Glad to see "The Soft Parade" getting some love. I've always felt weird that I liked it when so many others didn't. Nursery Cryme is my favorite Genesis album. I never get tired of hearing "The Musical Box" I think it's one of, if the the best, song of Gabriel-era Genesis.
Roger Waters was sticking up for it in the Abbey Road canteen in the Live At Pompeii film of behind-the-scenes chats during Dark Side recording. He said it was underrated then because it was a bad pressing of the vinyl. Seems he was right.
Great to see Come Taste The Band on the list. Comin' Home, Gettin' Tighter and especially You Keep on Moving are great songs. Nice reference to Private Eyes. People should also check out Bolins "Teaser" album
Another Tommy Bolin delicious effort is James Gang Bang.... I get excited when I see there is yet another fortunate soul who's been exposed to Tommy. The Jon Lord story of Tommy's Deep Purple audition confirmed my assumption not only of his incredible talent but also he's the coolest cat in the room.
@@killerzrulz Bang is a great album. Standing In The Rain and Alexis are my favorite songs on the album. Billy Cobham - Spectrum as well. Fusion classic. Also the debut album from Canadian rockers Moxy. Tommy definitely had "it".
Oh my damn! I can’t believe I got quoted! Thanks. I feel honored. I agree the sound quality isn’t the greatest, but I can get passed that since the songs are so good. I absolutely love Born Again by Black Sabbath. If there was a part 2, I would definitely say Queen II. The 1st two of their albums are my favorite of theirs and are under appreciated, but Queen II is phenomenal. It produced no hits which is why it gets skipped by most listeners, but the songs in there are awesome. The album slowly developed as my favorite. The 1st song I liked was the heavy metal sounding “Ogre Battle”, then the beautiful ballad “White Queen” as time progressed other songs began to play in my head which lead me to like them. Ultimately my favorite became “Father to Son” and pretty much every song became a favorite of mine. It’s such a great album that needs a listening to. It’s the album I listen the most from beginning to end. It’s great.
I agree, I had never actually heard 'Obscured By Clouds' till a few years ago, I looked it up on the Internet and gave it a whirl. Very good songs, even the ones that were the "soundtrack" part were excellent! In fact I remember liking those better than the other side! Thanks buddy.
David Coverdale's Northwinds does it for me. There's a tender and soulful element that was never quite the same in Whitesnake. But, equally, rarely will you hear a rock vocal as good as DC's on Only My Soul. However, I'm not sure whether Northwinds is underrated or just unheard.
@peteallen935 Couldn't agree more especially if it's the Dutch pressing with Long version of Big tree blue sea instead of Suzie lunacy and just like Vince Taylor .
I would say Joe Jackson's albums Look Sharp and I'm the Man are underrated. JJ had a great band playing with him on those albums, especially the bass player Graham Maby.
I love Obscured By Clouds because, given that it was recorded right in the middle of the Dark Side sessions, it comes off as almost an opposing doppelgänger to that much more famous LP. Where Dark Side is a work of grim, somber perfection, Obscured is light, breezy, lazy, and raw. A perfect album to listen to while taking a stroll in the countryside.
The Who by Numbers is phenomenal! With the exception of Squeeze Box it’s a perfect album. I paid dearly for the import version because it was available before the US one. I was underage but working in my parent’s business (Bell Bowl bowling alley) in Queens, NY and asked my mother to get it when she was out running errands. She was shocked at the cost! I didn’t get home until almost 2:00am and stayed up all night with headphones listening to it. I still listen to it on a regular basis and don’t think a month has gone by that I haven’t listened to it. The only other Who album that I listen to more is Quadrophenia!
Yeah, I’ve loved that record for years. It has no grand theme, no concept; just a meditation on growing older, being no wiser, it’s all a bunch of money-chasing rot etc. However Much I Booze is a great confessional song, Imagine a Man’s as tuneful as any song they did, just a great no-frills album.
My first concert was The Who at Maple Leaf Gardens here in Toronto on December 11th 1975 for the Who By Numbers tour. I was 11 and got the tickets from my parents for Christmas and my older cousin had to take me. Not their best album but it was a great concert and I got to see them with all the original members.
'The Dreaming' is absolutely one of my favourite ever albums; I always thought that it deserved many of the plaudits that 'Hounds of Love' later received !
@@AlmostEthical Ill give it a listen, thanks. Underrated means not much public mentions, something Crime of the Century Doesn't belong. But Roger Hodgson's first solo album away from Supertramp definitely does. 1984, "Eye of the Storm."
The Dreaming was the very first album of KB that I listened to. And I thought: Wow! How could I overlook such a good performer? Then I bought all of her other LPs. :)
Agree on Nursery Cryme. That's my favorite Genesis album. I definitely like it better than Foxtrot (I know I'm in the minority). Selling England is a CLOSE 2ND, and Lamb is right there as well.
I agree with Obscured By Clouds-I love that album and for me it represents a transition between the psychedelia styles of Meddle and the Prog/AOR of DSOTM.Rarely gets mentioned even by fans! Nursery Cryme was very underrated when it came out but tbh its reputation seems to have increased dramatically recently as evidenced by many UA-cam reviews.If anything the one Genesis album which seems to have plummeted in many reviewers estimations as the years progress is Wind and Wuthering which I can't understand because for one thing it showcases Steve Hackett's guitar better than any other Genesis album with him on it and the album also best represents what the band sounded like live -ie phenomenal.I remember when it was released it was a huge critical and commercial success but now no one seems impressed by it at all and all I hear is people bitching about Steve Hackett leaving disgruntled and that it includes a pop song (Your Own Special Way) which takes up too much room etc etc.
Nursery Cryme is my all time favourite album. Re Tommy Bolin, it's a pity his self inflicted problems meant he never really showed what he was capable of with Purple
Actually mine too, alongside Salisbury by Uriah Heep, both from 1971. Never get tired of these masterpieces after a half century. Not a single dull moment.
This is a great list. I have always rated 'Come taste the Band' very highly, however I have never been able to get over the sense of tragedy that looms over it. This does concern Tommy Bolin's sad passing. His album 'Private Eyes' is a great album and we mustn't forget his work with the James Gang, Billy Cobham and Zephyr. The latter are all available and worth checking out.
