The Rock & Roll Musical Obscurity Thread

[madison_avenue]

This was hit in the UK:

YouTube - Jimmy Somerville (The Communards) /...

[Michael Oksa]

Ok, this is from the most expensive softcover books I ever bought. When I left a former employer, my co-workers pitched in to help me buy this book, because they knew how much it meant to me.

It lists EVERY Billboard Hot 100 single from 1955-1990.

Here's what it says for Kraftwerk.

Autobahn stayed on the chart for 10 weeks in 1975, peaking at #25. Debuted on the chart on 3/15/75 on Vertigo 203.

Trans-Europe Express stayed for 7 weeks in 1978, peaking at #67. Debuted 6/10/78 on Capitol 4460.

For the record (pardon the pun) the book is Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990. It will also list other charts a song was on, brief notes, how much the single is worth, and a whole lot more. Awesome, awesome book for serious music fans.

Rock on!
Michael

[John Rogers]

Dutch band Golden Earring, known in the US primarily for Radar Love and Twilight Zone, did a cool cover of Eight Miles High.

YouTube - Golden Earring - Eight Miles High (Live...

John

[Steven Wagenheim]

Originally Posted by Michael Oksa

Ok, this is from the most expensive softcover books I ever bought. When I left a former employer, my co-workers pitched in to help me buy this book, because they knew how much it meant to me.

It lists EVERY Billboard Hot 100 single from 1955-1990.

Here's what it says for Kraftwerk.

Autobahn stayed on the chart for 10 weeks in 1975, peaking at #25. Debuted on the chart on 3/15/75 on Vertigo 203.

Trans-Europe Express stayed for 7 weeks in 1978, peaking at #67. Debuted 6/10/78 on Capitol 4460.

For the record (pardon the pun) the book is Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990. It will also list other charts a song was on, brief notes, how much the single is worth, and a whole lot more. Awesome, awesome book for serious music fans.

Rock on!
Michael

Michael, I have Joel's book as well but the edition up to 1982. After the
80s, I stopped caring about what charted where because most of the
stuff I liked barely made the radio to begin with.

My fallout with mainstream music was swift and final.

[Michael Oksa]

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

Michael, I have Joel's book as well but the edition up to 1982. After the
80s, I stopped caring about what charted where because most of the
stuff I liked barely made the radio to begin with.

My fallout with mainstream music was swift and final.

I want to get the latest edition eventually.

While I'm not that much into mainstream music, there still a few new songs that I like. Granted, many of those would be on the mainstream rock, or alternative chart, but there are exceptions.

Plus, it would be nice to see exactly where some longer lasting bands have charted in the interim.

At any rate, it sounds like you can understand what a great resource Joel's books can be.

There is also version covering 1890-1954.

Rock on!
Michael

[Frank Donovan]

Yes, Kraftwerk were a great band. And pretty big in the UK.

However, we're not proud. We'll give airtime to any old German band, as evidenced by this UK hit

YouTube - Trio - Da, Da, Da

Frank

[John Rogers]

Prior to The Cult, Ian Astbury was front man for Southern Death Cult. The only real connection between the two bands is Ian. The Cult actually started as Death Cult.

YouTube - SOUTHERN DEATH CULT - MOYA

John

[Michael Oksa]

Another goodie form the Trio CD (oops, guess it would have been LP before I bought it)

YouTube - Trio - boom boom

From the Cult album Electric...

YouTube - The Cult - Wild Flower

Rock on!
Michael

[John Rogers]

Now this is truly obsure...

Alan White of Yes playing AC/DC's Dirty Deeds with Seattle classic rock cover band, Spike and the Impalers.

YouTube - Alan White with Spike & The Impalers

John

[Bill Farnham]

Here's a real bizzare tune from around 1969 that actually got airplay back then.

YouTube - BLOODROCK - D.O.A./EVERY BODY'S...

Does anybody remember this tune?

KJ

[KimW]

I not only remember it but almost posted it myself!
Was it really 69? it seemed later to me,but it was really "heavy" back then.
What did it mean? Car accident, plane crash?
All I know is a great song,and yes it got airplay where I was at.

[Steven Wagenheim]

The year was 1977. Disco was 2 years into its reign, The Bee Gees were
a super group with Saturday Night Fever, Progressive Rock was starting
to take off and mainstream radio was starting to splinter. AM was dying and
FM was taking off like crazy. Groups were starting to pop up out of the
woodwork with alarming regularity. Anybody remember Axe? Probably not. It
was just one of a number of alternative rock groups (before the term was
in vogue) that had popped up during the era.

But one group that didn't make it to the superstardom status of groups
like Genesis, Yes, Kansas, ELO and others, had come out with some damn
good music.

