The Odd Recommendation...

Modeled on the famous Nurse With Wound List from 1979/1980, the Vas Deferens Organization included an even longer list of interesting and (mostly) obscure musical artists with their 1996 CD Sweat Your Cheeses, But Not In My Salad. The overlap with the NWW list is quite large, covering the best of kraut, psych, prog, bizarre, experimental, free improvisation, and everything in between, updated for the swinging 90s. By now, most serious collectors have probably tracked down nearly the whole NWW list, at least in MP3 form, and are eagerly looking for new challenges. So here is "The Odd Recommendation...", all 597 names from the VDO-list, reproduced in its original form (including typos), after the jump.

ACHWGHA NEY WODEI * AFRICAN HEAD CHARGE * AFTER DINNER * AGITATION FREE * AKSAK MABOUL * ALCATRAZ * ALESIA COSMOS * ALGARNAS TRADGARD * DAEVID ALLEN * ALPHATAURUS * ALTAIS * CHARLES AMIRKHANIAN * AMM * AMON DUUL * AMON DUUL 2 * AMOS KEY * ANAL MAGIC & REV. DWIGHT FRIZZELL * ANGE * ANNEXUS QUAM * APHRODITES CHILD * ARACHNOID * ARBETE & FRITID * ARCHAIA * ARCHIMEDES BADKAR * AREA * ART BEARS * ARTCANE * ARTI & MESTIERI * ART MOULU * ART ZOYD * ASH RA TEMPEL * ASSOCIATION P.C. * ATOLL * AXIS * AXOLOTL * KEVIN AYERS * IL BALLETTO DI BRONZO * BANCO DEL MUTUO SOCCORSO * SYD BARRETT * FRANCO BATTIATO * GIORGIO BATTISTELLI * FRANCOIS BAYLE * BEELZEBUB YOUTH * BETWEEN MEALS * BIGLIETTO PER L'INFERNO * BIOTA * BLACKHUMOUR * BLACK SHEEP * BLACK SUN ENSEMBLE * BLADDER FLASK * KARL BLAKE * THE BLECH * BLITZOIDS * BONDAGE FRUIT * BOREDOMS * BRAINSTORM * BRAINTICKET * BRAST BURN * BRAVE NEW WORLD * BRISE-GLACE * BRUME * BUBU * TIM BUCKLEY * FRIEDER BUTZMANN * CAMBERWELL NOW * CAMPO DI MARTE * CAN * CAPTAIN BEEFHEART AND THE MAGIC BAND * C.A. QUINTET * CAROLINER RAINBOW * CARTOON * CASSIBER * CATALOGUE * CATHEDRAL * CERVELLO * CEYLEIB PEOPLE * EUGENE CHADBOURNE * CHECKPOINT CHARLIE * CHE SHIZU * CHILLUM * MICHEL CHION * CHORCHAZADE * CHOU PAHROT * HENNING CHRISTIANSEN * CHROME * CHRYSTAL BELLE SCROD * CIRCUS 2000 * CLEAR BLUE SKY * CLEARLIGHT * CLUSTER * CODE 3 * JEAN COHEN-SOLAL * COLLEGIUM MUSICUM * ROBERTO COLOMBO * COLOSSEUM * CONTORTIONS * CORNICOPIA * CORTE DEI MIRACOLI * COS * THE COSMIC JOKERS * COSTES * COTO EN PEL * LOL COXHILL * CRASH WORSHIP * THE CRAVATS * CRO MAGNON * CUL DE SAC * FRANCESCO CURRA * CURRENT 93 * CZAR * HOLGER CZUKAY * BARRY DALIVE * DANTALIAN'S CHARIOT * DARK SHADOWS * WOLFGANG DAUNER * MILES DAVIS * DEBILE MENTHOL * DECAYES * DECIBEL * DEDALUS * DE FABRIEK * DEFICIT DES ANNEES ANTERIEURES * DEMI-SEMI QUAVER * DANIEL DENIS * DEPARTMENT STORE SANTAS * DEUTER * DEUX FILLES * DEVIANTS * DEVO * DG 307 * THE DICKIES * DIE TODLICHE DORIS * DIMTHINGS * D.N.A. * DNA LE DRAW D-KEE * DOM * DOME * DON BRADSHAM LEATHER * DOODOOETTES * PHILIPPE DORAY * DRAGONWYCK * DR. JOHN * JOHN DUNCAN * THE DUKES OF STRATOSPHEAR * DUN * DZYAN * EAST BIONIC SYMPHONIA * EAST OF EDEN * EGG * 801 * EINSTURZENDE NEUBAUTEN * ELECTRIC CIRCUS * ELECTRIC COMPANY * ELECTRIC FRANKENSTEIN * ELECTRO STATIC CAT * EL TARRO DE MOSTAZA * EMBRYO * ENCORE + GRANDE * ENEMA & GEJONTE * BRIAN ENO * EROC * ESKATON * ETANT DONNES * ET CETERA * ETRON FOU LELOUBLAN * EULENSPYGEL * THE EX & TOM CORA * EXPANDER DES FORTSCHRITTS * JAD FAIR * FAIRPORT CONVENTION * FAT * FATHER YOD * FAUST * FERDINAND ET LES PHILOSOPHES * LUC FERRARI * FIBONACCIS * FILLE QUI MOUSSE * FIRE * FISH AND ROSES * FIVE STARCLE MEN * 5 UU'S * FLEA * FLESHQUARTETTEN * FLOH DE COLOGNE * FOODBRAIN * 49 AMERICANS * LES 4 GUITARISTES DE L'APOCALYPSO BAR * FRASER * FRESHLY WRAPPED CANDIES * FRIENDSOUND * ROBERT FRIPP * FRED FRITH * PETER FROHMADER * DAVID FULTON * FUNCTION DISORDER * FUNKADELIC * FURIOUS PIG * FUSIOON * GAA * GADGETS * DIAMANDA GALAS * GARYBALDI * RON GEESIN * GEINOH YAMASHIROGUMI * GEINS'T NAIT * GENTLE GIANT * GERMAN OAK * GESTALT ET JIVE * GHOST * ANNE GILLIS * THE GIRLS * GNIDROLOG * GOBLIN * THE GODZ * GOEBBELS & HARTH * SERGIUS GOLOWIN * GONG * GRACIOUS! * RANDY GREIF * RAGNAR GRIPPE * GROUP 1850 * GURU GURU * HAINO / MIKAMI / YOSHIZAWA * PETER HAMMILL * HANIWA CHAN * STEN HANSON * HAPPY FAMILY * HAPSHASH AND THE COLOURED COAT * HARMONIA * JON HASSELL * HATFIELD AND THE NORTH * THE HAT SHOES * CHRISTOPH HEEMANN * HELDON * HELLEBORE * PIERRE HENRY * HENRY COW * HERATIUS * HET * THE HIGH FIDELITY ORCHESTRA * HIGH TIDE * JUNJI HIROSE & YOSHIDE OTOMO * SHELLY HIRSCH * THE HISTORY OF UNHEARD MUSIC * H.N.A.S. * LARS HOLLMER * HONEYELK * HONEYMOON KILLERS * THE HONEYMOONS * HUGH HOPPER * HORDE CATALYTIQUE POUR LE FIN * HORRIFIC CHILD * HOSONO AND YOKOO * HUMAN HANDS * HYBRID KIDS * IBIS * ICECROSS * I.D. COMPANY * IGRA STAKLENIH PERLI * ILITCH * ILTAR * IMAGES AND AVANT-QUART * IMP INK * INTERSYSTEMS * IOS SMOLDERS * ISKRA * I TEOREMI * IT `VIAGE' * MARTIN DAVORIN JAGODIC * JOEBOY * JOHN GAVANTI * JOHNNY RONDO DUO * JOE JONES * JUMBO * KAKHUSEN-JOH NO ONGAKU * KANGAROO KOURT * KARUNA KHYALL * KATAHTONIOS * KATRA TURANA * KING CRIMSON * BASIL KIRCHIN * KRZYSZTOF KNITTEL * CHRIS KNOX * KOENJIHYAKKEI * KRAFTWERK * KRALDJURSANSTALTEN * KULTIVATOR * KULU HATHA MAMNUA * LADY JUNE * LAGGER BLUES MACHINE * LARD FREE * LAUGHING HANDS * LE FORTE FOUR * LEMON KITTENS * L'ENSEMBLE RAYE * LEO NERO * LES VAMPYRETTES * LIEUTENANT CARAMEL * LIFT * LIMBUS 4 * L'INFONIE * LOCH NESS * LOUK DE BOUK * LOOP * LOOP ORCHESTRA * LOUNGE LIZARDS * LOVE LIVE LIFE+1 * THE LOWEST NOTE ON THE ORGAN * LUDUS * RENE LUSSIER * LUXURIOUS BAGS * L. VOAG * MAAT * MAGICAL POWER MAKO * MAGMA * MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA * MAHOGANY BRAIN * MAIN * MAITREYA KALI * THE MAKERS OF THE DEAD TRAVEL FAST * IVO MALEC * LES MALEDICTUS SOUND * MAMMUT * PHIL MANZANERA * CHRISTIAN MARCLAY * ALBERT MARCOEUR * MARKS AND LEBZELTER * SALVATORE MARTIRANO * MASSACRE * MASSTISHADDHU * MATCHING MOLE * MAUVE SIDESHOW * M.B. * MCDONALD AND GILES * MCH BAND * MEDICINE * MELODIC ENERGY COMMISSION * MERCURY REV * METABOLIST * METAMORPHOSIS * RODGER MILLER * PHIL MINTON * MIXED BAND PHILANTHROPIST * MIZUTAMA SHOB0DAN * KIMIO MIZUTANI * MNEMONISTS * MODULO 1000 * DIETER MOEBIUS * THE MOMES * MONITOR * MOOLAH * MOOSEHEART FAITH STELLAR GROOVE BAND * DAVID MOSS * THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION * MOTOR TOTEMIST GUILD * MOVING GELETINE PLATES * THE MUFFINS * THIERRY MULLER * MUSICA ELETTRONICA VIVA * MUTANTES * MYRBEIN * MY BLOODY VALENTINE * NAKED CITY * NAME * NARWAL * NASH THE SLASH * NATIONAL HEALTH * THE NAZZ * NEGATIVLAND * NEKTAR * NEO ZELANDA * NERVOUS GENDER * NEU! * C. NEWMAN * NEWS FROM BABEL * MAGGIE NICOLS & JULIE TIPPETTS * NIHILIST SPASM BAND * NINE DAYS WONDER * HERMANN NITSCH * NOA * NOCTURNAL EMISSIONS * NOMADIA * NO SAFETY * NU CREATIVE