Under The Radar (Holy Grails?)

[stylesforfree]

I have a pretty decent grasp of certain artists and releases from various parts of the world, my main taste hovers around the funk/soul/psych/jazz spectrum, usually its a fusion of a number of these styles that I really enjoy but I do like the occasional folk and disco stuff.
I usually try and hunt down some of the lesser known stuff or releases that aren't so highly priced (as you might have gathered from my Prog Jazz Rock that doesnt cost an arm and a leg thread) from former soviet states, Japan, China, South America and so on and so forth.

When I use the term holy grail im not referring to those albums that have been given this name by certain collectors or certain record books that document the recommended reselling price, but rather something you consider to be one of those albums that you think "oh my god this blows my mind"

Im going to just name some of my personal favourites that maybe others on here might not know of or they might be already well regarded by everyone on here, because i've never really done a post like this, I usually just ask for something from others, so here it goes:

Noboo Hara/Nobou Hara and his Sharps & Flats http://www.discogs.com/%D0%A8%D0%B0%...elease/2732725 I think this is a self titled release, early 70's bop with some spiritual vibes released on the russian label Melody/Melodia, love this record so much.

Los Humahuacas – Altiplano - El Canto Indoamericano http://www.discogs.com/Altiplano-El-...elease/1608460 South American folk fusion with a whole host of head nodding numbers, beautiful music. Released on the Belgian label Arcade Records.

Bappi Lahiri – Toote Khilone http://www.discogs.com/Bappi-Lahiri-...elease/4354494 Not sure how to define this one, its a bit of a mish mash of traditional styles with jazzy/funky instrumentation. Pretty damn good.


Brooklyn Skyways – Without God's Love http://www.discogs.com/Brooklyn-Skyw...elease/4606759 killer gospel sounds, love this one too.

Various – April Orchestra Vol. 28 - Présente Florilege De La Musique Contemporaine Tchecoslovaque http://www.discogs.com/Various-April...elease/4224430 Prog funk rock, some weird orchestral stuff on here too, just brilliant.

Masabumi Kikuchi - Wishes/Kochi http://www.discogs.com/Kochi-Wishes/release/3583068 One of my favourite Jazz records that i've ever heard, sickly fusion.

Yuji Ohno & His Project – Proof Of The Man http://www.discogs.com/Yuji-Ohno-His...elease/2117132 Killer jazz disco funk, one of his best projects imo.

Soft Rock – Invention http://www.discogs.com/Soft-Rock-Inv...elease/1918628 a golden release arranged by non other than Nick Ingman, some amazing renditions of popular classics with brilliant interpretations and some of my favourite production.

[emperor tomato ketchup]

While a list of great under the radar records is a good thing, surely this use is the opposite of what "grail" actually means. The point of a grail is not whether its any good but the very fact that it is rare and sought after that by many confers grail status.

It's not as though Sir Gawain could have come back to Camelot saying "My liege, I know we sought the Holy Grail, a unique and blessed vessel which contained the blood of Christ Our Saviour so as to heal the King and the Land from the accursed plague which bedevils us . Well I didn't find that but after braving the Forest Perilous for many moons I found some really groovy Toby Jugs."

[stylesforfree]

While a list of great under the radar records is a good thing, surely this use is the opposite of what "grail" actually means. The point of a grail is not whether its any good but the very fact that it is rare and sought after that by many confers grail status.

It's not as though Sir Gawain could have come back to Camelot saying "My liege, I know we sought the Holy Grail, a unique and blessed vessel which contained the blood of Christ Our Saviour so as to heal the King and the Land from the accursed plague which bedevils us . Well I didn't find that but after braving the Forest Perilous for many moons I found some really groovy Toby Jugs."

You're right, I didnt put much thought into the thread title then as I started typing I wasnt sure what I was trying to say, although referring to a records status, as rare and highly sought after, one person might not consider one thing to be of the grail status where another might.

Like the pioneer and technics CD 4 LP's that were released as a promo only with certain pioneer turntables and speakers during the 70's in Japan to demonstrate the quality of the 4 channel stereo imaging that they produced, I have a few of these, the music on some of them is pretty damn good but by no means would I consider them to be of the status some others give them.

[eine]

Can one have a personal grail or even a secret grail? I think this is the stuff that gnosticism is made of.

