10 Strange Music Albums By Mainstream Acts

10. Trans - Neil Young

There aren't many artists who have enjoyed such a long and celebrated career as Neil Young. Equally, there are few who produced such an unexpected left-turn as displayed on the singer's twelfth studio album, Trans. Previously known for his majestic country-rock songs, with this 1982 album the singer served up a baffling set of vocoder and synth-driven tracks.

An examination of the unique circumstances at the time tells much. Young had just parted company with his long-term label, Reprise, and signed with Geffen Records. The singer's new contract guaranteed him complete creative control over his output, with a very healthy payout.

Very few people knew, but during that period Young dedicated himself to seeking out new ways of communicating with his son, who was born with cerebral palsy. The repetitive nature of Young's music at the time, together with a quest for new avenues of exploration, both related back to the artist's therapy work with his child.

So displeased were Geffen Records that owner, David Geffen, filed a lawsuit against Young for having produced willfully un-commercial music. The singer counter-sued and both claims were eventually dropped.