Artists' lps that don't get the respect deserved

Greg Allman Band's the song Queen of Hearts on the album Laid Back is an under-mentioned jewel as well.  I would not say the album does not get the respect it deserves but the R&B performance he lays down for this song is nothing short of amazing (IMHO).

I've got the "Laid Back" re-issue on order and I'm really looking forward/hoping it will exceed my expectations. His cover of Jackson Browne's "These Days" ...yeah!

zephyr24089: Your post kind of goes to the point I was making... (although you mentioned a song) .. with all of the history of the AB and all of the re-issues, I can find (no) discussion, certainly no re-issues/re-pressing of "Enlightened Rogues".

Respect from who...??

The Faces' "Long Player."

This is the same band that is Rod Stewart and The Faces. To satisfy their respective record contracts, Rod and the band alternated between recording for Warners and Mercury. Ron Woods shows off his slide playing and Rod's ragged vocals are complemented by the bands rollicking performance. One of my favorites.

Always loved Hari's "Dark Horse" which record no one else seems to like.

Rod Stewart is terrible vocal that's why don't get no respect from most.

"Give Em Enough Rope" is overlooked.

Rod Stewart is a great vocalist.  His work in the Jeff Beck Group and the Faces are first rate.

I loved the two LP's with Jeff Beck and I really like the Faces stuff I've heard with Rod.  After he went solo the material mostly went downhill IMO.

I'm sure that there are folks that love vocal of Rod Stewart, but I spoke about what most think and I including. 
I like Jeff Beck he's super great, but it doesn't mean that I like Faces or Rod's solo work.

A lot of Dylan fans reacted negatively to his 1980's "Christian period". I wasn't one of them, loving those albums.

Fleetwood Mac before Stevie Nicks

Grateful Dead with Pig Pen

Adrian Belew's music

Bardo Pond (great band)

Bob Dylan's rock-a-billy period

The discussion of Rod Stewart brought to mind, "Gasoline Alley".  
For me that is an excellent "solo" recording from Rod (though he's got a great group of musicians working with him on it).  I'd put that out there as an example of an LP that doesn't get enough praise. 


boxer12, what's an album from Dylan's rock-a-billy period?

Stones Santanic M.R.
Van Halen Fair Warning
Ac/DC Flick of the Switch
Nick Gilder Frequency
The Troggs

Somebody has to get their hearing checked. Stewart is a legendary vox. His material is questionable at times.

To answer ghosthouse; 
boxer12, what's an album from Dylan's rock-a-billy period?

It started with "Love and Theft" and apparently (?) ended (to early to tell) with "Tempest". Good stuff, IMO has a rock-a-billy feel style to it.  

boxer - while I don't think of 'em as "rock-a-billy" I get where you are coming from.   That's a string of good recordings from Mr. Z.  Starting with "Time Our of Mind", even, (though Lanois' production clouds the picture a bit), I'd say there's something of a similar feel to 5 successive LPs (leaving out Christmas and Shadows). Personally, I'm partial to "Together Through Life".  Love David Hidalgo's accordion on that one.

boxer12: I'll check out Bardo Pond based upon your other selections. I first saw Fleetwook Mac with Peter Green when they opened for Black Sabbath. It made me thing I had come to see the wrong band. FMac was fantastic!
My first Dead show was in September,1972, so I just missed Pigpen.
I saw Adrian Belew once with Fripp and another time with a young brother and sister rhythm section, a really impressive show.
As for Dylan, two records under appreciated are of mostly traditional covers, "Good As I Been To You" and "World Gone Wrong." Very good sonics, too!

ghosthouse: That "Gasoline Alley" was the first Rod record I bought. And that "great group" was the Faces with Ron Wood. Of course they were great! Rod has one of the all time great rock'n'roll voices. As for the standards he has been recording, I passed on 'em.

