NFT: Underrated songs by your favorite bands/artists

as I grew up in the 1970s. Springsteen and Billy Joel are my two favorites among many others.

For Bruce, I hate the commercial songs like Glory Days and Dancing in the Dark, and everyone loves the classics like Born to Run and Thunder Road. But a more obscure gem, one an average fan would not really be aware of, is Brilliant Disguise or Human Touch, two songs that have fantastic lyrics.

As for Billy Joes, a more off-the-beaten path song, underrated or not even known by casual fans, is Vienna.

Hurricane.

And to tweak the thread slightly, anything by the band Marillion. Beloved in the UK but not known well here. All of their songs put me back in high school.

The Killers - On Top

Tool - Pushit
Modest Mouse - Life like Weeds
Modest Mouse - Black Cadillacs
Arcade Fire - Black Wave

Elton John's Burning Buildings off his 1984 Breaking Hearts album is not just a very overlooked song in his vast catalog (was never a hit or got radio play or played live) but one of my favorite songs by anyone ever

Billy Joel's You Can Make Me Free from his debut album is my choice of a good deep cut gem from him. Also if you want to amaze someone who never heard it, play them Root Beer Rag

Jet has a song Times Like This that deserved at least some FM play

In comment 15119185 dlauster said:

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Hurricane. And to tweak the thread slightly, anything by the band Marillion. Beloved in the UK but not known well here. All of their songs put me back in high school.

A good friend of mine practically worships Marillion

"Spaceman Came Traveling". Check-out his live Christmas Eve performances on You Tube. Gives me chills to hear his voice... classic song.

I'm also a big fan of "The English Beat"... they were never a big hit in the US, but their album, "Special Beat Service" is a beautiful blend of rock, jazz and reggae.

Into the Mystic - Van Morrison
Down Easter Alexa - Billy Joel
Still the Same - Bob Seger

and to the original poster- Drug Ballad by Eminem is one of my favorites

underrated since the album was critically acclaimed and they're not my favorite band, but...

Arcade Fire: Rebellion (Lies) is the epitome of life imitating art with what we're seeing now in America and I just don't think that song gets the proper recognition it deserves.


link - ( New Window )

Alice In Chains - no excuses (live)
Led Zeppelin - when the levee breaks
The roots - water
CCR - born on bayou
Al green - take me to the river

And since the topics already been started:
Billy Joel - Allentown
Elton John - goodbye yellow rock road

The Byrds - Set You Free This Time. Gene Clark has a great voice and is an excellent vocalist (2 different qualities a singer should have).

The Beatles - Doctor Robert

Elton John - Where To Now St. Peter

Lyle Lovett - Her First Mistake

NRBQ - Magnet

Paul Thorn - I Bet He Knows

.

How about some early Gordon Lightfoot - Canadian Railroad Trilogy, On This Winter Night With You, and Ribbon of Darkness.

Or how about the Beach Boys - Lookin' At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song) and Surf's Up (Child Is Father To The Man).

Takin' it country, how about George Strait - The Cowboy Rides Away, and Marty Robbins - Twentieth Century Drifter.

In comment 15119206 pjcas18 said:

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underrated since the album was critically acclaimed and they're not my favorite band, but... Arcade Fire: Rebellion (Lies) is the epitome of life imitating art with what we're seeing now in America and I just don't think that song gets the proper recognition it deserves. link - ( New Window )

One of my favorite songs. That whole album is a masterpiece.

Blue, Red and Gray - The Who
Talking Out of Turn - Moody Blues
Shadow of a Lonely Man - Alan Parsons Project
Picture Book - Kinks
Great Sun Jester - Blue Oyster Cult
Star Rider - Foreigner
Freewill - Rush
I've got a Feeling - Beatles
Driving Wheel - Foghat

"Can't You Hear Me Knocking" / "Stray Cat Blues" / "Loving Cup"

Cody Jinks version of Poncho and Lefty
SteelDrivers fea. Chris Stapleton Good Corn Liquor
Robert Palmer Hey Julia/Sneakin Sally Through the Alley
Gil Scott Heron The Bottle
Arctic Monkeys Cornerstone
Crash Test Dummies Swimming In Your Ocean

.

...but probably Gallows Pole. Or Tangerine.

In comment 15119187 Route 9 said:

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The Killers - On Top

Seconded. One of my faves. That album is a gem.

Pink Floyd

A highly misunderstood masterpiece by one of the greatest bands.

'I'm on Fire' by Bruce. 'I Want You' by Dylan. 'All I Want is You' by U2.

... in which Keith Richards takes lead vocals.

And the entire “Some Girls” album — listened to that end to end on a long drive the other night. Was in the car by myself screaming the words to “Shattered” lol.

song that I consider underrated is Trapped and it's a cover of a Jimmy Cliff song.

The Bruce version is so different and IMO much better. linked below live.
link - ( New Window )

The loudest band around does a quiet, somber song. Others....

Morphine, The Night
Danzig, Soul On Fire
Nirvana, Oh The Guilt
ZZ Top, Just Got Paid
Talking Heads, This Must Be the Place - not obscure or anything but definitely underrated
Toadies, Dollskin
Alice in Chains, Dirt
Melvins, Lizzy
X, Motel Room In My Bed
Megadeth, Dread and the Fugitive Mind

Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner
Excitable Boy

Nick Lowe

Mary Provost
So it goes

In comment 15119294 pjcas18 said:

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song that I consider underrated is Trapped and it's a cover of a Jimmy Cliff song. The Bruce version is so different and IMO much better. linked below live. link - ( New Window )

That is a great live tune.

