Podcast

Albums Under The Radar

Music, Music Commentary, Music History

An educational history of under-appreciated, under-rated, undiscovered or fading albums that are under the radar but need to shine.

Episodes
32
Releases
Every two weeks
Typical length
29 min
On air since
2025
Latest episode
1 week ago

Episodes

32 episodes, newest first

  1. The Clash: The Rat Patrol Combat Rock

    Episode 32

    Show notes

    What if The Clash’s biggest commercial album was actually meant to be a sprawling, dub-heavy double LP? In this episode of Albums Under the Radar, we step inside the sessions for Rat Patrol from Fort Bragg to unearth Mick Jones’ original vision for their new lp in 1982. We break down the unreleased 16-track master, explore session outtakes, untangle internal band strife, and trace how it was overhauled into the multi-platinum hit Combat Rock.

    Listen to this album & songs we played on this episode on our Spotify channel here

    Email us at: AlbumsUnderTheRadar@icloud.com

    Albums Under The Radar website: https://albumundertheradar.buzzsprout.com

    Follow us on: X / Twitter - Instagram - Tik Tok

    New shows approximately twice a month.

    43 min
  2. Billie Holiday Sings: The Sound Of Less Saying More

    Episode 31

    Show notes

    Welcome to the premiere of Albums Under The Radar: On The Fringe, a special series uncovering hidden gems and records on the outer edge.

    In this episode, we step away from sprawling records to explore a 1952 masterpiece hiding in plain sight: Billie Holiday Sings. Clocking in at just 8 songs and 26 minutes, this album delivers the ultimate sound of less saying more. Join us as we dive into Billie Holiday's overlooked 1950s album era, her legendary collaborations with Lester "Prez" Young, and why this specific record is a hidden treasure trove waiting to be discovered.

    Listen to this album & songs we played on this episode on our Spotify channel here

    Email us at: AlbumsUnderTheRadar@icloud.com

    Albums Under The Radar website: https://albumundertheradar.buzzsprout.com

    Follow us on: X / Twitter - Instagram - Tik Tok

    New shows approximately twice a month.

    25 min
  3. John Lennon’s Plastic Ono Band: Brutally Naked

    Episode 30

    Show notes

    John Lennon’s Plastic Ono Band: Brutally Naked captures John on his first solo outing leaving nothing behind but the truth. Plastic Ono Band is raw, painful, fearless, and brutally honest. We go inside the making of Lennon’s landmark 1970 album, from primal scream therapy and the Beatles breakup to Ringo, Phil Spector, and songs that helped usher in the punk and grunge movements that changed rock forever.

    Listen to this album & songs we played on this episode on our Spotify channel here

    Email us at: AlbumsUnderTheRadar@icloud.com

    Albums Under The Radar website: https://albumundertheradar.buzzsprout.com

    Follow us on: X / Twitter - Instagram - Tik Tok

    New shows approximately twice a month.

    49 min
  4. Oh Mercy! Bob Dylan Finally Has Mercy On Us

    Episode 29

    Show notes

    What if Bob Dylan had shown Oh Mercy a little more mercy?

    In 1989, Dylan and producer Daniel Lanois recorded an album full of mystery, atmosphere—and a handful of songs that never made the final cut.

    So what happens when we put “Series of Dreams,” “Dignity,” “God Knows,” and “Born in Time” back where they might have belonged?

    Welcome to Have Mercy—the Oh Mercy that should have been.

    Listen to this album & songs we played on this episode on our Spotify channel here

    Email us at: AlbumsUnderTheRadar@icloud.com

    Albums Under The Radar website: https://albumundertheradar.buzzsprout.com

    Follow us on: X / Twitter - Instagram - Tik Tok

    New shows approximately twice a month.

    49 min
  5. Neil Young’s Tonight’s The Night: From The Golden Harvest To The Dark Ditch

    Episode 28

    Show notes

    After Harvest turned Neil Young into a superstar, he did something few artists would dare: he headed for the ditch.

    Recorded in the aftermath of the deaths of Danny Whitten and Bruce Berry, Tonight’s the Night is raw, ragged, intimate and unlike anything Neil had made before. We’ll follow the strange chronology from Harvest and Time Fades Away through Tonight’s the Night, On the Beach and the shelved Homegrown—and discover how one of Neil Young’s darkest albums became one of his most enduring.

    Listen to this album & songs we played on this episode on our Spotify channel here

    Email us at: AlbumsUnderTheRadar@icloud.com

    Albums Under The Radar website: https://albumundertheradar.buzzsprout.com

    Follow us on: X / Twitter - Instagram - Tik Tok

    New shows approximately twice a month.

    51 min
  6. Pink Floyd’s A Saucerful of Secrets: Syd’s Last Stand?

    Episode 27

    Show notes

    Pink Floyd’s A Saucerful of Secrets captures a band in transition—and Syd Barrett’s final album with Pink Floyd. With David Gilmour arriving, experimental soundscapes emerging, and the seeds of the Floyd we know taking root, this strange and fascinating 1968 album deserves another listen.

