You’ve been hired as the program director at a new satellite radio station. You’ll be playing songs that should have been huge hits, but weren’t. You’re looking for songs from any period that you liked the first time you heard them, songs that are immediately catchy and pleasurable, songs that would please your coworkers rather than the clerk at the local independent record store. The artists could be obscure or famous, but the songs should not be in regular rotation on terrestrial radio stations.
There are a lot of buried “Hey Ya!”s, “Tainted Love”s, “Gin and Juice”s, and “You Shook Me All Night Long”s out there. Help your station find them. Bonus points if you can help us understand why you like your obscure song by connecting it to a more popular song that shares its appeal.
I’ve invited some of my favorite mp3 bloggers to play along, and I’ll update this post with their responses as they come in.
Oliver Wang from Soul Sides wrote:
This isn’t uber-obscure but I was thinking recently that William DeVaughn’s “Be Thankful For What You’ve Got” is one of the most perfectly crafted soul songs I know – it has such an amazing, melancholy quality to it – it’s like a dose of instant nostalgia, a soundtrack for some endless summer filled with sunshine and the wafting smell of BBQ and where everything moves in slow motion just so you can capture the beauty of small moments.
It’s been covered enough times – everyone from Arthur Lee’s Love to Massive Attack – that people have heard it in some form or another so it’s not aiming for brownie points just because of rarity. But it’s one of those soul songs that isn’t in typical rotation on oldies stations.
Keith at Teaching the Indie Kids to Dance Again says he’s got a post forthcoming.
Some of my choices:
“I Can’t Wait” by Hepcat –> “I Can See Clearly Now” by Johnny Nash
“Othello” by the Dance Hall Crashers –> “Just a Girl” by No Doubt
“10 Hours” by the Tantra Monsters –> “Date Rape” by Sublime
“Mama’s Always On Stage” by Arrested Development –> “Me, Myself and I” by De La Soul
“Run” by Ghostface Killa –> “Lyrics of Fury” by Eric B. and Rakim
“Big Bird” by Eddie Floyd –> “Out of Sight” by James Brown
“Michael” by Franz Ferdinand –> “Been Caught Stealing” by Jane’s Addiction
“Rebellion (Lies)” by the Arcade Fire –> “Under Pressure” by David Bowie and Queen
“Poses” by Rufus Wainwright –> “Your Song” by Elton John
UPDATE: Jay Caruso is running a not-too-dissimilar thread, featuring actual mp3s (for now).
{ 91 comments }
J. Ellenberg 01.21.05 at 4:09 pm
“World Shut Your Mouth,” by Julian Cope –> “Stand,” by R.E.M.
Anders Widebrant 01.21.05 at 4:11 pm
Ghost’s whole Pretty Toney Album is just not appreciated for the amazing shit that it is. How much airplay has Be This Way had, compared to, say, Heart Of The City?
To contribute, I’ll throw in the first track on Lifter Puller‘s “Soft Rock” — Secret Santa Cruz. Can’t quite come up with a real hit to compare it to, though.
The Navigator 01.21.05 at 4:38 pm
Phil Ochs, “Outside of a Small Circle of Friends”
Andrew Edwards 01.21.05 at 4:40 pm
Not super-obscure, but The New Pornographers’ “Letter From An Occupant” deserves to be the biggest hit ever, since it’s possibly the most perfect rock song in history.
Joel 01.21.05 at 4:48 pm
“Outside of Love” Nada Surf, “You Say You Don’t Love Me” Buzzcocks, “The Soul of Patrick Lee” John Cale & Terry Riley.
pedro 01.21.05 at 4:56 pm
Stew’s The Naked Dutch Painter.
Sebastian Holsclaw 01.21.05 at 4:56 pm
“Suspicious Love” by Camouflage (of The Great Commandment) from their really good “Bodega Bohemia” album. I heard the song exactly once on the radio (Live 105 in San Fransisco) and it took me a year to track it down after that.
“The Echoing Green” by Cause & Effect
Some song or another by Anything Box. Maybe “Soldier & Child”. It was a hit, but I still think that “Living in Oblivion” is one of the best electronika songs of all time.
SamChevre 01.21.05 at 5:00 pm
The Tractors, “Tulsa Shuffle” and “Baby Likes to Rock It”
The Kentucky Headhunters, “The Ballad of Davy Crockett”
The Navigator 01.21.05 at 5:00 pm
David Garza, “Drone”
Did Everything But the Girl’s “Twin Cities” ever get much airplay?
