I have written in the past about "unknown sounds." Before April 9, 1860, there were no sound recordings. Songs were often published and played around the family piano or in other live settings. But there was no way to preserve the music beyond a print copy of the score. To 'stream' a song, you had to follow the notation. Another kind of 'unheard' music exists in the server abyss of the major streaming platforms.
Around 38 million tracks on streaming services were payed zero times in 2022- nearly a quarter of all the songs, and I wanted to know what that number represented in terms of actual music. There is a website called Forgotify that indexes all of these tracks and allows you to sort through them randomly and individually. Despite looking for current, overlooked treasures, most of what I found was re-issued music from the public domain (mainly within the Classical genre) or tracks with titles like How to Protect Your Health Care After Retirement.
The alternative is one in which millions of contemporary songwriters have put effort into digital distribution, only to have their creations disappear, a single blade of grass in an ever expanding pasture. I distributed two albums to streaming services last year and was consistently disappointed by the weekly reports. It's easier than ever to get your music distributed, but that also means there is much more competition. I get occasional streams on Spotify, but I am part of the forgotten on Apple Music. I had a few plays when the songs were first released, then a consistent nothing. All of my songs on Spotify have been streamed less than a thousand times. It's easy to become invisible, especially if, despite best efforts, you can't seem to understand effective marketing.
Do Not Weep; Do Not Wax Indignant. Understand.
-Spinoza
Given that a quarter of tracks have never been streamed and a lot more have only been streamed once, I don't think that genuinely independent artists should feel frustrated when they have a similar experience. Streaming platforms provide the most financial benefit to major stadium-filling acts and pay the rest of us fractions of pennies for the most part. Other sites better serve the bedroom artists and listeners who tend to stray from the mainstream. Bandcamp is my preferred platform.
There were, of course, hundreds of tracks that I passed over myself when putting this playlist together. Only some songs are going to resonate. Those first plays are designated for another's taste profile. But, by the end of a few evenings of previewing songs, I had over two hours of compiled music. It was a satisfying experience to give these songs their first play on Spotify and to sit down and enjoy something genuinely obscure or, in most cases, just lost to time. It would be easier to find obscurity by spending an hour on Bandcamp or Radio Garden -The Google Earth of Radio Stations. Similarly, searching The Great 78 Project for the forgotten is much simpler. But easier is not always as rewarding.
Note: This list is based on a trust I have put into Forgotify to do what it says it does - highlight tracks with zero plays. I have no idea what the backend looks like on the site. If, for some reason, someone on this list has millions of streams, I apologize for the inclusion. In many cases, play counts are not even displayed. Forgotify is, more than anything, just a fun tool to find music that the Almighty Algorithm wouldn't usually present.
Here is the tracklist, with any additional information I could find relating to each.
[1] I Feel Good - The Gospel Tones, Juanita Johnson: This Group was founded in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1964. They had success touring the high school circuit in the United States. They, at one point, toured with former members of the Blind Boys of Alabama. There is a living energy on this record. The group repeats the word "good" around eighty-five times, and each time it feels fresh. The rollicking guitar buried beneath the voices seems to speak in tongues.
[2] Gunei Dogdu Daglara - Aytac Ergen: Born in Skopje Turkey in 1957. Ergen studied both architecture and mechanical engineering before entering the Turkish Music State Conservatory in 1979. He is now an archivist and preservationist working on the Muallim İsmâil Hakkı Bey Collection, which consists of 378 of the composer's manuscript books. Ergen has spent a great deal of time studying the music he sings, which is evident in the precision with which it is performed. This song begins with a slow, floating movement before moving into a rousing rhythm around the two-minute mark. I danced a wireless earbud right out of my ear while listening.
[3] Las Vegas Blues - Illinois Jacquet: Born in 1922, he is best remembered for his solo on Lionel Hampton's Flying Home, considered by many to be the first R&B Saxophone solo. He played with Cab Calloway's band and, in 1944, started a band with his brother, Russell, and a largely unknown Charles Mingus. He was an activist who challenged the rules of the Jim Crow South while on Tour. His style of "Honking" became a staple of Rock & Roll following its evolution out of the R&B genre.
