Spirit
Known, if at all, for “I Got A Line On You,” but did many better songs, like “Animal Zoo,” “Mr. Skin,” “Darling If,” or “Morning Must Come.”
J. Geils – Nothing tops “Whammer Jammer” – especially the live version.
Beatles – “Hey Bulldog” – Great Lennon Rock 'n Roll song hidden on the “Yellow Submarine” album.
The Who – “A Quick One While He’s Away” – their forgotten rock miniopera. Parts were recycled into “Tommy.” Other good choices are “Music Must Change” and “Guitar and Pen.”
Pink Floyd – “Atom Heart Mother” – their best work, oddly forgotten. For a more obscure choice, there’s always “Free Four.” For even more obscure, there’s “Come in Number 51, Your Time Is Up.”
Led Zeppelin – “When the Levee Breaks” – back to their roots with first-class blues.
Procol Harum – “She Wandered Through the Garden Fence” Lyrics as weird as “Whiter Shade of Pale” with a great melody. “Homburg” is also pretty good.
Jefferson Airplane – “Wooden Ships” – The same song that Crosby Stills and Nash sang, but with an edge to it. CSN are sad that civilization was destroyed; Grace Slick is angry.
Allman Brothers Band – “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” – great instrumental by Dicky Betts, but gets no airplay due to its length. Instead, they play the abysmal “Jessica.” Feh.
Moody Blues – “So Deep Within You”
Emerson Lake and Palmer – “Are you Ready, Eddie?” – Old time rock 'n roll throwaway.
Cream – “Mother’s Lament” – Nutty and wierd, like they were drunk in the studio.
Randy Newman – “Just One Smile” – He’s best known for his film music, but this is one of the greatest breakup songs ever.
Blood Sweat and Tears – “Just One Smile” – While not as good as Newman’s version, this is by far the best song they recorded. It was done by the original, Al Kooper lineup – i.e., no David Clayton Thomas.
Frank Zappa and the Mothers – “Penis Dimension” from “200 Motels” (“Do you worry? Do you worry and moan?”). Actually, most of his work was better than his hits (“Dancing Fool” and “Valley Girl”), though neither is bad.