Liz Phair, “Whip Smart”
I realize The Shins’ “Saint Simon” was something a record store clerk would love, but don’t you think the falsetto “la la la’s” in the chorus could enrapture a wider audience as well? No? You’re shaking your head. Hmm….
Elliot Smith, “Bled White”
Wilco, “Nothingsevergonnastandinmywayagain” and/or “I’m always in love”
The Men They Couldn’t Hang, “Walkin’ Talkin'”
brennan 01.21.05 at 5:14 pm
Agreed on New Pornographers. Too bad I never manage an entire album.
Afghan Whigs–Crazy;
Hum-Stars:
Built to Spill-Fling
Cake: Mr. Mastodon Farm
Flaming Lips, Slow Nerve Action
MC Solaar: Noveau Western
The Golden Palominos: I’m not sorry
Texas is the reason–Back and to the left
Spoon: fitted shirt
Reindeer Section: raindrop
Modest Mouse: Polar opposites
Fountains of Wayne–no better place.
These are amazingly dating surveys.
Those are fun. Gems on a few albums of different sorts.
PhilD 01.21.05 at 5:15 pm
All these are songs that blew me away first time I heard them. The kinda tracks that still have an expressway right into my skull, and I suspect always will:
God – My Pal
Delgados – Everything Goes around the Water
The Constantines – Poison
REM – Orange Crush
Teardrop Explodes – Reward
Its Jo and Danny – Solar Plexus
Sebadoh – Skull
Circus Lupus – MR Pop Man
BTW, this sounds like my dream job – how do I apply? :-)
PhilD 01.21.05 at 5:16 pm
All these are songs that blew me away first time I heard them. The kinda tracks that still have an expressway right into my skull, and I suspect always will:
God – My Pal
Delgados – Everything Goes around the Water
The Constantines – Poison
REM – Orange Crush
Teardrop Explodes – Reward
Its Jo and Danny – Solar Plexus
Sebadoh – Skull
Circus Lupus – MR Pop Man
BTW, this sounds like my dream job – how do I apply? :-)
toobeaut 01.21.05 at 5:19 pm
Unbelievable albums that were, unbelievably, not hits:
1. Letters to Cleo, “Wholesale Meats and Fish.”
2. The Grace Period, “Dynasty”
3. The National Trust, “Dekkagar”
PhilD 01.21.05 at 5:25 pm
All these are songs that blew me away first time I heard them. The kinda tracks that still have an expressway right into my skull, and I suspect always will:
God – My Pal
Delgados – Everything Goes around the Water
The Constantines – Poison
REM – Orange Crush
Teardrop Explodes – Reward
Its Jo and Danny – Solar Plexus
Sebadoh – Skull
Circus Lupus – MR Pop Man
BTW, this sounds like my dream job – how do I apply? :-)
JRoth 01.21.05 at 5:27 pm
OK, not trying to be all “it’s so obvious it’s counterintuitive” here, but I have a Beatles song that should be huge, but I never heard it until I got Help! on CD: She’s a Woman. It rocks, it’s peppy, it’s got the trademark Beatles dynamic-shift between verse and bridge, and it’s a good example of a sing that straddles their early pop and late rock sounds.
On a totally separate note, it seems like
_something_ by Nick Cave should’ve gotten airplay at some point in the 90s. Song of Joy? Well of Misery? Hard On for Love?
Chuck the Writer 01.21.05 at 5:31 pm
Oh I have to participate in this. I’ve got my iPod cranked with whole HOURS of music that I like and that I thought should have been a major hit or two – enough music to drive my wife nutsy on long road trips, such as:
New Order, “Blue Monday” (I still cringe every time I hear the “Orgy” remake)
Goanna, “Solid Rock” (protest rock that worked)
The Staccatos, “Half Past Midnight” (group later evolved into the Five Man Electrical Band)
Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, “Poison Ivy” (done Merseybeat style)
Dragon, “April Sun in Cuba” (best song by NZ/Australian rock band)
Rocket From the Crypt, “Normal Carpet Ride”
The Peaches, “We Care About What You Hear” (pop trio whose greatest claim to fame was backing up Bobby Vinton on his TV show)
The Sugar Shoppe, “Attitude” (actor Victor Garber was a member of this vocal pop quartet)
Cris Williamson, “Waterfall” (Melissa Etheridge owes everything to this singer, who broke ground in women’s folk music)
Aasma, “Chandu Ke Katcha” (Bollywood pop dance music)
Wendy Carlos, “Sinfonia to Cantata #29” (from the “Switched-on Bach” album)
Skatalites, “Ball of Fire” (where ska music began)
brayden 01.21.05 at 5:34 pm
Jeff Hanson – You are the Reason
Zero 7 – Waiting Line
and my personal favorite
Kennedy – Mama Made Me a Pimp
Nicholas Weininger 01.21.05 at 5:34 pm
They Might Be Giants, “Ana Ng”
Andrew Levine 01.21.05 at 5:34 pm
Great suggestions so far from everyone.