[4] I Love Paris - Annie Ross: Another jazz song about a place. Ross was a child actor. Born to a famous Scottish Vaudeville family, she sailed to New York at three. While there, she won a contract with MGM and wouldn't see her parents again for 14 years. Her musical fame came in the 1950s and early 60s as the third member of the famous Jazz trio Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross. In 1962 she had a near-fatal heroin overdose and suffered from addiction for years afterward. She re-emerged as an actress in the 1980s and 90s, appearing in Robert Altman's The Player and Short Cuts.
[5] Aaj Jyotsnaraate Sabai Gechhe Bone- Kanika Banerjee: A student of Rabindranath Tagore, she toured as a member of his troupe. A regular on All India Radio, she a recorded over 300 records. Her voice evokes the smoothness and beauty of the flute while also providing a contrary sense of melancholy.
[6] Dazy - Uncle Skunkle and the Scarecrow Family Band: This song is on a compilation called Gypnosis that came out in 2012. Their name is a hot mess, but so is the music - in a good way. The track's unpolished production and sheer deliriousness remind me of the basement version of the band Idles -without the British accent. Only a little info out there on this crew. They're from Kentucky, and according to a comment section on another blog, they occasionally wear Zoot suits - a fact that doesn't surprise me.
[7] Queen of Air and Light - Carey Nutman: Despite an early love of theatre and choir in grammar school, Nutman spent most of his life as a pharmacist, writing and recording electronic music on the side. In 1992, at 44, he decided to pursue a Masters degree in composition. He founded MPS Music in 1994, a label "dedicated to the very best in electronic, electroacoustic & contemporary new music." This is a 17-minute piece that I've listened to at least three times now. It manages a soft complexity in its largely ambient atmosphere. His work deserves a lot more attention and praise. It is the perfect soundtrack for writing. It is relaxing but engaging enough not to get a case of the ZzZzZzs.
[8] San Diego Serenade- Shinji Tonomura: There are plenty of cover songs on Forgotify. This is the one that moved me the most. It's an early Tom Waits song, so in my mind, it's more of a standard at this point. I used to prefer the post-Rain Dogs era Waits, but I've changed my tune in recent years. Tonomura makes this his own, not only because he sings the song in Japanese (I think anyway). His simple, slightly faster arrangement, in which the guitar replaces the piano, perfectly captures the music's spirit. I couldn't find any information on Tonomura. Sometimes the mystery is just as lovely as the knowledge, though.
[9] If I Didn't Care - The Ink Spots: This is an example of the same music being distributed repeatedly by over and over- just trying to make a buck. Many versions of this exact recording (including the one I added) have a ton of streams, but some versions have never been played. This was recorded in 1939, so it's not in the public domain yet, but whoever owns the rights allows it to be released on many compilation albums. The Ink Spots have certainly not been forgotten, but their contribution to the development of R&B, Doo-Wop, and even early rock and roll was essential, and I was offended that even one version of this song had zero plays.
[10] Uncle Josh's Trip to Coney Island - Cal Stewart: This was a very charming find—an aural history of one joyous day trip to Coney Island. Uncle Josh's laugh has endless charm. Other hits include at a Camp Meeting and at the Department Store. Not really music, but he does sing a little at one point.
[11] Consequences - Rolf Ericson: Another largely overlooked jazz musician who worked alongside Charles Mingus. Born in Sweden in 1922, he moved to New York in 1947 and became a very accomplished trumpeter playing with Duke Ellington, Buddy Rich, and Max Roach, among others. He bounced back and forth between the US and Sweden over his lifetime. This record was recorded in 1972. He would continue to release music until 1997, when he passed. This song sounds incredibly contemporary to my ears.
[12] Tere Ishq Nachaya- Nayyara Noor:
One of Pakistan's most famous singers died last year. She was a "Playback Singer," meaning she pre-recorded much of her work for use in films where the actors would lip-sync. A Hollywood example is Marni Nixon singing Maria's parts for Natalie Wood in West Side Story. Noor made her singing debut in 1971, beginning with TV serials and moving on to films, like 1973's Gharana. Later, she would dedicate much of her artistic output to singing Ghazals, which is a song form of Urdu poetry.
