The Rock & Roll Musical Obscurity Thread

lcombs · 31st Oct 2009, 12:25 PM

Anybody listed this one yet?
Couldn't find "Got Dead Aim" but, this is still very good.

YouTube - Hot Tuna - 1970 - Hesitation Blues

Steven Wagenheim · 31st Oct 2009, 02:32 PM

Since I'm on a Kansas kick (and it took me 3 tries to actually find a complete
unedited version of this song) the year was 1975.

This was not the first Kansas LP, but it was the first one to get any
significant airplay, especially of this one song.

I remember the first time I heard it, from the opening riff I was totally
hooked and this became one of my all time favorite bands.

This song was actually released as a 45 (and must have been butchered
to all hell) though I never saw it anywhere.

Today, well, it's been a good 30 years since I've heard anybody play this
on the radio. If you hear any Kansas songs it's "Dust In The Wind" and
"Carry On Wayward Son". Hell, they don't even play "The Wall" anymore
which is one of their greatest songs. Go figure.

Anyway, here it is...my first introduction to Kansas.

"Song For America"

YouTube - Kansas - Song For America

Steven Wagenheim · 31st Oct 2009, 02:39 PM

Ah, what the heck

From Leftoverture, one of the greatest albums of all time.

"The Wall"

They don't make 'em like these anymore.

YouTube - The Wall :: Kansas

Steven Wagenheim · 31st Oct 2009, 02:51 PM

Also from Leftoverture, a song that rarely got played (at over 8 minutes)
but really shows what kind of musicians these guys are.

"Magnum Opus"

YouTube - Kansas - Magnum Opus

Steven Wagenheim · 31st Oct 2009, 02:57 PM

Also from Leftoverture...

"Opus Insert"

YouTube - Kansas - Opus Insert

Steven Wagenheim · 31st Oct 2009, 03:05 PM

I might just start writing prog rock tunes again.

Here's another one...

"Cheyenne Anthem"

YouTube - Kansas - Cheyenne Anthem

Steven Wagenheim · 31st Oct 2009, 03:16 PM

And to finish off my Kansas fix, back in the days of LPs, this was the
closing number on side 1.

"Miracles Out Of Nowhere"

YouTube - Kansas - Miracles Out Of Nowhere

Mari Raven · 1st Nov 2009, 10:51 PM

Well, let me become a listener here.
I love the bands since
the 80s and 90s, like radiohead, evanescence, the cranberries, cocteautwins.
It's a good chance to know more about this in this thread.

Steven Wagenheim · 3rd Nov 2009, 04:38 PM

I honestly don't even know how the hell I ever even heard this song.

The year was 1973.

The singer - Peter Skellern

The song - You're A Lady.

Might be one of the most obscure pop tunes of all time.

YouTube - You're a lady Peter Skellern

LynnM · 3rd Nov 2009, 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

I honestly don't even know how the hell I ever even heard this song.

The year was 1973.

The singer - Peter Skellern

The song - You're A Lady.

Might be one of the most obscure pop tunes of all time.

YouTube - You're a lady Peter Skellern

It was quite a big hit over here. Nice to hear it again.

Steven Wagenheim · 4th Nov 2009, 06:37 PM

Everybody remembers the big smash hit of the 50s, "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes."

Well, this 1972 remake, while not quite as good, was still well done. Hard to
mess up a great song like this. Unfortunately, it didn't make much of a dent
in the charts.

I haven't heard this version since.

The group...Blue Haze

YouTube - BLUE HAZE - "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes"...

amber1210 · 4th Nov 2009, 06:41 PM

There are some very good songs on here ^.^ You guys gave me tons of music to enjoy. Thanks so much. Lol though, I don't have my own video to post. Maybe I'll have one some day

Steven Wagenheim · 5th Nov 2009, 06:14 PM

The year was 1977...one of the few disco tunes that I really liked.

It hit # 21 on the Billboard charts but wasn't a huge hit. It has been 30
years since I've heard this on the radio.

The Group - Odyssey

The Song - "Native New Yorker"

YouTube- ODYSSEY Native New Yorker

Steven Wagenheim · 6th Nov 2009, 08:32 AM

The year was 1973.

Paul Simon had a lot of hit records.