Never getting the recognition they deserved, after their live 1980 album,
though not officially disbanding, they pretty much called it quits. Can't say
I blame them.

From their 4th album White Hot...

Angel...and "Don't Leave Me Lonely"

YouTube - Angel - Don't Leave Me Lonely

[John Rogers]

This one has been passed around on MP3 for quite a few years. Looks like it made Ozzy's boxed set last year.

YouTube - Ozzy Osbourne & Dweezil Zappa ( Very...

John

[Steven Wagenheim]

Not only has this group come and gone, but if you listen to these two songs,
outside of the horn section, you'd never guess that they're done by the
same band. Different lead singers probably had a lot to do with it but even
the styles are so different.

Anyway, you'd be hard pressed to find either of these tunes played much,
if at all.

The group...Lighthouse.

The songs:

"One Fine Morning" and "Pretty Lady"

YouTube - One Fine Morning-Lighthouse (STEREO)

YouTube - Lighthouse - Pretty Lady - 1973

[Karen Blundell]

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

Everybody remembers Melanie's big hits "Lay Down", "Brand New Key" but
here is one of her more obscure tunes that didn't make much of a dent in
the charts and nobody plays anymore.

From 1971, "Ring The Living Bell"

YouTube - Melanie - Ring The Living Bell (1971)

I still play this tune
I had the pleasure of meeting Melanie at an obscure small concert at the El Mocambo in Toronto

[HeySal]

Does anyone remember the stir that Spirit caused in the early 70's when they came out with this one? Uncle Sam was not thrilled with these guys.

YouTube - Spirit 1984

They had a way with activism.

YouTube - Spirit - Fresh Garbage

[madison_avenue]

Procal Harum:

A Whiter Shade Of Pale.


"We skipped the light Fandango, turning cartwheels on the floor"(?)


I've no idea what it's about! but it's still a good track from 1967. Some nice shots of 1960's London are also shown.

YouTube - A Whiter Shade Of Pale - Procol Harum

[KimW]

Originally Posted by HeySal

Does anyone remember the stir that Spirit caused in the early 70's when they came out with this one? Uncle Sam was not thrilled with these guys.

YouTube - Spirit 1984

They had a way with activism.
YouTube - Spirit - Fresh Garbage

No, I don't remember any stir other than it was a father/son group!
But I have to tell you, The Twelve Dreams Of Dr Sardonicus is definitely a desert island record.

[Kurt]

Originally Posted by Killer Joe

Here's a real bizzare tune from around 1969 that actually got airplay back then.

YouTube - BLOODROCK - D.O.A./EVERY BODY'S NIGHTMARE

Does anybody remember this tune?

KJ

This may have been the very first album I ever bought. I got it in a recommendation from a friend. I hated it. It was a waste of $5-6. Luckily I developed a little bit of taste later on in life.

[Kurt]

Here's a song from Zephyr...Tommy Bolin was a member before he went on to Deep Purple.

YouTube - Zephyr with Tommy Bolin - Hard Chargin'...

And I'm sure a few of you guys know this, but here's Jerry Garcia's bluegrass band, Old and in the Way:

YouTube - Old & in the Way / Wild Horses

I posted this video before, but it's pretty obscure, so I'll post it again...Here's Pink Floyd doing Slim Harpo's "I'm a King Bee"...Man, did they evolve.

YouTube - The Pink Floyd - I'm a King Bee (1966...

[HeySal]

Originally Posted by KimW

No, I don't remember any stir other than it was a father/son group!
But I have to tell you, The Twelve Dreams Of Dr Sardonicus is definitely a desert island record.

There was an attempt to ban it actually. We were still Americans back then and it didn't happen- they wanted 1984 off the bookshelves a long time before people became complacent enough to let it happen.

One of the finest love songs ever is by a Band that seemed to be here and gone real fast. If you can listen to this and not feel in love, you need a soul.

YouTube - Giant - I'll see you in my dreams

[Michael Oksa]

Good ones, Sal. I always liked Spirit, and think it's a shame they don't get played enough on classic rock radio stations.

Around here, they do play Nature's Way and I Got A Line On You. But they had so many other good songs. Thanks for adding them to the thread.

Rock on!
Michael

[Steven Wagenheim]

Had it not been for The Golden Girls, this song WOULD have been long lost
and forgotten. As it is, it's rarely played on the radio anymore. It wasn't a
big hit when it came out.

This is not the studio recording but, and I can't believe I'm saying this, I
think I like this live version just as much.

From 1978...Andrew Gold and "Thank You For Being A Friend"

YouTube - Andrew Gold - Thank You For Being A...

