Forgotten & Obscure Songs
Here is a small list of some pretty decent songs from before the year 2000 that have been forgotten or are still obscure, yet worth checking out. Some of these are definitely under appreciated for how good the songwriting is. A majority of these track lean towards indie, garage, and psychedelic rock, but there are some other genres mixed in there as well. This list includes songs that charted low, did not chart at all, or are from a one hit wonder group. The songs are in no particular order or genre, they are just ten songs that deserve some attention.
1) The Cleaners From Venus - The Jangling Man (1990)
“The Jangling Man” is a jangle pop song released in 1990 on The Cleaners From Venus album called Number Thirteen. I listened to this song an absolute shitload when a friend first recommended it to me. The song’s sound is so warm, jangly, and fuzzy with lyrics about a revolution and there’s something quintessentially 1980s England about it. Martin Newell, the mastermind behind The Cleaners From Venus, is a legend in the lofi indie scene, especially in England. This song is amazing and the songwriting and production sort of remind me of The Smiths. Even though he has never reached mainstream success, his music continues to influence every generation. In many ways a pioneer in self producing and distribution, Newell is a legendary figure to many bedroom and DIY artists in the contemporary indie scene. Newell is “your favorite musician’s favorite musician” type of artist and this song is 100% worth checking out.
2) The Tikis - Bye Bye Bye (1965)
The Tikis, also known as The Other Tikis, were a band from Santa Cruz, California that would later become Harpers Bizarre, a moderately successful band in the later parts of the 1960s. The band never released an album under the Tikis name, and only managed to release a handful of singles. The first time I heard this song playing was at the Amoeba in San Francisco, and it reminded me of the Rubber Soul and Revolver era demos from The Beatles. The melody throughout the verses is really good and I like it better than the chorus. All of their music under this band name was only really ever played locally and they definitely did not find any success until after they renamed. It’s a decent 60s psych pop song, but sounds more like a demo than anything.
3) The Status Quo - Technicolor Dreams (1968)
This is definitely a typical 1960s psychedelic pop song but it is interesting because it has a pretty big sound that makes it sound like The Flaming Lips or Tame Impala could have been influenced by it. The Status Quo are an English band that are pretty much the most successful group on this entire list. They have a decent history including a Live Aid performance and dozens of hit singles, however “Technicolor Dreams” from their debut album was going to be released as a single but was ultimately not chosen. I really like that this song pretty much encapsulates 1960s psych rock and pop. It reminds me of a fuzzier and more anthemic version of “See Emily Play” by Pink Floyd. This deep cut is pretty good and you’ll probably enjoy this if you’re into 60s psych pop or more modern neo-psychedelia.
4) Timex Social Club - Rumors (1986)
Timex Social Club was essentially a one hit wonder group from the Bay Area that split up not long after this single was released. The members of the group all went their own way and the producer seems to be the only member who had success after this, landing a number 1 hit with the group Club Nouveau. The group initially broke up in early 1987, however they got back together in 2011 with a slightly different lineup and are still active today. “Rumors” was undeniably a big hit and peaked at 8th on the Billboard top 100. I remember my mom playing this song while I was growing up since she was really into that 80s and 90s New Jack Swing. This song is great, I love the synths all over this track and their warm analog sound. This definitely sounds like a song produced in the 80s and if you like that sound this song is for you.
5) Karen Dalton - Something On Your Mind (1971)
Karen Dalton was a folk singer who lived a very tragic life, but amid all the pain and sorrow rose some really beautiful music. Something about Karen’s raspy and emotional voice is so nice and refreshing to listen to. I was obsessed with the album this song is on, In My Own Time, while in college usually playing it while walking my dog. I am surprised that Karen Dalton isn’t mentioned and brought up more often in music discussions, so she is definitely an under appreciated artist. The strings on this song are so good its worth listening for that alone. If you enjoy this song check out In My Own Time, and the documentary with the same name.
6) The Boston Tea Party - Straighten Up and Fly (1968)
The Boston Tea Party was a band from Burbank, California who formed in 1963 and released one album in 1968 that was received with mixed reviews. This is a pretty straightforward psychedelic pop song from the mid 1960s, and one of the only songs the band ever released on their one and only album. The production is almost garagey at points, maybe because they just didn’t have the means to get a big named producer. The melody of the song during the part where he sings “falling falling falling down” is insanely catch and psychedelic to me, so much that it gets stuck in my head randomly.
7) Mulatu Astake - Yegelle Tezeta (My Own Memory) (1969)
I found out about this song, and artist, after listening to King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard and Mild High Club’s Sketches of Brunswick East. I wanted to learn more about their influences while writing that album and started to research some of the songs, albums, and artists they mentioned. I’d never listened to Ethiopian Jazz before this but Mulatu Astake is great. There’s definitely a dreamy quality to these songs which is probably why KGLW and Mild High Club were influenced by this while making their jazz leaning collaborative album. All of Ethiopiques Vol. 4 is amazing and I usually listen to the whole album instead of just this song. Definitely worth checking this one out.
8) Blue Orchids - The Flood (1980)
Blue Orchids are a band from Manchester, England who were formed in 1979 by ex member of The Fall, Martin Bramah. The band has gone through a numerous amount of lineup changes but are still active to this day. Early on after forming, they became a backing band for Nico of The Velvet Underground and even toured with Echo & the Bunnymen. I love post punk bands from the 70s and early 80s and really enjoyed this song the first time I heard it. This track sort of reminds me of Television if they were a bit more influenced by LSD and less by heroin. Both the vocals and backing vocals stand out for me in this one.
9) Kano - I’m Ready (1980)
Kano was an Italian disco group from the early 80s that was more successful in Italy than the US. I’m Ready was sampled on “Whoomp! There It Is” by Tag Team in the 90s, which may be the largest exposure the group ever got outside of Italy. The first time I heard this song I was browsing through records at Western Relics, a now closed record shop in San Francisco, with my roommate in college. We liked it so much that my roommate went back the next day to ask what song was playing since we couldn’t figure it out at home. This track is great, it’s super groovy and sounds like what Daft Punk could have been influenced by fifteen years later.
10) Margo Guryan - California Shake (1968)
The final song on this list is certainly one of my newest favorites. Margo Guryan is the artist I have discovered most recently on this list and her 27 Demos compilation is fantastic. There are so many moments that remind me of Paul McCartney, especially Ram. Realizing that these songs are only demos is surprising to me because many of the tracks are outstanding. I specifically chose “California Shake” for this list because it sounds the most like The Beatles but the whole compilation is worth listening to.