This wasn't one of them.

Hitting only # 35 on the Billboard Charts, this record hardly ever gets played
anymore...not that it was played much back then.

The Song, one of Paul's best, "American Tune"

YouTube - "American Tune"(Paul Simon/slide show...

lcombs · 7th Nov 2009, 08:13 AM

I was going through the thread and saw patrian's post for Ram Jam.
Thought I'd give a little history on them and "Black Betty".

I live about 15 miles from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.
The was a GREAT bar there called the Boars Head. The house band was a band called Starstruck. The lead singer and guitar player - Bill Bartlet. From The Lemon Pipers.
Black Betty became their signature song.
Just about the time they struck a record deal something happened. I'm not exactly sure but I think one of the members developed a heart condition and could no longer go.
So, Bill formed Ram Jam to honor the contract.

On a side note... Across the street from the Boars Head was The Purity.
Their house band was Little Roger And The Human Body. Who later became The Zap Band and recorded several gold albums.

That was '72 - '73. When they still had 3.2 beer. At that time only 3.2 was legal in Oxford. It was the #1 3.2 beer outlet in the world.

...And now you know... The rest of the story...

Kurt · 7th Nov 2009, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by lcombs

I was going through the thread and saw patrian's post for Ram Jam.
Thought I'd give a little history on them and "Black Betty".

I live about 15 miles from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.
The was a GREAT bar there called the Boars Head. The house band was a band called Starstruck. The lead singer and guitar player - Bill Bartlet. From The Lemon Pipers.
Black Betty became their signature song.
Just about the time they struck a record deal something happened. I'm not exactly sure but I think one of the members developed a heart condition and could no longer go.
So, Bill formed Ram Jam to honor the contract.

On a side note... Across the street from the Boars Head was The Purity.
Their house band was Little Roger And The Human Body. Who later became The Zap Band and recorded several gold albums.

That was '72 - '73. When they still had 3.2 beer. At that time only 3.2 was legal in Oxford. It was the #1 3.2 beer outlet in the world.

...And now you know... The rest of the story...

The song "Black Betty" dates back to the 1800's, probably post Civil War. Some claim "black betty" was a cannon and not a person...Leadbelly is likely the person most responsible for keeping the song alive:

YouTube- 'Black Betty' LEADBELLY, Blues Legend

Tom Jones even has a pretty cool version of Black Betty, listen for "This is TJ...Dedicating the song to Leadbelly!"

YouTube- Tom Jones - black betty

Steven Wagenheim · 7th Nov 2009, 07:01 PM

The year was 1967.

Listen to a number of songs from that era, especially tunes by The Association
and you will hear a long gone classic sound.

But believe it or not, that sound wasn't confined to just pop groups. R&B
acts of the period had it too. That almost magical, dreamy, can't help but
make you smile sound.

This group, one that had many hit records, including the number 1 song of
1969, had its version of the Association "Windy", "Georgie Girl" sound.

This tune wasn't very big and hardly gets played anymore because it is one
of the groups most enjoyable songs.

Reaching only number 34 in the US...

Today is the first day I've heard this song in I don't know how many years.

The Group - The 5th Dimension
The Song - Paper Cup

YouTube - The 5th Dimension - Paper Cup

Steven Wagenheim · 9th Nov 2009, 08:31 AM

The year was 1975.

The Doobie Brothers had a lot of big hits.

This wasn't one of them.

Coming in at only # 40 on the Billboard chart, this song wasn't played much
then and is never played anymore.

One of their best and most underrated songs.

Sweet Maxine

YouTube - The Doobie Brothers - Sweet Maxine

Steven Wagenheim · 10th Nov 2009, 06:42 AM

The year was 1976.

This group came from Germany and had moderate success in the US but
never really made a dent in the charts.

The Group - Lake
The Song - Time Bomb

YouTube - Lake-Time Bomb

Steven Wagenheim · 11th Nov 2009, 07:37 PM

I can't even believe I found this.

Uploaded to YouTube just 1 month ago.

This was Albert Hammond's followup to "It Never Rains In Southern California"
which was his big hit.

This song...I don't even think it ever charted.

The year - 1973
The song - "Half A Million Miles From Home"

YouTube - Albert Hammond - Half a Million Miles...

