Obscure LPs you can't help loving

Cafe Society
1

We had a thread on geeky songs, let’s have one on obscure LPs. Is there an album you’re the only one (or one of very few) to know about? An album that, despite of that, you just can’t help loving?

I’ll open with McDonald and Giles, released by, well, Ian McDonald and Michael Giles. Despite the unimaginative title, it’s very good! A sort of jazzy-proggy pop. Gotta love that jam in Suite in C.

Apparently I’m one of very few people to know this record exists, let alone bothering to give it a spin.

What’s your pick? And how did you find out about it?

2

I love The Cure’s first LP, Three Imaginary Boys. It’s really muddy, badly recorded new wave, including a cover of Foxy Lady. Love it.

3

Atomic Rooster’s Made in England.

Aphrodite’s Child’s 666.

Roy Harper’s Flat Baroque and Berserk.

I took too many drugs when I was a kid.

4

FM’s “Surveillance”, possibly the coolest record ever!
On a side note, I used to work overnights for a Pacifica radio station and I never brought enough music so I would play albums based on the covers, using this “method” I made some amazing band discoveries:
Atomic Rooster, Can, Gong, Amon Duul, Kamper Van Beethoven, Squeeze (who puts 1 really good song on every album), Checkfield, Hawkwind (ELO on heavy drugs), 777 and many more (it’s been a long time).

unclviny

5

Merlin - Bard of the unseen by Dutch band Kayak. Best CD I have ever heard.

This is the ice-age by Martha and the Muffins. Obscure enough to still be unavailable on CD. One of the best albums of the eighties.

6

Hooteroll? by Howard Wales and Jerry Garcia

“We invited Howard to try out as our new keyboard player when Pig got sick. The weirder he played, the weirder we played. It just too weird, even for us. Maybe in the next incarnation.”
-Jerry Garcia

7

Good start – I liked Macdonald and Giles; “Birdman” was terrific.

I have a long list, of course. :slight_smile:

Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus – Spirit. A truly great album by a criminally neglected group.

Renaissance. This is the original incarnation of the group, a spinoff of the Yardbirds that played baroque-tinged rock and roll. One of the best meldings of classical and rock ever made.

Kak – Psychedelic rock with some great songs.

Siegel-Schwall Band – they have a couple of albums by this name, but I mean the one from 1971 with “Hush Hush” on it. If that song doesn’t get your toes tapping, you’re dead.

White African – Otis Taylor – dark, hard nosed acoustic blues.

Flash and the Pan – their first album by a nose over their second (also great), Lights in the Night. Apocalyptic rock with spoken lyrics. When my wife and I divorced, we fought over who’d get these albums. I won. :slight_smile:

Emitt Rhodes – dubbed at the time “The American Paul McCartney,” since it came out at the same time as McCartney’s first solo album and they both played all the instruments. Great, catchy songwriter you can’t help humming along with. In a just world, this should have been a monster hit; I still can’t figure out why it didn’t spawn any hit singles (back when hit singles could still be great songs).

Song Cycle – Van Dyck Parks – A truly adventurous album; if it had caught on, it would have changed the face of rock music. Alas, it did not.

Third – Soft Machine – a perfect melding of jazz and rock; when it came out, some critics called it the best rock album of all time. Four songs, but each is over 18 minutes long (it was originally a two-record set).

It’s a Beautiful Day – the name of the record and the group. San Francisco psychedelia, one of the few rock groups with a violin as its signature instrument. “White Bird” is a classic song, but the rest of the album is stellar.

Hot Tuna – a spinoff of the Jefferson Airplane with Jack Cassidy and Jorman Kaukonan playing great acoustic blues, joined by Will Scarlett on harmonica. The group was supposed to be named Hot Shit, but the record company got cold feet.

Papa John Creach – Creach was a blues fiddler who came to prominance with Hot Tuna and the Jefferson Airplane after years of toiling in the shadows. His solo album is an eclectic mix of songs, from blues to “Over the Rainbow.”

8

Chuck

I got close to adding It’s A Beautiful Day, if for no other reason than the album cover. I also have a later album by David LaFlamme called “White Bird.” It may be the only copy in existence.

As to Hot Tuna, I’m partial to Qwah.