Songs that could, had they been given the chance, have been huge radio hits:
“Timorous Me” – Ted Leo & The Pharmacists (think “The Boys Are Back In Town” by way of the Jesus and Mary Chain)
“The Laws Have Changed” – The New Pornographers (the essence of youthful rock rebellion, extricated at last from the destructivism of punk, and dipped in honeyed vocals and power guitars)
“Chardonnay” – Game Theory (sounds exactly like a power-pop song composed by a lit professor and a computer programmer should)
“Sometimes Always” – The Jesus & Mary Chain featuring Hope Sandoval (mentioning them in my comment on Timorous Me made me think of this duet pop gem that really should’ve been a huge hit during the alternative craze of the mid-’90s)
“X Offender” – Blondie (their first single and best song, and the one that best captures the essence of the band)
Ted Barlow 01.21.05 at 5:51 pm
Two more from me:
“Afterglow (Of Your Love)” by the Small Faces. Gorgeous, epic. But they never made it in the U.S. –> “White Room” by Creem
“Concrete and Clay” by Unit 4+2. I heard this on the Rushmore soundtrack and fell in love, played it over and over again, and I never do that. –> “Come On, Eileen” by Dexy’s Midnight Runners
rob 01.21.05 at 5:51 pm
‘Big Star’ by The Jayhawks. A gorgeous slice of country-rock, that has one of the most catchy choruses ever written and an appropriate bitterness that no-one buys their records.
oneangryslav 01.21.05 at 5:54 pm
That’s the Impression that I get–Mighty Might Bosstones
Mary, Mary–Run DMC
Danny 01.21.05 at 5:57 pm
“Oogum Boogum” by Brenton Wood. About as tasty a piece of pop-soul confectionary as you’re going to find.
cmonovertimshouse 01.21.05 at 6:04 pm
CAN, “Mother Sky”
The Streets, “Fit But You Know It”
Dan Melchior’s Broke Revue, “Me & J.G. Ballard”
Animal Collective, “Who Could Win a Rabbit”
Teenage Fanclub, “The Cabbage”
Skanfrom, “England”
Sebadoh, “Rebound”
Ted Barlow 01.21.05 at 6:04 pm
And:
“Underdog”, as performed by the Dirtbombs –> “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder
clancy 01.21.05 at 6:53 pm
Pizzicato Five, “The World’s Spinning at 45 R.P.M.”
Elastica, “Connection”
zencomix 01.21.05 at 6:56 pm
The late Mark Sandman of Morphine fame was in a number of bands before Morphine. One of them was called Treat Her Right. They did a song called “I Think She Likes Me”. It had modest airplay around the New England area (they were a Boston band)…Maybe you remember it, maybe you don’t. Think of G.Love and Special Sauce without the rap….
gavin mcnett 01.21.05 at 7:06 pm
Female (office?) co-workers:
Siouxsie — Cities in Dust
Julian Cope — St. Julian
Echo/Bunnymen — Bomber’s Bay
I imagine Jersey-Italian accounts-recievable girls moving their shoulders to Siouxsie.
Male (same):
Personality Crisis — “Creatures For Awhile” LP
Hudson Falcons — any
In an ideal office, coworkers both m and f would be entranced by Neu!’s ‘Hallo Gallo’ on infinite loop.
Uncle Kvetch 01.21.05 at 7:14 pm
1) The Popinjays: “Vote Elvis”
2) The Replacements: “Alex Chilton”
3) just about anything by Fountains of Wayne
J. Ellenberg 01.21.05 at 7:35 pm
I’m very happy about the amount of Julian Cope-love on this thread! Since people aren’t connecting their coulda-beens to real-life hits, I’ll fill in a few: The greatness of the New Pornographers is related to that of “Do Ya” by the Move and ELO. The greatness of Fountains of Wayne is related to that of the Cars. “Reward” and most of the rest of the Teardrop Explodes catalog should have gotten the glory of “Lips Like Sugar” and the rest of the Echo and the Bunnymen catalog. I think “Ana Ng” is actually itself too famous to be on this list.
