# Before They Were Famous: Early Musical Gems **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 5, 2020, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/before-they-were-famous-early-musical-gems/853227 "2020-05-05T20:53:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/before-they-were-famous-early-musical-gems/853227/21 "2020-05-06T19:34:51Z")
Young “James Page” playing skiffle on British TV. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/GVQIWyosEeI/hqdefault.jpg "Jimmy Page, Young Age!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVQIWyosEeI) ---
**Author:** ![its\_the\_daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bb73d2/32.png) [@its\_the\_daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/its_the_daddy)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/before-they-were-famous-early-musical-gems/853227/22 "2020-05-06T20:14:57Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Velvet Underground never became famous in their lifetime, only after (with a lot of push from Bowie) Lou Reed achieved solo fame. Speaking of whom, ‘The Laughing Gnome’. Find your own bl\*\*dy link. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/before-they-were-famous-early-musical-gems/853227/23 "2020-05-06T20:38:37Z")
> [@its\_the\_daddy](#): > > Speaking of whom, ‘The Laughing Gnome’. Find your own bl\*\*dy link. Now, now. I’m not sure The Laughing Gnome quite cuts it as a “gem” - but there are a couple from his early days that come close. [Uncle Arthur](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2MxWVrVnoY) is a fine piece of harmless fun. [The London Boys](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scFpxKdm2w4) is a bit too earnest, but there’s stuff to admire about it. Bowie is an interesting case, because after Space Oddity (find your own link ;)) he dropped like a stone and largely disappeared from view for years. In his refound obscurity - before he was famous for a second time - he recorded Hunky Dory, which I rate as his best album. You could pick pretty much anything off it and label it a gem - but how about [Oh! You Pretty Things](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixLm9eSYldE)? j ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/before-they-were-famous-early-musical-gems/853227/24 "2020-05-06T20:59:06Z")
Before they changed their name, before their first drummer exploded, Nigel, Derek and David recorded _[Gimme Some Money](https://youtu.be/ZMgyxqcdVYY)_ ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/before-they-were-famous-early-musical-gems/853227/25 "2020-05-06T21:18:17Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > Now, now. I’m not sure The Laughing Gnome quite cuts it as a “gem” - but there are a couple from his early days that come close. [Uncle Arthur](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2MxWVrVnoY) is a fine piece of harmless fun. [The London Boys](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scFpxKdm2w4) is a bit too earnest, but there’s stuff to admire about it. > > Bowie is an interesting case, because after Space Oddity (find your own link ;)) he dropped like a stone and largely disappeared from view for years. In his refound obscurity - before he was famous for a second time - he recorded Hunky Dory, which I rate as his best album. You could pick pretty much anything off it and label it a gem - but how about [Oh! You Pretty Things](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixLm9eSYldE)? > > j That’s my favorite Bowie album too! Like you say, all killer, no filler. And to complete the circle, it contains his homage to Velvet Underground, [Queen Bitch.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5P63qGTm_g) (“The Man Who Sold The World” was also a very good album, but very different. It was almost all pure straight hard rock, music you wouldn’t have expected from a man with long, golden angelic hair in a dress, lying on a couch, at the cover) ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/before-they-were-famous-early-musical-gems/853227/26 "2020-05-06T21:32:57Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > [Buckingham/Nicks](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/buckingham-nicks-buckingham-nicks/), released in 1973 and never reissued, digitized, or anything, despite there being an instant audience for this one. Came in to post that. She’s from here in Arizona, and this release was and still is such a monster. There is a Japanese CD version I’ve seen listed, but $$$. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/before-they-were-famous-early-musical-gems/853227/27 "2020-05-06T21:38:04Z")
> [@campp](#): > > Came in to post that. She’s from here in Arizona, and this release was and still is such a monster. There is a Japanese CD version I’ve seen listed, but $$$. It’s a very rare record. I went hunting for it, I don’t know, 15 years ago and couldn’t find it anywhere. I ended up downloading the album in mp3 format from a dubious source, probably ripped from an LP, but I didn’t feel so bad about it because there was just no other opportunity to hear this album. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/before-they-were-famous-early-musical-gems/853227/28 "2020-05-07T10:24:40Z")
