I find that there are a lot of songs I adore that don’t get much attention from anyone else, and I want to share them with the world… somehow. The trick is always finding the right way to do it. So, I’ll try this: I’ve put together a list of the top five songs I feel like sharing this week that I think are underrated, meaning they don’t get radio play, never charted, weren’t recognized as well done, were forgotten to history, are covers that top the originals, are overshadowed by the artist’s better known hits, aren’t known by my friends, etc. Since I’m not sure what the best way to select or sort songs for this list would be, I’ll just choose songs I’ve heard on my iPhone recently, and put them in whatever order I feel is best for presenting them.
1. “Déjà Vu” – Giorgio Moroder (featuring Sia)
This song came out just a few months ago on Giorgio’s new album of the same name. It makes sense for this to be the title track for two reasons: first of all, this is probably the best track on the album, and secondly, this album is sort of Giorgio’s return to disco. I’ve been a big fan of his work for some time, so I was excited by the new album, and pleased by some of the tracks… it just bothered me that this song didn’t become a huge hit. It should be playing on the radio in a waiting room right now.
I think it’s a strong song because it brings back disco in a good way. It could have done awkwardly sexual disco, or laughably corny disco, but instead it does impressive and fun disco, which is a natural fit for Moroder. It’s not an imitation of the disco era because he is the disco era, but his incorporation of very modern musical elements also works naturally for him. The album may not be entirely comprised of winners, but with Sia on vocals, I’ll never understand how this song has struggled for recognition.
2. “A Little Bit of Love” – Paul Williams
Paul Williams was certainly very popular in his day, but history has only labeled him as a very good songwriter, omitting his brilliant work as a recording artist. Among the albums of his that are not available anywhere as a digital download (because it’s assumed that not many people will buy them) is A Little Bit of Love, which featured some of his most notable works. However, one of the most brilliant pieces on the album, or perhaps even his best ever recording, is the title track, which doesn’t even have its own Wikipedia page. The way the song is structured and arranged to build so beautifully (by Kenny Ascher) makes it one of the best produced songs I’ve ever heard, which isn’t even mentioning the captivating melody by Ascher or the truly fascinating depiction of the character in Paul’s lyrics. It may not be heard on the ’70s hour of the oldies radio station, but whenever I hear it, I can’t help but play it loud enough for all to hear.
Buy it.
3. “Undecided Man” – Paul Revere & the Raiders
Once again, no Wikipedia page. I think it was released as a B-side to one of the other songs on the Spirit of ’67 album, and it never charted. I’m fairly sure that it was seen as a mere rip-off of “Eleanor Rigby,” but I think this song may be on par with the Beatles’ classic. I can understand why “Indian Reservation” is the song we all know the Raiders for, but I think the very sing-along-friendly tune, in conjunction with its artistic use of classical styles, makes “Undecided Man” the stronger track. The subject matter is one that any person around the age of 22 will relate to, and yet the song expresses the pain of the young men from its day without pandering to them.
4. “Green Grass” – Gary Lewis & the Playboys
There may be a lot of fun songs about summer, but this is by far the most cheerful. It perfectly captures the excitement that any optimistic teen in the ’60s would love to have about the fun awaiting in the sun. I’ve actually been planning for years that I would use this song to represent the 1960s in a film that parodies the old Batman series, and I still can’t think of a better song to express exactly the kind of 1960s we’d all like to imagine existed.
5. “Undun” – The Guess Who
This classic B-side is probably one of my top five favorite songs of all time, if I can even have such a list. While it may be impossible to narrow down exactly what my favorite song is, I think this is surely the song with my favorite ending. Half of the times when I consider doing a cover of a song, I feel like I’d have to end it around the same way this song ends, because it’s just so dramatic and powerful. I say this is underrated not because it didn’t chart well – it was the #22 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart – but because it never gets as much recognition, praise, or radio play as other songs by The Guess Who. This band will always be famous for great songs like “These Eyes,” “No Time,” and “American Woman,” but “Undun” tops them all.
Its blend of a soulful singer who nearly screams, jazzy guitar chords and wind instruments, artistic vocal sounds in the vein of “Time of the Season,” poetic and metaphorical lyrics, a catchy tune, and a pleasant soft rock style mixed with passionate rocking out all make it the group’s best work in my view. I wish it would be recognized as such.