quote:

Originally posted by philosopherEric:
Another power pop-py/Costello-esque early 80's band that it (I think) without CD release is The Jags. "Back of My Hand (I Got Your Number)" is a great tune that surfaced on Rhino's DIY comps in the early 90's...

I'm glad LT brought this thread back to life. I was thinking about it the other day.

I finally found a cheap used copy of the import best-of for The Jags which is, essentially, a two-fer of the 1980 and 1981 records Evening Standard and No Tie Like the Present. A whole lot of really good skinny-tie power pop, slightly dated but still good stuff. Singer Nick Watkins' vocal similarity to Elvis Costello can't be ignored, but the music is as heavily influenced by early Nick Lowe, Graham Parker, or Joe Jackson's Look Sharp! as it is by Costello. A great lost pair of new wave/power pop albums.

For mine the honours go to Miles Davis's "Big Fun"(1974). This was from the flurry of recording sessions between 1969 and1972. It seems to be widely disparaged by fans of electric Miles but it's the one I play most often. Neither as dark as "Bitches Brew" nor as accessible as "Jack Johnson", it contains some beautiful music and great John McLaughlin guitar work. Great album cover, too.

The other lost gem is "Chirpin'" by the a capella group The Persuasions. A wonderful celebration of the human voice. If the opener "Papa Oo Mow Mow" doesn't put a smile on your face, you're dead!

I've been listening to it a bunch lately, and since they were the subject of a nice feature in the current issue of Magnet, I'll make the bold statement that the Gin Blossoms' New Miserable Experience is a lost classic, and that it contains more worth hearing than just "Hey Jealousy." Top to bottom, it's a perfect blend of Southwestern twang, power pop, debauchery, and melancholy. It's the perfect blend of The Replacements, The Sidewinders, Big Star and Uncle Tupelo.

The bonus disc, added to the Deluxe edition of the album, is amazingly good. From tracks from the first indie record ("Slave Dealer's Daughter") to tracks from the first A&M ep ("Keli Richards", "Angels Tonight") to tracks from a later EP ("Christine Irene", "Heart Away"), there's an extra album's worth of great stuff.

Definately agree about the Gin Blossoms. I actually didn't like it at all at the time that it was popular, but in the years since it has stuck with me and become one of my favorite Arizona albums. The Refreshments, another popular Arizona band from the same period, are great too. In fact, I probably actually listen to the Refreshments more than the Gin Blossoms.

For reasons I've more fully set forth in other threads, I nominate Syreeta's album, "Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta." It's an amazing record.

I run a blog focusing on obscure and not so obscure 80's New wave bands and artists. If you like New Wave you should really check them.

I love New Wave, but I can't get onto yr weblog, which is a shame.
As for lost classics, try Skip Spence's 'Oar' for truly off kilter songwriting ala Syd Barrett. There is a deep melancholy running through his material that affects me deeply.

Equally, a great country inflected rock album that has gone the way of the dodo is the self titled debut by Will T. Massey. I got this back in 1991 and fully expected him to reach a John Mellencamp type fanbase, similiar sounding as he is, but he sank without a trace, and now plays obscure clubs.
I still love ya Will.

Love to hear some recommendations about old records that are available now in new release for a very special occasion.

It has to be good records with lot of guitar sound

http://www.myguitarbuddies.com/

Boo Radleys - Giant Steps (1993-creation records)

Au Pairs - Playing With a Different Sex (1981)

I was lucky enough to snag a copy of this on vinyl several years ago for a decent price when this was long out of print. If you like angular, danceable guitars (ala Gang of Four), then this is right up your alley. I recently found out that it was reissued in 2006 by Castle along with pretty much everything else they ever recorded (another full length album, their debut EP and various singles and Peel Sessions). I picked it up used for a very reasonable price over at Amazon. Not to be missed.

Searching For The Young Soul Rebels by Dexys Midnight Runners, is I believe the great lost British soul record of all time.

One listen to Seven Days Too Long or Keep It from this long player should I hope confirm this with most listeners.

