5 Albums You Never Find In a Used Record Store

[@deirdre108]

I was 20 yo when "Something/Anything" was released so I well remember its initial impact. Everyone was astounded by the sonic quality of that record. What a beautiful LP! Thank you for giving it some love!

[@poprocksradio]

Thank you! I love that album and think Todd is just a remarkable artist. If you haven't watched it, I put together another short video about him here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4LRg4R7eN6iiZo. Thanks for watching!

[@mikesabota2570]

I have a Promotional Copy Not For Sale issue of that record..lots of gems on it!!👍👍

[@christian19701]

A list of obscure albums that were so good hardly anybody bought them nice

[@jchis9852]

Three sides of that double album is all Todd. He played every instrument on the songs. Long before Prince was hailed as a genius for doing the same thing.

[@deirdre108]

@@christian19701”Something/Anything?” went gold so not as obscure as you might think.

[@hdrake1000]

Fun to watch, I always like to get knowledge from fellow music lovers. I am a Todd Rundgren fan since I was in Jr. High when I was 11.

[@poprocksradio]

Thank you! I agree...for me, the best part of doing this is chatting with other people who love this music and getting recommendations from them, too...so much out there I hadn't heard before! Thanks for watching!

[@gregcaz1124]

I see every single one of these in used shops all the time, especially the Todd album which is extremely common and super-easy to find for cheap. The Big Star album is pretty rare but even that one eventually turned up for me in a used store years ago. Maybe you need to start frequenting better used record stores.

[@poprocksradio]

You're probably right about that. Whenever I go looking for the Plimsouls, I end up finding a ton of Pure Prairie League for some reason. 😂. Thanks for watching!

[@KenLieck]

@@poprocksradio I can tell you *exactly* where to go looking for the Plimsouls! (See my other comment...)

[@Hibernian333]

I saw and quickly bought the first Plimsouls I have seen in 3 years. @@poprocksradio

[@andyevans2336]

Am proud to state that I own copies of all but Big Star, consolation prize is that I DID get to run sound for Badfingr in concert once……that was sweet.

[@poprocksradio]

So cool! Would love to hear more about that if you care to share. Thanks!

[@alm5693]

Which version of Badfinger was it? After Pete Ham's death, there were competing Badfinger tours. One band with Joey Molland, and the other with Tommy and Mike. I managed to get all my Badfinger albums autographed by the three (and they were most likely pissed off that they were all used or cut-out copies). There was horrible legal animosity between the two versions and that war took the life of Tommy. A version of the Joey Molland Badfinger is still out there playing gigs.

[@poprocksradio]

@@alm5693 Such a convoluted and tragic history of that band. Glad we have the gorgeous music they left us. Thanks for watching!

[@hippomancy]

Todd Rundgren is the definitive "under-rated" guitarist/singer/songwriter/producer. goddamn amazing...!

[@poprocksradio]

Very well put...love that guy! Thanks for watching!

[@MickDunne100]

A genius, actually.

[@poprocksradio]

Also, well put! 😀

[@ronwhite8503]

"I Saw the Light" is an under rated banger.....at least here in the UK.

[@craigdorsey8624]

I have all five of those vinyl records from when they were first released. I have no idea if they are worth anything but to me the music is priceless.

[@dodibenabba525]

The story of Badfinger is heartbreaking.

[@TooSkinnyKenny]

the only band I've ever heard of that had 2 members commit suicide.

[@geraldtanderson9044]

That was a fun video. I didn't expect to have two of the five mentioned Albums. The first one being Something/Anything by Todd Rundgren. I've only ever given away two of my Albums in all of my years of Album collecting, and the Rundgren album was one of them. I bought the Album brand new around 1975 and gave it to my High School girlfriend because of "Hello it's Me", while we were going through a rough patch. I met the love of my life five years later and wished many times over the years that I still had that Album. I did find another used one many years ago, but not in near the shape of the one I gave away. The other Album I have from this list is the "Straight Up" Bad Finger Album. I don't know if they all were, but mine is an Import from Germany. I think I purchased it around 1978. "Day After Day", still love that song.

[@poprocksradio]

Great story...thanks for sharing that. Funny how sometimes it's better to let great music do the talking for you. Thanks for watching!

[@bumsharvest5493]

One of my all time favorite songs, from any band, is Baby Blue.

[@troyhyre8043]

I just stumbled upon your channel and much to my amazement I have picked up the Badfinger, Big Star & the Plimsouls albums just sorting through music store bins. Yes, I still love that feeling of finding music that way. Cheers!

[@poprocksradio]

That's awesome...finding an original Big Star is very cool! Thanks for watching!

[@michaelfoley6670]

Love your content! I’m surprised by how few of these bands I actually recognize, thanks!

[@poprocksradio]

Awesome...thanks for watching!

[@bumsharvest5493]

Those are some great choices. I play the Badfinger Straight Up regularly, and the Big Star #1 Record fairly regularly.

[@poprocksradio]

Me, as well...they never get old. Thanks for watching!

[@bumsharvest5493]

@@poprocksradio I also think it's great that you answer all the comments. 👍🏻

[@poprocksradio]

@@bumsharvest5493 Thanks! That's really the fun part for me. 😊

[@richalderson6069]

I (proudly!) have original pressings of all these albums except The Plimsouls one which I used to see all the time in the bins around 10-15 years ago. NEVER see it now! I guess power pop fans caught up. Thanks for another great video.

