Harmonica

Except to those with a passionate interest in the instrument, harmonica albums seem to have limited appeal. Chief exponents were Jerry Murad's Harmonicats, a popular group, and virtuoso Leo Diamond. While neither act made especially important recordings, some of their albums are notable just for the standard charms of cheesy packaging and the odd cover of a great standard. In other words, some are worth hearing despite being harmonica albums. Leo Diamond made a career of trying unconvincingly to "warm" the harmonica as a romantic instrument; the best example, however, is Tommy Morgan's rare collaboration with exotica buff Warren Barker.

Buying: Skin Diver Suite is the classic of the idiom, complete with cheesy jacket. The Harmonicats consistently showed a sense of humor and covered tunes such as "The Avengers" theme. But almost all budget-label harmonica albums are dreadful.