Mojo magazine's latest attempt to fill space with a pointless list, is a top 50 Weirdest Albums Ever list.
http://www.mojo4music.com/14320/50-weirdest-albums/ It includes many fine albums, but their definition of weird eludes me. It seems to be a mix of left field acts, outsider artists, records that broke new ground at the time of release, mainstream artists departing from their usual sound and stuff that I wouldn't describe as weird at all. Some artists (Patty Waters, Sun Ra & Throbbing Gristle for example) are represented by albums that I wouldn't necessarily consider their weirdest. It might have been more appropriate to call it 50 greatest weird albums, not 50 weirdest.
Any way what albums do you all think are weird that didn't make the Mojo list? Use any definitions of weird you like, Mojo certainly seem to have used the term subjectively.
Here's a few of my suggestions:
Louise Huebner ... Louise Huebner's Seduction Through Witchcraft
(1969)
Album of spells by the 'Official Witch Of Los Angeles County' with electronic music background.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV8x4GhgfPsArgo Transacord LP series
(1961 -1978)
Literally the sounds of trains! I'm sure it can't be just me that thinks listening to recordings of trains is weirder than listening to Trout Mask Replica. The first one, The West Highland Line, was so successful that another 40 odd followed!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtymGAfwQgQPatty Waters ... Patty Waters Sings
(1966)
Patty's second album, College Tour, did make the list, but for me the track Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair makes the first one by far the weirder. Unfortunately, a certain Fast Show character has diminished it's impact.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTF_NyJuBAoTortura ... The Sounds Of Pain & Pleasure volumes one and two
(1965)
Whipping and moaning with café jazz accompaniment!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK62EU61e8EPneumershonic ... Frequencies Of The Beast
(date unknown)
Genuine outsider artist Paul Bourre improvises lyrics over music provided by Matt Jasper
http://blogfiles.wfmu.org/LG/Pneumersho ... eakout.mp3The Residents ... Eskimo
(1979)
The Ralph Records 10th Anniversary Album was definitely worthy of inclusion in the Mojo list, but a Resident's album proper surely warrants a place too.
To quote Wikipedia, "The pieces on Eskimo are generally made up of sound effects, occasional playing on home-made instruments and gibberish standing in for actual Inuit. The stories were all created by the group and, despite their claims otherwise, is not meant to be a true historical document of life in the Arctic."
The sleevenote stories are designed to be read in time with listening to the album.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duIdkblpaJUKathy Fire ... Songs of Fire: Songs of a Lesbian Anarchist
(1978)
Militant feminist lesbian anarchist folk singer. Not weird in the musical sense, but a unique record to say the least. Recorded by the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xulZCsNviAoThrobbing Gristle ... 1st Annual Report
(1975)
Weirder than the Mojo listed 2nd Annual report, mainly for the inclusion of the track Very Friendly, in which Genesis P-Orridge recounts the tale of the Moors Murderers over an industrial noise backing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwLj2K124MgBob Harrington ... Ten Reasons Why Madalyn Murray O'Hair Must Be Stopped ... And Ten Ways o Stop Her
(1977)
Bob Harrington, 'Chaplain Of Bourbon Street' talks for the entire first side of this album about why Madalyn Murray O'Hair 'America's Atheist Leader' must be stopped. On the second side he tells us how. The first way is prayer. Couldn't find a soundclip for this one, but if any of you really want to hear it, I'll lend you my copy.
Mae West ... Way Out West
(1966)
The Hollywood actress, well into her 70s at the time, tackles songs by the likes of The Beatles, John Lee Hooker, Johnny Kidd & The Pirates and Percy Sledge. Five years later, pushing 80 she recorded another album of rock standards, Great Balls Of Fire, which includes her covering The Doors!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yJajJ_B5R4The Shaggs ... Philosophy Of The World
(1969)
Great album made weird by the fact that they weren't trying to be weird. Three sisters reluctantly pushed into forming a band by their father.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR9d4ESlpHYPJ Proby ... Lord Horror
Not actually heard this all the way through, but the very idea of 60s crooner PJ Proby bringing David Brittons banned novel to life is somewhat disturbing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9roSKOLqR2Q