By Soulaholic (141.210.178.118) on Tuesday, July 22, 2003 - 07:18 pm:

Hello All:

I don't know if this has been done before?

Who do you believe is there most underrated artist?
Doesn't matter what they did, sing, play, and perform.

For me artist like:
Skip Mahoney and the Casuals never got the chance they deserved.

Detroit Emeralds had great stuff but never really broke big.

Black Ivory is an other example.

Impact another group.

Or maybe Jean Carn been around for years but no one in the general public knows who she is.

I will only name a few I'm sure you can come up with many.

Soulaholic

By Des (81.152.235.249) on Tuesday, July 22, 2003 - 07:49 pm:

Perri
Donny Hathaway (Legendary now....underrated in life,sadly)
Me'shell NdegeOcello
Groove Theory
Tuck & Patti
Kevin Mahogany (for "Save That Time" alone)
Howard Hewett
Carleen Anderson
Glenn Jones
Frederick
Howard Johnson
Kashif
The System

Des (I'm not underrated....just signing off....)

By Nish (66.119.33.135) on Tuesday, July 22, 2003 - 11:34 pm:

Billy Griffin - trust me, I KNOW how hard it would be to fill in Mr. Robinson's shoes, but he did and sounded awesome doing it and continued the legacy of the Miracles' being a group of great writers (and, to quote Mary Wells singing "Bad Boy", "not a bad boy to look at...").

Patti Drew always had a gutsy, soulful vocal quality I love.

Deon Jackson

Barbara Mason - one of R&B's first consistent female singer/songwriters

Originals

Miracles - technically, they are legendary, so how can a legend be underrated? They sometimes get lost in the shuffle, or people only know Smokey, and they don't pay attention to the expert harmonies Ron, Pete, Bobby, and Claudette created.

Sylvia Robinson - she wrote great songs for herself, the Moments, etc. For better or worse, she was integral in rap's birth. And she transformed from cute ingenue foil to Mickey Baker to soulful 70s sex kitten.

Tommy Hunt

Chris Clark

70s Supremes

By TLHarris (64.12.97.7) on Tuesday, July 22, 2003 - 11:37 pm:

Hello Everyone,

Indeed this is a very good question, and I would love to chime in on this topic. These are just a few of the artist I believe are underrated:

Hoagy Lands
Tyrone Davis
Sidney Barnes
Rotary Connection
Jimmy McCracklin
and
Johnnie Taylor


These are just a few of the artist I believe are underrated
Take care

T.L. Harris

By JoB (204.42.12.2) on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 02:59 am:

...among others...Jeffrey Osborne...

By janlaskowski (80.50.236.117) on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 05:42 am:

i've always been mostly into the commercial end of soul but recently i've been digging a little deeper - i think i am the only person in poland who listens to the following.....


george jackson
sam dees
james carr
agree with sylvia robinson above
linda jones

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 11:27 am:

The UK's Style Council is a group that never got their propers here in the USA.

Paul Weller, Mick Talbot, Dee C. Lee and Steve White created some of the most soulful pop music in the 1980s. They combined bossa nova with funk, new wave with jazz-combo leanings along with some of the most clever lyrics Paul Weller could write.

Paul is also a strong champion of Northern Soul and has a collection of rare R&B/soul that could be used to open ten record strores.

Another underrated group is Incognito - also UK-based.

Led by Jean-Paul "Bluey" Manuick, Incognito was influenced by 1970s funk and soul(from Kool & the Gang to Stevie Wonder). In the 1990s, they released some of the funkiest albums of the decade ("Tribes, Scribes & Vibes", "Positivity" and "100 [Degrees] & Rising"). Their lead singer for many of these records was Maysa Leak, who is now enjoying solo success in the soul/jazz market. She was replaced by Joy Malcolm & Pam Anderson (the niece of James Brown's Vicki Anderson and Bobby Byrd).

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Handsome (170.118.157.134) on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 12:22 pm:

These are the most underrated artists to me:

Donny Hathaway
Will Downing
Glenn Jones
Oleta Adams
Phyllis Hyman
Sweet Inspirations
Rahsaan Patterson
High Inergy
Jocelyn Brown
Martha Wash

By Fury13 (209.69.165.10) on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 12:28 pm:

Otis Clay
Garnet Mimms
James Carr
Nolan Strong
Gino Parks

By SB (205.186.128.236) on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 03:35 pm:

I agree that many of he ones listed above were underrated - and especially Donny Hathaway. I used to love that man - and when "The Ghetto", came out - look out - for those folks in B'ham knew they went crazy. I was home for the entire summer when that thang rang out, and we were jammin, for real.