And one more: “Love’s Got a Ghetto,” by Franklin Bruno, is great in something like the way “Watching the Detectives” is great — _69 Love Songs_ is closer but probably not popular enough for the game.
Andrew McManama-Smith 01.21.05 at 7:46 pm
“Stem” by Shina Ringo and *anything* by Jaurim! Maybe “Anata ni” by Mongol 800.
Also, “Umi Says” by Mos Def, “Sona” by Smashing Pumpkins, “Hit it and Quit it” by Funkadelic.
cloquet 01.21.05 at 7:52 pm
To a certain group of lonely guys:
1) Razorblades and Bandaids: Econoline Crush
2) No One’s Boy: Marcy Playground
cleek 01.21.05 at 7:58 pm
oh boy…
Elliot Smith : anything off his last 3 records
Unrest : Make Out Club
Pavement : Gold Soundz
Pretenders : Mystery Achievment
Shins : New Slang
Spoon : Anything You Want
Spoon : Jonathan Fisk
Aaron 01.21.05 at 8:22 pm
Every single song that Leonard Cohen ever wrote.
.
hope 01.21.05 at 8:41 pm
“Vanishing Girl” – Dukes of Stratosphear (XTC alter-ego)
“Feet Don’t Fail Me Now” – Utopia
“Don’t Show Me Heaven”, “She Goes To Bed” and “I Go Astray” – Jason Falkner
rd 01.21.05 at 8:48 pm
“Sweet Soul” Junior Walker and the All Stars –> “Green Onions”
Booker T and MGs.
John B. 01.21.05 at 8:49 pm
“Too Much Time,” Captain Beefheart. A sweet slice of soul.
“Make No Mistake,” Keith Richards and Sarah Dash. Another one, this one Memphis-inflected.
“Alive and Living Now,” the Golden Palominos (Michael Stipe, vocals). Big, elegant sound, beautiful lyrics.
“Drown,” Son Volt
John B. 01.21.05 at 8:50 pm
“Too Much Time,” Captain Beefheart. A sweet slice of soul.
“Make No Mistake,” Keith Richards and Sarah Dash. Another one, this one Memphis-inflected.
“Alive and Living Now,” the Golden Palominos (Michael Stipe, vocals). Big, elegant sound, beautiful lyrics.
“Drown,” Son Volt
Bill Gardner 01.21.05 at 8:57 pm
I second Aaron, but more specifically
Leonard Cohen, “First we take Manhattan”
Jeff Beck & Rod Stewart, “Shapes of things”
cleek 01.21.05 at 8:57 pm
> “Drown,†Son Volt
“Mystifies Me”, Son Volt
cleek 01.21.05 at 8:58 pm
> “Drown,†Son Volt
“Mystifies Me”, Son Volt
Iron Lungfish 01.21.05 at 9:09 pm
Soul Coughing – Is Chicago, Is Not Chicago
Brian 01.21.05 at 9:12 pm
I second “Naked Dutch Painter”. Possibly the greatest song ever.
Anything by Luna, e.g. “1995”
Has no one said Yo La Tengo yet? How about “Little Eyes”.
Kinky’s “Mas” – it’s good enough for truck ads.
abscam 01.21.05 at 9:13 pm
“Even the Sun Goes Down,” Rhinobucket: Think early AC/DC…then stop thinking, ’cause it sounds just like them.
“Cut Up,” Ned’s Atomic Dustbin: Great melody on top of dense guitar/bass, ninety’s-style.
abscam 01.21.05 at 9:15 pm
“Even the Sun Goes Down,” Rhinobucket: Think early AC/DC…then stop thinking, ’cause it sounds just like them.
“Cut Up,” Ned’s Atomic Dustbin: Great melody on top of dense guitar/bass, ninety’s-style.
Something Polish 01.21.05 at 9:34 pm
“Too Wild To Tame” by The Boys
“Tumbling Dice” by the Rolling Stones
“YMCA” by the Village People
“Dankeschoene” by Wayne Newton
“Straight On” by Heart
“National Anthem” by Francis Scott-Key
la la la 01.21.05 at 9:46 pm
Marshall Crenshaw – “Cynical Girl”
Cordelia’s Dad – “Narragansett Bay,” “Delia,” “Her Bright Smile Haunts Me Still,” “Granite Mills,” “Spencer Rifle.”