[@poprocksradio]

That's awesome! I'm embarrassed to say that I saw the Pliimsouls album in a store a few years ago but opted for something else I had my sights set on instead...thought I would just pick it up the next time I was in. 😂. Come to think of it, that second Plimsouls album is a bit scarce, too! Thanks, as always, for watching!

[@careyatchison1348]

The dBs 'Stands for Decibels' is one of the greatest power pop albums of all time but it rarely pops up (at least in U.S. shops).

[@poprocksradio]

Ah! That IS a great power pop album! I have literally never run into it at a used record store either. Thanks for that one!

[@michaellorenzen8200]

Amplifier

[@bobinscotland]

Side note: Bels and decibels were named after Alexander Graham Bell, the Scotsman who is more famous for his work on the telephone, but who was one of the founding fathers of the whole music recording business, along with Emile Berliner and Thomas Edison (himself more famous for inventing the light bulb).

[@alangodby6147]

I would say the same about the db’s Repercussion. It’s one of my most played LPs

[@khogg3581]

All of these are worth digging around for. I’ve been lucky to find four copies of The Plimsouls s/t over the years. I gave up on ever finding Bandwagonesque and bought a new MOV reissue. I’ve found a used reissues of #1 Record and Radio City at Silver Platters. For the longest time I couldn’t find Something/Anything, but a friend eventually found a clean copy for me.

[@poprocksradio]

Awesome! From what I've learned from some folks in the comments, Bandwagonesque is one of those albums that was released during the "dark times" when vinyl was dying, and not only were few units pressed, but in some cases, record stores didn't even bother to put them on the floor. Stumbling into an original release would be really quite a find! Thanks again for watching!

[@lincbond442]

I began listening to Badfinger in the mid-80's. I remember going to Music+ around 1987 and asking for Badfinger albums only to be told that they had been out of print since the 70's. I started going to used record shows and found what I was looking for. I recall paying the exorbitant amount of $35 dollars for an original pressing of Straight Up. It was the cheapest one I had seen so I bought it and I still have it to this day. RIP Pete Ham, Tom Evans, and Mike Gibbins.

[@poprocksradio]

Thanks for sharing and thanks for watching!

[@RonKoralewski-se6bs]

So nice to see Teenage Fanclub in this. Love that album.. they still put out great music

[@poprocksradio]

So hard to believe it's over 30 years old now...never get tired of it. And you're right...their new album is pretty great, too! Thanks for watching!

[@RonKoralewski-se6bs]

@@poprocksradio 30 years.. remember buying it. New album, sounds kinda Beatles ish. Need some Soup Dragons or Ned's Atomic Dustbin on here. Big Star is so great.. actually heard of them thru Elliott Smith

[@poprocksradio]

Wow, Soup Dragons and Ned's Atomic Dustbin take me back a bit. Fun bands, for sure. Thanks for watching!

[@lawrencedavis4406]

I would say the greatest obscure powerpop artist ever is Adam Schmitt...and none of his solo albums were ever released on vinyl!! Just CD, maybe cassette...but also hard to find on CD as well...his 1991 solo debut "World So Bright" is one of the greatest ever...as a solo artist & producer, he rivals Todd Rundgren easily...but he only made 3 solo albums & a handful of great compilation tracks...

[@ManfromHell83]

I still have Bandwagonesque on a cassette but nothing to play it on

[@bert0522]

I bought Something/Anything when it came out, I have all the Badfinger albums, I saw the in 72 with Lee Michaels in Ole St' Lou' Jim

[@poprocksradio]

Wow...that must have been something. The footage I have seen of Badfinger live is pretty amazing. I love stories like that...thanks for sharing!

[@alm5693]

I played the heck out of Lee Michael's "Barrel" album when it came out. It was getting a lot of airplay in Mpls/St Paul. I still play it now and then when I'm feeling hippy.

[@dawnpatrol700]

The Teenage Fanclub has more to do with the YEAR it was released. I lived in cd stores in the 90s, and sealed new vinyl was a rare commodity you grabbed, the few times you saw it. Unless you're 50 or older, you can't grasp just how unloved vinyl was starting in 1991. That was the 1st year, new pressings were 95% down, and the few that were made, were limited. I had to mail-order most sealed new vinyl. It was hard to find a mom and pop that would invest in something they knew wouldn't sell. I can damn near count on my fingers, the amount of sealed brand new vinyl I got in a cd store, in the 90s, and i was actively seeking them out. 90s Vinyl was dusty buried boxes in the far recesses of a cd warehouse. To prove that point, when vinyl started to come back, circa 2011, and cds were going away, BooksAmillion and FYE started vinyl sections and thus, pulled tons of old boxes from warehouses. They brought in sealed new old stock titles I hadn't seen new in decades, including 80s and 90s cutouts, that had been buried behind all those cd boxes, forever. I had wondered what happened to all those cutouts and all those 90s titles that didn't sell. Apparently, they were boxed up, and sat in warehouses for 2 decades. I got Metallica " and justice" brand new perfect 1988 press, Madonna Ray of Light 98 UK press, perfect new old stock, and tons of good cutouts B52s Cosmic Thing, Rickie Lee Jones - Flying Cowboys, the Alarm - Standards, Modern English - Pillow Lips. All cutout sealed titles, I thought had been sold out decades ago, not sitting in a warehouse. Conversely in the 90s, 70s used titles were EASY to get in great shape - Something Anything and Straight Up were common to find in thrift stores, in perfect condition

[@poprocksradio]

Absolutely...great point! That was such a dark time. I remember occasionally finding literally boxes of vinyl just dumped behind where I worked. Now that everyone is buying turntables again, maybe people are trying to buy back their old collections. 😂. Thanks for watching!

