The Rock & Roll Musical Obscurity Thread

[Steven Wagenheim]

Since my specialty is songs that, for the most part, are long lost and forgotten
I thought I'd start a musical obscurity thread. I'll be posting some of my
favorite songs that, for the most part, didn't get a lot of airplay or, if they
did, quickly disappeared into oblivion.

Here is the first one...Please feel free to add your own. Maybe some of us
can get to hear some tunes that we might have otherwise never heard
before.

This one is by April Wine, a group that gained fame as part of K-Tel's
collection of obscure tunes. This one is from 1972.

The song..."You Could Have Been A Lady"

YouTube - April Wine - You Could Have Been A Lady...

[Steven Wagenheim]

Here's another one from The Glass Bottle from 1971

"I Ain't Got Time Anymore"

This is another one that ended up on a K-Tel compilation album.

YouTube - I Ain't Got Time Anymore-The Glass...

[Steven Wagenheim]

Here's another one from 1973. You probably remember "How Do You Do" by
Mouth and McNeal, which in itself is a long forgotten song and in most minds
a one hit wonder.

What most people don't know is that they actually had a followup record
that got very little airplay.

Here it is..."Hey You Love"

YouTube - Mouth & MacNeal-Hey you Love

[CDarklock]

Don't tell my metalhead friends, but I always liked the Chocolate Watchband...

YouTube - the chocolate watch band - dark side of...

[Steven Wagenheim]

Originally Posted by CDarklock

Don't tell my metalhead friends, but I always liked the Chocolate Watchband...

YouTube - the chocolate watch band - dark side of the mushroom

Now THAT is obscure.

Thanks for sharing this.

[Steven Wagenheim]

Before they were ELO, they were The Move.

One of the strangest and most incredible tunes ever recorded with great
vocals by Roy Wood.

The year was 1970.

"Cherry Blossom Clinic Revisited" from Shazam.

YouTube - The Move - Cherry Blossom Clinic...

[Steven Wagenheim]

Here's another one from Shazam, "Fields Of People."

Bev Bevan was such a great drummer and so underrated.

YouTube - The Move - Fields Of People (High...

[ThomM]

YouTube - Joe Byrd and The Field Hippies-You...

[ThomM]

YouTube - 13QUESTIONS/SEATRAIN

[Michael Oksa]

HiC,

Chocolate Watchband is cool. I really like their cover of (It's All Over Now) Baby Blue.

Here's a bit of obscurity...

YouTube - loose enz - black door us 60s...

I tend to like the obscure and weird. Normal stuff too. This is just my opinion (and that's what's so great about music), but I didn't think the Move sounded strange at all. But that's probably because of my musical tastes.

I tried to find some bits of obscurae on YouTube, but couldn't find what I was looking for.

Rock on!
Michael

[Steven Wagenheim]

This was the first Jackson 5 flop and it was their best song ever.

Go figure.

The year was 1971.

The song..."Maybe Tomorrow"

YouTube - MAYBE TOMORROW - THE JACKSON 5

[Steven Wagenheim]

From the late 70s, a group that never got the recognition it deserved.

New England with "Hello Hello Hello"

YouTube - New England_Hello Hello Hello...

[KimW]

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

From the late 70s, a group that never got the recognition it deserved.

New England with "Hello Hello Hello"

YouTube - New England_Hello Hello Hello (Attractive woman slide Show!)

I have the album this song is on.
Another good song from the same album,
Puny
Under
Nourished
Kid

YouTube - NEW ENGLAND - P.U.N.K.

[Steven Wagenheim]

Originally Posted by KimW

I have the album this song is on.
Another good song from the same album,
Puny
Under
Nourished
Kid
YouTube - NEW ENGLAND - P.U.N.K.

With this song sandwiched in between the two of them.

YouTube - New England - "Don't Ever Wanna...

[Steven Wagenheim]

From Cat Steven's next to last album Izitso in 1977, a great song that
nobody plays anymore.

"Remember The Days Of The Old Schoolyard"

YouTube - Cat Stevens - Remember (the days of the...

[KimW]

And thanks for bringing back the memories with this one Steven!

YouTube - Mouth & McNeal - How Do You Do!

