Most under rated musician of all time?

[speedoo]

Nina Simone gets my vote.



As I write this I am listening to her sing (her own songs, mostly) and play the piano on a CD entitled "Jazz As Played in an Exclusive Side Street Club". It was recorded in 1958, I believe. Amazing stuff in that album, like "Plain Gold Ring" for example.

OK, almost everyone has heard of her, and perhaps there are some here, who are truly fans of hers.

Me? I have one or two of her CD's somewhere, but until now, I have not been a big fan. Interested and appreciative, yes..... but I am a big fan now, after spending hours last night listening to lots of her music.

Her life is a sad tale.... died in 2003 after a long exile away from the US. Victimized, perhaps by a combination of mental illness and lousy managers early in her career.

Her voice was magnificent, she was a brilliant performer, songwriter and composer amd she could really play the piano.

OK, she's got my vote... who gets yours?

[bif]

1. Adrian Legg and Jonatha Brooke

He's one of the most amazing guitarists I've ever seen live. And Jonatha is a phenominal performer, singer, and songwriter. Seeing her again live tomorrow.

[speedoo]

4. Will check them out, but I must post another Nina video..

from 1969 Harlem Music Festival, Harlem New York:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUcXI2BIUOQ

Wow.

[speedoo]

2. A kick and...

some fine piano by Nina in this 1961 improv. Wonderful playing all around.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VkEzz1Hass

[Joe Fields]

3. Frank Zappa comes to mind, although I'm sure if I spent time really

thinking about it, I could come up with a list.

But, for all of Zappa and the Mothers offbeat songs, he was one of the best guitarists I've had the pleasure of seeing and hearing. And a very accomplished musical arranger.

[acmavm]

5. Lydia Pense and Cold Blood

[saltpoint]

6. Agree on Nina, definitely.

Nick Drake is another.

And Mozart.

All three are appreciated long after they left us more than when they were here.

[grace0418]

7. Neil Finn.

Not that he'd ever want that much recognition, but he deserves it.

[lovelaureng]

11. Good choice!

[grannylib]

36. I second the choice of Neil Finn... TOTALLY underrated singer/songwriter/

instrumentalist.

Love him.

[grace0418]

39. He is brilliant.

You have excellent taste! I'm always so tickled when I meet other fans.

[grace0418]

38. Thanks! I've loved him for 20 years at least. The Crowded House tour this summer

or fall is making me giddy with anticipation.

[dysfunctional press]

8. tommy bolin.

nt

[Karenina]

42. He died too young...

:cry:

[stuntcat]

9. Nina

She's already a goddess to a lot of people, including me, but the fact that most people have never heard her is kinda messed up.
I'd never heard a song of her's until my late 20's and then I fell so in love, I was obsessed. Then I saw her live at the Kennedy center in 2001!! She stood up once and waved this broom/fan thing in the air and said to get George Bush "the fuck out of there!" and a couple of pigs sitting behind us got up and left the show :o
Most everyone in there was in a trance though and wouldn't dream of missing a second of her show.. just goes to show what kind of people they were- voting for W, walking out of a Nina show. I hope they at least went to church to make up for that.


(I spel bad, have to edit, so sorry)

[speedoo]

13. Wow, I am very envious.

Not only did you see her live (I unfortunately did not... my own damn fault), but you saw her speak the truth about the Coward!

[stuntcat]

17. believe me..

I'm proud of it as if I saw God. I've bragged about it here before and I probably will again anytime Nina's mentioned. If I make it to 96 and I'm laying there going crazy I'll be telling my nurses :p
Most of the audience just screamed out laughing when she said that about W, but that one couple.. it's such a shame on them.

[speedoo]

20. "that one couple" did not deserve to see Nina.

I'm sure you will agree. :hi:

[stuntcat]

21. oooo you're right

they needed to get the hell away from her.
It was karma at work.. that's totally how I'll think of it now.

[SoxFan]

10. A few of my picks

Mike Scott (The Waterboys), Tommy Keene, Steve Earle, Stuart Adamson (The Skids, Big Country).

[lovelaureng]

12. Buckethead, without a doubt.

[Forkboy]

14. Tons of 'em,but I think NoMeansNo is tragically under rated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTpuZgWBtos

[Burma Jones]

15. Peter Schickele

All people think of is PDQ Bach..........

[AllegroRondo]

40. he does some impressive stuff!

did you see his name on the credits for Fantasia 2000? He was one of the arrangers.

and musical satire like he does is much harder than people think.

