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Thursday, April 30, 2020

(the) Force M.D's - Love Letters

Name: The Force M.D.'s
Album: Love Letters
Year: 1984
Style: Boy Band Hip Hop, New Jack Swing
Similar Bands: New Edition, ABC, Bel Biv DeVoe, Boys II Men, Jackson 5, Jodeci, Color Me Badd,
"One-Word" Review: Clean-Cut Corner-Vocal Group Revival
Based Out Of: Staten Island, NY
Label: Tommy Boy
 Cover & Record
Record & Back
Love Letters (1984)
  1. Be Mine Girl 5:18
  2. Don't Make Me Dance (All Night Long) 5:18
  3. Tears 4:17 (single)
  4. Let Me Love you 5:04 /
  5. Itchin' for a Scratch 4:56 (single)
  6. Forgive Me Girl 4:22
  7. Let's Stay Together 4:37
  8. I Just Wanna Love You 4:50
Album Rating (1-10): 7.0

Members & Other Bands:
  • Tom Silverman - Exec. Producer, Mixing
  • Trisco Pearson (Positive Vibe, Le Gent)
  • TCD Antoine Lundy (Le Gent, Eric Gable)
  • Stevie D (Lundy) (Eric gable, Janet Jackson, Milk, Full Force)
  • Mercury (Charles Nelson) 
  • Jesse D (Jesse Lee Daniels) 
  • Robin Halpin - Co-Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Arrangements, Keys, Horn Arrangement (GLOBE & Whiz Kid, Hambo, Afrika Bambaataa, Special Request, Roman Sandals, TKA, Timmy Gatling, James Brown)
  • Mr. Magic (John Rivas) - Co-Producer
  • Keith LeBlanc - Co-Producer, Mixing, Arrangements, Drums, Keys, Percussion (Beatmaster, Double Edge, Dumb Guys, Fats Comet, Fine Quality, Forehead Bros, Interference, Mark Stewart & the Mafia, Noh Ground, Strange Parcels, Sugarhill Gang Band, Tackhead, Enemy Within more)
  • Doug Wimbish - Arrangements, Bass (Black Jack Hohnson, Brand New Funk, Double Edge, Fats Comet, Headfake, Jungle Funk, Living Colour, Mark Stewart & the Mafia, Strange Parcels, Sugarhill Gang Band, Tackhead, Static Seekers, Sterling Esp, Wood Brass & Steel, more)
  • Double Dee - Arrangements
  • Steinski - Arrangements
  • Frank Heller - Engineer, Mixing, Mix Engineer
  • Doug DiFranco - Engineer
  • Kathy Gazzo - Engineer Asst
  • Mike Nicoletti - Engineer Asst
  • Steve Griffin - Engineer Asst
  • Kennon Keating - Engineer Asst
  • Jay Burnett - Mix Engineer
  • Skip McDonald - Guitar (Fats Comet Crew, More)
  • Carl Sturken- Guitar (Lemelle, Ryrthm Syndicate, SRP, Sturken & Rogers, more)
  • Brian Halpin - Keys (Al Swan)
  • Josh Schneider - Sax (Irene Cara, Eric Von Schmidt, Randy Vanwarmer, Artie Traum & Pat Alger, Steve Forbert, Tom Rush, Late Nite Music Band, Joy Askew)
  • Bashiri Johnson - Percussion (Hot Streak, Lionel Richie, Spinners more)
  • Dr. Rock (Roger Daniels) - Scratching (C-Jam & Kid Frost, Fila Fresh Crew, DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist, Funk Connection, NWA)
  • Craig Derry - Vocal Coaching
  • Herb Powers Jr - Mastering
  • Monica Lynch - Art Direction
  • Stephen Crichlow - Photos
  • Yolanda Cuomo - Design
Unknown-ness: Review: Never heard of this band, but they look like they're trying to rekindle that safety net collegiate letterman retro male vocal group. I assume it is clean-cut, smooth harmonic r&b.

Album: As expected, this is an example of hip-hop that was honoring and showing it's connection / roots in classic Smokey Robinson & the Miracles boy bands, updated with scratching, rapping and hip-hop. In vocal style, subject manner, and appeal, they painted themselves a very safe band to interact with and enjoy. Some soft ballads (Tears), to a cliched, almost parody of rap (Itching for a Scratch) and even Calypso (Don't Make Me Dance), this record runs the gamut showcasing the potential directions and almost a historical head nod to the styles that came before; styles that this band was built on. Originally the L.D's they changed their name to Dr Rock & the MCs, then to Force MD's with MD standing for Musical Diversity. They literally started singing on Times Square street corners and the Staten Island Ferry, but reached fame with their connection to DR Jr Rock and promotion from Vansilk in '81. Their popularity was fast rising and short, as they faded at the end of the 80's after scoring a #1 RnB hit (87) and helped the producer of the year Grammy go to Jam & Lewis (85). 3 members, Mercury, Dr Rock, and TDC passed away from heart attack (95), natural causes (96) and Lou Gehrig's (98) respectively, with Trisco succumbing to cancer in 2016. The surviving members and ex-members joined together in 2017 for a new album and still play out today (2020). And apparently Obama is a fan.

Stand Out Track: Forgive Me Girl

Links:
Spotify album
Wiki
Discogs
Allmusic
Philly Tribune Obit 2016 - Trisco
wikiwand
How members died - I Love old school music
new Sounds

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Ellen Foley - Nightout

Name: Ellen Foley
Album: Nightout
Year: 1979
Style: Light Rock, Power Pop, Pub Rock
Similar Bands: Linda Ronstadt, Pat Benetar, Patty Smyth, Bonnie Tyler
"One-Word" Review: Pub Rock Theater
Based Out Of: NYC
Label: Epic, Cleveland International, CBS
 Cover, Sleeve, Record
 Back, Sleeve, Record
Nightout (1979)
  1. We Belong to the Night 5:18 (single)
  2. What's A Matter baby 3:37 (LJ Reynolds / Timi Yuro cover) (single)
  3. Stupid Girl 4:06 (Rolling St0ones Cover) (single)
  4. Night Out 5:14 /
  5. Thunder and Rain 3:02 (Graham Parker cover)(b-side single)
  6. Sad Song 3:30 (single)
  7. Young Lust 5:27 (b side single)
  8. Hideaway 3:42 (b side single)
  9. Don't Let Go 3:56 (single)
Album Rating (1-10): 6.0

Members & Other Bands:
  • Ellen Foley - Vox (Meatloaf, Clash, Joe Jackson, Pandora's Box, Blue Oyster Cult, Ian Hunter, Gait MacDermot, Sorrows, Iron City Houserockers, Hilly Michaels, Jim Steinman, Dan Hartman, Bonnie Tyler, 5 Chinese Brothers)
  • Ian Hunter - Producer, Arrangement, Keys, Guitar, Percussion (Mott the Hoople, At Last the 1958 Rock & Roll Show, Charlie Woolfe, The Rant Band, Overnight Angels, Pompeii, Apex Group, Hunter Ronson Band, the Scenery, more)
  • Mick Ronson - Producer, Arrangement, String Arrangement, Lead Guitar, Keys Backing Vox, Percussion (Arnold Corns, David Bowie, Mott the Hoople, Pompeii, Ronno, Spiders from Mars, Hunter Ronson Band, The Rats, Rolling Thunder Revue, Tony Visconti Trio, The Treacle, The Voice, Mariners, Crestas, The Wanted, The Hype, more)
  • Bob Ludwig - Mastering
  • Harvey Goldberg - Engineer
  • Phil Shrago - Asst. Engineer
  • Bob Clearmountain - Engineer
  • Rory Dodd - Harmony Vox (Jim Steinman, Fire INC, Meat Loaf, Ted Nugent, Garland jeffreys, Ian Hunter, Suzanne Fellini, Eddie Schwartz, Karla DeVito, Rex Smith, Steve Forbert, Peter Criss, Bel-Air Bansits, Didi Stewart, Air Supply, Billy Joel, Barry Manilow, Bonnie Tyler, Blue Rose, Clarence Clemons, Lou Reed, Martin Brilley, Julian Lennon, Barbara Streisand, Billy Squier, Carly Simon, James Taylor, Sheena Easton, Patty Smyth, Kevin Rowland, Scritti polittim, Survivor, Eddie Rabbit, Bon Jovi, Celine Dion)
  • Tom Mandel - Keys (Pins, Miamis, Ian Hunter, David Johansen, Children of the World, Hilly Michaels, Iron City Houserockers, Bryan Adams, Sylvain Sylvain, Klaus Nomi, Gary Private, Amy Kanter, Martin Briley, Payola$, Dire Straits, John Waite, Bon Jovi, Nils Lofgren, Denise Williams, Matthew Sweet, Lone Justice, Tina Turner,  Price, Pretenders, Fleetwood Mac, Peter Wold, Little Steven, B-52's, Cyndi Lauper, Sadistic Mika Band, Foreigner, Violent Femmes, Pavarotti, Christine Lavin, Joey Ramone)
  • Hilly Michaels - Drums (Sparks, Joy, Peach & Lee, Roger C Reale, Delta Cross band, Johnny Cougar, Dan Hartman, Van Duren, Bram Tchaikovsky, Tommy Mandel, Espionafe, Scott McCarl, Prix, Ian Hunter)
  • Martin Briley - Bass (Green slade, Ian Hunter, Mandrake, Prowler, Starbuck, True Adventure, other credits)
  • Kerryn Tolhurst - Slide Guitar (Country Radio, Sundown, Dingoes, others)
  • Gene Greif - Design
  • Benno Friedman - Photography
Unknown-ness: I've seen this album around for a while at various thrift shops (or maybe it was the same copy multiple times at one store), but finally decided to buy it in hopes it might be some sort of power pop female lead album, or at least one stand out track I'd like a lot. I've never heard of Ellen Foley.