[13] We Are Such Stuff As Dreams Are Made On- Ian Carr: This is a reasonably experimental jazz piece. The combination of organ and back alley saxophone is a strange one. It evokes a clash of interests, street toughs, and deacons battling it out in an otherwise empty void. It ends with what sounds like a single blow of a referee's whistle as if the game has been called. I'm not confident who won the fight. Carr was a Scottish composer who performed with the jazz-fusion group Nucleus. He wrote a regular column for BBC Music Magazine and two biographies of Jazz greats Keith Jarrett and Miles Davis.
[14] Goodbye, Sugarplum - Dominic Margioti: This is the only artist on here that has had a release in the last year. This particular song immediately reminded me of the band Keane, who had a big hit in 2004 with Somewhere Only We Know. They both have a pleasant softness aided by Mellotron flute textures and are easily digestible pop treats. There is no reason that this song should not have thousands of plays. The album that this is from, The Pearly Gate Parade, reportedly received quite a bit of play on college radio. There is no replacement for a college radio DJ who cares about music. Streaming will never be able to do that.
[15] Mensaje a La Patria Dolorosa- Gregorio Santiago: No information on this artist or song. The sparseness of the track is super appealing. The vivid guitar lines interspersed with Santiago's impassioned speech are all that is needed. As a side note, some digital popping is at the end of this track. I came across quite a few songs on Forgotify where attention to detail was ignored in favor of a quick upload.
[16] Oklahoma Moon - Oscar Brand: With a career spanning 70 years and a legacy of nearly 300 compositions, Brand should be more widely remembered in the folk community. He hosted a radio show on WNYC-AM 820 that ran for the entire length of his long career. The House Committee on Un-American Activities referred to his show as a "pipeline to communism." Though not a communist, he gave a voice to blacklisted artists such as Paul Robeson and Josh White. Perhaps most interesting is his role in the development of Sesame Street, where by some accounts, due to his differing vision for the show, his demeanor inspired a character- Oscar the Grouch. I love the little whistle interlude in this piece.
[17] The Bonnie Lass of Headlake Set- Iain Fraser: Again, no information out there on Fraser. His profile picture reveals him as the fiddle player on this song. This composition was written in 1940 by Gordon F. MacQuarrie. I love the authenticity of the cello and violin playing off one another.
[18] Tikkalikka- Topi ja Toivottomat: This is a Finnish dance band from the 1970s. No further information is available. I would love to know what the dance that accompanies this looks like.
[19] O Epaggelmatias- Grigoris Asikis: Born in 1890, Asikis was a Greek singer and songwriter in Rebetiko- a catch-all term to describe urban Greek music of the poorest sections of society. Playing the Outi, or Greek Oud, he recorded a total of 82 songs.
[20] Live a Little - Green Palm Radiation: Simple, beautiful harmonies set against an approachable guitar, ambient organ, and background noise that sounds a bit like a younger brother practicing skateboarding on the street. This is the project of Canadian songwriter Jay Newberry. I loved this song so much that I went to Bandcamp to purchase another of his EPs - 2012's Underneath the Rage.
[21] Nyar Gem - Bana Kadori: This group has been part of the Kenyan music scene for nearly thirty years. They play a genre known as Benga. The syncopated beat, playful guitar, and dancing bass make this track another gem.
[22] Montreal- How's Your News: This is a group of reporters with developmental disabilities who interviewed celebrities and politicians as part of an MTV show and feature film. The concept was developed long before the movie or show at Camp Jabberwocky - the oldest sleepaway camp for people with disabilities in America. When I learned that Trey Parker and Matt Stone of South Park fame had produced the film, I was worried that it was exploitative, but that is not happening here. The film has a ton of heart as they travel the US in a painted bus, stopping at one point to pick up a "hitchhiking" John Stamos. These songs were made for the film as they stopped in different locales.
[23] Cantiga #7 - Santa Maria Amar - The Ivory Consort: This is an ensemble founded by Jay Elfenbein specializing in performing historically informed Medieval music.