[Arkham House]

16. Jaki Byard

...jazz pianist...who could play any style, effortlessly well...but it was always him. His fingerprints touch jazz history at a hundred different points--but he was never a "star"... Second place: Thad Jones...

[kimmerspixelated]

18. Joni Mitchell

Mostly she was underrated for the years that she didn't get mainstream play. The critics didn't seem to go for all her experimental years. But I always loved just about everything she ever did!

[stuntcat]

22. she's someone

someone who I will never get to see in concert and I'll always wish I could have.
I feel that way about her and about Leonard Cohen and about Johnny Cash. (and about Michael Jackson too :blush:)

[Joe Fields]

44. I saw Joni at the Starlight amphitheater in K.C. in 1984. It was the

most magical night. She held the audience completely in the palm of her hand. She did Woodstock for an encore, walked away from the mic, and the 6,000 people who were there were so quiet, you could still hear her quite clearly. A truly unforgettable experience.

[Joe Fields]

43. Thankfully, and most appropriately she has been getting her due,

in recent years. But, through most of her career she was way way underappreciated.

[jpgray]

19. Nina Simone kicks all kinds of ass.

[hellbound-liberal]

23. I agree that Nina was underrated but my vote goes to Rory Gallagher

Here he is tearing up his well-worn Fender on one of his classic songs. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyHymAxUVrc

[Catfight]

24. Cassandra Wilson, unique, talented and original in her own way. nt

[LeftyFingerPop]

25. Phil Lesh. n/t

[Pachamama]

27. Completely agree....

I also got the incredible, awesome, once-in-a-lifetime experience last night of hearing Phil Lesh play about 8 feet from me, along with his two sons and Van Morrison's daughter....

Phil Lesh lives right near me here in California....My daughter' school (where his kids have been to school too) agreed to play at the annual fundraiser for the school last night....it was simply put, AMAZING....

I'm still walking on Cloud 9, and I have to say, seeing his sons play and Van Morrison's daughter playing, it was officially like the passing of the baton to the next generation...

Sigh.... :hi:

[LeftyFingerPop]

30. I am so glad...

that you got to experience that. I hope that your post show glow lasts for days! ;)

I have seen The Grateful Dead probably 60 or so times, since 1977.

I don't know...there is something about Phil, especially when you watch him up close. I'm not sure I can even put it into words...he finds stuff spontaneously that makes you shiver...kinda like a great jazz player.

I have so much respect for the man...he was given a second chance at life with his liver transplant, and he does raps at each of his shows encouraging people to become organ and blood donors. Imagine how many people he has helped by doing this.

Have a great evening!
:hi:

[Pachamama]

41. 60??? Me - 48 times...not including the occasional Phil & friends & Weir and Rat Dog

Yes, I'm still in my post show glow.... :)

Your absolutely correct about Phil and I think that he is possibly the best of the Dead...

I forgot about the transplant, and ofcourse in December he had Prostate Cancer surgery...I have to say he looks great for a man who has been through all that and is 67! He played like he was in his 20's and I have say that he looked blissful playing with his two sons. A friend of mine had seen him later that evening and said that he was just so happy when he could play with them. I have to say that they have the potential to be great like their Dad...they are that good.

It's nice to be able to share with someone like you on the DU about this once in a lifetime event that was so special....one that only a fellow Dead fan could appreciate.

:hi:

[greendog]

26. Townes Van Zandt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YdRHIKM9YE

[av8rdave]

28. Deborah Coleman!

Fantastic blues voice, great guitarist.

[mark414]

29. of all time? that's too hard. but right now - Hank III

(at the risk of sounding redundant)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=6464638&mesg_id=6464638

[Mendocino]

31. Art Tatum

The greatest jazz pianist.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

32. Rolling Stone's been taking suggestions on this topic all weekend:

For use in creating a top 25 feature.
People have posted a lot of good suggestions

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/04/27/weekend-rock-list-most-underappreciated-artists/

[speedoo]

33. Too bad it's only rock.

Nina Simone (and a lot of other great, underappreciated artists) won't qualify.

I would have put in a vote for Warren Zevon if the link were more cooperative.

[deucemagnet]

34. There are a lot of interesting suggestions on the list.

I think that some of the best are Canadian bands that are under-appreciated in the US, such as The Tragically Hip, 54-40, Sloan, and The Lowest of the Low.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

35. The Kinks are getting the most nods

and I agree whole-heartedly

[Alexander]

37. Brian Jones

let's face it, he was the Stone with the most talent

[MissMillie]

45. Lindsey Buckingham

He's got an imagination when it comes to composition, and he can sing and play besides.

[Connonym]

46. John Hiatt n/t