[@alm5693]

That transition period between LP and CD was a golden period for record collectors. People were selling off their entire vinyl collections to convert to this "perfect" new format. I used to stop at a record store over lunchtime and come out with a half dozen albums in beautiful shape a couple times a week.

[@19trebor53]

Something/Anything is fantastic!

[@KenLieck]

Sounds like you're easily pleased! (Oh, you mean the album!)

[@ustheserfs]

found something/anything on line used for a decent price and badfinger's straight up used for a song online. had to buy no. 1 album new because the legend that's grown behind the album made it unaffordable. i believe kurt cobain cited bandwagonesque and tf as a primary influence before.

[@poprocksradio]

Found a short little article about that: faroutmagazine.co.uk/band-kurt-cobain-called-the-best-in-the-world/. TF is still putting out great music today (their new album is quite good!). Thanks for watching!

[@stevebird9510]

Marty Ross was one of my best friends and also a member of the Wigs from Milwaukee. I would love to get their LP , File under pop vocal

[@poprocksradio]

Very cool! Talented guy...and what a great album, too! Thanks for watching!

[@l.salisbury1253]

Other underrated Power Pop LPs worth sniffing out: THE PHOTOS-s/t (UK 1980) THE CHORDS- "Something's Missing" (UK 80) THE BEAT (aka PAUL COLLINS' BEAT) - s/t (USA 79) THE DOLL- Listen To the Silence (UK 79) COCKNEY REJECTS - "The Power & the Glory" (UK 81) THE GAS- Emotional Warfare (UK 81) JULES SHEER- Phonetics (USA 79) THE FLYS- Wakiki Beach Refugees (UK 78)

[@poprocksradio]

Thanks for the great recs! (That's my favorite part of doing this...getting turned on to great music I haven't heard yet). Listening to The Photos self-titled now...great stuff! Thanks for watching!

[@tdub6826]

One of my favorites is Del Amitri - Twisted It’s really hard to find in the wild and extremely expensive but it’s worth it.

[@poprocksradio]

@tdub6826 I had only really known their big hit "Roll to Me", but as I dig more into them, they really have a lot of great songs! Thanks for sharing and thanks for watching!

[@davidfrancis5514]

I'm curious how many Bandwagonesque records were actually pressed back then. Tower was usually my go to in '91 for new stuff and I sure don't remember much vinyl, but rather loads and loads of CDs. The only records I was buying back then (at Joes's Record Paradise and Phantasmagoria) was used punk and power pop that I had missed out on previously such as Plimsouls, DBs, Nick Lowe, Replacements, Husker Du. Appreciate your videos.

[@poprocksradio]

Thank you! From what I have learned from other folks in the comments is that the number of LPs actually pressed was really low. Not only that, but since vinyl was "dead", in some cases, record stores got inventory, but didn't even bother to put it out on the floor. Ah...dark times! Glad people are coming to their senses. 😂. I looked up the record stores you mentioned...these are/were in the D.C. area? If those are the ones, they look really cool. Thanks for sharing and thanks for watching!

[@davidfrancis5514]

Yep, DC area record stores. Joe's was the best. Yesterday and Today was another good one. That was Skip Groff's place. Still have a Bad Brains 7" that I got from him which is on Skip's label. It was a long time ago, but pretty sure he said it was their 1st recording. And if it's Skip saying it, it's probably true!

[@poprocksradio]

@@davidfrancis5514 Wow, very cool...love stories like this. At the risk of sounding like an old guy, I don't think you get great memories like that buying stuff off of iTunes. 😂

[@4absentfriends]

If you're lucky, pick up 'Nazz' &/or 'Nazz/Nazz. Both are pop gems. Any 'Badfinger' music is also a must. Another hard to find band . . . 'Moby Grape', and you'll hear a number of genre's; as well as stellar harmonies.

[@poprocksradio]

Love both of those Nazz albums! Think, unfortunately, we just lost Stewkey a few weeks ago. R.I.P. Moby Grape I used to see all the time in used bins (I think even Beavis and Butthead made fun of them at one point), but now, not so much. Maybe people finally figured out what a great band they were. Thanks for watching!

[@19trebor53]

Nazz Nazz is a great album!

[@KenLieck]

There's a new two-fer repackaging of both together coming out soon. Look for Nazz: Nazz/Nazz Nazz!

[@WillowRedDog]

I’d agree with most of these being somewhat rare for “original” pressings as hard to find, with the exception of Todd Rundgren’s Something/Anything, which is a very common album to come across used. (In fact most Todd Rundgren and Utopia records are.) Also you can get repressings of it, and Big Star and Teenage Fanclub.

[@poprocksradio]

I agree...I see Utopia albums all the time. I admit, I prefer the "poppier" Utopia work to the earlier prog stuff, but they all definitely have something worth listening to. I like to think it's just kids selling off their parents' record collections and not knowing what they're giving up. 😂. Thanks for watching!

[@KenLieck]

Oddly enough, I found a Badfinger album at an Austin Goodwill two weeks ago -- however, it was so scratched I said "No Dice"! But you did well otherwise -- I haven't recently seen albums by any of the other four bands in a thrift store or used record shop. And that's despite the fact that I *have* seen an actual Plimsoul in one not very long ago! (Shout out to "Fazz Eddie" Munoz!!!)

[@poprocksradio]

Very cool...that must have been something! Austin seems to be the place...someone else (was it you?) mentioned Waterloo Records in Austin where they found some of these. Thanks for watching!

