# Wonderful Yet Obscure Albums **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 19, 2001, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923 "2001-05-19T19:18:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![rackensack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@rackensack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rackensack)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2001, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/41 "2001-05-23T05:39:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ruadh \* > \*\*er, rackensack, I think _16 Tambourines_ qualifies as “obscure” by any objective measure. \*\* Probably so, more’s the pity. Though I think that’s less true over here – it did get quite a bit of college radio play in the States. ---
**Author:** ![hazel-rah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hazel-rah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazel-rah)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2001, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/42 "2001-05-23T07:31:44Z")
I think the Three O’ Clock are sufficiently obscure for an SDMB music thread. They’d probably make the Rolling Stone all-music guide though, since they were the main band of the Paisley Underground. In a different, better world, however, we would be wrong and Kendra Smith would be Madonna. I live in hope. On a whim I hit CDnow after reading y’alls take on the Three O’ Clock and oddly enough, they actually have the Sixteen Tambourines/Baroque Hoedown CD in stock, so that’s what I’ll start with. If CDnow has it, I bet I can find it here in Houston someplace tomorrow. Don’t worry **rackensack** , I’ll probably end up buying everything I can find : ) **ruadh** made the dissenting rec because she knows how I’m wired. -fh ---
**Author:** ![Junior\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Junior\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Junior_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2001, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/43 "2001-05-23T09:18:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nicko \* > \*\*“Soon Will Be Tomorrow” - Suzie Higgie & Conway Savage > > \*\* Nicko, not only do you share a name with Iron Maiden’s drummer, you’ve proven to be the only other person in the world to mention Conway Savage, one of the greatest unsung artists in the world. I don’t know if you’ve heard his solo EP from 1992, but it sheds light on why Nick Cave signed him up - it was the only way to get rid of his #1 competition! Contact me if you want to find out where to get a copy. Oh, by the way, my favourite obscure record is The Urinals’ compilation ‘Negative Capability’ - the best punk band ever (IMHO), and the missing link between the Jetsons and the 13th Floor Elevators. HenrySpencer ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2001, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/44 "2001-05-23T09:22:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Labdad \* > \*\ ***“Hollywood Dream”** by Thunderclap Newman > > It is well worth seeking out, although it is sadly now out of print \*\* I thought I had seen it on CD not too long ago. I love that album. I used to use a line from “Accidents” as my sig line a while back. _“Life is just a game, you fly your paper plane, there is no end …”_ ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2001, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/45 "2001-05-23T10:08:08Z")
I’d recommend David Byrne’s **Belleza Tropical** This is a compilation of Brazilian classics, but done in that spare, modernist Byrne style. Victor Mecyssne’s **Personal Mercury** –This album has excellent songwriting, and consists of blues-like songs sung in Mecyssne’s rich, highly expressive voice. For those of you who speak Spanish, I’d recommend almost anything by Les Luthiers. (These guys _are_ Argentinian, so they don’t follow the “political correctness” rules we do. But they are incredibly sharp, both musically and in their writing.) –Scribble ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2001, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/46 "2001-05-23T11:54:07Z")
Wasn’t Townsend “credited” on Thunderclap Newman’s album as “Bijou Drains?” ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2001, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/47 "2001-05-23T12:06:37Z")
MrVisible, I thought I was the only person who had a copy of **Lincoln** (by _Lincoln_). I like it, but I’m not sure if I’d put it all the way up in the “wonderful” category. My nominations: **No Borders Here** by _Jane Siberry_. Even when the music is fast, her lyrics seem to come out a little bit slower than I want them, and that works to draw me in rather than let the songs wash over me where I am. **Saturday Morning: Cartoon’s Greatest Hits** (compilation) “Spider-Man” by the Ramones. “Eep Opp Ork Ah-Ah (Means I Love You)” by the Violent Femmes. Liz Phair can sing the words “Fleegle, Bingo, Drooper and Snork” and make it sound sexy. The only track I have a problem with is “Open Up Your Heart and Let the Sun Shine In” by Frente, which is so sickeningly sweet it’s like taking a bath in children’s cough syrup while being flagellated with Pixy Stix (but that may have been the only way to do that song, really). The standout on the album, though, is the Reverend Horton Heat doing the