I agree "come taste the band". Is a great album in fact it's one of the first rock albums i bought in 1975 age 15 and the first Deep Purple album i bought i still play it to this day. And a great shame what happened to Tommy Bolin a great talent lost so young such a waste.
Loved the list and agreed with every selection. I would add - Jeff Beck Group - "Rough & Ready" and "Jeff Beck Group" (an Orange on the cover). With Bobby Tench on Vocals, Max Middleton - Keyboards and Cozy Powell on drums....incredible talent, very overlooked albums and I feel like it's some of Jeff's finest work. The Pretty Things - Parachute.....one of the greatest albums from the early 70's. Wishbone Ash - Front Page News....a bit of a departure for WA but the band shows off just how melodic, and beautiful they could write and perform, a mellow rock masterpiece. David Gilmour - "David Gilmour" - his debut solo album is just brilliant. Really feels like a lost Pink Floyd LP and just has an incredible musical flow and integrity to the entire Album.
I completely agree with Emotional Rescue being underrated-it's actually one of my favorite Stones albums. I also agree with Obscured By Clouds-it was definitely buried between masterpiece albums.
I’m surprised ER is now underrated. The Stones’ disco-ish material was all over US radio at the time, I was a teen fan of it, as much as their earlier bluesy catalog. TBH, Some Girls was the stronger album of that style, especially their cover of Just My Imagination. But ER is right in that category as well.
I would add Drama by Yes. If Horn and Downes had not been in Buggles it would've been taken more seriously. It's a far better listen than either Tormato or 90125.
Love reading the comments, revisiting old half-remembered albums and discovering new ones. Here are a few of mine. 1) War War War by Country Joe McDonald. Poetry set to music doesn’t always work, as poetry has a music of its own. But this is a haunting, powerful and utterly brilliant musical rendering of the poems of Robert Service. 2) Ramases: Glass Top Coffin 3 Judee Sill: both Judee Sill and Heart Food. 4 The Edgar Broughton Band. Wasa Wasa, Sing Brother Sing and Edgar Broughton Band would all make my top twenty ‘best ever’ list 5 Spooky Tooth Ceremony
There is not one album with the original quartet that is not fantastic ..maybe the Doors as a musical entity were underrated. Jim's voice in the band made their sound so much more viable somehow..😉
Obscured By Clouds is a great choice & well deserved Barry, I'd throw in Duke by Genesis, Steve Winwood's debut solo album from 1977, Propaganda by Sparks, Sheet Music by 10cc & Zinc Alloy by T-Rex all incredibly underrated in my opinion.
Winwood solo album "Steve Winwood"is a masterpiece -funnily enough just dug it out recently-Vacant Chair is 7 minutes of pop rock genius-it failed miserbaly commercially and spurred the great man on to producing Arc Of A Diver which is even better.
I've always liked The Soft Parade and The Who by Numbers because they were more laid-back than each band's previous three albums. Both albums were good sonic breaks from the edgier and more bombastic LPs that preceded them--the albums aren't the best each band produced, but they're good for a spin every once in a while.
I would say Morrison Hotel is more underrated than Soft Parade, I never heard much about it growing up despite Roadhouse Blues being a popular FM song.
A goofy lp I love is steppenwolf at you birthday party!! A favorite like those on your list!! Soft parade as you said is a classic!! Great work and happy new year 🎊🎈
Obscured by Clouds was my first Pink Floyd purchase back in October 1972, (followed soon thereafter by Meddle and Ummagumma) It has always been in my top 5 Floyd albums.
Elton John's 1975 CAPTAIN FANTASTIC AND THE BROWN DIRT COWBOY is debatably Elton's most cohesive album and has stood the test of time - it still sounds great.
i have always thought of CAPTAIN FANTASTIC as Elton's best produced record. The playing is so tight and it is probably his best vocals. The highlight of the record for me is the drums. I never considered Nigel Olsson a top drummer until I heard this album. The drums on 'Better Off Dead' : the muffled sound is innovative and brilliant.
@@roy421000Well said, the production is top notch and I noticed Nigel's drumming as well on this album! Elton's vocals are at peak level, for sure! Don't Shoot Me.... is a close second for me, Tumbleweed....third.
I remember seeing Elton in 1975 playing Wembley Stadium and he played the whole of Capt Fantastic before he played any of his hits The album had only been out at the time for approx 2/3 weeks and I remember Wembley Stadium emptying out because the fans weren’t familiar at the time with this excellent album
The Dreaming is my fave Kate as well. And in college this was the first I heard , so for me Hounds sounded tame, but still great! And I love Born Again but yes, my OG sounds like it was recorded in a basement on a cassette.
Kate's Dreaming seems to do pretty well in ranking vids i've watched and Steven Wilson's fav, my second. I'll throw a few out of mine. 1. Kate Bush---The Sensual World. 2, Yes---Yormato 3. Bill Nelsons Red Noise. 4. Army Of Anyone---self titled.
Still thinking the Desolation Boulevard LP by the Sweet deserves some love as a very well recorded performance and a great mix of fun rocking tunes for it’s day.
01. cynic - focus 02. jeff beck - truth 03. nomeansno - wrong 04. psychotic waltz - mosquito 05. the fall - bend sinister 06. rowland s. howard & lydia lunch - shotgun wedding 07. pere ubu - the modern dance 08. deep purple - come taste the band 09. captain beefheart - shiny beast 10. david bowie - 1. outside
Thanks for this really like your videos - they’ve made me aware of music I wasn’t aware of. You also have a good way with words without descending into hyperbole and bullshit!
Thanks Barry. Love to see the love for Scary Monsters - some of Bowie’s (and Fripp’s) greatest work. Also great to see The Who By Numbers here too. “And They’re All in Love” is glorious. “Goodbye all you punks, stay young and stay high. Hand me my cheque book, and I’ll crawl off to die.” Tell me you’re Pete Townshend without telling me you’re Pete Townshend!
An enjoyable list, thanks for talking us through it; I really must check out the Richard Wright album. I think that Crime of the Century is Supertramp's best album but I also agree with you that it doesn't really qualify as underrated.
Love seeing "Born Again" here. I didn't realize "Truth" was underrated. I like "Obscured by Clouds" but not enough to call it underrated. I would've replaced it with Riot "Fire Down Under". The Doors, Who and Purple albums are class as well.
