This may or may not be a recurring feature here: songs I really like and never stopped liking but that, for one reason or another, were never huge hits in their times and have since been gathering dust on the music world’s shelves. I haven’t listed anything too obscure – I think everything here received radio airplay in the U.S. – and most are available for download via amazon.com. I started out with a list of over twenty candidates but pared it down to something more manageable. If you’ve got a forgotten classic of your own to nominate, throw it in the comments alongside your adulation of these tracks.
Love Spit Love – “Am I Wrong
I hated the Psychedelic Furs while they were peaking – I think it was because the name was too weird; my music preferences during childhood were often predicated on ridiculous things like that – only to discover afterwards that they produced some pretty amazing stuff. Half the band re-formed as Love Spit Love, who had a minor hit with this atmospheric, melancholy ballad. They’re probably better known now for their cover of the Smiths’ “How Soon is Now,” which became the theme song for the TV show Charmed, but that’s a perfunctory money-grab compared to “Am I Wrong.”
Moloko – “Fun For Me
I first heard this on WFNX in 1997 when it was playing as my alarm went off one morning, and despite not hearing it again for years, I remembered enough of the lyrics to track it down during what one might call the Napster era. It sticks in your head like treacle – and I know it’s not just my head, because everyone for whom I’ve played this song hasn’t just loved it, but become a little obsessed with it, regardless of what type(s) of music they typically liked. Which makes some sense, since I’m not sure how you could assign any genre to “Fun for Me.” But perhaps that’s why it never become any sort of hit in the U.S., given our tendency toward narrowcasting even on mainstream radio stations.
Pigeonhed feat. Lo Fidelity All-Stars – “Battleflag
I first heard this during my summer in Seattle in 1998 while pulling into the parking lot of the Safeway on Queen Anne Ave., and I sat in the car until the damn thing was over because I was riveted to the seat. It’s sort of like Prince meets … well, some other side of Prince, yet the end product doesn’t really sound that much like Prince but more like something by a couple of guys who really like Prince but also like overdubs and drum/bass samples and that ubiquitous handclap. There are a couple of versions around, but the best remix is the one found on MTV’s AMP 2
Susanna Hoffs – “All I Want” (video)
Susanna Hoffs turned 50 in January, which I find horrifying, since I doubt I had a bigger crush on any celebrity during my formative years. I’m pleased, however, to discover that she still looks damn good. Hoffs released two solo albums in the 1990s between the Bangles’ breakup and inevitable reunion, neither of which did much on the charts, but her second effort included a fantastic cover of the Lightning Seeds’ “All I Want,” taking out the twee and turning into more of a folk-rock song. Sadly, the album is out of print and isn’t available for download. (Why wouldn’t a record label just push all of its songs out as mp3s? Is there some hidden cost of which I’m unaware? I imagine it would just be free revenue every time a song sells. And why post the video on Youtube if you don’t intend to sell the song?)
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth – “They Reminisce Over You
As far as I’m concerned, the Bad Boy era killed hip-hop after an incredibly prolific decade of high-quality hip-hop songs, from the Golden Age of Rap coming out of New York to the short-lived jazz-rap movement (Digable Planets, anyone?) to southern California G-Funk in the early ’90s. (Warren G doesn’t qualify, sorry.) Producer Pete Rock was part of the jazz-rap movement, sticking with jazz and jazzy samples and lots of horn solos behind the, uh, smooth rhymes of C.L. Smooth. “T.R.O.Y.,” named as an homage to the late Troy Dixon of Heavy D and the Boyz, was easily their finest moment, built on a bass/horn riff from jazz saxophonist Tom Scott with fluid lyrics from C.L. Smooth.
