The 100% solid album and the trumpet threads started me thinking about groups or artists that never found real mainstream success, even though they made excellent music.

I offer the early 1990s band The Blessing and their lead singer, William Topley:

The Vapors
X

The first band that came to mind was Uma. I saw them in concert in the 90s. I think this song was played by a few indie/alternative radio stations, but as far as I know they never hit the mainstream. I don't know if I can say they made excellent music, but I really liked them, particularly this song:




Link to original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g99yUFz7dQk

quote:

Originally posted by sasquatch28:
groups or artists that never found real mainstream success, even though they made excellent music.

Easy. The Replacements.

Arguably, they invented "alternative rock". Anti-social, flannel wearing, heart on the sleeves, hard rocking, loud songs, all back in the early-mid 80s. Influenced a ton of bands. IMO, one of the best American bands in the last 50 years. In their initial run, perhaps sold 200,000 albums of each release, at best. Still to this day, most people have no idea who they are.

Shooting Star had some success and a decent career, I guess, but they never became a household name.

I saw them live at WEBN's Riverfest in Cincinnati in the '80s and they were great.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlyG-BgUduE

Strange Advance - Worlds Away
I consider myself a fairly knowledgeable fan of alternative 80's music. This band flew completely under my radar. Had this song never appeared on an episode of "Almost Human", I probably would have never heard this song or learned of the band.

quote:

Originally posted by mr kablammo:
The Vapors
X

+1 for X,

seems folks that know who they are love them,


hard tho to say what making it big is nowadays,

Stranglers,
Numan (considered a one hit wonder by some)
XTC

and a few other prolific bands come to mind that may , or may not, fit the description