[@KenLieck]

@@poprocksradio I saw that. It wasn't me, but I'm sure Eddie shops there when he's in Austin. I've got great stories just from buying stuff there, going all the way back to the time of the Hüsker Dü in-store when I got my Candy Apple Grey album signed. Y'know, running into people like Roky Erickson and Daniel Johnston. Heck, Alejandro Escovedo used to work there, as did Walter Salas-Humara from the Silos and other cool and/or famous people...

[@poprocksradio]

@KenLieck I have to admit, I had to look up Alejandro Escovedo...I have so much to learn. 😂. And Candy Apple Grey is such a great album!

[@artguti1551]

I still have my copy of the Plimsouls with "A Million Miles Away" that I bought in the early 80's

[@poprocksradio]

That's awesome! Now that you mention it, that album is kinda hard to come by, as well. Thanks for watching!

[@krakatoa1200]

I have that Album 'Straight Up' by Badfinger, they were a great band with a sad history. I am Welsh so do have a connection with them.

[@poprocksradio]

Such a great album! If you're a Badfinger fan, their "lost" album "Head First", which has some of Pete Ham's final recordings is getting a proper vinyl release in the new year. Definitely worth a listen! Thanks for watching, too!

[@vincentrockel1149]

Try finding runt or the ballet of.. or nazz (Rundgren's first commercial success), to which you could probably claim was the beginning of power pop.

[@poprocksradio]

I have seen 'Nazz Nazz' out in the wild, but their others plus the other two Rundgren albums you mention, I haven't. That guy has always been ahead of his time! Thanks for watching!

[@gerardcooney1810]

I picked up Something/Anything in a Utica N.Y. last year in a used record store for $8.Never knew it was so rare.

[@poprocksradio]

From what I'm hearing in the comments, I suppose it depends on where you are whether or not it's rare. Either way, you have a great find! Thanks for watching!

[@musicluvr70]

I have a small vinyl collection of just over 600 albums. You say these albums can't be found in used record stores because no one wants to part with them, but I think it's because no one bought them to start with. I do have the #3 and #1 albums, and if you don't mind an online used record store, you can find your #1 ranked there for under $5 and the #3 ranked one for $10. It's called "Discogs" and I've picked up many there.

[@poprocksradio]

I think you're right...there are really lots of reasons some of these albums are scarce on vinyl. Good example: someone else commented about the limited run Bandwagonesque had on vinyl in 1991 because it was a dying format at the time and nobody wanted to touch it, making an original copy hard to find. Discogs is a great resource, as you mention...and I use them a lot. There is something about the hunt through a record store that I really love, though. 😀. Thanks for watching!

[@jonnuanez7183]

I was a huge fan of Bandwagonesque by Teenage Fanclub. I even randomly pulled up What You Do To Me and I liked someone's comment on the clip saying that the song is basically just the chorus. Very true.

[@michaellorenzen8200]

Brendan the Drummer played in sandals

[@poprocksradio]

And somehow they make that sound cool...such a great album! Thanks for watching!

[@deoppressoli-bear2600]

Big Star is not the greatest band ever, but it is my favorite band forever.

[@poprocksradio]

I love that...very well put! Thanks for watching!

[@jaycharger72]

Spot on selections EXCELLENT

[@poprocksradio]

I appreciate that...thanks for watching!

[@MsKalachakra]

Hi, I find those Rundgren's and Badfinger's records often at used online record stores not so expensive. Plimsouls most be difficult to find and Big Star is impossible unless is a reissue. Teenage Fanclub I don't count as hard to find cause the original release it's on CD not vinyl. Great video.

[@poprocksradio]

Thank you! You're right...I do see both the Rundgren and Badfinger albums online quite a lot, though I don't stumble into them in the wild so much (such great albums!). Someone else commented that the Teenage Fanclub album was released on vinyl but since vinyl was dying at the time, many vinyl releases were extremely limited and sat in boxes, never even making it to the floor of the stores. Either way, reissues are a godsend! Thx again!

[@Bernabé11-v7q]

I bought Bandwagonesque and Thirteen on vinyl in Spain back in the early nineties (wasn't difficult to find them in Europe) I got Everywhere at once by The Plimsouls many years ago but the first one still eludes me. I have the other three but they are reissues. Great video, fantastic selection!

[@poprocksradio]

@@Bernabé11-v7q That's awesome! Everywhere at Once is also not super easy to come by these days, either...great album. Thanks for the kind words and thanks for watching!

[@TooSkinnyKenny]

I guess whether or not recordings are rare depends on your physical location. I got your Teenage Fanclub recording on CD at the flea market for free, and I've owned "Something Anything" on vinyl for years and I love it (especially "Piss Aaron" and "Slut"). Af for the Badfinger album, I got it at a used store in Berkeley decades ago but still haven't played it. I at the time collected any record released on the Apple label, figuring they would be valuable some day and sure enough they are.

[@poprocksradio]

Wow, smart! I try to do that, but just end up playing them anyway...no willpower! Thanks for watching!

[@TooSkinnyKenny]

if you're a dedicated collector like me you tend to frequently find just as much pleasure in just owning certain vinyl records as in playing them. Every time you play a vinyl record you wear down the grooves a little so I'm really glad we live in an era where you can digitize your vinyl at home. I just wish it didn't take so much time to do it.@@poprocksradio

[@adamhowardschneider357]

haha I love how it's all power pop- never goes out of style, even when it's out of style

[@poprocksradio]

Well put! Thanks for watching!

