Not sure if you'd consider some of this "classic rock" but it's all old:
- REM - Begin the Begin from Lifes Rich Pageant (actually that entire album is great)
- 10,000 Maniacs - Verdi Cries from In My Tribe (another great record and what a voice)
- Blue Oyster Cult - Black Blade from Cultisaurus Erectus
- Bob Segar - You'll Accomp'ny Me or We've Got Tonight (Bob Segar had so many hits but you really don't hear much about him now)
- Chickenfoot - not classic rock but if you like classic rock, both records are really good
- Cream - Swlabr from Disraeli Gears
- Iron Maiden - Murders in the Rue Morgue from Killers (both Killers and Number of the Beast are great back to back albums with different singers)
- Jeff Beck - Thelonious from Blow by Blow (another great album back to back)
- Jeff Beck - Star Cycle from There and Back
- Ozzy Osbourne - S.A.T.O. from Diary of a Madman (that album and Blizzard of Ozz are both great records)
- Porcupine Tree - Blackest Eyes from In Absentia
- Queen - Long Away from A Day at the Races
- The Police - So Lonely from Outlandos d"Amour
- Thin Lizzy - Cowboy Song (but the best version is when they combine it with The Boys are Back in Town from Live and Dangerous. Boys are Back in Town is not really a "hidden" gem. Just a gem.)
- Van Halen - Ice Cream Man from Van Halen
- Anderson, Bruford, Wakemen, and Howe - Brother of Mine
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Can -- Chain Reaction and the rest of their discography
Led Zeppelin -- Kashmir and pretty much an entire Physical Graffiti album
I think songs like Stairway to Heaven, Hotel California are not hidden gems. They're mainstream exposed gems or maybe just stones:)
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Fleetwood Mac’s Kiln House is a gem. The guitar playing is fantastic throughout. The song writing is very good and ranges from snarling, epic rock jams, slide guitar blues, to the lovely Like Crying. The classic song ‘Oh Well” in on the album. Early Fleetwood Mac was a great band.
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+ 1 for Zappa. J Geils band Detroit Breakdown is another favorite.
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Neil Young Live at Massey Hall 1971. Awesome talent. Maybe the best recorded live album of all time.
Joe Jackson Look Sharp from 1979. Very tight band' well produced with tons of bass slam.
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@au_lait +1!
Joni Mitchell - Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire
Warren Zevon - Accidentally Like a Martyr
Pink Floyd - Fat Old Sun
Rush - Vital Signs
Zappa - the entire catalog
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Any of Jethro Tull's first sixteen studio albums that are not Aqualung or Locomotive Breath.
Any of ZZ Top's first six studio albums that are not Tush.
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Black Sabbath - Planet Caravan
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Bad Company - Silver, Blue and Gold (Run With The Pack)
Happy Listening!
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mwinkc
I am partial to Sunflower and Holland, myself.
Happy Listening!
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Ten Years After: A Space in Time has several great tracks and the SQ is surprisingly good for 1971. Lots of great guitar courtesy of Alvin Lee.
Beach Boys: Holland. I have no use for side A (except "Sail-on" is good), but Side B...starting with "The Trader" is outstanding. The songs are a departure from the usual Beach Boys sound.
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Andrew Gold did an album under the name "The Fraternal Order of the All". The name of the album is "Greeting from the Planet Love." Each song is done in the style of a different band - including The Beatles, Beach Boys, The Byrds. Gold overdubbed all of the vocals and all of the instruments. Fantastic album (and hard to find).
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"You Won’t Have to Cry" The Byrds
"I Wanted Everything" The Ramones
"Panic In Detroit" and "Cracked Actor" David Bowie
Cream -- the short, six minute studio version of "Spoonful" What a guitar solo!
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I have three:
The Shape I'm In - The Band
Industrial Disease - Dire Straits
Hotel California - Eagles - Hell Freezes Over
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Rolling Stones, "Sister Morphine" and "Moonlight Mile" from Sticky Fingers.
Catch a good buzz,turn off the lights and enjoy. Hell,the entire album is a trip.
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@dz13 ,
Good ones.
I really dig the live version of 20th Century Man also.
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Because Randy Meisner was the unsung hero of the band. His voice and bass were essential to their success. A beautiful song.
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Almost everything by the Kinks is under the radar. Try This Time Tomorrow or Get Back In Line.
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