Artists/Bands you thought would be huge but weren't

[Alley_Cat]

Not infrequently I’ve been highly impressed, even blown away by initial releases from various artists/bands and felt they’d become really popular, or at least deserved to be.

As I was considering this I thought ‘what happened to The Anchoress?’ who produced this stunning album which would not have disgraced Tori Amos:

I then searched Qobuz and found I’d missed her next release which I’m giving a ‘first spin’:

So, bands/artists who may not get the recognition they deserve - there must be many thousands.

[AndyP]

Kevin McDermott Orchestra - Mother Natures Kitchen

[Ebor]

I always thought Julia Fordham deserved a much greater public profile than I think she’s ever had.

First few albums in particular were wonderful.

[AndyP]

You can’t get more huge than your (her)first album going gold and second going silver. Both UK top 20 albums.

[Alley_Cat]

I think I have both but never realised that!

[Ebor]

First album just about made it to No. 20, none of the singles from it cracked the top 20.

Second album made it to number 13 but barely any singles from it charted.

I think material of that quality deserved better.

[Fatcat]

Calexico.

Big in Europe, but not big in the UK.

[Alley_Cat]

Any specific album?

[Fatcat]

This is nice album, nice track.

[Alley_Cat]

Making a list!

[Alley_Cat]

Sadly disbanded:

Cross between Skunk Anansie/Garbage and a sprinkling of Siouxsie Sioux is the best I could describe it.

[graham55]

Sixpence None The Richer.

Made a few perfect albums, then disappeared. It’s hard to track down vinyl copies of their albums.

Leigh Nash had the voice of an angel.

[Gazza]

Thought Diane Birch would have become successful, almost a recluse living in the UK.

[Zos93]

I always thought these guys should have been bigger. This is their second album which was the only one to make the UK charts. Their first album was huge in their native Ireland, even beating U2 to Irish album of the year but after this second effort they disappeared.

[badger1954]

I know that I’ve said it here before but this lot should by rights have been far more successful than they were.

Over the past 50 plus years I’ve played this and most of their other releases until you can almost see through the vinyl.

[SimonDC]

Amplifier…

Britain’s answer to Tool, Dream Theatre and the rest of prog metal bands

First album an absolute Corker…

[DanielH]

Neko Case. I always thought she should be more well known than she is.

Neko Case - "Hold on, Hold on"

[LSLFAN]

I think Neko is pretty well known and well respected with both her solo stuff and with The New Pornographers. I saw her in Dublin a couple of years ago on her Hell On tour and she was terrific and the place was packed.

[Deeg]

Tom Mcrae’s lack of success has always puzzled me even after one of his songs featured in Buffy the Vampire Killer.

[LSLFAN]

I always felt that The Silencers should have been huge. From Scotland and led by the great voice of Jimme O’Neill, this is uplifting melodic rock at it’s finest. Probably my favourite album of theirs (their 4th) but Blues for Buddha and Dance to the Holy Man run it close.

First saw them on Rapido on UK TV (anyone remember that, with Antoinne De Caunes?).