Cassie Franklin – “This Old House,” “Rain and Snow” (ok, those are off a demo but they’re really good)
X – “See How We Are,” “Fourth of July”
The Knitters – “Silver Wings”
Audrey Auld – “Losing Faith”
ian 01.21.05 at 10:26 pm
Concrete and Clay – wow I haven’t even hear that mentioned in 30 years!
How about a British band called Sounds Incorporated from the same period – they did a great TCV show in the UK with Little Richard – produced by Jack Good.
Cam 01.21.05 at 10:59 pm
I’ll add my admiration for the New Pornographers, especially “Letter From An Occupant” and “Mass Romantic”.
Also: The Weakerthans, “Plea From a Cat Named Virtue”; Throwing Muses, “Not Too Soon”; NoMeansNo, “I Can’t Stop Talking”; Bell, “Let’s Get Annihilated”; Horace X, “Bad Lies”; and maybe “Armageddon Girls” from the mysterious Kid Serious.
bill 01.21.05 at 11:04 pm
I saw the Delgados go past once and Yo La Tengo go by once. So I’ll second each.
Last time I saw the Delgados (who are great live) I just kept saying over and over “Why aren’t these guys huge?” Original, intelligent, accessible. Radio friendly even. Not brilliant but inscrutable, just really damn good. “Pull the Wires from the Walls” always stands out.
Pernice Brothers as well, “Baby in Two” especially. Morissey without the ego.
cleek 01.21.05 at 11:26 pm
>Has no one said Yo La Tengo yet?
ouch. how could i have missed them?
Lewis, A Shy Dog, Tom Courtenay, Sugarcube, Upside-down.
they can spit out perfect pop-songs like few other bands.
John B. 01.21.05 at 11:40 pm
I forgot to mention The Sundays–no song in particular; just their sound.
Rob Humenik 01.22.05 at 12:04 am
Here’s three off the top of my head…
“Sweetheart” by Died Pretty
“Tail Lights Fade” by Buffalo Tom
“Sunday Shining” by Finley Quaye
All gave me goosebumps the first time I heard them.
calicajun 01.22.05 at 12:59 am
Badly Drawn Boy – “Once Around the Block” from “The Hour of the Bewilderbeast”
Ben Folds Five – “Best Imitation of Myself” or just about anything from the first album; “Jane be Jane” (Ben Folds goes Steely Dan-ish) or “Army” from their last album.
almost anything from Aimee Mann’s “Lost in Space”
Lucinda Williams, “Side of the Road” from her first album.
ted's dad 01.22.05 at 1:15 am
all of the Greenhouse Ska
Richard Bellamy 01.22.05 at 1:49 am
Mahler’s 1st Symphony is like Beethoven’s 3rd, “Eroica”, but totally kicks its ass. It’s lucky to get 1/4 the playing time at the symphony hall, though.
Keith 01.22.05 at 1:59 am
If It Takes All Night– Frank Black and the Catholics
Long-Forgotten Fairytale– The Magnetic Fields
Major Tom (Coming Home)– Peter Schilling
I’ll Fall With Your Knife– Peter Murphy
When I Win the Lottery– Camper Van Beethoven
aged muso 01.22.05 at 5:56 am
this is going to date me a bit, and i, too, love the record, but “oogum boogum” WAS a big radio hit when it came out in the 60s.
Laon 01.22.05 at 8:26 am
And speaking of _Dragon_, their first hit, “Weetbix”:
“Weetbix burn, weetbix kill,
Weetbix climb up Porkchop Hill.
Rise up from your plates of oppression …”
Porkchop Hill overlooks Palmerston North, where the car windows are always foggy on a Friday night.
Also “Sunrise”, by Arthur Brown.
Arohanui
Laon
Darren 01.22.05 at 10:47 am
(I’ve got a brand new) Track Suit – John Cooper Clarke
Life Kills – Human League
Bend it Stretch It – by Gilbert and George (video rather than record)
The Days of Perly Spencer – Marc Almond
Pearly Dew Drops Drops – The Cocteau Twins
Ohm Sweet Ohm – Kraftwerk
belle waring 01.22.05 at 11:36 am
whole of the law/the Only Ones
couldn’t I just tell you/Todd Rundgren
take me home and make me like it/alex chilton
benefits (of lying with your friends)/apples in stereo
she’s losing it/belle and sebastian
o dana/big star
the plan/built to spill
spirit of love/con funk shun
MF from hell/the datsuns
the lung/dinosaur jr.
