Upchurch, Phil - Upchurch

Name: Phil Upchurch
Album: Upchurch
Year: 1969
Style: Jazz Guitar, Funk
Similar Bands: Ramsey Lewis, Curtis Mayfield, Al Hirt, Jimmy Smith, George Benson
"One-Word" Review: Meditative Guitar Noodling in various settings.
Based Out Of: Chicago, IL
Label: Cadet, Chess

Cover, Record

Record, Back

Upchurch (1969)

1. Black Gold  4:31
2. America 3:30 (Paul Simon Cover)
3. As You Said 2:31 (Cream Cover)
4. You Wouldn't. You Couldn't Be True 3:02
5. Cross Town Traffic 4:00 (Hendrix Cover) /
6. Adam and Charlene 4:19
7. Spinning Wheel 3:28 (Blood Sweat & Tears Cover)
8. Voodoo Chile 2:52 (Hendrix Cover)
9. More and More 2:43 (Blood Sweat & Tears cover)
10. Midnight Chile 4:09 

Album Rating (1-10): 6.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Phil Upchurch- Guitar (Kool Gents, Dells, Spaniels, Curtis Mayfield, Otis Rush, Jimmy Reed, Dee Clark, Woody Herman, Stan Getz, Groove Holmes, BB King, Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Brown, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Gene Chandler, John Lee Hooker, Grover Washington Jr, Cannonball Adderley, Soulful String, Rotary Connection, Donny Hathaway, Harvey Mason, Ramsay Lewis, Quincy Jones, Tennyson Stephens, George Benson, Mose Allison, Gary Burton, Lenny Breau, Joe Williams, Chaka Khan, Natalie Cole, Carmen McRae, Cat Stevens, David Sanborn, Michael Jackson, Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff, Bob Dylan, Peabo Bryson, Anita Baker, Minnie Riperton, Red Holloway, Sheena Easton, Hubert Laws, Ben Sidran, Maurice White, The Crusaders, Palladin, Ichiban, Ridgetop, Bo Diddley, Marlena Shaw, Whitney Houston, Julio Iglesias, Moonglows, The Co-Ops, more)
• Louis Satterfield - Bass (Phenix Choir/Horns, Philip Cohran & Artistic Heritage Ensemble, Sky, Intentions, Pharaohs, Salty Peppers, Phil Collins, Fontella Bass, James Cotton, BB King, Jack McDuff, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Okie Duke, The Dells, Shel Silverstein, Mighty Joe Young, Earth Wind & Fire, Emotions, ChiLites, Staples, Denise Williams, Ronnie Laws, Gap Band, Tavares, Invisible Mans Band, more)
• Morris Jennings - Drums (Electronic Concept Orch, Operation Breadbasket Orch & Choir, Ramsey Lewis Trio, Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, Soulful Strings, Jack McDuff, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Zeet Band, Odell Brown, Jerry Butler, Dells, Peabo Bryson, Terry Callier, Charles Jackson, Chi-Lites, Manhattans, Curtis Mayfield, Jesus Wayne, Superior Movement, Roy Buchanan  more)
• Donny Hathaway - Piano (Mayfield Singers, Salty Peppers, Woody Herman, Roberta Flack, Young-Holt Unlimited, Margie Joseph, Fascinations, Zeet Band, Billy Prewitt, Operation Breadbasket Orch & Choir, Little Milton, Barry Melton, Aretha Franklin, Jerry Butler, Cold Blood, Joe Cocker, King Curtis, Dr Dre, Nate Dogg, Sam Moore, Lo-Fi Allstars, Missy Elliott, Danny O'Keefe, Lou Vega, Rick Ro$$, more)
• Bobby Christian - Percussion (Carl Stevens, Harry Lookofsky, Soulful Strings, Louis Panico, Louise Massey, David Carroll, Dick Schory, Sid Cooper, Melody Four, Jack McDuff, Zager & Evans, Guy Lombardo, Okie Duke, Joe Venuti, Hollins & Starr, Gene Chandler, Bonnie Koloc, McLuhan, Dells, Terry Callier, Jerry Butler, Charles Bevel, Bonnie Koloc, Chi-Lites, Heaven & Earth, Honeytree, Morello, Cleveland Eaton, Ron Steele, Tyrone Davis, Walter Jackson, Teresa Wiater, Peabo Bryson, Little Milton, Marti McCartney, LeRoy Hutson, Eugene Record, Manhattans, Rotary Connection, Gus Gioradano, Russ Morgan)
• Dave Chausow - Strings & Horns (Ramsey Lewis, David Carroll, Joe Morello, Electric Concept Orch, Okie Duke, Jerry Sandifer, Mason Profit)
• Stu Black - Engineer
• Charles Stepney - Arrangement, Conducting, Producer
• Jim Taylor - Cover Photo
• Victor Skrebneski - Liner Photo
• Randy Harter - Album Design
• James Mack Singers - Vocals

Unknown-ness: This is one cool looking album...love the simple yellow and black art direction, the kaleidoscope image of Phil Upchurch, and most enjoyable, the Upchurch font. Since the cover shows just Upchurch and his guitar, I'm going to assume this is something bluesy, but along the lines of Clapton with more soul. However, the back of the record lists him as a Jazz-Rock guitarist, as well as the accompaniment of drums and piano (and 36 pieces on one track), so I assume it will be much more jazzy than that.