Ncarv - no argument from me about Rod's voice.  He lost me, however, mid 70s with Night on the Town and Footloose & Fancy Free.  
"Hot Legs" is definitely something that will make me switch the station or turn the thing off.  Also in agreement with you about those 2 Dylan albums... Blackjack Davey & Hard Times from GAIBTY along  with Two Soldiers & Lone Pilgrim from WGW being personal favorites.   

Agreed, ghosthouse, on Rod's later stuff. Once he split with the Faces, it was something completely different.

ncarv
It sounds like we enjoyed some of the same concerts. I saw the Grateful Dead many times however was only fortunate enough to see Belew once with King Crimson. Note that Bardo Pond is very creative but different than both of those bands. My favorite from them is Dilate. Another musician you may want to check out is Jason Molina in the bands "Magnolia Electric Company" and "Songs: OHIA

ghosthouse
Together through life is great. I was surprised though to see he used Robert Hunter for lyrics. Not that that is bad (I'm a fan of Hunters as well).  

bdp - thanks for the Johnny Burnette Trio tip.  I'll check it out.  Even though I'm not usually a fan of that early R&R sound myself, I do like knowing the roots of the more modern versions that I enjoy.  Your in- depth knowledge of popular music history is really impressive.   

One of my all-time favorite rock albums, which has never seemed to get the recognition that IMO it deserves, is "Projections," by The Blues Project, ca. 1966.

My favorite cut on the album:  "Steve’s Song," composed and sung by Steve Katz.  Who later, BTW, composed and sang my favorite song on the much more widely acclaimed self-titled Blood, Sweat & Tears album, "Sometimes In Winter."

Regards,
-- Al

Regarding Johnny Burnette, it's the music of the Trio ya'll want to hear, not Johnny solo. After R & R died off in the late 50's (Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran died, Carl Perkins joined Johnny Cash's band, Johnny himself got addicted to speed and then went Country, Jerry Lee Lewis got himself black-balled for marrying his 13-year old cousin, Chuck Berry got himself convicted of transporting a minor across state lines for immoral purposes and sent to prison, Gene Vincent's career just died on it's own, Roy Orbison moved from Sun Records to Monument and started producing his grandiose Operatic spectaculars, and Elvis returned from military service minus his long greasy hair, sideburns, and original band---the infamous trio of Scotty, Bill & D.J., and started recording the mostly God-awful music needed for those lame movies he did throughout the 60's), record companies started signing and promoting clean-cut Pop singers---Frankie Avalon, Fabian, Bobby Vee, Bobby Vinton, etc.) Seeing the writing on the wall, Johnny Burnette went Pop, having a hit with "You're Sixteen" (covered by Ringo Starr in the early 70's on his "Photographs" album). But Johnny's slick Pop sound is a far cry from the tough, rural sound of his Rockabilly.

"Live In The Air Age" - Be Bop Deluxe
Beats their studio work by a country mile not to mention a great recording. Call it progressive, call it art rock, Bill Nelson gets overlooked for his guitar work.  

Second the vote for Long Player.  

Say You Will - Fleetwood Mac
A far better album than Tusk or any of the "modern era" Mac stuff. Still a little too personal lyrics-wise and kind of annoying because of that, but Buckingham knows his way around a studio and a total sonic treat overall. 

The Standard - "Wire Post to Wire" (check out this 2004 release along with a couple other of theirs: Albatross & Swimmer)

Steve Miller - The Joker

Eek!

Jason Molina
Bill Callahan

Quite a bit of Andrew Gold's solo work.

Yeah Slaw, that first album of Andrew's is a good one. I used to see Andrew around Sherman Oaks (in the valley on the other side of the Hollywood Hills), and once attempted to ask him about a project I heard he was doing with Graham Gouldman, member of 10CC and writer of such 60's songs as "For Your Love" by The Yardbirds. Andrew was most unpleasant. The album he and Graham did together, however, is really, really amazing---"Greetings From Planet Love" by, get this: The Fraternal Order of The All. It is a tongue-in-cheek send-up of the psychedelic era, and the best parody I've ever heard, even better than The Rutles and Spinal Tap, which themselves are mighty good.