Stone Roses – “Love Spreads
The opening 30 seconds constitute my main ring tone. If you like great guitar riffs, the entire album from which “Love Spreads” comes (Second Coming) will be right up your alley; guitarist John Squire wrote some enormous hooks and fills just about every available space with memorable licks. I still have no idea why this song, the first single from Second Coming, wasn’t at least a huge hit on “mainstream rock” stations, given the big guitar sounds and the catchy ad-infinitum chorus at the end. Also recommended: The Stone Roses’ guitarist’s post-breakup project, Seahorses, recorded one incredible song called “Love is the Law” (video) featuring awesome guitar work and the priceless line “Strap-on Sally/Chased us down the alley/We feared for our behinds.” Incidentally, the Stone Roses are going on tour this summer after more than a decade of “when hell freezes over” responses to reunion rumors.
Mansun – “Wide Open Space
“Wide Open Spaces” garnered some modern-rock and mainstream-rock radio play when the album came out in 1996, but nothing else from the album broke through and their follow-up work wasn’t very good at all. (Incidentally, the album’s opening track, “The Chad Who Loved Me,” should have been all over the place in the fall of 2000, right?) There’s a lot of ’70s epic/arena rock to this song, but with this great underlying tension from that repeated two-note guitar riff. “Wide Open Spaces” would also rate highly on my list of “Songs I wish I had the range to sing.” Even solo, in the car, it’s a stretch.
Monster Magnet – “Negasonic Teenage Warhead
I know, they were completely ridiculous, a pastiche of stoner rock, New Wave of British Heavy Metal, and even a little bit of glam thrown in, but before the bombastic (if catchy) “Space Lord,” Monster Magnet threw down this straight-out rocker that will have you shouting “I will deny you!” for days. I wonder how much singer/songwriter Dave Wyndorf thinks he owes to Guns N Roses or White Zombie. It’s one of sleaze rock’s finest hours – or four-and-a-half minutes.
Catherine Wheel – “Waydown
This song wasn’t a great example of the Catherine Wheel’s music – “Black Metallic” and “Heal 2” are probably their signature songs – but it’s easily my favorite song by the group, still bringing that faint My Bloody Valentine influence to a much more polished finished product. The music is all energy and tension even as the lyrics describe a rapid, willful descent. It wasn’t quite grunge enough for its era but was harder and heavier than the hair-metal that grunge replaced.
Peter Murphy – “Cuts You Up
Murphy was the lead singer of the goth/arthouse band Bauhaus, which spawned the better-known Love and Rockets after its breakup. While “Cuts You Up” didn’t reach the commercial heights of L&R’s “So Alive
Say Trickle – “It Doesn’t Count” (video)
I know I promised nothing too obscure, but I’m making an exception to my own rule for this little-known British pop/rock band that sort of got caught between the Madchester craze in the early ’90s and the Britpop revival of a few years later. If they had a hit, this was it, although it just scraped the lower reaches of the modern rock charts and didn’t chart at all on Billboard‘s Hot 100. Unfortunately, Say Trickle’s only record is long out of print, but at least the video survives on Youtube.
Thanks for passing along the last one. I hadn’t heard it before, but it is good.
The entire albumn that “Am I Wrong” appears on (it’s a self-titled albumn, go figure…) is pretty amazing. “Half A Life” is one of my favorite songs. Unfortunately, subsequent Love Spit Love albumns didn’t live up to the promise of the first.
Battleflag’s a great song off of a terribly named album “How to operate with a blown mind”. Heard that song for the first time when it was on the Sopranos as Tony sat at Bada Bing. Song is way better uncensored than the radio edit.
On the topic of stoner rock. You cant go wrong with Kyuss. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrDNi34ME8g
Wow, that is a pretty diverse list, but Pete Rock and CL Smooth is an excellent addition. There is a whole genre of hip hop that has become mostly forgotten know that rap songs are only about money, or saying the name of a dance step over and over and over. The jazz infused hip hop from producers like Pete Rock is sorely missed these days. If I had to humbly throw out a nomination, maybe something from Reflection Eternal by Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek, amazing album, but never made it as a hit. Good list to get thinking on…
I’m a little reticent to download a few of these… Monster Magnet? Really?