METHODS * GARY NUMAN * NURSE WITH WOUND * NYL * OFFICER! * OHO * OLIVER * OMOIDE HAOTOBA * OPERATING THEATRE * ORCHID SPANGIAFORA * ORGANISATION * ORGANUM * OSANNA * OSE * OVERHANG * PARTY * PACIFIC 231 ET DENIER DU CULTE * MR. PARTRIDGE * PATAPHONIE * RON PATES' DEBONAIRES * JEAN-FRANCOIS PAUVROS * PEGGY'S LEG * PERE UBU * LUIS PEREZ * PFS * PHEW * GLEN PHILLIPS * PHLUPH * PHOLAS DACTYLUS * PICCHIO DAL POZZO * PICKY PICNIC * PIERROT LUNAIRE * RICHARD PINHAS * PINK FLOYD * PLASTIC ONO BAND * PLASTIC PEOPLE OF THE UNIVERSE * PLAT DU JOUR * POLE * POLKAHOLICS * POPOL VUH * BOMIS PRENDIN * PRESENT * PRICK DECAY * PRINCESS TINYMEAT * PRO POCIT JISTOTY * P16.D4 * PSYCHIC TV * PSYNKOPAT * PTOSE * PULSAR * PUNGO * PUSSY * PYROLATOR * QUELLA VECCHIA LOCANDA * QUIET SUN * TOM RECCHION * RED CRAYOLA * RED NOISE * MICHEL REDOLFI * THE REFLECTIONS * ACHIM REICHEL * HANS REICHEL * RENALDO AND THE LOAF * THE RESIDENTS * MARTIN REV * REVIVAL * RHAMANN * CATHERINE RIBEIRO & ALPES * GILLES RIEDER * RITUAL ALL 7-70 * R.N.A. ORGANISM * ROCKY'S FILJ * GEORGE ROMANOS * IL ROVESCIO DELLA MEDAGLIA * ROWENTA/KHAN * ROXY MUSIC * THE RUDY SCHWARTZ PROJECT * RUINS * RUNZELSTIRN AND GURGLESTOCK * SAMLA MAMMAS MANNA * CARLES SANTOS * SAT STOICIZMO * SAVAGE REPUBLIC * DANIEL SCHELL & DICK ANNEGARN * SCHIZO * LA SECONDA GENESI * SECOND HAND * SECRET OYSTER * SEMANTICS * SEMIRAMIS SEMOOL * SENSATIONS FIX * SEPI-KUU * SEPSIS * SEVERED HEADS * ELLIOTT SHARP * ADRIAN SHERWOOD * SHOULDER OF MUTTON * SHUB NIGGURATH * SHYLOCK * SILVER APPLES * SINDELFINGEN * SIX CYLINDRES EN V * SLAPP HAPPY * SMEGMA * SALLY SMMIT AND HER MUSICIANS * LA SOCIETE DES TIMIDES A LA PARADE DES OISEAUX * SOFT MACHINE * SOLID EYE * SOULED AMERICAN * SPACEBOX * SPACECRAFT * SPACE STREAKINGS * SPARKS * ALEXANDER SPENCE * S.P.K. * SPROTON LAYER * STEAMING COILS * SIMON STEENSLAND * STEREOLAB * STILLUPPSTEYPA * STRANGE FRUIT ABIKU * DEMETRIO STRATOS * SUBRBAN LAWNS * SUBJECTS * SUICIDE * SUN CITY GIRLS * SUN DIAL * SUN RA * SUPERSISTER * SWANS * SWELL MAPS * SZENTENDRE * HAJIME TACHIBANA * TAIRIKUOTOKO VS. SANMYAKUONNA * TAJ MAHAL TRAVELERS * TAKO * TALL DWARFS * TANGERINE DREAM * TANGLE EDGE * TARKUS * GHEDALIA TAZARTES * TENKO * TERRACED GARDEN * TESENDALO * THINKING PLAGUE * THIS HEAT * DAVID THOMAS * THROBBING GRISTLE * TIPOGRAPHICA * TOBRUK * MONIEK TOEBOSCH * PAOLO TOFANI * TOKYO KID BROTHERS * TOLERANCE * TOMORROW'S GIFT * TONE DOGS * TO NIGE SALA * TRAFFIC SOUND * ULI TREPTE * TRETTIOARIGA KRIGET * TRIO * TUPELO CHAIN SEX * TUXEDOMOON * TWO DAUGHTERS * TYNDALL * ULUDAG * UN DEPARTMENT * UN DRAME MUSICALE INSTANTANE * UNIVERS ZERO * UNREST WORK & PLAY * UR KAOS * U-TOTEM * VAGINA DENTATA ORGAN * VAGTAZO HALLOTKEMEK * VAN BEBBER / LEMKE * CHRISTIAN VANDER * VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR * V-EFFECT * VELVET UNDERGROUND * VERTO * PATRICK VIAN * VIDEO-AVENTURES * VIOLET LIGHTNING * VITAMIN B-12 * BERNARD VITET & HELENE SAGE * VIVENZA * VOGELSCHEISS UND SEINE VERRUKTEN KROTEN * VON ZAMLA * MICHEL WAISVISZ * TOM WAITS * IGOR WAKHEVITCH * WALL OF VOODOO * WAPASSOU * WALTER WEGMUELLER * WEIDORJE * WHA HA HA * WHITE NOISE * JOHN WIGGINS * TREVOR WISHART * WOO * THE WORK * ROBERT WYATT * XTC * X-TET * YES * YEZDA URFA * TATSUYA YOSHIDA * THIERRY ZABOITZEFF * ZAMLA MAMMAZ MANNA * FRANK ZAPPA * ZNR * ZOVIET FRANCE * ZUT UN FEU ROUGE * ZWEISTIEN

