With as much music as I listen to on a daily basis, I’m constantly surprised when I run across a band/musician that makes me question why they didn’t just take the obvious step and become “the next best thing.”
I’m sure part of the blame lies with the record label suits that either can’t decide how to market the band/musician or can’t forecast if their investment/marketing efforts will yield the payback they desire.
I’ve got hundreds of perfectly good examples in my music collection of absolutely uber-talented artists that deserve exposure to the general public and our collective listening habits. They put to shame most of the crap that the radio stations serve up on a daily basis.
I suspect I may be somewhat jaded by the demise and purposeful degradation of popular radio opting for profit over innovative programming. But then I stumble across a spark of talent that changes my mind…
Formed in 1984 by Dan Reed in Portland, OR, Dan Reed Network is a perfect reason to question why we’re not better exposed to talent like this. Categorized as a Funk/Rock band with serious Hard Rock/Soul influences, they created enough waves to score a top 10 single from their first EP, released in 1986, with “Breathless” on local radio.
DRN signed with Polygram/Mercury Records and released their S/T debut in 1988. The first single “Ritual” peaked at #38 on the US Billboard Charts. Interestingly enough, the critics were trying to pigeonhole them without success. Their subsequent releases stretched and fine-tuned their talents even further. DRN’s collective talents melded several musical styles together without any constraints and produced a potpourri of jams that their fans embraced and supported.
(Sidebar: go seek Dan Reed’s solo work…more than worth the effort!)
My fav release is Slam (1989). I thought they hit every touchstone they were seeking musically and the result was more than worthy of repeated listens. One track that sticks in my mind is the closing track “Seven Sisters Road.” My, oh my! I still get chills when the guitars crank it up!!