My favorite (among the tracks I’m familiar with) is “Love Spreads.”
Love Spreads by the Stone Roses was huge on Boston Radio when I was just starting college (God I am old!). I love that song! She Bangs the Drums is a good one by them as well!
Catherine Wheel! Since you like their song Black Metallic there is a cool acoustic version that the singer did on a recent album out there too! Also, Judy Staring at the Sun is a good one.
I will have to think back to my college days to see what else I have lost touch with…thankfully my IPOD has a lot of these songs still in rotation!
Michael:
Monster Magnet’s song “Power Trip,” is one of the best “I wish I could live the lazy rich life” songs ever! And the guitar in it is pretty cool too…but “Negasonic Teenage Warhead,” just had a feel too it (way back in the mid-90’s). I thought it was a cool song.
there is no need to apologize for monster magnet. they don’t take themselves seriously; it’s a goof.
and they can put together some great songs, with negasonic teenage warhead being a testament to that.
also crop circle, ultimative everything, and some others.
i’d have to say dinosaur jr. and faith no more are two great early 90’s band that don’t get enough love.
and “satin in a coffin” by modest mouse.
FNM’s “A Small Victory” was under consideration for this list but didn’t make the cut.
I know you’re younger than me Klaw (I’m 47) but I feel really old when I read your list. I think the only ones I’ve even heard of are the stone Roses and Psychodelic Furs. It’s amazing that we agree on so much but our musical tastes are obviously polar opposites. Of course, I guess that was the purpose of the list – stuff that wasn’t in the mainsteam.
Great songs, all of these should be better known. Here is my favorite lost classic Translator’s “Everywhere That I’m Not” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ9TfJjKHUM
klaw, bet you did not know that 2 members of Love Spit Love are in the new Guns N roses.. The guitar player is a good guy always replies on myspace and such
Keith, I knew you were a fan of old-school hip-hop, but that is a terrific call on T.R.O.Y. It is a remarkably underrated classic song. Another one is “I Got Cha Opin” by Black Moon and “Lie at the BBQ” by Main Source (mostly just because it’s the debut of Nas).
*EDIT* the title is “Live at the BBQ” not “Lie”. Sorry
It’s catchy. It’s funky. It’s funny. It’s anchored by the band’s typically exceptional musicality (Les Claypool and the slap bass … wow). It might be a little too, uh, suggestive for the kiddies, but it deserves whatever cult-classic status it has — and more.
It’s “Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver” by Primus. (Bonus points for the video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzhL-0_pC3E
I really like the Moloko song. If I put it in a genre, I’d put it in trip hop. It reminds me of some stuff by Lamb ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt1Ef_ai_C4 ), another a male+female electronic duo.
The only song from this list I remember is the Lo Fidelity All-Stars one.
Off the top of my head, some forgotten classics are:
-Supergrass – Pumping on Your Stereo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXL_Xb0zT5g (for the video more than anything, which I remember watching on 120 minutes when I was little)
-New Radicals – You Get What You Give http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91WgM6dNLTE
-Mr. Oizo – Flat Beat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kv6Ewqx3PMs
-The Orb – Little Fluffy Clouds http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7BVp2qyVBU (I don’t know if this counts, as I was only 5 when it was released)
-Kid Koala – Fender Bender http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxhk-cWQbrs
Come to think of it, the Mr. Oizo and Kid Koala tracks I remember first seeing on MTV’s 120 Minutes, too (that should fit the “airplay” and not “too obscure” clauses, right?). I guess MTV doesn’t really need to show music videos nowadays since we have Youtube now anyway.
I’d probably go with “Alright” from Supergrass, since it was the closing theme to Clueless.
What up, KLaw… I have to admit, we are rather like-minded in our musical tastes, from Susanna Hoffs to Pete & CL to Pigeonhed. First time I heard that track was on ER, when Noah Wyle and Kellie Martin’s characters were stabbed by the psycho patient. (Wonderfully shot scene, by the way…)
Poor quality rcording from YT, but here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OAfbpiXoCs
Keep up the good work!