I have to go and I’m only a little way through itunes…
plover 01.22.05 at 12:40 pm
“Gevurah” by Masada (Live In Taipei – 1995 version)
“Sweet Thing” by The Waterboys (on Fisherman’s Blues, it’s a Van Morrison cover)
jamie 01.22.05 at 5:32 pm
“Warm Wet Circles,” Marillion in the Fish days.
“Afterimage,” Rush.
“Heartbeat,” King Crimson.
“Drive All Night,” Bruce Springsteen. (Not the same as the Cyndi Lauper song, which is also damn good for sheer passion.)
v 01.22.05 at 8:01 pm
Plimsouls–Million Miles Away
Cornershop–Brimful of Asha
Psychedelic Furs–Forever Now
Don Dixon–Praying Mantis
Matthew Sweet–The Ugly Truth
Steve 01.22.05 at 9:07 pm
Cornershop – Brimful of Asha
Which is outside the scope of this thread as it was a hit to begin with (#1 on the charts in England, although I believe only as the Fatboy Slim remix). Great song, though.
I’ll steal a line from High Fidelity and suggest Stiff Little Fingers’ “Inflammable Material” (which I am fairly sure predates their actual success on the charts) -> Green Day (although Green Day have always sounded a bit like a Buzzcocks cover band to me).
dave heasman 01.23.05 at 2:34 am
Jllyfish – Now She Knows She’s Wrong
Inspiral Carpets – Generations
Misunderstood – I Can Take You To The Sun
Eddie Smith – Upturn.
Jeff Bogdan 01.23.05 at 5:19 am
1. The Incredible String Band: I could pick quite a few, but I’ll just mention “Empty Pockets Blues” from their very first album (‘Even my old kettle/
is whistlin’ the blues for you’)because I recently heard a local (Jersey Shore) band called the Booglerizers cover it beautifully.
2. Blind Blake: “Diddy Wa Diddy” Do you know what it means?
gavin mcnett 01.23.05 at 5:24 am
Ah, somebody else likes the Only Ones.
Cowboys International – Pointy Shoes
The Shoes – Too Late
…And later Stiff Little Fingers – Bits of Kids
Also Roland Alphonso.
And the Chameleons – Up the Down Staircase.
I have no idea if any of these were hits in the UK.
blueshoe 01.23.05 at 5:52 am
Buckingham-Nicks, “Without a Leg to Stand On”
Cat Stevens, “18th Avenue”
Cocteau Twins, “Fotzepolitic”
Mike Oldfield, “On Horseback”
Public Image Ltd., “Cruel”
Randall Bramblett, “Get In Get Out”
Maggie & Terre Roche, “West Virginia”
Suddenly, Tammy! “River, Run”
Sundays, “I Kicked a Boy”
That Petrol Emotion, “Sensitize”
clong 01.23.05 at 7:46 am
Amen to Mystery Achievement (and all that early Pretenders stuff before Honeyman-Scott kicked it).
Here’s my not-so-obscure stroll through the back catalogs. Sadly, the best radio in my town is in the supermarket.
Neville Brothers
Meet The Boys On The Battlefront
John Hiatt
Child Of The Wild Blue Yonder
Real Fine Love
The Rest Of The Dream
Seven Little Indians
Only the Song Survives
Permanent Hurt
Loving a Hurricate
Etc etc etc
Style Council
My Ever Changing Moods
The (English) Beat
Ackee 123
Bob Marley
Coming In From The Cold
Real Situation
Zion Train
Them Belly Full
David Bowie
Here comes the night
Word on a Wing
Savior machine
Laurie Anderson
Baby Doll
Ween
The Mollusk
Joni Mitchell
Carey
California
Rickie Lee Jones
Danny’s All-Star Joint
Big Star
Stroke It Noel
Richard Thompson
Wall of Death
Fairport Convention
Matty Groves
Farewell Farewell
Stan Rogers
Sailor’s Rest
OK, getting folksy. G’night.
roublen vesseau 01.23.05 at 9:10 am
“Flexible Flyer” by Husker Du; “So Long, Marianne” by James; “Skating Away” by Jethro Tull; “Skokiaan” by Louis Armstrong; “7 Chinese Brothers”, “Crush with Eyeliner”, “Lotus”, “I’ve Been High”,”Undertow”, “Binky the Doormat” by REM.
theCoach 01.23.05 at 12:56 pm
The House of Love’s first untitled album – the whole thing, but especially ‘Christine’, ‘Hope’ and ‘Love in a Car’. Unavailable as far as I can tell.
