No one mentions The Ballad of Curtis Lowe when they talk about Skynyrd.
I agree, the first four albums by the Eagles are my favorite. They had the crossover sound that was just becoming popular. When the sound became popular they became Pop. I could add Doolin-Dalton, Ol’ 55, and My Man to the list of underrated songs.
BTW was Desparado intended to be a concept album? There seems to be a story to it.
Sgt Schwartz
It’s interesting how many people are mentioning Pink Floyd stuff. Well, I’m gonna add two more. Two more which in my opinion are not just underrated, but absolutely amazing.
Paintbox from Relics and
The Nile Song also from Relics.
Even though they’re on the same album, these tracks have little in common except their excellence. Paintbox is understated “psychodelia” whereas The Nile Song is, believe it or not, just good old fashioned pure rock.
I’ll use this opportunity to note a hugely underrated song on an incomprehensibly underrated album. The song I’m talking about is Jethro Tull’s “For Michael Collins, Jeffrey And Me” from their magnificent and moving Benefit
Right, it was cut from the original version of the movie, which makes it even more obscure. The newer DVDs have corrected that.
I think that’s one of their best numbers. I love the intensity.
That’s probably my favorite Beatles song period.
Count me in for “Hey Bulldog,” too. And “Only a Northern Song” from the same album as one of George Harrison’s best. Fun lyrics, too.
I, too, like the music on Pink Floyd’s Obscured by Clouds, but give “Free Four” the nod over the rest. I also think “Atom Heart Mother” is vastly underrated.
For the Who, I’ll mention “Join Together” and “The Relay,” both released as singles, but not on any album. There’s also “Music Must Change” from Who Are You?.
Others:
The Kinks – “Apeman”
Rolling Stones – “Dear Doctor” or “2000 Light Years From Home”
Allman Brothers Band – “Dimples”
Grateful Dead – “Bertha”
Jefferson Airplane – “Lather”
Billy Joel – “Everybody Loves You Now”
Elton John – “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters”
The Stones have a brilliant song, on “Metamorphosis” (and a ton of bootlegs) called “Downtown Lucy”, inexplicably listed as “Downtown Suzie.” It’s lots of fun, really catchy, full of hooks, and so ragged and sloppy that they never returned to it to do a better version. But the one they did make is a classic!
I am going to toss in another Led Zeppelin Song: The Battle of Evermore.
I love this song, the duet with Sandy Denny of Fairport Convention is a highlight and I find this song every bit as great as Stairway to Heaven. The two songs work so well paired up that I actually prefer hearing them together.
I loved the jumbled up workings of Plants mind and his readings. He was inspired by a book on Scottish history he had just read and jumbled it up with his love of Middle-Earth and Arthurian legend into an eternal battle of Good vs. Evil.
The Lovemongers (Wilson Sisters of Heart) did a great acoustic version of it back in the 1992.
Jim
"Thunder Road" is far and away Bruce Springsteen’s best song. I can’t imagine why it wasn’t released as a single. Maybe the song isn’t “underrated” per se (I think it is generally regarded as a classic these days), but it is underexposed because (not being a single) it has received relatively little airplay over the years.
“Lounge Act” by Nirvana. Overlooked due to the several other awesome songs on the album- I think it’s one of their best, especially Kurt’s screaming reprise of the first verse at the end of the song.
“The Greatest Discovery” and “First Episode at Higenton” from Elton John
That tune debuted on “The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clarke”–starring former Byrd Gene Clark, Doug Dillard & Bernie Leadon. Leadon co-wrote “there’s a train” & recorded it again when he became an Eagle.
http://ebni.com/byrds/spdandc1.html
Dillard & Clarke’s albums were wonderful but did not sell.
If you’re interested in LA country/folk rock, I’d also recommend “Wheatstraw Suite” by the Dillards. Doug left the band before this was cut, preferring more traditional bluegrass. But it’s another unsung gem of the era.
For true obscurity, check out Hearts & Flowers.
But the Eagles got famous…
I’m gonna throw another Pink Floyd song out, Julia Dream from Relics.
I second The inner light, although I think its a shame it doesn’t kick in before 3:00
Also, I second Apeman, if it is in fact lowly rated. It’s my number 4 favorite Kinks song, I think.
Some more examples I thought of:
Wilco’s Company In My Back from their newest album, is one of their best songs, but I haven’t heard it mentioned anywhere
Coldplay’s excellent B-side Bigger, Stronger
Queen’s Sail Away Sweet Sister
Great thread for filling in holes in the old mp3 collection. I’d like to add:
Queen-Far Away
Billy Joel-Vienna
Eric Clapton-Rock N Roll Heart
For earlier Beatles, my favorite lesser-known tunes are “There’s a Place” and “Things We Said Today.”
Good call. I started to mention that one myself.
One more from Elton and Bernie: “All the Nasties”. Probably my all-around favorite of theirs.
Spread Your Wings?
Van Halen - “The Full Bug”. Tucked in amongst all the covers and instrumentals on Diver Down was this ass-kicking rave up. I don’t think I ever heard it on the radio, even back in the early 1980s when the album was all over the place.
I’ll third or fourth the love for The Beatles’ “Hey Bulldog”
The Kinks have a lot of great lesser known rockers on their early albums. “I Need You” and “Come On Now” stand out in my mind. I’m also a big fan of “Better Things” and “Back to Front” from Give The People What They Want. “War Is Over” from UK Jive and “Scattered” from Phobia are standouts from some uneven late career albums.
Cheap Trick - “Mandecello”. Wow.
Queen “The Prophet’s Song”, “Far Away” is a very close second.
Beatles “Here, There & Everywhere”
Aerosmith “One Way Street” a rockin’ bluesy number
Elton John “The Ballad of Danny Bailey”
Rolling Stones “Dancin’ with Mr D”
Supertramp “A Fool’s Overature”