Most under rated British band of all time.

The Vapors.

Very much agree with The Sound

Most under-rated band could actually be a 'big' band that didn't become 'ginormous'.......

So for a bit of fun, I will say this. If I asked my (middle-aged) friends here in Poland if they have heard of Pink Floyd, they would say YES. What about Black Sabbath ? - OF COURSE. Jethro Tull ? - YEP. Led Zep. ? - NATURALLY. And Wishbone Ash ? - ERM, ER, WHO DID YOU SAY ???

My point is, why on earth didn't the Ash become mega all round the planet ? No cheeky replies, please !!

Maybe the sound wasn't good ................ I'll get my coat ............

A mere jest, ewemon

I imagine he's turning Japanese pressings....

C.

Diesel Park West.

If they'd been from the US instead of Leicester, they would have been huge.

steve

Porcupine Tree ????

Woy

You might be surprised who your middle aged Polish friends have heard of. Your comment reminded me of Budgie, their claim to fame in the 70's was they where voted the 3rd best rock band in POLAND. Highly rated in Poland but definitely underrated in  Britain.

My son's just walked past and told me Metallica did a version of this. So, not underrated by other musicians.

and how could people not be impressed with the album covers.

The Only Ones were a great post punk band,Another Girl, Another Planet a total classic track IMO.

Winterville

Magazine (Howard Devoto et al)

Dalis Car (one-off, can't really count that half album 'InGladAloneness')

Yeah, but that was the only decent track.

The Soft Boys. Underwater Moonlight - classic.

My vote goes to Cud , Didnt get the recognition they richly desrved in the late eighties , swept away by the forthcoming  Grunge phenonomen  ,

When in Rome"Kill Me "  not the best recorded album ever sound wise but some great songs , "Only a prawn in whitby "

Creme Brulee. Great band!

Not really...have you listened to their albums?

It has to be Cardiacs, sadly no more but in their heyday their music was complex, maniacal very hard to get into because the hooks were so well hidden but once found the music opened up and became thrilling, many good albums to choose from but I would say 'all the glitters is a mares nest' is a good starting point for anybody who is curious. Just don't expect to understand it.

+1 for both Magazine and The Cardiacs.

Here are some more -

Buzzcocks (from "Spiral Scratch" to "Harmony in My Head")

A Certain Ratio (1979 - 1987)

A.R. Kane

The Durutti Column

Section 25

Heatwave

Cabaret Voltaire

Caravan.  Not widely known in the US, but what a great four year run of albums this was...

• If I Could Do It All Over Again, I'd Do It All Over You (1970)
• In the Land of Grey and Pink (1971)
• Waterloo Lily (1972)
• For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night (1973)

+ 1 for both Caravan & Man +

Bauhaus.

Henry Cow.

Hatfield & The North.

Slapp Happy.

Graham

Back Door

Faust

Art Bears

National Health

The Work

Egg

Pere Ubu

Cassiber

some of the bands I think deserved wider recognition in their day (another Graham mentioned Henry Cow and Hatfield.  BTW, I have a bootleg of Slapp Happy's 1982 ICA gig somewhere.....worth hearing for all fans.  I'm also surprised Soft machine and Nucleus don't get much mention on these pages).

whoops!  omit Pere Ubu and Faust.  

Ahh, the memories, Fatcat !! Budgie live at the 'Bentley Pavilion', sunny Doncaster, in the late 70's....

A really great band, and you are right, SO, SO under-rated.

At the same time, at the same venue (rather an elegant term for the place ), I remember seeing a band called LIMELIGHT - a three piece band hailing from down-town Mansfield, I think. The vocalist looked a cross between Robert Plant and Rod Stewart and played a double-neck guitar. Let me tell you, they were absolutely awesome (tremendous version of Achilles Last Stand, I remember). They supported a few 'big' bands, I think, at the time - maybe Saxon, Iron Maiden ?? And brought out one or two albums.  They should have been ENORMOUS. Anyone can remember the band ????