Album Review: Ellen Foley is and was a music, theater and tv actress performer, with four albums, numerous high profile theatrical roles (Broadway: Me and My Girl, Hair, Into the Woods. Off-Broadway: Beehive), she was in films Hair, Fatal Attraction, Married to the Mob and Cocktail, and she was the original public defender on Night Court, Billie Young. Her big break was singing with Meatloaf on "Paradise by the Dashboard Lights" in 1977. She has also worked with Blue Oyster Cult, Joe Jackson, Utopia,  The Blockheads and The Clash. In fact, "Should I Stay or Should I Go" was written about his, (Mick Jones) relationship with Foley. In the Mid-00's she was a teacher at the Manhattan branch of Paul Green's School of Rock. This album reached #1 in the Netherlands, and is a mix of guitar heavy, pub rock style songs, theatrical ballads, and vocal pop songs to showcase Foley's range.

Stand Out Track: Young Lust

Links:
Spotify album
Wiki
IMDB
website
discogs
allmusic
nightcourt fandom wiki
facebook
rate your music

Fingerprintz - ~Distinguishing Marks *Beat Noir

Name: Fingerprintz
Album: ~Distinguishing Marks *Beat Noir
Year: ~1980, *1981
Style: Punk, Powerpop
Similar Bands: Cheap Trick, Clash, Gang of Four, Buzzcocks, Game Theory, Sex Execs, Blue Chips, Sparks, Talking Heads, Thomas Dolby, Lou Reed, Devo, Duran Duran, Gordon Gano
"One-Word" Review: ~Pure Power-Pop Punk, *Disco-Jazz Post-Punk
Based Out Of: Scotland, UK
Label: ~Virgin, Atlantic, Warner *Stiff, Virgin
 Cover, Credits, Record
 Back, Lyrics, Record
 Cover, Record
Back, Record
~Distinguishing Marks (1980)
  1. Yes Eyes 3:02
  2. Houdini Love 3:09 (Single)
  3. Criminal Mind 4:08
  4. Bullet Proof Heart 4:49 (Single)
  5. Remorse Code 3:34 /
  6. Amnesia 2:44
  7. Ringtone 2:40
  8. Radiation 4:50
  9. Jabs 3:23
  10. Hide And Seek 4:50 (b-side single)
~Beat Noir (1981)
  1. The Beat Escape 5:52 (single)
  2. Shadowed 3:07 (single)
  3. Changing 3:46
  4. Get Civilised 4:35 /
  5. Catwalk 4:08
  6. The Chase 5:15
  7. Touch Sense 4:22
  8. Going Going Gone 3:52
Album Rating (1-10): ~ 9.5
*7.0

Members & Other Bands:
  • *~Jimme O'Neill - Guitar, Lead Vox, Writer, *Producer, Trashicaster Chops, Chimes (Jacqui Brookes, Silencers, Honkytonk Hicks, Celtic Social Club, Intro, Lene Lovich, Scottish World Cup Squad, Alan Simon, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, Anthony More)
  • *~Cha Burnz - Lead Guitar, Vox, Writer, *Underworld Vox, Whirlybird Guitars (Silencers, Adam Ant)
  • *~Kenny Alton - Bass, Vox (Dick Envy, Vermilion)
  • *~Bogdan Wiczling - Drums, Percussion (Jacqui Brookes, Adam Ant, Bill Wyman, Lene Lovich, Bill Nelson)
  • ~Bernie Clarke - Keys (Ten Years Later, Alamo Leal, Alvin Lee, Sapho, Bram Tchaikovsky, Vampire Bats From Lewisham, Phillip Rambow, Aztec Camera, Bill Hurley, Johnny Guitar, Big Heat, David Knopfler, Lizzy Mercier, Edwyn Collins, OST, Go Betweens, Alabama 3)
  • ~Nick Garvey - Producer
  • ~Trevor Hallesy - Engineer
  • ~Terry Medhurst - Engineer
  • ~Nigel Barker - Asst. Engineer
  • ~David Kemp - Asst. Engineer
  • ~John Stalin - Illustrations
  • ~Peter Saville - Sleeve Design
  • *Chris Kimsey - Producer
  • *Chris Porter - Producer 
  • *Steve King - Shadowy Keys (The Colonel, Maddy Prior, Leon Rosselson, Helen Shapiro, Home Service, Linda Thompson)
  • *Sadie the Cat - Cat Vox, Do-be-Doos
  • *Don Snow - Keys Blanc (Squeeze, Anti-Heroin Project, The Catch, The Sinceros, Lee Kosmin, Wendy & the Rocketts, Judie, Tzuke, Nik Kershaw, Chris Eaton, Shelia Walsh, Tina Turner, Holly Johnston, Jimmy Somerville, Heartland, Thomas Anders, Markus Gardeweg, Lene Lovich, Jona Lewie, Nino Buonocore, Tracey Ullman, ABC, Stephen Duffy, Roger Daltrey, Dusty Springfield)
  • *Ron Francois - Bass Noir (Strutters, Lene Lovich, Teardrop Explodes, James Reyne, Wendy Matthews, Sinceros, Absent Friends, Kaylan, Ganggajand, Eurogliders, Nick Plytas, Valerie Lagrange, Julian Cope, Cabo Frio, Aleesha Rome)
  • *Krystof Kafka - Accordion
  • *John Irish Earle - Sax (Gnidrolog, Kilburn & the Highroads, Nine Days' Wonder, The Dance Band, Rumor Brass, Philip Chevron, Ruthless Blues, Graham Parker, Jona Lewie, Rachel Sweet, Johnny Thunders, Thin Lizzy, Wreckless Eric, Carlene Carter, Roy Sundholm, Sandy McLelland, Johnny G, Inmates, Desmond Dekker, Supercharge, Sean Tyla, Joan Jett, Lili Drop, Live Wire, dB's Kirsty MacColl, Dave Edmunds, Shakin' Stevens, Sky High, Mike + Mechanics, Katrina and the Waves, Big Heat, gadgets, Krypton, Dogs, Les Cactus, Fafafa, Paul Carrack, Gary Glitter, Privates)
  • *Dick English Hanson - Trumpet (Ossie Laine, Dance Band, Greatest Show On Earth, Rumor Brass, Taggett, Supercharge, Graham Parker & The Rumour, Jona Lewiw. Rachel Sweet, Wreckless Eric, Inmates, dB's, Dave Edmunds, Sky High, Shakin' Stevens, The Strand, Julien Clerc, Helen Shapiro, katrina & the Waves, Big Heat, Zoom, Dogs, Fixx, Fafafa, Rory Gallagher, Desmond Dekker, Privates, John Gotting, Suzi Quatro, Richie Milton )
  • *Spike Edney - Trombone (Gosport Horns, Queen, SAS Band, Brian May Band, The Cross, Happy Clubsters, The Cross, Roger Chapman, Roger Taylor, Edwin Starr, Linx, Private Lives, Boomtown Rats, Dexys Midnight Runners, Bucks Fizz, Elaine Paige, Haircut 100, Virginia Wolf, Ann Lewis, Duran Duran, Manic Street Preachers, Rhinomen, Les Wampas, Joe Cocker)
  • *Andy Hamilton - Sax (Gosport Horns, George Michael, Duran Duran, David Bowie, Elton John, Radihead, Pet Shop Boys, Albania, Dexys Midnight Runners, Hook Horns, Sandy McLelland & the Backline, Edwin Starr, Linx, Private Lives, Boomtown Rats, Corey Hart, Altered Images, Farmers Boys, Judie Tzuke, Thomas Leer, Wham, Jon Astley, Virginia Wolf, David Knopfler, gary Moore, Tina Turner, Nine Below Zero, Right Said Fred, Marc Almond, Interpreterts, Rhythm Kings, Brian May, Stereophonics)
  • *Dave Phee - Sellotape & Masterplans
  • *Niall Doull-Connolly - Cover Photo
  • *Mike Laye - Back Photo
  • *Kip Krones - Mgmt
Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but i saw these two albums side by side in the same discount bin, and from their name, Bryan Ferry-like cover (*sure, Ferry's more familiar "Bete Noir" was 6 years later) and punch out postcard artwork on the 'Marks' it really seems like they have a retro spy/PI theme going, along with the band name. So I imagine dark, back alley crime themes, along with power pop/punk styles (based on the labels).