    Listen to this album & songs we played on this episode on our Spotify channel here

    Email us at: AlbumsUnderTheRadar@icloud.com

    Albums Under The Radar website: https://albumundertheradar.buzzsprout.com

    Follow us on: X / Twitter - Instagram - Tik Tok

    New shows approximately twice a month.

    43 min
  7. The Lost Stones Album: The Legendary Chess Sessions

    Episode 26

    Show notes

    What if the Rolling Stones had released an album built entirely from their Chess Studios recordings? In this episode of Albums Under the Radar, we imagine The Lost Stones Album: The Legendary Chess Sessions, exploring the band’s 1964 and ’65 recordings in Chicago and the blues roots that shaped their sound. It’s a fresh look at a remarkable chapter in Stones history.

    Listen to this album & songs we played on this episode on our Spotify channel here

    Email us at: AlbumsUnderTheRadar@icloud.com

    Albums Under The Radar website: https://albumundertheradar.buzzsprout.com

    Follow us on: X / Twitter - Instagram - Tik Tok

    New shows approximately twice a month.

    58 min
  8. Arvo Pärt’s Tabula Rasa: The Quiet Revolution

    Episode 25

    Show notes

    Discover why Arvo Pärt’s Tabula Rasa became one of contemporary classical music’s most influential recordings. We explore its remarkable story, timeless beauty, and lasting impact on film, ambient, and alternative music—and why it’s still one of the greatest albums under the radar.

    Listen to this album & songs we played on this episode on our Spotify channel here

    Email us at: AlbumsUnderTheRadar@icloud.com

    Albums Under The Radar website: https://albumundertheradar.buzzsprout.com

    Follow us on: X / Twitter - Instagram - Tik Tok

    New shows approximately twice a month.

    37 min
  9. The Who Sell Out: On Pirate Radio Station AUTR

    Episode 24

    Show notes

    Before Tommy changed rock forever, The Who created one of the most inventive albums of the 1960s. Join me for a pirate radio-inspired deep dive into The Who Sell Out — its groundbreaking concept, unforgettable songs, hidden gems, bonus tracks, lasting influence, and why this psychedelic classic remains one of rock’s greatest under-the-radar albums.

    Listen to this album & songs we played on this episode on our Spotify channel here

    Email us at: AlbumsUnderTheRadar@icloud.com

    Albums Under The Radar website: https://albumundertheradar.buzzsprout.com

    Follow us on: X / Twitter - Instagram - Tik Tok

    New shows approximately twice a month.

    56 min
  10. Red Means Stop & Listen: King Crimson’s Underrated Masterpiece

    Episode 23

    Show notes

    In this episode of Albums Under The Radar, we explore King Crimson’s dark, intense, and highly influential 1974 progressive rock album, Red. We break down the music, the band’s evolution, the recording process, and why this cult classic still sounds ahead of its time. This is a deep dive into one of prog rock’s most powerful and overlooked masterpieces.

    Listen to this album & songs we played on this episode on our Spotify channel here

    Email us at: AlbumsUnderTheRadar@icloud.com

    Albums Under The Radar website: https://albumundertheradar.buzzsprout.com

    Follow us on: X / Twitter - Instagram - Tik Tok

    New shows approximately twice a month.

    27 min
  11. Tom Petty: Wildflowers & All The Rest… And Then Some

    Episode 22

    Show notes

    Wildflowers as it was meant to be heard. We break down Tom Petty’s lost double album, Wildflowers & All The Rest, plus the overlooked session tracks that go even further.

    Listen to this album & songs we played on this episode on our Spotify channel here

    Email us at: AlbumsUnderTheRadar@icloud.com

    Albums Under The Radar website: https://albumundertheradar.buzzsprout.com

    Follow us on: X / Twitter - Instagram - Tik Tok

    New shows approximately twice a month.

    51 min
  12. From Blue To Pink: Weezer Gets Real (A Pinkerton Deep Dive)

    Episode 21

    Show notes

    What does Madama Butterfly have to do with Pinkerton?

    In this episode of Albums Under The Radar, we break down Weezer’s most raw and misunderstood album—tracing how Rivers Cuomo turned heartbreak, obsession, and opera into one of the most influential cult classics of the ‘90s.

    Listen to this album & songs we played on this episode on our Spotify channel here

    Email us at: AlbumsUnderTheRadar@icloud.com

    Albums Under The Radar website: https://albumundertheradar.buzzsprout.com

    Follow us on: X / Twitter - Instagram - Tik Tok

    New shows approximately twice a month.

    28 min
  13. The Real Flowers In The Dirt: The Hidden McCartney / Costello Gem!

    Episode 20

    Show notes

    What if Flowers in the Dirt wasn’t the album Paul McCartney released in 1989… but another one he almost made?