Riot's Fire Down Under is my choice for most undervalued heavy metal album ever produced! The riffs, guitar tones, incredible drumming and mix of high octane songs with classic, hard rock gems, all topped of with Guy Speranza's top shelf vocals - the album simply is as good as metal gets! Awesome choice my friend!
I've been a huge Doors fan since the early 80's. The Soft Parade was their weakest of studio albums but I enjoy listening to it. I would recommend listing to some of their Bright Midnight releases. Tommy Bolin was a fantastic guitarist & I still have his two vinyl solo albums Teaser being the better one in my opinion. Come Taste The Band is fantastic. Tom also played on a couple of tracks on One of Moxy's albums; a Canadian band big in the 70's. I recommend having a listen most noteworthy their first 2 albums. Thanks for sharing your views. P.S. I'm a big Santana fan; seen them live 9x from '83-'02. Take Care!
I gotta give it another few listens, but all the orchestration and disjointed songs didn't work for me, it's experimental aspects are jarring and seemingly unfocused. Some dig it, some just don't feel it, I love the Doors, they deserve anything they made to be given the proper amount of attention! I'll be doing just that, with The Soft Parade. Cheers!
IMO the following albums are all underrated! Moontan, Golden Earring.... Fog On The Tyne, Lindisfarne.... The Snow Goose, Camel.... Pipe Dream, Alan Hull.... Alf, Allison Moyet.... Road To Hell, Chris Rea.... Northwinds, David Coverdale.... Crime Of The Century, Supertramp.
From the Stones I would have suggested Between the Buttons. Whether it’s pop, baroque, psychedelic pop, or music hall the Stones did wonders with it and crafted a pop masterpiece. I feel like that quirkiness was huge for bands like Sparks and XTC. The mono version was a revelation for me.
@@slidetek I think Satanic is my prefer rolling stones too. I don't listen beetwen buttons yet. Satanic is like a combination of elements of The piper at the gates and Sergeant pepper (I think they are bothsuperior than Satanic, but satanic is a huge masterpiece too).
I need to say the title song on The Soft Parade is in fact a pretty good trip. Morrison having a rowdy, fun time along the way. Also Ashes to Ashes is a fine song from Bowie, that album is very underrated. Truth is not underrated, it is appreciated by any real rock and roll fan. Obscured by Clouds is rated exactly where it should be, for a Floyd album, which is Meh. I would have voted Beggars Banquet as under appreciated, over shadowed by Let it Bleed and Sticky Fingers and Exile, but equal or better than any of those. Nice video Sir.
Fantastic record, and also I think extremely important for Kate as without it I doubt she'd have been able to create the 9th Wave suite from Hounds where she compresses all the stylistic and sonic experimentation of The Dreaming down into a concise, focussed whole.
The Who By Numbers is a great album - less full on than the others of the period but the songs are beautifully worked. Bought it upon release and still play it regularly. I’d add the Stones Goats Head Soup to this list. Often overlooked at the tail end of the groups golden period but a brilliant effort.
Some interesting ones to revisit or listen for the first time. I am a Floyd fan but had never heard of the Richard Wright album, so will be checking it out. I always loved Born Again and saw them on the tour too.
My most underrated albums... 1. The Who - Quadrophenia 2. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Baby 81 3. The Wallflowers - Red Letter Days 4. U2 - Songs of innocence 5. The Wallflowers - Rebel Sweetheart 6. The 22-20s Shake / Shiver / Moan 7. The Airborne Toxic Event - All at Once 8. Stereophonics - Graffiti on the Train 9. Stereophonics - Keep Calm and Carry On 10. U2 - POP
I agree, "The Who By Numbers" is one of my all time favorite Who albums and I go back to it often. Also, I feel that Richard Wright was criminally underestimated and overlooked as a musical figure. His solo stuff had some quality material.
My ten, in no particular order : Dreamboat Annie - Heart The Royal Scam - Steely Dan Animals - Pink Floyd Caravanserai - Santana Beautiful Noise - Neil Diamond Chicago Transit Authority Road To Ruin - John & Beverley Martyn Hall Of The Mountain Grill - Hawkwind The Book of Secrets - Loreena McKennitt Together We're Heavy - The Polyphonic Spree Honorable mentions: Every Good Boy Deserves Favour - The Moody Blues Songs From The Wood - Jethro Tull Supernatural - Santana I've Got A Name - Jim Croce
My top 5 for what it's worth- Belle and Sebastien-The Boy With The Arab Strap; London Suede- Dog Man Star; U2- Zooropa; David Bowie- Low; Radiohead- Amnesiac.
Love crime of the century. Especially Rudy. That was such a song I could relate to at the time. I am a Kate Bush fan and it took me a while to get into the dreaming but it is one of my favourite albums now.
Seeing Come Taste The Band in the thumbnail made me smile. I love that album. The wine glass on the cover is great metaphorically as the album has aged like a fine wine.
Glad to see so many people giving some love to Nursery Cryme. I’m not really a big fan of Genesis, but that was a great album. I’ll add Planet Waves by Dylan one of my favorites.
Pink Floyd's "Obscured By Clouds" is an absolutely fantastic album and definitely deserves this recognition! I believe that all of Pink Floyd's music before "Dark Side Of The Moon" is under-rated. There are friends of mine that, until I enlightened them to this information, were unaware that Pink Floyd had any music before "Dark Side Of The Moon"! 🙀
Agreed. This used to my least favorite from KC, never owned this album but, kept listening ever so often. It has definitely grown on me. It is full of wonderful music. Has become one of my favorite listen of KC catalog. 😊❤
Great discussion, I’ve never thought about the consistency issue between these 2 greats. DP have put out some rubbish between the highs whereas Zep just churned out a handful of albums which other than ITTOD were classics. As you say DP ‘s lack of management and particularly Richie’s ego led to a constant merry go round, so for me Zep the greater band but In Rock the better of the 1969 offerings - and I love the rawness of the production,
As a hardcore DOORS fan who enjoys all their albums- I love the SOFT PARADE ,,, and consider it-this band’s SERGEANT PEPPERS!!!!!!!!& KATE BUSH’S ‘THE DREAMING is my favorite by’ my sista Kate’!!!!!lol.