Album Review: The album spans the range of jazz from full orchestral support to three piece night club performances. The result is mood setting and relaxing for half the tracks, and bright, bombastic, yet gritty for a handful of others.  

Upchurch was a very talented guitarist, starting professionally at 16 years old. He had one big single in 1961 called You Can't Sit Down (US top 30), which President Clinton performed at his inauguration. In the mid 60's became the house guitarist for Chess Records, so he has performed on many records. 27 solo albums later, he is still performing today (2021), playing Jazz, Soul, Funk, RnB and Blues, not to mention an advertisement or a cameo role here and there.

Stand Out Track: As You Said

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Shadows (the) - Jigsaw

Name: The Shadows
Album: Jigsaw
Year: 1967
Style: Instrumental, Surf, Pop, Psych
Similar Bands: Ventures, Beatles, Peter Frampton, Rick Nelson, Bobby Fuller Four, Association
"One-Word" Review: Surf Skiffle
Based Out Of: London England
Label: EMI, Gramophone, Columbia

Cover, Record

Record, Back

Jigsaw (1967)

1. Jigsaw 2:33
2. Tennessee Waltz 2:50 (Pee Wee King / Redd Stewart cover)
3. Prelude in E Major 2:42
4. Cathy's Clown 2:27 (Everly Brothers Cover)
5. Stardust 3:06 (Hoagy Carmichael cover) (Single)
6. Semidetached Suburban Mr. James 2:48 (Mannfred Mann cover) (Single)
7. Trains and Boats and Planes 2:15 (Bacharach cover)/
8. Friday on my Mind 2:47 (Easybeats cover)
9. Winchester Cathedral 2:49 (New Vaudeville Band cover)(Single)
10. Waiting for Rosie 2:14
11. Chelsea Boot 1:52
12. Maria Elena 3:07 (Lorenzo Barcelata cover)
13. With a Hmm-Hmm on My Knee 1:57
14. Green Eyes 3:05 (Nilo Menendez cover)

Album Rating (1-10): 7.5

Members & Other Bands:

• David Steen - Cover Photo
• Jim Goff - Cover Design
• Norrie Paramor - Producer
• Peter Vince - Engineer, Writing
• John Rostill - Bass (Tom Jones, Ritchie Francis)
• Cliff Richard (Harry Webb) - Writing (Drifters, Band Aid II, Mit Chor Und Orch, Anti-Heroin Project, And Strings, Pat Carroll, Aleksander John, Dave Pope, Garth Hewitt, Olivia Newton John, Network 3, BA Ronertson, Craig Pruess, Shelia Walsh, Janet Jackson, Phil Everly, Mike Batt, Elton John, Dave Clark, Van Morrison, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Claudia Jung, Darren Day, Tim Rice, Sir John Betjemen, Lulu, Helen Shapiro, Helmut Lotti, Cilla, many)
• Hank Marvin (Brian Rankin) - Guitar (Drifters, Chesternuts, And Strings, Vipers Skiffle Group, Marvin-Welsh-Farrar, Flair, Dennis Waterman, Des O'Connor, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Wings, BEF, Shakin' Stevens, Jean-Michel Jarre, Alan Jones, Darren Day, Jane McDonald, Jet Harris, Dire Straits, Peter Frampton, Jay-Z, Leo Sayer, Jason Donovan, more )
• Bruce Welch (Bruce Cripps) - Guitar (Drifters, Chesternuts, And Strings, Marvin-Welsh-Farrar, Olivia Newton-John,  more )
• Brian Bennett - Drums (Oh Boy! House band, Marty Wilde, Tommy Steele, And Strings, Collage, Heat Exchange, James Aldenham, Les Play Boys, Krew Kats, Thunder Company, Wally Asp, Wasp, Mark Wirtz, Al Stewart, Gunhill, Marvin-Welsh-Farrar, Olivia Newton-John, Labi Siffre, Georgie Fame, Alan Hawkshaw, The Gentle Rain, Michael de Albuquerque, Nick Ingram, Camilo Sesto, Garth Hewitt, Sassafras, Alvin Stardust, Bruce Forsyth, Glenn Cardier, Dennis Waterman, Flair, Chris Spedding, Walker Bros, Sutherland Brothers, Allan Heiding, Eddie Cochran, Roger Whittaker, The Players, Darren Day, Local Heroes, Robin Beck, Survivors, East Tennessee State Univ. Bluegrass Band, Vibratos, Mohawks  more )