Noboo Hara/Nobou Hara and his Sharps & Flats http://www.discogs.com/%D0%A8%D0%B0%...elease/2732725 I think this is a self titled release, early 70's bop with some spiritual vibes released on the russian label Melody/Melodia, love this record so much.

Befittingly, have not heard of any of these records! This sounds right up my gnostic back passage though. Thanks for the tip!

[Ian Townsend]

I've just checked a few out and there are some bloody marvellous suggestions there! Thank you for sharing.

[mr sayers]

Brass knucles.

"Soft rock' is an old Vulture classic.

If you don't know think you might also like this -

http://www.discogs.com/Nick-Ingman-T.../master/299413

[babycart]

I´d love to hear more Sharps & Flats stuff. I´ve got a couple of the Spanish releases of the Big Band Scope lps they did with the Tokyo Cuban Boys. Goldfinger is rubbish but Super Golden Hits is amazing.
The Tokyo Boys 10" lp of Japanese folk songs with Chieri Emi is one of my personal treasures. Strange and beautiful record.

[pencilface]

Bappi Lahiri – Toote Khilone http://www.discogs.com/Bappi-Lahiri-...elease/4354494 Not sure how to define this one, its a bit of a mish mash of traditional styles with jazzy/funky instrumentation. Pretty damn good.

This one should be easy to get hold of for less than a tenner, for those that dig it - pops up all the time. some cool tunes on it, ben meaning to put one in a mix for a while

Love the sound of that Noboo Hara LP - never heard of that before!

[stylesforfree]

Can one have a personal grail or even a secret grail? I think this is the stuff that gnosticism is made of.

This is what I mean, these records are my personal grails, this is how I should have phrased it to start with and yes, I think you can, there's no reason why not.

Here's some more


Perez Prado - Now http://www.discogs.com/Perez-Prado-Now/release/1933838 Some cool breaks on this one, but some cheese too.

Inoue Band - Sunrise http://www.discogs.com/%E4%BA%95%E4%...elease/2860716 Heavy Japanese funk/jazz fusion

Duke Pearson - The Phantom http://www.discogs.com/Duke-Pearson-...release/577698 Undeniable classic

Asakawa Maki - World of Maki Asakawa http://www.discogs.com/%E6%B5%85%E5%...C/master/56866

UGH! killer.

[medlar]

Here's a grail:

http://www.discogs.com/Herbert-Halm-.../master/629198

Herbert does his thing to Porgy and Bess over a whole side of goodness. I was well happy with this find last year, and wondered how did it ever get released? Those were the days!

I should add that Herbert wasn't a grail that I was looking for, Herbert found me, amongst a pile of classical piano related records.

[priima]

Noboo Hara/Nobou Hara and his Sharps & Flats http://www.discogs.com/%D0%A8%D0%B0%...elease/2732725 I think this is a self titled release, early 70's bop with some spiritual vibes released on the russian label Melody/Melodia, love this record so much.

Probably one of the most common "jazz" releases on Melodiya - usually when I see one of the "jazz" generic sleeves, I hope for "grail" and it turns out to be another copy of "Sharps end flets". : )

[Tsundoku]

I don't know if I have a grail at the moment. Two of the records I wanted most when I started collecting again I now own - the Les Vampyrettes 12" and the Voices of Conquest 45. I find collecting records so dizzying, there's simply so much amazing stuff out there, a glut of downloads and MP3s, not having time to listen, a lot of things that I'm simply not going to pay the going rate for. ... I find it hard enough to narrow down what I want, let alone consider grails. I'm probably having some weird collecting mid-life crisis. Part of this is due to mostly getting off on things I've found randomly lately and purchased having no idea what they are.

Having said that, I will probably think of 15 things I want desperately within 5 seconds of posting this.

Edit: Hmmm... Just looked at my saved searches and the only thing I've really wanted for an age is The Kinsmen "Glasshouse Green".

[Cochise]

Is it perhaps the elusive White Whale which we seek as individuals, rather than the collectively quested Holy Grail?

[eine]

Probably one of the most common "jazz" releases on Melodiya - usually when I see one of the "jazz" generic sleeves, I hope for "grail" and it turns out to be another copy of "Sharps end flets". : )

Hmm, I'll have one please priima

[eine]

Is it perhaps the elusive White Whale which we seek as individuals, rather than the collectively quested Holy Grail?

Aha! We have found the terminology!