I start this list with an apology. I am old. I’m not one of those bitter “everything sucks today” types but everything I listed is older than most folks who’ll be reading this. My justification for thinking that this music is still relevant is that, for a collector, there is an undeniable part of the fetish that still requires one to spend hours dig through stacks of vinyl in obscure junk stores and estate sales for that one perfect piece of imperfection. The internet can’t sate that, too many rabbit holes. Or maybe the truth is as we get older we find in order to correct what we think is wrong in our lives, our nostalgia most be tied to what we missed when we were young.
To Find Out/Girl by The Keggs
Totally obscure stuff from the 1960’s… Thanks to the seminal garage punk complication series “Back From the Grave” on Crypt Records, this Detroit Band is steeped in legend with very little real information about them. This
is a big part of their appeal, the out of tune guitars, snotty singing and pounding “jungle” drums creates an image of teen angst that hasn’t been presented in all its ugly rawness since.
Where to Now St. Peter by Elton John
Before the big glasses and outlandish costumes and long before he was Sir Elton, this 1970 song from the Tumbleweed Connection album finds Elton at his most vulnerable.
Kissing My Love by Cold Blood
Funky stuff from the early 70’s. More than the horns or the sassy vocals or the chicken scratch guitars, the sound I listen to on a funk records is the in your face snap of that snare drum. I am certain that there is a whole group of collectors out there digging through stacks of old 45’s
in an obscure junk shop, in a part of town know one knows looking for there next holy grail of dirty funk. I image that at least one of the Beastie Boys is among those ranks.
Supper’s Ready – Genesis
Phil Collins, bless his “Against all Odds” heart, was at one time just the drummer and backing vocalist in Genesis. Do you have 20 minutes to kill? Well, break out your headphones and follow Peter Gabriel and company through an apocalyptic journey 9/8 time.
Ram On by Paul & Linda McCartney
Hipster ukulele playing before any of the hipsters were born. When Ram credited to Paul & Linda McCartney came out the critics (and former band mate, John) were less than receptive. This song is everything the big hit Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey isn’t short, sweet like a nice cup of
coffee.
