MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER
First eight "IN THE AIRE" ALBUMS. Most can also be found as LP's
Also MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER CHRISTMAS ALBUMS - The first four releases.
Absolutely ICONIC music. LIke nothing else that has come since. Great listening that a wide range of people all love. I own them all. |
Blues Guitar for the Homeless - Various
Ten New Songs - Leonard Cohen |
@jb1
I thought that the McLaughlin Trio was CD as well. Thankfully, it was released in ’90 and reissued on 180g (German-Optimal) in 2015.
That album was a huge inspiration as I’m a bassist. Kai Eckhardt went from Berklee School of Music to landing this gig. Beautiful fretless and fretted playing. Trilok Gurtu, known as an Indian percussionist, plays trap kit, though I believe he was seated on the floor, IIRC.
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Bozzio - Levin - Stevens: "Black Light Syndrome"
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Harry Partch
San Diego State prof. In particular Eight Hitchhiker Inscriptions from a Highway Railing at Barstow California
Tidal has it, album is The World Harry Parch
He designed and built his own instruments and tonal scale
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What a great thread. Where else would we find such gems as "Eight Hitchhiker Inscriptions..." by Harry Partch? (the king of non-12TET)
Maybe I missed it, but I didn’t see any Fred Frith yet.
My pick:
Espers "S/T"
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Andrew Gold - The Fraternal Order of All
The Wondermints (Brian Wilson's backing band)
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Mudcrutch's first album, featuring Tom Petty pre-Heartbreakers.
Jimi Hendrix "Crash Landing" - different take on some of the songs you might be familiar with; no input from Hendrix or his band members and some extreme editing was undertaken to make the songs more "listenable" so don't mistake it for an actual Hendrix album. |
Steve Roach/Jorge Reyes - Vine Bark&Spore.
Tribal ambient music.
Vas- In The Garden Of Souls.
Rasa - Devotion
Female vocal. |
Jonas Hellborg/Glen Velez - Ars Moriende
First composition. |
John mclachlan mahuvisnu orchestra Antolope freeway! |
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Well, I'm not sure about the obscure part, but these are classics, IMO... http://sheffieldlab.com/item.php?item_id=45&page=2I have an early pressing of the volume 3, which was one of my first direct to disc recordings...Now released on CD as in the link."America" is awesome,
Camarillo
is a good bass line, but the sample above is different that my vinyl...We could only hope that some of the newer vinyl recoredings were as good as Volume 3. |
@edcyn beat me to Song Cycle by Van Dyke Parks, an album unlike any other you have heard, I guarantee you. For another dose of this near-genius, listen to the Smile boxset. Smile was Van Dyke and Brian Wilson’s never completed concept album, the theme being the Manifest Destiny of The United States, set to music. And just above, @jrosemd suggested the incredible album Greetings From Planet Love by The Fraternal Order Of The All (Andrew Gold and Graham Gouldman and a few friends), an amazing late-60’s psychedelic pastiche’ recorded and released in 1997. Brilliant! That still leaves a lot of candidates, but being the song lover that I am, I nominate Something Peculiar by Julianna Raye, an album also from 1997, produced by Jeff Lynne, and filled with great Pop music. jrosemd also mentioned The Wondermints. For great Pop music, try and find either of the two albums by that fine Group’s original bassist and songwriter, Brian Kassan. Brian left The Wondermints shortly before they hooked up with Brian Wilson, and started Chewy Marble to record his great songs. The first album is self-titled, the second entitled Bowl Of Surreal (which features drumming by yours truly on half the songs). Great songs and production on both albums. The Chewy Marble albums were released on L.A. Indi label Permanent Press. Also on that label was a great Nick Lowe-inspired songwriter, Walter Clevenger. He and his band The Dairy Kings (;-) recorded a couple of fine Rockin’ Pop albums, well worth searching for. Walter has relocated to Austin, Texas, but the members of his band The Dairy Kings remained in SoCal. |
Go for Julie London - "Julie is Her Name"
available on Super Audio CD.
Super sultry dame, velvety voice, stand up bass, piano, occasional horns, backups, etc.
Simply beautiful, every man's appeal.