Album Review: These two albums are very different in composition. Where 'Marks is straight up New Wave power pop-punk, akin to Cheap Trick with a little Game Theory-like vocals + slight variants song to song, Beat Noir is, for the majority, a dancey, Thomas Dolby/Sparks-like Disco New Wave band. That said, (and i love Sparks), there is not really a bad song on 'Marks (Bullet Proof Heart is the closest to a miss), however, I am having hard time picking out a good, stand out song on 'Noir. Singer O'Neill was not their original singer, and early on was writing songs for other big acts like Lene Lovich, Paul Young, Rachel Sweet & Manfred Mann. His wife Sadie sings on 'Noir.

Stand Out Track: ~Yes Eyes
*Going Going Gone

Links:
Spotify
Discogs
rate your music
post-punk monk
Trouser Press
Jimmie Wiki

Fetish Bones - Galaxy 500

Name: Fetish Bones
Album: Galaxy 500
Year:1987
Style: Cow-Punk, Alternative
Similar Bands: X, Blood on the Saddle, The Gossip, Animal Bag, Cucumbers, Bongos, Janis Joplin, Siouxsie Sioux
"One-Word" Review: Jangley Eclectic Cow-Punk
Based Out Of: Charlotte, North Carolina
Label: Capitol EMI
 Cover, Sleeve, Record
Back, Liner Notes & Lyrics, Record
Galaxy 500 (1987)
  1. Stray 3:20
  2. Everybody is a House 1:52
  3. Sammy 2:11
  4. Steamwhistle 3:34
  5. You Thirst 3:46
  6. Jesse James 4:13 (single b-side) /
  7. Kingdom 2:50
  8. Exit 2:30
  9. Sourpuss 2:36
  10. Riding Around 2:29
  11. Chicken Truck 2:30
  12. Things Are Happening 2:17
  13. Binoculars 2:30
Album Rating (1-10): 5.0

Members & Other Bands:
  • Don Dixon - Producer
  • Aaron Pitkin - Guitar (Sugarsmack, It's Snakes, Snagglepuss)
  • Clay Richardson - Drums (Jamie Hoover, Lava Love)
  • Danna Pentes - bass (Antietam)
  • Errol Stewart - Guitar 
  • Hope Nicholls - Vox, Harmonica (Sugarsmack, It's Snakes, Pigface, Snagglepuss, Marylin Manson, Slick Idiot)
  • Steve Haigler - Engineer
  • Tim Carr - Exec Producer
  • Don "Cannonball" McClure - Sax (The Embers, Dale Van Horn, Sonny Turner, Pervis Lee)
  • Laurie Douglas - Art Direction
  • Mark Gates - Mgmt
Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but based on the album art work of very busy collage of art, font, and diorama knickknacks, they seem like a busy scattered band. And the back artwork screams hippie alternative, albeit, a good 5 years before it was all over MTV. But let's stick with a guess of classic rock hippie-ish music with feedback and sloppy, purposeful play.

Album Review: Well, the album is all over the place. With roots in Cow-Punk, their country tinged funk and classic rock wobbles and grooves all over the place, with eccentric vocals that transform from guttural growls to high aggressive chants and quiet reserved thoughtfulness in the same 20 seconds. I wouldn't quite call it a dynamic range, but it is definitely an eclectic range of style choices. They started in 1983, but if they shifted their time frame just 5 years later, they could have been huge in the 90's-Alt scene with singer Nicholls' look, attitude, and the band's blending of genre...just too ahead of their time,

Stand Out Track: Sourpuss

Links:
Spotify
Wiki
Discogs
LA Times article '86
allmusic
Penn State '85 Article
Rate Your Music
sputnick music
facebook

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Mark Farner - s/t

Name: Mark Farner
Album: s/t
Year: 1977
Style: Pub Rock, Bluesy Rock
Similar Bands: The Who, Bee Gees, Allman Brothers, Creedence Clearwater, Grand Funk Railroad,
"One-Word" Review: Mellow Classic Rock in a Pub
Based Out Of: Flint Michigan
Label: Atlantic Recording, Warner Communications
Cover & Record
Back & Record
Mark Farner (1977)
  1. Dear Miss Lucy 3:37
  2. Street Fight 3:55
  3. Easy Breezes 3:45
  4. Social Disaster 3:35
  5. He Let Me Love 3:34 /
  6. You and Me Baby 2:51
  7. Second Chance to Dance 3:15
  8. Lorraine 3:55
  9. Lady Luck 3:45
  10. Ban the Man 3:05
Album Rating (1-10): 5.5

Members & Other Bands:
  • Mark Farner - Lead Guitar, Lead & Backing Vox (Terry Knight and the Pack, Bossman, The Fabulous Pack, Dick Wagner, Grand Funk Railroad, John Beland, Ringo Starr, Alice Cooper )
  • Phil Aaberg - Keys, Clavinet, String Ensemble (New Grange, Peter Gabriel, Elvin Bishop. Henry Gross, Dick Wagner, Marshall Chapman, Valdy, Maria Muldaur, Duroc, Dillard, Pat Hoffman, Rogers & Burgin, Amos Garrett, Roger Voudouris, Juice Newton, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Kenny Rogers, Vince Gill, Eddie Rabbitt, Metamora, Roy Rogers, 
  • Bob Babbit - Bass (Marfvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Temptations, Jimi Hendrix, Alice Cooper, more)
  • Bob Kulick - Guitar (Balance, Blackthorne, Hookfoot, Murder's Row, Skull, Neverland Express, Todd Rundgren, Michael Schenker Group, Lou Reed, Michael Wendroff, Pepper, Kiss, Meatloaf, Janice Ian, Diana Ross, Tim Curry, Rachel Sweet, Balance, Richard T Bear, Was Not Was, Spys, Michael Bolton, WASP, Motorhead, Status Quo)
  • Al Wotton - Drums (Rachel Sweet, Frankie and the Knockouts, Mitch Ryder)
  • Jimmy Maelan - Percussion (Ambergris, Shobizz, Hollywood Vampires, Latin Dimension, Roxy Music, Peter Gabriel, James Taylor, Alice Cooper, John Lennon, Jacksons, Talking Heads)
  • Dick Wagner - Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vox, Remixing (Alice Cooper, Lou Reed, Kiss, Bossmen, The Frost, Hollywood Vampires, Ursa Major, much more)
  • Ricky Farner - Backing Vox
  • Dennis Bellinger - Backing Vox (Grand Funk Railroad, Rusty Wright Band, Robert Richmond)
  • Andy Abrams - Engineer, Remixing
  • Jim Frank - Asst. Engineer
  • Mark Stebbeds - Asst Engineer
  • Ringo Hrycyna - Asst. Engineer
  • Jay Krugman - Remixing
  • Steinbicker - Houghton - Cover Photo
  • Lynn Goldsmith - Liner Photo
  • Bob Defrin - Art Direction
  • Andy Cavaliere - Personal Mgmt
Unknown-ness: never heard of this artist, and the cover looks like a complete rock star wanna-be cliche. Wanna-be because I've never heard of him. But the metallic logo and Saturday afternoon UHF fantasy b-movie image of shirtless Farner on a horse is trying hard to be iconic. As for what this will contain, it imagine it to be some aggressive Journey-like arena rock.