The Dead Milkman’s “They call me the Walrus” – fantastic baseline.
Lloyd Cole – Rattlesnakes.
Also second the Julian Cope stuff, although I used to have a short cassete with World Shut your mouth on it, but it was not a standard album which I thought had better content than WSYM. All good. I look forward to checking out the recommendations I do not know.
Let me add in that Camper Van Beethoven’s “There are God Guys and Bad Guys” or “Good guys and Bad guys” is an overlooked gem with popular appeal – and the rest of the band’s stuff is always interesting.
navarro 01.23.05 at 2:37 pm
jandek–first you think your fortune’s lovely
public image ltd–flower of romance & albatross
iggy pop–almost anything from “zombie birdhouse”
laurie anderson–big science
gang of four–cheeseburger
captain beefheart–sugar ‘n’ spikes
bruce 01.23.05 at 8:28 pm
a few more…
Space in Your Face by Galactic Cowboys
Bled White by Elliott Smith
I Hope I Didn’t Just Give Away the Ending by The New Radicals
Someday We’ll Know by The New Radicals
Cigarettes by King’s X
Josh 01.24.05 at 1:58 am
It’s a bit hard compiling a list, since I’ve no idea what songs have been populat hits.
I’ll agree on Yo La Tengo, but for me the Great Pop Hit that wasn’t among their songs is ‘Somebody’s Baby’.
Agreed on The New Pornographers generally, and particularly ‘The Rules Have Changed’. Though, really, most of their latest album is hit-worthy.
Also:
Metric — Combat Baby
Magnetic Fields — about 1/3 of ’69 Love Songs’ (but spread out over all three cds)
Idlewild — Live in Hiding Place
Sleater-Kinney — One More Hour
Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros — Coma Girl
Ryan Adams — Love is Hell (or was it a hit?)
Rialto — Monday Morning 5:19
Feel — She Makes the Makeup Look Good
And, aptly titled: Rilo Kiley — It’s a Hit
Joe O 01.24.05 at 7:29 pm
I second “Underdog†as performed by the Dirtbombs. That song rocks.
edward droste 01.24.05 at 10:34 pm
“propaganda” by norweigan pop acts “briskeby” it came out around 2001 and was INSTANTLY SO CATCHY. i feel noone here ever heard it. Also the song “kusse” by bent, I feel similarly about AND “It’s Automatic” by Zoot Woman. hope these help!
richard 01.24.05 at 11:17 pm
wilco-jesus etc.
nick drake-pink moon
big star-thirteen
the replacements-sixteen blue
buzzcocks-orgasm addict
xiu xiu-i luv the valley oh!
elliott smith-say yes
pixies-i bleed
refused-new noise
will™ 01.25.05 at 12:48 am
Dntel – (This Is) The Dream Of Evan And Chan
Sleater-Kinney – Oh!
Snoozer – Winter Clothes
anything from Beulah’s second album, “When Your Heartstrings Break”
seth 01.25.05 at 1:50 am
Good work on noting Beulah before I did…basically everything on “The Coast Is Never Clear,” their third album, is a pop hit in waiting, especially “Night Is the Day Turned Inside-Out,” which could pass for something John Mayer-y.
Also, some mixtape staples:
Earlimart, “We Drink on the Job”
Saturday Looks Good to Me, “Alcohol”
Aislers Set, “Through the Swells”
Gorillaz, “Rock the House”
Guided by Voices, “Choking Tara”
Michael 01.25.05 at 3:47 am
“Lazarus” — Boo Radleys
“Fanfare” — Eric Matthews
“These Days” (cover) — The Golden Palominos
“Aikea Guinea” — Cocteau Twins
“Last Goodbye” — Jeff Buckley
“Uncertain Smile” — The The
“Sweet Adeline” (choice of many here) — Elliott Smith
“Leaving My Sorrow Behind” — Ben Christophers
“Witness” — The Delgados
“Fade Into You” — Mazzy Star
“Heavenly Pop Hit” — The Chills
“Rescue” — Echo and the Bunnymen
“The Only One I Know” — The Charlatans
And to add to the Julian Cope love, how about:
“When I Dream” by The Teardrop Explodes.
Not sure which of these were hits in the UK already.
