The most "UN-" song in a band's catalog

**Garden Dreamer** · 07-22-2016

Not limited to prog bands, name the one song in a band's catalog that is the most UN-like their signature sound or style. A song that you would play for someone and they would never guess that it's xxx band. If you're stuck for an example musically, I will allow for a rare lead vocal by someone in the band other than the signature lead vocalist -- for example, Queen's music is all over the map stylistically but everyone knows Freddie Mercury's voice; so if you played someone "I'm in Love with My Car" with drummer Roger Taylor singing, they may not be able to identify the band.

The first choices that come to mind:
The most UN-Chicago song I can think of is "Oh Thank You Great Spirit" from Chicago 8. A trippy psychedelic Terry Kath tune with an extended heavy guitar solo and abrupt ending to the song. No horns either. "Hideaway" from the same album is another contender; heavy riffing with no horns but Cetera's lead vocal may give it away.

If we can count ABWH as Yes, then the most UN-Yes tune is "Teakbois"

The most UN-Rolling Stones tune is "2,000 Light Years from Home".

**zravkapt** · 07-22-2016

AC/DC - Ride On
Zep - Hot Dog
Aerosmith - I Don't Want To Miss A Thing
The Beatles - Revolution #9
Van Halen - Sunday Afternoon In The Park
Janet Jackson - Black Cat
Tom Petty - Don't Come Around Here No More
ELP - Are You Ready, Eddy?
Soft Machine - Soft Space
Simon & Garfunkel - Save The Life Of My Child

Probably think of more later.

**Garden Dreamer** · 07-22-2016

Rush - tough to pick but I think I'll go with "Time Stand Still." Even though it was a well-known song, it's the only Rush tune to have someone other than Geddy on vocals (not including the barely-discernible background vocals credited to Alex and John on the first album).

Humble Pie - also another tough choice as they went through various styles but it was always an entire album, not a one-song deal. So I'll go with "Only a Roach" from the s/t third album, the only Pie tune with drummer Jerry Shirley singing lead. The Frampton/Marriott backing vocals in the chorus may give it away though.

**Rune Blackwings** · 07-22-2016

Originally Posted by Garden Dreamer

Not limited to prog bands, name the one song in a band's catalog that is the most UN-like their signature sound or style. A song that you would play for someone and they would never guess that it's xxx band. If you're stuck for an example musically, I will allow for a rare lead vocal by someone in the band other than the signature lead vocalist -- for example, Queen's music is all over the map stylistically but everyone knows Freddie Mercury's voice; so if you played someone "I'm in Love with My Car" with drummer Roger Taylor singing, they may not be able to identify the band.

The first choices that come to mind:
The most UN-Chicago song I can think of is "Oh Thank You Great Spirit" from Chicago 8. A trippy psychedelic Terry Kath tune with an extended heavy guitar solo and abrupt ending to the song. No horns either. "Hideaway" from the same album is another contender; heavy riffing with no horns but Cetera's lead vocal may give it away.

If we can count ABWH as Yes, then the most UN-Yes tune is "Teakbois"

The most UN-Rolling Stones tune is "2,000 Light Years from Home".

Arcturus-"The Journey"

This song is actually closer to a Knut M Valle solo than an Arcturus song. It is only one of two featuring his vocals (the other is "Arcturian Sign" where he is the supporting vocals doing hums and growls along with the music, where he is lead vocals on "The Journey"), is written by him and is heavily influenced by his Glacier records collaborations (Time Space and Circles, Solfeggio Body, and Mollarns Vaerk), as well as "free music" performances (jam sessions?) he participates in. It also hides his vocals behind the new age-ish music, unlike most Arcturus songs, where the vocals are very prominent.

**Facelift** · 07-22-2016

Genesis: Whodunnit?
Rush: Scars
Jethro Tull: Under Wraps
Neil Young: We R In Control
Grateful Dead: Tons of Steel

**zravkapt** · 07-22-2016

Originally Posted by zravkapt

Probably think of more later.

Here we go...