9

OMG, this was the absolute FIRST album I thought of when I saw this post! I first heard them live (playing “Hush Hush”. of course!) on a Rhode Island radio station while I was in college (early 70’s) – a friend had recorded it, and though we weren’t ever able to find the album (Wooden Nickel), looking for it became our Holy Grail. I still remember the day many years later (we were living very near each other at the time) when I walked into his house and he had the CD playing on his stereo!

I got my own copy the next day :smiley:

10

Oh, I should mention this CD is a Reunion Album. No, I’m not obsessed with Siegel-Schwall… nope, not me :wink:

11

Well, since it does say “obscure LPs” and not “obscure groups”, I’ll start with:
[ul]
[li] The Night the Light Went On in Long Beach – Electric Light Orchestra. A live album recorded, as you might expect, in Long Beach, California, just before ELO got really big. Rocks out a lot harder, with a lot more raw energy, than you’d expect from their later overproduced efforts. It also helps that much of the material is covers (“Roll Over Beethoven”, “Day Tripper”, “Orange Blossom Special”, “Great Balls of Fire” and “In The Hall of the Mountain King”), so it doesn’t suffer from the weaknesses of Jeff Lynne’s later songwriting efforts. It wasn’t even released in the U.S. until 1985 or so (I had a British import of it back in the day). I’m told the remastered CD version is even more stunning than the vinyl version. As you may have gathered, I don’t have much use for most of ELO, but this one is worth having.[/li][li]Searching for the Young Soul Rebels – Dexy’s Midnight Runners. Yeah, I know, everyone got really sick of “Come On, Eileen”, and even here Kevin Rowland displays some of the flaws that would make much of his later efforts so disappointing. But for the most part, this disc is a ton of fun – a solid slab of Northern-Soul-inspired tunes like “Seven Days Too Long”, “Burn It Down”, and “Geno”. Most of the lineup left after disputes with Rowland, and it was essentially a completely different lineup that became an international sensation.[/li][/ul]

Then there’s the obscure discs from equally obscure bands:
[ul]
[li]Joyland – Liberty Horses. I grabbed this right after it was released mainly because two of the members of Liberty Horses were Kristy MacColl’s half-brothers Neil and Calum. I’ve been glad I did ever since. Nothing earth-shaking or groundbreaking about it, but a thoroughly enjoyable pop record that I still play regularly ten years later. Unfortunately, it was the only album they released.[/li][li]One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure – The Jody Grind. Before “trashcan jazz”, there was The Jody Grind. Kelly Hogan is still one of my two favorite female vocalists of the last 30 years or so (along with Kirsty MacColl). I saw them several times in Atlanta (including a couple of early gigs when they were still called An Evening With the Garbageman), and was always completely blown away by Kelly Hogan’s voice, even though she always seemed extremely uncomfortable on stage in those days. In the studio, without an audience in front of her, she was at her best. Interesting song selections too (“It Ain’t Necessarily So”, “Wishing and Hoping”, “Peter Gunn”, “Mood Indigo”). A slightly altered version of the group released one more album before two members were killed in car wreck returning to Atlanta from a gig in New Orleans. Kelly played (rhythm guitar) with the RockATeens for a bit, released a solo album that suffered mainly from the quality of the material, then moved to Chicago. She turns up a fair amount on releases from other Bloodshot Records artists and buddy Neko Case, and has released two more solo efforts.[/li][li]New Favorites of Brinsley Schwarz – Brinsley Schwarz. Could have listed a couple of other Brinsley Schwarz LPs in place of this one, but it probably holds up the best of them – at any rate, there’s no really embarassing moments as there are on most of the band’s earlier efforts. Features the original version of “(What’s So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding”, a solid cover of “Trying to Live My Life Without You” and several other worthy, though perhaps not brilliant, Nick Lowe tunes. Nick Lowe went on to Rockpile and to fame as a producer for any number of other artists, Bob Andrews and Brinsley Schwarz went on to join Graham Parker’s backing band The Rumour, and Ian Gomm had a minor American hit with “Hold On”.[/li][li]Don’t Mind Rockin Tonite – Ducks Deluxe. I’ve already admitted to my love for pub rock by including Brinsley Schwarz, but for I’ve gotta include this one as well. I probably played this disc as much as any other in my late high school years, and I still enjoy it. Nothing fancy, but as infectious as it comes if you like this sort of thing. None of their first few LPs were released in the U.S.; this record combines tracks from all three and was released in the states years after they’d broken up, after the members had gone on to greater prominence in other bands (most notably Martin Belmont, who turned up in The Rumour). The cover of “I Fought the Law” might be the definitive version, much as I love The Clash’s, and the title track, “Fireball”, and “Coast To Coast” are great rock songs, while “Love’s Melody” and “Please, Please, Please” foreshadow the imminent rise of power pop a couple of years later.[/li][/ul]