Opening song is "Blue Moon" |
In remembrance (RIP):
Chick Corea, Christian McBride, Brian Blades - Trilogy 2;
Chick Corea and Steve Gadd Band - Chinese Butterfly. |
The Brian Jonestown Massacre.
Pohjola's Urban Tango
The 1st two Velvet Underground Albums. Saw them live. Twice.
Certainly not audiophile recordings but the music...brilliant.
Yeah, I'm old but we had the best music. That should start some controversy. |
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Laurie Anderson - Bright Red (1994)
G |
Original Jam Sessions 1969 Quincy Jones and Bill Cosby |
Glad I'm retired. I'll be busy all day with these. Got another couple I think you'll love.All time favorite of mine. Heavy semi-metal with orchestration and a nice female vocalist: SKINDIVE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuE6Ug4PgLgI actually had a dream once where a voice said, "Buy the Camel allbum". Lo and behold there was such a group. Try Camel 'Snowgoose'. Amazing stuff And don't forget KLAATU, the band mistaken for The Beatles. And I couldn't agree more about CRACK THE SKY! |
I know the request was for one, but I simply can’t help myself, so here’s two: The Rock City Angels - Young Man’s Blues Divine Weeks - Through and Through The Rock City Angels were one of those coulda, shoulda, woulda bands that was somewhere between Guns N’ Roses and Great White and recorded one heck of an all killer, no filler 3-sided debut (maybe they should have distilled it down to two sides, as the did on the promo version). As for Divine Weeks, think The Dream Syndicate but slightly more melodic. Here’s the link for the video for their "In the Country (for Jim Carroll)": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUqPrdH6ivE |
There’s a lot mentioned here that I don’t consider obscure at all, so maybe my 2 also aren’t obscure. But, here you go:
Philip Catherine “Nairam”
Beaver and Krause “All Good Men” |
Esthero - Breath From Another |
Digital at Montreaux Album
Features Dizzy Gilespie, Toots Theilman and Benard "Pretty" Purdey. Live.
Also anything Frank Zappa.
What’s more obscure than a Mendocino beano or a Camarillo brillo? Not to mention a Jewish princess with a garlic aroma that could level Tacoma.
Zappa fans know what I’m talking about! |
I’m sorry to list more than one but I could not stop. Did all I could to stop here. These are musically and sonically great albums. Strawbs Hero and Heroin
Warren Zevon Warren Zevon
BeBop Deluxe Sunburst finish
Camel Moonmadness
10CC Bloody Tourst
Crack the sky Animal Notes
Wishbone Ash. There’s the rub.
I am stepping away from this post.
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Jesse Winchester. Just about any of his albums, but, to name one, his self titled 1st. |
The track “Kucano Oro” on the MA Records release The Old Country. Features otherworldly harmonica from Howard Levy and superb percussion by Mark Nauseff, with reference SQ. The track “Kit Carson” by Bruce Cockburn on Nothing But A Burning Light. Spookily great in every way if you can handle the message. |
Meshell Ndegeocello — Bitter
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Yes to Dr. John Gris Gris!
Robinella: Robinella and the CC String Band.
Pandit Vijay Raghav Rao: The Fantasy of Indian Drums. Especially side 2. Amazing sound.
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Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Nightengales and Bombers |
Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd
Just kidding, how about:
Mind If We Make Love to You - Wondermints |
Great thread 1111art! I'm sure you did not mean the record label called Obscure. It was created by Brian Eno in 1975 and 10 albums were released on the label. They are all different so it's difficult to choose just one. As for obscure records, once again it's difficult to choose just one so I'll mention two. Ken Nordine's "Word Jazz" on the Dot label is phenomenal. Ken was a voice-over artist on thousands of TV and radio commercials and he is backed by a small ensemble of jazz musicians, creating short stories that make you think and smile. Most people think of Kraftwerk as pioneering the EDM movement using electronics and pop melodies but in 1973 they released an album called "Ralf and Florian". It's trance-like. Rayd
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Ooh, Jesse Winchester’s debut on Ampex Records (mentioned above), a good one (produced by Robbie Robertson). Manfred Mann was a well-known British Invasion band, unique in having Pop hits in spite of the fact that their influences and sound included equal parts R & B and Jazz. By 1969 they had evolved into Manfred Mann Chapter Three, and that year recorded and released (on Vertigo Records) their s/t debut. Drummer Mike Hugg had moved to the front of the stage, playing piano and singing (and writing the songs). The band’s approach was now decidedly in the Jazz/Rock Fusion style (with perhaps a touch of Prog), pretty heavy. I love the album, and I’m not generally a lover of the genre. @whart, you might like this one. The LP has the cool Vertigo "swirl" label. |
John Frusciante - The Empyrean. |
Just saw your latest post saying "have at it". Here goes.....
