Musical acts you love that you figure hardly anyone knows about

G Love and Special Sauce.

Not sure how well known they are outside of Philly.

 

As long as we're on Philly, there's Van Dyke and the Blazers, who did the original Funky Broadway, and from my home town, Wilmington, Del., the Blues Magoos.

 

I'm going to add Sister Hazel. Yeah, most people might have heard of them because "All For You" was big in 1997, but they haven't charted a single sing about 1999.

They're still together -- the main four have been the main four since the start -- and releasing albums and touring a bit. The disc they released this past February has all kinds of great songs on it. And two of their guys (Drew Copeland and Ken Block) have released solo albums that I think are fantastic.

Here's one from the newest disc.

 

Wow. I had completely forgotten about Sister Hazel. That's a damn good song.

 

I only know this song by him but I love it.

 

Similar story with Fastball.

 

Radio Nationals:

 

The album is full of really good stuff, including one with Darius Rucker featured on vocals.

 

That's really good stuff. I'm betting you would love Billy Joe Walker Jr., who was going to be another one of my entries.

He is a top studio musician and producer in Nashville. He's got seven discs out but is a real shy guy who has almost no Internet presence other than YouTube videos.

 

Cosigning on Fastball and Sister Hazel.

Asleep At The Wheel's tribute discs to Bob Wills are things of beauty.

G. Love has a devoted following in Middle Tennessee and Kentucky.

I love Leo Kottke's fretwork. Thing is, when I see something of his I don't have, I check to see if he sings. If the answer is yes, I pass on it. Having written that, "Regards From Chuck Pink" is a DID in my opinion.

A musician I love who nets blank looks is Peter Case.
He had a lifetime's worth of success with the Plimsouls, wrote some hits for other people, and produced stories with music and lyrics that pull you in.