Come taste the band has Aged really well .Bolin is Very under rated in the Classic Rawk Crowd , miss his Playing at Your expense . the most Versitile Guitarist of His Era , and a Great song writer / Singer to Boot .
I remember being castigated by my school friends for declaring CTTB as my favourite Deep Purple album (well until Purpendicular came along). However i was comforted when the legendary scribe in the shape of Geoff Barton gave it the full 10 stars when reviewing the 35th anniversary edition. Glad it made the list.
I agree with a lot of these choices. A couple from me: Black Sabbath - Sabotage. For a prog-inclined person like me this is the most satisfying Sabbath album, with some interesting musical ideas together with the usual terrific riffing. Osbourne's vocals are much better than on some of the other Sabbath albums too, as is the production. Genesis - And Then There Were Three. This album is too long but cut it down to eight tracks and it's a really good listen, better in my view than Duke (which suffers I think from the same excess of filler and is also far better shorn of a few tracks). Deep Purple - Burn. This is generally viewed as a solid record but might actually be the best of the studio albums. Certainly I listen to it more than any of the others. Jethro Tull -A Passion Play. This is a lot better than many people think. Anderson's compositional work on this is fantastic and the playing is outstanding with some nice additions such as the sac parts. I prefer it to Thick As a Brick.
Very solid list here. I agree that Broken China, Nursery Cryme and Obscured by Clouds deserve more attention than they currently get. With Supertramp, I say Crisis? What Crisis? is the true underrated album in their discography. While not as dark as it’s predecessor, the genius writing and catchy tunes remain. Sister Moonshine, Ain’t Nobody But Me, A Soapbox Opera, The Meaning, great great stuff.
Born Again is rubbish, END OF!
🙂
@@classicalbum the ones without conceptual continuity usually are the most passionate😂
The Cover art and the stereo mix.
Listen to Live Evil remix and hope... for a miracle.
Wtf. This album is awesome. Maybe needs a remix but musically it's the heaviest sabbath album
@@classicalbum I liked "Zero the Hero" but wasn't very taken with the rest of it.
Glad to see "The Soft Parade" getting some love. I've always felt weird that I liked it when so many others didn't. Nursery Cryme is my favorite Genesis album. I never get tired of hearing "The Musical Box" I think it's one of, if the the best, song of Gabriel-era Genesis.
The Dreaming still leaves me gobsmacked all these years later. Truly, a musical / sonic masterpiece.
Totally agree. My favourite Kate album.
In my top ten since 1982. Perrenial
It's superb. I put it on and just let it wash over me.
I definitely wouldn't argue with Obscured by Clouds. I've always said it's hugely under-rated. Full of great and varied songs.
Glad to see come taste the band on there. My favourite purple album,only one I don’t agree with is born again. That one is terrible
I like it too, more than the boring wish you were here and animals efforts and certainly better than the gilmour lead dreadful efforts
Roger Waters was sticking up for it in the Abbey Road canteen in the Live At Pompeii film of behind-the-scenes chats during Dark Side recording. He said it was underrated then because it was a bad pressing of the vinyl. Seems he was right.
Atom Heart Mother has it's moments.
Free Four
Mine:
The Nylon Curtain - Billy Joel
Odessa - The Bee Gees
Legend - Poco
Nude - Camel
The Soft Parade - The Doors
Meat is Murder - The Smiths
Thanks
I'm glad you mentioned Private Eyes by Tommy Bolin.I would put Teaser in there, too. Both have some great work on them.
Tommy Bolin was amazing talent. Lost so young…RIP.
The Snow Goose by Camel is a beautiful piece of work, always been in my top 5 prog album.
Great tripping album.
Nudy
First heard it on it's release in 1975, agree with you it's a great album which I still play to this day.
The 2013 re-recording is even better.
Great to see Come Taste The Band on the list. Comin' Home, Gettin' Tighter and especially You Keep on Moving are great songs. Nice reference to Private Eyes. People should also check out Bolins "Teaser" album
Terrible album cover though.
Back in the 70s, I had 800 LPs. Come Taste the Band, Teaser and Private Eyes were coveted components of this collection.
Another Tommy Bolin delicious effort is James Gang Bang.... I get excited when I see there is yet another fortunate soul who's been exposed to Tommy. The Jon Lord story of Tommy's Deep Purple audition confirmed my assumption not only of his incredible talent but also he's the coolest cat in the room.
@@killerzrulz Not forgetting Tommy Bolin's contribution to Billy Cobham's masterpiece "Spectrum".
@@killerzrulz Bang is a great album. Standing In The Rain and Alexis are my favorite songs on the album. Billy Cobham - Spectrum as well. Fusion classic. Also the debut album from Canadian rockers Moxy. Tommy definitely had "it".
Oh my damn! I can’t believe I got quoted! Thanks. I feel honored.
I agree the sound quality isn’t the greatest, but I can get passed that since the songs are so good. I absolutely love Born Again by Black Sabbath.
If there was a part 2, I would definitely say Queen II. The 1st two of their albums are my favorite of theirs and are under appreciated, but Queen II is phenomenal. It produced no hits which is why it gets skipped by most listeners, but the songs in there are awesome. The album slowly developed as my favorite. The 1st song I liked was the heavy metal sounding “Ogre Battle”, then the beautiful ballad “White Queen” as time progressed other songs began to play in my head which lead me to like them. Ultimately my favorite became “Father to Son” and pretty much every song became a favorite of mine. It’s such a great album that needs a listening to. It’s the album I listen the most from beginning to end. It’s great.
I agree, I had never actually heard 'Obscured By Clouds' till a few years ago, I looked it up on the Internet and gave it a whirl. Very good songs, even the ones that were the "soundtrack" part were excellent! In fact I remember liking those better than the other side! Thanks buddy.
David Coverdale's Northwinds does it for me. There's a tender and soulful element that was never quite the same in Whitesnake. But, equally, rarely will you hear a rock vocal as good as DC's on Only My Soul. However, I'm not sure whether Northwinds is underrated or just unheard.
I think you're right when you say "unheard'
I would add Golden Earring's Moontan album. Rarely spoken of but a masterpiece imo
It was only when I heard MOONTAN I realised the single "Radar Love", which I bought on its release, was edited.
Agreed!
