I have several favourite songs by well-known artists that are definitely not their most well known songs. I also like their more widely known songs, but these are some of my absolute favourites:
Ophelia by the Band - killer arrangement, Levon's vocals just crushing it, and a fantastic horn section!
Got any favourite songs by well-known artists that are not widely known?
Re: Favourite Lesser Known Songs
Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2022 1:21 pm
by mickey
This is one from the "folk boom" of the 1960's that I thought never got justice. When I was a teen I had the 45 of it.
Re: Favourite Lesser Known Songs
Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2022 1:38 pm
by toomanycats
Journey's song "Natural Thing" has long been a favorite of mine. It was an unreleased song from the recording of the Departure album. I never heard the song until around 1992 when I bought the boxed cassette compilation Journey Time3, on which it was included. It's that classic Journey sound, still clearly rooted in blues rock with Greg Rolie in the band, stellar production, and an amazing guitar solo by Neal Schon.
Prince's "Alexa De Paris" was the B side to the single "Mountains" From the album Parade. It is an instrumental piece that showcases Prince on lead guitar. Honestly, it's one of my favorite guitar pieces ever.
Re: Favourite Lesser Known Songs
Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2022 5:41 pm
by glasshand
Cool idea! I'm fond of:
"We Want the Airwaves" by the Ramones - the one everybody knows off this album is "The KKK Took My Baby Away", but I always loved this one for the ominous, spacy tone of its demand.
"To the Moon" by Leslie West - Everybody knows Leslie West for his work with Mountain, but "To the Moon" is a beautiful, melancholy song about wasted time and opportunities - and of course it still has a rocking bridge.
"I Walk on Guilded Splinters" by Sonny & Cher - I never thought I'd have a Sonny & Cher piece on heavy rotation, but damned if they don't do a really good job on some hard funk rock.
Re: Favourite Lesser Known Songs
Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2022 11:52 pm
by sabasgr68
Bad English "Pray for rain"
Bad English "Forget me not"
Foreigner "Two different worlds"
Foreigner "A love in vain"
Van Halen "Girl gone bad"
Stryper "Surrender"
Bon Jovi "River runs dry"
Bryan Adams "Native son"
Quiet Riot "Slick black Cadillac"
Air Supply "Sweet dreams"
Journey "Colors of the spirit"
Journey "One more"
Journey "Message of love"
Journey "Still she cries"
Re: Favourite Lesser Known Songs
Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2022 4:20 am
by toomanycats
sabasgr68 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 17, 2022 11:52 pm
Bad English "Pray for rain"
Bad English "Forget me not"
Foreigner "Two different worlds"
Foreigner "A love in vain"
Van Halen "Girl gone bad"
Stryper "Surrender"
Bon Jovi "River runs dry"
Bryan Adams "Native son"
Quiet Riot "Slick black Cadillac"
Air Supply "Sweet dreams"
Journey "Colors of the spirit"
Journey "One more"
Journey "Message of love"
Journey "Still she cries"
There are so many great tunes on Journey’s Trial By Fire. For me that entire album is in the “lesser known favorites” category. What with Steve Perry’s health issues squashing what could have been a major comeback of the ESC4P3 era line-up, a lot of people don’t even know that record exists.
Re: Favourite Lesser Known Songs
Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2022 1:19 pm
by Rollin Hand
They re-recorded this (almost note for note) as "Big River" on their last studio album.
This one NEVER gets enough credit:
And I will fly the flag for this album to the end:
sabasgr68 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 17, 2022 11:52 pm
Journey "Colors of the spirit"
Journey "One more"
Journey "Message of love"
Journey "Still she cries"
There are so many great tunes on Journey’s Trial By Fire. For me that entire album is in the “lesser known favorites” category. What with Steve Perry’s health issues squashing what could have been a major comeback of the ESC4P3 era line-up, a lot of people don’t even know that record exists.
Yes, that entire album is great, except maybe for a couple of songs. And also yes, not many people know about it; most people only know the song "When you love a woman". And another yes; that question will remain unanswered: what would have been Journey´s path if SP didn´t have any problem back then? The only answer is it went the way it went, and that´s about it. I enjoy many of the tracks of the Augeri era, as well as the Arnel era, although I must admit that I like older Journey music better, even before SP stepped in.
Re: Favourite Lesser Known Songs
Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2022 6:55 pm
by honyock
Re: Favourite Lesser Known Songs
Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2022 5:09 pm
by tobijohn
I'd have to think about it but one that immediately comes to mind is this one. You might recognize it if you were a Sopranos fan and if I had a cover band, it would be on the set list. Dave Davies had to be one of the most underrated guitarists out there:
Re: Favourite Lesser Known Songs
Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2022 7:55 pm
by Raindog
Re: Favourite Lesser Known Songs
Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2022 8:20 pm
by Partscaster
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Re: Favourite Lesser Known Songs
Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2022 2:55 pm
by nomadh
A couple ufo I think most don't know
Re: Favourite Lesser Known Songs
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2022 9:04 am
by tonebender
Re: Favourite Lesser Known Songs
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2022 8:44 pm
by Lamf77
From this month's gym "playlist".
Re: Favourite Lesser Known Songs
Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2022 11:36 pm
by uwmcscott
If we are sticking with lesser known songs by largely known artists, a few from my vault
OK, this one's a Cover but still a killer version
Re: Favourite Lesser Known Songs
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2022 12:25 pm
by jhull54
Here's one from Eric Carmen's old band, Raspberries. Huge Who influence. Carmen actually described it as "my love letter to the Who".
Probably in my top 5 Kinks songs. Listen closely as the song winds up and you can hear Dave (or somebody) whooping and hollering in the background.
I think this was a single, but the interesting thing about it is that it's essentially a rewrite of "Roadrunner" by the Modern Lovers (IMO)--a song that the Pistols also covered, and were enamored with. Love the aggression of this track and what I believe was a multitracked, overdriven Fender Twin.
Re: Favourite Lesser Known Songs
Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2022 2:19 pm
by Rollin Hand
Thought of another one. Not a rocker, but I am a sucker for a good slow number.
Nuno did this with Dramagods, but Gary sings it better.