I Need You by Helter Skelter (1971)

Jesse Hector has shown up in this space numerous times over the years. And there's good reason! He's an underknown garage rock legend. Helter Skelter was an early version of the Hammersmith Gorillas that formed after the dissolution of Crushed Butler. This track was recorded in one take in 1971, but would not find its release for six years. I would bet that Ian MacKaye and the boys heard this track as the opening riff sounds remarkably similar to Minor Threat's 1981 namesake song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-Ybtwe8OO8

Spacelab by Kraftwerk (1978)

Nothing makes you feel more futuristic than putting on a Kraftwerk album. And they released their best stuff in the 70's! These guys are masters in the studio. If you're going to make heavily produced music, this is the way to do it. Here they are off of their 1978 release, Man Machine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH0Js8qdnyA

Help Me Somebody by Brian Eno and David Byrne (1981)

After working with David Byrne on the 1978 Talking Heads album, More Songs About Buildings and Food, Brian Eno was impressed enough with the bandleader to collaborate on an album that ended up sounding a lot like how you might imagine a Brian Eno/Talking Heads album might sound. In addition to the sound, this album used of ton of sampling before all those restrictions on the practice were enacted. Here is a funky number from Brian and David's collaboration, My Life in the Bush of Ghosts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxeO0LBR6GY

Truth by New Order (1981)

I really like early New Order when they still had that Joy Division moody vibe with goth-like synths. As the 80's went on, their music became a little more danceable and less appealing to me. Here is one of those tracks off of the first album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvztvq8BSS8

Loveless Lives by Blue Mountain Eagle (1969)

The original 1968 version of this band was called the New Buffalo Springfield. Suffice it to say, Neil Young and Stephen Stills threatened lawsuits and the band dissolved, only to be resurrected months later in 1969 as Blue Mountain Eagle with a slight line up change. The band would go on to record one blues/psych album that year before dissolving a year later.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb5rneWckqA

Up To Seven by Energy (1974)

And now for some Swedish fusion from a one off self-titled release.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-Hgl2EB-Ig&feature=youtu.be

Smile by Message (1971)

Message were an English/German prog rock outfit that put out seven albums between 1972 and 1980. Before they went full on prog, the band had a decidely harder sound on their first single. It is a real scorcher.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_gnlltooOE

Nightjar by Necromandus (1973)

Under the tutelage of Tony Iommi, English band Necromandus recorded an album of hard and heavy rock in 1973. Unfortunately, the music would not get released at the time. The band would then go on to break up. Eventually, in 1999, the album was released on CD. Here is one track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhNVXqMKIDI&feature=youtu.be

Dole Song by Fresh Maggots (1971)

It's been awhile since I featured any acid folk here on Deep Rock Mining. So, here is a good one that is also a rare find on vinyl.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CMOYglD1lA

Life by Flipper (1982)

San Francisco avant-punk experimenters Flipper are probably best known for their 1981 single "Sex Bomb", but the band made some really interesting music after that. Here they are from their Generic Flipper LP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDzB-Eu8YeQ

Haizman's Brain is Calling by Angry Samoans (1982)

Here's some more great L.A. punk from the golden era.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kVH8GDECdw

Nichols Canyon Fuunk by Buddy Miles (1975)

George Allen Miles Jr., nicknamed "Buddy" by his aunt after legendary drummer Buddy Rich, had quite the storied career. He was a founding member of The Electric Flag with Mike Bloomfield in the mid 60's and then went on to be the drummer for Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsy's. After the Band dissolved he released numerous solo LPs throughout the 70's. Fun fact for children of the 80's: Buddy sang lead vocals on the California Raisins commercials. Hey, everybody needs to make some money sometime... Here he is off of his 1975 solo album, More Miles Per Gallon, with a funky fusion instrumental.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9ZebOoySyI

Underwater Lovers by The Suburbs (1980)

The Suburbs were/are a punky post-punk band from the suburbs of the Twin Cities. The band has existed, off and on, since the late 70's. Here they are with a track off of their debut LP, In Combo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jf3oFHnEGFk&feature=youtu.be

Slush Pan Man by Night Sun (1972)

Alright, now for some hard and heavy rock with this German band that only put out one LP, 1972's Mournin'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPe-UEN2h3A

Bata Motel by Crass (1981)

To me, Crass were just another good English anarcho-punk band until they released their third album, Penis Envy, which featured vocals from Eve Libertine and Joy De Vivre. Here the band and the lyrics really came together to produce a great album. Here is the first song on that record.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gOQvBUC360&feature=youtu.be

Five Years Life by Aus Decline (1983)

There must have been something about Italy in the early 80's that set the stage for some of the best new wave and early electronica. Some great music came out of this time and place. Check out this track from Aus Decline that only showed up in a great compilation, First Relation, back in 1983.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH7ZRpb61Es