[MikeAmbrosio]

Thoroughly depressing song, but I loved it:

YouTube - Hot Chocolate-Emma

Everyone probably remembers their hit:

YouTube - Hot Chocolate - You Sexy Thing (Live...

Great thread...

[MikeAmbrosio]

Another old favorite of mine:

YouTube - BANG ON THE DRUM ALL DAY-TODD RUNDGREN

[MikeAmbrosio]

Remember this guy?

YouTube - Jim Carroll Band- People Who Died

[Ken Strong]

Originally Posted by MikeAmbrosio

Remember this guy?

I was wondering if Jim Carroll was still around or not, since I couldn't remember. Turns out he just died a couple of weeks ago, on Sept. 11.

[Frank Donovan]

Nice thread, Steven.

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

Before they were ELO, they were The Move.

Jeff Lyne went on to form ELO, but Roy Wood formed Wizzard:

YouTube - Wizzard (Roy Wood) - See My Baby Jive

Here's another piece of obscurity. I had this single lying around and a friend offered to buy it for £50 (around $75). It's by Timebox, featuring Mike Patto, and it's a 1968 cover of an even earlier Frankie Valli song:

YouTube - Timebox - beggin' (blue eyed soul)

Frank

[MikeAmbrosio]

Look at how young Lou Reed is in this one:

YouTube - The Velvet Underground - Venus in Furs...

[Michael Oksa]

The VU is awesome.

If you are a fan, and haven't got it yet...

I'd recommend the 5 disc box set, Peel Slowly And See along with Loaded (Fully Loaded Edition).

YouTube - Velvet Underground Cool It Down

YouTube - Velvet Underground - All Tomorrow's...

Rock on!
Michael

[Frank Donovan]

Mike, I've always loved that Velvet's number, Venus In Furs

I even like this rip-off soundalike by an otherwise great band, Hazeldine:

YouTube - Hazeldine - Right To Feel

Frank

[MikeAmbrosio]

Funny - I was not turned on to VU until around 1994 or so, when I started listening to this guy:

WFUV Public Radio | Idiot's Delight

Lost track of him for a while...he does some awesome stuff. Some VERY obscure music. great interviews, etc.

My guess is anyone from the NY/NJ area has heard him at one time or another...not sure how popular he was outside this area.

YouTube - Vin Scelsa Idiot's Delight-Part 1

[CDarklock]

Before Ronnie James Dio had his own career...

Before he replaced Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath...

Before he was in Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow...

He was ELF:

YouTube - Elf Never More (ronnie james dio) track...

[Kurt]

Here's a nice sing-along:

YouTube - Hocus Pocus-Focus-1971

The musical version of chinese water torture:

YouTube - Hot Butter - Popcorn (1972)

Her name was Bertha, Bertha Butt...She was a big woman:

YouTube - Jimmy Castor Bunch...

[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)

[Kurt]

OK Steven and All...

In the mid '80s (?), Lou Reed released a single called "Funky Hard Hips". I really like this song but can't find it anywhere. It was a semi-hit the year it came out, then just faded into obscurity.

Anyone heard of this song?

[Steven Wagenheim]

Originally Posted by Kurt

OK Steven and All...

In the mid '80s (?), Lou Reed released a single called "Funky Hard Hips". I really like this song but can't find it anywhere. It was a semi-hit the year it came out, then just faded into obscurity.

Anyone heard of this song?

Kurt, by the mid 80s, I had almost given up on the radio. There were very
few things I liked at all. The only thing from Lou Reed that I remember
after the 70s by Lou Reed was his classic album New York with the great
tune (lyrics wise) "Dirty Blvd".

If anybody hasn't heard it, you have to check it out. It is said to be his
best work, and I agree 100%

[Kurt]

Also, I really like this song in this Becks commerical. I knew the name of it at one time...What's the name of the Hindu God of death? I think that's part of the title of this song...

YouTube - Beck's TV ad: Different by Choice

[Steven Wagenheim]

Originally Posted by Kurt

Also, I really like this song in this Becks commerical. I knew the name of it at one time...What's the name of the Hindu God of death? I think that's part of the title of this song...

YouTube - Beck's TV ad: Different by Choice

Wow...you're digging into the well today Kurt.

I have no idea who that is.

