Fully Down (the) - Don't Get Lost in a Movement

Name: The Fully Down
Album: Don't Get Lost in a Movement
Year: 2005
Style: Prog, Emo, Punk
Similar Bands: Pup, Bayside, Boy Sets Fire, Between the Buried & Me, No Use for a Name, Anberlin
"One-Word" Review: suburban struggle promo (prog-emo)
Based Out Of: Ottowa, Ontario
Label: Fearless Records

Cover & Back

Lyrics, CD

Lyrics, Liner notes

Lyrics, Tray Back

Don't Get Lost in a Movement (2005)

1. Cost of Comfort 3:50
2. Descent, Rebellion, and All Around Hell Raising 3:09
3. Live and Die by the Shotgun Rules 2:39
4. Revenge is Profitable, Gratitude is Expensive 3:07
5. We Love to Know We're Not Alone 2:05
6. Plug in the Eliminator 2:43
7. We Are All Accomplices 3:43
8. Hey...You Guys Want To See a Dead Body? 3:39
9. Go to Heaven for the Climate, Hell for the Company 3:01
10. The Thoughtless Act of a Single Day 0:44
11. No Fate... 3:14
12. A Question of Perspective 3:50
13. Live in Motion 4:51

Album Rating (1-10): 5.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Dean Hadjichristou - Engineer, Mixing, Producer
• Alan Douches - Mastering
• Rachel Parts - Addl Vox
• Trevor Strange - Addl Vox
• Jon Chandler - Addl Vox (Corboe, Amos the Transparent, Mitch Mainville)
• Pat Brayley - Addl Vox
• Mike Ieradi - Addl Vox (Mystery Weekend, Protest the Hero, Kindred, Today I Caught the Plague)
• Mike Fairless - Addl Vox, Tour Manager
• Mike Noel - Addl Vox
• Jon Desilva - Addl Vox
• Kuro Collective - Album Design & Layout
• Gab Bouchard - Vox
• Dan Hay - Guitar (Amos the Transparent, Mystery Weekend)
• Alex Newman - Bass (The Bad Ideas)
• Richard "Bricks" Latour - Drums
• George Hadji - Guitar
• Kris Parks - Guitar

Unknown-ness: Don't know this band, but it totally looks like an electro pop emo band, which typically doesn't exist, as the two sides counter balance & nullify each other...but the artwork is very much like The Fever or Metric or Cut Copy, but the band pics inside tell a story of a darker, emo band. The album titles are quite long, which further promotes the emo vibe. So dark shouty songs over electronic, catchy melodies? Maybe like the Epoxies?

Album Review: This band combines Math Rock / Speed Prog tendancies, which sound a little bit like video games played on dueling guitars, with emotive vocals: sometimes shouty, sometimes melodic, sometimes pining. This is not really my thing, so although some of the music is fun, like the start of "Revenge..." the lyrics detract from the melodies, altering them musically into sweeping walls of sound rather than the playful melodies initially set. I can see goth bros swinging and fist pumping along in the pit as the music stops and starts its various driving sequences, where they feel connected to the struggle of growing up in the white community suburbs. 

The Canadian band started with a slightly different line up from 1999 - 2002, they recorded, but never released anything until they reorganized in 2003. They only had 2 albums before the singer left in 2006 & was replaced by another vocalist who had his own following, but that version of the band also recorded without a full length release, and ended splitting in 2008. They have toured with many like minded bands in Canada before this record, and in the US & Japan later. They played a couple Warped Tours, which seems like the ideal audience match up.

Stand Out Track: The Thoughtless Act of a Single Day

Links:

Spotify
Wiki

Discogs

Allmusic

Fearless Records
Last FM
Fearless Merch
Rate Your Music
Jango
Alex Newman on SPINE
Punk News

Bulgogi - Juan Dissed the Cyclops Baby

Name: Bulgogi
Album: Juan Dissed the Cyclops Baby
Year:2016
Style: Emo, Metal, Prog, Hardcore
Similar Bands: Mr. Bungle, Mr. Big, Gwar, Dillinger Escape Plan, Majin Buu (the DBZ character), Braniac, Blink 182
"One-Word" Review: Terrified Chamber Prog Punk 
Based Out Of: Asheville, NC
Label: none

Insert Cover & Back, Sleeve Cover & Back

CD & Lyrics / Liner Notes

Juan Dissed the Cyclops Baby (2016)

1. School 4:46
2. Hymn 5:30
3. The Drill 6:51
4. Rotten 7:10

Album Rating (1-10): 8.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Nick Jones - Producer, Mixing
• Drew Hall - Artwork
• Tim Tsurutani - Guitar, Vox, Lyrics (Forks of Ivy, Tam Tsu, CAW! CAW!)
• Galen Dotson - Bass (Antique Firearms)
• Ryan Comer - Guitar
• Hugh Huffstutler - Drums

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, and from first appearance, i wouldn't have thought they were american until i saw the back of the insert that said Asheville NC. The artwork and color scheme is gothic creepy & earthy, but they seem like a real band with media/arty backgrounds at their live shows from the inner picts. I'm going to guess it's a brand of sludgy dark metal / prog.

