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50 of Rock Music's Favorite Deep Cuts - Part Three (30-21)Jun 08 '07 (Updated Jun 24 '07) Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Rock and Roll's Greatest Obscure Songs from the Biggest Names in Rock Music History. Part 3.
What do I mean by obscure? I'll tell you that I don't mean unheard demos, b-sides or anything like that. I'm just talking about songs that probably will not appear on the band's Greatest Hits albums. The songs that are ignored by radio, and the casual music listener in general. These are the lonely tracks that deserve a chance to be heard. Some people call them "Closet Classics" or "Deep Cuts" - these are the tracks that people may have missed along the way, so break out those old CDs you haven't played the whole way through and give these songs a listen. The only rule I had made for myself, is that I will only list one song per band, which doesn't mean anything for you really, except it makes it a little more challenging for myself to have to choose which song to include on this list. One more thing, these songs are not in any real order, 30. Be Aggressive from Faith No More, Angel Dust 1991. Faith No More is one of the most underrated bands ever. They are heralded for being ground breakers mixing hip hop and heavy metal, yet ignored for works much greater than this. They are remembered for the wrong reasons, and the stuff they did right is totally forgotten by music history. I was tempted to choose something from their amazing 1995 release King For A Day...Fool For A Lifetime, but since the only thing I've been listening to lately is 1991's Angel Dust, I went with that. Just about every song on Angel Dust blows my mind, and it was hard to choose between the songs, especially Everything's Ruined and Be Aggressive. I had to go with Be Aggressive due to its relentless musical attack on the senses of appreciation. The song combines heavy metal with cheerleading cheers in the most powerful way, and with lyrics that may still shock the listener some 16 years later. To fully appreciate a band like Faith No More, you have to pay attention to their lyrics, get into the groove, and remember that their sense of humor runs rampant. http://www.epinions.com/content_225253166724 29. South City Midnight Lady from The Doobie Brothers, The Captain and Me 1973. Despite the fact that this song is included on their greatest hits album, it remains an obscure song from The Doobies. The song was never a single, it never gets any airplay and the only way you would be aware of the song is if you owned their Greatest Hits album or their 1973 release The Captain and Me. Before Michael McDonald joined the band, lead singer and guitarist Tom Johnston wrote the majority of the songs from The Doobie Brothers. When Johnston took his leave of absence, guitarist Patrick Simmons assumed the role of lead singer on all of those great Tom Johnson songs while on tour. Pat Simmons had a relatively small part in writing songs for the band, but when he did they were usually great tracks, for example Black Water. His music contained more of a southern rock feel, and his song South City Midnight Lady falls in that genre yet laced with pure Country as well. Pat's vocals authenticate the style he's striving for and with the help of his amazing band, it's easily achieved. http://www.epinions.com/content_223040016004 28. James from Billy Joel, Turnstiles, 1976. This song from Billy's 1976 classic album Turnstiles reminds me of Elton John's Daniel, they both have that same keyboard sound, and the obvious male first name title and subject. Joel's James has an authentic lounge song feel. I don't know too much about the meaning behind the lyrics of the song, but to me the lyrics sound like a true and personal story. Turnstiles produced such hits Say Goodbye To Hollywood and the east coast response New York State of Mind, so a little song like James is bound to get forgotten. 27. So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright from Simon and Garfunkel, Bridge Over Troubled Water, 1970. In my opinion, this song from Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel is one of their very best. There is such an ambient presence, from the bongos and the rumba like classical guitar and especially the two flute solos. Art Garfunkel's beautifully delicate vocal only adds to the ambient texture. In the background there is also a subtle string section. Not too many people know of this beautiful track and that's understood as it comes from such a successful LP with huge singles like Cecilia, El Condor Pasa, Bridge Over Troubled Water and The Boxer. I urge all music lovers to discover this amazing Deep Cut from one of the best songwriters in pop/rock history. 