Album Review: So this is a gentle mix of southern bluesy rock and piano based pub tracks with some god influence ("He Let Me Love"). The songs on this album do mix it up, as there is also a little funk, some vague motown sound, and slow, harmonic "sexy" r&b. He was the lead singer & guitarist for Grand Funk Railroad. And through struggle and strife (father's early death, pacemaker, son's accident, fired from GFR & legal battles, finding god) he has come out the other end still playing music. The songs on this album do mix it up, as there is also a little funk, some vague motown sound, and slow, harmonic "sexy" r&b.

Stand Out Track: Dear Miss Lucy

Links:
spotify
website
wiki
facebook
Twitter
discogs
TKO 
Allmusic
WOAS FM

Ex-Optimists - Bee Corpse Collector

Name: Ex-Optimists
Album: Bee Corpse Collector
Year: 2013
Style: Shoegaze Math Rock
Similar Bands: Ride, Slowdive, Superchunk, Track Star, Ride, Lush, My Bloody Valentine
"One-Word" Review: Fuzzy Throttling Dreampop
Based Out Of: College Station, Texas
Label: Sinkhole Texas
 Cover, Record, Credits
Back, Record, Lyrics
Bee Corpse Collector (2013)
  1. Postcards 4:39
  2. Summer at Sea 3:10
  3. Never Lose that Feeling 3:43
  4. Dead Eyes 8:00 / 
  5. No-High Fives 4:36
  6. Let's Go to Sleep & Dream 1:30
  7. Portrait of an Artist in Flames 2:41
  8. Do No Harm 12:23
Album Rating (1-10): 8.5

Members & Other Bands:
  • Steven Kennedy - Bass, Guitar, FX, Producer
  • Kelly Minnis - Vox, Guitar, Keys, Drums, Percussion, Producer (Daughters of Joy, Great Unwashed Luminaries, Invasion Boys, Magic Girl & her Ex-Husbands, Redchapterjubilee, The Hangout, The Inators, The Tron Sack, Vast Massive Satellite, Vegas in Flames, Victory Lap, Before the Mast, Jay Satellite, A. Michael Collins)
  • Michael Scarborough - Guitar, FX, Producer (Magic Girl, Machine Meets Land, The Hangouts)
  • Jessica Kempen - Tambourine (Guns of Detroit)
  • Chico Jones - Engineer
  • Blake Bickle - Mastering
  • Justin Scarborough - Artwork
  • Wonko the Sane - Artwork
  • Whitney Lee - Photos
  • Jason Smith - Photos
  • Jake W. Hayward -Photos
Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band. But the black screen printed packaging and pretty splattered record made this an easy buy. Based on the cover, I expect this to have some big psychedelic overtones. How heavy or what direction they go: prog, indie, jam band, pop will be seen.

Album Review: There are some slight trippy elements that basically revolve around echoing reverb, and a little distortion, but it is mostly shoe-gazing math rock. I feel like I've heard a hundred opening bands like this over the years. Sinkhole records is singer Kelly Minnis's baby. There are a lot of solid catchy pop hooks imbedded in the meandering guitars and fuzzy soundscapes. It feel like it could fit into some of the 80's-90's Church-like dark-dreary brit pop pop, or a lot of the mid 90's alternative bands, but it also fits into 2013.The sound like the band you drag your girlfriend to, but end up having a fight and breaking up.

Stand Out Track: No High Fives, Postcards

Links:
spotify
bandcamp
discogs
raised by gypsies
reverbnation
razorcake
tidal

Friday, April 24, 2020

Eurogliders - Absolutely

Name: Eurogliders
Album: Absolutely
Year: 1986
Style: Light Rock, Adult Contemporary
Similar Bands: Bangles, Animotion, Shakespears Sister, Boom Crash Opera,
"One-Word" Review:
Based Out Of: Perth, Australia
Label: Columbia, CBS
Cover, Record
Record, Back
Absolutely (1986)
  1. Can't Wait to See You 4:13 (single)
  2. The City of Soul 4:49 (single)
  3. What Kind of Fool 3:49
  4. So Tough 3:41
  5. We Will Together 4:32 (single) /
  6. Absolutely 4:37 (single)
  7. Jesse 4:30
  8. Moving Away 4:08
  9. Enough Love 3:57
Album Rating (1-10): 5.0

Members & Other Bands:
  • Bernie Lynch - Vox, Guitar, Keys, Producer (the Stockings, Living Single, Kam Sha)
  • Grace Knight - Vox (Living Single, Australian Olympians, Kam Sha, Oz Art for Ozone, Olivia Newton-John)
  • John Bennetts - Drums, Percussion, Programming (Eartha Kitt, Dangerzone)
  • Ron Francois - Bass (Strutters, Lene Lovich, Teardrop Explodes, James Reyne, Wendy Matthews, Sinceros, Absent Friends, Kaylan, Ganggajand, Fingerprintz, Nick Plytas, Valerie Lagrange, Julian Cope, Cabo Frio, Aleesha Rome)
  • Amanda Vincent - Keys (Living Single, Thompson Twins, Boy George, Tim Finn, QED, Renee Geyer, Mondo Rock, Jenny Morris, Billy Bragg, Moodswings, Camelle Hinds)
  • Crispin Akerman - Guitar (Living Single)
  • Bill Scheniman - Producer. Recording & Mixing
  • David Quinn - Additional Engineering
  • Peter Cobbin - Additional Engineering
  • Tim Kramer - Additional Engineering
  • Chris Porter - Producer, Engineer
  • Brian Peacock - Mgmt
  • Chris Gunn - Mgmt
  • Adrienne Overall - Photo Painting
Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, and i'll be honest: the year 1986 made me quite hesitant to buy this, as much of this has the production styling of dead drums and one-dimensional synth smoothness. But i do like a good female fronted band, so i wanted to give this band a try. I'm still expecting adult contemporary pop with the bad late 80's production sound.

Album Review: And the sound is spot on...i still can't imagine what people were thinking when these studio albums came back and sounded like they were created entirely digitally without a soul. The band started in 1981, and enjoyed success with many singles, their biggest was Heaven (top 5 hit). Grace Knight and Bernie Lynch (he asked her, his then girlfriend, eventually short-lived wife, to be in his band Living Single as it was before a words-out-of-a-hat name change, (there was another Living Single)) still perform together as the Eurogliders as of 2018.

Stand Out Track: Can't Wait to See You

Links:
Spotify full album
Wiki
Discogs
wikiwand
facebook
rate your music
Nostalgia Central
2015 Tampa bay article
Westside talent page
2018 gig page memo music hall
Grace Knight page
allmusic

Elektrics - Current Events

Name: Elektics
Album: Current Events
Year: 1980
Style: New Wave, Powerpop
Similar Bands: Police, Squeeze, Nick Lowe, Hawks, Shoes, Buggles, Cretones, Producers, Knack
"One-Word" Review: Jittery-Oldies-Inspired New Wave
Based Out Of: New Jersey
Label: Capitol, EMI
 Cover, Record
Back, Record
Current Events (1980)
  1. Some Lovin' Tonight 3:15 (single)
  2. We Are Americans 1:55
  3. Anyway 2:56
  4. Time After Time 3:07
  5. Boardwalk Beauty 3:29 (single)
  6. Indifferent 3:36 (single b-side) /
  7. Tonight 3:10
  8. Joker 3:26
  9. Going to the Movies 3:20
  10. I Remember You 2:35
  11. Plastic Sound 3:11
Album Rating (1-10): 8.5

Members & Other Bands:
  • Chris James - Bass Vox
  • Marco Delmar - Guitar, Vox (Basehead, These Days, BYOB, Jennifer Cutting's Ocean Orch. Enid)
  • Carl Worner - Vox 
  • Bob Drew - Keys Vox (Pierre Aubanel, Jean Morlier)
  • Andrew Papa - Drums
  • Peter Ker - Producer
  • Rob Freeman - Recording & Mixing
  • Scott Keller - Asst. Engineer
  • Ken Perry - Mastering
  • Frank Breuer - Direction & Personal Mgmt
  • Andy Gould - Direction & Personal Mgmt
  • Robert Metcalf - Art Direction & Design
  • Len Price - Photography
Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, I like the name, cool play on a term i'd assume with synth and cold wave music, however their look is really pastel, yacht-ready, and reminds me of Squeeze a little. Here's another album with the busy checker / graph pattern across the front and back. I can only assume this will be synth heavy, upbeat new wave.