[@toddurick9674]

One album I never see from a band that at one time was quite popular is Totally Out of Control by the Hudson Bros.

[@poprocksradio]

Oh, I love those guys! Discogs seems to have a few copies for sale, but I haven't seen that album in the wild, either. Thanks for watching!

[@drrayman1435]

There is also the "Cargoe" self-titled album of 1972, from the same company (and same year, obviously) as Big Star, power-pop as well. Yes, it's that good! 😎😎

[@poprocksradio]

Thanks for the rec! Couldn't find the album streaming, but someone had posted it on KZbin. What a GREAT album! I had read their name in a book about Chris Bell but hadn't gotten around to listening to them yet. Glad I did...thanks again!

[@drrayman1435]

@@poprocksradio You can still grab an original vinyl at an affordable price. I did, three years ago. Btw, it has not been reissued on vinyl (CD reissue only), so get one while it's still around! 👍👍

[@hecubot]

My greatest power pop album find at a used store was the first Scruffs album. That was rare a hen's teeth.

[@poprocksradio]

Great album! I haven't seen that out in the wild either, now that you mention it. Thanks!!

[@donaldellis-wt6xl]

I found the Bug Star album about a year in cd form for like $10.00

[@chuckkaras9729]

Straight Up is a classic for sure

[@poprocksradio]

Thanks for watching!

[@KenLieck]

It sure is - a straight up classic!

[@psp1921tsmg]

Straight up is the greatest under rated albums ever. Oddly. I saw at least 8 copies of straight up in two stores just today. Picked up magic Christian music for 10 bucks and an original iveys maybe tomorrow 45 for 6

[@poprocksradio]

Wow, that is nuts! I can't remember the last time I saw Straight Up in a shop. I run into the other Badfinger releases quite a bit, though it's been a while for "Wish You Were Here" (really, a stellar album). Online, of course, is another story...but where's the fun in that! 😀

[@jometcalf1357]

WOW!! Lucky you @psp1921tsmg!! We don't have many stores like that here, only charity shops and most of those have REALLY OLD vinyl that you wouldn't know of 🙄 I've been on many online sites that sell vinyl but the prices are way over and there's postage from the US.

[@keithbutler2222]

I got bandwagonesque when it came out on vinyl 🙂

[@poprocksradio]

That's awesome! Thanks for watching!

[@Miler97487]

In the 1990s I used to see Badfinger's Straight Up and Rundgren's Something/Anything all the time used at nearly every record store I've been to. Nowadays, not so much.

[@poprocksradio]

Thanks for watching!

[@glennhecker4422]

The same goes for a LOT of classic albums. Many were SO easy to find back then... but THESE DAYS? Yeah... good luck, right?

[@poprocksradio]

Agreed! The resurgence of vinyl has been a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it's just awesome. 😀. On the other, more people snatching up the treasures we used to see all the time!

[@platterjockey]

I find the Todd Rundgren all the time in used record stores. I also find the Badfinger album.

[@poprocksradio]

Very nice! If you don't mind, share which record stores so we can give them some love here. Thanks for watching!

[@platterjockey]

In various Zia's records Exchanges throughout the Phoenix area and Las vegas.@@poprocksradio

[@risboturbide9396]

Great topic for a music video!

[@poprocksradio]

@risboturbide9396 Thanks for watching!

[@Nugmania1]

Good vid, you should follow up with 5 iconic albums that you’ll never….. eg: We’re only in it for the money, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention

[@poprocksradio]

Thanks for the great suggestion...and thanks for watching!

[@Dave__f]

Todd rundgren is the most underated person in the music industry although tge album you mentioned is easy to find, others are more difficult to find and equally as good

[@poprocksradio]

I recently picked up Hermit of Mink Hollow and really love it. Do you have other favorites? Thanks for watching!

[@Dave__f]

@@poprocksradio that's one the most popular one to find. Probably "nearly human" is my favorite at the moment. Really any decent records are getting harder to find and most of the reissues are the digital mix which kind of is like a CD with surface noise as opposed to true analog. I live not far from where todd grew up so the albums are there but cost slightly more for the used ones then probably anywhere in the country even before the record comeback. I met some interesting people from the high school he went to who were in the theater dept with him. Very down to earth guy. I think he actually wrote meatloafs bat out of hell as well as producing it. It was during a time when he was baffled how everything he produced was topping the charts and he wasn't and kind of a test. Too many lines and changes sound like him, but maybe he only helped ALOT but it really sounds like his lyrics, musical changes etc

[@Dave__f]

Gotta love Todd!

[@poprocksradio]

@@Dave__f Thanks for the rec...listening to "Nearly Human" now (so many to choose from with him!).

[@Dave__f]

@@poprocksradio the nazz, Todd's previous band was great as well songs like hello it's me and meridian leeward come from there and the utopia album "Ra"s has some greats too!

[@meverlo]

Nice picks. I'm 4 outta 5.

[@poprocksradio]

I appreciate that...thanks for watching!

[@dannovack1364]

I found the Badfinger in a cheap bin. I got it for the hir Day after Day.

[@poprocksradio]

Such a great song... Thanks for watching!

[@SpenceCurry]

The first gracepool album. Everyone's keeper.

[@poprocksradio]

Oh, wow...haven't thought of that band for a while. Good call...Elly Brown really has a great voice! Thanks for watching!

[@SpenceCurry]

@@poprocksradio Taylor swift should cover grace pool songs. I like the fact that elly brown covered blue Nile songs.