I'll Be Alright by Baby Shakes (2015)

There's nothing wrong with power pop, when it's done right! A perfect example of this is a a band that I was introduced to at the 2017 WFMU record show in Brooklyn. The band played for a bunch of old record collectors on a Saturday afternoon and it really woke up the room. Here they are from their second album, 2015's Starry Eyes. The link to the music video is below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRdniLrEzLc

Flying by Fury (1972)

Here is some NYC proto-punk/metal that was recorded back in 1972 and sat on the shelf for forty years. It wasn't until 2012 before this track, and it's B Side got released. It was worth the wait!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqPIoAqf570

Dirty Love by Mercy (1984)

And now for some Swedish proto-doom metal...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp33YLDQ__s&feature=youtu.be

F***ing in Rhythm and Sorrow by The Sugarcubes (1988)

I remember, as a teenager, hearing the Sugarcubes for the first time. I thought that they had such a peculiar sound that didn't quite fit into a category such as Pop, New Wave, or Rock. So, my teenage mind determined that Iceland must have its own musical genre. In any case, I rushed right out and bought the CD. After listening to the band's debut album, Life's Too Good, I still wasn't sure about what type of music that it was, but I was sure that Bjork was a tour de force vocalist. And that's still the case. Here is a lesser known track off of that debut.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytedtYLLtJ0&feature=youtu.be

Can't Buy Me Love by The Neighb'rhood Childr'n (1968)

The Neighb'rhood Childr'n were an Oregonian garage band that turned psych in the late 60's, like so many other bands. They managed to release one full LP, a self-titled effort released in 1968. Today's song of the day was from these sessions, but did not make the final cut. It was ultimately put out in a 90's reissue. It's another interesting take on a Beatles tune.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYQC_H0p5LI

Blockhead by Charles Brown Superstar (1994)

After listening to the available tracks for short-lived L.A. double bass alternative band Charles Brown Superstar, it left me wanting more. They had a great sound! The band was offered an opening spot on a Bikini Kill tour, but the lead singer, Bennet Rogers, had no interest in touring. The band broke up shortly thereafter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CAV_ef6hto&feature=youtu.be

All I Want by Dramarama (1985)

Most of New Jersey-based Dramarama's music would be considered power pop. Usually, that sub genre of music doesn't appeal to me too much. However, I really like a bunch of tracks of the band's debut album, Cinéma Vérité. Here is an edgier song from that release.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlQo_rLhpI4&feature=youtu.be

Mystic Eyes by Them (1965)

In June of 1965, five lads from Northern Ireland released their debut album, The Angry Young Them. This album would contain the original version of one of the most covered rock n' roll classics ever, "Gloria", and become the launching pad for 19-year old singer Van Morrison's career. If you ever get a chance to listen to this LP on vinyl, do it! The medium is a perfect match for this album. Here is the rumbling opener that set the tone of what was to come.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e-fU0eyVUg

I Don't Know by The Storm (1974)

Formed in Seville, Spain which is better known for flamenco music, the musicians who made up The Storm were much more impressed by the likes of Deep Purple than they were with the traditional music of their homeland. For a short while, though, when heavy rock was sweeping Europe, they received some support. However, by 1979, musical tastes had shifted and the band called it quits. Here they are from 1974 and you can here that Deep Purple influence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0mQWANIRlc

I Can't Believe by The Fanatics (1967)

And now for some Texas garage rock....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsAub-q_oBQ

Johnny Blade by The Human Instinct (1974)

Four years before Black Sabbath released their "Johnny Blade" song off of 1978's Never Say Die, New Zealand glam rockers, The Human Instinct, released a different song with the same title. It's worth the listen!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcNaJKumV9k&feature=youtu.be

Meat Puppets by Meat Puppets (1982)

Most people might know the Meat Puppets(if they know them at all) as the band that Nirvana covered three of their songs for the classic Nirvana MTV Unplugged album. In fact, Meat Puppets vocalist/bass player, Curt Kirkwood, joined Nirvana for these performances. This view of the Meat Puppets might give a distorted view of the band. In fact, the Meat Puppets were a hardcore-ish angular band as evidenced by this self-named track off of their self-titled first album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCh5dYskm6Y&feature=youtu.be

Geistige Nacht by Aksak Maboul (1980)

And now for some super strange avant-garde Belgian fusion...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4rNbvmaysY

Hammerhead by Flotsam And Jetsam (1986)

Flotsam and Jetsam was a thrash metal band from Arizona that featured one Jason Newsted on bass guitar. He would end up leaving the band about three months after the release of their debut album, Doomsday for the Deceiver,  to join Metallica following the tragic death of Cliff Burton. Here is Jason and the rest of the Flotsam crew with a track off of that debut.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCkEmxjyE3A&feature=youtu.be