Established Artists: Hidden Gems/Classic Rock


Every major artist has an LP that for whatever reason didnt connect with their audience, had diminished sales, or was at the time a critical failure...however...over time this release has taken on a new light...here are 3:

Ac/dc-Flick of the Switch...largely ignored upon release, this Angus and Malcom production...especially on side 1..rivals any of their post BIB work...recorded at the same studio as BIB...it lacks the immediate clarity of that album...but still is a highly listenable experience.

REO Speedwagon-NINE lives...the last truly hard rock lp the band ever released before turning into an FM power ballad juggernaunt...9 boasts muscular riffs, Chuck Berry licks, and tough, yet clean production...it also reminds us of how criminally underrated Gary R. is as a lead guitarist...puzzling how this album is unknown to many...it is that good

VH:Fair Warning...side 2 is as dark and heavy as VH got...besides WACFirst...IS this love one of the best VH tracks ever committed to vinyl....side 1 has a fair amount of filler...but who cares...this rocks....
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I've been listening again to rock bands with brass and have really enjoyed re-discovering them. Chicago "3" for starters.

Blood Sweat and Tears "3" and "4" both underappreciated, I think.

Along those lines, Chase "Pure Music", Lighthouse "One Fine Morning" and Uriah Heep "Salisbury"
Phasecorrect-Adding to your hard rock/metal list...
Aerosmith-Night in the Ruts
Joe Perry Project-Let the Music do the Talking
Judas Priest-Ram it Down
Kingdom Come-In Your Face
Cinderella-Heartbreak Station
Black Sabbath-Dehumanizer
Tesla-Bust a Nut
Dio-Strange Highways
Dokken-Dysfunctional
Corrosion of Conformity-Wiseblood
Neil Young-On the Beach...everyone was expecting another Harvest. But what they got was a grungy, lo-fi, cynical album with songs inspired by Charles Manson and the evil oil industry. Nobody bought it and it actually went out of print for many years. Fast forward forty years later and many feel it's not only one of Neil's best, but one of the best albums to be released during the 1970s period. It's one of my personal favorites.
Interesting post "Phase"

I totally agree. I was never a Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, or Elton fan back in the day. Some of my favs now. There are just to many to list. I always play the obscure cuts at home, and when I'm out. Regardless of the performer. Fair warning is my all time favorite V.H album. I love every song on it. Every reply you rec'd is on my play list at home. Something else I really like, although it's not what I normally listen to anymore is Ugly Kid Joe, Americas least wanted. It may have been fairly popular at the time, but I never really liked it til years after. I dig Blue Oyster Cult, Cultosaurus Erectis too. (not sure if that's spelled right, im too lazy right now to go look)