I also think that R. Kelly's voice is underrated. I love the song he has out now - "Step In The Name Of Love", or something to that affect. It is about dancing - and it is a pretty song - IMO. I've always thought that he had a nice, smooth and unique voice.

By Des (81.152.91.73) on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 03:41 pm:

Hey Kev/ Agreed on Style Council(would be interested in your views on PW's career direction 1990 to date).
He has a fine duet on the co-authored track "Brother to Brother" with Terry Callier - cd called "Speak Your Peace" from last year.......which,incidentally,has a sensational version of "Just My Imagination" on it----which I forgot to post on the thread of Motown Music Covers - Bah !!!
Hey Handsome(never thought I'd ever say that to a stranger!!) -- seems you and I have a few similar opinions on underrated artists - nice to find "like minds" on such fine artists.
Best
Des

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 04:07 pm:

Des:
I'm kind of mixed on Paul Weller's solo career - some music is good, some I don't care for. He did a song back in 1997 called "Science" that I liked although I'm partial to his more soulful leanings (like 1992's "Above The Clouds").

I've heard his version of "Just My Imagination" and it only makes me wish he & Mick Talbot reunite and do a killer Style Council album (or at least an album of his favorite Northern Soul/R&B tunes).

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Des (81.152.91.73) on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 04:23 pm:

Hey Kev/
I may have mis-led you....and you've intrigued me.
The "just my imagination" cover is by Terry Callier and I've never heard PW/Style Council perform that cut......pls don't misinterpret me here,I'm not being a smartass and I'd certainly agree with you that PW in soulful mood is a fine artist....and I,too,believe an album as you suggest would be quite something.His/their version of "Angel" was a fair indicator on this subject.
Pls let me know if PW/Style Council ever issued "just my imagination" --- honestly,I never knew such thing existed.
Des

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 04:37 pm:

Des:
I heard Paul Weller perform it live here in the United States at a gig in NYC (sorry, I should've clarified)....
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Des (81.152.91.73) on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 05:02 pm:

Kev/ Thanks....I'd have loved to have heard him do that "live".
Can I just point you at the Terry Callier version as originally intended....it really is great,IMO. The horn arrangement is atmospheric and clever.....although I'd say TC hasn't got the strongest voice in the world,he's got character and,of course,SOUL. At the very least it's a most interesting take on a classic track.
Des

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 05:12 pm:

Des:
I'll have to check out Terry Callier's version. I loved his album "Occasional Rain" and his mid-1960s soul stomper "Look At Me Now".

He was also a hell of a songwriter (just ask the Dells...."The Love We Had (Stays On My Mind)")

Kevin Goins - KevGo

"My woman says I'm a dreamer,
Well, I guess I'm one I suppose,
But I could never,never, ever be a schemer,
'Cause I don't know the things a schemer knows..."

Terry Callier, 1967

By Soul;aholic (68.41.47.183) on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 - 10:27 pm:

Hello All:

I would like to add a couple of local detroit groups;
The Monitors and the Precisions

Never got what they deserved

Soulaholic

By JoB (204.42.12.2) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 03:07 am:

Oh yeah, and Phil Perry...

By souljones (62.253.64.6) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 04:04 am:

COURTSHIP a group who did 'It's The Same Old Love' a Thom Bell arranged tune on Motown.

SOUL GENERATION whose 'Million Dollars' is a sweet soul classic. I'm kind of baffled as to why neither of these groups ever made it. I wasn't around when they came out.

Can anyone can shed some light on this.

SoulJones

By Stephanie (64.63.221.42) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 09:10 am:

I have three answers
Linda Jones
Matthew Wilde
and although he is written in the history books
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons IMO dont get the credit they deserve...and most definitely
James Carr!!!
Stephanie ps honorable mention Bobby Eli a first
rate guitarist and writer.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 11:43 am:

souljones:
"Million Dollars" by Soul Generation is an R&B classic and was a hit in a few major cities, especially NYC. However, nationally the song only went as far as #45 on Billboard's soul chart in 1973. "Body & Soul" was another small hit that should've been a bigger record.