Michael 01.25.05 at 3:47 am
“Lazarus” — Boo Radleys
“Fanfare” — Eric Matthews
“These Days” (cover) — The Golden Palominos
“Aikea Guinea” — Cocteau Twins
“Last Goodbye” — Jeff Buckley
“Uncertain Smile” — The The
“Sweet Adeline” (choice of many here) — Elliott Smith
“Leaving My Sorrow Behind” — Ben Christophers
“Witness” — The Delgados
“Fade Into You” — Mazzy Star
“Heavenly Pop Hit” — The Chills
“Rescue” — Echo and the Bunnymen
“The Only One I Know” — The Charlatans
And to add to the Julian Cope love, how about:
“When I Dream” by The Teardrop Explodes.
Not sure which of these were hits in the UK already.
Simon_L 01.25.05 at 2:45 pm
In no particular order : Cold, Cold Water and Advisory Committee by Mirah, Rainbow Blues by Jethro Tull, (You’re My) Radio One and Target Practice by Henry’s Dress, Clinicly Dead by Chad VanGaalen (still time to change something for this one!), Flowers by Emilie Simon, Building The City Of Light by Mike Scott, Headache by Frank Black, La Nuit Je Mens by Bashung and so many others…
Paul Roub 01.25.05 at 4:43 pm
The Producers – She Sheila
Elliot Easton – Wearing Down Like a Wheel
Buffalo Tom – For All to See
jen 01.25.05 at 11:40 pm
woah. music nerd dream come true.
i’ll say:
bryte side: pernice brothers (joe pernice is *incredible*
montebello: the sugarplastic
love for tender: elvis costello and the attractions
can’t make your life better: lilys
the city: dismemberment plan
the clap: the unicorns
care of cell 44: the zombies
dirty mind: prince
all above artists have MANY gems. seriously. crown jewels in abundance…
Thlayli 01.26.05 at 1:49 am
Let’s see … the greatest song ever is “2-4-6-8 Motorway” by Tom Robinson, but that was a big hit in England. The second-greatest song ever is “Red Dragon Tattoo” by Fountains of Wayne, but they’ve been covered here already. So, I’ll go with “Blood and Roses” by the Smithereens.
ed 01.26.05 at 2:30 am
the posies – solar sister
popsicle – story of my life
jo boxers – just got lucky
super – tempted
lauren jan wilson – i’m already dead
teenage fanclub – the town & the city
lamb – written
texas – the day before i went away
idaho – to be the one
curve – perished
cinnamon – i used to be your loneliness
mocca – this conversation
pure saturday – pathetic waltz
leonna naess – lazy days
gemma hayes – summer in doubt
everything but the girl – politics aside
bryan 01.26.05 at 3:17 am
(Some of these are a bit of of a stretch… but bear with me)
Oasis “Hello” -> Toad the Wet Sprocket “All I Want”
The Killers “Change Your Mind” -> U2 “Beautiful Day”
The Decemberists “Grace Cathedral Hill” -> The Verve Pipe “The Freshmen”
Kings of Convenience “Homesick” -> Simon & Garfunkel “The Sounds of Silence”
Ryan Adams “I See Monsters” -> James Taylor “You Can Close Your Eyes”
Sondre Lerche “It’s Over” -> The Beach Boys “God Only Knows”
Apollo Sunshine “I Was on the Moon” -> Jackson 5 “I Want You Back”
Ben Kweller “In Other Words” -> The Beatles “Let It Be”
The Shins “Gone for Good” -> Sam Cooke “Cupid”
Couldn’t think of anything for these:
Nada Surf “Blizzard of ’77”
Death Cab for Cutie “Death of an Interior Decorator”
justin whye 01.27.05 at 3:57 am
amen! for bruce mentioning “someday we’ll know” by the new radicals. (and sad that most people who hear it will only hear the “eh” cover version mandy moore did for one of her movies).
wolf colonel “jet ski accidents” –> liz phair “fuck and run”
ben lee “cigarettes will kill you” –> ben folds “brick”
self “so low” –> beck “loser”
atmosphere “good times (sick pimpin’) –> snoop dogg “gin and juice”
mc paul barman “cock mobster” –> eminem “my name is”
kevin devine “ballgame” –> john mayer “no such thing”
this was fun, thanks.
toby 01.28.05 at 5:27 pm
Thor’s “War Hammer”
toby 01.28.05 at 5:29 pm
Thor’s “War Hammer”
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