12

For some reason I always call that Roy Harper album “Flat Baroque and Busted” but I can’t remember why.

I have the Jody Grind album “One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure” and love it! I envy you for getting to see them live rackensack.

I know Can, Gong (I have several Mother Gong albums), Camper Van Beethoven (I was a huge fan, followed them around videotaping concerts one year), Squeeze, of course, Van Dyke Parks (my favorite album is Jump), Soft Machine (am still a big fan of Dave - not that one - Stewart & Barbara Gaskin), It’s A Beautiful Day, Hot Tuna, Jorman Kaukonan, and Papa John Creach. And The Cure, but not that album.

Here are some of mine, but I’m not able to describe them. I was surprised to find a few web sites while looking up spellings and whatnot. Sonoko, for example, is a breathy, sparsely lush Japanese singer (see, I suck at descriptions) and I’d looked for info about her over the years. Just tonight, I tried again and there she was! Joy!

Santra - OXYD
**Sonoko ** - La Debutante
Helen & the Horns - “Surry With The Fringe On Top” EP
Christina - “Christina” and “Sleep It Off”
Deux Filles - “Silence and Wisdom” and “Double Happiness”
The Shakers - “Living In The Shadow Of A Spirit” and “Songs From Beneath The Lake”
Float Up CP - “Kill Me In The Morning” (Neneh Cherry lead vocals
Rip Rig & Panic - speaking of Neneh Cherry
**The Carousel ** - Sorrow Is The Way To Love
Riz - “Self-Portrait” (coulda been a Jeff Buckley, but he screwed around with his talent, then disappeared)
Zebra Stripes - “Zebra Is Her Name” (lots of fun)
Sylvia Wood - “The Harp of Brandeswhiere” (what it sounds like. Beautiful)
The Bandreras - “Ripe” (atmospheric, intelligent)
Skinner Box - self -titled (Black Tape For A Blue Girl’s Julianna Towns’ early project)
About 9 Times - “There Is No…” (pre-dated Squirrel Nut Zippers)
Ruby Blue - “Glances Askances” (Rebecca Pidgeon lead vocals)
Camper Van Chadbourne - self-titled (collaboration between Eugene Chadbourne and Camper)
Sandii & the Sunsetz - “Immigrants”
Virginia Astley - anything
Mathilde Santing - anything
Happy Rhodes - anything
Will Powers - “Dancing For Mental Health”
Anna Domino - anything, except for Snakefarm
Hex - Donette Thayer’s (Game Theory) band
Hetch Hetchy - Linda Limner (Michael Stipe’s talented sister)
blackgirls - short-lived Athens, GA group, with 2 albums
Edgar Froese - Epsilon in Malaysian Pale (probably doesn’t count)
Flaming Youth - Ark 2 (somewhat rare. I can’t help but love it)
I could look through my 1500 LPs and 1000+ CDs for more, but those came to mind quickest.

13

The first two albums by Doll by Doll I didn’t think they were that obscure but no-one ever seems to have heard of them. Powerful stuff but tough to describe. Not available on CD (last time I looked) though the main man Jackie Leven is still active.

Holly Vincent’s “Holly and the Italians” the solo album not the band effort, though I guess that counts too. I think this is available on CD if you knock on Holly’s door, or something.

14

Oh dear memory problems, Google to the rescue

Holly Beth Vincent:

http://www.woundedbird.com/italians/2234.htm

Doll by Doll’s first two albums:

Remember, Gypsy Blood

http://home.xnet.it/tout/HTML/DxDNME.htm

Oops - that’s the third album by the look of it, it’ll have to do I’vs gotta get back to work.

