Here is the third part of a three-part series.
This one is ‘7 underrated songs.” Already published on MyVinylCountdown.com are 7 underrated artists and 7 underrated albums.
Full story with all the lists plus more will appear on AL.com over the weekend.
Smithereens ‘Behind the Wall of Sleep’ This is just straight head rock and roll from a great band. But while the song was played in its day (late 1980s), you don’t hear it much anymore. It’s as good as rock and roll gets people.
UFO ‘Can you Roll Her’ UFO was called a heavy metal band because of the instant shredding guitarist Michael Schenker could put forth at any given time. However songs off this album such as Belladonna and Martian Landscape showed softer, tuneful, side. This song ‘Can you roll her’ showed both a tuneful touch with the guitar power rock that was the band’s staple.
Squeeze ‘Pulling Mussels from a Shell’ This conjures up a summer beach setting, but there’s something going on behind the chalet? I’m not 100 percent sure what it is or what it has to do with mussels, but I have long liked the song. (And I love mussels from a shell).
Tina Turner Better Be Good to Me Tina Turner was a longtime R&B singer with her husband Ike whom she said beat her and abused her. When she broke out in the 1980s with a solo album and the worldwide hit ‘What’s Love Got to Do with It,’ she was a superstar. But while Better be Good to Me was a hit, it seemed overshadowed by others including What’s Love Got to Do with It. ‘Better be Good to Me’ was the stronger song, powerful rock and roll sung by one of the best entertainers ever, who sang from real life pain and passion. Underrated? Many would say no. I say yes it is so.
Steve Harley’s ‘Make me Smile (Come Up and See Me)’ I discovered this on a British Rock compilation and then realized I had a live Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel double album obtained at a flea market that had a live version of the song. What a great catchy song. The pause for effect part is genius. The acoustic guitar solo is cool. The over-the-top Dylan imitation is also groovy.
Waterboys ‘Whole of the Moon” The Waterboys could have been on Underrated Artists list. They put out a really nice body of water, er, work. Mike Scott was the driver of this band, which did nice work with a core band that used a lot of violin, saxophones, trumpets and piano in addition to guitar. Best album is probably ‘This is the Sea’ although I really like ‘A Pagan’s Place’ as well, which really introduced the band as one that plays ‘Big Music.’ “Whole of the Moon,’ with its upfront piano, sounds like a timeless classic. Maybe it already is.
Lou Reed ‘Strawman’ An angry sing-along about corruption in the world. Lou Reed is not underrated I’d say, but given his long career, he had few radio hits. Radio stations must be afraid of him. Of course there was the anomaly ‘Walk on the Wild Side’ which falls in the ‘Lola’ basket – it may be controversial but it has a tune that just won’t be denied.