My go-to response whenever this topic comes up, my favourite album off all time:

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov...700991mkr7.jpg

His music really defies catergorization, but I'd broadly call it psychedelic soul. Less succinctly put, if you can imagine Marvin Gaye and Jimi Hendrix doing a soul album with Brian Wison arranging the background harmonies, you're getting close. Intensely personal lyrics and unconventional songcraft that walks a fine line between the confessional and the universal.

If the above isn't obscure enough, my second choice is:

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov...341653ysvf.jpg

Pure pop in the Todd Rundgren/Beach Boys vein, and a damn shame that this is the only album he put out. One of my Desert Island Discs for sure.

My answer remains the same:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...2L._AA240_.jpg

Basehead - Play With Toys

"June and the Exit Wounds" sounds amazing. Strangely there is very little available on this band over the Web. I have ONE SONG from above mentioned album (Track 2) and would love the rest of it, though Im guessing its officially out of print as well as rare.

Kari Wuhrer : "Shiny"

Anyone remember Kari? This album has often been compared to JLP by Alanis, but I find it more Beatlesque than anything. Great melodies that will stick in your head. Fantastic album cover as well. Pity you can't find it anywhere anymore.

For those who liked Milla, I came across her "PeopleTree Sessions" CD in a store and didnt buy it because of the negative reviews. Now I cant find the CD anywhere when I decided to get it after all.

I have been looking for that disc for years and have never found it. I loved her first album.

Beyond Possession "Is Beyond Possession"

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...Possession.jpg

Greatest Trash/Punk album ever, good luck finding it :)

Buckleyesque, are you talking about "Highway Noise"? Funnily enough, the album came up on shuffle and I was listening to the song as I read your reply. I believe the original issue of the CD (on Parasol) is OOP, however it was licensed by Marina in Germany and issued with different cover art and a bonus track (one side of the 7" record that was included with vinyl pressings). I don't believe the original pressing commands high prices, due to its relative obscurity. I think I got mine on ebay for around $10 a couple of years ago.

And yes, it's a pity that this album and artist flew under everyone's radar - I myself was tipped to him by a fellow poster over on the Lewis Taylor boards who had some similar tastes (baroque pop) so decided to take a chance on it. As far as I know, he's left the music industry and is a computer programmer or something. Poster Buford T Pusser may have more info, he mentioned that a friend of his knew Todd or something. Either way, it's a damn shame that such a great talent couldn't parlay it into a career. I would have loved to see what he'd do next...

Thanks for the link. I've heard Girl of My Dreams on XM 44 Fred but not any of the rest of the album. Going to give it a listen!

That Bram Tchaikovsky album is an old fave; I may have another of his somewhere in my vinyl collection. You should also check out The Motors, the band he was in before he went solo.

The Supremes - Floy Joy (1972)

http://www.tonygreen.com/images/floy_joy.jpg

No doubt you've heard of them, but I can bet you've never heard of this album or any of its singles. The main reason why it's so obscure is because it was made without famous lead singer Diana Ross. In fact, the Supremes continued on for several years after Ms. Ross left the group but never regained the success they had with her. For me, this is the best work ever by the Supremes, and one of my favorite Motown albums. Up until this point, most albums by the Supremes were simply collections of hit singles with a few filler tracks thrown in... this was an attempt at making a cohesive album. Smokey Robinson was brought in to write and produce the project, and he made a collection of some of the most joyful soul-pop tunes ever produced by the Motown machine. This album boasts a more fuller sound and instrumentation and even features some excellent lead guitar on the album closer. Sadly, I don't even think this album is available on CD, so time to get out the dusty slab of vinyl (the best way to hear it anyway).