Album Review: So the album is not actually all that synth heavy, but it is a really fun, upbeat power-pop, new wave album not far from Squeeze, but bringing smooth ELO harmonies and some jittery accents to the songs. A couple of the lighter songs sound like oldies songs updated for the 80's, particularly the piano heavy "Pandy Fackler"-like (Ween) song "Broadway Beauty." I also really like the slinky bass & guitar that comes off a little Police-like on Time After Time.

Stand Out Track: Time After Time, Boardwalk Beauty

Links:
Spotify album
Album 2: State of Shock
rate your music
egg city Radio
Discogs
Allmusic

Dr. Strut - s/t

Name: Dr. Strut
Album: s/t
Year: 1979
Style: Smoooooth Jazzzzzz
Similar Bands: Brand X, Spaces, Roger Voudouris, Steely Dan
"One-Word" Review: your favorite 80's tv theme
Based Out Of: LA, CA
Label: Motown
 Cover & Record
Back & Record
Dr. Strut (1979)
  1. Granite Palace 3:38
  2. The Look in Your Eyes 4:36
  3. Canadian Star 4:23 (Steely Dan cover)
  4. More Stuff 4:57 / 
  5. Blowtop 3:15
  6. Soul Sermonette 4:30
  7. Chicken Strut 3:22
  8. Eddieisms 3:09
  9. Who Cares 3:00
  10. No! You Came Here For an Argument :57
Album Rating (1-10): 3.5

Members & Other Bands:
  • Lee Young Sr -  Producer
  • David Woodford - Sax, Flutes (Legendary Groovadelics, Swallow, Supertramp, Livingston Taylor, Michael Kamen, Aerosmith, John Cougar, Eric Carmen, Richie Havens, Sneaker, Bonnie Raitt, Sheena Easton, Robert Hazard, Jimmy Buffett, Juice Newton, Supertramp, Roy Orbison,Rod Stewart, California Raisins, Eddie Money, Natalie Cole, Ringo Starr, Alyssa Milano, Dan Hill, Johnny Mathis, Little Feat, Kenny Loggins, Michael Hutchence  )
  • Kevin Bassinson - Keys (Legendary Groovadelics, Victor Feldman, Jackie DeShannon, High Energy, Peter McCann, Giants, Jermaine Jackson, Ollie Mitchell's Sunday Best, Jean-Francois Roulot, Pascal Bacoux, Miki Matsubara, Olivia Newton-John, Lynn Carey, Charlene, Barry Manilow, Jane Fonda, Mark Winkler)
  • Tim Weston - Guitar (Legendary Groovadelics, Wishful Thinking, Cheech & Chong, Kerry Chater, Jackie DeShannon, Celebration, Tonio K, Peter McCann, Ollie Mitchell's Sunday Best, Bobby King, Robbie Patton, Jean-Francois Roulot, Miki Matsubara, Lynn Carey, Matthew Wilder, Victor Feldman's Generation Band, Daved Discos Dance Orch, Wishful Thinking, China Crisis, Fra Lippo Lippi)
  • Peter Freiberger - Bass (Legendary Groovadelics, Wha-Koo, Batteauz, Kerry Chater, Tonio K. Peter C Johnson, Jackie DeShannon, Peter McCann, Danny Douma, Ollie Mitchell's Sunday Best, Jean-Francois Roulot, Miki Matsubara, Lynn Carey, Walter Murphy, Parachute Express, Mister Paradise, Dawn & Dupree, Hans Zimmer)
  • Claude Pepper - Drums (Legendary Groovadelics, Silver Condor, Wha Koo, Tonio K, Bill Bergman, Earl Slick Band, Peter McCann, Ollie Mitchell's Sunday Best, Jean-Francois Roulot, Miki Matsubara, Walter Murphy, Josh Leo, Willie Dee, Dean Ray, Fra Lippo Lippi)
  • Everett Bryson - Percussion (Home Boy and the COL, Danniebelle, Jessy Dixon, Rufus, Chaka Khan, Alpha Band, Teddy & Nanci, Bili Thedford, Ozone, Cecil Lyde, Dan Hill, Teena Marie, Cook Country, Miki Matsubara, Jim Mandell, Charlene, Chris Montan)
  • Barney Perkins - Recording Engineer
  • Caryl Woodford - Recording Engineer
  • Roger Nichols - Mixing Engineer
  • Bernie Grundman - Mastering
  • John Banuelos - Asst Engineer
  • Gary Goodman - Asst. Engineer
  • Bill Glasser - Asst. Engineer
  • Ron Wakefield - Product Coordinator
  • Brenda M. Boyce - Product Manager
  • Tim Bryant - Cover Concept, Album Designer
  • Irma Newton - Cover Concept
  • Ron Slenzak - Photographer
Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band...not sure what to make of the levitating instruments that we're sneaking a peak at with the slightly open door...are we catching the instruments in a compromising position? Is the idea that the instruments are a live while no one is watching (ala Toy Story). Moreover, what does that mean the music will be? I like the stretching of the joke to the back, where the song titles are on an Rx pad, like they are the medicine Dr Strut can dole out. My guess is that this is pub rock with a heavy inclusion of sax.

Album Review: Rather than pub rock- or any kind of rock for that matter- what is contained on this album is smooth jazz. These tracks come across as some sort of resume of 80's tv show themes (Cagney & Lacey, Knots Landing, LA Law, My Two Dads) that knew their moment of popularity was but a brief fleeting couple of years. The smooth loungy aspect of the songs makes them less appealing than say Brand X, or other jazz fusion bands, and overall, its not my thing. They were the flagship band for Motown's newly formed Jazz division & put out two records. Their third record was set to begin production right before Motown's Jazz division shut down. It was still recorded & released in Japan.

Stand Out Track: No! You Came Here For An Argument

Links:
Spotify
youtube full album
Discogs
ProgGnosis
rate your music
band to band
Canadian Star thread

Mink Deville - Cabretta

Name: Mink Deville
Album: Cabretta
Year: 1977
Style: Rockabilly Pub Rock
Similar Bands: Bruce Springsteen, Mitch Ryder, Velvet Underground, Elvis Costello, Kinks
"One-Word" Review: Light Raucous Piano Wave
Based Out Of: NYC
Label: Capitol, EMI


Cabretta (1977)
  1. Venus of Avenue D 4:57
  2. Little Girl 4:19 (the Crystals cover)
  3. One Way Street 2:50
  4. Mixed Up, Shook Up Girl 3:44
  5. Gunslinger 2:09 / 
  6. Can't Do Without It 3:15
  7. Cadillac Walk 3:14 (Moon Martin cover)
  8. Spanish Stroll 3:38 (single)
  9. She's So Tough 2:30
  10. Party Girls  4:30
Album Rating (1-10): 7.5

Members & Other Bands:
  • Willy DeVille - Vox, Guitar, Harmonica (Billy & the Kids, The Immaculate Conception, Royal Pythons, Billy De Sade and the Marquis, Lazy Eights, Mark Knopfler, Downtown, Vanessa Paradis, Lucky Seven, Bon Jovi )
  • Ruben Siquenza - Bass (Billy De Sade and the Marquis)
  • Bobby Leonards - Piano
  • T.R. Allen Jr (Manfred) - Drums (Billy De Sade and the Marquis)
  • Louie X. Erlanger - Guitar (Slamhound Hunters, Toru Oki Blues Band, Twist Turner)
  • Jack Nitzsche - Producer
  • Kim Kimg - Engineer
  • Steve Douglas - Sax (Replacements, Crystals, Phil Sloan, Duane Eddy, Jan & Dean, Jerry Cole & his Spacemen, Dick Dale, Dory Previn, Albert King, Incredible Bongo Band, more)
  • Mike Johnson - Backing Vox (Immortals)
  • Val Heron - Backing Vox (Immortals)
  • Max Bowman - Backing Vox (Immortals)
  • Ed Rak - Asst. Engineer
  • Don Henderson - Asst. Engineer
  • Suzy Berle - Soul & Inspiration
  • Billy Borsey Jr. - Soul & Inspiration
  • Chris Evans - Mgmt
  • Danny Goldberg - Mgmt
  • Roy Kohara - Art Direction
  • Art Sims - Design
  • Eric Stephen Jacobs - Cover Photo
  • Leland Bobbe - Liner Photo
Unknown-ness: Never heard of this artist or band, but he looks like a Stray Cats rockabilly 50's throwback greaser on the cover. And the name Mink DeVille sounds like it fits that era as well.