[@danielscott1749]

Herman Brood and his Wild Romance self titled Album (the american pressing) Tim Finn / Tim Finn Roger Waters the pros and cons of Hitchhiking. Never seen a second had copy of any of these.

[@poprocksradio]

All great albums! I wore out my tape of that Tim Finn album back in the day...really quite a gem. Thanks for those and thanks for watching!

[@deansongs]

Agree 100%. Subscribed.

[@poprocksradio]

Awesome...thank you!

[@Joseph-v3c5c]

How about Gary Myrik "Making Movies"??

[@poprocksradio]

Thanks for the rec...adding him to the list to check out! Thanks for watching!

[@sstaners1234]

I gotta go and listen to Bandwagonesque. It’s pretty underrated.

[@poprocksradio]

Enjoy! If you haven't already, their new album is a good listen, as well. Thanks for watching!

[@paularmstrong6078]

Found my original vinyl copy Bandwagonesque in a charity shop

[@poprocksradio]

Awesome. Thanks for watching!

[@IamSkullrules]

3/5 of these I bought new as a pimpled face teen , hung out in Gerber Music in Syr . NY ...the Big Star LP one of my X girlfriends crooked, I miss them both, why didn't you mention the Move or Raspberries ? the three Big Star, Something , Bad Finger all came out in 72/73 if I recall great content to the point and factual thanks I always think of Power Pop/ Bubble Gum to the Box Tops and the Song the Letter, the Left Banks "Walk away Renee "

[@poprocksradio]

All four Raspberries are really good! I have seen all of them out in the wild from time to time, so I didn't include them here. The Move, however, I overlooked...great catch! Added to the list! As for the Left Banke...I think they're a great band. I have heard them referred to as "baroque pop", I suppose because of their instrumentation, but whatever they are, their melodies are really pretty incredible. Thanks for watching!

[@philip2180parker]

Nice to see a Welsh band at the top 😀

[@poprocksradio]

A lot of great bands from Wales! The Alarm and Stereophonics come to mind (there are a ton more). Thanks for watching!

[@popfanatic1]

@@poprocksradio The Joy Formidable!!

[@poprocksradio]

@@popfanatic1 Another great Welsh band!

[@simonagree4070]

All good choices, although I did sell my copy of Something/Anything (the one with a red record and a blue record) when I badly needed money back in the 80s. I have to say that I much prefer the later Teenage Fanclub album, 13.

[@poprocksradio]

13 is a great album, as well! Not sure...did that ever get a vinyl release?

[@DodgeDartSongs]

Something/Anything is a remarkable piece of work but, strictly speaking, other than “Couldn’t I Just Tell You,” not power pop. I didn’t realize that the song had been released as a single.

[@poprocksradio]

You are absolutely right about the album...like all of Todd's work, trying to pin him down to one genre (even within the same album) is an exercise in folly. 😂. As to the single, I found a reference online to a "Couldn't I Just Tell You/Wolfman Jack" single in July 1972, but not sure if it charted at all ("I Saw the Light" and "Hello It's Me" overshadowed just about everything else!). Thanks for watching!

[@Yardbird1968]

Five masterpieces!!!

[@poprocksradio]

Amen to that! Thanks for watching!

[@williampetrovic5427]

Elaine MacKenzie by the Chicago band Green. Should be right up there with Big Star.

[@poprocksradio]

Ah! Someone else brought them up, as well! I think "She's an Addiction" is a great song. Thanks for the rec and thanks for watching!

[@1976GeorgeMa]

Should have been a Raspberries LP on that list. Any power pop fan in their right mind would never give up their Raspberries albums. I certainly won't. The Raspberries were the greatest power pop band EVER! IMHO.

[@poprocksradio]

Amen. And honestly, now that you mention it, don't think I run into their albums in the used bins at all, either. Thanks for that!

[@joeesposito6876]

See the plimsouls out in the wild constantly Same with the Todd Rundgren

[@jimroscovius]

Ive heard of Todd Rundgren and I like Badfinger. The rest? Don't know, don't care.

[@poprocksradio]

Thanks for watching!

[@Daeananaias]

I haven't found Freak Out bt the Mothers of Invention.

[@KevinScull-u4j]

And Rundgren produced the Badfinger album.

[@poprocksradio]

True! It's funny, but I think I read somewhere that they weren't thrilled with how it turned out with him producing, but I think the album is just a revelation. Thanks for watching!

[@michaellewis7666]

I see Something/Anything fairly often.

[@Oldcrow77]

Rundgren and badfinger are the only real classics here.

[@poprocksradio]

Thanks for watching!

[@susanmurray7654]

Omethong/Anything is for sale at Cracker Barrel!

[@poprocksradio]

At first, I thought you were kidding, but then I looked and Cracker Barrel does sell music...I had no idea! Learn something new every day! Thanks for watching!

[@libertine5606]

Pet Sounds, Suburban Lawns.

[@poprocksradio]

Pet Sounds for sure...great album! I confess I haven't heard Suburban Lawns...listening to them now!

[@l.salisbury1253]

The Suburbab Lawns were on the "Sharp Cuts" compilation, weren't they? (Planet Records 1980 USA)

[@markwilliams5606]

You would be Shocked to go to a Flea market.

[@poprocksradio]

I know...so many treasures you can run into! I wonder if the fact that more people are buying turntables again has taken so many of these albums out of circulation. Either way, half the fun for me is the hunt. 😀. Thanks for watching!

