lot of underappreciated favorites but I'll add 'Kiko' by Los Lobos, a great album by one of the best rock bands out there.

+1 Great album!

I'll add another old favorite - Hughes/Thrall

The Look in Your Eyes

Pete skjold · #7 12-29-2008, 12:40 PM

Anything that Joni Mitchell did with Jaco . Some of the most original bass playing Joco ever did . I still run into absolute Jaco-files that haven't heard that stuff !!

Pete

chrism2sych · #8 12-29-2008, 12:45 PM

Any of the N*E*R*D* albums are IMO very underated I believe the band playing for the guys was called spymob and the fly or die cd again IMO is just ridiculous as far as live music/hip hop goes anyways.........

Waspinators · #9 12-29-2008, 01:01 PM

Metallica - St. Anger: I honestly don't understand what makes people disown this album so much. It's nowhere near their '80s material, sure, but it's a fine album in its own right. After you've given it a couple listens, the songs seem the perfect length. Also, the heavy riffs and trashy drum sound add to the raw feel they tried to capture.

Pantera - Power Metal: This, along with Cowboys From Hell is what I think of when I hear Pantera's name. Fast, speed-metal riffs and soaring vocals from Phil make me wonder why Pantera ignores this release (maybe the cover?).

The Who - The Who Sell Out: In my opinion, The Who's finest hour. Every song is amazing in its own right, and made even better when linked together by the fake commercials and bumpers. Even the album cover is a work of art. Who's Next and Tommy are great albums, but nowhere near this one if you ask me.

wingnut · #10 12-29-2008, 01:13 PM

The Arc Angels- Just like anything else that's worth a $hit, it didn't get ANY airtime here in Vegas! I'm sure the guys were just as amazed as I was... Great crew, Charlie Sexton, Doyle Bramhall II, Chris Layton, Tommy Shannon. I think they should give it another try...

WJGreer · #11 12-29-2008, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wingnut

The Arc Angels- Just like anything else that's worth a $hit, it didn't get ANY airtime here in Vegas! I'm sure the guys were just as amazed as I was... Great crew, Charlie Sexton, Doyle Bramhall II, Chris Layton, Tommy Shannon. I think they should give it another try...

Yeah, that one did well in Austin, as you might imagine, but I am not surprised to hear it didn't catch on elsewhere.

TL5 · #12 12-29-2008, 02:27 PM

The Producers

debut

and You Make the Heat

New Wave, Beatlesque.. great harmony clever hooks..
I still listen to these on a regular basis. I saw them live this past summer, they were as good as ever.

EDIT TO ADD: I'll second the Mr Mister selection. (Something Real just played on my iPod..)

Mr-Wunderful · #13 12-29-2008, 02:36 PM

The Fabulous Poodles "Mirror Stars"
Produced by the OX bass playing sounds very Who like. Overall good songs.

jerry · #14 12-29-2008, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wingnut

The Arc Angels- Just like anything else that's worth a $hit, it didn't get ANY airtime here in Vegas! I'm sure the guys were just as amazed as I was... Great crew, Charlie Sexton, Doyle Bramhall II, Chris Layton, Tommy Shannon. I think they should give it another try...

Great album! I love all of Doyle's solo albums too, he combined blues with more progressive songwriting but they never sold and I don't even know if they are in print any longer. A major talent, and I was stoked when Clapton picked him up for his band.

TFunkadelic · #15 12-29-2008, 03:56 PM

Flood - Herbie Hancock & The Headhunters

gweimer · #16 12-29-2008, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WJGreer

Yeah, that one did well in Austin, as you might imagine, but I am not surprised to hear it didn't catch on elsewhere.

Although I don't have the record, an old band of mine did "Shape I'm In", which is very cool.

TL5 · #17 12-30-2008, 07:56 AM

OK here's one to ponder

Rick Springfield, Shock Denial Anger Acceptance.

It only hints at the 80s in spots, as in a tip-of-the-hat kinda' way.
This album is very good both musically and especially lyrically.
This is on my all time favorites list - no disclaimers, just a great album.

Baryonyx · #18 12-30-2008, 08:43 AM

Stuart Hamm-Outbound

A very "song-y" album from Stuart Hamm. I love all of his stuff (with Kings of Sleep being my favourite) but I really think this record is pretty overlooked.

It's got character, pacing, great songs, everything! It does sound a little dated in places (already) and some of the beats are a bit "turn of the millenium", but Stuart's playing and his writing stands up and something truely special!

Hoover · #19 12-30-2008, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WJGreer

What are your "favorite" recordings that, for whatever reason, didn't catch on for an artist who was otherwise well known?

Ah, that is an important caveat... otherwise my entire CD collection would count!

Okay, first thing that comes to mind is Thomas Dolby's Aliens Ate My Buick. Remarkably cinematic album, pristine fidelity with a deep soundstage and wonderfully textured arrangements that seamlessly blend lo-fi MIDI with hi-fi live instruments, clever catchy yet quirky tunes, and astonishingly cool bass playing by the late Terry Jackson.

Keystudio by Yes, a compilation of the new studio material that was originally released (along with live performances of old 70's warhorses) on the two Keys To Ascension albums in 1996/97. Anderson, Howe, Squire, Wakeman, & White playing good old-fashioned prog-rock like it was 1976 all over again. Surprisingly good...especially in contrast to nearly everything Yes did in either the preceeding or the following decade.

Herbie Hancock's Sunlight. No, I'm not kidding. Vocoder and all. Those tunes are almost on par with a Quincy Jones production in terms of luxurious arrangements & top-notch melodies, plus if you can get past the overt pop concession you notice they are laying down some serious badass grooves.

And another vote for Living Color's Stain.

wingnut · #20 12-30-2008, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WJGreer

Yeah, that one did well in Austin, as you might imagine, but I am not surprised to hear it didn't catch on elsewhere.

Anytime I play it for someone they ask who they are and where can they get a copy. When I tell them how old the recording is, they're blown away.