Balleto's YS is pretty famous in prog circles, no? Along w/ Museo, and a few others. I've been buying some as Seven Seas old reissues from Japan- the price of Museo is nuts. I think all that early Italian and German prog is generally obscure but within the devotee circle, well known. It certainly seems to be known to certain collectors of the genre, based on the prices original pressings of those records command.
Obscure bands
Does anyone know a band called City Boy? (70's/80's)Very obscure and very original. It's beyond Me how such great talent goes so unnoticed! Also please chime in on other obscure talented musicians.
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While not "bands", I would like to comment on a couple of great artists you've never heard of. The first is a singer/songwriter by the name of Andrew Newton from Northern Minnesota. He used to play (and maybe still does) small coffee houses and such. He would walk out barefoot with his guitar and a stool and play the most incredible music. He performed what I still consider THE definitive version of Leonard Cohen's, Hallelujah. He once played it right after a break during his set. People were still milling around and talking a bit when he started but by the second verse everyone was still and you could hear a pin drop except for his music. Talk about jaw dropping moments! I thought he would easily become famous but it never happened. Another obscure artist, also from Northern Minnesota (there must be something in the water up there) is Arianne Lydon who is a very accomplished singer/songwriter. She has a sultry and interesting voice and is a virtuoso with stringed instruments. Have you ever seen someone play 12 string guitar and harp at the same time? Check out her tune "Fireflies" on you tube. |
LenMc 801 is a good choice (provided they're obscure enough), but they did release several live albums in addition to their sole studio release. I'd assume that "801 Live" (their first release) is their best known recording, but the studio record is very interesting, too. The other live records were released much later and IIRC aren't great tho they have their moments, too. Full disclosure: I haven't listened to any of them in ages. |
Forgot a couple from my earlier post: Be Bop Deluxe and Lil' Georgie and the Shufflin' Hungarians. BBD was semi-popular back in the day, but I understand that Bill Nelson was a pain and things fell apart. Lil' Georgie was a Northeast / Mid-Atlantic regional band in the 90s that succumbed to the same thing: George Rossi was a very talented writer, pianist and vocalist, but his ego killed the project just at the moment they were taking off. |
Here is an old band here is an old band that I actually just recently discovered thanks to nutty. "Budgie" They are a power Trio from the seventies, very Progressive and very original. I’ve been listening to quite a bit of their stuff and they are great! Don’t know how missed them but I’m glad I found them!😎 |
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Some of the better relatively unknown musicians/bands from my collection: Clem Snide Lambchop Bardo Pond Jason Molina The White Fronts David & David Stereolab Sea and Cake A Minor Forest Acid Mother Temple Grandmothers Starless and Bible Black Do Make Say Think Windsor for the derby Mono The Barr Brothers Brightblack Morning Light Barn Owl Green on Red Jack Waterson Akron Family Apse Climb Up Monroe Mustang Lone Justice The Lucksmiths Hangedup The Knitters Maximilian Heckter High Places The Gentle Waves Sue Garner Pavement Opal Tanakh Kiln The Baptist Generals Fluke Dig Frente French, Frith, Kaiser, Thompson Eddie from Ohio All excellent (IMO) in there own right. |
Does anyone know of a band called Dead Soul Tribe? Very dark and extremely talented musicians. also great recordings! I don't think they are around anymore but they did at least five or six pretty solid albums. Here is a couple of my faves😎 https://youtu.be/aRSMXvo1NSI https://youtu.be/xXtJTeeVueY |
Katmandu, S/T, CD 1991. Only recorded one. This one isn’t a solid CD but one track stands out by light years. Its great. Driving drumms, searing guitar and howling vocals.Vocalist Dave King from "Fastway"....Guitarist Mandy Meyer from "Krokus and Asia"...drummer Mike Alonso of "Flogging Molly"... The track "When the rain comes" is a classic. https://youtu.be/lkR7PWw2DJM N |
Thanks nuttyi that is a great tune by Katmandu! I have heard that somewhere before. Here is another band you might remember from the early eighties out of North Carolina. "Glass Moon" Check out these Tunes😎 https://youtu.be/LcEa08qjzTI https://youtu.be/0UZz8z_E-hU https://youtu.be/eIQdk0H5q2E |
"Skinner Rat" - My guitar teacher in 'Vegas mixes tracks for someone in the County Coroner's office (Dr.?). Songs on the macabre side: jumping from the stratosphere tower, keeping grandma's body on a 50 gallon drum, entering an apartment with slightly "ripe" corps in a chair, -CSI set to hard rock... |
RPWL is a new find for me although they've been around ten years or more. They started out as a Pink Floyd tribute band doing some of the more obscure stuff and also performed their own material. Now they do mostly their own songs but the singer still sounds like D. Gilmour and are very reminiscent of P.F. |
Tasavallan Presidentti - Finnish Prog Kalevala - Finnish prog/boogie Haikare - Finnish Prog w/ Finnish language, the most original of all Piirpauke - Finnish band ethnic/jazz/fusion, superb, unique in Prog Pekka Pohjola - prog/jazz/rock/fusion - bass virtuoso & talented musician Zappa asked to join his band Pohjola politely refused and concentrated on his own work Hurriganes - Finnish Rock´n´Roll: old rock w/ 70´s hard rock style, terrific versions on certain classics as "Tallahassee Lassie" and "Say Mama" Elvis Breznev - Finnish band in ´80 between West and East. Perfect name. One album. Period. |
schubert, you are absolutely right, Finland is the best country indeed :) Great compliment, wish all Finnish classical musicians could hear your voice. And not only for Finnish (classical) musicians but we all as a nation, proudly standing between the West and East. We people hear are very proud of our cultural and national heritage, and especially Sibelius, among other composers/art musicians, of course. God bless Finlandia Btw, Jon Anderson of Yes is a big Sibelius fan as well. |
I'm not joking either harold . I'm an old man that has seen most of the world and , If I do say so my self, has developed good taste . What other country would make their greatest composers birth-day a National Holiday ! If God came down today and gave me a do-over for life and asked me where I wanted to be born ,my reply would be Turku , Finland ! |
Arcam, I am a fan of Lucifer's friend. They have a recent release but I haven't heard it. https://www.amazon.com/Too-Late-Hate-LUCIFERs-FRIEND/dp/B01KVSST1C/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&am... |
rwwear Here is a link to a song on Lucifer's Friend's latest album. Maybe not as good as some of their old stuff but not bad! John Lawton is 70 years old! https://youtu.be/TTdxi9rtOCI |