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Buy this rock music first - Top 10 most under-valued CDs
By an Amazon.com customer
The Captain and MeThe Captain and Me by The Doobie Brothers
Buy new: $6.99 / Used from: $2.04
This is the real deal. Before the mass market (and admittedly tasty) McDonalds era. Perfectly composed and played rock.
The Allman Brothers at Fillmore EastThe Allman Brothers at Fillmore East by The Allman Brothers Band
Buy new: $12.99 / Used from: $6.00
Fantastic performances. One of the all time great concerts on CD. You may get put off by the long tracks - but don't. Greg Allman's organ playing and singing sounds great, but the refined guitar solos...they really are superb...really superb...
Blood, Sweat & TearsBlood, Sweat & Tears by Sweat & Tears Blood
Buy new: $6.99 / Used from: $3.46
A seriously well arranged, brassy, rock album. A big hit when first released, BST's music is massively under-rated these days.
The NightflyThe Nightfly by Donald Fagen
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $2.85
A critically acclaimed album, that also gets stella reviews from "Joe public" (or at least those who have heard the CD). But this is so good it should be way further up the top rock and pop lists.
Low Spark of High Heeled BoysLow Spark of High Heeled Boys by Traffic
Buy new: $8.99 / Used from: $4.12
The title track from this British group is nothing short of brilliant. One of the most inspired arrangements of rock, blues and jazz around. From the first time you hear the bass line and keyboards, you could be totally hooked.
Let It Be (Remastered)Let It Be (Remastered) by The Beatles
Buy new: $12.99 / Used from: $9.19
A more mature fab four, moving in different directions, but still relatively young and with a load of interesting things to say. It has some classic rock anthems - notably Get Back. Overall its a CD I listen to again and again. Not something I do with other Beatle's albums.
ManassasManassas by Stephen Stills
Buy new: $12.99 / Used from: $6.88
This whole record is very impressive mix of musical styles, and the lyrics always make me smile. Stills' is a very fine guitar player and songwriter, and is well supported through-out. Deserves cult status.
Crime of the CenturyCrime of the Century by Supertramp
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $5.35
A mid-Atlantic rock, pop, prog, jazz (e.g. the lot) classic. Before Breakfast. Bloody Well Right and Rudy are particularly good tracks - but there's not a dud track on this CD. Read all the great reviews on Amazon.
Before The Flood [Live With The Band, 1974]Before The Flood [Live With The Band, 1974] by Bob Dylan
Buy used from: $4.99
I really like the way Dylan sings here. The guitar-led songs are top notch from both Dylan and the Band...and the keyboard playing is fascinating.
Obscured by CloudsObscured by Clouds
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $6.18
The long tracks from other PF albums are past their sell by date for me. PF members are strong-song writers (as pointed and sneering as Dylan) and first rate musicians, but it all sometimes gets lost in the clouds. So I prefer this collection of shorter PF songs. Surprisingly lyrical album - fits vey well with the shorted songs from Meddle.
Made In Japan: The Remastered EditionMade In Japan: The Remastered Edition by Deep Purple
Buy new: $17.99 / Used from: $8.90
Number 11 - if only for the track Lazy. The studio version has a great "riff". Sometimes songs-with-riffs can sound disappointing live; lacking in extra inventiveness. No worries here. This version just rocks. And its not just a noisy, heavy screaming guitar/keyboards-fest. "OH SHUT-UP" Gillan sings.
Other Voices / The DoorsOther Voices / The Doors
Buy used from: $5.93
Finally. A big plug for a rather good post-Jim Morrison Doors album. This was a hip record when I was very young! Now it is disappearing off the face of the earth. But allmusic.com still rates this record quite highly...so not all is lost.