[@GastonBulbous]

Twilley

[@MrMaricopa100]

ORANG UTAN 1971 Orang Utan. I bought it 1971. Still have it. Not for sale Another very hard one to find.

[@poprocksradio]

Listened to a few songs off that album…great psychedelic stuff! Hope the album is worth something good! Thx for the rec and thanks for watching!

[@MrMaricopa100]

@@poprocksradio This album has perhaps the MOST BIZARRE story which i only discovered years later. I liked the album at the time but could never find they ever made a 2nd album. After further research i could never even find they have preformed anywhere ! Only years later did the real story come out. The band was a English group called " The Hunter". They signed a producer to cut a album. After they recorded it the producer said it really wasn't that good and recommended against putting it into production. The group then abandoned the idea of the album. Unknown to the band the producer pulled a fast one. He released it in the United States under a band name of ORANG-UTAN. It was a fake band name with fake names for the band members on the album. The real band never knew till about 30 years later. OF course with a unknown band that nobody ever heard of I suspect few copies were ever sold in the United States. I used to go to a store in Chicago that had the largest collections of albums i ever saw. Ones that they were having trouble selling would go into a $1 pile. I would always go thru that pile and pick some out which is how i acquired this one.

[@poprocksradio]

@@MrMaricopa100 LOL...that has got to be one of the craziest stories I have ever heard! (Just shows there really is no bottom in the music business). I found them on Bandcamp and see that album was finally re-released in 2022 with the cooperation of the real band members...hopefully they're finally getting paid! Thanks again for sharing that craziness!

[@rickydaum3818]

Well I’m not sure I can agree on what is great but well done all the same 👍

[@poprocksradio]

Thank you! I figured there may be some debate on these albums...keeping the list to 5 really left out so many great ones. Thanks for watching!

[@MrMaricopa100]

Ursa Major - Ursa Major 1972.. I bought it 1972 for $1 new because nobody knew who they were. Offered much money for it because its one that really is hard to find. I won't sell it.

[@poprocksradio]

Great little rock album...their vocalist, Dick Wagner has quite a voice! Thanks for another great rec!

[@jometcalf1357]

Over in the UK Straight up wasn't released?? Damn Shame?! I'll keep searching for a copy tho!!😉

[@poprocksradio]

Hi Jo! From what I've read, they did release Straight Up in the UK a few months after the US release. What is mind-blowing, though, is that Apple was going to release Baby Blue as a single in the UK, then didn't for some reason. Unbelievable! Thanks, as always, for watching!

[@jometcalf1357]

Oh! @@poprocksradio my mistake, i thought it was taken off release by Apple? Such tragedy for such a talented band.

[@poprocksradio]

I think that part is correct! Sometime after the release, all of Badfinger's albums were removed from the Apple catalog (think the same thing happened at WB, as well). These guys just couldn't catch a break...

[@geraldtanderson9044]

I bought it around 1978 in America, as an "Import" on Apple Records, from Germany. I don't know if that's how all of them came out?

[@bobinscotland]

@@poprocksradio Apple was collapsing at that very moment, which is why BABY BLUE was not released. The albums were deleted in May 1975 from the catalogues of Warner Brothers and APPLE following the sad death of Pete Ham in April 1975. Just a note to add that Todd Rundgren never actually produced a full album with the band, as Geoff Emerick originally produced Straight Up but the masters were rejected by APPLE. George Harrison took over and did new sessions on those songs, including playing on DAY AFTER DAY, but was too busy with his Concert For Bangladesh to complete the project (Badfinger also played on that concert). Todd Rundgren came in at that point to finish the sessions and do some remixes on the previous work. Todd also started the next album but walked away when there was a problem with finances due to Allen Klein restructuring APPLE.

[@ralphmilano1703]

i found something/ anything at the salvation army few years ago.

[@poprocksradio]

Nice!

[@ralphmilano1703]

my ex kept my straight up lp, says she cant find it.

[@poprocksradio]

Think I’ve heard that story before from an ex or two myself. 😂. Hope you track it down! Thx for watching!

[@goodtimefolkrock]

Bandwagonesque is very common whaddya talking about

[@poprocksradio]

Oh man, I wanna know where you shop! 😂. Thanks for watching!

[@fredricclack7137]

TODD 🎉😊

[@poprocksradio]

One word says it all! We're a big fan of that guy on this channel. 😀. Thanks for watching!

[@fredricclack7137]

🎶🎭Prod, Eng, 🕯️🪨⭐

[@petercena9497]

Tinted Windows, power pop from a peculiar foursome: Taylor Hanson James Iha Adam Schlesinger Bun E. Carlos

[@poprocksradio]

LOVE that album! I didn’t think it had been released on vinyl as of yet, but I poked around a little and see Amazon lists it as a preorder coming out in April 2024. 🤞🏼. Thanks for watching!

[@popfanatic1]

@@poprocksradio I hope so! I just checked Amazon and a vinyl version is not even listed. Going to keep checking on that one!! Thanks!

[@heathhadsell]

funny. i got 'straight up' at plastic fantastic in bryn mawr in 1981or 82

[@poprocksradio]

Looked them up...seems like it was a pretty cool record store. 😀. Thanks for watching!

[@frankbartoszak7637]

With respect to Todd Rundgren and bad finger I can live without these albums

[@juanblondo4163]

word

[@bobinscotland]

Can't live...if living is without you.

[@mikespins5894]

Very cool channel, cool power pop info, I had to sub you up, I talk rock vinyl on my channel and post a few concert clips "Something Anything" and Big Star great stuff, Thanks for sharing, Peace!

