Off Topic Music that almost no one has possibly heard of but is worth a listen.

Sometimes I come across music from all genres that surprises me. I often wonder has anyone else heard this or that song and what do they think of it. Maybe you too have found gems in the back catalogues somewhere that could enrich our listening pleasure. Just as an example to get the ball rolling I have chosen two 80s era electronic music pieces. Give me your critical thoughts....good, bad, scathing...always curious to know whether I am in a complete minority (aka oddball) or whether you think a piece is a pleasant surprise. First piece is French - very minimalist but very catchy. Second piece is Russian (OK not flavour of the day just now, and the audience seem to be in Soviet mode).

 

Flaco Jimenez isn't all that obscure, he's teamed up a lot with Ry Cooder as well as doing his own stuff. I wouldn't normally have picked out Tex-Mex as something I'd like but the Ry Cooder connection drew me to it.

 

Captain Lockheed and the Starfighters is a 1974 satirical concept album by Robert Calvert, the former frontman of British space-rock band Hawkwind. It consists of a mixture of songs and comic spoken interludes. The concept was based on the German Air Ministry's purchase of the Lockheed F-104G Starfighter, which was eventually nicknamed Widowmaker by Luftwaffe pilots due to its poor safety record. Musicians who appeared on the album include members of Hawkwind, The Pink Fairies, Brian Eno (although not credited as Eno), Arthur Brown and Adrian Wagner. The spoken sketches are primarily performed by Calvert, Viv Stanshall and Jim Capaldi.

 

Great lyrics

 

The Fall. Not too obscure but their back catalogue is full of hidden gems and lyrical genius from Mark E Smith. John Peel loved them. Prolific, caustic, weird & wonderful Northern English eccentricity. Start with Slates EP from 1981.

 

I’ve been listening to a lot of blues rock recently, a lot of it with a bit of a country/western twang.

Anybody who hasn’t listened to the back catalogue of Clutch is in for a treat, they’re absolutely timeless.

Dorothy are also very good if you’re sat drinking flavoured cider in a beer garden.

 

Love posts like these. Discovered this a few weeks ago. It’s faithless so not obscure but off the radar for a while. It’s just stunning.

 

Hull Fila Brazillia fans please help, heard them referenced loads, ambient house? I've tried but dont know where to start? Any favourite tracks?

 

Alone Again Or. By Love.

One of the all time classics that few have heard.

 

Covered by, of all people, UFO on Lights Out (1976), decent version

 

Half a job DB, half a job

 

plus The Damned, Calisco.

 

From Forever Changes, a real cult album - slow burner when first released in the 60s, was definitely a bigger hit in the UK than the US; twenty years after its release it really became raved about, I remember it getting into lots of lists of 'Albums you must hear blah blah' - my brother bought it in the 60s and first time I heard it i was hooked!

 

That really is very good, thanks for sharing that

 

one of the weirdest chart hits of the 1960s. one week on the charts: number 47 in december 1965. barry st john was a female backing singer who appeared on albums by john lennon, pink floyd, elton john, bryan ferry, and more.

 

I've got this single. Never come across anyone else who has.

 

I've never heard that before and listening to it, I think she should stick with being a backing vocal.

 

80s Japanese City Pop. I legitimately love it and I'm not sure why. But it's great imo.

Also, Weird Al Yankovic is an absolute treasure.

 

Agreed, I still listen to it.