Unknown-ness: Never heard of the Shadows. Picked this up while on honyemoon in London, so this is a Great Britian pressing. I liked the simple layout of the name & logo & font, plus the play on the album name and puzzled together photo. See one member has buddy holly glasses, so i'm guessing it is a pop vocal band from the 60's

Album Review: So this is a very popular instrumental (mainly) band, at least in the UK, as they are the fifth sellingist band over there, right behind Presley, Beatles, Madonna & the gentleman they are also the backing band for, Cliff Richard (who was the British answer to Presley). Their peak popularity was just before the Beatles, (whom were greatly influenced by them), and they have pioneered some of rock's greatest assets, from instrumentation and band set (lead, rhythm, bass & drums) up to live performance choreography. They were forced to change their name from the Drifters to Shadows in 1959 thanks to a single released in the states, clashing with the vocal group of the same name.  They have also performed in many films and tv shows: even in pantomime and marionette forms. Musically, they combined and spotlight elements of pop, rock, surf, ballads, and jazz. This collection of songs are mostly covers, with all the aforementioned genres added in together; jazziness particularly on their originals, and some country as well. The title track is just a masterpiece ahead of its time.

Stand Out Track: Jigsaw

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Section (the) - Fork It Over

Name: The Section
Album: Fork it Over
Year: 1977
Style: Jazzy Rock, Fusion, Funk, Prog, Light Rock
Similar Bands: Brand X
"One-Word" Review: Pitch Perfect Smooth Jazzy Prog.
Based Out Of: Los Angeles, CA
Label: EMI, Capitol

Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Sleeve Notes, Record

Fork It Over (1977)

1. Suckers On Parade 3:47
2. LA Changes 5:25
3. Street Pizza 4:07
4. Hamsters of Doom 4:30
5. Bad Shoes 2:49 /
6. Moon Over Fontana 5:30
7. Rainbows 4:34
8. White Water 2:55
9. Magnetic Lady 5:41

Album Rating (1-10): 6.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Russ Kunkel - Drums, Vox, Percussion (James Taylor, Carol King, Jackson Brown, Carly Simon, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Lyle Lovett, Meatjack, Spinal Tap, Things to Come more)
• Leland Sklar - Bass (Phil Collins, James Taylor, Jackson Browne, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Wolfgang, Vince Gill, Barefoot Servants, Diana Ross, Hall & Oats, Clint Black, Reba McEntire, George Strait, Group Therapy, Suzy Bogguss more)
• Craig Doerge - Keys, Moog (James Taylor, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Jackson Browne, Sion & Garfunkel, Henske, Keepin' 'Em Off the Streets, Rosebud, more)
• Danny Kortchmar - Guitars, Field Drums (Don Henley, James Taylor, Carol King, The City, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Harry Nilsson, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, Attitudes, Jo Mama, King Bees, Slo Leak, Flying Machines, Yesca, more)
• Steve Forman - Percussion (Friendship, Eclectic Mouse, Topsy Turbys, Ray Manzarek, REO Speedwagon, Kim Carnes, Loggins & Messina, Sergio Mendes, Al Jarreau, more)
• Jim Horn - Sax, Flute, Piccolo (Duane Eddy, George's Band, His Dynamite Horn Section, Johnny Rivers, LA Boogie Band, Kip Tyler & the Flips, Lalo Schifrin, The Rebels, Shelter People more)
• Chuck Findley - Trumpet (Alf Clausen Jazz Orch, Buddy Rich Big Band, Don menza, Findley Bros, High Voltage, Johnny Rivers, LA Boogie Band, Klaus Weiss, L'il Jack Horn Sect. James Last, Peter Herbolzheimer, Ernie Watts more)
• Judy Henske - Lyrics
• James Taylor - Vox (Yo Yo Ma, Flying Machine, Mitchell/Taylor Boy Girl Choir, Simon-Taylor Family other acts)
• Joe Lala - Congas Timbales, Percussion (Blues Image, Manassas, Pacific Gas & Electric, Steve Rucker, Byrds, Stills-Young Band more)
• David Sanborn - Sax, Lyricon (Bob Mintzer, Gil Evans, Chaos Choir, Domenic Troiano, NY All Stars, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Players Association, SNL band, World's Most Dangerous Band, More)
• David Crosby - Vox (CPR, CNSY, Les Baxter's balladeers, Beefeaters Byrds, Jet Set, Red Hots other acts)
• Roy Kohara - Art Direction
• Dave Willardson - Illustration
• Jim Shea - Photos
• Matt Hyde- Prcording , Mixing Engineer
• Rick Moody - Asst. Engineer
• Skip Saylor - Asst. Engineer
• Michael Boshears - Asst. Engineer
• Wally Traugott - Mastering
• Ian Underwood - Oberheim Knowledge

Unknown-ness: never heard of this band, but the front and back artwork support their band name (section of the record) and album name, since the section of the record cut is being forked over. Based on the mellow longhair band picture on the back, i imagine this will be some southern bluesy rock or powerpop, perhaps a bit snarky with their all-in concept album from name to imagery. 