@wickethewok: I can’t possibly believe either of those songs were played on 120 minutes. Sorry, I just can’t. Not the 120 Minutes I watched.
Even to this day when I tell people how often WAAF played Love Spreads they think I’m nuts. That song was HUGE in Boston.
Klaw with the Rick Roll, and a good one at that.
I Used to Love H.E.R. by Common (Sense) is spectacular, although the fact that he now does Gap commercials and the like sort of divorces the message from the messenger. But a great sort of dividing line between old (good) and new (not so good) hip-hop.
(Why is it that I tend to have awful redundancies on message boards which don’t allow editing? “Sort of” twice in two sentences? Gross.)
Dave, don’t bother correcting yourself… really, nobody will hold it against you.
Waydown, Battleflag, lots of Peter Murphy’s Deep are in my rotation. Great songs.
Zack from Wiley – I grew up in Worcester, MA…you are right WAAF loved the Brit-Pop movement (Oasis, Stone Roses, etc) back in the mid 90’s…then something happened to that station. If you listen now, you would never know that they played any of that music in the past. Oh the days of John Osterland!
And a Beaker Rickroll at that. Solid.
The rickroll was my wife’s idea. I told her what the post was going to be, and she said, “You have to rickroll them.” Beaker and the clues (there were two) were my touches.
Brian – so did I (grew up in Worcester)! I sorely miss the O-Zone, and of course the Cream Cheese Bitch herself.
The Roses are denying the reunion rumors. I’ll believe when I see it, although I probably won’t see it if they don’t come to Chicago.
Love is the Law continued the format of ‘One Love’ and ‘I am the Resurrection’ (the Roses’ best song, btw) by adding about four minutes of excellent guitar work to a three minute pop song. Squire also did a solo album (maybe two), but the poor guy really can’t sing. Still, their first album is, in my opinion, probably the greatest collection of recorded material on the planet.
I also loved Catherine Wheel, especially ‘Ferment’ and ‘Chrome’. And Peter Murphy’s second album ‘Holy Smoke’ is underrated.
Zach – did you leave the great state, or are you still stuck there? I grew up on Shrewsbury St…St. John’s Class of 1994!
I did not click on the Say Trickle link because I had no clue who they were…LOL! That is classic!
Were the clues “It Doesn’t Count” and “long out of print?”
“Were the clues “It Doesn’t Count” and “long out of print?””
Plus “Say Trickle” is an anagram.
I’ve always liked Friends of P by The Rentals:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlq2hYcHEQ0
Then again, I’m a sucker for a Moog synthesizer riff.
Here are 10 tunes – some are forgotten classics, some should have been and others are some lesser known songs by well known bands
The Primitives – “Crash”
Keeping in theme with the brit-pop stuff – this song is so immediate and so sweet, just perfect when you’re in need of an afternoon sugar rush. When I first heard it I wasn’t sure if I loved the song or if I just hadn’t learned to hate it yet. Thousands of listens and many years later – I’m certainly in the former camp. Ironically – the fact that this song is a ‘lost classic’ and wasn’t overplayed on radio may actually be the biggest reason I still listen to it.
http://mivid.net/video/2328/The-Primitives–CRASH
The Rolling Stones – “Sitting on a Fence”
I love harmonies, I can’t stress that enough. This is a really refreshing piece from a band that you don’t normally associate with tight, short pop-songs. Surprisingly, if you look at their 64-67 period they actually had a ton of songs that were much closer to this than to the cock-rock sleaze stuff they produced in the 70’s and to which we now more readily associate them with. Also check out – “The Last Time”, “Play with Fire” and “Dandelion”.
