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| From | J&J Giddings <jandjgiddings@mindspring.com> |
| Subject | SOTT 19: OBSCURICA DELECTICUS |
| Date | Sun, 20 Feb 2005 21:09:00 -0500 (GMT-05:00) |
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Alrighty, here's mine.
Some may be familiar with a few artists, but overall I really tried to pick some
obscure artists and, or songs. Enjoy!
OBSCURICA DELECTICUS
Source key: *=from vinly, +=from cassette, #=from CD
1.Lion # V(Valensia & Valentine) 1999
The best Sweet song never recorded by a couple of Swedes with a Queen fixation.
Their first collaboration “V” has about 3 clunkers, but if you ever wanted to
hear a Queen, ELO, or Beatles song that never existed, you might want to hunt this
down.
2.It's Your Heart Tonight # Secrets 1979
Found on “Shake Some Action” Vol.2 this is what power pop is all about:
The song features Beatle-esque chords, great vocals, nice harmonies and rockin’
guitars. Classic.
3.Give it all To Music * Andy Pratt 1973
Recently discovered thanks to Robert Pally, Andy Pratt tries to cop a bit of
Bowie with his debut album on Columbia. Interesting falsetto.
4.Soundlight # Keith Chagall 2004
Chagall has been talked about a bit Audities. As soon as I heard this mans voice
I had to get the CD. His vocal Phil Keaggy-isms give me shivers.
This is a beautiful song on a rather mediocre album.
5.Love You Baby * The Yum Yums 1997
Skinny ties from across the globe. Hailing from Sweden, the Yum Yums released “Sweet
as Candy”,
their only US release and a handful of singles in Europe. If the Ramones were into
the Rubinoos, or, vice versa.
6. Spring Collection # The Vapors 1980
We’ve all heard “Turning Japanese”. I wasn’t sure a lot of you had ventured
into their fantastic power-pop-new-wave album “New Clear Days”.
It’s available as a 2-fer with their second and final release.
7.G-o-o-d-b-y-e * The Jags 1981
Elvis Costello may have issues with The Jags as
they sound so much like him at times that they may be liable.
A bit of a Knack-ish groove, as well.
8.Die Young * Randy Stonehill 1981
Stonehill has been around since the early 70’s. As one of CCM’s rock pioneer’s
his
tongue-in-cheek lyrics were mostly lost on the Christian crowd he played to.
The sound on 1981’s “Between the Glory and the Flame” however, is pure power-pop
a la The Toms.
Great album.
9.The Sunshine People * The Astral Projection 1968
Bought on the suggestion of the owner of a local record store
when asked about bands like Sagittarius, or basically orch-pop.
Poppy Fammily via the Association. Sadly, most of the album is too corny
and at times the vocals are out of tune. Some decent songs shine through…pun intended.
10.I Wanna Be # Arlis! 1980
Nope, not the Raspberries. Also from “Shake Some Action” Vol.2.
11.Plain Jane * John Miles 1978
Another Pally discovery, Miles 1978 release “Zaragon” may be an attempt at a concept
album, but it’s not.
Just a goofily dressed Englishman rocking with a ‘Baby’s’ keyboard hook. Nice pantaloons,
though.
At over 7 minutes I argued with myself about putting this tune on this comp, but
I really like the song
and thought you would , too. Miles’ “Rebel” album is great, orchestrated rock, as
well. A bit Andrew Gold-like.
12.Opportunity * The Redcoats 1965/2000
The back cover has about all the info there is on this band in their early teens
with a serious Beatles jones.
Recorded in 66-67 it finaly saw the light of day in 2000 on Dionysus.
13.Naughty Boy # The Casuals 1969
They had one hit, the beautiful, fluffy, Bee-Gee flavored “Jesamine”.
Of course it was never heard in the states, but the “The British Casuals”, as they
are also known,
only had one proper album:”Hour World”, which can fetch quite a bit on ebay.
This Who inspired, (Pictures of Lily), tune is as rockin’ as they got, sounds very
Move-ish, as well.
14.On A Time Said Sylvie # Pete Dello And Friends 1971
As leader of the Honeybus Dello’s rich voice worked well with the Beatle-isms of
that band.
His first solo Lp, “Into Your Ears” is very hit and miss as songwriting goes.
Lyrics are also a bit weak, but the good songs fall into the same category as the
best Honeybus material.
15.¿Cuántos Pasos? # Zurdok 2000
What can I say…I have no idea what the hell he’s singing, but this is Audities-pop
Espanola.
I heard something that wasn’t this band in a Mexican restaurant,(still looking),
that sounded
very poppy- even Beatle-y. I asked you Auditiers for help and Zurdok came up.
“Hombre Sintetizador”, (Mr. Synthesizer), has a good number of very heavy
Beatle-esque tunes…all in Spanish.
16.Make You Cry * The Sighs 1992
Heard this when it came out and have always enjoyed their first album.
Most folks have heard of this, hoping most haven’t actually heard it.
Well worth the purchase at the used cd store. Great, dreamy songs and a few rockers
from these Mass. band.
17.Fly Now * Brian Protheroe 1974
Strange songs, weird chord progressions and harmonies
make this well produced piano based singer songwriter’s album, ”Pinball” a nice
find in the $1 Lp bin.
This is the most commercial song on the record, kind of like Gilbert O’Sullivan.
18.Already There #+ Star Collector (unreleased) 1999
Yup, my old band. A song left off our only record,
(Songs for the Whole Family”), this song penned by Cord(Cord Stone)
has all the patented Star Collector sounds. Taken from a CD made from a cassette.
19.Anytime # Screen Test 1981
Also on “Shake Some Action” Vol.2 Screen Test rocks as best they can with the obvious
budget restraints. This piece of quirky indie-power-pop has all the na-na’s and
big “My Sharona” riffs you can stand.
20.Big Ship # The Honeybus 1970
The Honeybus have been well discussed here in Audities land.
I really like a lot of the songs on the 2 disc anthology,
”She Flies Like a Bird”. This song has a bit of a Hollies feel.
21.Worlds Away #+ Crumbacher-Duke 1990
CCM strikes again with this great song by a couple of guys who apparently really
liked
the later works of the Moody Blues- especially, ”Voice”.
22. Slow Song * The Lonely Boys 1979
Skinny ties from across the pond. Originally named “Little Bo-Bitch”, the folks
at Harvest U.S.
thought wisely and changed their name to the Lonely Boys.
The chorus is so punchy and powerful that it should’ve been a hit.
Kinda like an 80’s power-ballad before power-ballad’s were in.
23. Goodnight Mrs. Calabash # Ian Thomas 1976
The best ballad writer in Canada. Thanks to Mike Vancha for
turning me on to one of my favorite singer/songwriters of the 70’s.
A couple of his songs hit my heart and I can’t help but tear up.
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