One that slipped my mind. Don’t know how well this is known in the US. There was quite a kefuffle when this was a hit in the UK - an old session recording released after the session singer became famous. I remember the singer resolving matters by saying in the music press that he had no problem with the release, as he had been paid “handsomely” for the session. For a bit of fun, you can, if you wish, take a listen before checking out who it is. [The record](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcLlq_DXpY8). The artist: Python Lee Jackson feat Rod Stewart - In A Broken Dream [The wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_a_Broken_Dream). j ---
**Author:** ![Cabbage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@Cabbage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabbage)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/before-they-were-famous-early-musical-gems/853227/29 "2020-05-07T11:16:20Z")
A couple that popped in my head: Jeff Lynne had another band before ELO or The Move: The Idle Race, a late 60s psychedelic pop/rock band. A couple of songs: [Imposters of Life's Magazine - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIQ-9YnkbWs) Then there’s The Mynah Birds. I wasn’t familiar with this band until 2006, when some of their original stuff was repackaged in a Motown anthology and there was a wave of stories about the band. If you didn’t catch that the first time around and have any interest in 60s/70s rock, you owe it to yourself to read the history on their Wikipedia page: > **[The Mynah Birds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mynah_Birds)** > > The Mynah Birds was a Canadian R&B band formed in Toronto, Ontario, that was active from 1964 to 1967. Although the band never released an album, it is notable as featuring a number of musicians, such as Rick James and Neil Young, who went on to have successful careers in rock, folk rock and funk. > Over its short lifespan, the group featured many members in its many different configurations. Its most memorable lineup included Rick James, Neil Young, Bruce Palmer, Rickman Mason and John Taylor. Ri... When I first learned of them, I was honestly astounded at the plethora of famous names linked in one way or another to their history. It really sounds like a set up for the punch line of some joke. Here’s one of their singles: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tQTE8hKvaaI/hqdefault.jpg "The Mynah Birds - It's My Time w)Rick James & Neil Young") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQTE8hKvaaI) ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/before-they-were-famous-early-musical-gems/853227/30 "2020-05-07T12:38:39Z")
Todd Rundgren’s first band, The Nazz, had a minor hit with “Open My Eyes” before Todd went on to bigger and better things solo and with Utopia. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/apW-fj11T_k/maxresdefault.jpg "Nazz - Open My Eyes") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apW-fj11T_k) I believe they also did the original version of Todd’s “Hello It’s Me”, which became a huge hit for him a few years later when it reappeared on his “Something/Anything” album. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/before-they-were-famous-early-musical-gems/853227/31 "2020-05-07T12:42:47Z")
A pre-Counting Crows Adam Duritz singing with Sordid Humor? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/2hBJRMKyfgg/hqdefault.jpg "Sordid Humor - Barbarossa") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hBJRMKyfgg) Tupac Shakur as a backup dancer for Digital Underground? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/PBsjggc5jHM/maxresdefault.jpg "Digital Underground - The Humpty Dance (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBsjggc5jHM) ---
**Author:** ![jeezums](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@jeezums](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jeezums)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/before-they-were-famous-early-musical-gems/853227/32 "2020-05-08T19:09:01Z")
Ronnie James Dio back in 1961 [https://youtu.be/ew8MUT00aK0](https://youtu.be/ew8MUT00aK0) ---
**Author:** ![Flare4roach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7cd45c/32.png) [@Flare4roach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flare4roach)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/before-they-were-famous-early-musical-gems/853227/33 "2020-05-09T03:17:10Z")
The great Duane Allman puttting all the mojo in Aretha Franklin’s cover of the “The Weight” by The Band. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8amTtY\_ilE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8amTtY_ilE) ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/before-they-were-famous-early-musical-gems/853227/34 "2020-05-09T04:34:35Z")
