Before We Gave A Damn: best songs from not-yet-famous bands

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In other words, what do you consider the best songs that famous bands released before they became famous or even widely known? (I.e. The Police's "Fallout", Eminem's "Infinite", The Prodigy's "What Evil Lurks")

― Nate Patrin, Friday, 28 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

(Well, maybe "Fallout" isn't THAT obscure. Mick Jagger reportedly dug it.)

― Nate Patrin, Friday, 28 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Surely the choice for The Prodigy would be "Android", wouldn't it?

― Dan Perry, Friday, 28 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Badly drawn boy's "Riding with Gabriel Greenburg" is pretty good and totally unlike anything on the 2 albums.

Stereophonics "Looks like Chaplin" is probably the best thing they ever did.

― Kris England, Friday, 28 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Radio Free Europe" would be there, surely?

― Dom Passantino, Friday, 28 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Didn't Christgau pick "Radio Free Europe" as his single of the year for 1983? I mean, that's not, say, "Losing My Relgion" famous, but it's not small potatoes either.

― Jody Beth Rosen, Friday, 28 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

My first encounter with The Prodigy was Android on a *very* mainstream compilation containing, amongst others, 2 Unlimited. So much for The Prodigy's "obscurity" then...

Blue Fear by Armin van Buuren would fit the discription though. And I'm sure someone will mention an REM song or two...

― Siegbran Hetteson, Friday, 28 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Radio Free Europe" got tons of press.

― J Blount, Friday, 28 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"1 2 3 4" by golden boy and miss kittin

― Tracer Hand, Friday, 28 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Beck, "MTV Makes Me Want To Smoke Crack" (the original all-acoustic version, not the "lounge" "Loser" b-side)
Nirvana, "Dive"
DJ Shadow, "Hardcore (Instrumental) Hip-Hop"
Beastie Boys, "Egg Raid On Mojo" (or anything else from their early '80s Ratcage hardcore years)
that one Pac-Man novelty song Richard D. James did under a pseudonym

― Nate Patrin, Friday, 28 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Fight Fire" by the Golliwogs ne CCR.

Lou Reed's Pickwick records.

"Moulty" by the Barbarians (supposedly it's actually the Band playing the music track behind the "narrative").

― J Blount, Saturday, 29 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Promised you a Miracle" by the Simple Minds (who were largely unheard of in the States prior to "Don't You Forget About Me"....a song they didn't even write).

"Spiritwalker" by the Cult...prior to their leather-codpiece, needlessly hirsute periods.

Before the live version of "Rock'n'Roll All Night" made them gods, "Love Her All I Can" truly realized Kiss's vision of writing Beatlesque tunes with metallic garage muscle.

Before "Born Slippy" made everybody shout "LAGER LAGER LAGER" like idiots, Underworld's "Tongue" from DUBBASSWITHMYHEADMAN (or whatever) is positively stirring.

― Alex in NYC, Saturday, 29 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The entire first Ramones demo (it's better than the actual debut album)

― Jerry, Saturday, 29 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Mick Hucknell once put a few decent songs, with the Frantic Elevators, too....

― Jerry, Saturday, 29 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Dismemberment Plan - The Things That Matter
ballboy - I Hate Scotland (some may not identify this with being pre- fame as such, since the closest to fame they've managed to get was Single Of The Week in the Guardian Guide. However, this did come before that... and they'll be huge one day, they will...)

― Mr Swygart, Saturday, 29 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

'last nite' was the best song ever for about two weeks.

― Sean Fuck, Saturday, 29 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Before "Born Slippy" made everybody shout "LAGER LAGER LAGER" like idiots, Underworld's "Tongue" from DUBBASSWITHMYHEADMAN (or whatever) is positively stirring.

Not only is Alex dead-on with this, but I really liked the song "Crash" from Underworld's pre-Darren incarnation.

― Dan Perry, Saturday, 29 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm probably the only person in the world who'll say this, but I'd rather take "Doot doot" by Freur over any Underworld record.

― Rob M, Sunday, 30 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I second that sentiment about Freur.

― Andy Rantzen, Sunday, 30 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

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