[Steven Wagenheim]

In 1974, a song came out that was recorded by two people at about the
same time. One was a very established singer who gained fame as one
half of a famous vocal duo. The other, the person who actually wrote the
song himself.

While the songwriter's version wasn't as big (truth is, neither was a smash
hit) I always liked his version better. Okay, I have a thing for songwriters.

Anyway, the bigger "hit" was recorded by Art Garfunkel.

This version was recorded by the man who gave us this great song...Tim
Moore.

From 1974..."Second Avenue"

YouTube - Tim Moore - Second Avenue - [STEREO]

[Steven Wagenheim]

Well, this is digging about as deep as you're going to go.

A story about how I even found this record.

I was in the van of a friend of mine and I was going through her stack of
45s that she had scattered all over the place when I ran across this one.
It was a good 7 years after the song was actually recorded. I couldn't
believe my eyes. While I knew the song VERY well, I had never heard of
these people and had NO idea that they had done a cover of this great tune.

At the time (I was about 19) I thought it was really cool and liked it a lot.
Today, I realize how it pales in comparison to then original (shows you what
age can sometimes do to you) but just the same, for those of you who
probably had no idea this thing even existed...

From 1969...Trash doing....(drumroll)

"Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight"

YouTube - Trash - Golden Slumbers/Carry That...

[Bill Farnham]

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

Had it not been for The Golden Girls, this song WOULD have been long lost and forgotten.

Yea, it's a shame.










Too bad The Golden Girls picked it up

KJ

[Michael Oksa]

I like the classical folk sound on this one. There's a slight medieval tone to it.

YouTube - THE MAMAS & THE PAPAS = DANCING BEAR...

Rock on!
Michael

[Steven Wagenheim]

Shortly after Jesus Christ Superstar came out, another version of "I Don't
Know How To Love Him" came out. I always liked that one better than Evonne Elleman's.

The singer...Helen Reddy.

YouTube - i don't know how to love him- helen...

[Frank Donovan]

I find it a bit surprising that very little Springsteen material gets posted in these music threads. Here's a song from his Steel Mill days (recorded January '71) that might just fit in with this thread's obscure theme.

YouTube - Bruce Springsteen (Steel Mill) Sweet...

Frank

[Frank Donovan]

And that Steel Mill track had me recalling another band by that name from the same era.

They were a progressive rock band that appeared from nowhere and disappeared just as fast. But they put out a song called "Green-Eyed God" that a radio station named Radio Luxembourg played constantly.

The station had poor reception in the UK, but was listened to avidly by those wanting to hear any contemporary music other than the easy listening or insipid pop being served up at the time on the BBC national stations.

YouTube - Steel Mill Green Eyed God

Frank

[Bill Farnham]

Well then, here's my favorite Bruce tune...

YouTube - Bruce Springsteen-Tunnel Of Love

KJ

[Patrician]

YouTube - Ram Jam "Black Betty"

[Dave Patterson]

I saw these guys in my favorite bar in Charleston, SC 1978...Head East

YouTube - Head East - Never Been Any Reason (Live)

[Michael Oksa]

LISTEN AT YOUR 0WN RISK


French intro goes to an amazing blend of two voices

YouTube - Buck 65 - Devils Eyes

Even if you don't like rap, give this one a chance...If you dare

YouTube - Buck 65 - Wicked and Weird

ROCK ON!
Michael

[Kurt]

Originally Posted by Patrician

YouTube - Ram Jam "Black Betty"

The original:

YouTube - 'Black Betty' LEADBELLY, Blues Legend

[HeySal]

I always liked that one Dave. They made it up to MI with that one.

The first concert I saw in Germany was an American Band that had been floating around the Eastern
States (maybe the west, too) for a few years:
Traffic

YouTube - Traffic - The Low Spark Of High-Heeled...

Not sure if these guys ever did a second album or not - they seemed to just fade away but were awesome.

Blind Faith:

YouTube - Blind Faith - Can't Find My Way Home -...

[Bjarne Eldhuset]

Ellen Radka Toneff (25 June 1952 – 21 October 1982) was a Norwegian jazz singer and composer. She died in 1982, officially by committing suicide.

She is still considered one of Norway's most outstanding jazz singers. Here she is doing a cover of the Jimmy Webb song "The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress". Many others have covered it, but I like Radka's version the best:

YouTube - Radka Toneff Moon's a Harsh Mistress

[Michael Oksa]

Technically, Traffic was from England. They are another one of my favorites, and Low Spark is on my list of all-time favorite songs.

Steve Winwood is an awesome musician. He found success with Spencer Davis, Traffic, Blind Faith, and then a solo career.

Blind Faith (with Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood) recorded one album and then disbanded.

