10 Eccentric Artists that Became Personal Favorites

October 25, 2016 by bjcorbin

Ambrosia: People who’ve only heard their Top 40 hits have no idea what a brilliant and bizarre band this was. Their first album was engineered by Alan Parsons (of Dark Side of the Moon fame), who went on to produce their second LP (Somewhere I’ve Never Travelled) as well. After two records filled with symphonic pop opuses and medleys that wouldn’t seem out of place on a Broadway cast album, they turned to a sparkling jazz pop fusion for their most successful records Life Beyond LA and One-Eighty. The originality, musicianship and vocals on these four albums rank them amongst my favorites of all time.

Steve Winwood: This talented singer has been around for decades and I’ve enjoyed his work through every phase of his career. Whether it was the blue eyed soul of the Spencer Davis Group (Gimme Some Lovin’), the eclectic improvisation of Traffic (Low Spark of High Heeled Boys), the rootsy blend of Blind Faith (Can’t Find My Way Home), or even the pop sheen of his solo work (Arc of the Diver), he’s proven himself to be one of rock music’s most enduring and talented vocalists.

Ricki Lee Jones: Despite the popularity of her first hit, “Chuck E’s In Love”, it was really her appearance on Saturday Night Live, singing “Coolsville” that grabbed my attention. I don’t know too many other 15 year old boys who were mesmerized by her blues/jazz/funk/folk/beat poet blend, but something about her startling honesty resonated in my soul. All these years later, it still does.

Dire Straits: Though Mark Knopfler and his band eventually became a hugely successful pop group, it was the rich textures and soundscapes of their non-radio songs (e.g. Water of Love, Follow Me Home, Romeo and Juliet, Telegraph Road, Brothers In Arms…) that really struck a chord with me. Perhaps their least commercially viable album, Love Over Gold was, for me, the pinnacle of their catalog.

Crowded House: Born from the ashes of the successful 80’s band, The Split Enz, Neil Finn and his mates (occasionally including brother Tim) produced four memorable albums (Crowded House, Temple of Low Men, Woodface, Together Alone) of smartly written, skillfully performed pop music. Both witty and wistful, even twenty years removed, much of this music still sparkles.

Peter Gabriel: After a sterling start with art rock pioneers Genesis, this multi-talented artist forged a highly successful career as a solo performer. His music was always original (Games Without Frontiers), sometimes peculiar (Shock the Monkey), frequently poignant (Biko, Don’t Give Up, The Book of Love) and consistently compelling (Solsbury Hill, San Jacinto, In Your Eyes, Blood of Eden).

Til Tuesday: Though the band’s singer had the look of a punk rocker, and their first big hit Voices Carry was an MTV sensation, it was ultimately the unpretentious distinctiveness of lead singer Aimee Mann that made them memorable. After the stir caused by their debut release, their follow up albums Welcome Home and Everything’s Different Now were considered commercial failures. Yet, artistically they were both a giant leap in texture and tone. Upon the breakup of the band, Mann went on to have an admirable solo career.

Tears for Fears: Though the band featured numerous talented musicians and collaborators, it was essentially the creative vehicle for singer/songwriter Roland Orzabal. Their 1982 debut The Hurting chronicled his painful childhood and largely featured a moody synthesizer sound, not unlike The Cure. Their second record, Songs from the Big Chair, featured a much less subdued tone and became a huge international pop hit. Orzabal continued his evolution with the soulful, and at times beatlesque, release Sowing the Seeds of Love, and a fourth release Elemental, which was essentially a solo album. Despite the changing styles, the music remained fresh and compelling.

The Innocence Mission: This Pennsylvania based folk band featured husband and wife team Karen and Don Peris, who garnered a fair amount air time on Alternative radio stations in the early to mid-1990s. Though their records did not achieve platinum success, the hauntingly beautiful songs featured on their first three releases (The Innocence Mission, Umbrella, Glow) make them a standout amongst their contemporaries.

Steely Dan: To call the musical musings of Donald Fagen and Walter Becker unique would be a vast understatement. Fagen’s distinctive vocal style, combined with wry lyrics, complex jazz influenced arrangements, virtuoso musicianship (e.g. Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, Jeff Porcaro), and pristine production values resulted in a sound that could not be duplicated. Though they seemed an unlikely pair for pop radio success, they managed to create a string of successful and memorable records that spanned the 1970s and 80s.

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