10 Outsider Music Classics

Songs that make you go "WTF!"

Outsider music is music that is too bizarre to simply be described as “experimental” or “alternative.” It is generally produced by artists that are eccentric, unskilled, mentally ill, retarded, and/or just plain weird.

While most of it is unlistenable, a lot of it is hilarious, some of it is genuinely interesting, and on rare occasions, it can be sublime. Here are 10 tracks from outsiders that are worth a listen:

“Rock ‘n’ Roll McDonald’s” by Wesley Willis

Wesley Willis was one of the most notable and prolific outsider musicians. He wrote and sang about unusual topics, including Batman, Elvis Presley, Jesus Christ, fast food, exotic animals, mullets, bus routes, and his battle with schizophrenia.

His music takes full advantage of cheap keyboard presets and most of his lyrics conclude with random corporate taglines, coupled with the phrase “rock over London, rock on Chicago.” Most of his albums feature his impressive drawings of locations in his hometown of Chicago.

“I Took a Trip on a Gemini Spaceship” by Legendary Stardust Cowboy

The Legendary Stardust Cowboy (known as “The Ledge” by fans) is a bugle-playing rockabilly singer with a fascination for space. His first recorded song, “Paralyzed” is a cacophonous and downright rowdy oddity full of unintelligible yelling and yelping. The song became an underground “hit” and led to an appearance on the hit TV show Laugh-In.

David Bowie, a long-time fan, covered The Ledge’s “I Took a Trip on a Gemini Spaceship” on his Heathen album in 2002.

“Devil Town” by Daniel Johnston

Daniel Johnston is like the lo-fi outsider version of Brian Wilson. His child-like view of the world, coupled with his severe psychiatric problems, shaped his wacky but catchy (and sometimes Beatle-esque) tunes. The prolific artist’s mental health battles are documented in the 2005 film The Devil and Daniel Johnston.

“Lightning Strikes” by Klaus Nomi

Klaus Nomi was a bizarre new wave singer with a love of opera and oldies. The German countertenor had an amazing vocal range and unique look that caught the eye of David Bowie. Nomi appeared as a backup singer on Bowie’s 1979 SNL performance. His tragic life and career are documented in the 2004 film The Nomi Song.

“I Hear a New World” by Joe Meek

Joe Meek was not a trained musician and certainly not a trained singer, but he was a successful and pioneering record producer and sound engineer. He produced hits like John Leyton’s “Johnny Remember Me” and the famous rock instrumental “Telstar” by The Tornados, which he also wrote.

His troubled life ended in a murder and suicide in which Meek killed his landlady before killing himself with a shotgun.

“Dark Globe (Wouldn’t You Miss Me?)” by Syd Barrett

Syd Barrett, founder of Pink Floyd, is so famous that it seems wrong to include him on a list of outsider music, but even within his own band, he was an outsider. His only full contribution to the band was on its debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967), which is arguably Pink Floyd’s least accessible major recording.

Barrett’s underrated solo works, written and recorded after he exited Pink Floyd due to debilitating schizophrenia, have secured his rightful place as one of the most important outsider musicians of all time.

“Losing You” by Jan Terri

What Jan lacks in technical ability, she more than makes up for with her, uh. . . passion? Her low budget music videos have made her a YouTube legend.

“It Hasn’t Happened Yet” by William Shatner

William Shatner is one of television’s most famous actors, but he is also a “musician” with a surprisingly substantial discography. His bizarre dramatic readings of popular songs like “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” and “Mr. Tambourine Man” from his 1968 debut album, The Transformed Man, do make you wonder if he is 100% serious.

His later musical adventures, like the brilliant Has Been album from 2004, reveal that the artist is definitely in on the joke by now. But “It Hasn’t Happened Yet,” from that album, reveals a level of sincerity that makes the entire album a genuine classic.

“Hot in the Airport” by Y. Bhekhirst

Almost nothing is known about Y. Bhekhirst, making him even more interesting. His Wikipedia entry is mysteriously sparse. The title track to his only album, Hot in the Airport, sounds like something that would have worked on David Bowie’s bizarre Lodger album or on Talking Heads’ Fear of Music.

“Boogie Dancing” by Gordon Thomas

Gordon Thomas was a trombone player in Dizzy Gillespie’s band, but not because of his talent. When skilled musicians were serving in World War II, Gillespie relied on less skilled musicians like Thomas.

Although he was a notably poor singer, his passion comes through in his self-financed recordings. “Boogie Dancing” is particularly infectious, if a bit annoying. . . and hilarious!

Quite a list, huh? Now this is what diversity looks like! It’s incredible just how much diversity exists within the creative mind. It’s not all about gender and race, which is just surface level diversity that we’ve all heard far too much about in recent years.