This thread is for all those awesome but obscure and underappreciated songs that are diamonds in the rough, gems under the sand, gold inside the shit, etc. They've not received as much exposure as the hits or radio-populated tunes for many variables.
Maybe they got buried in an album and never received a singles release, or they were B-sides or they were singles which failed to score the Top 40, or were considered by DJs too long or too weird for radio airplay or hell maybe never even released. Different stories, all the same fate.
A good example...
"Thru & Thru" (The Rolling Stones)
Some of you SOPRANOS fans probably recognize this as that song played in the series 2 finale's ending. It came from the Rolling Stones' 1994 album VOODOO LOUNGE. Like any post-80s Stones album, it was OK and got complimentary reviews ("Best since _________!"), went platinum, and accompanied by a tour which of course sold out arenas/stadiums worldwide.
But this track, which inexplicably wasn't made a single, is in my mind an unheralded classic that should be mentioned much more than just Stones fans. I really put up there with the Stones' best work from their "glory days," among their most unashamed bluesiest efforts. I mean Richards here is just kicking your ass, taking your name, then kicking your ass again just because he can. This lyrical moment specifically gives me a chill:
""...cuz now I got those/fuckin' blues/yeah I got those/awesome blues.....""
Like really the best musicians of their generation that reformulated pop music in the 1960s, the Stones are still out there recording and touring, maybe their best days are behind them. Actually they are. But that doesn't mean they don't still occassionally pop out a jewel here and there if you pay attention. "Thru & Thru" is a wonderful reminder for why the Rolling Stones are the goddamn Rolling Stones. Fuckin' Blues!
Well, you've opened a big door for comments, RR. Where to begin?
I'll offer just one broad example: Despite the iconic status of Jimi Hendrix and his most familiar songs--"Purple Haze," "Foxy Lady," and "All Along the Watchtower"--little if any large-scale homage has been paid to his most brilliant work. Those are, IMO, his live performances, which are even better than most of his terrific studio work. They are spread out over a large number of posthumous releases, such as "Hendrix in the West," "Hendrix Blues," "Woodstock," "The Concerts," "Stages," "The Jimi Hendrix Experience," "Band of Gypsies," etc. "Here My Train a'Comin'" (from "Rainbow Bridge" and "Blues") is, IMO, his greatest recorded song--a work of surpassing genius. "Johnnie B. Goode," "Lover Man" and "Red House," from "West" ("Red House" is also heard on "Stages") are all world-beating. And "The Jimi Hendrix Experience" has a version of "Haze" that contains one of Jimi's patented Big Finishes--every note, every harmonic, deliberately placed.
Too bad more people aren't familiar with live Hendrix.
Ntra la porta tua lu sangu � sparsu, E nun me mporta si ce muoru accisu... E s'iddu muoru e vaju mparadisu Si nun ce truovo a ttia, mancu ce trasu.
Too bad more people aren't familiar with live Hendrix.
Maybe that is because he is dead!
Sorry, that is what you get from an undertaker's mind and sick humor....
ONLY gun owners have the POWER to PROTECT and PRESERVE our FREEDOM. "...it is their (the people's) right and duty to be at all times armed" - Thomas Jefferson, June 5, 1824
Everyone should read. "HOW TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD"
CAUTION: This Post has not been approved by Don Cardi.
You really don't expect people to believe your shit do you?
Read: "The Daily Apple"- Telling America and the Gangster BB like it really is!
Stories I don't know if this was ever released as a single or not but it was on Withers' album +Justments, which didn't sell too well and was released during a time of personal and professional turmoil. You never hear Stories on the radio and it's not on many compilations.
"When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives." Winter is Coming Now this is the Law of the Jungle—as old and as true as the sky; And the wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the wolf that shall break it must die. As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk, the Law runneth forward and back; For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.
An outtake from the OFF THE WALL sessions that for whatever unexplained (foolish) reason, was left off the album. It did pop up apparently as a danceable track in that recent dancing video game THE MICHAEL JACKSON EXPERIENCE, which is duh because its a good shake your ass track.
(I'll also add, I love that amateur produced "music video" made for the track from 1970s-era MJ clips, and sync them very well to the beats. Good job.)
You want obscure, I'll give you obscure. I can't find a picture of the album to even post, let alone a song, BUT I did find a link that called it a piece of junk.
Only the oldtimers will remember Mitch Ryder (and the Detroit Wheels). They were famous for "Devil With A Blue Dress/Jenny Take a Ride" and other high energy R&R tunes. The kind my mom would always make me turn the volume down.
Well in or around 1967 Mitch Ryder recorded an album called "What Now My Love" (song is actually a French tune). It was very "out of character" for his style. One side was all Rock and the other all ballads. Who would have thought that I'd prefer the ballads to the rock on that album. I absolutely love his version of "What Now My Love" and "Born To Lose" (Ray Charles). Hard to explain, but it's a different sound. Evidently, I am probably the only one who likes it.
I have it only on an LP and am having turntable issues. Plus, I'd love to get it new on CD but can't find it anywhere. Even when I go to Mitch Ryder sites, I've seen the songs listed that he's recorded but NOT that particular album.
TIS
Last edited by The Italian Stallionette; 06/03/1112:00 PM.
"Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind. War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today." JFK
Ahhh thanks SC. I don't think I ever saw that particular performance. I did have the pleasure however in the early 70's to see Mitch perform at the Detroit Fair grounds. Very energetic performer. You either like him or not, and I do. My album is not in that good a shape or I'd consider recording it.