Stereolab – “Wow and Flutter”
I like Stereolab a lot, but I was always much more into the few true pop tunes they did rather than their groove-filled electronic stuff. That said, one of the reasons their pop songs are so good is because they usually only have 2-3 of them which have to be strong enough to balance out their typically dense albums.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkpXoM0D-Pk
The Chameleons (UK) – “Swamp Thing”
I think this song only could have been produced in the 80’s… and I mean that in a good way. It probably could have sky-rocketed in popularity if used as the climax to a John Hughes movie. It sure takes it’s time to get where it ends up, but what a journey! All atmospherics – brooding and hypnotizing, somehow finding it’s groove before hitting the grand, epic finale that is well worth the wait. Impeccably constructed and a fantastic song to get you home at 3 in the morning.
Josef K – “Endless Soul”
Here’s a band that most people probably don’t know about (and with good reason – they broke up in the early 80’s and only had their first US release 3 years ago!) but should. Their sound is real simple – the guitars are jangly and menacing, the drums are simple beats, the bass plays a lot of melody and the vocals are dry and deep. Their first album was scrapped by the singer because he didn’t like it. The finally released first album had mostly new material on it. Then they broke up because that’s how they thought it was supposed to be. It’s difficult to understand their reasoning for certain things, but I highly recommend getting your hands on the 2006 comp Entomology.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qkc8RPLh8ow
Mission of Burma – “Trem Two”
What a great song!!! Basically based around 1 repeating riff that doubles as a hypnosis narcotic, that is until it gets to the thunder and lighting ending. It was really great to see them live the past few times they’ve come through – this song especially provokes some strange sounds in a live setting. Though this song is pretty accessible, though the album that this is from (‘Vs.’) is a very demanding/difficult album – BUT – really worth it if you like arty, abrasive rock.
live version – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qpi2DefuyJ4
The Flaming Lips – “Fight Test”
This is a really glorious, uplifting song (much better than “Do You Realize?”) – probably the first song I go to if I feel like crap. In fact I’ll get more specific – if I’ve ever spent time questioning my life and wondering if I’m just wasting all my time – this songs perfect combination of lyrics, melody and dreamy production will probably be the thing to help me out of my funk. This song means A LOT to me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3UdFJoCrzQ
Wire – “Outdoor Minor”
The poppiest tune from one of rocks ‘artiest’ bands, this song should’ve been a hit, but wasn’t due to a payola scandal involving their record company. The lyrics are complete gibberish, but the harmonies are oh so sweet. Other great Wire pop tunes featuring innovative use of harmonies are Mannequin (from Pink Flag) and Map Ref (from 154). Here is a fan version on ukulele that’s way better than it should be. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgTFuqB91DI
XTC – “Making Plans for Nigel”
This might be cheating as this song has made a bit of a comeback (at least on indie rock radio), but the drums are really, really great. For some reason I always picture someone slowly waking up really early in the morning and trying to get out of bed – with the sun just peaking through the window. Also, it’s a great song to eat oatmeal to. The original video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C6bVckO_CM
The Zombies – “Care of Cell 44”
Most famous for “Time of the Season”, The Zombies are one of the truly great ‘forgotten bands’ of the British Invasion era. Or rather, their mostly considered ‘one-hit wonders’, but from ’64 – ’68, they released consistently great singles and one truly great album, ‘Odessey and Oracle’ (which contains “…Cell 44” and “Time of…”). Their songs usually feature great harmonies a la the Beatles and Beach Boys, but are typically much darker in tone and sound. Here is a fan video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afrdo2qneoI
“Crash” is a great call. “Secrets” is another awesome power-pop song by the Primitives:
(video).
I had “Swamp Thing” on the original list of ~25 songs but cut it because it is so horribly dated.
http://www.seeqpod.com – great searchable streaming music site
Also, for a song … “Mentirosa” by Mellow Man Ace. Hit from 1989. Bilingual rap song with a great flow and sampling Santana’s “Evil Ways”
A liar, a straight mentirosa, today you tell me something y manana otra cosa
if you love “fight test” you should download “father and son” by cat stevens. fight test is arguably the biggest rip off ever.
i just listened to QOTSA – the lost art of keeping a secret. that’s a great song.
and the entire neutral milk hotel album, in the aeroplane over the sea.
