The Best Music Never Heard

Subject: RE: The Best Music Never Heard
From: Bert
Date: 28 Mar 02 - 11:11 PM

I had this friend in England named John Peerless. A major record company signed up his rock band and they were delighted that they had made it at last. The Big guys wanted them.
It turned out that they were signed up solely to keep them off the market so that they wouldn't compete with the Big Guys' leading bands. Their contract was sewed up tight and they couldn't go with anyone else.

Subject: RE: The Best Music Never Heard
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 28 Mar 02 - 11:03 PM

Freddie Vine in Rochester

Eric Royer in New England

Geoff Bartley in New England

Norm Hacking in Toronto

Lazarus

and so many more I've seen on my travels.

Rick

Subject: RE: The Best Music Never Heard
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 28 Mar 02 - 03:35 PM

My brother has said for years, the best musicians in the world are playing in somebody's kitchen. It's one thing to have musical talent, but the nerve to play to the public is another matter altogether.

Subject: RE: The Best Music Never Heard
From: alanabit
Date: 28 Mar 02 - 03:00 PM

Sure. The brilliant Bill Boazman, whom I saw in Reading a few times in the mid seventies. Wizz Jones recorded his "Roll on River" and Johhny Coppin and Paul Downes did lovely versions of "The Worm Forgives the Plough". Bill himself had a warm bluesy, voice and played excellent blues guitar. I have only ever heard him sing "Bless These Children" live four or five times - and at that some twenty-five years ago, yet I can still quote lines like: Bless this artist whose lines are so fine/Whose delicate touch can open our eyes/To a moment that might have been lost for all time/Bless these children. I have never come across an album of his or heard his name mentioned anywhere. What wouldn't I give to be in a small club listening to him again...

Subject: The Best Music Never Heard
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 28 Mar 02 - 02:23 PM

Maybe a friend told you about them, or maybe you heard a piece of their music on the radio. Somehow, you stumble on this band (or this artist), and after listening to the tune that attracted you, you listen to the rest and the realization hits you : THis is Great Music! You tell others about it, and NO ONE has heard of it. The band gets no recognition, no airplay. While the mediocrities of the world garner wealth and accolades, these people just go on struggling in annonymity. Whether the record label doesn't promote them, or their demographic is too small, they eventually drop out of sight, leaving behind a few hidden diamonds.

My best example of this is the group October Project. Their first album was an incredible collection of beautiful melodies, transcendent lyrics, soaring harmonies, and the breathtaking vocals of Mary Fahl, who has, in my belief, the most evocative female voice I've ever heard. Recorded on Epic, the band received little label support, and the second album Falling Further In was completely ignored. Both are still among my favorite albums of all time.

Any others?