Tomasz Stanko - "Freelectronics"
The Minks - Tides End
The Music Improvisation Co.
Quiet Sun - "The Mainsteam"
Thirsty Moon - "You"ll Never Come Back"
The XX (first album)
Cold Blood - "Sisyphus"
Fripp and Eno - "No Pussyfooting"
Blonde Red Head - "Barragan"
Basil Kirchen - "Worlds Within Worlds" . This album features sounds made by autistic children incorporated into the music. Haunting and ear opening!!
Once again, great thread. Thanks to everyone for mentioning some incredible sounds. Time to download and hit ebay and the record stores.
Rayd
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Chris Hillman’s “ Slippin’ Away”. |
At the risk of sounding as if attempting to impress with a classical selection, I submit the Philips recording of "Messiah" (Handel, of course), conducted by John Eliot Gardiner. Not sure how "obscure" this is, but given the majestic diversity witnessed on these forums, me thinks I'm safe on that one. The Philips Eliot recording of "Messiah" is--from my humble experience--the finest ENGLISH recording of Handel's "Messiah". I believe it is a full digital recording and mix of some of the finest musicians and vocalists. So both the production value (quality of recording) as well as excellence in performance are really second to none. It is my reference recording (specifically, "And the Glory of the Lord" track) when checking out speakers. This recording will reveal the harmonics and richness of both solo and choral voices, as well as string instruments better than any I know. It showed me the true worth of Sonus Faber speakers, which made the choir and instrument just about sit on my lap. This recording is why I am aiming to get the Amati Tradition (please feel free to dissuade me). https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/handel-messiah-john-eliot-gardiner/20033http:// |
The Blasters, their second album entitled The Blasters |
If it hadn't already been mentioned (at least twice), I would have said Dr John's "Gris Gris". Great stuff! |
Steve Tibbetts' autonomous album (BZZ-77) on Frammis Records distributed by Obscure Music Productions (that ought to qualify it!). "Jungle Rhythm" sounds interesting backwards... |
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Great thread. Many of my faves already mentioned and several that I'm going to seek out. Here are a couple that I love and are a bit obscure if not really rare.
Hall & Oates - War Babies (not like their early stuff or later pop junk, a real masterpiece!)
October Project - Falling Farther In
Graham Parker - Mona Lisa's Sister
Joe Jackson - Beat Crazy
Stabilizers - self titled
Johnny Winter - Johnny Winter And
The Kinks - Village Green Preservation Society (even if you think that you don't like them) |
Cheap Trick- first two
ZZ Top- Fandango
Rory Gallagher- Calling card
Pat Travers Band- Go for what you know
Frank Marino- What’s Next
Ted Nugent- Free for all (meatloaf on vocals)
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Since @1111art seems to have an appreciation of 70's prog, I will suggest:
Nektar- A Tab In The Ocean
Not sure if that is obscure or not these days. If you reside in a state where pot is legal, it will help. |
Obscure Arizona group, similar to blood sweat and tears.& Chicago.........Eclectic Mouse..........( circa 1970??72)....you can find individual traks on youtube..............also "Barefoot Boy".... By Larry Coryell.........early fusion masterpiece!!!!......Shakti' s first lp as well..... |
Ok....i forgot one.....Iva Bittova.....her first lp....I think it is either titled "Iva Bittova.."..or" Strange Young Lady"........ Hauntingly beautiful!!!....meridith monk meets laurie anderson in transylvania!!!!..... Also shout out to the Batdorf and Rodney selection....saw them at U of Az in 1973.......
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