Steven Wagenheim · 12th Nov 2009, 10:42 AM

The year was 1974.

This album was the first one under this group's new name. Yes, prior to this
album they were known by another, though similar name.

The song from this album that you are about to hear actually got quite a bit
of airplay on prog rock stations back then. But after some time, due to the
length of this song and the death of prog rock, this song became just
another distant memory.

The Group - Jefferson Starship

The Song - Hyperdrive

YouTube - Jefferson Starship - Hyperdrive (1974)

lcombs · 13th Nov 2009, 09:27 AM

Always one of my favorites

YouTube - Jonathan Edwards: Sunshine

lcombs · 13th Nov 2009, 09:32 AM

Here's another one

YouTube - Shanty: Jonathan Edwards

Steven Wagenheim · 14th Nov 2009, 10:28 AM

The year was 1975.

Justin Hayward and John Lodge did a project called BlueJays.

This song hit number 47 on the Billboard Charts. It deserved much better as
it was just as good as anything the Moody Blues had come out with as a
group.

The Song - "I Dreamed Last Night"

YouTube - Blue Jays/Moody Blues - I Dreamed Last...

Steven Wagenheim · 15th Nov 2009, 02:41 PM

Talk about long, lost and forgotten.

In 1972, long before he became a household name with Jesse's Girl, he had
this song that made # 70 on the Billboard Charts.

I don't even remember how I even heard this.

The Singer - Rick Springfield
The Song - "What Would The Children Think?"

YouTube - Rick Springfield What Would The...

Steven Wagenheim · 15th Nov 2009, 02:48 PM

Also in 1972 this song came out late in the year. It was actually a pretty
decent hit, peaking at # 12 on the Billboard chart, but time had taken its
toll and I can't remember the last time I heard this.

The singer - Austin Roberts
The song - "Something's Wrong With Me"

YouTube - Something's Wrong with Me

Kurt · 15th Nov 2009, 03:24 PM

In 1969 Johnny Cash had this cross-over hit...

YouTube - Johnny Cash "A Boy Named Sue"...

Leanne King · 15th Nov 2009, 03:41 PM

How about a bit of the kinks with Lola

YouTube - The Kinks - Lola [lyrics included]

Steven Wagenheim · 16th Nov 2009, 09:24 PM

Going back to Hayward and Lodges Blue Jays project, this song made it as
high as number 94 on the Billboard chart in 1975.

Another very underrated tune by these really talented guys.

The Song - "Blue Guitar"

YouTube - The Moody Blues - Blue Guitar

Bjarne Eldhuset · 17th Nov 2009, 12:37 PM

The Midnight Choir was one of Norway's finest rock bands. Their melancholic tunes allways makes me feel uplifted.

YouTube - The Ballad of Emma Deloner - Midnight...

YouTube - Midnight Choir - Jeff Bridges

YouTube - MIDNIGHT CHOIR LONG HARD RIDE

YouTube - Midnight Choir "Sister Of...

And here are two nice songs with lead singer Paal Flaata:

YouTube - Paal Flaata - Don't You Walk Away

YouTube - Paal Flaata - It Will All Come Down

Steven Wagenheim · 17th Nov 2009, 02:21 PM

In going through this thread, I can't believe I haven't included these guys.

Though they hit the scene in 1974, I didn't first hear them until just before
I graduated high school in June of 1975. I'll never forget the first song I
ever heard by them. I thought maybe somebody had drugged me.

But I fell in love with their sound immediately and to this day, I can honestly
say they're my all time favorite group just for the pure lunacy that they
bring to the table. There has never been anybody that sounds quite them
either before or since. To say they are obscure would be a gross
understatement. I think I might have heard two of their songs on the
radio. The only reason I have their entire collection is because I constantly
was on the lookout for any albums they came up with.

There aren't a lot of studio versions of their tunes online and most of the
live ones, sadly, are poorly recorded.

Below are three studio versions and one live version that is very well done
so you can see just how off the wall these guys were.

It is a special fan who followed these guys. Most people didn't get them.

Thankfully...I did.

The Group...Sparks

Enjoy!

YouTube - Bon Voyage by Sparks

YouTube - Sparks - Falling In Love With Myself...

