by David Schultz
In sitting down to compile this list, I had to first figure out what exactly constitutes an underrated album. It doesn't seem like it would simply be a great record that didn't sell well. In that case, the Velvet Underground's entire catalogue would be considered underrated but given the near unanimous critical approval those albums receive, they can't truly be considered underrated. Conversely, it also doesn't seem that it would be a poorly reviewed record that sold millions. I don't think under any set of criteria the Titanic soundtrack or any Spice Girls album could or should be called underrated. After much thought, the definition became simple: an underrated album is a record that discerning musical fans should have in their collection but for some reason the majority of them don’t.
So, in no particular order, here are the 20 most underrated albums:
George Harrison: All Things Must Pass (1970)
In the aftermath of the Beatles, John Lennon had classic albums like Imagine and Plastic Ono Band, Paul McCartney had Wings and Band On The Run and Ringo had . . . well, Ringo had Barbara Bach. The silent Beatle's solo career, like his stint in the most famously analyzed and studied of bands, was dwarfed by the attention paid to Lennon & McCartney. However, that is not to say that George does not deserve mention with his more acclaimed band mates. Harrison's first true solo effort is unquestionably his most triumphant. The three album set showcases the musical chops that weren't able to fully flourish with the Beatles. The record's success comes from its combination of White Album era songs like All Things Must Pass, fresher material like What Is Life and Wah Wah, Dylan covers and collaborations like I'd Have You Anytime and If Not For You and My Sweet Lord's inadvertently borrowed melody. It is the third album of the set though that is the icing on this cake. Foreshadowing the jamband scene by a good decade or two, the album's finale consists of George and the band, which consisted of Eric Clapton and Dave Mason on guitar, Billy Preston and Bobby Whitlock on keyboards and Ringo on drums, working out puzzlingly named extended grooves like I Remember Jeep and Thanks For The Pepperoni. An underrated album by the most underrated Beatle.
Pete Townshend: White City – A Novel (1985)
If this was a Who album instead of a Townshend solo album, it would rest comfortably with the classic rock mainstays of anyone's collection. Like most conscientious rockers in the late eighties, Townshend was against Apartheid and chose to combat it as only he could—with his sarcastic wit and killer guitar licks. Using the structure that worked so brilliantly on Quadrophenia and Tommy, Townshend tells yet another story of alienation and oppression, this time set in a segregated county that is a thinly veiled South Africa. Townshend's voice is a perfect fit for the restrained fury of White City Fighting and Brilliant Blues. However, it lacks the power necessary to push other tracks like Give Blood and Secondhand Love into the pantheon of true arena rockers. Fortunately, Townshend knows that people aren't buying his albums to hear him sing and the album is peppered with his signature guitar. True Townshend junkies will not be disappointed with the album's last track Come To Mama. An added bonus: since the mid-eighties was a fertile period for rap, Pete unabashedly gives it a shot on Face The Face. White City pulls of the difficult task of possessing a sense of importance without becoming pretentious and it is without doubt, the most complete album of Townshend's solo career.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Randy P
U got me hooked mentioning Hold Me Up by the Goo Goo Dolls. Lots of catchy pop tunes. A lost gem. Also agree with R.Thompson, Wilburys, Body Count, Jake and Ellwood, Van, Sting, Tin, Jimmy,Stone Roses, Big Head, George. The others I have not heard yet
2 - Randy P
I meant lots of catchy pop punk tunes. It was a harder album than their recent yawn fests.
3 - Barry Stoller
All Things Must Pass "underrated"? Jeez, it was nominated for a frickin' Grammy and sold a kazillion copies; My Sweet Lord played 24-7 for years. Pink Floyd, Elton John, Traveling Wilburys, Pete Townshend - "underrated"? How 'bout Terry Knight & The Pack, Klaatu or The Cramps for underrated? The "underrated" music you listen to, mac, is as common and corporate as Coca Cola.
4 - JR
Hey, great list!
Thanks especially for having the 'nads to list the Elton John album. That album is amazing - the ensemble musicianship reminds me of small combo jazz and it rocks like nobody's business. Ben Folds built a career off of that album.
5 - Nick S.
Hold Me Up is a great album. I remember picking it up simply cos it had the Prince cover on it. I instantly got hooked on this group and picked up Jed a few days later.
What a shame they're such a crap group now.
6 - Douglas Mays
Oh goodie, I like this sort of list. Great list. One I would add to the list is a Townsend creation also. Townsend/Lane "Rough Mix". Pete and Ronnie came up with this outstanding piece of personal statements from the heart and soul in a rock/folk music type way.