theme from Jonny Quest, which he turns into a thrashing, rough-edged, surf-guitar epic. **The Inessential Uncle Bonsai** and **Myn Ynd Wymyn** by _Uncle Bonsai_. Uncle Bonsai was a folk (for lack of a better word) trio from Seattle in the '80s, but they picked up a few fans in the rest of the country, too. It’s probably true that a song about a guy who commits suicide when he finds out The Love Boat has been cancelled is going to have a limited shelf life, but they don’t deserve to be dismissed as a novelty. As with Tom Lehrer, good satire can be done with enough literate wit that it deserves to live on longer than what inspired it. **Live Noise** by _Moxy Früvous_. I heard about this band from a website that called them the Canadian They Might Be Giants. That’s not a perfect comparison, but they do have similar traces of joyful geekiness (On this live album, one of the intros spins into a discussion of Kasparov’s match against Deep Blue). From four-part harmonies to a Tom Waits cover, what more could you want? **Box of Hair** by _Cub_. The final disc from a cuddlecore punk trio from Vancouver. They were a lot like Sleater-Kinney, but a little more refined musically, without losing any of the intensity. “Magic 8 Ball” bows to the altar of pop culture irony, and “Main and Broadway” is the best bitter breakup song I’ve ever heard. ---
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2001, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/48 "2001-05-23T14:05:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zenster \* > [snip] > **Full House** by the **J. Geils Band** > > Peter Wolf on vocals, Magic Dick on harmonica and Mr. Geils on his traditional Flying Vee Electric. What an incredible show to see and this album concentrates their Rock and Roll quite well. “Whammer Jammer” is simply one of the best rock blues instrumentals there is. Magic Dick’s harp work is beyond belief as he chuffs through a blistering blaze of pure musical genius. Geils was one of the few rock guitarists besides Jeff Beck who was competent on fretless guitar. We’ll leave any discussion of his talent at that. Peter Wolf is the consummate front man for a Detroit band like this. > [/snip] > \*\* A hearty second on this one **Zenster**. I fondly recall back in ‘72 hearing a DJ introduce “Whammer Jammer” with something like “All you have to know about this new song is that it’s by the J. Geils Band and it’s called ‘Whammer Jammer.’ Enjoy.” We certinly did. As for my own ancient selections… [ul] [li]\*\*United States of America \*\* released only one self-titled album, but it was an oddly compelling mixture of jazz and psychedelic influences, featuring strings, keyboards and, as [allmusic.com](http://allmusic.com) puts it a “pioneering use of the ring modulator, a primitive synthesizer later popularized by the Krautrock sound.” One of the cuts was a haunting melody titled “Love Song for the Dead Che” and another, “Hard Coming Love” attempted, through an ever-increasing tempo on the ol’ ring modulator, to simulate the rushing tempo of sex. Pretty hot stuff for 1968, and I wouldn’t have even known of it if I hadn’t been a DJ in a small town station constantly writing to record companies to beg for new free records.[/li] [li] **Quicksilver Messenger Service** also from 1968. They never matched the popularity or the bucks made by fellow San Francisco Artists Jefferson Airplane or the Grateful Dead, but they had a unique take on the psychedelia and some interesting contend. “Pride of Man” is a post-Apocalyptic attack on human vanity and “Dino’s Song,” which stretches singer Dino Valenti’s voice just a little more than it’s capable of on some of the high notes, is a highly hummable tune with a nice recursive hook.[/li] [li] **Love Chronicles** by Al Stewart. Yes, I know he went on to considerable success with “Year of the Cat” and “Time Passages” but they were from 1976 and 1978, while Love Chronicles, his second album, was released in 1969. It was one of my early treasures as a DJ and I was delighted when he later broke into the big time. Among other things, the title cut is a long one, detailing his loves from childhood on, and was the first I ever heard to use the dreaded “F word.” The record company even sent a cover letter suggesting that we listen to that cut carefully before airing it. When I saw that, I took the album home immediately because it would have been destroyed on the spot had our program director seen the note, to prevent anyone from accidently playing it. It wasn’t until many years later that I happened to notice that the really high quality lead guitar lines on the album were courtesy of the soon-to-be-huge guitar ace Jimmy Page.[/li] [li] **Frummox** with “From Here to There” The two-person country/folk duo of Steve Fromholz and Dan McCrimmon released this album in 1969 to only minor airplay, which is a crying shame, bucause the lyrics, musicianship and vocals all should have pushed it to the top of everyone’s list. A three-song suite, “Texas Trilogy” paints a vivid picture of life in Bosque County, Texas. I probably couldn’t quote more than half of the lyrics at the drop of a hat. Wonderful stuff. Fromholz later went on to write “I’d Have to Be Crazy,” a decent hit for Willie Nelson and Lyle Lovett recorded four of his songs on 1998’s “Step Inside This House.” If you’re a fan of fun, intelligent country/folk, you might want to chase down this one or 1982’s Frummox II or the several Steve Fromholz solo releases.[/li] [/ul] Hometownboy ---
