6 rock masterpieces you've probably never heard of

because I like lists, and I love to talk about music, here's my top 5 obscure classics. In my opinion, these albums are landmark recordings, in many ways ahead of their time, and definitely great examples of rock music as art.

6. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA-1968

Experimental NY by way of LA group, released one self-titled album. This lp is the very definition of "retro-future."

If you didn't know it was released in 1968, you'd swear it came out in 1994. A gem. They taught PORTISHEAD everything they know.

5. THE PRETTY THINGS-SF SORROW-1968

This album gets better every time I listen to it. It is their SGT. PEPPER, and it deserves the comparison. This is a concept album, and it inspired Pete Townsend to conceive TOMMY. It sounds like the who, the kinks the beatles, and 1971 era genesis (again, this is 1968), which is to say it sounds totally original. Their follow up, PARACHUTE, is equally as impressive.

4. WHITE NOISE-AN ELECTRIC STORM-1969

A British experimental electronic group. This band had members who worked for the BBC. Imagine sound effects machines used to make pop music...in 1969.

3. SAGITTARIUS-PRESENT TENSE-1967

"Band" made up of producers gary usher and curt boettcher (both of whom have passed), most of the LA wrecking crew, glen campbell, keith olsen, bruce johnson, and many others. Firesign theater even makes an appearance. This record is breathtaking. Listen to "my world fell down"..then try not to listen to it again.

2. ZOMBIES-ODESSEY AND ORACLE-1968

This one almost doesn't count because it contains the hit "time of the season", but the lp went largely unnoticed, plus it was the band's swan song. Every song, and I mean EVERY SONG, is an absolute gem and I would put this up against anything the beatles were doing at the time (if you knew how big a fan of the beatles I am, you'd know how serious this is). Think Brian Wilson if he'd hung out on Carnaby Street instead of in L.A.

And finally...

1. BIG STAR-#1 RECORD-1972

Memphis outfit led by former BOXTOPS singer (the letter/cry like a baby) Alex Chilton and Chris Bell. Shimmering guitars, byrd/beatle harmonies for DAYS, and just beautiful songwriting. A cynic might say they were the states' answer to BADFINGER, but a closer listen reveals distinct differences. why wasn't "in the street" (now the theme to "that 70s show") blaring from every car in America that summer? Because they were signed to an imprint on a label that didn't know how to market them. "#1 Record" languished in cutout bins, as did their second and third lps, despite massive critical praise.

Many 80s and 90s bands have since sung their praises and for good reason. This record is a masterpiece, and recorded beautifully. Chilton and Bell complimented each other well.

Thanks for letting me get this off my chest!

Now, please add your own to the list!

:hi:

The penultimate album by an electrified renaissance woodwind consort married to a rock band.

Imagine Bassoon as a prog rock instrument. The only rock band to have an actual rackett as part of their bass line.

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Rita Lee - hojie los primaro dia do resto da sui vida. (or something like that)
As part of Os Mutantes, they were Brazil's answer to The Mothers of Invention.

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Three Friends -- Gentle Giant.
Rock for very smart people.

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Pat Metheny -- American Garage
Quintessential American Music. He was the blow dry generation's Copeland.

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Al Stewart - Past Present and Future
Ok, you've never heard of it. I cannot listen to roads to Moscow without weeping.
You need to hear this album and be reading the lyrics at the same time.

Here is one from 'Roads'
"And it's cold and damp in the transit camp and the air is still and sullen.
And the pale sun of Oktober whispers the snow will soon be coming.
And I wonder when I'll go home again, and the morning answers 'never'. And the evening sighs and the steely Russian skies go on....
forever. "

When he did it in concert, he flashed a slide of Solzhenitsyn on the screen, standing in front of a tall barbed wire fence.

RQ2Gryfon3-1974

Three Friends ~1972

American Garage - 1975

But then, you may have already guessed that. :)

I'm really partial to In a Glass House and Interview, but even their last couple of wanna-be commercial albums were great in their own way.

went into record production?

SF sound, more musical, post psychedelic

Where Do You Go or something like that? Or am I mixing them up with someone else? ( Or maybe just more of those damned hallucinations---thought they'd have stopped by about '71)

on tape; never heard the whole album, bet its great. An old roommate/songwriting partner turned me on to Big Star in the 80's ( " I never travel too far...without a little Big Star"---"Alex Chilton" by The Replacements)... I wonder if there are many younger people who know about the Electric Flag? Long Time Comin' is a masterpiece ( and of course , Buddy Miles recently passed away; his vocal on Overlovin You still slays me 40 years later...) The Fugs 2nd ; every single cut is a killer and the liner notes are by Allen Ginsburg.

"ove "Lady Sweet".

Not a clunker on it. About the only loop/programming stuff I've ever managed to enjoy, let alone listen to. Well, OK - UB 40's drum samples don't bother me, either.

United States of America
http://www.pandora.com/music/album/united+states+of+america/united+states+of+america

this doesn't sound 1994 to me as much as 60's, but then I am/was into a lot of weird stuff from the era, so it sounds ahead of it's time, but not 25 years ahead. Just me though. Reminds me a bit of some VU/Nico but a lot stranger.