Album Review: So this is a mostly acid jazz fusion band with prog rock. Mostly instrumentals with some high profile vocalists in James Taylor and David Crosby on one song each (the last track on each side of the album). They were basically the house band for anyone recording with Asylum Records, nicknamed the Mellow Mafia- based solely on their musical style: not their energetic stage presence and chaotic lifestyles. Together and or independently, these four helped shaped the all star careers of Carly Simon, Carole King, David Crosby, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Don Henley, Linda Ronstadt and Phil Collins. They propelled the main acts live shows into superstar status, and helped write many of their biggest hits. They were a respected force as a group, and it would not have been possible for Jackson Browne to record his all-new, all-live album Running on Empty without them on tour for the three weeks it took to compile, during the same year this album came out.

Stand Out Track: Street Pizza

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Robotiks (the) - Man and Machine

Name:The Robotiks
Album: Man and Machine
Year: 1985
Style: Synth, Electronic Reggae, Dub
Similar Bands: Manuel Gottsching, Mad Professor, King Tubby, Lee "Scratch" Perry
"One-Word" Review: Jazzy Synth House Reggae
Based Out Of: London, UK
Label: Ariwa Sound

Cover, Record

Back, Record

Man and Machine (1985)

1. Man and Machine 3:36
2. Dubbing in Harmony 3:26
3. San Remo 6:05
4. Test Tube Mix 4:29
5. Recharge 3:42/
6. Mystic Robotik 3:39
7. Shooting Star 4:38
8. Positive Logic 3:59
9. Dub De Goeblin 3:27
10. It All Started Under a Coconut Tree 3:51

Album Rating (1-10): 5.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Mad Professor (Neil Joseph Stephen Fraser) - Producer, Vox (Anti-Social Workers, Sergeant Pepper, Lost Cherrees, Perry Farrell, Dubital, The Nomad, Professor Skank, Ranking Ann, Ben Zephaniah, Johnny Clarke, Jah Shaka, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Kofi. Bob Andy, Clementine, Massive Attack so many)
• Preacher - Vox, Bass, Piano (Sane Inmates, Rosie Gaines, Twinkle Brothere, Ranking Ann, Mad Professor, Sergeant Pepper, Johnny Clarke. Jah Shaka, Alvin Dread., Wild Bunch, Addis Rockers, Sandra Cross, Macka B, Kendell Smith, Kofi, Champion Doug Veitch, Lee Scratch Perry, Nitty Gritty, Junio Delgado, Mr Palmer the Ninja, Sister Audrey, U-Roy, John McLean, Tippa Irie, Peter Hunningale, Luciano, Susan Cadogan, Joseph Cotton, Daddy Freddie, Tex Johnson)
• Michael Walters - Vox (Macka B)
• Robotics - Drums
• Black Steel (Errol Nicholson) - Bass, Guitars, Piano (Klearview Harmonix, Peter Culture, Mad Professor, Sandra Cross, Dr. Alimantado, Johnny Clarke, Aisha, Barry Biggs, Kofi, Dennis Brown, Twinkle Bros, KLF, U-Roy, Kevin Eastwood, Moody Boys, Intense, Thriller Jenna, Sade, Gregory Isaacs, Earl Sixteen, Kingpin, Macka B, Nolan Irie, Paulette Tajah, Yabby You, Workshy, Unitone Rockers, Tucker Rainbow, John McLean, Della Grant, more)
• Jeffrey Beckford - Guitar (Mad Professor, Sandra Cross, Nitty Gritty, U-Roy, Bert Martin, John McLean, Macka B, Aisha, Madelaine, Luciano)
• Cleveland Neunie - Piano (Ranking Ann, Mad Professor, Sandra Cross, Johnny Clarke, Nitty Gritty, Bert Martin, Madelaine, Susan Cadogan, Joseph Cotton, Daddy Freddie)
• Roger - Horns (Mad Professor, Macka B, Sandra Cross, Lee "Scratch" Perry)
• Patrick - Horns (Mad Professor, Macka B, Sandra Cross, Lee "Scratch" Perry)
• George Wilkins - Harmonica (Peter Culture, Mad Professor, Long Tall Texans)

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band. But from the straight line cover of a military force taking on a robot attack, i imagine it is some sort of futuristic electro hard core or political minded indie punk with synthesizers. 

Album Review: So i was way out of my league when I put this record on. It reminds me a little of Manuel Gottsching with the synthetic repetitive house/techno sound, with the big exception is that this album has a chill reggae dub vibe. It is mostly instrumental, and the repetitive hooks and grooves are slow and deliberate. I've read they are the house band for their label, Ariwa, and support artist like Lee "Scratch" Perry. Mad Professor is by far the biggest name related to this band, and he is one of the pioneers bringing dub into the digital age, which is more than apparent on this album.