YouTube - Don't Leave Me Alone With Her

YouTube - Sparks - This Town Ain't Big Enough For...

Karen Blundell · 17th Nov 2009, 02:24 PM

Recorded in 1975: The Myths & Legends of King Arthur & The Knights of the Round Table...here's Rick Wakeman (love it!) with King Arthur

YouTube - Rick Wakeman-King Arthur

Steven Wagenheim · 17th Nov 2009, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by Karen Blundell

Recorded in 1975: The Myths & Legends of King Arthur & The Knights of the Round Table...here's Rick Wakeman (love it!) with King Arthur
YouTube - Rick Wakeman-King Arthur

Ah yes, I remember it well. Rick Wakeman did a few concept albums if I
remember correctly.

Frank Donovan · 17th Nov 2009, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

There aren't a lot of studio versions of their tunes online and most of the
live ones, sadly, are poorly recorded.

Below are three studio versions and one live version that is very well done
so you can see just how off the wall these guys were.

It is a special fan who followed these guys. Most people didn't get them.

Steven, you may be aware that the Mael brothers are still going strong. In fact I was listening to a radio interview featuring them just a few weeks ago. Here's what they're up to these days: BBC 6 Music News - Sparks' radio musical

Meanwhile, I found a clip of their 1979 UK hit "The Number 1 Song In Heaven":

YouTube - Sparks - Number 1 Song in Heaven 1979

Frank

Steven Wagenheim · 17th Nov 2009, 07:08 PM

Originally Posted by Frank Donovan

Steven, you may be aware that the Mael brothers are still going strong. In fact I was listening to a radio interview featuring them just a few weeks ago. Here's what they're up to these days: BBC 6 Music News - Sparks' radio musical

Meanwhile, I found a clip of their 1979 UK hit "The Number 1 Song In Heaven":

YouTube - Sparks - Number 1 Song in Heaven 1979

Frank

I know that they've been playing some of their old tunes in rinky dink
little clubs.

I'll never understand why they didn't make it big, but in a way, I'm glad
they didn't.

They were one of a kind.

Kurt · 17th Nov 2009, 07:51 PM

YouTube - The Tubes doing White Punks On Dope

And Frank Zappa isn't obscure, but Moon Unit Zappa kind of is...She was a teen ager when this was recorded and does a great job:

YouTube - Frank Zappa - Valley Girl

Steven Wagenheim · 17th Nov 2009, 08:14 PM

Originally Posted by Kurt

YouTube - The Tubes doing White Punks On Dope

And Frank Zappa isn't obscure, but Moon Unit Zappa kind of is...She was a teen ager when this was recorded and does a great job:

YouTube - Frank Zappa - Valley Girl

I wonder what the old gal is doing these days? I haven't seen her in the
news in ages.

Karen Blundell · 17th Nov 2009, 09:43 PM

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

Ah yes, I remember it well. Rick Wakeman did a few concept albums if I
remember correctly.

he did indeed...his work on The Six Wives of Henry VIII was better known...

here's another one: Sir Lancelot and the Black Knight

YouTube - Rick Wakeman-Sir Lancelot and the Black...

Kurt · 17th Nov 2009, 10:13 PM

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

I wonder what the old gal is doing these days? I haven't seen her in the
news in ages.

I haven't heard her name in quite a while, either.

Originally Posted by Karen Blundell

he did indeed...his work on The Six Wives of Henry VIII was better known...

here's another one: Sir Lancelot and the Black Knight
YouTube - Rick Wakeman-Sir Lancelot and the Black Knight

And speaking of Henry the 8th...Here's two more songs that probably don't fit the thread perfectly, but close enough:

YouTube- Hermans Hermits - I'm Henry The VIII, I...

YouTube- Herman's Hermits - I'm Into Something...

Karen Blundell · 17th Nov 2009, 10:43 PM

Ian Drury and the Blockheads had a couple of big hits in the late 70's
Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick and Sex and Drugs and Rock & Roll...Sadly Ian passed away in 2000 of liver cancer

and they hardly ever play his music anymore

Here's one that is fairly obscure...maybe not to Brits though

YouTube - Ian Dury and the Blockheads - Yes and...