@@VoodooChildSlightGood thing too, imho - the single is more than enough…
@peteallen935 Couldn't agree more especially if it's the Dutch pressing with Long version of Big tree blue sea instead of Suzie lunacy and just like Vince Taylor .
@@leecheetham5889Yep, that’s the one I got in Australia
I would say Joe Jackson's albums Look Sharp and I'm the Man are underrated. JJ had a great band playing with him on those albums, especially the bass player Graham Maby.
Loved Joe Jackson, saw him in 79 at the Marquee, great gig
Thanks for mentioning Private Eyes !! That and Teaser really show how truly amazing Tommy Bolin was :)
I love Obscured By Clouds because, given that it was recorded right in the middle of the Dark Side sessions, it comes off as almost an opposing doppelgänger to that much more famous LP. Where Dark Side is a work of grim, somber perfection, Obscured is light, breezy, lazy, and raw. A perfect album to listen to while taking a stroll in the countryside.
The Who by Numbers is phenomenal! With the exception of Squeeze Box it’s a perfect album. I paid dearly for the import version because it was available before the US one.
I was underage but working in my parent’s business (Bell Bowl bowling alley) in Queens, NY and asked my mother to get it when she was out running errands. She was shocked at the cost!
I didn’t get home until almost 2:00am and stayed up all night with headphones listening to it. I still listen to it on a regular basis and don’t think a month has gone by that I haven’t listened to it. The only other Who album that I listen to more is Quadrophenia!
Yeah, I’ve loved that record for years. It has no grand theme, no concept; just a meditation on growing older, being no wiser, it’s all a bunch of money-chasing rot etc. However Much I Booze is a great confessional song, Imagine a Man’s as tuneful as any song they did, just a great no-frills album.
There's some shit hot songs on by numbers ( slip kid, dreaming from the waist) but quad is definitely better
My first concert was The Who at Maple Leaf Gardens here in Toronto on December 11th 1975 for the Who By Numbers tour. I was 11 and got the tickets from my parents for Christmas and my older cousin had to take me. Not their best album but it was a great concert and I got to see them with all the original members.
'The Dreaming' is absolutely one of my favourite ever albums; I always thought that it deserved many of the plaudits that 'Hounds of Love' later received !
Crime of the Century is a masterwork. 🙌🏼 My favorite Supertramp.
Yes, CotC is a truly great album that tends to be underrated by many prog fans because they had mainstream popularity.
An album cannot be underrated when it appears on dozens of top 100 album lists.
@@pointzerotwo It should be rated higher in those lists :)
Sky's debut is another fantastic album proggers tend to not be so keen on.
@@AlmostEthical Ill give it a listen, thanks. Underrated means not much public mentions, something Crime of the Century Doesn't belong. But Roger Hodgson's first solo album away from Supertramp definitely does. 1984, "Eye of the Storm."
@@pointzerotwo The killer track on Sky's debut album is Where Opposites Meet. I'll check out RH's album. Cheers.
The Dreaming was the very first album of KB that I listened to. And I thought: Wow! How could I overlook such a good performer? Then I bought all of her other LPs. :)
Agree on Nursery Cryme. That's my favorite Genesis album. I definitely like it better than Foxtrot (I know I'm in the minority). Selling England is a CLOSE 2ND, and Lamb is right there as well.
I agree with Obscured By Clouds-I love that album and for me it represents a transition between the psychedelia styles of Meddle and the Prog/AOR of DSOTM.Rarely gets mentioned even by fans!
Nursery Cryme was very underrated when it came out but tbh its reputation seems to have increased dramatically recently as evidenced by many UA-cam reviews.If anything the one Genesis album which seems to have plummeted in many reviewers estimations as the years progress is Wind and Wuthering which I can't understand because for one thing it showcases Steve Hackett's guitar better than any other Genesis album with him on it and the album also best represents what the band sounded like live -ie phenomenal.I remember when it was released it was a huge critical and commercial success but now no one seems impressed by it at all and all I hear is people bitching about Steve Hackett leaving disgruntled and that it includes a pop song (Your Own Special Way) which takes up too much room etc etc.
Nursery Cryme is my all time favourite album. Re Tommy Bolin, it's a pity his self inflicted problems meant he never really showed what he was capable of with Purple
Actually mine too, alongside Salisbury by Uriah Heep, both from 1971. Never get tired of these masterpieces after a half century. Not a single dull moment.
I would say ALL Kate Bush albums are underrated.
Truth and Who By Numbers are two of my favorite albums! Glad to see them getting some love.
This is a great list. I have always rated 'Come taste the Band' very highly, however I have never been able to get over the sense of tragedy that looms over it. This does concern Tommy Bolin's sad passing. His album 'Private Eyes' is a great album and we mustn't forget his work with the James Gang, Billy Cobham and Zephyr. The latter are all available and worth checking out.
Come Taste the Band is a great album.
I agree "come taste the band". Is a great album in fact it's one of the first rock albums i bought in 1975 age 15 and the first Deep Purple album i bought i still play it to this day. And a great shame what happened to Tommy Bolin a great talent lost so young such a waste.
@@deanmichaels4262 Same here. I still have the Circus magazine featuring Tommy.
I have to agree about Jeff Beck - "Truth", Deep Purple - "Come Taste The Band", and Motorhesd - "Another Perfect Day". All great releases.
Soft Parade is my second favorite Doors album, following only the debut. Received it as a gift and fell in love with it on the first listen. 🎧
Loved the list and agreed with every selection.
I would add - Jeff Beck Group - "Rough & Ready" and "Jeff Beck Group" (an Orange on the cover).
With Bobby Tench on Vocals, Max Middleton - Keyboards and Cozy Powell on drums....incredible talent, very overlooked albums and I feel like it's some of Jeff's finest work.
The Pretty Things - Parachute.....one of the greatest albums from the early 70's.
Wishbone Ash - Front Page News....a bit of a departure for WA but the band shows off just how melodic, and beautiful they could write and perform, a mellow rock masterpiece.
David Gilmour - "David Gilmour" - his debut solo album is just brilliant.
Really feels like a lost Pink Floyd LP and just has an incredible musical flow and integrity to the entire Album.
I completely agree with Emotional Rescue being underrated-it's actually one of my favorite Stones albums. I also agree with Obscured By Clouds-it was definitely buried between masterpiece albums.
