Overlooked tracks - hidden gems - buried treasures
Posted by: joerand on 04 June 2016
Steppenwolf is well-recognized for "Born To Be Wild" and "Magic Carpet Ride". I recently posted that Steppenwolf's lesser known "The Pusher" is perhaps the band's best track. I wonder what similar hidden gems others would offer here. A song that may not have met with any commercial success, but one you'd like others to have a chance to appreciate.
Try this version of I Put A Spell On You Alan Price
As long as someone brought up the Stones, this is, I think, an underrated gem, on what is generally an underrated album:
Memory Motel is another off this collection that is not as famous as other tunes but really excellent as well.
DrMark posted:As long as someone brought up the Stones, this is, I think, an underrated gem, on what is generally an underrated album:
Memory Motel is another off this collection that is not as famous as other tunes but really excellent as well.
Not so sure I'd classify B&B as underrated.
G
Well I don't think it gets put in the same category as Sticky Fingers, Let It Bleed, Exile on Main St., Goat's Head Soup, Some Girls, or Tattoo You (this last of which I don't even consider an all time greatest Stones album, but the sales figures are second only to Some Girls & the Hot Rocks compilation.)
It didn't even out sell Emotional Rescue, which I think borders on being a bloody awful album.
Hence my use of the term "underrated" - but those of us in the know, know better!
(PS - I also think Beggar's Banquet is underrated.)
Reading the OP, the first track that sprung to mind was Pusherman by Curtis Mayfield, found it on youtube, surprised to find it's had nearly 10 million hits. Checked out The Pusher by Steppenwolf, that's had 1.5 million hits. Both might be treasures, but the're not deeply buried.
Something buried a little deeper (low thousands). Skybird by Chevy, the best best track on an overlooked but excellent album, by an overlooked but excellent band.
Or buried even deeper. (low hundreds)
Paul Barrere - She Lays Down The beat. (probably the only great track on the album)
Glad to see this is not all about the Stones. But, then I couldn't stop myself with this:
Cat Power - (I can't get no) Satisfaction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF3Wo47EbNo
C.
On the Local Hero soundtrack there is a lovely track with Gerry Rafferty called The Way It Always Starts.
One of my favorites is "Oh Well, Part 2" which is a bonus track on the 2013 Warner Bros. reissue of Fleetwood Mac's 1969 album Then Play On, their last with Peter Green I think.
Charlie
joerand, this could become a great thread! Another I like is "Breathless" from Cat Power's Jukebox.
Another Stone's jewel (play it for a friend and see how long before they figure it out) is reggae: "Too Rude from Dirty Work.
Or, how about "Sitting In Limbo" by Mumbo Gumbo on Deep Soup.
I hope cool jazz is OK. I find this live recording hauntingly beautiful: "Softly, William, Softly" by Dave Brubeck Quartet, on Concord On A Summer Night.
I only recently discovered this gem by David Crosby, with many guests: "Laughing" from If Only I Could Remember My Name, which includes Gerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Bill Kruetzmann, Graham Nash, Joni Mitchell.
Sorry, I'm on a roll. For me the definitive performance of "Killing The Blues" is by Shawn Colvin on Cover Girl.
"Invitation To The Blues" on Jennifer Warnes' The Well.
I bought Golden Earring's Moontan LP for "Radar Love" and "Candy's Going Bad". "Vanilla Queen" became the standout track for me in all its 9+ minutes glory. They don't make songs like this anymore.
joerand posted:I bought Golden Earring's Moontan LP for "Radar Love" and "Candy's Going Bad". "Vanilla Queen" became the standout track for me in all its 9+ minutes glory. They don't make songs like this anymore.
Another good shout Randy, I'll stick this in the playlist.
Excellent thread idea. Here are some of mine:
- Boston: We're Ready and Cool the Engines from Third Stage (1986). Great fun pomp-rock.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?...t=PL1C38EE5355A6FE0E
- Dire Straits: The Man's Too Strong from Brothers in Arms (1985). A quiet song of regret on an album perhaps (un)justly (in)famous for its 80s associations
- John Lee Hooker & Van Morrison: I cover the waterfront from Mr Lucky (1991). A song which gets away from the lager-commercial-blues to embody genuine regret and pain in 6 minutes you don't want to end, despite the hurt.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0faxGGxABL0
- Michael Jackson: Will you be there? from Dangerous (1991). Captures a real feeling of gospel soul in a way that over-production hides on many of his recordings. Try to ignore the man who was f...ed up and listen to the artist he was inside
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRqYVFr7sL4
- Weather Report: D flat waltz from Domino Theory (1984). Has 3:4 ever sounded so fun or funky?
- No really decent version on YouTube that I can find, but it's on Spotify. If the opening leaves you nonplussed, skip to the last minute and try to stop your foot tapping
Mark