[KimW]

Sorry Kurt, I think you may have been experimenting back in the day! All kidding aside,I never heard of that song,and can find no refence to it anywhere.
I must admit, I did learn something new while looking though...
Lou Reed married Laurie Anderson.
Some of you that are as strange as I am may have heard this before:

YouTube - Laurie Anderson - O Superman - clip...

[Steven Wagenheim]

Originally Posted by Kurt

Also, I really like this song in this Becks commerical. I knew the name of it at one time...What's the name of the Hindu God of death? I think that's part of the title of this song...

YouTube - Beck's TV ad: Different by Choice

Okay, I found it. It's from the album "Music For Imaginary Films" by
Arling and Cameron.

[Steven Wagenheim]

Here's a real obscure tune by Keith Moon...Do Me Good.

YouTube - keith Moon - Do me good

[Steven Wagenheim]

You could fill a museum with lost and forgotten Moody Blues tunes.

This is just one of them, from 7th Sojourn.

"Land Of Make Believe"

YouTube - The land of make believe

[KimW]

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

Since my specialty is songs that, for the most part, are long lost and forgotten
I thought I'd start a musical obscurity thread. I'll be posting some of my
favorite songs that, for the most part, didn't get a lot of airplay or, if they
did, quickly disappeared into oblivion.

Here is the first one...Please feel free to add your own. Maybe some of us
can get to hear some tunes that we might have otherwise never heard
before.

This one is by April Wine, a group that gained fame as part of K-Tel's
collection of obscure tunes. This one is from 1972.

The song..."You Could Have Been A Lady"

YouTube - April Wine - You Could Have Been A Lady (mono mix)

Actually April Wine had .at elast where I am, a moderately successful album in "Nature Of The beast"
Here are a couple that were hits :

YouTube - April Wine - Sign of the Gypsy Queen

and of course this ballad:

YouTube - April Wine - Just Between You And Me...

for some reason, whenever I hear April wine, I also think of Saga:

YouTube - SAGA -On the Loose (Video Clip)

YouTube - SAGA - Wind Him Up (Original Video Clip)

[Frank Donovan]

Originally Posted by Kurt

OK Steven and All...

In the mid '80s (?), Lou Reed released a single called "Funky Hard Hips". I really like this song but can't find it anywhere. It was a semi-hit the year it came out, then just faded into obscurity.

Anyone heard of this song?

Kurt, do you mean "Hot Hips"?

I think it was a US only release (1984?). It was featured in the movie "Perfect".

That was the one starring Jamie Lee Curtis, so I'm not surprised that nobody was paying much attention to the soundtrack.


Frank

[Michael Motley]

April wine was actually kind of well known, atleast around me anyway.


IF you can find them and i think you tube has them, look for a band call Stranger. Probably the most well known band in Florida. THey played every bar in the sunshine state atleast once. They apparently had a big deal that fell through right when they were on the edge of superstardom and something about the fine print of their contract said they couldnt get into another contract for 10 years, well by that time, grunge was big and their music wasn't as popular.

But in the late 80's, early 90s, they were THE Florida band.

[Steven Wagenheim]

Originally Posted by Michael Motley

April wine was actually kind of well known, atleast around me anyway.


IF you can find them and i think you tube has them, look for a band call Stranger. Probably the most well known band in Florida. THey played every bar in the sunshine state atleast once. They apparently had a big deal that fell through right when they were on the edge of superstardom and something about the fine print of their contract said they couldnt get into another contract for 10 years, well by that time, grunge was big and their music wasn't as popular.

But in the late 80's, early 90s, they were THE Florida band.

Yeah Michael, a lot of bands had big local followings but virtually unknown
elsewhere. April Wine may have been one of them.

However, the thread is more about songs that either were never big hits
or, if they had any kind of fame at all, quickly vanished from the face of
the earth NEVER to be played again.

A perfect example is this song, which when first released caused such a
stir due to its suggestive tone. When was the last time you ever heard
anybody play this on the radio...anywhere?

YouTube - Jungle Fever - The Chakachas (1972)

[Kurt]

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

Okay, I found it. It's from the album "Music For Imaginary Films" by
Arling and Cameron.

Thanks Steven...

And I was right with my Indian God reference...The song's name is Shiva's R&R Dub. And iTunes finally has it, they didn't have it 6-7 months ago.