Stand Out Track: Man and Machine

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Mad Professor 2006 Remix Mag Interview

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Ariwa Label Page

Rare Air - Hard to Beat

Name: Rare Air
Album: Hard to Beat
Year: 1987
Style: Celtic Bagpipe Instrumentals, Smooth Jazz
Similar Bands: Cheiftans, Enya, Celtic Thunder, 
"One-Word" Review: Windswept Irish Countryside
Based Out Of: Toronto, Canada
Label: Green Linnet Records

Cover, Liner Notes, Record

Back, Liner Notes, Record

Hard to Beat (1987)

1. Tribal Rites 2:24
2. Taxi Suite 6:10
3. Inside Out 7:08
4. Small as Life 5:36 /
5. Marvin's March (For Marvin Gaye) 2:42
6. The Waiting Room 5:38
7. Dee Dee Diddley Bop 4:23
8. Onward Blindly Onward 4:03
9. Beam Me up 4:05

Album Rating (1-10): 4.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Dave Hillier - Recording, Mixing, Producer, Drum Program
• Ellison Robertson - Cover Painting
• Michael Foster - Cover Photos
• Karl Martens - Cover Design & Layout
• George Balderose - Artistic Manager
• Pat O'Gorman - Highland Bagpipes, 'D' Flute, Biniou-koz, 'Eb' Flute, Bagpipes (City of Toronto Pipe Band, Na Cabarfeidh, Chalk Circle, Mychael Danna, Casadh An Tsugain, Howard Baer, )
• Grier Coppins - Synth, Highland Bagpipes, Bombarde, Whistle, Bagpipes (City of Toronto Pipe Band, Na Cabarfeidh, Bernie Martin, Muchael Danna, Jaron Freeman-Fox, Al Tuck)
• Dick Murai - Guitar, Bass, Drum Program, Bells, Vega Tenor Lute (Na Cabarfeidh)
• Trevor Ferrier - Roto Toms, Brass Drum, Percussion, Clay Drums, Bells, Shakere, Snare Drums, Tabla, Long Drums (City of Toronto Pipe Band, Na Cabarfeidh, Jane Siberry, Pat Kilbride, Kalimba Kalimba, David Essig, Njacko Backo)
• 'Truck Croteau - Bouzouki
• Tom Coyne - Mastering

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but the packaging is odd, as you flip the record over, not from right to left to correctly view the back. From the cover art work, and the ransom letter font on the side A Front, and the multicultural + bagpipe cover on the back, i want to believe this is some interesting indie punk, but i believe it will be more college radio, jangley rock, based on the year. 

Album Review: This is straight up instrumental, bagpipe heavy jazzy soundscapes. There is a little Asian influence and some middle eastern theme in the music too, so it does not always just carry a Celtic feel. On this record Marvin's March & Dee Dee... are both homages to African American culture. Most of the songs feel like jigs and ceremonial songs. The instrumentation is mostly performed on old world devices. They continued to divert to alternate directions, and after this album and the departure of two members, they headed into the direction of Jazz Fusion.

Stand Out Track: Onward Blindly Onward

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Chicago Tribune 1990 article

Puzzle - The Second Album

Name: Puzzle
Album: The Second Album
Year: 1974
Style: Motown, R&B, Prog-Jazz fusion, Funk, Blood Sweat & Tears, 
Similar Bands: Stevie Wonder, Chicago
"One-Word" Review: Multi-Genre Doo-Wop Proggers
Based Out Of: Chicago
Label: Motown

Cover, Record

Back, Record

The Second Album (1974)

1. You Took Me Wrong 4:10
2. Mary Mary 3:21
3. State of Mind 4:12
4. Everybody Wants to Be Somebody 3:21
5. Haiku 5:28 /
6. My Love 3:51
7. Now That You Love Me 4:13
8. Concept of Her 8:25
1. Prelude
2. A Moment's Rest
3. Visions
9. NYC 3:40

