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Hidden Gems in Classic Rock Albums

Please share songs you love that get overlooked on classic albums that most consider among the best ever--for example, those that regularly appear on the Rolling Stone top 100 list. Last weekend I played "Hotel California" all the way through and was really digging "Try and Love Again". Can't get it out of my head. Oddly, a Randy Meisner tune with great bass guitar and unique bass drum work by Don Henley--pumping it twice rather than once not sure why. There is some really great stabbing guitar lines, awesome rhythm guitar licks and a nice lead guitar. As always, great harmony vocals to boot. A really great song that seems to fly under the radar because it is on an LP that has so many "hits" and really great songs. 

Share yours!

dodgealum
zappas's avatar
zappas
164 posts
 

+ 1 for Zappa. J Geils band Detroit Breakdown is another favorite. 

flyfish77
40 posts
 

Fleetwood Mac’s Kiln House is a gem.  The guitar playing is fantastic throughout.  The song writing is very good and ranges from snarling, epic rock jams, slide guitar blues, to the lovely Like Crying.  The classic song ‘Oh Well” in on the album.  Early Fleetwood Mac was a great band.

czarivey
5,691 posts
 

Can -- Chain Reaction and the rest of their discography

Led Zeppelin -- Kashmir and pretty much an entire Physical Graffiti album

I think songs like Stairway to Heaven, Hotel California are not hidden gems. They're mainstream exposed gems or maybe just stones:)

 

 

charliech
21 posts
 

Not sure if you'd consider some of this "classic rock" but it's all old:

  • REM - Begin the Begin from Lifes Rich Pageant (actually that entire album is great)
  • 10,000 Maniacs - Verdi Cries from In My Tribe (another great record and what a voice)
  • Blue Oyster Cult - Black Blade from Cultisaurus Erectus
  • Bob Segar - You'll Accomp'ny Me or We've Got Tonight (Bob Segar had so many hits but you really don't hear much about him now)
  • Chickenfoot - not classic rock but if you like classic rock, both records are really good
  • Cream - Swlabr from Disraeli Gears
  • Iron Maiden - Murders in the Rue Morgue from Killers (both Killers and Number of the Beast are great back to back albums with different singers)
  • Jeff Beck - Thelonious from Blow by Blow (another great album back to back)
  • Jeff Beck - Star Cycle from There and Back
  • Ozzy Osbourne - S.A.T.O. from Diary of a Madman (that album and Blizzard of Ozz are both great records)
  • Porcupine Tree - Blackest Eyes from In Absentia
  • Queen - Long Away from A Day at the Races
  • The Police - So Lonely from Outlandos d"Amour
  • Thin Lizzy - Cowboy Song (but the best version is when they combine it with The Boys are Back in Town from Live and Dangerous.  Boys are Back in Town is not really a "hidden" gem.  Just a gem.)
  • Van Halen - Ice Cream Man from Van Halen 
  • Anderson, Bruford, Wakemen, and Howe - Brother of Mine

 

 

milo0812
42 posts
 

Rickie Lee Jones - Night Train from self-titled album, more of a slow jazz feeling unexpected
Led Zeppelin - Ten Years Gone from Physical Graffiti, such great 12 string work here 
John Mellecamp - Last Chance from Whenever We Wanted, moody with good guitar licks

and shout out for Cowboy Song

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