championing the unheralded--an ongoing thread

[jazzboCR]

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.

[jazzboCR]

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-...0000197624
http://www.allmusic.com/album/20-reggae-...0000055916
http://www.allmusic.com/album/20-reggae-...0000054639
http://www.allmusic.com/album/20-reggae-...0000235531

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)

[jazzboCR]

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.

[jazzboCR]

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-n...iscography
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

[SteveO]

Do You Know What I Mean ...classic Lee Michaels!!!!

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.

[SteveO]

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

[Jerome]

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.

[SteveO]

I have the Second Contribution album J !!!!

[jazzboCR]

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

[SteveO]

Bop Till You Drop...excellent album!!!!