This may have been due to the fact that Soul Generation were signed to a small independent label (Ebony Sounds) which had a limited budget for marketing & promotion. Touring was the only option the SG and many groups had to promote their music. By the time the SG made it to a major label (Buddah Records), the disco revolution all but put many R&B groups out of business.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By supremeross (64.245.39.99) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 11:53 am:

BRENDA HOLLOWAY. Without a doubt, if you listen to her Every Little Bit Hurts lp you'll see why. It's still hard to believe that she was only 17 when she recorded Every Little Bit Hurts. Listening to it you'd think she was a love veteran and a woman 2 or 3 times her age. Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross didn't study her tapes for nothing.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 12:02 pm:

supremeross:
No doubt Brenda deserves props.
Her sister Patrice Holloway should also be recognized for her songwriting and singing talents. She co-wrote "You Made Me So Very Happy" and has done hundreds of jingles and voice-tracks for many LA-based productions (she was one of the lead singing voices for the 1970s cartoon show "Josie & the Pussycats").
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By RD (65.150.228.5) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 12:05 pm:

The group Soul Generation is virtually unknown outside of the New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia area. I don't think they received any airplay in the midwest, south or west. On the Soul Patrol site you can listen to them singing the two songs mentioned here live. With the exception of big hits soul music was mainly regional and local. Even some number one R&B hits (Billboard) were not played on every soul radio station.

Somebody mentioned Black Ivory who were another regional group who had one record "Don't Turn Around" that got a little airplay outside of their New York area base. Only once did they tour outside of the area and that was when they signed with Buddah and toured a bit with Gladys Knight & the Pips; but you didn't know they were on the show unless you went to the show or somebody told you they were on the bill.

There was no big urge for New York/New Jersey groups to leave the area to gig cause there was plenty of work in the area. Groups outside of New York, particularly ones from small cities, always wanted to play the Apollo. But unless a New York/Jersey/Philly artist had a significant record they didn't risk traveling 300 to 600 miles to Cleveland, Milwaukee or Memphis to do a show only to get stiffed by an unscrupulous promoter or club owner (and there were many). There was no guarantee of getting paid and many artists carried shotguns and other firearms to try to insure that they would get paid.

By Eli (141.151.62.121) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 12:07 pm:

Lorraine Ellison
Ali Woodson

By SB (206.214.1.115) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 03:51 pm:

What about Al B. Sure?

By Who dat is?? (141.151.62.121) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 04:22 pm:

Not so sure!!

By Galactus (207.144.253.114) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 05:56 pm:

Black Ivory was OK......but I agree more with the mention of Brenda Holloway.

How about:

- Leroy Hutson (he's terrific on "Curtis in Chicago")
- Billy Davis Jr. (his soulfullness often hidden by 5th Dimenion's slickness)
- Brook Benton (a fellow South Carolinian....had to mention Brook!)
- Early Kool and the Gang
- O.V. Wright
- Brenda and the Tabulations
- Chuck Willis (passed away from an ulcer much too soon)

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 06:24 pm:

SB:
Al B. Sure! - talented producer, loved his song "Nite & Day", should stick to being behind the scenes.

Galactus:
Right on about early Kool & the Gang and Billy Davis, Jr. Loved all of Kool's early De-Lite funk and jazz. As for Billy, he was the grit and soul of the 5th Dimension (he sang a great version of "A Change Is Gonna Come" on the group's "Portrait" album).

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By musicchef (68.104.25.189) on Thursday, July 24, 2003 - 08:21 pm:

I would have to chime in with Billy Stewart... NO ONE sounded like him...

Da Chef

By DELL (12.14.39.66) on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 11:05 am:

ACE SPECTRUM

THE TEMPREES

THE CONTROLLERS

MR. PHIL PERRY

By Handsome (170.118.157.134) on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 12:00 pm:

Des, thanks for the comment/compliment.

Handsome

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 01:28 pm:

HOW ABOUT RONNIE DYSON???...IN ADDITION TO BEING BLESSED WITH SOME GREAT MATERIAL...HIS BROADWAY BACKGROUND ALLOWED HIM TO PURSUE THAT TYPE OF "ETHEL MERMAN" VOCAL STYLE (ALBIET WITH A MUCH BETTER VOICE)...BUT HE SANG IN THAT UNRESTRAINED STYLE...USING ALL OF HIS VOCAL CHOPS WITH HUGE LUNGS AND A BIG PUSH FROM HIS DIAPHRAM!!!...IT APPEARS THAT PERSONAL PROBLEMS HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON HIS NOT RISING TO A LEVEL OF HUGE STARDOM!!!...STUBASS

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 01:50 pm:

Stu:
Right on regarding Ronnie Dyson, one of pop/soul's greatest singers of the 1970s.