Re: “Fight Test” v. “Father and Son” – This might be opening up a giant can of worms, but I know both songs very well and I honestly think they are very different from each other. Yes, the vocal melodies (verse only) are definitely very similar, but the differences between the two songs in tempo and musical accompaniment (not to mention lyrics) are profound. Also, the chorus from “Fight Test”, is nowhere to be found in “Father and Son”, and I would say that the chorus is the highlight of “Fight Test”.
I certainly don’t mean to pick a fight with you – you bring up a very interesting point about the nature of music. The fact is, similarities between two songs happen all the time and the line between ‘rip-off’ and ‘inspired by’ or ‘coincidental’ is extremely blurry. Sometimes a true rip-off is not even questionable (The Beach Boys “Surfin’ USA” is without a doubt a true rip off of Chuck Berry’s “Sweet Little Sixteen”), but sometimes the similarities are coincidental, or only a small part of a song. Neil Young has sole writing credit for “Borrowed Tune”, even though in the song he sings “I’m singing this borrowed tune/I got from the Rolling Stones” (“Lady Jane” is the song he borrowed from).
George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord” vs. The Chiffons’ “He’s So Fine” is another famous example. The songs are very similar, but I’m not sure I would call “My Sweet Lord”, a true rip-off (in fact even though the courts ruled it was a rip off – the language used stated it was ‘subconscious’!). Another example put’s George on the other side with his “Taxman”, certainly inspiring The Jam’s “Start!”, but again I wouldn’t really call it a rip-off (and there has never been a lawsuit).
The other extreme is Joe Satriani’s rediculous lawsuit against Coldplay. The only notable similarities are that the chord progressions in the two songs are the same, but this is a chord progression that’s been used in thousands of songs. Judge for yourself – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvB9Pj9Znsw.
The bottom line is, if the courts don’t decide it, then it’s simply a matter of opinion. In fact often times many artists ‘stumble’ upon new songs by ‘mishearing’ somebody else’s tune. Here is a montage of a bunch of tunes that sound similar (Also it includes “Surfin’ USA” and “Sweet Little Sixteen” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25O-bLjreaA
A forgotten single off Soundgarden’s “Superunknown”:
“My Wave”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geQ52MdwBY4
And I’ll never be able to figure out why “Let Me Drown” wasn’t a single. Might be the best song on the album, better than “Black Hole Sun.”
I really liked “Head Down” from Superunknow.
I really like “Making Plans for Nigel” – I don’t know about where you live, but in Chicago, WXRT (83.1 FM) used to play it fairly regularly and still does occasionally to this day.
I’d also add The Godfathers – I’m Lost And Then I’m Found. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Omf2E5OWAU
On your trackback, he lists “The Way” but wasn’t that a pretty big hit? I seem to recall hearing that one a lot when it came out. Forgotten, maybe, but doesn’t quite fit the obscure mold.
The way is still played today…at least in Phoenix.
While Love Spreads and Stone Roses’ second album was good, it had been regarded as kind of disappointment when released, I remember: their first album sounds kind of ethereal , I a mean light and catchy with pop hooks, but after long delay caused by problem with recording label, etc., they came back with very bluesy sound… and That one became their last album, as fast as I know. I love the song, but the first album is far better.
I like quite a few of those songs, here are some of my favorites:
If I Can’t Change Your Mind – Sugar
Bright Yellow Gun – Throwing Muses
Hothouse Flowers – Hallelujah Jordan
Bob Mould – See a Little Light
Afghan Whigs – What Jail is Like
Mark Lanegan – Carnival
Belly – Feed the Tree
Kostars – Never so Lonely
Lanegan and the Kostars might not qualify for the airplay requirement.
Mike: The Sugar song is actually on my list for part two. That, “See a Little Light,” and “Bright Yellow Gun” are all longtime favorites of mine.