Everything you always wanted to know about the obscure corners of the original NWW list can be found in William Berger's excellent series Adventures in the NWW List (parts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5), and Mutant Sounds and Direct Waves have more MP3s than any sane person can handle. Now will someone do for this list what TGK did for the old one?

Comments

[EH]

Yay, Wall Of Voodoo has finally been deemed influential in some way!

[Brian Turner]

I remember when this disc came out and I looked for many of these LPs in the FMU library, surprised to find quite a bunch. What should be mentioned though, is that VDO is one of the contributors to the Mutant site, so I'm sure you're going to see more and more of it coming to life there.

[illlich]

looks like quite a few of the same bands/artists from the NWW list, but then lots more modern bands like Neubaten, Tall Dwarfs and this heat.

[Banyon II]

Wow, they spelled HENRY COW with the correct R instead of a T. That's kind of them.

[rob]

Man--- just when I thought I was making serious progress in my NWW list knowledge!

[hotsie motsie]

Looks like lots of RIO and Japanese avant-prog has been added, and lots of the "electronic music for experimental ballet"-style music from the original NWW-list has been stripped out.
And like the original list, there seem to be some entries that are there as nothing more than because they're "personal favorites" of the list-maker rather than exemplifying some sort of historical significance ("El Tarro de Mostaza," anyone?!?!).
Personally, I'm very happy to see Dr. John get his due.

[Edouard]

Although this list can be useful to discover bands, one has to admit that this is list is definitely less experimental oriented than the Nurse with wound one :

Most of the free jazz artists have been dropped out (even though the original list missed a lot of them, showing that Stapleton wasn't exactly fond of free jazz), many experimental artists disappeared as well (from noise to simply "out" music), and almost no contemporary composer is included here.

On the other hand, prog-rock and RIO bands have been massively added. I guess this list doesn't aim at the same audience, and is probably also less exhaustive than the NWW one according to its release date.

[Dyl]

Given their tastes, I'm surprised Bourbonese Qualk were not included on the list. Actually there are quite a few bands that are surprisingly absent in these strains...Cardiacs also come to mind. Hmm, maybe we need to make another list for the last 00's?