The song from that album I really wanted to post here but couldn't find even the audio was "If You Go Away" (in French Ne e Quitte Pas). I just love his version.
TIS
"Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind. War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today." JFK
The song from that album I really wanted to post here but couldn't find even the audio was "If You Go Away" (in French Ne e Quitte Pas). I just love his version.
Fascinating. I never knew Mitch Ryder recorded ballads; I do remember some of his more "up-tempo" tunes.
An unrelated footnote: Ne Me Quitte Pas was written in 1959 by Belgian songwriter Jacques Brel. Nine years later, Off-Broadway audiences became much more familiar with him through a musical revue of translated/adapted songs called Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris. The show was amazingly popular and enjoyed a healthy run. When the little-seen film version was made in the mid-1970's, some changes in the song lineup occurred - and Brel himself appeared in the film. He sang Ne Me Quitte Pas (in French, of course), and while a clip from that film does not appear to be on the Internet, an earlier video of him singing it has been posted on YouTube.
Signor V.
"For me, there's only my wife..."
"Sure I cook with wine - sometimes I even add it to the food!"
"When life itself seems lunatic, who knows where madness lies?"
"It was a grass harp... And we listened."
"Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it? Every, every minute?"
Actually, it's don't leave me. Quitter as opposed to laisser means to leave a person or place (one could also use partir)while laisser means essentially to permit.
Si tu pars or Si vous partez.
Last edited by olivant; 06/04/1101:16 AM.
"Generosity. That was my first mistake." "Experience must be our only guide; reason may mislead us." "Instagram is Twitter for people who can't read."
Although I know this song was recorded by several artists (don't know who had the actual hit). I've always loved Elvis' version of Any Day Now. It was on the Elvis From Memphis LP and never recorded as a single. Great version.
TIS
A bit of trivia(Per Dick Clark). What group from the 60s/70s surprisingly NEVER had a number one song. The highest they ever charted was #2. You would think otherwise. Hint: Lead Singer initials....JF
Click to reveal..
CCR (Credence Clearwater Revival to you youngsters)
"Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind. War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today." JFK
At the end of his brief, brilliant career, Buddy Holly took a shot at becoming the Tony Bennett of Lubbock TX. One of his last, recordings, "True Love Ways," is a scarcely remembered ballad, but it features a full orchestral treatment as worthy as anything Nelson Riddle did with Frank Sinatra. And, it works! A fine song.
Ntra la porta tua lu sangu � sparsu, E nun me mporta si ce muoru accisu... E s'iddu muoru e vaju mparadisu Si nun ce truovo a ttia, mancu ce trasu.
I remember True Love Ways very well. A very pretty tune. It was recorded also in the 60's by the English duo Peter & Gordon.
TIS
"Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind. War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today." JFK
Originally recorded and released as a B-side (to "Moonage Daydream") by the short-lived band Arnold Corns, which Bowie writing songs for as a side-project. Later re-recorded both tracks for his classic album ZIGGY STARDUST. "Hang On to Yourself" in ifferent markets at different times became a B-side for other Bowie singles from "John, I'm Only Dancing" to "Starman" to "The Jean Genie" to "Looking for a Friend."
"Hang" is a short, fast & furious rocker that at the time in the early 70s, obviously influenced by early Rolling Stones records if given a slight taste of the Glam Rock that Bowie was then driving all the way to the bank. Now in retrospect, it comes off as proto-punk rock.
If I'm not mistaken, "Thru and Thru" was played at the beginning and end of the episode when they whacked Pussy. Hats off to the producers for matching that song to the episode.
Here are some others: "Rosewood Bitters" - Michael Stanley "Respectable" - Rolling Stones "Bring It On Home" - Led Zepp "Warmer Place to Sleep" - John Mellencamp "Rocket Queen" - Guns N' Roses
I remember finding "Hey Hey what can I do" on 45. Obviously that was a few years ago..
"When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives." Winter is Coming Now this is the Law of the Jungle—as old and as true as the sky; And the wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the wolf that shall break it must die. As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk, the Law runneth forward and back; For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.
Everybody knows "For the Love of Money" and "Put your hands together" but one of the best tracks on the Ship Ahoy album was "Don't call me brother". I don't think it was released as a single b/c it was too long.
"When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives." Winter is Coming Now this is the Law of the Jungle—as old and as true as the sky; And the wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the wolf that shall break it must die. As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk, the Law runneth forward and back; For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.
I can't remember when exactly, but I believe it might've been discovering this B-side as a bonus track on the BACK TO THE EGG CD I found in the cutout bin which drastically turned my critical opinion positive towards Paul McCartney's solo output. Which in turn convinced me to buy RAM, his best solo record and among the best of the Beatles solo albums along with ALL THINGS MUST PASS and PLASTIC ONO BAND.
I especially love the last verses when Paul's voice breaks. Such radio-friendly fare, it smells like an obvious hit. I'm baffled why he didn't release this winner as a single. It blows away its A-side ("Goodnight Tonight") and well, how many times is a bonus track better than the album its on?
(Though maybe even Paul realized he let a hit escape him. It's included in the last Wings compilation album.)
That sounds like it should be on the soundtrack of a movie starring Zooey Deschanel or Robin Tunney. Good find.
"When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives." Winter is Coming Now this is the Law of the Jungle—as old and as true as the sky; And the wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the wolf that shall break it must die. As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk, the Law runneth forward and back; For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.
I don't think I ever saw that particular performance. I did have the pleasure however in the early 70's to see Mitch perform at the Detroit Fair grounds. Very energetic performer. 