Just recently listening to the James Gang's first album, "Yer' Album".  Hopefully, most will know the James Gang was Joe Walsh's first major, commercially successful group.  Some of the banter between tracks is a little dated/corny but the music sounds great.  Particular noteworthy on this LP is the bass playing by Tom Kriss.  Worth a listen just to hear him.  It seems unfortunate this was the only album he made with JG.   

Linda ronstadt

Interesting comments here.  Putting aside jazz, blues, classical recordings and obscure singer/songwriter types, I'd add a few thoughts.

Rod Stewart's "Every Picture" isn't getting much love here and I think it's a terrific record.  So, that one might qualify for this thread.  After that, not so much.

I'll second Obligny on "Say You Will".  I'd say that  Buckingham's self-produced half (9 songs) of the CD  is a tour de force (acoustic and electric playing, production and songwriting - it's sung well within context, too).  IMO, Stevie Nicks' half of the album is much spottier in all respects (save the guitar playing), but includes some really fine tracks..... next to some head scratchers.  For me,  Dave Stewart's production work ranges from weird to wonderful, but the bad weighs down the good.

I personally think all of Buckingham's last three solo records are pretty damn spectacular, but they sell in the single digits, so they're in.

Staying with Fleetwood Mac, those first three Peter Green FM records probably qualify (Then Play On would, too, except I think it's too widely admired for this thread).

Karl Wallinger might be best remembered by music geeks as the second banana in The Waterboys, but I love the World Party stuff.

A lot of Todd Rundgren's post '70s records qualify.  Nearly Human is nearly perfect, IMO.

The New Radicals lone release had lots of commercial success, but it isn't particularly beloved by many people I know...except me.

Kid Creole and The Coconuts was a 70s dance band that fused left-wing politics, musical theater, Caribbean traditions, Latin Jazz, rock n roll, and disco with a truly sophomoric sense of humor.  They're mostly recalled as a disco band, but they're among my favorites.  I guess that says something about my sense of humor.

Lots of funk bands also qualify.  Until Daft Punk resurrected them, Chic was probably under appreciated.  The Bar-Kays, Funkadelic, and some of Chaka Khan's stuff are good examples.

Lots of early r n r/rockabilly artists would qualify for me.  In particular, the recordings of both Gatemouth Brown (on the Peacock label) and Louis Jordan (Tympany 5) are historically significant early rock n roll that get overlooked.  Carl Hogan, Tympany's guitarist, is a key player in the development of r n r guitar playing, IMO.

I'll also second Ghost on The James Gang.  I'll take them over The Eagles all day long, but that's another minority position on my part.

Ah, the great Louis Jordan---good one Marty! He and Big Joe Turner were playing Rock 'n' Roll in the late 40's, and is what Elvis and the rest of them Southern white boys were listening to alongside their Hillbilly 78's. I played in a Jump Blues/Swing Band in '74-5, and we did Louis' "Choo Choo Cha Boogie" and "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens", and they never failed to get the dance floor filled.

I'd say all Ambrosia albums, Triumvirat and Prokol Harum.

+1 czarivey.  I'll add Gentle Giant and PFM

Judy Collins, Who Knows Where the Time Goes.  Backed by Stephen Stills, James Burton, Buddy Emmons and others.  Covers of Dylan, Leonard Cohen and more.  The versions of I Pity the Poor Immigrant and Bird on the Wire are killer. 

Hi Almarg:
Taking you back to your December comment regarding The Blues Project, I have a remastered stereo vinyl circa 1986 of Projections. Interested if you have any knowledge re which is best version including the older monos. Although I usually like Sundazed for reissues, I've heard that the pressing of Projections was poor --- uncharacteristic for Sundazed.