Album Rating (1-10): 6.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Bob Cullen - Producer
• Bobby Scott - String Arrangement
• Hank Cicalo - Engineer
• Linda Tyler - Recordist
• Bernie Grundman - Mastering
• Norman Seeff - Photography & Design
• Pelev Palombi - Illustration
• John LiVigni - Drums, Vox, Percussion (John Valenti, John Edward Beland)
• Anthony Siciliano - Bass 
• Joseph Spinazola - Piano Organ (John Valenti)
• Bobby Villalobos - Lead Guitar 
• Ralf Richert - Guitar, Trumpet (Don Randi, Vinny Golia, Windfall, James Vincent, LA Jazz Ensemble, Freddy Henry, Jack Miller, Cook Country, King Errisson, Crusaders. Hiromi Iwasaki, Calypso Rose, Ollie Mitchell, Cold Fire, Mighty Clouds of Joy, Roby Duke, BUrning Sensations, Kazu Matsui, Pearl, Bonedaddys, Yanni, Nicky Holland, John Miles, Neil Diamond, Nathan Cavaleri, Dianne Reeves, Paula Abdul, Porno For Pyros, Windows,Thom Rotella, Christopher Franke, James Iha, Larry klimas, Marek Niedzwiecki, Devo, George Benson, Karizma, Caldera, Les DeMerle)
• Bob Williams - Trumpet, Wind Chimes
• Larry Klimas - Sax, Flute (Dream Patrol, Karizma, Potato Salad, Toolbox, Tom Hensley, James Vincent, King Errisson, Hiromi Iwasaki, Calypso Rose, John Valenti, Daniel Goldberg, Pino Marrone, Kazu Matsui Project, War, Renaud, Claire Severac, Luis Conte, Miki Asakura, LA Keyboard Project, Dickies, Visiting Kids, Liquid Jesus, Recollections, Karen Knowles, Charles Dumont, Sam Sklair, Lesley Olsher, Neil Diamond, Steve Lukather,. Manhattan Transfer, Rick Braun, Luis Conte, Suicide Machines, David Garfield, Lee Oskar, Robert Williams, Divididos, Bob Conti, Arthur Barrow, Devo, Melora, George Cables, Chicago, Robert Lamm, Azure McCall, Elton John, Thelma Houston, The Mar Visiting Philharmonic, PG & Frank, Robby Krieger, Mike Porcaro, Dan Fornero, Gerry Beckley, Alex Ligertwood, America)

Unknown-ness: Never heard of Puzzle, but from the cover and distorted, stretched band image on the back, my best guess is this is totally a prog band. Even if it is on Motown...well, maybe there is some doo-wop included in the prog, which sounds very intriguing.

Album Review: This album splits the difference, where some songs are blue-eyed soul & R&B motown sound, and others are jazzy prog or straight up jazz. But there is not much cross over, each track is a stand alone style. "Everybody Wants to Be Somebody" has a trumpet section that sounds like "Lean On Me." They are an all-white jazzy soul band that didn't quite fit the typical Motown sound, but were released on the Motown label rather than one of the related labels like Rare Earth (which was the original intention). They were a popular live band between Chicago & Detroit, so geographically, Motown made sense. Bandleader LiVigni changed his name to Valenti after Puzzle to pursue a solo career.

Stand Out Track: You Took Me Wrong

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Raybeats - Roping Wild Bears

Name: Raybeats
Album: Roping Wild Bears
Year: 1981
Style: Instrumental Surf
Similar Bands:Man or Astroman?, Ventures, B-52s, Los Straitjackets
"One-Word" Review: Space Surfing Spy Soundtrack
Based Out Of: NYC
Label: Don't Fall Off the Mountain

Cover & Record

Record & Back

Roping Wild Bears (1981)

1. Searching 3:34
2. Rise and Fall of Flingel Bunt 2:54  (Shadows cover)/ 
3. Tight Turn 4:00
4. Tone Zone 3:37

Album Rating (1-10): 8.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Pat Irwin - Sax, Acetone, Guitar (8-Eyed Spy, Command V, B-52s, Foolish Virgins, PI Power Trio, Love Tractor, Lydia Lunch, The dB's, Rage to Live, Lucky Pierre )
• Jody Harris - Guitar (James Chance & the Contortions, Loose Screws, Band of George, The Golden Palominos, Syd Straw, Matthew Sweet, ImpLOG, James White & The Blacks, Lester Bangs, Colin Bryce, John Zorn, Victoria Williams, Richard Hell, Freedy Johnston)
• Danny Amis - Bass, Guitar (Los Straitjackets, Overtones, Thee Phantom 5ive)
• Don Christensen - Drums (James Chance & the Contortions, Philip Glass, Cadillacs, New Action Army, Loose Screws, Band of George, impLOG, James White & the Blacks, Angel Dean & the Zephyrs, Change of Heart, Waitresses, Bush Tetras, Laurie Spiegel)
• Dan Dryden - Engineer
• Trace Rosel - Cover Credit
• Lisa Rosel - Cover Credit
• Joe Stevens - Back Cover Photo
• Bob Singerman - Mgmt
• Ruth Polsky - Special Thanks

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band. But based on the album name and cover art, I get the impression that they are wacky, perhaps embarrassingly so. So I imagine this will be some sort of silly nerdy new wave band, like Pet Clams or the Rave Ups.

Album Review: This is an ep of 4 instrumental tracks, that feature elements of blues and soul, surf, and spy themes. Allmusic is quoted as calling them "the soundtrack for a James Bond movie directed by David Lynch" and that is spot on. Pat Irwin went on to scoring TV and Film, including his big break with the quality work he did on cartoon Rocko's Modern life.

