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Recently, I saw a thread on the Steve Hoffman forum about artists who had been lost to history. Being that it was the Hoffman forum, it immediately degenerated into stupid pedantic side conversations and fighting.

But the theme was kinda interesting—meaning, who are some artists who were “important” in one sense or another (popular or culturally noteworthy) who have left virtually no trace. Few (if any) songs on the radio, few (if any) bands that cite them as influences, etc.?

The best example from that thread was Grand Funk Railroad. Three Dog Night was another.

Who else?

Not sure if this band qualifies but the first one I thought of was Blood, Sweat & Tears. Their first album (with Al Kooper) seems like it was well-loved. Their second (s/t) album (with David Clayton Thomas) was a huge hit. And then they went on to release a bunch of mediocre albums and disappeared after Chicago became *the* band with horns.

This basically sounds like bands that play the state fair and casino circuits.

Morris Day and The Time

Alex Harvey

It should have been Fishbone instead of the Chili Peppers who broke out.

The incredible band Moose is lost in the annals of shoegaze.

jfv wrote: Sun Aug 11, 2024 1:38 pm Not sure if this band qualifies but the first one I thought of was Blood, Sweat & Tears. Their first album (with Al Kooper) seems like it was well-loved. Their second (s/t) album (with David Clayton Thomas) was a huge hit. And then they went on to release a bunch of mediocre albums and disappeared after Chicago became *the* band with horns.

from a recent Rolling Stone article about bands with no original members that I somehow followed a link to:


"Blood, Sweat & Tears
NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 13: Bo Bice performs with Blood, Sweat and Tears during the Paradise Artists Party at the IEBA 2015 Conference - Day 3 on October 13, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images for IEBA)
Former 'American Idol' contestant Bo Bice performs with Blood, Sweat & Tears in 2015.
Jason Davis/Getty Images

What Happened? Blood, Sweat & Tears were one of the most popular groups of the late Sixties and early Seventies, scoring big hits like “Spinning Wheel,” “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy,” and “And When I Die.” They won Album of the Year at the 1970 Grammys over the Beatles’ Abbey Road, the first Crosby, Stills, & Nash record, and Johnny Cash’s At San Quentin. Their popularity took a big dip when they went on a U.S. Department of State-sponsored tour of Eastern Europe in the summer of 1970. Their lineup also changed quite a bit, with singer David Clayton-Thomas sticking around the longest. When he left in 2004, the group no longer had any authentic members.


Credibility? A truly astonishing number of musicians have played in Blood, Sweat & Tears over the past few decades. They were even fronted by American Idol‘s Bo Bice at one point. Their current singer is The Voice contestant Keith Paluso. Original guitarist Steve Katz played with them a few times between 2008 and 2010, and founding bassist Jim Fielder performed with the band in 2022. But 99 percent of the time that you’re seeing Blood, Sweat & Tears, it’s an entirely new set of musicians with no connection to the classic band.

Potential Reunion? Clayton-Thomas has kept a very low profile since Covid hit. It’s within the realm of possibility he could unite with fellow Blood, Sweat & Tears alumni like Fielder, Katz, organist Al Kooper, and drummer Bobby Colomby for a tour. But it’s unlikely, since they’re all nearing 80 or slightly past it and no longer care to tour. For better or worse, they’ve passed the baton onto a new generation of the band. "

I’m not sure if it’s just me on this one but Beck.

Massive for a very brief time in the 90s but I really can’t think of anything lasting about his music. Huge briefly then zero shadow.

John Denver? Feel like he was massive in the 70s cultural zeitgeist or whatnot and I never hear him on the radio now or even in retro-70s movies or TV.

twelvepoint wrote: Mon Aug 12, 2024 2:01 am John Denver? Feel like he was massive in the 70s cultural zeitgeist or whatnot and I never hear him on the radio now or even in retro-70s movies or TV.

He could have done more, but was bad at flying aeroplanes.