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+--- Thread: championing the unheralded--an ongoing thread (/showthread.php?tid=10098)
championing the unheralded--an ongoing thread - jazzboCR - 20-02-2014
Awkward title for this thesis: There are some artists/sets/etc. that are either not much remembered or not known in the first place.
Let's start with a '60's-era folkie, who had an unexpected Top 40 hit (a cover version)--Fred Neil.
Version remembered: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AzEY6ZqkuE << Harry Nilsson was a whole 'nother kind of wack job--walking through the Troubadour club with John Lennon, both wearing feminine napkins tied on as hats, e.g.
Original: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5txh2GvPmAU << love that 12 string work
More from him: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEYdDzU2Az0
Yet more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEYdDzU2Az0 << my plea too--so far unfulfilled
A totally-of-the-era-tune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbnUQcN7xu8 << he quit the biz in disgust, going back to South Florida to do Dolphin welfare work
This Thread is not exclusive to me--contributions gleefully solicited.
championing the unheralded--an ongoing thread - jazzboCR - 22-02-2014
I think this qualifies: The most important company putting out rocksteady/reggae collected 80 examples in 4 discs. If you like mid-period Jamaican music, it's essential. If you like classic tunes from other genres (Country, R&B), see how your faves get transformed mightily.
http://www.allmusic.com/album/20-reggae-classics-the-music-that-inspired-a-generation-mw0000197624
http://www.allmusic.com/album/20-reggae-classics-vol-2-inspiration-continues-mw0000055916
http://www.allmusic.com/album/20-reggae-classics-vol-3-mw0000054639
http://www.allmusic.com/album/20-reggae-classics-vol-4-mw0000235531
I'm good for going through all 4 every 2 months or so. Never fails to excite. Many of these were also covered well by UB40, especially on Labour of Love (Labour of Love Vol. II not nearly so much)
championing the unheralded--an ongoing thread - jazzboCR - 23-02-2014
Now here's a real wild man for you: Lee Michaels. He did some forgettable hippy-dippy crapola but is much better remembered for his OTT Hammond B3 based Blue-eyed Soul. Strap in tight--it's a crazy, exhilarating ride:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7PpXSC1NN4 << his unindicted co-conspirator is Frosty
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NvZEXZTqLg << nice slice from Two-lane Blacktop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6qD9LZxzxo << piano and organ--prolly multi-tracked but you never know--tough to play live if it was
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1viCVYsEHHo << unk. but terrif sax
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjkCvYb3_do
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dppmIu7C3MA << tambourines and Black female chorus--works great
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRFj8fJy268 << ditto
If you ain't sweatin' bullets and moving body parts around...I may need to take your pulse.
championing the unheralded--an ongoing thread - jazzboCR - 27-02-2014
Next up is Michael Nesmith. Mr. Nesmith (Papa Nez to his legions of admirers) didn't invent country-rock but he sure put a high polish on it and buffed it to perfection. The only member of The Monkees worth a fiddler's fiduke, he had 16 records in a 34-year span, every one of which got AMG 4 Stars or better. Whether re-imaging then-current tunes or mining the vaults or doing his own solid songs, he always brought something special to the party. Selections run long--won't just excerpt this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC8s_GvMccM << that first song just tightens my gut and lifts me up out of my seat. No vocal tricks--it all flows from the tune and his soul.
Papa Nez 38 years later (though his partner Red Rhodes had died 17 years before): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdUrEDSkUcE << game, set, match.
Here's the discog. One to pick (pre-79) is Live at the Palais--collects his good early stuff, with a bit harder edge. Overall best (and also as a DVD) is the Live at Britt Festival: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/michael-nesmith-mn0000463435/discography
Here's a Website serving mainly for merch but check out the Video and Videoranch 3D click-throughs--neat stuff. : http://www.videoranch3d.com/mm5/merchant.mvc
Singer, player, writer, producer, one who boosted many others' careers...and a good man. Michael Nesmith.
BONUS: a TV appearance before he joined the Monkees: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lo6A1T1nx8
championing the unheralded--an ongoing thread - SteveO - 27-02-2014
Do You Know What I Mean ...classic Lee Michaels!!!!
jazzboCR Wrote:Now here's a real wild man for you: Lee Michaels. He did some forgettable hippy-dippy crapola but is much better remembered for his OTT Hammond B3 based Blue-eyed Soul. Strap in tight--it's a crazy, exhilarating ride:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7PpXSC1NN4 << his unindicted co-conspirator is Frosty
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NvZEXZTqLg << nice slice from Two-lane Blacktop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6qD9LZxzxo << piano and organ--prolly multi-tracked but you never know--tough to play live if it was
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1viCVYsEHHo << unk. but terrif sax
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjkCvYb3_do
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dppmIu7C3MA << tambourines and Black female chorus--works great
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRFj8fJy268 << ditto
If you ain't sweatin' bullets and moving body parts around...I may need to take your pulse.
championing the unheralded--an ongoing thread - SteveO - 27-02-2014
![[Image: 680px-Shawn_Phillips.png]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/Shawn_Phillips.png)
Influential Texan folk rock musician that emerged in the early seventies!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawn_Phillips
[video=youtube;F50-1S9_6FU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F50-1S9_6FU[/video]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlgYap8IQlY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgZkL3-zPFk
championing the unheralded--an ongoing thread - Jerome - 27-02-2014
SteveO Wrote:
Influential Texan folk rock musician that emerged in the early seventies!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawn_Phillips
[video=youtube;F50-1S9_6FU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F50-1S9_6FU[/video]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlgYap8IQlY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgZkL3-zPFk
Brilliant musician - his albums Transcendence, Faces, Spaced and Second Contribution are all fantastic. Now lives in Cape Town SA. 'Second Contribution' is an absolute MUST in any album collection.
championing the unheralded--an ongoing thread - SteveO - 27-02-2014
I have the Second Contribution album J !!!!
championing the unheralded--an ongoing thread - jazzboCR - 22-03-2014
Ry Cooder--THE MAN when it comes to bringing world music to the Northern Tier and Australasian countries. AMG says it succinctly--"Virtuoso roots guitarist who was steeped in the blues, but spent his career exploring new musical worlds from Tex-Mex/Cuban bolero to African music." ADD: he never forgot where he came from and has put out excellent albums lately highlighting American themes and styles. My 2 faves: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKaCwpiESrw and some live cuts from Bop Till You Drop: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkAiNeZmJMo and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRAg7ixYaeE << lotta truth here. Next up is Pt. 1 and 2 of a hoppin' tune: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_kbGttueAY // http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSTEyhf37gc << dyn-o-mite solos by everybody
An excellent singer Terry Evans has a lot to thank him for: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX0WjTkDvy4 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7GPrNJAxzc
That piece with Manuel Galban was taken down--here's another: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcYBmFJUujc
championing the unheralded--an ongoing thread - SteveO - 22-03-2014
Bop Till You Drop...excellent album!!!!