    In this episode of Albums Under The Radar, we uncover the stripped-down demo recordings McCartney created with Elvis Costello—finally released in the 2017 deluxe edition—and explore how these raw, intimate sessions reveal a completely different album hiding in plain sight. The album Paul should have made!

    Listen to this album & songs we played on this episode on our Spotify channel here

    Email us at: AlbumsUnderTheRadar@icloud.com

    Albums Under The Radar website: https://albumundertheradar.buzzsprout.com

    Follow us on: X / Twitter - Instagram - Tik Tok

    New shows approximately twice a month.

    29 min
  14. How Radiohead Became Radiohead: The Story Of The Bends

    Episode 19

    Show notes

    Before OK Computer, there was The Bends—the album that transformed Radiohead from one-hit wonders into one of the most important bands of their generation.

    In this episode of Albums Under the Radar, we break down the songs, stories, and emotional core behind this 1995 classic—we'll explore the album that could have broken them… but instead changed everything.

    Listen to this album & songs we played on this episode on our Spotify channel here

    Email us at: AlbumsUnderTheRadar@icloud.com

    Albums Under The Radar website: https://albumundertheradar.buzzsprout.com

    Follow us on: X / Twitter - Instagram - Tik Tok

    New shows approximately twice a month.

    28 min
  15. XTC’s Skylarking: The 80's Lost Masterpiece

    Episode 18

    Show notes

    In this episode of Albums Under the Radar breaks down Skylarking by XTC—covering its concept, track-by-track highlights, production with Todd Rundgren, the “Dear God” controversy, and its lasting influence on indie and alternative music.

    Listen to this album & songs we played on this episode on our Spotify channel here

    Email us at: AlbumsUnderTheRadar@icloud.com

    Albums Under The Radar website: https://albumundertheradar.buzzsprout.com

    Follow us on: X / Twitter - Instagram - Tik Tok

    New shows approximately twice a month.

    29 min
  16. Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers' Proto-Punk Classic

    Episode 17

    Show notes

    Explore the story behind The Modern Lovers—from its early ‘70s recordings and delayed release to its lasting influence on punk, indie rock, and beyond.

    Listen to this album & songs we played on this episode on our Spotify channel here

    Email us at: AlbumsUnderTheRadar@icloud.com

    Albums Under The Radar website: https://albumundertheradar.buzzsprout.com

    Follow us on: X / Twitter - Instagram - Tik Tok

    New shows approximately twice a month.

    20 min
  17. A Legendary Thunderous Whisper: Nick Drake’s Five Leaves Left

    Episode 16

    Show notes

    We explore Nick Drake’s Five Leaves Left — from its intimate recording sessions to its haunting legacy — and uncover why this 1969 debut remains one of the most beautiful albums ever to fly under the radar.

    Listen to this album & songs we played on this episode on our Spotify channel here

    Email us at: AlbumsUnderTheRadar@icloud.com

    Albums Under The Radar website: https://albumundertheradar.buzzsprout.com

    Follow us on: X / Twitter - Instagram - Tik Tok

    New shows approximately twice a month.

    28 min
  18. Elliott Smith's Figure 8

    Episode 15

    Show notes

    In this episode of Albums Under The Radar, we take a deep dive into Elliott Smith’s 2000 album Figure 8. Blending intimate songwriting with rich, Beatles-inspired production, the record captures Smith at his most ambitious. We explore the album’s creation, its standout tracks, and why it remains an essential—yet often overlooked—part of his catalog.

    Listen to this album & songs we played on this episode on our Spotify channel here

    Email us at: AlbumsUnderTheRadar@icloud.com

    Albums Under The Radar website: https://albumundertheradar.buzzsprout.com

    Follow us on: X / Twitter - Instagram - Tik Tok

    New shows approximately twice a month.

    35 min
  19. Björk's Debut

    Episode 14

    Show notes

    In this episode of Albums Under the Radar, we explore Björk’s 1993 album Debut — a groundbreaking blend of electronic music, house beats, and raw emotion. From “Human Behaviour” to “Big Time Sensuality,” discover why this album redefined alternative pop.

    Listen to this album & songs we played on this episode on our Spotify channel here

    Email us at: AlbumsUnderTheRadar@icloud.com

    Albums Under The Radar website: https://albumundertheradar.buzzsprout.com

    Follow us on: X / Twitter - Instagram - Tik Tok

    New shows approximately twice a month.

    21 min
  20. Easy Star All-Stars' Dub Side Of The Moon

    Episode 13

    Show notes

    What happens when one of the most iconic rock albums ever made gets the full reggae dub treatment? This episode explores Easy Star All-Stars’ Dub Side Of The Moon and the story behind its unlikely brilliance.

    Listen to this album & songs we played on this episode on our Spotify channel here

    Email us at: AlbumsUnderTheRadar@icloud.com

    Albums Under The Radar website: https://albumundertheradar.buzzsprout.com

    Follow us on: X / Twitter - Instagram - Tik Tok

    New shows approximately twice a month.

    28 min