Album Review: Mink is the band name for Willy and his team. They played CBGBs a lot as a house band, but were not of the punk genre- at least not musically. But they were lumped into the category due to place and time. Willy has contributed many songs to soundtracks over the years, including Princess Bride, Road House, and Grindhouse/Death Proof. The more I listen to this album, the more i feel like there was Velvet Underground impression, and some of it sounds like Elvis Costello's first record ("I'm Not Angry" particularly)...especially "She's So Tough."

Stand Out Track: She's So Tough

Links:
Wiki - Mink
Wiki - Willy
Discogs
allmusic
classic rock history
rate your music
willy's website
willy's IMDB
Guardian Obit 8/11/09
NY Times Obit 8/8/09

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Couchois - Nasty Hardware

Name: Couchois
Album: Nasty Hardware
Year: 1980
Style: Powerpop, AOR
Similar Bands: Journey, Allman Brothers, J. Geils Band, ELO, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Orleans, Steve Miller Band
"One-Word" Review: average white band
Based Out Of: Huntsville AL
Label: Warner Brothers, Inmusic Productions
Cover, Record, Catalogue
Back, Record
Nasty Hardware (1980)
  1. Trudy, You're A Bad Girl 4:13
  2. How Can I Lose 3:35
  3. Pretty Young Girls 3:29
  4. Anywhere You Are 3:58
  5. Innocence 3:22 /
  6. Roll the Dice 4:23
  7. Call it a Day 3:55
  8. Do You Really Believe it? 4:00
  9. Visibility Zero 4:58
Album Rating (1-10): 6.5

Members & Other Bands:
  • Steve Barri - Producer
  • Eddie Lambert - Producer
  • Chas Carlson - Keys Backing Vox
  • Howard Messer - Bass, Backing Vox (Ratchell, Eric Burdon)
  • Pat Couchois - Guitar, Backing Vox (Ratchell, T.I.M.E.)
  • Michael Couchois Drums, BackingVox 
  • Chris Couchois - Vox, Percussion (Ratchell, Eric Burdon)
  • Phil Kaye - Recording & Mixing Engineer
  • Roger Nichols - Recording Engineer
  • Gary Goodman - Recording & Mixing Engineer
  • John Banuelos - Recording & Mixing Engineer
  • Bernie Grundman - Mastering
  • Karen White - Production Coordinator
  • Martyn Smoith - Mgmt & Direction
  • Ed Tickner - Mgmt & Direction
  • Fred Valentine - Photography
Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band. But they look like fun; with lots of energy, waving emergency silver blankets about, proudly drunk and showing their varied excitements. Definitly going to be powerpop, but at what level? Light, Pub, New Wave, Arena?

Album Review: Turns out this is light, southern-bluesy power pop for the most part. The name comes from three brothers, making up more than half the band, so it make sense to use their last name. This is their second album of two, and i think I've seen their first one out and about: the cougar logo looks familiar. The album verges on rocking once or twice...the bass and synth in the closing track is a little dark, but the song is funky enough to stay above water. There are some nice smooth harmonies, and a little country rock infused, but overall, just another AOR album to add to the pile. Roll the Dice was covered by both Charlie (reviewed recently)and German metal band Rage

Stand Out Track: Roll the Dice

Links:
Wiki
Discogs
allmusic
Robots for Ronnie (prev album review)
rate your music
Musicbrainz
Easy Reader News live review/listing2012

CoConuts - s/t

Name: CoConuts
Album: s/t
Year: 2010
Style: Noise, Experimental, Psych, Noise
Similar Bands: Liars, Belly
"One-Word" Review: Dark, Echoing Drone + Grating Noise
Based Out Of: Brooklyn NY
Label: No Quarter
 Cover, Record, Download, Liner Notes
Back, Record, Insert Back
CoConuts (2010)
  1. Intro 0:57
  2. Silver Lights 6:34
  3. Lost Bitches 9:33
  4. Dark World 6:49
  5. When She Smiles 2:51
  6. Dean's Blues 6:53
Album Rating (1-10): 5.0

Members & Other Bands:
  • Jordan Redaelli - Bass (Bird Blobs, White Hills)
  • Tim Evans - Guitar (Bird Blobs, DeGreaser, Flying Phallas, La Scrimmioa, Modra, Mouth, Sea Scouts, Super Glue, NinetyNine, Chris Smith, White Hills)
  • Daniel Mitha - Drums (Ones, One/Hands, YKEO, Matt Pond PA, Crank Sturgeon/Paisano)
  • Mike Fellow - Recording Mixing
  • Paul Gold - Mastering
  • Throne Boogie - Images
  • Popular Noise - Typeset
Unknown-ness: Never heard of the band. Not much to go on with the cover, name, and lack of year/song titles on the back. So i'm guessing it's something minimal, no wave perhaps?

Album Review: At first listen, the album is all feedback noise and sludgy bass...it took me a couple listens to recall that there were vocals. But with more listens (perhaps just a closer listen), reveals some beauty to the chaos. Labeled as Psych music, most of the reviews label the record as driving, drudging, sludgey, heavy. All agreed. The two friends from Australia and NYC drummer only put out this one record. Part of the Lost Bitches song reminds me of Belly's mystical nightscape songs. Otherwise, I don't have much knowledge of other bands to relate here.

Stand Out Track: Lost Bitches

Links:
Bandcamp
Discogs
when she smiles Pitchfork review
myspace
Impose Mag
forced exposure
rate your music

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Classics IV - Traces

Name: Classics IV
Album: Traces
Year: 1969
Style: Folk, Light Pop, Easy Listening
Similar Bands: Bachelors, We Five, Roy Orbison, Association
"One-Word" Review: Loungey pop vocals
Based Out Of: Jacksonville, FL
Label: Imperial, Liberty
 cover, record
record, back
Traces (1969)
  1. Everyday With You Girl  2:34 (single)
  2. Mr. Blue 2:31
  3. Sunny 2:40
  4. Free 2:27
  5. Traces 2:45 (single) /
  6. Something I'll Remember 2:30
  7. Our Day Will Come 2:12
  8. Rainy Day 2:37
  9. Traffic Jam 2:18
  10. Sentimental Lady 2:24
  11. Nobody Loves You But Me 3:11
Album Rating (1-10): 6.0

Members & Other Bands:
  • Dennis Yost - Vox (Echoes, Leroy and the Moments)
  • Emory Gordy - Arrangement, Composer (Here Today, Kommotions, St John & the Cardinals, Hot Bandm, TCB Band)
  • Bill Lowery - Producer
  • Buddy Buie - Producer
  • Lew Bradley - Engineer
  • Woody Woodward - Art Direction
  • Gabor Halmos - Design
  • Howard Risk - Photographer
  • J.R. Cobb - guitar (Atlanta Rhythm Section)
  • DeWayne Blackwell - Composer
  • Mac Davis - Composer (Zots)
  • Mort Garson - Composer
  • Bobby Hebb - Composer
  • Bob Hillard - Composer
  • Tommy Roe - Composer
Unknown-ness: Never heard of Traces. Hoping they sound like some fun oldies pop like Herman's Herrmits, Monkees or Box Tops. But I never heard of them, so, probably not.