Rock on!
Michael

[Frank Donovan]

For quite a time, in certain Prog-Rock circles, this was everyone's favorite obscure band

YouTube - Gnidrolog - I could never be a soldier...

YouTube - Gnidrolog - I could never be a soldier...

Frank

[Patrician]

Originally Posted by John Rogers

Prior to The Cult, Ian Astbury was front man for Southern Death Cult. The only real connection between the two bands is Ian. The Cult actually started as Death Cult.

YouTube - SOUTHERN DEATH CULT - MOYA

John

Oh Wow, John. Thank you for sharing this and for my new rave. How did I miss these guys - they are WAY better than The Cult.

I have bookmarked everything I could find...

This is really the best danceable music I have found since XTC's 'Making Plans for Nigel' which I dance to 4-5 times at a time, 3-4 times a week. Now I will add 'Moya'. This so incorporates American Indian rhythms with rock - totally to dance to...

[Steven Wagenheim]

Originally Posted by Patrician

Oh Wow, John. Thank you for sharing this and for my new rave. How did I miss these guys - they are WAY better than The Cult.

I have bookmarked everything I could find...

This is really the best danceable music I have found since XTC's 'Making Plans for Nigel' which I dance to 4-5 times at a time, 3-4 times a week. Now I will add 'Moya'. This so incorporates American Indian rhythms with rock - totally to dance to...

XTC was one weird group. I'd post one of their songs here but it's
too controversial and I don't want to get this thread deleted because
I know where the conversation is going to go if I do.

But yeah, XTC is one out there group.

[Steven Wagenheim]

The year was 1971. This song came out in around February of that year.
I loved this song the first time I heard it. It didn't make much of a dent in
the charts and hasn't been heard from since, but it was a great tune by a
group that just never made it.

The group...Wadsworth Mansion.

The song..."Sweet Mary"

YouTube - Wadsworth Mansion - Sweet Mary - 45 RPM

[Patrician]

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

XTC was one weird group. I'd post one of their songs here but it's
too controversial and I don't want to get this thread deleted because
I know where the conversation is going to go if I do.

But yeah, XTC is one out there group.

Actually the only song they did that I like is Nigel and I absolutely love it. I really like Andy Partridge, however it is ironic that the one song they did that I liked was written by Collin Moulding who also sings the lead.

They say Collin is not speaking to Andy and that is why the group is not together I guess. It is a shame and I wonder what happened that ticked Collin off...

[Steven Wagenheim]

And around the same time, almost to the week, this song came out. It also
didn't do very well on the charts and hasn't been played since. I also loved
this the first time I heard it. In fact, this and "Sweet Mary" were my two
favorite songs at the time.

The group...The Grass Roots.

The song..."Temptation Eyes"

YouTube - 'Temptation Eyes' by The Grass Roots

[KimW]

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

XTC was one weird group. I'd post one of their songs here but it's
too controversial and I don't want to get this thread deleted because
I know where the conversation is going to go if I do.

But yeah, XTC is one out there group.

WE have posted most xtc in other threads here Steven, you must have missed them somehow.

[KimW]

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

And around the same time, almost to the week, this song came out. It also
didn't do very well on the charts and hasn't been played since. I also loved
this the first time I heard it. In fact, this and "Sweet Mary" were my two
favorite songs at the time.

The group...The Grass Roots.

The song..."Temptation Eyes"

YouTube - 'Temptation Eyes' by The Grass Roots

Where I was living when this came out (OKC) i'm pretty sure it charted well. The Grassroots were a band that had an amazing run of number one songs for a while.

[Patrician]

Man this is getting like another job - I am writing down, ok page 3, post #146 and keep going back to where I am 'caught up to' - God forbid I should miss something.

(dontcha wish all jobs were this much fun!!!)

YouTube - V A N I L L A F U D G E - You Keep Me...

[Steven Wagenheim]

The years were 1979 and 1980. The group was formed from the bulk of
Dux Delux. They had one fairly big hit but their best songs, and two of my
all time favorites, hardly made a dent in the charts.

The group...The Motors.

The songs:

From 1979 - Today
From 1980 - Love and Loneliness

YouTube - The Motors - Love & Loneliness

YouTube - The Motors - Today

[Steven Wagenheim]

Everybody remembers Mary Hopkin's big hit from 1968, "Those Were The Days"

Well, Mary had other songs that weren't such big hits and rarely get played
anymore.

Here are two of them.

From 1969 - Goodbye

From 1973 - Knock Knock Who's There?

YouTube - Mary Hopkin - Goodbye.-.

YouTube - Eurovision 1970 - Mary Hopkin - Knock,...

[Dave Patterson]

Here's one with their only hit (top 100)...this song always got my attention.

YouTube - Stillwater - Mind Bender