Unacknowledged musicians

[TheGreek]

There's a car ad on the TV which features a track by Erasure - got me thinking how little acknowledgement Vince Clarke gets.

Depeche Mode, Yazoo, The Assembly and Erasure - all his projects.

 

Can't be many musicians who have been successful with 4 or more bands but don'treallyget a mention....

[Guest]

Although back when those acts were contemporary he was mentioned all the time.

[tubbybloke68]

Certainly a very talented man in the genre 

[BigRedX]

For what I recall of interviews with him in the 80s he was content to be in the background writing the hit tunes.

[White Cloud]

Never underestimate the importance of anonymity.

[Rayman]

Karl Wallinger, who sadly died recently, massively under acknowledged artist. I absolutely love Private Revolution, even it reminds me of an ex, who introduced me to World Party.

 

Andy Partridge, XTC. Another genius who should get way more recognition.

[Mykesbass]

Martyn Ware - Impressive discography as a musician - Heaven 17, Human League, BEF, and producer - Terence Trent Darby, Tina Turner, Scritti Politi etc. 

[lowdown]

A lot of musicians and the general public to this day, have not acknowledged, or are even aware of the achievements of John 'JR' Robinson.

He was also responsible for one of the most iconic drum intros in pop history.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Robinson_(drummer)

 

 

[Lfalex v1.1]

22 hours ago, Rayman said:

Andy Partridge, XTC. Another genius who should get way more recognition.

 

I couldn't agree more. Alas that much of XTC's output is just too English/Idiosyncatic/Leftfield* (delete as appropriate) for some people's tastes. 

All too unfortunately evidenced by the fact that their Joke/Nostalgia "Dukes of the Stratosphear" venture commercially outperformed their regular album/s at the time. 

 

[Lfalex v1.1]

On 23/03/2024 at 13:22, White Cloud said:

Never underestimate the importance of anonymity.

 

Or royalties.

[chris_b]

My unsung heroes are not band members but the session guys who worked in the studios pumping out the songs that influenced the rest of the bass playing world: Tommy Cogbill, David Hood, Mike Leech, Bob Babbitt, Jerry Jemmott, Jesse Boyce, Junior Lowe, Olsie Robinson and Vernie Robins etc etc.

[tinyd]

On a related note, there was a good piece in the Guardian the other day about "unofficial" band members (people who play with the band, sometimes for decades, but aren't "in" the band).

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/mar/20/touring-musicians-who-play-with-bands-but-arent-official-members-manic-street-preachers-simple-minds

I have to be honest that it sounds like a pretty good setup on the whole - getting paid to play but none (or very little, anyway) of the politics, drama, publicity etc.

[MacDaddy]

On 23/03/2024 at 15:25, Rayman said:

Andy Partridge, XTC. Another genius who should get way more recognition.

 

Genius? No doubt extremely talented, but if we compare to an acknowledged musical genius such as Beethoven can we really call Partridge a genius?

[Barking Spiders]

I think the list of unacknowledged/unappreciated but hugely talented musicians goes down the road and around the block several times especially $h!t hot pioneering guitarists outside the rock genre e.g. Tommy Emmanuel, Lenny Breau, Danny Gatton, Leo Kottke, Adrian Legg, Peter Huttlinger, Roy Buchanan, Isaac Guillory, Martin Taylor, John Jourgensen, Pierre Bensusan, Davy Graham, Andy McKee, Tony McManus, Bryan Sutton, Scotty Anderson...

Edited March 25, 2024 by Barking Spiders

[Rayman]

1 hour ago, MacDaddy said:

 

Genius? No doubt extremely talented, but if we compare to an acknowledged musical genius such as Beethoven can we really call Partridge a genius?

Absolutely. If any contemporary musician can be considered a genius, then AP can totally be included in that list.

[Mykesbass]

2 hours ago, Barking Spiders said:

I think the list of unacknowledged/unappreciated but hugely talented musicians goes down the road and around the block several times especially $h!t hot pioneering guitarists outside the rock genre e.g. Tommy Emmanuel, Lenny Breau, Danny Gatton, Leo Kottke, Adrian Legg, Peter Huttlinger, Roy Buchanan, Isaac Guillory, Martin Taylor, John Jourgensen, Pierre Bensusan, Davy Graham, Andy McKee, Tony McManus, Bryan Sutton, Scotty Anderson...

Some great names here, but all highly acknowledged albeit in their specialist fields. Unlike another example here of Andy Partridge who had some huge hits in the mainstream, but whose name, and musical contributions are somewhat overlooked. 

But then that's the joy of discussions such as this one.