Album Review: I had the band mislabeled as Traces, but their name is actually Classics IV. It changed from Classics, as there was another band with that name from Brooklyn, and they experienced early set backs because the Four Seasons felt their music sounded too close to their style and had the song Pollyanna's NY airplay cut back. They still tour & play out, with a back up vocalist for Yost, (hand picked after he went through throat surgery and passed away in Dec'08). "Traffic Jam" sounds like a Colin Moulding song, and some of the tracks have a mid-period Elvis Costello (Mighty Like A Rose) sound. But most of the songs are easy listening light, with some smooth jazz sax solos and basic pop melodies.

Stand Out Track: Traffic Jam

Links:
Wiki
Website
Discogs
Dennis Yost Obit
Allmusic
Flower Power Cruise
Best Classic Bands

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Charlie - s/t

Name: Charlie
Album: s/t
Year: 1983
Style: Powerpop, Arena Rock
Similar Bands: Journey, Foreigner, Bad Company, Styx
"One-Word" Review: That's Journey, Right? RIGHT?
Based Out Of: London, UK
Label: Mirage, Atco, Atlantic, Warner
 Cover & Record
Back & Record
Charlie (1983)
  1. It's Inevitable  3:52 (single)
  2. Tempted 3:57
  3. Spend My Life With you 4:14
  4. Never Too Late 4:31
  5. Playing To Win 4:06 /
  6. The Heartaches Begin  4:09
  7. You're Everything I Need 7:02
  8. This Time 4:19
  9. Can't Wait 'Til Tomorrow 4:00
Album Rating (1-10): 7.0

Members & Other Bands:
  • Terry Thomas - Writer, Guitar, Backing Vox, Producer, Mixing (Magic Mixture, Axe, Bad Company, Foreigner, Tommy Shaw, Fastway, Giant, Richard Marx, Doctor Rockit, Biran Howe,  Sons of God Quartet, Janus Stark, Flash Terry, Anja Garbarek, White Trash)
  • Terry Slesser - Lead Vox (Back Street Crawler, Beckett, Crawler)
  • John Anderson - Bass, Backing Vox (Axe, Black Cat Bones, Shaun Guerin)
  • Robert Henrit - Drums, Percussion (Argent, John Verity Band, Phoenix, Barnet Dogs, Kinks, Roulettes, Unit Four plus Two, Ziggy Byfield and the Blackheart Band, Colin Blunstone, Roger Daltrey, Leo Sayer, Duncan Browne, Michael Fennelly, Adam Faith, Limey, Russ Ballard, Dave Davies, Ian Matthews, Mike Berry, Kazuo Takeda, Francie Conway, Zombies)
  • Steve Gadd - Drums
  • Kevin Beamish - Producer, Engineer
  • Bruce Barris - Asst. Engineer
  • David Thoener - Mixing Engineer
  • John Davenport - Asst. Engineer
  • George Marino - Mastering
  • Jay Anning - Art Direction
  • Pete Turner - Cover Photo
  • Felix Krish - Bassic Info
  • Andy Clark - Digital Dexterity
  • Richard Cottle - Digital Dexterity, Sax (Abbacadabra, Glamorama, Manic MC's, Obsession, Respect, Royal T, SFX, Shaft)
  • Adrian Lee - Digital Dexterity
  • Chris Parren - Digital Dexterity
  • Nick Payne - Sax (Bill Wyman's Rhyth, Kings, Bootleg Kings, Moon, Q-Tips, Paul Young, John Slaughter Blues Band, Lonnie Donegan, Mick Abrahams, Culture Club, Anthony More)
  • Bud Prager - Mgmt
  • Dave Thomas - Mgmt
Unknown-ness: Never heard of Charlie. Pretty tough name to search for, but I like the dark desert highway energy on the cover + font...like a shady version of the show Night Rider. I'd love if this goes in a dark, synth-wave direction verging on disco, alas, no synth on the back cover credits.

Album Review: The band has gone through 9 different line ups since starting in 1970 with six albums preceding this one, and they are still active through 2015. Based on the vocals and production, I would have never guessed they were from London, but this was mainly a Terry Thomas outfit, but for this album, under US label requirements, they needed to find a new singer, and Slesser was auditioned in, sounding just like Steve Perry. They blame their lack of UK success on the rise of punk, and found fairer lands here in the US, with four minor hits. There is a lot of hair energy in this album, lots of power chords and high kicks in tight leather pants. Save the monster power ballad "Spend My Life With You." "Never Too Late" has a little bit of Tina Turner's "Simply the Best" in it.

Stand Out Track: Never Too Late

Links:
Terry Thomas Wiki
Charlie Wiki
Discogs
Allmusic
History
Terry Thomas Interview
Bad Cat Records
Steve Hoffman Music Forum

Champaign - Modern Heart

Name: Champaign
Album: Modern Heart
Year: 1983
Style: Light Rock, R&B
Similar Bands: Eric Carmen, Prince, Bobby McFerrin, Atlantic Starr, SOS Band, Luther Vandross
"One-Word" Review: Overproduced Jazzy Adult Contemporary Prince
Based Out Of: Champaign IL
Label: CBS Columbia
Cover, Record, Lyrics
Back, Record, Lyrics
Modern Heart (1983)
  1. Let Your Body Rock 4:18
  2. Try Again 3:46 (single)
  3. Party Line 3:51
  4. Cool Running 3:16
  5. Walkin' 2:07 /
  6. Keep It Up 3:58
  7. Love Games 4:39
  8. Get It Again 3:38
  9. International Feel 4:32
Album Rating (1-10): 5.0

Members & Other Bands:
  • Michael Day - Keys, Guitar (Water Bros, MODA, Freddie Jackson, Don Thompson, Coalkitchen, Luther Ingram, Freeze Etch)
  • Paulie Carman - Vox (Water Bros, Coalkitchen, Thom Bishop)
  • Rena Jones - Vox (Water Bros)
  • Leon Reeder - Guitar (Thom Bishop)
  • Rocky Maffit - Drums (MODA, Race, Mosaic, Luther Ingram, Freddie Jackson, Milo, Rhythmic Union, Rocking Clones)
  • Dana Walden - Keys (Water Bros, Coalkitchen, Kristin Lems, Combo Audio, Erin Isaac, Sergio Buss, Arnold McCuller, Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah, Christian Mayhem )
  • James Gadson
  • Melvin Webb - Drums
  • John Robinson
  • Paul Richmond
  • Abraham Laboriel
  • Neil Stubenhaus
  • Dean Parks
  • John Kellogg
  • Jimi Randolph
  • Bill Payne
  • Neal Robinson
  • Ian Wallace
  • Ron Dewar
  • James Mack
  • Jerry Hey
  • George Massenburgh - Production, Sound
  • Richard Denhart - Asst. Engineer
  • Bill Youdelman - Remote Recording Equipment
  • Doug Sax - Mastering
  • Beverly Parker - Photography
  • Nancy Donald - Design
Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but the cover art is exactly what many of today's island synth pop artists are going for. But for 1983, this is going to be some synthetic yacht rock

Album Review: Somewhere between and on a different plane than Lionel Ritchie's All Night Long and Bobby McFerrin's Don't Worry Be Happy sits this slick, over produced set of adult contemporary sexy-mood setting tracks. None of it is really that good to want to put on to enjoy. It fails in the mass studio synthesization of music down to the bone, where nothing organic or raw can live. There may be talent in this group, but the glossy sheen on the one dimensional sound loses interest quite fast. Their first album, one before this one, contained the song they were most famous for, and never reached that peak again...Pauli Carman keeps the band going with s revolving cast and is still active (2020)

Stand Out Track: Keep It Up

Links:
wiki
soultracks
discogs
smooth radio
website
Champaign News Gazette
Soul Walking
Allmusic

Catholic Girls - s/t

Name: Catholic Girls
Album: s/t
Year: 1982
Style: Hard Rock, Powerpop
Similar Bands: Sleater-Kinney, Go-Go's, Girl School, Bangels
"One-Word" Review: catchy ground-breakingly tame pop
Based Out Of: New Jersey
Label: MCA
 Cover, Record, Liner Notes
Back, Record, Lyrics
Catholic Girls (1982)
  1. Someone New 3:13 (single)
  2. C'est Impossible 3:07
  3. A Boy For Me 4:13
  4. Where Did I go Wrong 2:35
  5. Park Theater 2:49
  6. You Let Me Down 3:02 /
  7. Private School 2:54 (single)
  8. Boys Can Cry 2:47 (single)
  9. I Called You Up 3:27
  10. God Made You For Me 8:57
Album Rating (1-10): 8.0

