Why didn't these bands "make it"? - 1965-1973 edition

[DancingBear]

Let's talk about the bands that should have, but for some reason, didn't make it big. No one shot wonders here - only bands that were promoted, toured, and released at least 2 albums, but for some reason just withered away.

Anyone remember "Osibisa" - African musicians that released (I think) 3 LP's in '71-'72. Fabulous. For a while, they were the "in" thing on underground FM- then nothing.

Your choices, please...

[Howardx]

1. captain beyond

they were great.

[last_texas_dem]

28. Good stuff

I just heard them for the first time last week; picked up the Sufficiently Breathless album at a flea market, having heard the group's name before and noticing that they had a couple of ex-members of Iron Butterfly, a band that I like quite a bit. Late-sixties/early-seventies tends to be my favorite era of music; I have the disadvantage of having not lived during the time to hear it new, but the advantage of getting to discover this good music "new", little by little. I like the album quite a bit, creative ideas, very interesting music... Somewhere between psychedlic-rock and progressive-rock with a little bit of a "Santana" sound thrown in, too (the Latin instrumentation). And I love the guitar intro on "Evil Men", but the title track is probably my overall favorite so far. I'm surprised this band didn't make it bigger than they did, too.

[flamingyouth]

2. The Mockingbirds

They had Graham Gouldman as their singer/guitarist right at the time he was writing hits for the Yardbirds and the Hollies, etc., yet they never really had a hit.

They're on the Nuggets II box set, though.

[DelawareValleyDem]

3. Moby Grape

Personal problems and overboard promotion did them in, but their records were good examples of late 60s psychedelia and remain listenable today.

[DancingBear]

5. Let's 'fess up here...

Can there be a better 2+ minutes of 60's psych than "Omaha"?

I might go play that right now...

[Doc_Technical]

4. I remember "Osibisa".

I have their album "Woyaya".
Art Garfunkle covered the title song on his Angle Clair album.

I was a fan of (Lesley)West,(Jack)Bruce,and (Corky)Laing, and
I thought they would be bigger than they were.
I could say the same for Wishbone Ash, Bloodrock and Spooky Tooth.

[DancingBear]

8. I was thinking of Wishbone Ash as well

"Time Was" got so much airplay that I thought sure that would do it for them.



p.s. "Woyaya" is the best of the three, I think. :)

[vogonity]

15. Wishbone Ash

Great band. For me one of the examples of P2P increasing album sales. I was bored one day trying to think of bands I knew of but couldn't name any songs from. Totally random typed Wishbone Ash and downloaded the track F.U.B.B. I tend to like long songs. Great early/mid '70s album rock. Went and bought "There's the Rub" and "Argus" the next day.

[treefrogjohn]

6. Love with Arthur Lee

Also The Beau Brummels from Triangle on.

[carpetbagger]

23. That answer is easy.

Arthur Lee thought he was going to die. With this knowledge, there was no reason to go out and tour.

They also did way too much drugs.

[jpgray]

7. The Zombies, and Spirit come immediately to mind

There are less eminently worthy bands like the Pretty Things, or garage bands like the Dovers or the Gentlemen that hardly released two albums but still had put out awe-inspiring tunes.

The above two, however, were professional, solid bands that toured and had at least two good records behind them.

[flamingyouth]

9. The Zombies were pretty popular, though

[Zomby Woof]

10. They have a new album coming out

Rod Argent and (I forget) another Zombie bandmate... heard about it on the radio.

I am wary of old bands doing reunions, but what the hell...

[flamingyouth]

12. I'm often wary too

But in the past year I've seen two great reunion shows. I have the Electric Prunes live in Europe on DVD and it's amazing; they sound just like they did on their first album. And for Christmas I got Arthur Lee performing Forever Changes in London, and that is fucking brilliant. So, you never know.

[Zomby Woof]

13. Too bad Jack Klugman's health is poor

Because a "Quincy" reunion movie would heal this sorry soul. :-)

[flamingyouth]

14. Yeah, I feel the same way about Darren McGavin

I'd love a Kolchak reunion movie as well. What a double feature that would be! :D

[Zomby Woof]

16. I used to watch the Night Stalker!

Late night CBS!

Of course, he is masterful in "The Christmas Story". :D

[flamingyouth]

18. Great show! Great movie too!

I assume you've seen The Night Strangler, the one where he works in Seattle and the killer lives in the Underground City! And, best of all, he actually rides the monorail to work! BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

A Christmas Story is also great - every time I think of that leg lamp, I just burst out laughing. :7

[Zomby Woof]

21. The old man was overcome by ART!

:D

I missed the Night Strangler! Dang it all.

[jpgray]

20. Rod and Colin--pretty crap

More adult contemporary than anything else. The production and arrangements really suck out what life the songs and melodies have--and they do have some.

[Bossy Monkey]

25. It's out. I saw it in the store a week ago

and did my Keanu impression ("Whoooooa").

[DancingBear]

11. So were Spirit

I'd probably have to consider them a band that did indeed make it - both times I saw them they were headliners, in fairly good sized venues (not arenas, but still good sized).

[jpgray]

17. I thought this was about bands that 'withered away'? (nt)

[DancingBear]

19. It's supposed to be!

damn thread hijackers.... :)

[vogonity]

22. Ok I'll give you two

Silver Apples

Big Star

[Lydia Leftcoast]

24. Joy of Cooking

was one of my favorites when I was in college.

[Dogmudgeon]

26. Pearls Before Swine and Tom Rapp

There just ain't no justice ... although Rapp became a public-interest lawyer. The last time I heard, he was a revered legal rock-n-roll graybeard in Philly.

--bkl

[JSJ]

27. richard hell's and dave hitler's bands

[Bluzmann57]

29. This doesn't fall strictly within the years specified

but Tommy Bolin comes to mind. Most people categorized him as a heavy metal artist but he wasn't even close to that. His work with bands was a bit lame, but his solo work was really very good. "Post Toastees" and "Teaser" are still played sometimes on "Classic Rock" stations. I believe Poison or somebody like that remade "Teaser". However, imo his best tune may be "Alexis", which he performed both solo and with The James Gang, after Joe Walsh.