**Author:** ![BunnyGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@BunnyGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyGirl)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2001, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/49 "2001-05-23T15:43:53Z")
Geez-o-peets, where do you guys find some of these names? I’ve only heard of a handful of them. Here are my picks and they aren’t even that obscure: [ul] [li] _Down Here_ by **Tracy Bonham**. Man, this is an awesome album. She’s a great songwriter and the music is outstanding. She rocks. I play it ALL THE FREAKIN’ time.[/li][li] _Hot House_ and _Spirit Trail_ by **Bruce Hornsby**. Y’all thought he pooped out in the late 80’s, didn’t ya? Well, he didn’t. Bela Fleck joins him on a song on _Hot House_. He’s an excellent songwriter and an even better pianist. Jazzy, pop-y, just plain cool. Plus, he uses the word prestidigitation in one of his songs (“Spider Fingers” on _Hot House_). It’s true! Going to see him in August.[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2001, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/50 "2001-05-23T15:55:58Z")
**plnnr** wrote: > [@](#): > > _Wasn’t Townsend “credited” on Thunderclap Newman’s album as “Bijou Drains?”_ That’s what I’ve always read. I have the LP, which was a 1973 reissue, and the compact disc, and haven’t found that “Bijou Drains” credit on either. I do not have the 1969 UK LP, where Mr. Drains no doubt originally resided. ---
**Author:** ![dodge\_this](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@dodge\_this](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dodge_this)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2001, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/51 "2001-05-24T00:56:09Z")
I know I’ve made two previous posts to this thread, but I was looking through my collection again and found… **Summer in the Yukon - Jane Siberry** I admit, I bought this for her duet with **kd lang** , but the rest of it ain’t so bad. Tinkly piano pop with quirky lyrics. **Eye of the Beholder - Brendan Perry** I love the track ‘The Captive Heart’ the best. Short, dark and sweet. Perry’s voice is tops. **Flight Paths - Paradise Motel** Its dirge-like pace takes a little getting used to. But the lyrics are intelligent and the treatment soft and whispery. **Southside - Texas** I know they’re big now but this twangy debut is actually pretty good in all its rawness. Sharleen Spiteri’s vocals and looks weren’t that polished then. Most people I know started with their ‘White On Blonde’ album, but this remains my favourite. **Don’t Try This At Home - Billy Bragg** Another Bragg. This was actually one of my favourite pop albums in the early 90s. Lots of clever lyrics. I love his cover of ‘Dolphins’. Even while he’s doing his political schtick, he actually manages to sound _sweet_. ---
**Author:** ![hazel-rah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hazel-rah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazel-rah)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2001, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/52 "2001-05-24T10:01:58Z")
Eye of the Beholder - Brendan Perry I’ll second this, although I think you mean **Eye of the Hunter**? : ) Been playing your gold box SSR games? I love this album. I’ve been listening to it over and over the last couple of nights. His voice _is_ amazing, and you may kill me for this, but it reminds me of Neil Diamond sometimes. In a good way. My favorites are track 4 and track 8… don’t know the names. -fh ---
**Author:** ![dodge\_this](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@dodge\_this](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dodge_this)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2001, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/53 "2001-05-25T00:35:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hazel-rah \* > \*\*Eye of the Beholder - Brendan Perry > > I’ll second this, although I think you mean **Eye of the Hunter**? : ) Been playing your gold box SSR games? > > I love this album. I’ve been listening to it over and over the last couple of nights. His voice _is_ amazing, and you may kill me for this, but it reminds me of Neil Diamond sometimes. In a good way. > > My favorites are track 4 and track 8… don’t know the names. > > -fh > \*\* D’OH! Of course it’s **Eye of the Hunter**. Thanks for pointing that out. The 4th and 8th tracks are ‘Sloth’ and ‘Archangel’. Brilliant. _“Sometimes when I’m sad I drink to the health of my torment And dance at the altar To the tune of a drunken black tango”_ And another one for the OP - **Sky Motel - Kristin Hersh** ---
**Author:** ![Albert\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Albert\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Albert_Rose)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2001, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923/54 "2001-05-25T03:38:21Z")
In the eighties, I bought a vinyl album by _Immaculate Fools._ Nobody else that I’ve ever met (in the U.S.) has heard of these guys, but they are fantastic. The music is grown-up folk-pop. The record I bought was “Dumb Poet.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wonderful-yet-obscure-albums/65923.md?page=2)