Hi Gpgr4blu,

I can't really provide any meaningful insight re your question.  I have two versions, an original LP I purchased in the late 1960s and subsequently played pretty much to death on low fi equipment, and the 2-cd "Anthology" set which includes "Projections" as well as other material.  The sonics of the Anthology set vary somewhat among the different cuts, and in all cases are far from audiophile caliber, but are generally not so bad that I can't enjoy the music.

BTW, Steve Katz recently published a memoir, "Blood, Sweat, and My Rock 'n' Roll Years:  Is Steve Katz a Rock Star?", which seems to be getting a lot of favorable commentary and may be of interest to anyone who is a fan of the music and musicians of that era.  I suspect that I'll be picking up an autographed copy later in the year at one of the nostalgic talks/informal performances he gives periodically in small venues (as listed at his website).

Best regards,
-- Al
 

Thanks for the response and the site Al. Very interesting.

Van Morrison's "Common One".  I've only heard it on vinyl, and it became a cutout.  I played "Into the Music" by Van too many times to give it an objective opinion.  Thanks for the info on Peter Green having 3 solo albums(I thought he only had 2.).

Mmakshak,

If your "three Peter  Green solo records, I thought there were only two" comment was in response to me, I was referring to the three (2 1/2 if you prefer) Fleetwood Mac albums featuring Green that preceded "Then Play On".

The problem in counting is that "Mr Wonderful" was originally a UK only release.  So, if you add in the first Mac record, that is two prior to "Then Play On".   However,.....

Because "Wonderful" wasn't released here in the US, we got "English Rose" instead.  That record has songs roughly eaqualy split between "Wonderful" and unreleased singles.  So, you could say that there were two prior to "Play On" or three.

As to solo records, I'm not sure how many Peter Green has out there. 

Urge Overkill's Exit the Dragon

Hall & Oates, "Abandoned Luncheonette".   A bit surprised to read elsewhere on A'gon dismissive comments about H&O...but I guess that reflects opinion shaped solely by their "light-weight" commercial successes.  Listen past that if you can and check this one out.  

Thanks ghosthouse- Been meaning to check out some H & O. I really enjoy Joni Mitchell: For The Roses.  An underrated LP, in the great ones catalog.  Ladies of the Canyon and Hejira also awesome, but FTR seems to fly under the radar. 

Hello fjn04....glad someone is listening!  I do hope you will check out H&O. To me their earlier song-writing has more depth than some of the things they did at the height of their commercial success.  

I think you make a good point about For the Roses.  I do remember this LP when it first came out.  It made a big impression on me (Blonde in the Bleachers; Bar & Grille). It IS excellent though, as you say, probably less  "celebrated" than Blue, LotC, Court and Spark or Hejira.  Personally, Hejira seems a little more "studied" or calculated (forced?) to me.  For whatever reason, not as free-flowing as the others you mention - but still a very good recording and something any other artist would be proud to have produced.  You probably know Hissing of Summer Lawns.  Not sure how this is regarded but it surpasses Hejira in terms of being one of my favorites from JM.  Miles of Aisles is a great live compilation.  

There's an incredible amount of music out there to explore and enjoy.  Thanks for the reminder about For the Roses.  Gonna go dig that out later.

ghost, i would add hall/oates "along the red ledge", a sorta rock record that has some really excellent songs.
likewise, chris isaak's pre-stardom debut "silvertone"; supposedly one of the worst-selling major label releases ever, but a very solid rockabilly record.
skip spence, "oar"--an acid-damaged masterpiece by the ex moby grape/jefferson airplane guy that shows phenomenal range.
tom petty, "she's the one"--soundtrack for a little-seen film that went under the radar (altough "walls" was a hit).  for my money his best record--loose and funny, with great covers of lucinda and beck.

Loomis - you always have a lot of good input.  Indeed, I've found Along the Red Ledge on Spotify and actually recognize track 1 "It's a Laugh" - remember it getting some airplay back in the day.  

fjn - Definitely give those blue eyed soul boys from Phila. a try.