The Pretty Things
http://www.pandora.com/music/album/pretty+things/sf+sorrow

This is a great album. Good call. I am a big fan of old garage and Brit Glam and this kind of bridges both pretty well.

White Noise
http://www.pandora.com/music/album/white+noise/electric+storm

This is new to me, and sounds pretty modern - reminds me a bit of some of the newer stuff by bands like Goldfrapp, who you may like. They are semi-electronic, languid, trippy, and sexy.

Sagittarius
http://www.pandora.com/music/album/sagittarius/present+tense

Also new to me. Not crazy about what I heard, but not bad either.

I love The Zombies...
http://www.pandora.com/music/album/zombies/odessey+oracle+30th+anniversary+edition

... and Big Star!
http://www.pandora.com/music/album/big+star/1+record+radio+city


The stuff I love from the late 60's/early-mid 70's is mostly British glam, like Roxy Music, Sweet, Queen, Slade, Bowie, T-Rex, etc. as well as some American bands and non-glam Brit bands.

Roxy Music - Roxy Music - a favorite!
http://www.pandora.com/music/album/4e7e85e92062b371f38872cc5d2b7170
(hmm... the samples are not working but check it out if you get a chance)
2HB (about Bogart) still gives me chills!
http://www.pandora.com/music/song/roxy+music/2hb

Queen - Sheer Heart Attack
http://www.pandora.com/music/album/queen/sheer+heart+attack

Maybe my favorite album, although I like all of them up to and including the Game and a few after. But their 70's stuff is the best, imo.

I like all kinds of stuff though.

10. HP Lovecraft 1968. On the Phillips label
They were from Chicago and sounded like the Jefferson Airplane.
9. The Hangmen, "Bitter sweet" 1967. on the Monument label.
They were from Washington D.C and had the fuzz tone sound.
8. The hook. Will Grab you. 1967. On the Uni Label.
An power trio that got overshadowed by Cream and Hendrix.
7. The Boston Tea Party. 1967. On Flick disc.
A Boston Psychedelic band that who got their name from a club.
6. The Bluethings. 1965 Cinadelic records.
A Mid West folk rock band.
5. The Yellow pages Volume 1 1968. On th Uni Label.
An L.A Band acid rock band
4. The Seeds Future 1967 on the GNP Crescendo Label.
This LP is so bad that it is good. The whole LP was devoted
to the flower power movement. This was their follow up to
"Web of Sound"
3. Frantic 1967 on the Lizard Label.
A Jam band from Monotana.
2.Fever Tree 1967 On the MCA label.
A cool psychedelic band from Houston Texas.
AND NOW...THE PSYCHEDELIC CLASSIC....THE BAND WITH THE LONGEST NAME IN ROCK HISTORY!!!!!
1. The west coast pop art experimental band. Vol 1 1966. On the Reprise lable.
This album was one of first acid rock album ever! They were from Frisco! Of course.
Paul got the idea for 1967 LP Sgt,Peeper from this band. They were 3 guys who did mostly studio work. They hardly play anywhere. I may be wrong!

http://www.neilyoung.com/lwwtoday/videolinks/videolink_422.html

before changing their name. Did a very cool song called Shifting Sands (???) or something like that, if I'm thinking of the right group. "I was born to wander, like the shifting of the sand". (Yes, no, maybe? ). Seems to me they changed to West Coast Pop Etc. while that song was on the charts ( though never got as high on charts as it should have).

They where from Los Angeles and had pseudonyms. My research tells me that there was info about them. So as far as that band you refered to, there is no there.

just tracked down some info that they did release some stuff as the California Spectrum. Half the time I can't remember what I did two hours ago, but somehow remember obscure rocknroll trivia ( or in the words of Dylan: "useless and pointless knowledge") decades later. Can provide you with the website info if you give a damn one way or the other. Rock on... and I was about to say welcome to DU, but just saw that you've been here longer than me....

http://www.allmusic.com/

Other wise, I don't know. I love obscure 60's psychedelic band and garage punk bands of 1966.
There was a garage band from Brooklyn in 1966 called Benedict Arnold & The Traitors. There was another band in the 80's by the same name. I know stuff like that. Rock on!

members.chello.nl/c.vanderlely/wcpaeb/history/wcpaeb3.htm ( Spectrum mentioned in 4th paragraph) ; also mentions Spectrum name on page 4 too. Amazingly detailed history of the WCPAEB. My friend Bill, who's a old roadie/guitar tech/stagehand/soundman etc. and now buys and sells rarities and memorabilia on line found this article for me. I also love old mid sixties garage/punk/psychedelic... Been trying to track down Leave Me Alone , by The Knaves , ( pretty sure it was '66) from my old home town of Chicago... One of the all time great punk lyrics: " Why don't you choke yourself and, leave me alone." THAT'S some freakin' poetry. Will check out your link right now too. And hopefully the republicans 'll choke themselves and leave us all alone.

Found Big Star's #1 Record & Radio City (their 2nd album)(2 complete albums) on one CD - STAX records FCD-60-025.
A nice package for those who want to "discover" Big Star.