15

Actual vinyl LPs:

Kinky Friedman - Kinky Friedman. Finally found a CD of this since I listen to it so much.

Roger Glover - The Mask. 80s solo project by the Deep Purple and Rainbow bassist. Actually has a couple of solid songs despite having 80s Yamaha keyboard syndrome.

16

On my list of Albums I’ve Fallen In Love With are several pretty darn obscure ones, including…

Anything by Something Fierce (a Minnesota band from the late 80’s-early 90’s, and one of the most fun bands ever)

Lulu by Trip Shakespeare: a terrific pop album with tons of wonderful moments

Motor Cycle (among others) by Daniel Amos: what Abbey Road would have sounded like if the Beatles had been reading Frederick Buechner

Living Room! by Richard X. Heyman

And here in the U.S., Madness are pretty much one-hit wonders, so maybe I can mention their Keep Moving and One Step Beyond….

17

Wow, lots of great suggestions! I’m taking notes (actually, saving the thread every few hours) for directions for my next purchases.

Allow me to contribute another couple: Tago Mago and Ege Bamyasi by Can! I just got them - weird, convoluted, spacey, disquieting… Wonderful! I know unclviny already mentioned Can, but I think those LPs deserve a specific mention.

But I must admit that now, after playing them, I have to cheer myself up with good ole McDonald and Giles… BTW, RealityChuck, I’m happy someone knows that album exists.

18

I don’t know how obscure it is, but my very first album (and I loved it-unfortuantely don’t have it anymore)
was called Too Much Too Soon by The New York Dolls.
circa 1973.
good stuff!

19

Over the past few years, I’ve kind of become obsessed with private-press psychedelia and funk, the kind of records that were pressed in quantities of 100-500 or less, and disappeared instantly. For some of these legendary records, only one or two original copies are known to exist, in the hands of heavy-hitting collectors. They trade for thousands, when they do pop up. Only by virtue of recent reissues can some of this music be heard.

In addition, the major labels (Capitol being a great example) also produced several amazing, classic records that were immediately pulled or left to wither on the vine, for whatever reason, and thus drifted into obscurity.

That having been said, a large portion of these rariries just aren’t–well, they aren’t that good. However, the gems among them deserve wider recognition. Here are a few fairly accessible ones I love:

Euphoria, A Gift From Euphoria: A classic Capitol release from 1968-9 that barely even saw the light of day. This is perhaps the greatest country-rock album ever recorded–and that includes anything Gram Parsons did, IMHO…
Relatively Clean Rivers, Relatively Clean Rivers: An ingenious, shimmering album of laid-back, acidy acoustic and electric guitar with some nice backward effects and good vocals.
Perry Leopold, Electric Lucifer: The “unreleased” album by the guy who did the (slightly more well-known) Experiment in Metaphysics, this is an amazing album of Christian-flavored 12-string psychedelia.
Pete Fine, On A Day of Crystalline Thought: This may be one of my favorite albums ever–there are many levels to its brilliance. In 1974, Pete Fine moved from New York City (where he had been in the cult-classic band The Flow) to Arizona, and cut this album with the help of his girlfriend, local musicians and a string section. Unfortunately, he must have run out of money, because he only pressed 100 copies of the album. It’s impossible for me to really do this album justice here, but I have seen it described as being “like walking around a park in the summer, on acid.” Complex orchestrations of strings, chimes and bells, and Fine’s amazing acoustic and stinging electric guitar throughout make it like nothing else I have ever heard.
The David, Another day Another Lifetime: Anyone who loves Forever Changes by Love, owes it to themselves to seek this album out right away. No joke. It’s every bit the equal of that vaunted classic, and will appeal to the lover of complex, multifaceted rock. Plus, it’s got better guitar solos!
The End, Introspection: And now, an entry from the UK. And a formidable one, too. Fans of the Pretty Things and the Zombies, check this one out. Not too rare at all, but for some reason still obscure.
Linda Perhacs, Parallelograms: Appeals to the same part of me that loves Vashti Bunyan, Joni Mitchell and The Iditarod.

20

I have this one (cover art) which is considered pretty obscure, and I’m fond of it.