[chris_b]

2 hours ago, Barking Spiders said:

I think the list of unacknowledged/unappreciated but hugely talented musicians goes down the road and around the block several times especially $h!t hot pioneering guitarists outside the rock genre e.g. Tommy Emmanuel, Lenny Breau, Danny Gatton, Leo Kottke, Adrian Legg, Peter Huttlinger, Roy Buchanan, Isaac Guillory, Martin Taylor, John Jourgensen, Pierre Bensusan, Davy Graham, Andy McKee, Tony McManus, Bryan Sutton, Scotty Anderson...

 

. . . . and one of the best, most overlooked guitarists of all time, Reggie Young.

[TheGreek]

Surely you mean Wes Montgomery 

[tubbybloke68]

5 hours ago, MacDaddy said:

 

Genius? No doubt extremely talented, but if we compare to an acknowledged musical genius such as Beethoven can we really call Partridge a genius?

Of course it’s each to his own, but personally yes, I’ll call Andy partridge a genius any day. X 

[Kentish Bass]

On 24/03/2024 at 13:53, Lfalex v1.1 said:

 

I couldn't agree more. Alas that much of XTC's output is just too English/Idiosyncatic/Leftfield* (delete as appropriate) for some people's tastes. 

All too unfortunately evidenced by the fact that their Joke/Nostalgia "Dukes of the Stratosphear" venture commercially outperformed their regular album/s at the time. 

 

 

Another voice in support of XTC. Colin Moulding had a real knack for writing baselines that suit the songs—and some challenging ones along the way! Probably my favourite post-1976 band. 

[uk_lefty]

On 23/03/2024 at 13:22, White Cloud said:

Never underestimate the importance of anonymity.

If that was on quotation marks with Unknown as the source... 

[Barking Spiders]

Been listening to a lot of Herbie Hancock's 70s jazz funk albums and I'd nominate all his band members who both excelled on their instruments and also featured on hundreds of recordings by other artists. In particular there was guitarist Wah Wah Watson, the man behind the guitar on Papa Was a Rolling Stone by The Temptations. Other credits include Blondie, Beach Boys, Michael Jackson, Cher, Boz Scaggs...

[tinyd]

6 minutes ago, Barking Spiders said:

Been listening to a lot of Herbie Hancock's 70s jazz funk albums and I'd nominate all his band members who both excelled on their instruments and also featured on hundreds of recordings by other artists. In particular there was guitarist Wah Wah Watson, the man behind the guitar on Papa Was a Rolling Stone by The Temptations. Other credits include Blondie, Beach Boys, Michael Jackson, Cher, Boz Scaggs...

Great choice! For those who haven't seen it this is a good illustration; 

 

https://youtu.be/K3lgmnsTdcA?si=xxs4aKL7VXxSblbF

[lowdown]

3 hours ago, Barking Spiders said:

Been listening to a lot of Herbie Hancock's 70s jazz funk albums and I'd nominate all his band members who both excelled on their instruments and also featured on hundreds of recordings by other artists. In particular there was guitarist Wah Wah Watson, the man behind the guitar on Papa Was a Rolling Stone by The Temptations. Other credits include Blondie, Beach Boys, Michael Jackson, Cher, Boz Scaggs...

 

 

I think that it might just be an age thing from the past with a lot of the old school musicians. Back in the 70's, 'Wah Wah Watson' was very much acknowledged and respected.

A few, even knew of him by his real name, 'Mel (or Melvin) Ragin'.

Back then, I seem to remember musicians debating (as they do) who was the better 'Wah-Wah Pedal' player. Him, or Charles ‘Skip’ Pitts.

 

'Skip' was quite an in demand sideman himself with a impressive CV of sessions.

 

 Obituary:

Charles 'Skip' Pitts: Guitarist

 

 

Of course, there was this...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[itu]

On 24/03/2024 at 16:33, chris_b said:

My unsung heroes are not band members but the session guys who worked in the studios pumping out the songs that influenced the rest of the bass playing world: Tommy Cogbill, David Hood, Mike Leech, Bob Babbitt, Jerry Jemmott, Jesse Boyce, Junior Lowe, Olsie Robinson and Vernie Robins etc etc.

Outside this forum there are just a few who know these mentioned above. Or any bassist. "I know Pistorius is that runner from..."

 

I might suggest Tony Joe White, and Danny Whitten. If we take any band from the 80's, who knows about them except the name of the band, and maybe the singer? Sure, we do know a few, but we are the rare exception to the rule.

 

Church?

Dexy's midnight runners?

Classix Nouveax?