Stand Out Track: Tone Zone

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Please Kill Me - Pat Irwin

Yellow Magic Orchestra - s/t

Name: Yellow Magic Orchestra
Album: s/t
Year: 1979
Style: Chip Music, Electronic Pop, Techno
Similar Bands: Hot Butter, Chromolodeon, The Advantage, Ghostwriters, Bruce Haack, Cornelius, Kraftwerk
"One-Word" Review: Atari Disco
Based Out Of: Tokyo Japan
Label: Horizon, A&M, ALFA Records

 Cover, Record

Back, Record

Yellow Magic Orchestra (1979)

1. Computer Game "Theme from the Circus" 6:38
2. Firecracker 0:02
3. Simoon 6:28
4. Cosmic Surfin' 4:27
5. Computer Game "Theme From Invader" 1:00 /
6. Yellow Magic (Tong Poo) 6:20
7. La Femme Chinoise 6:05
8. Bridge Over Troubled Music 1:00
9. Mad Pierrot 4:22

Album Rating (1-10): 8.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Harry Hosono - Producer
• Kunihiko Murai - Executive Producer
• Tommy Li Puma - Supervisor
• Ryuichu Sakamoto - Keys, Electronics, Percussion, Orchestration, Happy End, others)
• Yukihiro Takahashi - Drums, Percussion, Electronics, Vox (Sadistic Mika Band, others)
• Haruomi Hosono - Bass, Electronics, Keys, Arrangements (Happy End, Yosui Inoue, Osamu Kitajima many  more)
• Hideki Matstake - Micro Computer Programmer (Isao Tomita, Akhihabara Electric Circus, Beat Musik, NML: No More Landmine, Oriental mechanic Band, Purple Project)
• Shunichi Hashimoto - Vox (Izumi Kobayashi)
• Masayoshi Takanaka - Electric Guitar (Bacco, Brush!?, Flied Egg, Sadistic Mika Band, Sadistics)
• Tomoko Nunoi - Sexy Vox
• Nori Yoshizawa - Engineer
• Atsushi Saito - Engineer
• Al Schmidt - Mixing
• Mike Reese - Mastering
• Shunsuke Miyazumi - Recording Coordinator
• Roland Young - Art Direction
• Amy Nagasawa - Design
• Chuck Beeson - Design
• Lou Beach - Cover Art
• Masayoshi Sukita - Back Cover

Unknown-ness: At the time of buying this record, i had not heard of them. The image looks like it is going to be Asian computer sci-fi: with the wires pouring out of the sunglasses-laden Geisha's head. From a PC standpoint, the name seems to be a little racist, amplified by the yellow highlighted suits on the back of the record. But what do I know?

Album Review: So YMO is one of the first bands to include the electronic noised from what sound like Atari games into modern music, which leans disco for the time. Today, it's referred to chip music: folks that include 8 bit sound into their compositions. Their pioneering expands beyond that into J-Pop, Electro-Pop, SynthWave and techno. Their name is apparently satire of Japan's obsession with Black magic in the late 70's. The idea was to fuse oriental exotica with modern electronics. A section of Simoon sounds a lot like Ween's Mexican instrumental Fiesta.

Stand Out Track: Computer Game "Theme from the Circus", Firecracker

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Fact Mag

Crash Course In Science - Signals From Pier Thirteen

Name: Crash Course in Science
Album: Songs from Pier Thirteen
Style: Minimal Electro-Wave
Similar Bands: Gang Of Four, Aphex Twin, Delta 5, Ghostwriters
"One Word" Review: Sterile-Dance-Alarms
Based Out Of: Philadelphia, PA
Label: Press Records

Songs from Pier Thirteen - Cover, Sleeve & Record

Songs from Pier Thirteen - Back, Sleeve Notes, Record

Songs from Pier Thirteen (1981)

1. Cardboard Lamb 2:32
2. Crashing Song 2:48
3. Flying Turns 3:04
4. Factory Forehead 3:04

Album Rating (1-10): 8.5

Members & Other Bands:

John Wicks - Producer
Mallory Anne Yago
Dale Felliciello
Michael Zodorozny

Unknown-ness: I’ve never heard of this band. But just from looking at the cover, back and sleeve artwork, the black and white electrical tech manual and industrial look makes me believe this to be some sort of industrial, techno weird-electro album, much like the excellent Ghostwriters. On the sleeve, the contact address was changed from NY to Philadelphia, which is where the Ghostwriters were from too, so I am expecting the music to be very good/interesting as well. Also it's good to note that when I bought this record, it came warped. I had to invest in some heavy glass and I melted the record flat in the oven. Now the warp is gone, but a few small sections of the grooves melted together, making it skip. But, the end result still plays better than it did before the flattening.

Album Review: “Cardboard Lamb” is a electronic beat sounding like a neon rubber band being stretched and plucked. In the background are all kinds of industrial effects like hissing gaskets and steam whistles and brrrpt effects. The singing is female and much like Gang of Four or Delta 5, it is minimal and just a word or two sung at specifically chosen intervals. It is a very dancy and catchy hook
“Crashing Song” quietly creeks into existence with cold and ominous computer sign-on blips and screeches, almost like the metallic windy whine from tuning into a radio station. Or it sounds like the electric pulses and powering on a mad scientist’s laboratory. Then a skipping, Aphex Twin drum beat begins and mingles with the powering up machine, which then emits static discharges in rhythmic blasts. The hypnotizing sound then loses the elements in reverse order that they turned on before the whole experiment ends completely.