[24] Pepita De Mallorca - Hector Delfosse, His Accordion, and Band: I couldn't locate any biographical info, but I love that the accordion is given primary billing on the album. He clearly loves playing the thing. The doubling and then call and response between the guitar and accordion is super charming.
[25] Other Side of Midnight - Levi and The Rockats: This is from a live set at The Louisiana Hayride recorded in 1979. The band was one of the major groups involved in the neo-rockabilly movement of the 1980s. Their style influenced both the Stray Cats and the Blasters. Their most significant success came with the song Make That Move in 1984.
[26] Hard Road to Travel- Brownie McGhee: A significant figure in the Piedmont Blues tradition - a stylization incorporating an alternating thumb bass string alternating pattern with a syncopated rhythm on the treble strings. The style was also called East Coast or Southeastern Blues. He played in the Rabbit Foot Minstrels alongside Blind Boy Fuller. In 1942 he joined up with his friend and harmonica player Sonny Terry. They were billed as pure folk artists but had previously attempted to be a lively jump blues combo. The two can be seen in Steve Martin's The Jerk.
[27] Visita a Greta - Versione 2 - Umberto Pisano, Edda Dell'Orso: This is from the soundtrack for The 1973 horror movie La Morte Ha Sorriso All Assassino (Death Smiles on a Murderer) by director Joe D'Amato. The film stars Ewa Aulin and Klaus Kinski. The composer Berto Pisano had a background in jazz but went on to write pop hits for Italian stars such as Mina. If the movie is half as unsettling as the music, it's probably a solid horror movie. Parts of this composition make me curious if John Carpenter was a fan.
[28] My Back Pages - The Direct Hits: This group from South London was formed in 1980. They toured relentlessly but failed to succeed in the mainstream and disbanded in 1987. They remind me of R.EM. with a dash of Beatles pop psychedelia.
[29] Et Maintenant - What Now My Love- Bud Dashiell, The Kinsmen: Dashiell is most remembered as
half of the folk duo Bud and Travis. They were major players in the 60s folk revival, releasing ten albums together (none of which are available on Spotify). Despite a harmonious stage presence, they had troubles off-stage and broke up in 1965. He was born in Paris to an English mother and an American correspondent. This track was recorded in 1968 and is a cover of a song by French singer Gilbert Bécaud. Dashiell offers a more intimate interpretation, almost as if you stumbled upon him playing in the fern-heavy forrest featured on the record's cover.
[30] Dancing Ivy - James and Elizabeth Johnson: This comes from a collection of songs called Plants: Music For All Life Everywhere. I couldn't locate any information on the musicians. I just like how enthusiastic they are about Ivy. This is easily the most triumphant song on the record. This is an excellent record to put on while reading The Secret Life of Plants alongside your favorite houseplant.
[31] Bananas- Tiny Grimes and his Rocking Highlanders: This is a fun song too. Maybe play this for your banana tree? Tiny Grimes is a fantastic name, also. He played the four-string tenor guitar, a rarity in jazz. The Highlanders included a young Screaming Jay Hawkins on vocals. He co-headlined the First Moondog Coronation Ball, which was promoted by Allen Freed and considered by many to be the first Rock and Roll Concert.
[32] Tu No Eres Eso - Sara Montiel: A towering figure in the history of Spanish Cinema, she began acting at 16. Her early Spanish films include Mariona Redbull and Madness for Love. In 1954 she made her Hollywood debut with Vera Cruz. She recorded soundtrack albums for many of her movies. Today we often scoff when we see an actor who sings or a singer who acts. Montiel is a reminder that some people embody both talents with equal brilliance.
This compilation has been a constant companion this week. It consists of mostly electronic works, though, there are a few outliers. There Are No Big Tommorows by Erlenmeyer is a favorite- a masterful piece of Intelligent Dance Music. The album opener Caliza by El Jardinero (prod. Daniel Van Lion) moves through space in unpredictable, yet smooth movements. All proceeds from this album go to members of the LGBTQ+ and sex worker communities that have been impacted by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria - marginalized groups who struggled with housing even before the earthquake.
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