Great Musicians With Very Little Recorded Material

**Frownland** · 06-22-2019, 06:44 PM

With all of the prolific artists who get a lot of clout, I thought it'd be interesting to explore the other end of the spectrum. The artists who put out barely any albeit incredible work are often victims of label risk aversion and sometimes it's just a matter of avoiding overstaying one's welcome. Sometimes they do a whoopsie and die on us.

Post your favourite non-prolific artists and speculate widely as to why they don't have a Zorn-level sprawling discography while you're at it. If it's a little less clear than death, feel free to tell us why these artists have taken a step back if you're hip to the reasoning.

I'll kick it off with the explosive and exceptionally expressive jazz drumming of Hiroshi Yamazaki. He appeared on Kaoru Abe's Jazz Bed recorded in 1971 and Otomo Yoshihide's 14.11.16 with Evan Parker, but apart from that it's total radio silence. This one feels like a lack of a market unfortunately, but in a perfect world, there would be an excellent collab with Masayuki Takayanagi, among other things.

OccultHawk · 06-22-2019, 07:12 PM

One can make a strong case that Robert Johnson is the most influential musician of the 20th C and his complete recordings are just slightly over 100 minutes.

Reason: 27 Club 1938

**Frownland** · 06-22-2019, 07:18 PM

Absolutely.

In the vein of older artists, Norma Tanega seems like her work was cut short

Neapolitan · 06-23-2019, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

Absolutely.

In the vein of older artists, Norma Tanega seems like her work was cut short

Back when we use to plug together I would play "Walkin' My Cat Named Dog" and "A Street That Rhymes At 6 A.M." I am surprised you mentioned her, outside of Captain Beefheart I thought we had nothing in common. I actually played those two songs more times than Chula Vista played Peter Frampton "Show Me the Way."

Norma only released two albums on her own, but recorded nine albums with various group projects. For those reasons stated I don't know how to place her. Is she a prolific or non-prolific artist? I trust you with whatever criterion you used to describe her as non-prolific.

Hank "Sugarfoot" Garland - Sugarfoot Rag

Hank Garland was part of the Nashville A-Team. He recorded a four solo albums in the span of two years. Then in September 1961 he was in an automobile accident that ended his recording career.

John Chowning - Stria

John Chowning invented FM synthesis while working at Stanford University in the late 60s. Stanford licensed it to Yamaha in the 70s and it took till the 80s where it became a household item. The the most popular FM synthesizer was the DX7 which was used by Brian Eno to A-ha. In some elusive way John Chowning changed the soundscape of music.

For whatever reason John Chowning did not pursue recording and releasing music, which I think is a shame. If anyone in the world I released more albums it would be John Chowning. The one album of his work is a collection of four compositions he recorded over the span of several years. His last composition was in '05.

OccultHawk · 06-22-2019, 07:35 PM

Norma Tanega?

Your autocorrect must really be getting over zealous

**Frownland** · 06-22-2019, 07:37 PM

*Closa Noughega

OccultHawk · 06-22-2019, 07:39 PM

https://www.musicbanter.com/2057431-post515.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

Staffan Harde

http://staffanharde.bandcamp.com/album/staffan-harde

The Free Jazz Collective: Staffan Harde – Staffan Harde (Corbett vs. Dempsey, 2015) ****½

https://m.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/...ett-vs-dempsey

Almost 50 years too late it’s time to take notice of this revolutionary guitarist

If he’s still alive we all owe him an apology

Mondo Bungle · 06-22-2019, 07:49 PM

me

OccultHawk · 06-22-2019, 07:51 PM

The Shaggs

They created their own musical universe and left those who get it stunned by their brilliance.

Mondo Bungle · 06-22-2019, 07:52 PM

The Shaggs are just proto no wave

06-22-2019, 06:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	Great Musicians With Very Little Recorded Material With all of the prolific artists who get a lot of clout, I thought it'd be interesting to explore the other end of the spectrum. The artists who put out barely any albeit incredible work are often victims of label risk aversion and sometimes it's just a matter of avoiding overstaying one's welcome. Sometimes they do a whoopsie and die on us. Post your favourite non-prolific artists and speculate widely as to why they don't have a Zorn-level sprawling discography while you're at it. If it's a little less clear than death, feel free to tell us why these artists have taken a step back if you're hip to the reasoning. I'll kick it off with the explosive and exceptionally expressive jazz drumming of Hiroshi Yamazaki. He appeared on Kaoru Abe's Jazz Bed recorded in 1971 and Otomo Yoshihide's 14.11.16 with Evan Parker, but apart from that it's total radio silence. This one feels like a lack of a market unfortunately, but in a perfect world, there would be an excellent collab with Masayuki Takayanagi, among other things. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

06-22-2019, 07:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,006	One can make a strong case that Robert Johnson is the most influential musician of the 20th C and his complete recordings are just slightly over 100 minutes. Reason: 27 Club 1938 __________________ 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Member of the Year & Journal of the Year Champion Behold the Writing of THE LEGEND: https://www.musicbanter.com/members-...p-lighter.html

06-22-2019, 07:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	Absolutely. In the vein of older artists, Norma Tanega seems like her work was cut short __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

06-22-2019, 07:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,006	Norma Tanega? Your autocorrect must really be getting over zealous __________________ 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Member of the Year & Journal of the Year Champion Behold the Writing of THE LEGEND: https://www.musicbanter.com/members-...p-lighter.html

06-22-2019, 07:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	Closa Noughega __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.* d e a f b o x

06-22-2019, 07:51 PM	#9 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,006	The Shaggs They created their own musical universe and left those who get it stunned by their brilliance. __________________ 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Member of the Year & Journal of the Year Champion Behold the Writing of THE LEGEND: https://www.musicbanter.com/members-...p-lighter.html