Artful Dodger's 1976 Honor Among Thieves. Terrific, energetic power-pop from Cleveland. This is their second album, recently reissued on cd for the second time on the American Beat label. The music has been compared to a mix of Badfinger & Raspberries; perhaps more power-rock than pop. I probably like their s/t debut album best, but each of their four releases are very good and hopefully the remainder will be reissued soon (though I'm not holding my breath).

I'd like to mention Paula Kelley's The Trouble with Success or How You Fit into the World. It just came out in 2003, but as far as I can tell it was completely ignored by anything resembling national media. Kelley was in a few shoegaze bands in the early 90s - Drop Nineteens being probably the most prominent - but her own solo work is very lush, with a full orchestra. But rather than being indulgent the way a lot of orchestral pop is, this is filled with extremely catchy tunes that could easily exist outside of the arrangements. Combine that with the wry personal lyrics, and I sound like a door-to-door salesman. But seriously, this is one of my favorite albums of the 00s so far, and it deserved a wider audience. Highly recommended - a good reference point is Sarah Shannon's recent City Morning Song, but Paula's tunes are better IMO.

Peter Gabriel's Up. It's only about five years old, but it was shunned on its release by critics, and didn't sell very well. It's one of the few albums that truly fits the "bizarre, beautiful, breathtaking" mold.
Also, Shawn Phillips - don't know if he's been mentioned yet, but he was a singer songwriter from the '70's. Sounds similar to Van Morrison musically sometimes, but mostly he just has his own unique style. His whole catalog's out of print except for his best-of - shame.

quote:

Originally posted by crazed:
Artful Dodger's 1976 Honor Among Thieves. Terrific, energetic power-pop from Cleveland. This is their second album, recently reissued on cd for the second time on the American Beat label.

Got my copy in the mail today!

Nico's whole catalogue

"Six" by Mansun.
for the fans of radiohead & Muse.
in some parts Six is equal to OK Computer or even better!definitely a lost classic.
Try to find the excellent UK version.

quote:

Originally posted by Maximum Jack:
Au Pairs - Playing With a Different Sex (1981)

I was lucky enough to snag a copy of this on vinyl several years ago for a decent price when this was long out of print. If you like angular, danceable guitars (ala Gang of Four), then this is right up your alley. I recently found out that it was reissued in 2006 by Castle along with pretty much everything else they ever recorded (another full length album, their debut EP and various singles and Peel Sessions). I picked it up used for a very reasonable price over at Amazon. Not to be missed.

Excellent call, MJ. I loved that album, and also had it on vinyl, at the time of my great vinyl sell off. Who knows, maybe that's my old copy you're spinning now. I suspect that the album has aged well, at least thematically. "We don't torture," in particular, likely remains relevant, no?

When i think about lost classics, the first record that comes to mind is Whiskeytown - Stranger's Almanach. Thanks to the alt-country thread.

A lost classic among jangle pop/alternative singer-songwriter material is Marti Jones
1985 debut, Unsophisticated Time. Some great tracks that include Don Dixon's "(If I Could) Walk Away" & "Hiding the Boy" (Dixon also produced the album), "Element Within Her" and my favorite, "Follow You All over the World". The album is OOP, I'm not sure if it was ever released on cd. My favorite from Jones on cd is her Live at Spirit Square. I'm not a big fan of live cds but this is a great performance
and one of my most oft-heard discs.

Speaking of Don Dixon, who's married to Jones, he has a couple lost classics in his catalogue.
As with his wife, it's his 1985 debut, Most of the Girls Like to Dance but Only Some of the Boys Do and live album Chi-Town Budget Show I prefer the most. Great songwriting, great vocals, I really love this stuff! Dixon's debut is still available but the live disc is OOP (as is Romeo at Juilliard, another brilliant Dixon showcase).

From Marti & Don it's on to their pal Mitch Easter. Let's Active was fabulous alt/jangle pop, a band Easter shared with Faye Hunter and Sara Romweber. Their best effort was Cypress, a slow-grower for me at first but damn if it become a oft-played LP. Cypress is joined with their first release, the EP Afoot on a reissue a few years back and fortunately it's still in print.