Allman Brothers Band: Back Where It All Begins (1994)
After a seven year hiatus, the ABB reformed in 1989 with Warren Haynes and Allan Woody joining Gregg Allman, Dicky Betts and the rest. Back Where It All Begins is the last studio album of this version of the band as Haynes and Woody left soon thereafter to devote their time to their side project, Gov't Mule. Without doubt, this album ranks with the strongest of post-Duane, ABB studio albums. Most notably, the album contains the first appearance of the Warren Haynes classic Soulshine, which if recorded in a different era would be one of the rock classics of all time. Gregg Allman invests it with the withered soul that illustrates the magic that occurs when a song and singer are perfectly matched. There are also the instrumental heavy Southern rock jams that the Allmans are known for. The title track and Sailing Across The Devil's Sea are not only highlights of the album but mark the high point of the Allman Brothers version 2.0. Given that the Allmans back catalog is filled with some extraordinarily groundbreaking recordings, Back Where It All Begins, coming as it did in the nineties, is unfairly overlooked
Robert Randolph & The Family Band: Live at the Wetlands (2002)
This album has the potential to come off this list at some point in time as Randolph has the potential to be one of the saviors of rock and roll. Not only does this record capture one of the final performances at the Wetlands, the jamband Mecca of New York City, it also captures one of the most exciting musicians of the 21st century in the relatively fledgling stages of his development. Robert Randolph has been accurately described as the Jimi Hendrix of the pedal steel guitar and this Live at the Wetlands is proof that the comparison is far from gratuitous. Wetlands features long extended jams that give the band, especially Randolph, the opportunity to show off their chops. Ted's Jam breathlessly kick starts the album, building up to crescendos usually found in a band's encore rather than their opener. The band's gospel origins are evident in the soulful Pressing My Way and the rollicking Tears Of Joy, but they come front and center on the penultimate I Don't Know What You Come To Do. With a chorus right out of revival meeting, Randolph with the persuasion of Baptist minister, declares that that he's come to clap his hands and stomp his feet and the crowd is right there with him. This album, capturing Randolph in his infancy, could be his Beatles in Hamburg – so it may not be underrated for long.
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.