Good pick on White City also. "Judge the Judge"...lyrics I like from that album.
peaceloveguidance
7 - Douglas Mays
Let me add Joy Division "Closer" to that list.
Oh gosh, here comes the long thread...I'll think of more as the coffee kicks in.
PLG
8 - Tan The Man
I second the Stone Roses.
9 - Eric Berlin
Interesting list -- lots of stuff here that I've never checked out (or given more than a passing glance).
I love the Wilburys -- and have heard them on the radio a fair amount (on classic rock revering Long Island), particularly "End of the Line." It's been a while since I've been a radio hound, so perhaps they've slipped.
Anything Jimmy Cliff-related is brilliant.
10 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
great stuff, Ear, but i simply cannot watch as The Stone Roses is declared "underrated". Wonderful as that record is, it most certainly ain't underrated. Sweet lord in heaven, a fella can hardly open a music magazine without finding some corner of some article or other reeling on about how transcendental the whole affair is. Every student bar in the country is STILL throbbing along to Fools Gold. in no way or no how is The Stone Roses underrated. The Second Coming, however, may well justifiably be included in such a list, but the ammount of critical jissom flung in the direction of that debut in the past decade could fill the marianas trench. but fine reading here, thats for sure.
11 - Eric Olsen
what an interesting and varied list, David, thanks. I especially like All Things (not sure how underrated it is, though), Stone Roses (certainly not underrated in the UK, but is here), Wilburys, Dread ZEp (!), They Harder They Come (one of the great albums of all time), Sting, and Blues Brothers
12 - Eric Olsen
oh, and Meddle
13 - Russ
Huzzah for your choice of Richard Thompson's 'Rumour and Sigh'. And I do love 'Meddle' by Floyd . The other choices ...may be underated for a reason...? But , just because they are not in my CD library doesn't mean they're not great...but then again... But you can never say enough good about RT !
14 - Rob
Couldn't agree more with the Alman Brothers Band, Blues Brothers, Kinks, Pink Floyd and Pete Townsend albums. Actually, the entire list is great. Some of the albums I don't own, but I always enjoyed. Fits right in there with your criteria.
15 - BRICKLAYER
You are so right about the Goo Goo Dolls. They totally stink now, but their first two records were golden. And this album was on Metal Blade! Also, live, they were fantastic in their club days. Sadly, I don't believe they ever toured with Cannibal Corpse.
16 - SFC Ski
Not much to argue with above. Overall, a great underrated album is one which has stood the test of time and you seem to be the only one who owns it, or has ever heard of it.
I'd add the entire Smithereens collection to this list, but choose "Green Thoughts" if I had to pick one album.
17 - Andrew Ian Dodge
Two most under-rated albums I can think of are:
Riverdogs: s/t
Thunder: Backstreet Symphony
18 - Al Barger
Rumor and Sigh!
Rumor and Sigh!
Rumor and Sigh!
I could come up with a BUNCH of underrated albums, but just for starters you really, really need to hear TTD's Vibrator.
19 - Maynard
Good call on the Tin Machine, a most excellent disc all the way through.
add "The Reality of my Surroundings" by Fishbone
"not a pretty girl" by Ani DiFranco
"The End of Silence" by Henry Rollins Band
There are plenty more. Too many good bands get overlooked because they are not "hooky" enough, or don't fit mainstream concepts.
20 - Al Barger
This live Kinks album seems like somewhat a weak choice for this list. For starters, it's not all that particularly outstanding, besides the fact that it's a platinum album- at which point it's hard to really label it underrated.
There's PLENTY of great underrated Kinks albums, though- particularly some of them concept album from the 70s. Your life is not complete without Schoolboys in Disgrace most especially, but also Soap Opera and Preservation, Act I.
21 - Mark Saleski
ah fooey! it's a great Kinks album...with an absolutely killer version of "Low Budget".
22 - wvmcl
"Their Satanic Majesties' Request" by the Rolling Stones
"Wild Tales" by Graham Nash
"Spirit of '67" by Paul Revere and the Raiders
23 - Eric Olsen
agree on Their Satanics!!
24 - Rodney Welch
Thriller by Michael Jackson, Born in the U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen, and Synchronicity by the Police -- three "lost" classics, all well worth seeking out in the bargain bins of your better record shoppes.
25 - Michael J. West
Good list, all of it. And I don't care how hard any Lennon-head argues: All Things Must Pass was, and remains, the best Beatle solo album. Period.