Tangerine Dream - Ultima Thule
ZZ Top - Manic Mechanic
Stevie Wonder - Contusion
Elton John - Out Of The Blue
Cat Stevens - Was Dog A Doughnut?
Can - Turtles Have Short Legs
Guns 'N Roses - My World
Steve Miller - Macho City
Hall & Oats - Winged Bull
Marvin Gaye - 'T' Plays It Cool
Eagles - Journey Of the Sorcerer
The Doors - The Mosquito
Leonard Cohen - Don't Go Home With Your Hard-On

**Garden Dreamer** · 07-22-2016

Originally Posted by Facelift

Rush: Scars

Ah, good one. Probably better than Time Stand Still.

**JKL2000** · 07-22-2016

For Rush, how about Broon's Bane and/or Hope, as those are (I think) their only two acoustic guitar-only instrumentals, and therefore less like Rush than Time Stand Still or Scars.

Marillion, I think it's easily Liquidity, as it's their only instrumental?

Pink Floyd - Seamus (or A New Machine Pts. I+II? Or On The Run? Or ...Pict?)

**JKL2000** · 07-22-2016

Hey Garden Dreamer, do cover versions count?

And how about tracks that aren't available on any official release?

If non-officially released songs count:

Todd Rundgren - Bebe's Behind (most people would think it was Howard Stern) Of course, if covers count then for Todd it might be something off of Faithful.

Echolyn - Wiblet

**Garden Dreamer** · 07-22-2016

No, let's eliminate cover versions. I wouldn't go for Hope and Broon's Bane for Rush either, I'm looking more for songs involving the full band rather than one member playing a solo instrumental. Because then you could name Cans and Brahms or Mood for a Day for Yes, but these are solo pieces.

**JKL2000** · 07-22-2016

Originally Posted by Garden Dreamer

No, let's eliminate cover versions. I wouldn't go for Hope and Broon's Bane for Rush either, I'm looking more for songs involving the full band rather than one member playing a solo instrumental. Because then you could name Cans and Brahms or Mood for a Day for Yes, but these are solo pieces.

Ok, fair enough. I guess that rules out The King Crimson Barbershop Quartet! and the Marillion track I mentioned.

I guess for Marillion I have to go with Hope For the Future, with it's faux latin sound. I'm one of the few people who like it! They humorously recounted performing the song in South America and sort of getting laughed off the stage because the latin sound was so un-authentic.

**Rune Blackwings** · 07-22-2016

Originally Posted by Garden Dreamer

No, let's eliminate cover versions. I wouldn't go for Hope and Broon's Bane for Rush either, I'm looking more for songs involving the full band rather than one member playing a solo instrumental. Because then you could name Cans and Brahms or Mood for a Day for Yes, but these are solo pieces.

The Arcturus song I mentioned is the whole band-Vortex is on backing vocals, Gruchot on violin, etc.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**JKL2000** · 07-22-2016

Since you didn't rule out covers:

IQ - Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep) (performed live, not sure if it's on an official live release or not)

**BravadoNJ** · 07-22-2016

Tramontane- Foreigner

**zravkapt** · 07-22-2016

Originally Posted by JKL2000

Marillion, I think it's easily Liquidity, as it's their only instrumental?

What about 'Cannibal Surf Babe'?

**PeterG** · 07-22-2016

Two that I absolutely love:

Budapest - Jethro Tull do Dire Straits
A Wooden Ship on Wheels - Cardiacs do a ska-light Madness/Specials/Clash mash-up

**JKL2000** · 07-22-2016

Originally Posted by zravkapt

What about 'Cannibal Surf Babe'?

I don't really think of that one as being so out there.

Really if you don't count instrumentals and covers, while Marillion has a lot of variety nothing really stands out as being un-Marillion. I know I mentioned Hope for the Future, but it still sounds like Marillion to me. Someone could probably make an argument for "House."

**Progatron** · 07-22-2016

Focus - Hocus Pocus

**Progbear** · 07-22-2016

Originally Posted by JKL2000

If non-officially released songs count:

Todd Rundgren - Bebe's Behind

I thought I was the only one who knew that existed!

**Oreb** · 07-22-2016

Chicago, "Free Form Guitar"

Marillion, "Kayleigh"

**JKL2000** · 07-22-2016

Originally Posted by Oreb

Chicago, "Free Form Guitar"

Marillion, "Kayleigh"

Eh, Kayleigh? Is that a joke?

**Oreb** · 07-23-2016

Originally Posted by JKL2000

Eh, Kayleigh? Is that a joke?

It's a short, poppy song with really concise lyrics that's not in any way typical of the band IMO. A good example of the way the popular image of a group is not very accurate.