I credit Roy Thomes Baker with a good part of the magic that was the first two Cars albums. The songs were great, but he knew just how to get the most out of them.
Established Artists: Hidden Gems/Classic Rock
Every major artist has an LP that for whatever reason didnt connect with their audience, had diminished sales, or was at the time a critical failure...however...over time this release has taken on a new light...here are 3:
Ac/dc-Flick of the Switch...largely ignored upon release, this Angus and Malcom production...especially on side 1..rivals any of their post BIB work...recorded at the same studio as BIB...it lacks the immediate clarity of that album...but still is a highly listenable experience.
REO Speedwagon-NINE lives...the last truly hard rock lp the band ever released before turning into an FM power ballad juggernaunt...9 boasts muscular riffs, Chuck Berry licks, and tough, yet clean production...it also reminds us of how criminally underrated Gary R. is as a lead guitarist...puzzling how this album is unknown to many...it is that good
VH:Fair Warning...side 2 is as dark and heavy as VH got...besides WACFirst...IS this love one of the best VH tracks ever committed to vinyl....side 1 has a fair amount of filler...but who cares...this rocks....
Ac/dc-Flick of the Switch...largely ignored upon release, this Angus and Malcom production...especially on side 1..rivals any of their post BIB work...recorded at the same studio as BIB...it lacks the immediate clarity of that album...but still is a highly listenable experience.
REO Speedwagon-NINE lives...the last truly hard rock lp the band ever released before turning into an FM power ballad juggernaunt...9 boasts muscular riffs, Chuck Berry licks, and tough, yet clean production...it also reminds us of how criminally underrated Gary R. is as a lead guitarist...puzzling how this album is unknown to many...it is that good
VH:Fair Warning...side 2 is as dark and heavy as VH got...besides WACFirst...IS this love one of the best VH tracks ever committed to vinyl....side 1 has a fair amount of filler...but who cares...this rocks....
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REO-"COW" LP-Produced/overproduced by Roy thomas baker...this album has some of the most memorable, melodic REO tunes...great harmonies as well...from Stones-like rockers to string-laced ballads...this is a truly enjoyable, and fun listening experience...the dated production tricks and cheesy keyboards/synths do intrude at times...but nevertheless...the core of the signature sound of REO is starting to gell here...which is exciting.... |
Nanbil - You think The Who's - Quadrophenia; YES' - CTTE; Styx's - Grand Illusion ; Genesis' - Selling England... qualify as per the OP's intro???! Yeesh!! I never followed sales when these LPs were first released so can't compare their numbers to earlier releases but I can say for sure they were major LPs for me and had a big impact on others as well; especially going by FM radio air play back in the day. The exception for me being the Styx...just never a big fan of theirs but others were all over it. I'll be interested in your insights on the history of these releases. |
Used to be a Billy Joel fan back in the 70s but hadn't listened to him in years. Thought he was pretty much done for me until I found this track on a Leonard Cohen tribute album. He sings the hell out of this song. It gets me every time. |
Phasecorrect-Adding to your hard rock/metal list... Aerosmith-Night in the Ruts Joe Perry Project-Let the Music do the Talking Judas Priest-Ram it Down Kingdom Come-In Your Face Cinderella-Heartbreak Station Black Sabbath-Dehumanizer Tesla-Bust a Nut Dio-Strange Highways Dokken-Dysfunctional Corrosion of Conformity-Wiseblood |
Interesting post "Phase" I totally agree. I was never a Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, or Elton fan back in the day. Some of my favs now. There are just to many to list. I always play the obscure cuts at home, and when I'm out. Regardless of the performer. Fair warning is my all time favorite V.H album. I love every song on it. Every reply you rec'd is on my play list at home. Something else I really like, although it's not what I normally listen to anymore is Ugly Kid Joe, Americas least wanted. It may have been fairly popular at the time, but I never really liked it til years after. I dig Blue Oyster Cult, Cultosaurus Erectis too. (not sure if that's spelled right, im too lazy right now to go look) |
Neil Young-On the Beach...everyone was expecting another Harvest. But what they got was a grungy, lo-fi, cynical album with songs inspired by Charles Manson and the evil oil industry. Nobody bought it and it actually went out of print for many years. Fast forward forty years later and many feel it's not only one of Neil's best, but one of the best albums to be released during the 1970s period. It's one of my personal favorites. |
I've been liking a lot of old Nazareth tunes of late that never caught my attention back in their day. Same true of Elvis, though lots to dig through there. I have much greater appreciation for AC/DC these days than I did in my youth. I was born in 1959, started litening to music seriously at age 8 or so. I have found music from many popular artists of the 60's and earlier that I now have new appreciation for. AT the top of the list would be Duke Ellington, Muddy Waters, Ray Charles, Elvis, Buck Owens, Chet Atkins, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Buddy Holly, and many other lesser known names. |
