Recording artists you underestimated the first listen.

[Denninmi]

Rihanna - I brushed her off as a pop/hip hip/r&b diva princess flavor of the month. Listened casually to her top 40 crossover hits like 'Only Girl In a The World' or 'We Found Love'. Then I saw some of the YouTube videos of her appearances on Letterman, SNL, and I thought she had more range and depth than I gave her credit for.

With what, 7 or 8 studio albums under her belt, including collaborations with some major artists such as Eminem and Coldplay, she is a major talent.

My other recent discover, Enrique Iglesias. Same thing, casually knew some of his hits such as 'Hero' and 'I Like It'. Never thought I would enjoy his music so much, even the Spanish language songs where I have no clue what the subject matter is.

You????

[taterguy]

1. SCOTS

But I caught them on a bad night

[lastlib]

2. STEELY DAN!

Took me YEARS to realize just how GOOD they really were!

Number two would be Al Stewart--I judged him just on the basis of some of his most popular singles, without really hearing a lot more of his work. But when I heard Love Chronicles and Modern Times, I KNEW he was a player!

[kwassa]

3. Talking Heads

I went to art school with three kids who later became band members. Two were in a band in school called The Artistics. One was doing was an imitation of Neil Young, or so I thought. His name was David Byrne, and I wasn't sure he was even enrolled in the school, but only hung out there. He would sit in the corner at parties and not say anything. Strange guy.

A couple years later, big write-ups in the New York Times. Why?

[Tobin S.]

4. A new band- Alt J

I started hearing their first single here in the U.S. on satellite radio and didn't really care for it. Then they started playing a few other songs on that channel and they started to grow on me. I bought the album. That first song that I initially wasn't too crazy about is now my favorite.

They've won an award in their native country, the U.K., for best rookie album of 2012.

[Arugula Latte]

16. I will check them out.

I'm well into middle age but I am always on the lookout for new music. Keep swimming or die, right?

[Tobin S.]

17. This is one of my favorites from the album

The lead singer has an odd style that takes some getting used to. He's just about impossible to decipher on some of the tracks. Well, to me anyway. I just really like their sound. Their lyrics are mostly about love and lust.

[Arugula Latte]

18. Interesting sound. Thanks!

[RagAss]

5. Todd Rundgren.

[Initech]

6. I underestimated Michael Jackson before This Is It.

This Is It was truly amazing and it sucks that he died before his vision could be realized.

[RebelOne]

26. Fantastically wonderful.

I cannot believe these guys are really prisoners. They seem like a professional dance troupe.

[Initech]

27. Yeah that's a pretty interesting video.

Here's one that's actually from the show:

[raccoon]

7. The Monkees. nt

[marble falls]

8. Amy Winehouse. Big regrets on my part. And I'm an old guy.

Rihanna, Byonce ..... too many more I missed because I didn't pay attention. But Amy Winehouse most of all.

[madrchsod]

11. tony bennett thought she was one of the best jazz singers he ever sang with....

[marble falls]

13. Tony Bennett would know. I think her death was a shame and losing her a terrible loss.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

9. Bob Dylan

That was back in the early 60s and I was 12. I liked folk music (and a lot of other types) but I couldn't take his voice. Then he kept writing such great tunes that I couldn't help becoming a big fan, like the Girl From The North Country.

[Ahpook]

10. I'll get bashed but..

Frank Zappa

Completely reformed though

[Initech]

28. Well I'm a huge Zappafile, and when I initiate the uninitated...

Into the world of Zappa, they're usually pretty amazed at how technically proficient a guitar player and composer he was, and how socially liberal his lyrics were.

[Tabasco_Dave]

12. Chickenfoot

I hated Van Hagar and i wasn't a big fan of Sammy Hagar's solo work but Chickenfoot puts out some great rock.

[Throd]

14. GWAR

[chknltl]

15. Supertramp

The year was 1974, two metal-heads in a '68 Superbee listening to the radio when the song "Dreamer" comes on. This was our very first exposure to the band. We looked at each other in shock and horror, "WTF kind of bubblegum poo is this?!?" I still think the song is silly but Supertramp is OK in my book now. (The car belonged to the friend but I sure wish I had that Superbee today).

[Tom Ripley]

19. Queen, The Monkees, rem, Janis Joplin

[Bosonic]

20. The Smiths

Think I initially dismissed them as a trendy retro sound, but Morrissey et al wore me down, and now I'm still fond of them, a har har...

[underpants]

21. Listening to American alternative music back in the 80's I just didn't get the English acts

but The Smiths and The Cure (thanks to a buddy in the Army) have a new place for me.

[Arugula Latte]

23. I'm the opposite.

I liked the jangle rock sound of early REM and the like, but I think about 80 percent of what I listen to to this day is from the UK.

[underpants]

24. "There is REM and then everything else"

as a friend once said of my musical choices. Jesus and Mary Chain, Soundgarden, and Echo and The Bunnyman were other groups that just never registered with me but with ALL my friends.

I wore out some Buffalo Tom and Soul Asylum tapes.

[Arugula Latte]

25. I'm a big fan of Echo (saw 'em in '87) and I've gotten more into J&MChain as the years have gone on.

Soundgarden ... I haven't listened to much of them.

Buffalo Tom - I like a couple of their songs (Taillights Fade, etc.) but need to listen to more of their stuff.

Soul Asylum - I guess "Runaway Train" is what I associate with them. Again, I should listen to more of their stuff.

But I love British stuff like the House of Love, the Cure, James, Editors, Chameleons, Ride, Stone Roses, Charlatans, World Party, New Order, Lightning Seeds, Wonderstuff, and ska stuff like the English Beat, etc.

[Arugula Latte]

22. They've become the most influential bands of all time -- and deservedly so, I think.

[nolabear]

29. Springsteen. Took me years to learn to love him.

Hard to believe. But I was a Moody Blues Fleetwood Mac Grateful Dead kinda girl for a while.

[Systematic Chaos]

30. Pearl Jam

Their first single, "Alive", drove me fucking nuts while Eddie Vedder kept belting out

Oooooh whooooooa-oooooooohhh I'm still allliiiiiive

over and over again!!

But then more singles from the "Ten" album came out, and I was a complete convert by the time "Jeremy" and "Black" hit the airwaves a few weeks later.