[@poprocksradio]

@mikesgotthespins5894 Thank you! Followed you, back...anyone who has Cheap Trick as their channel banner is cool with me. 😀 Looking forward to checking out your videos! Cheers!

[@mikespins5894]

@@poprocksradio Thank you, very kind, have a great week!

[@thebenefactor6744]

Suitcase, suitcase.

[@poprocksradio]

"It's all inside a game we've been playin' so long..." 😀. Thanks for watching!

[@g2theg]

4 out of 5 are wrong, only the Bad finger is ok and it could easily be replaced with Paul Collins Beat

[@poprocksradio]

Definitely can't go wrong with anything by Paul Collins. I think the only one I have come across in the wild is The Beat s/t. Do you have a fav PCB album?

[@GNewcomb-q9v]

Who actually talks about Badfinger? I’m the past 30 years, when have you heard people talking about Badfinger vinyl? Tod can be found anywhere where I live, even the one you claim in this vid! Big Star is also found with ease! The others are in the category of WHO? You also have to realize that stores will not buy what can’t be sold! It makes sense for them not to! Unless someone comes in asking for lesser known albums, they just don’t bother with them! You also can’t put stock in what you see on the net for price’s because people get the idea they can make a killing off these “hard to find” albums!

[@poprocksradio]

I agree...but I would say that in the past 30 years, we haven't heard people talking about Badfinger enough! Such a great band that deserves more love, and I hope to do what I can about that here. Thanks for watching!

[@cocarr1]

Opinions on the internet are just that.

[@mikepanick9362]

Wish by The Cure

[@poprocksradio]

Great album!

[@SpenceCurry]

Gracepool s/t. Everyones keeper

[@poprocksradio]

Ah! Great call! Grace Pool has come up before...both of their albums are awesome and Elly Brown's voice is just lovely, if you ask me. Thanks for that!

[@SpenceCurry]

@@poprocksradio what became of elly brown and her etheral voice and beauty?

[@SpenceCurry]

Ist gracepool has better line up and Steve Nye producing. But where we live has autumn freeze a song that defines gracepool. Taylor Swift should do covers of stay and still the heart

[@poprocksradio]

@@SpenceCurry I found her on Facebook, but I'm not really clear what she is up to these days. Hope she knows she and her gift are missed!

[@jackadesman7143]

Wish You Were Here by Badfinger is even better than Straight Up!!!!!!

[@poprocksradio]

That is a really great album! I've been spending more time with it lately...you might be right (though Baby Blue still gives Straight Up the edge, for me.). 😀. Thanks for watching!

[@jeffthrow6892]

Eh.....I wouldn't say better, but just as good. So is No Dice too. Love Badfinger!

[@poprocksradio]

Thanks for watching!

[@boataxe4605]

Freak out,by the Mothers of invention.

[@poprocksradio]

Another great album!

[@susanmurray7654]

Estate Sales baby

[@poprocksradio]

Yes! Fun hobby to go spelunking through those, too. 😀. Thanks for watching!

[@Slapjabber]

String Driven Thing.

[@poprocksradio]

Ok, I have to admit I had to look them up...hadn't heard them before. I listened to a few tracks...not exactly power pop, but really pretty good! Thanks for sharing, and thanks for watching!

[@Slapjabber]

@@poprocksradio The only album I have of theirs is ‘Keep Yer And On It’. Ways of a Woman and Stand Back in Amazement are cool tracks. Thanks!

[@PageMarker1]

UFO. Phenomenon Humble Pie. Live at the Fillmore The Who Quadrophenia Led Zeppelin. Physical Graffiti The Doors. L.A. Woman

[@poprocksradio]

All great!

[@PageMarker1]

@@poprocksradio Thanks there, you're quite a good sport! It might be more accurate to say that I've never been to a used record store where I didn't see that Humble Pie album...))

[@poprocksradio]

@PageMarker1 Thanks! lol...I don't remember that album being so bad! Tastes change, I suppose. I asked my kids if they knew who Humble Pie was, and they all stared blankly back at me. So much work to do! 😂

[@PageMarker1]

@@poprocksradio I am Steve Marriott fan, admittedly. Frampton didn't come out of nowhere like I'd thought back in '76. He was far better than I thought. One reply = one new subscriber. Wish you all the best in raising kids these days, that can't be easy!

[@poprocksradio]

@@PageMarker1 Thanks...I appreciate that! It has its moments, for sure. 😂. Marriott and Frampton - both fine guitar players! I have to say, this is the best part of the channel...I love chatting about music with everyone...I've learned a lot and been introduced to so much good music that somehow escaped me. Cheers!

[@alexradionow5666]

All good - but nothing necessary,

[@poprocksradio]

I’ll take that! Thanks for watching!

[@charlesjoy3091]

And I won't be looking for any of them !!!!!

[@poprocksradio]

😂. Thanks for watching, just the same!

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

That big star album might be one of the most overrated of all time

[@jimmycoleman5853]

Don’t tell that to Westerberg

[@IraSiegel]

It’s boring. File next to Velvet Underground. 🍌 Just cool to say you like them maaaaan.

[@alexandertijerina1658]

Well you’re *definitely* wrong

[@deoppressoli-bear2600]

That don’t even make any sense

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

@@IraSiegel I tend to agree, although I do like the velvet underground. They're the types of albums that others say "you must have in your collection" There's a lot of bandwagoning that goes on in the music world, especially amongst vinyl collectors, just because original copies of some albums are difficult to find it doesn't mean they're great.