“Flying Turns” begins with a skipping tinny drum beat and factory steam pistons pulsing in the background. Rhythmic a-sexual sing/speaking adds its own unique rhythm to the mix in short, sharp intervals. This song is not as dense as the other two, but is very motivational and is a minimal dance track. The zooming of an energy field taking off and then landing down oscillates in the foreground too, continuing the driving beat.
“Factory Forehead” enters with a dense, pounding electronic alarm sound and a neurotic drum beat to back it up. The female vocals almost mock the warning, and have a synthesized, wavering echo about them that makes them feel outdated like a pre-recorded warning. But at the same time, it feels like an electronic version of a Gang of Four song. It is simple and stripped down, yet dense and synthesized at the same time. More effects like a heavy metal bell rung and a variety of little wisps complicate the atmosphere, but do not distract the singular pounding rhythm tempo.

Stand Out track: Cardboard Lamb

Links:

Wiki
website
Trouser Press review
Cardboard lamb video on NME

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Minimal Wave Records

Jacyk's Music Memories

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Bomarr Blog

Bent Fabric - Alley Cat

Name: Bent Fabric & His Piano
Album: Alley Cat
Year: 1962
Style: Instrumental Swinging Piano
"One Word" Review: Silent-Film Rag-Time Honky-Tonk Scores
Similar Bands: Scott Joplin
Based Out Of: Copenhagen, Denmark
Label: Atco Records, Atlantic Recording Corp.

Bent Fabric - Cover
Bent Fabric - Back

Alley Cat (1962)

1. Alley Cat 2:24 (Sample)
2. Across The Alley From The Alamo 2:11
3. You Made Me Love You 3:03
4. Trudie 1:56
5. Markin' Time 1:38 (Sample)
6. In The Arms Of My Love 2:28/
7. Delilah 2:15
8. Catsanova Walk 1:58
9. Symphony 2:19
10. Early Morning In Copenhagen 2:22
11. Comme Ci' Comme Ca 2:06
12. Baby Won't You Please Come Home 2:50

Album Rating:
5.0

Band members & Other Groups:Bent Fabricus-Bjerre - Piano (Frank Bjorn)
Ed Gray - Cover Photo
Haig Adishian - Cover Design

Unknown-ness: I never heard of Bent Fabric. I really liked the name Bent Fabric and by that alone, I thought that the record might be from a great underground band from the 60's. I did not realize it was a single guy (Whose name really is Bent Fabricus). To top that off, I HAD definitely heard his song Alley Cat many many times. After noticing that this WAS the same Alley Cat that I was familiar with, I assumed it was a cover. I had no idea the song was so recently recorded. I assumed it was from the 20's or earlier. Adding to the mysticism was the cute cat on the cover, the derby wearing, cigarette smoking piano player on the back, and the feline flavored song "Catsanova Walk." Really, I had no idea what to expect with this record until I read the back that described it as swinging piano music.

Album Review: Okay, I have a musical no-no that I have to admit to before I get into the review. When I recorded this record to CD, I accidentally recorded it at 45 rpms, rather than 33. I noticed that the tracks were far shorter than the indicated length on the record, and it was only half way through the recording that I realized this error. The problem was that I really liked the record thus far, at the faster speed. So I finished recording at the 45 speed, and that is the version I am going to review. I listened to a few songs at 33, and I somewhat ashamedly admit, I really like the sped-up versions better. Keeping this in mind, I will not remark about the speed of the songs in the reviews.

The record starts off with the familiar bouncy, Grammy award winning "Alley Cat." I've heard the song many times, and I've even done the dance at a Bar Mitzvah or two with the grandparents, thus I thought it was a song that pre-dated 1961. It truly does bring the imagery of a cat slinking across a picket fence at midnight. The second song has more bouncy bass and piano, but sounds more traditional to rag-time music than "Alley Cat." "You Made Me Love You" is a slower song, which prances along with cat like curiosity and attention. "Marking Time" is a quicker, jittery song. "In The Arms Of My Love" sounds like the backdrop of a romantically set scene in France. "Catsanova Walk" is quite a strutting song. It incorporates "chopsticks" into the chorus of the song. It could easily be in the background of a Charlie Chaplin silent film. It is followed by the slower waltz of "Symphony." "Early Morning In Copenhagen" is a fun visual song, bringing to the mind a walk down the street of a small town, running into all the familiar town folk along the way. The record ends with the jazzy, show tunish "Baby Won't You Please Come Home."

This is a quick review because for one, I don't have much musical training or experience from this genre of music to review it with great depth. And two, this is a quick version of the record. But over all, for what it is, I found the music likable and entertaining.

Stand Out Track:Alley Cat 

Links:
Bent Fabric AllMusic
Bent Fabric Wikipedia
Bent Fabric Space Age Pop
Bent Fabric (in Danish) Home Page
Bent Fabric Facts Page
Alley Cat Song Page