26. This Song from George Harrison, Thirty-Three & 1/3, 1976. Just about all of George Harrison's best work has been in the Billboard charts. His 1976 album, Thirty-Three & 1/3 had a couple of good tracks. This Song is an upbeat song with a deliberate Motown feel to underline his contempt for losing a court battle having to do with copyright infringement with his 1971 smash My Sweet Lord. Harrison shows that of course he's above all of this pettiness as he pokes fun at the whole process. The whole purpose of the song resulted in an enjoyable number. Billy Preston is heard on the piano, and comedian Eric Idle can be heard in the background shouting out song titles that George steals from, like Rescue Me or Sugar Pie Honey Bunch. The song's lyrics do come across as funny despite Harrison's upturned nose. The song actually charted, but it remains relatively obscure with the rest of the majority of his releases from the 1970s. http://www.epinions.com/content_4525629572 25. You Baby from Neil Diamond, The Jazz Singer Soundtrack, 1980. Neil Diamond has a bulging catalog of great music, most of the best stuff we know. From his early successes of I'm a Believer and A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You (recorded by The Monkees) to his duet with Barbara Streisand, You Don't Bring Me Flowers, and of course bar room classics like Sweet Caroline, Neil is a living legend, yet it seems that his music over the years became a guilty pleasure instead of overt enjoyment. In 1980, he released his most successful and memorable work, the soundtrack to The Jazz Singer, a movie where he starred along with Lucie Arnez and Lawrence Olivier. Amid the giant singles like America, Love On the Rocks and Hello Again, you have ten other great tracks. Although I love them all, I choose You Baby as the best obscure track off of this album. The rock song has elements of R&B in there, and Neil's vocal is in its prime. There are many albums from Diamond out there to explore as early as 1966, but I suggest starting here. http://www.epinions.com/content_225873399428 24. Dead Flowers from The Rolling Stones, Sticky Fingers, 1971. The Rolling Stones do country? Rarely, and here is a great example of the few instances. Send me dead flowers, and I won't forget to put roses on your grave, this is the chorus, the song's cryptic lyrics are supposedly about heroin. Dead Flowers is a great song to play on one of those long drives somewhere. Placed on an album such as Sticky Fingers it's bound to be glossed over and forgotten amongst classics like Brown Sugar and Wild Horses and if it wasn't for a Guns N'Roses show from the early 90s I probably would have never heard of it. Guns had performed a pretty good version, but it sure ain't the Stones. 23. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath from Black Sabbath, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath 1974. I think Black Sabbath as a band is very underappreciated the vast majority of their catalog remains ignored by radio except for two songs really, Iron Man and Paranoid. The song Sabbath Bloody Sabbath from their 1974 album of the same name is no where near Black Sabbath's most obscure song, but since this is my list - I say that's it is obscure enough. Also, this is my all-time favorite Sabbath song. Ozzy's beautiful melody line contrasting the dark heavy metal crunch that was Sabbath is something that must be experienced or at least revisited. 22. Ride Cowboy Ride from Bon Jovi, New Jersey 1988. Ride Cowboy Ride, a quick little song off of their fourth album New Jersey sort of functions as an introduction to their song Stick To Your Guns. Part of the song's allure is the mono recording, it sounds as if Jon Bon Jovi and Ritchie Sambora are singing with their acoustic guitars into an old tape recorder. The song is credited to Captain Kidd and King of Swing; presumably these are pseudonyms for Jon and Ritchie, though I can't be sure. Anyway, this is a great little song. 21. One Rainy Wish from The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Axis: Bold As Love, 1968. Jimi Hendrix released only three albums in his short career before he died in 1970. In One Rainy Wish Jimi Hendrix sings about a dream he had (♫Gold and rose, the colour of a dream I had♫) and his lyrics have the aura of those originating from a dreamlike or altered state of consciousness, which examining Jimi's short life is probably a valid analysis. In any case, his poetry set to music works brilliantly for his psychedelic brand of blues and rock and roll. One Rainy Wish has some busy yet effective drumming from Mitch Mitchell, and Hendrix lays down layers of guitars upon one another, which is a possible reason why Brian May covered the song on his solo album, Another World, the first place I heard it. One Rainy Wish is but one track on an album with many deep cuts. http://www.epinions.com/content_367329578628 50 of Rock Music's Favorite Deep Cuts - Part One (50-41) Van Halen The Eagles Red Hot Chili Peppers Boston Ringo Starr Belly U2 David Bowie The Doors Elvis Presley 50 of Rock Music's Favorite Deep Cuts - Part Two (40-31) Rod Stewart The Cranberries Mr. Bungle Styx The Who Motley Crue Veruca Salt Tom Tom Club Metallica REM 50 of Rock Music's Favorite Deep Cuts - Part Four (20-11) Elton John The Police Prince John Lennon Supertramp The Raspberries Paul Simon Aerosmith Terence Trent D'Arby Journey  |
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