To think, he was still a teenager when he starred in the Broadway hit musical "Hair". The 5th Dimension recorded "Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In" after seeing Ronnie sing "Aquarius" on stage.

His biggest hit "(If You Let Me Make Love To You) Why Can't I Touch You" was from the off Broadway show "Salvation".

Some of my older colleagues who remember Ronnie did say that he did have a substance abuse problem which created health issues for him. He sadly died of a heart attack in 1990.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 01:56 pm:

THANKS FOR THE WITNESS KEV!!!...ALSO..."ONE MAN BAND"...WAS IN MY OPINION A CLASSIC PERFORMANCE...AND TITLED AN ALBUM OF THE SAME NAME WITH EVERY SONG SUNG IN THAT DYNAMIC RONNIE DYSON STYLE!!!...STU

By STUBASS (205.188.209.109) on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 01:58 pm:

BACK TO BORDERS FOR ME NOW!!!...I HAD THE ALBUM...BUT HOPEFULLY I CAN FIND IT ON CD!!!...STU(GEARING UP THE OL COLLECTION)BASS

By Stephanie (64.63.221.131) on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 03:04 pm:

Oh a one band plays all alone
he plays to song of his own
yes he does , yes he does , yes he does,,,,
That is one of my favorite songs Angel Daddy

Stephanie
a STUBASS Ronnie Dyson Fan Angel

By STUBASS (152.163.252.68) on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 04:10 pm:

WELL!!!...IT'S NICE TO KNOW THAT SOMEHOW THINGS DO SEEM TO GET BACK TO NORMAL!!!...THANKS "ANGEL" STEPH!!!...STU(THE DADDY)BASS

By Jody (205.188.209.109) on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 06:48 pm:

Definitely "CREATIVE SOURCE" Their harmony was fantastic!

By mauser765 (67.192.81.188) on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 07:02 pm:

BADFINGER

Thats my vote. Great band great guitar players great songs, tragic tragic tale.

By Des (81.152.238.59) on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 07:52 pm:

Hey,Mauser765 - no matter what you say,this is a leftfield selection on this Forum.
Day after day I visit this site and I hope you'll do same cos without you,believe me,this forum's seen better days.......seriously,good choice.
I'd back you on them,too
Des

By MEL&THEN SOME (81.174.193.11) on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 08:01 pm:

After Listening
to The Larks now for a good 3/4 weeks on CD
and being totally blown away every time I play the sounds
then I have to say that Weldons Larks must be one of the most underrated acts that I have ever heard.
It really is amazing and bloody crazy that the Larks were never Mega-stars.
Regards
a totally baffled Mel.

By mauser765 (67.243.206.196) on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 09:03 pm:

Des -

Right on mate ! Clever as well... ;)

I got a chance to meet the two remaining living members - Joey Molland and drummer Mike Gibbins a few times. real nice guys. Theres a DVD out there detailing their story.

A bit of trivia for ya - the Gibosn SG that George Harrison uses on the Rain and Paperback Writer recordings, as well as in the associated "videos" they made, is the same guitar Pete Ham is playing on Baby Blue. He liked the guitar and Harrison gave it to him as a gift.

Its hard to pick, but one of my favorite tunes by them is "In the Meantime/Some Other Time" by Joey and Mike.

A little time, a little trouble, better days.

By moanman (24.44.218.110) on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 12:11 am:

Tata Vega
Rachelle Farrell
Me'shell NdegeOcello
Syreeta Wright
Maxayn Lewis
Angela Bofill
Black Ivory
Donny Hathaway
Roberta Flack
Rickie Lee Jones
Gil Scott-Heron
The Roots
Donald Byrd
The Last Poets
Toni Childs
Heather Headley (where duh HELL were her Grammy Nominations?)
The Voices of East Harlem
Hiroshima (
Basia
Jon Lucien (should be a MAJOR artist)

By JoB (204.42.12.2) on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 06:04 am:

...and Deniece Williams...