Steven Wagenheim · 18th Nov 2009, 03:01 PM

Another great song by Sparks. I got this as in import single from England in
1975 but it's now available on the digital remix of the album Propaganda.

The Song - Marry Me

YouTube - MARRY ME (Sparks)

Steven Wagenheim · 20th Nov 2009, 08:18 AM

A huge hit when this first came out, it is beyond obscure today. They just
don't play this stuff on the radio anymore. But if you're older than 40, you
remember this very well.

From 1973...A true classic if ever there was one.

YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.

KimW · 20th Nov 2009, 08:22 AM

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

Ah yes, I remember it well. Rick Wakeman did a few concept albums if I
remember correctly.

I'm pretty sure the first one he did was Journey To The Center Of The Earth.

Steven Wagenheim · 20th Nov 2009, 08:49 AM

Originally Posted by KimW

I'm pretty sure the first one he did was Journey To The Center Of The Earth.

Yeah, and I've got that on vinyl...still.

Now to find a decent turntable.

Bjarne Eldhuset · 20th Nov 2009, 10:01 AM

Rock & Roll? Hardly, but I find these auto-tune parody clips pretty amusing.

YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.

YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.

Bjarne Eldhuset · 20th Nov 2009, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by 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 Revisited

Didn't see this one before now. After listening to it twice, I feel a sudden urge to jam along on my block flute.

KimW · 20th Nov 2009, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

Yeah, and I've got that on vinyl...still.

Now to find a decent turntable.

I'm sitting here with a ION USB turntable thats supposedbly you can convert your vinyl to cds on.Got it for Christmas last year but never hooked it up. Someday soon I will I hope.
PS: I have that Wakeman LP too

Bjarne Eldhuset · 20th Nov 2009, 03:33 PM

Here is Finnish rock and roll band The Leningrad Cowboys featuring The Red Army Choir playing Sweet Home Alabama.

This has got to be the most obscure rendition of that song:

YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.

Oh, and while we're at it, here are some more great ones:

YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.

YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.

YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.

Frank Donovan · 20th Nov 2009, 07:49 PM

Nice one, Bjarne. I think they give The Doors a run for their money on LA Woman

But I couldn't let a "Delilah" cover pass without including this legendary 1975 recording:

YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.

Frank

lcombs · 20th Nov 2009, 09:05 PM

Couldn't help myself. Had to post this.

YouTube- Broadcast Yourself.

1st Nov 2009, 10:51 PM	#308
Mari Raven Warrior Member Join Date: 2009 Posts: 15 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: The Rock & Roll Musical Obscurity Thread Share on: Well, let me become a listener here. I love the bands since the 80s and 90s, like radiohead, evanescence, the cranberries, cocteautwins. It's a good chance to know more about this in this thread.
	www.tooay.com

4th Nov 2009, 06:41 PM	#312
amber1210 Active Warrior Join Date: 2009 Location: Missouri Posts: 43 Thanks: 4 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: The Rock & Roll Musical Obscurity Thread Share on: There are some very good songs on here ^.^ You guys gave me tons of music to enjoy. Thanks so much. Lol though, I don't have my own video to post. Maybe I'll have one some day

7th Nov 2009, 08:13 AM	#315
lcombs HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2005 Location: , , USA. Posts: 355 Thanks: 185 Thanked 972 Times in 701 Posts	Re: The Rock & Roll Musical Obscurity Thread Share on: I was going through the thread and saw patrian's post for Ram Jam. Thought I'd give a little history on them and "Black Betty". I live about 15 miles from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. The was a GREAT bar there called the Boars Head. The house band was a band called Starstruck. The lead singer and guitar player - Bill Bartlet. From The Lemon Pipers. Black Betty became their signature song. Just about the time they struck a record deal something happened. I'm not exactly sure but I think one of the members developed a heart condition and could no longer go. So, Bill formed Ram Jam to honor the contract. On a side note... Across the street from the Boars Head was The Purity. Their house band was Little Roger And The Human Body. Who later became The Zap Band and recorded several gold albums. That was '72 - '73. When they still had 3.2 beer. At that time only 3.2 was legal in Oxford. It was the #1 3.2 beer outlet in the world. ...And now you know... The rest of the story...
	https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fresh...55326481208883