Springsteen's greatest work is "New York Serenade". And I think one of the most underrated songs ever made...just an absolute gem.

Soul Coughing, Soft Serve

Here are some others:
Richard Thompson - Gethesemene; I Misunderstood
Rockpile - Teacher Teacher
Rosanne Cash - A Feather’s Not a Bird
Disturbed - Sounds of Silence (technically not a favorite band of mine but a beautiful version of this song)
Squeeze - Take Me I’m Yours
Steely Dan - Brooklyn Knows the Charmer
UB40 w/Christie Hyde - I Got You Babe
Warren Zevon - Accidently Like a Martyr
The Beatles - Drive My Car

By Aerosmith
Black Crowes - Good Friday
Stone Temple Pilots - Army Ants
Stones - Dead Flowers
Marilyn Manson - Doll Dagga Buzz Buzz Ziggity Zag

underrated song, Drain You

linked live - ( New Window )

pressure drop

Oasis - She’s Electric

Both are fun, fluffy earworms.

Try and Love Again - The Eagles (Randy Meissner, really)
My Wife - The Who
Say Goodbye to Hollywood - Billy Joel
For a Dancer - Jackson Browne
The Wild One, Forever - Tom Petty

Hate to be 'That guy', but I was never a Nirvana fan.

In comment 15119312 tony stg said:

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Try and Love Again - The Eagles (Randy Meissner, really) My Wife - The Who Say Goodbye to Hollywood - Billy Joel For a Dancer - Jackson Browne The Wild One, Forever - Tom Petty

I love My Wife!

In comment 15119310 DonQuixote said:

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pressure drop

Izzy Stradlin and the Ju Ju Hounds do a great version too

In comment 15119301 Greg from LI said:

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Soul Coughing, Soft Serve

very cool 90's band, and my vote for underrated from them is Sugar Free Jazz. If you have a good sound system this song has awesome bass.

and my guess is it may be the only song in history to use the word "paleolithic" in the lyrics.

Along the underrated Soul Coughing stuff, Mike Doughty did an acoustic cover of Mary J Blige's Real Love that is also really good - linked below
Soul Coughing Mike Doughty covering Mary J Blige - ( New Window )

In comment 15119325 Steve L said:

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In comment 15119310 DonQuixote said: Quote: pressure drop Izzy Stradlin and the Ju Ju Hounds do a great version too

As does the Clash, not the best but kind of cool. I'll give those a listen.

In comment 15119325 Steve L said:

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In comment 15119310 DonQuixote said: Quote: pressure drop Izzy Stradlin and the Ju Ju Hounds do a great version too

Yeah, great cover

version of Pressure Drop is also good. Love the organs or keyboards in the beginning.

Just a good song with a great message, that's been covered a ton, but I like most versions of it.

And the original by Toots and the Maytals is really good too.

In comment 15119339 pjcas18 said:

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version of Pressure Drop is also good. Love the organs or keyboards in the beginning. Just a good song with a great message, that's been covered a ton, but I like most versions of it. And the original by Toots and the Maytals is really good too.

I'll check that out!

The song is kind of like a "standard" if that term exists outside of jazz. The toots and the maytals original in my favorite.

You and Me - REM
Tues Love Will Find You - Wilco
Sway - Rolling Stones
Give Up the Ghost - Radiohead

Led Zeppelin - Ten Years Gone
Rolling Stones - Memory Motel
Rolling Stones - Stray Cat Blues
Nirvana - Love Buzz
The Clash - Police on My Back
Aerosmith - Back in the Saddle
Sonic Youth - Kool Thang
The Police - Walking on the Moon
The Talking Heads - I Zimbra
Pink Floyd - Run Like Hell
Bob Dylan - Visions of Johanna
The Who - A Quick One medley
The Velvet Underground - Venus in Furs
Led Zeppelin - The Battle of Evermore

In comment 15119308 Steve L said:

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By Aerosmith Black Crowes - Good Friday Stone Temple Pilots - Army Ants Stones - Dead Flowers Marilyn Manson - Doll Dagga Buzz Buzz Ziggity Zag

I enjoy Night In The Ruts too, it's one of my fav Aero albums but boy oh boy does Tyler sound completely wasted on every song

lesser known Steely Dan - 'Jack of Speed'

In comment 15119382 Del Shofner said:

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lesser known Steely Dan - 'Jack of Speed'

Love Steely Dan..

for lesser known I would choose Show Biz Kids, Any Major Dude

There are other good versions of Pressure Drop, but theirs was the best.

They also did a really good cover of Country Road, Take Me Home if you can believe that.

Elton John - Hercules
Elton John - Amy
Fleetwood Mac - Hypnotized
Tom Petty - Spike
Elvis Costello - The Only Flame in Town
The Cars - Moving In Stereo
The Police - On Any Other Day
Can a Beatles Song be underrated?
The Beatles - Everybody's got something to hide except for me and my monkey
The Beatles - For No One
Billy Joel - Summer, Highland Falls
The Monkees - Your Auntie Grizelda
The Monkees - She

et al