This is the shortened version, but you can find the 16 minute version of Frank Zappa playing the bicycle on the Steve Allen Show on YouTube also. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/izDvYokFU7U/hqdefault.jpg "Frank Zappa's Bicycle Debut") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izDvYokFU7U) ETA: this is a great thread. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/before-they-were-famous-early-musical-gems/853227/35 "2020-05-09T08:14:43Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > One that slipped my mind. Don’t know how well this is known in the US. There was quite a kefuffle when this was a hit in the UK - an old session recording released after the session singer became famous. I remember the singer resolving matters by saying in the music press that he had no problem with the release, as he had been paid “handsomely” for the session. For a bit of fun, you can, if you wish, take a listen before checking out who it is. [The record](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcLlq_DXpY8). > > The artist: > > Python Lee Jackson feat Rod Stewart - In A Broken Dream > > [The wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_a_Broken_Dream). > > j I wanted to play along, I really did, but YouTube spoiled it with its algorithm for recommending other videos. ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/before-they-were-famous-early-musical-gems/853227/36 "2020-05-09T09:13:48Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Pink Floyd was a weird little cult group before _Dark Side_. Not a lot of people listened to their first album. But their 5th album went to No 1 in the UK (_Atom Heart Mother_). They were huge over here. A weird big cult group. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/before-they-were-famous-early-musical-gems/853227/37 "2020-05-09T10:56:57Z")
Larry Lurex - Freddie, Brian and Roger from Queen recorded this for an engineer friend as an experiment before releasing the first Queen album. For that matter, Smile. Brian and Roger - with Tim Staffel - recorded several songs before breaking up. Here's their version of Doing All Right which would alter be on the first Queen LP. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6bIyVW5pSc) ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/before-they-were-famous-early-musical-gems/853227/38 "2020-05-09T12:46:08Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > That’s my favorite Bowie album too! Like you say, all killer, no filler. And to complete the circle, it contains his homage to Velvet Underground, [Queen Bitch.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5P63qGTm_g) Hi EH - your enthusiasm for the Velvet Underground jogged my memory. I assume you’ll know these, but for people who aren’t familiar with them - a couple of recordings by Uncle Lou that predate the Velvets: [Cycle Annie](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjGMMect3HY) [You’re Driving Me Insane](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOVqwGCQods) I think I must have last heard these back in the late '70s when a friend got hold of them on scratchy vinyl and played them to me - I’m slightly surprised I could remember the titles correctly. I have to confess that I didn’t give them much mind at the time - there was a lot happening in the mid/late '70s. Listening to them again now, I think Cycle Annie maybe qualifies as an early gem. j ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/before-they-were-famous-early-musical-gems/853227/39 "2020-05-09T12:47:28Z")
Double post, usual reasons. So I’ll just take the opportunity to say, I’m still struggling to get over Lady Gaga. Wow. Fine work, **Cochrane**! j ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/before-they-were-famous-early-musical-gems/853227/40 "2020-05-09T14:11:53Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > Hi EH - your enthusiasm for the Velvet Underground jogged my memory. I assume you’ll know these, but for people who aren’t familiar with them - a couple of recordings by Uncle Lou that predate the Velvets: > > [Cycle Annie](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjGMMect3HY) > [You’re Driving Me Insane](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOVqwGCQods) > > I think I must have last heard these back in the late '70s when a friend got hold of them on scratchy vinyl and played them to me - I’m slightly surprised I could remember the titles correctly. I have to confess that I didn’t give them much mind at the time - there was a lot happening in the mid/late '70s. Listening to them again now, I think Cycle Annie maybe qualifies as an early gem. > > j Thanks, **Treppenwitz** , actually this is the first time I listened to these tracks, though I had heard about them. Nice surf guitar on “Cycle Annie”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/before-they-were-famous-early-musical-gems/853227.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/before-they-were-famous-early-musical-gems/853227.md?page=3)