ER has so many great songs. All About You, Down in the Hole, Send it to Me, Little Indian Girl. So great, and definitely underrated.
@@patrickbarry6273 absolutely!
I’m surprised ER is now underrated. The Stones’ disco-ish material was all over US radio at the time, I was a teen fan of it, as much as their earlier bluesy catalog.
TBH, Some Girls was the stronger album of that style, especially their cover of Just My Imagination. But ER is right in that category as well.
I loved Soft Parade. A departure from previous Doors material but very listenable.
really glad you included emotional rescue one of my favorite all time stones albums. thank you.
I would add Drama by Yes. If Horn and Downes had not been in Buggles it would've been taken more seriously. It's a far better listen than either Tormato or 90125.
You are correct, Horn hardly looked a heavy metaller, which many people catagorise the music of yes as
@@AidenSwords-md1doI’ve never heard anyone categorize Yes as heavy metal.
@@thekeywitness as far as I know they were in the official kerrang heavy metal charts in early 80s
Agree with that, Tomato has a couple of good songs but Drama is good from start to finish, 90125 is the band trying to go commercial.
Me neither.
Love reading the comments, revisiting old half-remembered albums and discovering new ones.
Here are a few of mine.
1) War War War by Country Joe McDonald. Poetry set to music doesn’t always work, as poetry has a music of its own. But this is a haunting, powerful and utterly brilliant musical rendering of the poems of Robert Service.
2) Ramases: Glass Top Coffin
3 Judee Sill: both Judee Sill and Heart Food.
4 The Edgar Broughton Band. Wasa Wasa, Sing Brother Sing and Edgar Broughton Band would all make my top twenty ‘best ever’ list
5 Spooky Tooth Ceremony
kudos for putting Born Again on this.
The Who By Numbers has been among my most underrated albums for decades now. And Crime of the Century is certainly my favourite Supertramp album.
who by numbers is like listening to Pete on his psychiatrists couch
Exactly which is what makes it so fascinating. We should all have the courage to confront our demons much less as elegantly as Pete did.
Great list and great presentation. It always perplexed me that The Soft Parade is so universally dismissed by professional critics.
There is not one album with the original quartet that is not fantastic ..maybe the Doors as a musical entity were underrated. Jim's voice in the band made their sound so much more viable somehow..😉
Obscured By Clouds is a great choice & well deserved Barry, I'd throw in Duke by Genesis, Steve Winwood's debut solo album from 1977, Propaganda by Sparks, Sheet Music by 10cc & Zinc Alloy by T-Rex all incredibly underrated in my opinion.
Duke Is up there with the very Best of Génesis
I agree on Sparks.
Winwood solo album "Steve Winwood"is a masterpiece -funnily enough just dug it out recently-Vacant Chair is 7 minutes of pop rock genius-it failed miserbaly commercially and spurred the great man on to producing Arc Of A Diver which is even better.
Sheet Music by 10cc is by far their masterpiece in my opinion.
I've always liked The Soft Parade and The Who by Numbers because they were more laid-back than each band's previous three albums. Both albums were good sonic breaks from the edgier and more bombastic LPs that preceded them--the albums aren't the best each band produced, but they're good for a spin every once in a while.
By Numbers last great Keith moment on record
The Dreaming is so underrated. Challenging definitely, but worth sticking with!
So great putting Soft Parade on this - weird to be sure, but it’s kinda wonderful ..”this is the best part of the trip!”
I really like
I would say Morrison Hotel is more underrated than Soft Parade, I never heard much about it growing up despite Roadhouse Blues being a popular FM song.
@@GizmoBeach Those 2 Doors albums were poor sellers when I was in High School. I got them both in the cut- out bins in 71.
Nursery Cryme turned me on to Genesis and has always remained one of my favourites.
A goofy lp I love is steppenwolf at you birthday party!! A favorite like those on your list!! Soft parade as you said is a classic!! Great work and happy new year 🎊🎈
Obscured by Clouds was my first Pink Floyd purchase back in October 1972, (followed soon thereafter by Meddle and Ummagumma) It has always been in my top 5 Floyd albums.
Lol ummagumma . I remember my friend bought this album and he said he wasted his money.
@@stevemarshall3986It was a useless album
Interesting list and comments. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed!
Elton John's 1975 CAPTAIN FANTASTIC AND THE BROWN DIRT COWBOY is debatably Elton's most cohesive album and has stood the test of time - it still sounds great.
My fav Elton album, stellar from start to end, great storytelling and nice, smooth, melodic tunes throughout! Killer album cover as well!
i have always thought of CAPTAIN FANTASTIC as Elton's best produced record. The playing is so tight and it is probably his best vocals. The highlight of the record for me is the drums. I never considered Nigel Olsson a top drummer until I heard this album. The drums on 'Better Off Dead' : the muffled sound is innovative and brilliant.
@@roy421000Well said, the production is top notch and I noticed Nigel's drumming as well on this album! Elton's vocals are at peak level, for sure! Don't Shoot Me.... is a close second for me, Tumbleweed....third.
Its Eltons own Sgt. Pepper
I remember seeing Elton in 1975 playing Wembley Stadium and he played the whole of Capt Fantastic before he played any of his hits
The album had only been out at the time for approx 2/3 weeks and I remember Wembley Stadium emptying out because the fans weren’t familiar at the time with this excellent album
The Dreaming is my fave Kate as well. And in college this was the first I heard , so for me Hounds sounded tame, but still great! And I love Born Again but yes, my OG sounds like it was recorded in a basement on a cassette.
Scary Monsters ❤ fantastic. Never thought of it being underrated.
It's not. It sold 4.5 million copies and gets 4-5 stars by every critic.
Kate's Dreaming seems to do pretty well in ranking vids i've watched and Steven Wilson's fav, my second. I'll throw a few out of mine.
1. Kate Bush---The Sensual World.
2, Yes---Yormato
3. Bill Nelsons Red Noise.
4. Army Of Anyone---self titled.
Still thinking the Desolation Boulevard LP by the Sweet deserves some love as a very well recorded performance and a great mix of fun rocking tunes for it’s day.
Great topic. I could add so many more. ZZ Top's Tejas for 1.