Members & Other Bands:
  • Gail Petersen - Writer, Lead Vox, Guitar, Synth (Double Cross)
  • Evan Pace - Producer, Mixing
  • Leon Tsilis - Exec. Producer, Mixing
  • Kathe Schreyer - Art Direction, Cover Concept, Design
  • George Osaki - Art Direction
  • Aaron Rapoport - Photography
  • Joanne Holland - Bass (Double Cross)
  • Roxy Andersen - Backing Vox, Lead Guitar (Double Cross)
  • Doreen Holmes - Drums (Double Cross, NJ Percussion Ensemble)
  • Gary Skardina - Recording Engineer
  • John Kovarek - Additional Synth Over Dubbing Engineer
  • Robert Feist - Asst Engineer
  • Jeff Silver - Asst Engineer
  • Paul Jarvis - Asst Engineer
  • Doug Sax - Mastering
  • Mary Kay Stolz - Uniform Design
  • Francine Moore - Stylist
  • Connie Clark - Hair
  • Natasha Ciura - Makeup
  • Stewart Turner - Representation
  • Steve Mitchell - Programming
Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but saw it at a record flea market, and figured the content had to be good or at least interesting...80's bad girl vibe, but in a fashionable way, so assuming they will sound like a band Ex hex is trying to replicate.

Album Review: So they don't sound as heavy as I thought they would, kind of like a slightly heavier, rock version of the Go-Gos. The vocals have a fluttering like them, and like Corin Tucker (Sleater- Kinney). They were pioneers, even though that was not their intent, wearing catholic outfits and memorablia along side their genuine, non-offensive music. The original band only lasted a few years (broke up in 85) and had this one album, but they got to tour with legendary bands (Petty, Kinks, Ramones, Clash) and play legendary places. Although they were the first NJ all-girl band to get signed to a major label, they never connected or were promoted efficiently because it seemed the corporate rulers could not accept their "voice" before they ever heard it. SNL cancelled them based on potential backlash, and they were banned from Rhode Island based on one misinterpreted lyric in "God Made You For Me" that the church felt was calling god a woman. A new line up got back together in 2002 and have recorded a couple albums since.

Stand Out Track: You Let Me Down, C'est Impossible

Links:
Gail's Website
website
Spotify full album + bonus
Discogs
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Capital City Rockets - s/t

Name: Capital City Rockets
Album: s/t
Year: 1973
Style: Honky-Tonk, Pub Rock, Southern-Bluesy Rock
Similar Bands: ZZ Top, Cheap Trick, Bay City Rollers, J. Geils Band, Black Crows, Mooney Suzuki
"One-Word" Review: run-of-the-mill-honky-tonk-blues
Based Out Of: Columbus OH
Label: Elektra, Warner
Cover & Record
Record & Back
Capital City Rockets (1973)
  1. Ten Hole Dollars 3:24
  2. Grab Your Honey 3:01 (single b-side)
  3. Little Bit O'Fun 2:59 (cover)
  4. Come Back Baby 2:41
  5. People Are Losing 4:53 / 
  6. Breakfast in Bed 3:13 (single)
  7. Newcomer Blues 2:53
  8. My Orange Tie 3:18
  9. Searchlight 3:31
  10. Still Kicking 3:49
Album Rating (1-10): 6.5

Members & Other Bands:
  • Jamie Lyons - Lead Vox (the Music Explosion, the Burners, Hard Sauce, Kasenetz-Katz)
  • Robert Hill - Guitar, Vox (Godz, Sky King, Debonairs, Bishops, Four Winds, Goldfinger, Strongbow, Climax)
  • Michael (Bopper) Warner -  Guitar, Vox (Hard Sauce, Four O'Clock Balloon)
  • Eric Moore - Bass (Godz, Sky King, Tree, American Dog)
  • Jerry Hertig - Drums (Hard Sauce, Adrian Belew)
  • Bobbye Hall - Congas (Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Bill Withers, Butterfield Blues Band, Janis Joplin, Mamas and Papas many more)
  • Gregory Prestopino - Piano (Celine Dion, Natalie Cole, Puff Daddy, Aaron Neville, Bette Midler, Livingston Taylor, Wendy Waldman, Maria Muldaur, Bonnie Raitt. Ry Cooder, John Prine, Loudon Wainwright III, Juice Newton, Gary Wright, Dan Bern, Arlo Guthrie, Kate & AnnaMcGarrigle)
  • Fritz Richmond - Engineer, Remix
  • Ed Caraeff - Photography
  • Robert L. Heimall - Art Direction & Design
Unknown-ness: Never heard of these guys, but the logo looks right out of a late-90's emo punk band, and the back cover looks like they could be a 70's punk band in rollerderby outfits. I'm excited to hear what these guys make...it will probably just be some basic powerpop/rock, seeing as it's 1973.

Album Review: This was a one and done album from this band, who had roots in the Columbus OH scene for years before and after in other small bands. They are indeed a pub rock band with a bit of southern blues, a bit of revitalized oldies rock n roll, and smatterings of power pop. All of their songs are energetic, but nothing really stands out as the clear single or hook.

Stand Out Track: My Orange Tie

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Monday, April 20, 2020

Don Bowman - Funny Folk Flops

Name: Don Bowman
Album: Funny Folk Flops
Year:1968
Style: Parody, Comedy, Folk
Similar Bands: Frank De Lima, Weird Al, Ray Stevens
"One-Word" Review: tea-bagger-get-off-my-lawn-anti-hippie-unfunny-jokester
Based Out Of: Lubbock TX
Label: RCA Victor 
Cover & Record
Back & Record
Funny Folk Flops (1968)
  1. Green Sleeves 2:28
  2. Crawdad Song 2:28
  3. Under Tremendous Amount of Pressure 2:45
  4. Worried Man 2:20
  5. All My Trials 2:00
  6. Dealyer's Stoned 2:35 /
  7. The San Francisco Scene 2:16
  8. In the Pine Trees 2:10
  9. Messin' Up My Mind 2:50
  10. House of the Setting Sun 2:05
  11. Tom Dooley Baby 2:00
  12. Streets of San Francisco 2:39
Album Rating (1-10): 2.0

Members & Other Bands:
  • Don Bowman - Vox, Writing
  • Chet Atkins - Procucer
  • Felton Jarvis - Producer
  • Al Pachucki - Recording Engineer
  • Eddy Arnold - Liner Remarks
Unknown-ness: Never heard of this artist. But the cover, with him taking on different stereotypes and forms to produce "funky folk flops" with a "can you believe this?" look on his face, i'm guessing this is not someone who takes these styles or cultures seriously or respectfully, and this is probably a joke / insult album.

Album Review: This is a comic record, which mostly pokes fun at counter culture and flower children via an out of touch sense of humor which would ring true with older folks worryin' 'bout them hippies. Bowman passed away in 2013, but was a disc jockey, singer & songwriter, and comedian. His career genre was country as he was the original DJ for "American Country Countdown" from 73-78, and he apparently helped Waylon Jennings get a start. There is really no singing on the album, it is jut Don saying some rhyming phrases over country-folk music, with elderly lines like "can you believe that, and aw shucks chuckles at his own "unbelievable" realizations. From the loose parody of  House of the Rising Sun as the perspective of a nosey neighbor to a community house of folk singers and hippies, like a redneck tea-bagging trumper's version of Tom Wait's "What is He Doing in There?" to the outright hatred of hippies in the obnoxious "The San Francisco Scene" and "Streets of San Francisco" the album is just as terrible in its intolerance as well as the storytelling. Perhaps they assumed that hippies and their culture was a passing phase, that looking back at the scene would put this album ahead of it's time, alas, it's just grandpa yelling get offa my lawn. Or maybe the prejudice was part of the charm, and this album is trying to show folks how disrespectful people come off? I really doubt it.

Stand Out Track: The San Francisco Scene

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