MPCSSIMS: Filling the classic rock gaps

Throughout my music listening, I’m constantly filling in the past. Everybody has to do it sometime; there’s always music that was created before you were born, no matter when that was. And I listen to a lot of music, so by now there’s rarely something that catches me off guard. It used to be that I’d listen to an old artist, and I’d say, "wow, where did that come from, why haven’t I heard that before?

That doesn’t happen so much, anymore. I’ve found my new experience is sifting through the catalogues of artists I’ve never really thought much of, realizing that there are a few tracks that are pretty great and grabbing them and moving on. For me, my big blind spot has been classic rock. For instance, my latest adoptions, Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” and “Rocket Man,” or Bob Dylan’s “Postively 4th Street.” I’m not new to this; I don’t recommendations for more songs like this. You tell me to buy Blood On The Tracks and I’m just not going to be that interested. I’ve heard it, there are some cool songs, but I’m fine with not owning that record. It’s not for me. Different strokes and all. But I still like discovering diamonds in what I consider the rough.

I’m not sure what I expect from this thread. I did call it Mundane Pointless Cafe Society Stuff I Must Share, after all. But still, here it is. You can give me suggestions if you want, although seriously, I probably won’t need them - I’m fully aware of Aerosmith or Bob Seger, and I know I don’t need them in my life. And tell me I’m stupid for missing out on that much Dylan, and sure, I do like a few more songs than “4th Street,” - “Like A Rolling Stone,” “Tangled Up In Blue,” “Just Like A Woman,” but seriously, I know Dylan well enough to know exactly how much i want. Or maybe you can just share your similar experiences with filling in the gaps of music you don’t like. Or maybe this thread will rapidly drop off into nothingness. Let’s see.

Actually, I’m envisioning a few disinterested, “Get a Blog!” posts, but, fair enough.

How about Traffic and The Band?

Traffic:
Hole in My Shoe
Heaven is in Your Mind
Feelin’ Alright (a must – it was covered by hundreds of people)
Glad/Freedom Rider
John Barleycorn
Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (probably the only Traffic song you may be familiar with).

The Band
The Weight (The only song they’ve written that you can hear on the radio)
Chest Fever
Up on Cripple Creek
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down (you may know Joan Baez’s inferior version)
The Shape I’m In
Stage Fright
Ophelia

Procol Harum (I assume you know of “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” and “Conquistadore”; if not, they are musts)
She Wandered Through the Garden Fence
Kaleidoscope
Shine on Brightly
A Salty Dog
The Milk of Human Kindness

Others:

“21st Century Schizoid Man” – King Crimson
“So Deep Within You,” “Lovely to See You,” “Ride my See Saw” – Moody Blues
The Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus – Spirit (the entire album)

I’ll add

The Kinks:
“Dedicated Follower of Fashion”
“Sunny Afternoon”
“Well Respected Man”
“Death of A Clown”

Hendrix:
Aside from the obvious, the whole “Axis: Bold As Love” album

Lou Reed/Velvet Underground:
“Perfect Day”
“Lisa Says”
“Sweet Jane”
“Rock & Roll”

And how could I forget David Bowie (thank you, iPod)?!?!

“Rock & Roll Suicide”
“Five Years”
“The Man Who Sold The World”
“Lady Stardust”
“Velvet Goldmine”
“The Width of a Circle”

Hell, just invest in “Ziggy Stardust” and “The Man Who Sold The World”

Eric Clapton’s versions of both “Motherless Children” and “Evil”. Completely overlooked in my book as two amazing songs that were overshadowed by crap on the same albums.