01. cynic - focus
02. jeff beck - truth
03. nomeansno - wrong
04. psychotic waltz - mosquito
05. the fall - bend sinister
06. rowland s. howard & lydia lunch - shotgun wedding
07. pere ubu - the modern dance
08. deep purple - come taste the band
09. captain beefheart - shiny beast
10. david bowie - 1. outside
Thanks for this really like your videos - they’ve made me aware of music I wasn’t aware of. You also have a good way with words without descending into hyperbole and bullshit!
I like Crime of the century and Indelibly stamped. Also worth a mention is Family-Anyway and Family-Fearless.
YES!
@@Polyphemus47: NO….Family 😊
Thanks Barry. Love to see the love for Scary Monsters - some of Bowie’s (and Fripp’s) greatest work. Also great to see The Who By Numbers here too. “And They’re All in Love” is glorious. “Goodbye all you punks, stay young and stay high. Hand me my cheque book, and I’ll crawl off to die.” Tell me you’re Pete Townshend without telling me you’re Pete Townshend!
Who by Numbers is one of the first albums I ever bought at 13 I believe in 1976. Great album to start your music journey with.
Harrison visited Doors "Soft" sessions, said it reminded him of Peppers
I agree with soft Parade, one of my favorites
An enjoyable list, thanks for talking us through it; I really must check out the Richard Wright album. I think that Crime of the Century is Supertramp's best album but I also agree with you that it doesn't really qualify as underrated.
Love seeing "Born Again" here. I didn't realize "Truth" was underrated. I like "Obscured by Clouds" but not enough to call it underrated. I would've replaced it with Riot "Fire Down Under".
The Doors, Who and Purple albums are class as well.
Riot's Fire Down Under is my choice for most undervalued heavy metal album ever produced! The riffs, guitar tones, incredible drumming and mix of high octane songs with classic, hard rock gems, all topped of with Guy Speranza's top shelf vocals - the album simply is as good as metal gets! Awesome choice my friend!
@@treff9226 👍
I've been a huge Doors fan since the early 80's. The Soft Parade was their weakest of studio albums but I enjoy listening to it. I would recommend listing to some of their Bright Midnight releases. Tommy Bolin was a fantastic guitarist & I still have his two vinyl solo albums Teaser being the better one in my opinion. Come Taste The Band is fantastic. Tom also played on a couple of tracks on One of Moxy's albums; a Canadian band big in the 70's. I recommend having a listen most noteworthy their first 2 albums. Thanks for sharing your views. P.S. I'm a big Santana fan; seen them live 9x from '83-'02. Take Care!
Really enjoyed the vid, Barry. It's nice to find someone else who appreciates Scary Monsters. To most it's just the album with Ashes To Ashes.
Thanks for another year of wonderful & insightful shows , have a great Christmas and New year, see you soon. PEACE AND LOVE TO EVERYONE ❤❤.
My pleasure
always loved the horns and production on Soft Parade
At last: recognition of The Doors' "The Soft Parade"! I love this album for the reasons you give! 😸👍🏻
I've always thought The Doors "Soft Parade" album was absolutely brilliant, one of my favorites actually, a seemingly maturing of the band.
Totally agree, I thought the soft parade was better and more consistent than waiting for the sun, which I thought was quite a patchy record
I gotta give it another few listens, but all the orchestration and disjointed songs didn't work for me, it's experimental aspects are jarring and seemingly unfocused. Some dig it, some just don't feel it, I love the Doors, they deserve anything they made to be given the proper amount of attention! I'll be doing just that, with The Soft Parade. Cheers!
@@ianlovell6709 I've exactly the same opinion, too
Soft Parade involves pop orchestra. It's what older musicians were doing in the 60's. Except for Cassidy, of course.
IMO the following albums are all underrated! Moontan, Golden Earring.... Fog On The Tyne, Lindisfarne.... The Snow Goose, Camel.... Pipe Dream, Alan Hull.... Alf, Allison Moyet.... Road To Hell, Chris Rea.... Northwinds, David Coverdale.... Crime Of The Century, Supertramp.
Who By Numbers is one of my favs. It's when Townshend started bleeding. "Empty Glass" was him then going for his arteries.
From the Stones I would have suggested Between the Buttons. Whether it’s pop, baroque, psychedelic pop, or music hall the Stones did wonders with it and crafted a pop masterpiece. I feel like that quirkiness was huge for bands like Sparks and XTC. The mono version was a revelation for me.
Agree it is a really good record. But I think they stole the quirk from The Kinks.
@@lonegroover I mean, Face to Face took from Aftermath, so it’s fine. They were all watching each other back then.
I always loved that album, but think that Satanic Majesties _really_ gets the short shrift in their catalog.
@@slidetek that one has gained a cult following, tho!
@@slidetek I think Satanic is my prefer rolling stones too. I don't listen beetwen buttons yet. Satanic is like a combination of elements of The piper at the gates and Sergeant pepper (I think they are bothsuperior than Satanic, but satanic is a huge masterpiece too).
Chris Squire’s “Fish Out of Water” tremendous songwriting and brilliant arrangements. Would love if you did a review of it! PLEASE!!!!
I need to say the title song on The Soft Parade is in fact a pretty good trip. Morrison having a rowdy, fun time along the way. Also Ashes to Ashes is a fine song from Bowie, that album is very underrated. Truth is not underrated, it is appreciated by any real rock and roll fan. Obscured by Clouds is rated exactly where it should be, for a Floyd album, which is Meh. I would have voted Beggars Banquet as under appreciated, over shadowed by Let it Bleed and Sticky Fingers and Exile, but equal or better than any of those. Nice video Sir.
Kate Bush, The Dreaming is a powerful album. I've never considered it under rated in my experience. It's massive.
Fantastic record, and also I think extremely important for Kate as without it I doubt she'd have been able to create the 9th Wave suite from Hounds where she compresses all the stylistic and sonic experimentation of The Dreaming down into a concise, focussed whole.
Forever Changes by Love never seems to get a mention anywhere.
U B Right
Caress of Steel by Rush deserves to be on such a list
Presto has better Peart lyrics, and is surely underrated
@@PaulFormentos I agree with both of you.
Caress of Steel definitely
Another that could use a re-mix!
Genesis is all my life favourite band, I never thought Nursery Crime is underrated.
