The 20th century produced some of the most incredible musicians, bands, songs, and albums in music history. And with such a wealth of genres and productions from back then, plenty of records have slipped through the cracks or have since been forgotten.
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If you were born after the 1970s, you probably have never even heard of the following four bands, nor these four albums. However, if you’re a diehard fan of psychedelic rock or underground 20th century rock bands, you might find at least one of these records to be familiar. Let’s dive in, shall we?
‘Ceremony’ by Spooky Tooth
The year 1969 was a killer time for music and albums in the 20th century. Ceremony by Spooky Tooth deserved way more recognition back in the day. Plenty of psych-rock fans enjoyed it. Some of you might have the LP sitting in the back of your record collection. But this album has been more or less forgotten over time, and I think younger psychedelic fans would really love this piece. It’s a gorgeous collaboration between prog outfit Spooky Tooth and experimental composer Pierre Henry. The result is oddly spiritual, very avant-garde, and full of blues and proto-metal elements.
‘Moby Grape’ by Moby Grape
Some might disagree with this psych-rock record’s place on this list of forgotten albums from the 20th century. When Moby Grape released their debut album in 1967, it actually charted quite well. Moby Grape made it to no. 24 on the Billboard 200. However, I feel like this band doesn’t get brought up in conversations about the golden age of psych-rock often, so I’m going to include them anyway. Honestly, I’m just trying to convert people into fans here. Moby Grape is one of the most talented groups to come out of the San Francisco psychedelic scene. And this record has power pop and country rock elements that make it stand out.
‘We’ve Been Had Again’ by Huffamoose
Huffamoose is the kind of band that should have gotten way more national (and international) attention outside of their home city of Philadelphia. They’re the coolest band you’ve probably never heard of, and the documentary Here Comes Huffamoose echoes that sentiment. Their alt-rock record We’ve Been Had Again from 1997 is essential listening.
‘Gandalf’ by Gandalf
This is a personal favorite on this list of 20th century albums that few might remember. After all, Gandalf’s sole studio album flew under the radar upon its release, and that was due to a flub by Capitol Records. Allegedly, the label released the wrong record inside the album’s sleeve, and they failed to promote the album, which only made sales more abysmal. Thankfully, Sundazed Music re-released the album in the 21st century. The actual album is a solid psych-rock work with baroque pop elements, and I think it should still be celebrated today.
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