[Kurt]

Originally Posted by Frank Donovan

Kurt, do you mean "Hot Hips"?

I think it was a US only release (1984?). It was featured in the movie "Perfect".

That was the one starring Jamie Lee Curtis, so I'm not surprised that nobody was paying much attention to the soundtrack.


Frank

Hi Frank...

Yep, that's the song.

The lyrics are here...I'd like to hear the song itself, but can't find it anywhere...
Hot Hips

Here's some of the lyrics:

Funky hot hips
funky hot hips
Funky hot hips

Funky hot hips
I would do anything
I would do anything
to get to your funky hot hip, hey

Funky hot hips
I would do play the fool
I'd play the fool for you
to get to your funky hot hip

Hip-hop-bop-flop, baby, don't you ever stop
funky hot hips
Hip-hop-bop-flop, baby, don't you ever stop
funky hot hips

Funky hot hips
I would do anything
I would do anything
to get to your funky hot hip

Funky hot hips
I would do play the fool
I'd play the fool for you
to get to your funky hot hip

Hip-hop-bop-flop, baby, don't you ever stop
funky hot hips
Hip-hop-bop-flop, baby, don't you ever stop
funky hot hips

Funky hot hips
I would do anything
I would do anything
to get to your funky hot hip

Funky hot hips
I would do play the fool
I'd play the fool for you
to get to your funky hot hip

Hip-hop-bop-flop, baby, don't you ever stop
funky hot hips
Hip-hop-bop-flop, baby, don't you ever stop
funky hot hips

Funky hot hips
I would do anything
I would do anything
to get to your funky hot hip

Funky hot hips
I would do play the fool
I'd play the fool for you
to get to your funky hot hip

Hip-hop-bop-flop, baby, don't you ever stop
funky hot hips, yeah
Hip-hop-bop-flop, baby, don't you ever stop
funky hot hips

[Steven Wagenheim]

In the summer of 1971, this group came out with this tune that was later
covered by a singer by the name of Lobo who himself had a song during the
year of 1971. Neither version was a big hit. While both were good, this one
was still the best.

The group, Cymarron.

The song..."Rings"

YouTube - Cymarron - Rings - 45 rpm

[Steven Wagenheim]

In 1973 a group by the name of New York City came out with a really great
song that did get some airplay. But it's been years since anybody's played
this gem.

The song..."I'm Doing Fine Now"

YouTube - New York City - I'm Doin' Fine Now - 45...

[KimW]

Steven,
I think your are bringing out one of the things about music back then, it was very regional. A song like this might be a hit in pockets or areas but not a "national" hit.

[Steven Wagenheim]

I remember when I first heard this song in the spring of 1971 I thought to
myself, "what a great tune." Bill Chase died only a few years after this
song came out.

The song..."Get It On"

YouTube - Get It On

[Patrician]

Soon as I saw Chocolate Watchband or whatever it brought to mind the Stawberry Alarm Clark - Most will remember their 'Incense and Peppermints' if they are old - but one I never heard of until now is this one, so I guess that qualifies as Obscure - 'Rainy Day Mushroom Pillow'. (musta been a pipe dream)

YouTube - Strawberry Alarm Clock - Rainy Day...

[Steven Wagenheim]

In the spring of 1971, a vocal duo by the name of Brewer and Shipley came
out with a song that, depending on where you lived, may have been banned
by your radio station. I know it was where I lived and was quickly yanked
off the playlist. Today, I don't know anybody who plays this one anymore.

The song..."One Toke Over The Line"

Great vocal harmonies on this one.

YouTube - Brewer & Shipley - One Toke Over The...

[Steven Wagenheim]

Originally Posted by KimW

Steven,
I think your are bringing out one of the things about music back then, it was very regional. A song like this might be a hit in pockets or areas but not a "national" hit.

Kim, that is very true. A station down in Atlanta, where my friend would go
to visit with his family, had many songs played that never made it up here.
He'd buy the singles down there and bring them back to me here in NJ to
listen to.

One of them was this one:

YouTube - Double Barrel- Dave And Ansel Collins-...

[AggieMom]

Really rock here!

For me, I think the true meaning of rock is to awake the inner of u!