The Who By Numbers is a great album - less full on than the others of the period but the songs are beautifully worked. Bought it upon release and still play it regularly. I’d add the Stones Goats Head Soup to this list. Often overlooked at the tail end of the groups golden period but a brilliant effort.
The Dreaming is my favorite album of all time. And I'm a metal head.
Some interesting ones to revisit or listen for the first time. I am a Floyd fan but had never heard of the Richard Wright album, so will be checking it out. I always loved Born Again and saw them on the tour too.
You are mostly talking about mainstream albums. I have a few recommendations I guarantee you'd love. Regardless your reviews are spot on. Cheers
Great episode, really look forward to all your posts, turned me on to albums i havent discovered
My most underrated albums...
1. The Who - Quadrophenia
2. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Baby 81
3. The Wallflowers - Red Letter Days
4. U2 - Songs of innocence
5. The Wallflowers - Rebel Sweetheart
6. The 22-20s Shake / Shiver / Moan
7. The Airborne Toxic Event - All at Once
8. Stereophonics - Graffiti on the Train
9. Stereophonics - Keep Calm and Carry On
10. U2 - POP
A great list. I'd add Highway by Free
Also Nazareth Rampant and Bloodrock Passage.
I agree, "The Who By Numbers" is one of my all time favorite Who albums and I go back to it often.
Also, I feel that Richard Wright was criminally underestimated and overlooked as a musical figure. His solo stuff had some quality material.
My ten, in no particular order :
Dreamboat Annie - Heart
The Royal Scam - Steely Dan
Animals - Pink Floyd
Caravanserai - Santana
Beautiful Noise - Neil Diamond
Chicago Transit Authority
Road To Ruin - John & Beverley Martyn
Hall Of The Mountain Grill - Hawkwind
The Book of Secrets - Loreena McKennitt
Together We're Heavy - The Polyphonic Spree
Honorable mentions:
Every Good Boy Deserves Favour - The Moody Blues
Songs From The Wood - Jethro Tull
Supernatural - Santana
I've Got A Name - Jim Croce
My top 5 for what it's worth- Belle and Sebastien-The Boy With The Arab Strap; London Suede- Dog Man Star; U2- Zooropa; David Bowie- Low; Radiohead- Amnesiac.
Marvin Gaye's "Here my dear" is incredibly underrated. Likewise Carmel's "The Falling".
Love crime of the century. Especially Rudy. That was such a song I could relate to at the time. I am a Kate Bush fan and it took me a while to get into the dreaming but it is one of my favourite albums now.
Seeing Come Taste The Band in the thumbnail made me smile. I love that album. The wine glass on the cover is great metaphorically as the album has aged like a fine wine.
Glad to see so many people giving some love to Nursery Cryme. I’m not really a big fan of Genesis, but that was a great album.
I’ll add Planet Waves by Dylan one of my favorites.
That's a list of albums I will check out. Great list.
Pink Floyd's "Obscured By Clouds" is an absolutely fantastic album and definitely deserves this recognition! I believe that all of Pink Floyd's music before "Dark Side Of The Moon" is under-rated. There are friends of mine that, until I enlightened them to this information, were unaware that Pink Floyd had any music before "Dark Side Of The Moon"! 🙀
You really struck a chord with Obscured by Clouds- absolutely #1 underrated album of all time.
King Crimson "Three of a Perfect Pair", stellar playing, particularly Buford.
Agreed. This used to my least favorite from KC, never owned this album but, kept listening ever so often. It has definitely grown on me. It is full of wonderful music. Has become one of my favorite listen of KC catalog. 😊❤
I like side 2 but do not like side 1 much at all
Same for me. Side 2 better.
Great discussion, I’ve never thought about the consistency issue between these 2 greats. DP have put out some rubbish between the highs whereas Zep just churned out a handful of albums which other than ITTOD were classics. As you say DP ‘s lack of management and particularly Richie’s ego led to a constant merry go round, so for me Zep the greater band but In Rock the better of the 1969 offerings - and I love the rawness of the production,
As a hardcore DOORS fan who enjoys all their albums- I love the SOFT PARADE ,,, and consider it-this band’s SERGEANT PEPPERS!!!!!!!!& KATE BUSH’S ‘THE DREAMING is my favorite by’ my sista Kate’!!!!!lol.
Come taste the band has Aged really well .Bolin is Very under rated in the Classic Rawk Crowd , miss his Playing at Your expense . the most Versitile Guitarist of His Era , and a Great song writer / Singer to Boot .
WOW! ObC??? I mean it's GREAT! I didn't realize it was underrated! Love with PF wins!!
I remember being castigated by my school friends for declaring CTTB as my favourite Deep Purple album (well until Purpendicular came along). However i was comforted when the legendary scribe in the shape of Geoff Barton gave it the full 10 stars when reviewing the 35th anniversary edition. Glad it made the list.
"Come Taste The Band" Tommy Bolin was incredible. (The only D.P. I own).
I agree with a lot of these choices. A couple from me:
Black Sabbath - Sabotage. For a prog-inclined person like me this is the most satisfying Sabbath album, with some interesting musical ideas together with the usual terrific riffing. Osbourne's vocals are much better than on some of the other Sabbath albums too, as is the production.
Genesis - And Then There Were Three. This album is too long but cut it down to eight tracks and it's a really good listen, better in my view than Duke (which suffers I think from the same excess of filler and is also far better shorn of a few tracks).
Deep Purple - Burn. This is generally viewed as a solid record but might actually be the best of the studio albums. Certainly I listen to it more than any of the others.
Jethro Tull -A Passion Play. This is a lot better than many people think. Anderson's compositional work on this is fantastic and the playing is outstanding with some nice additions such as the sac parts. I prefer it to Thick As a Brick.
And then there were three by Genesis is beautiful but is a very shrill sounding recording to my ears( US Atlantic ). I’ve never heard the UK vinyl.
It's not the best produced of their records
Very solid list here. I agree that Broken China, Nursery Cryme and Obscured by Clouds deserve more attention than they currently get.
With Supertramp, I say Crisis? What Crisis? is the true underrated album in their discography. While not as dark as it’s predecessor, the genius writing and catchy tunes remain. Sister Moonshine, Ain’t Nobody But Me, A Soapbox Opera, The Meaning, great great stuff.
Im sorry but "nursery cryme" is not underrated at all,sorry,but it isn't!!!