Album Review: Overall, there is more falsetto shrieky hair metal sounding vocals that sore over the sometimes prog, chamber or sometimes driving pop-punk. But often, the tone switches to dark, deep hard core grunting...a nice juxtaposition of styles, drawing comparison to the frantic work from Mike Patton and Dillinger Escape Plan. It is very arty and intriguing as the range of vocal pitch is vast. I kinda really like it, but would not be quick/proud to share it with others

This is their third album, but first as a four piece who set out to write a rock opera. With this 4 song ep, they nailed the operatic part of opera, and it is quite theatrical, so it qualifies as a Rock Opera Short. They've quoted influences from Queen, Ween, System of a Down...no surprises there. But Tim moved to Chicago in 2017, so the idea of the band making more music is at least on hiatus as of now.

Stand Out Track: School

Links:

Bandcamp

Broadway World

DMME let it Rock

Spotify
Keys and Chord

Rock Times
Musicguy 247
Music Street Journal

Midwest Record

Galen on Reverbnation
Reverb Nation
Asheville Punk Scene

White, Lenny - Presents the Adventures of Astral Pirates

Name: Lenny White
Album: Presents the Adventures of Astral Pirates
Year: 1978
Style: Jazz, Prog, Funk, Soul
Similar Bands: TS Monk, Miles Davis, Return to Forever
"One-Word" Review: Safe Conceptual Funky Jazz
Based Out Of: NYC
Label: Elektra/Asylum, Warner Communications

Cover, Back, Sleeve, Record

Gatefold Story, Sleeve, Record

Presents the Adventures of Astral Pirates (1978)

1. Prelude: Theme for Astral Pirates 1:20
2. Pursuit 2:58
3. Mandarin Warlords 5:06
4. The Great Pyramid 2:30
5. Universal Love 3:30
6. Remembering 0:34
7. Revelation (Astral Pirates) 3:25 /
8. Stew Cabbage and Galactic beans 3:51
9. Heavy Metal Monster 4:39
10. Assault 3:36
11. Climax: Theme for Astral Pirates 7:42

Album Rating (1-10):

Members & Other Bands:

• Lenny White - Producer, Album & Story Concept, Drums, Synth Drums, Eu, Percussion, Re-Mixing, Music Arrangement (Return to Forever, Jackie Mclean, Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Twennynine, Chick Corea, Chaka Khan, Azteca, Cyrus Chestnut, Stanley Clarke, Al Di Meola, Larry Coryell, Victor Bailey, Joe Henderson, Wallace Roney, Buster Williams, Andrew Hill, Woody Shaw, Gato Barbieri, Curtis Fuller, Buddy Terry, Eddie Henderson, Don Cherry, Jaco Pastorius, Brian Auger, Elaine Elias, Manhattan Project, Michael Patrucciani, Bobby Hutcherson, Urbanator, Geri Allen, Ron Carter, Jamey Haddad, Letizia Gambi, Stan Getz, Echoes of an Era, Griffith Park, Jamacia Boys, Gil Evans, Carlos Santana, Herbie Hancock, Big Daddy Kane, Hiromi, Marcus Miller, Tom Browne, Renee Rosnes, Fuse One, Meeting Point, Michael Urbaniak, Milky Way, Powerhouse, Essence All Stars, Super Premium Band, Vertu, many )
• Al Kooper - Producer
• Alex Blake - Bass, Music Arrangement (Ahmed Abdullah's Diaspora, Malcolm Braff, Manhattan Blaze, Randy Weston African Rhythms, Ryo Kawasaki, Manhattan Transfer Band, Puppeteers, Sun Ra Arkestra, Greg Bandy, Emanuel K Rahim, Weldon Irvine, Charles Sullivan, Carlos Garnett, Arif Mardin, Billy Cobham, Airto, Don Pullen, Frank Lowe, Brownie McGhee, Sonny Rollins, Yusef Lateef, Last Poets, Kazumi Watanabe, Charles Bobo Shaw, Pharoah Sanders, Linda Williams, Blast, Jaroslav Jakubovic, Cory Daye, Norman Connors, Janis Siegel, Carmen Lundy, Jimmy Buffett, Earl Klugh, Chico Freeman, Brainstorm, Jonathan Butler, Dom Um Romao, Vertical Hold, Oran 'Juice' Jones, Mac Gollehon, Phyllis Hyman, Andrienne Wilson, Stan Getz, Babatunde Lea, Roman Kunsman, Elements of the 7th, Ximo Tebar, Harry Whitaker)
• Donald "Captain Keyboards" Blackman - Organ, Pianos, Oberheim Polyphonic, Synth, Eu, Vox, String & Music Arrangement (Twennynine, Weldon Irvine, Bernard Wright, Roy Ayers, Esperanto, Kenji Hino, Patches Stewart, Livesavas, Lips, Sylvia St James, Hugh Masekela, EPM, Kurtis Blow, Fat Boys, Vikki Love, la La, Missing Links, Gwen Guthrie, TMNT,Mmajee, Hamiet Bluiett, World Sax Quartert, Yoko Oginome, The Men X Perience, Sting, Joey Negro, Mino Cinelu, Waymen Tisdale, Femi Temowo, Brandon Williams)
• Nick Moroch - Lead Guitar, Music Arrangement (Twennynine, Mongo Santamaria, Jeff Conaway, Lips, Poussez, Sylvia St James, Rick James, Michael Franks, Tony Frye, Eddie Jobson, Zinc, Bernard Wright, Marcus Miller, Michael Johnson, Scritti Politti, Kirk Whalum, Temptations, Fury, Melba Moore, Porter Carroll 2, Michael W Smith, David Bowie, Howard Jones, Chaka Khan, Bob James, Vanesse Thomas, Claude Nougaro, Bee Gees, David Sanborn, Terumasa Hino, Sarah Dash, Toshiki Kadomatsu, Michael Colina, Gillian & Glover, Blues Trottoir, John Warren, Patrick Bruel, Arthur Baker & Backbeat Disciples, Kashif, Mira, Jeffrey Osborne,  Jibri Wise One, Nicki Richards, Pete Levin, Voyceboxing, Johnny Hallyday, Gary Brown, Baby Jane Dexter, Roch Voisine, Malta, Jonathan Butler, Tony Terry, Henri Salvador, Donna Summer, Vanessa Williams, Julie Masse, Michael Davis, Bill Evans, Rinken Band, Philippe Saisse, Selena, SMAP, T-Square, Cheryl Lynn, Tony Toni Tone, Marylin Scott, Smappies, Yoshiko Kishino, Mica Paris, Rachel Z, Liane Foly, Still Wicked, Marc Nelson, Marek Niedzwiecki, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Ronn Moss, Terumasa Hino, Point of Grace, 2Ge+her, Kathy Troccoli, David Arnold, Ak, Joe, Jesse Powell, Wayman Tisdale, What For, Dennis Chambers, Roger Glover, Brian McKnight, Kelly Rowland, Gareth Hates, Jessica Simpson, Do Swing, Jason Miles, Nicole C Mullen, Danny Brill, Cliff Dawson, Gene Lake, From the Fire, Alice Soyer, Curtis King, Chris Bender)
• David Gahr - Photos
• Patrick Gleeson - All Synth Programming
• Don Mizell - Album & Story Concept, Narrative Language
• Bob Edwards - Engineer, Re-Mixing
• Skip Shimmin - Recordist
• Seth Dworkin - Recordist
• Dave Rader - Recordist
• Bob Graham - Equipment
• Bernie Grundman - Mastering
• Michael Kaluta - Illustrations & Cover
• Anthony Gleeson - Color
• Tony Lane - Art Direction
• Johnny lee - Design
• Michael Bryant - Narrative Language
• Toby Byron - Mgmt

Unknown-ness: I've never heard of this artist / band. Which makes me very frightened...because this album looks to be heavy on high concept art and is basically a soundtrack to a piece of elaborate fiction. This actually sounds very exciting, and I can't wait to find out if this is prog, like most concept albums were from the 70's, or if it is something else completely, since neither Lenny White nor the band appear to be a bunch of stereotypical nerdy white dudes. But since it is really out there and goes all-in on the creativity, the fact that i've never heard of it makes me thing it's going to be terrible- that it never broke out of the complex, Star Wars inspired starting gate, and was forgotten for good reason.

Album Review: From the start, it is pretty straight forward jazzy prog...a little more in a controlled space than say Brand X, but definitely Jazzy. Once "Universal Love" hits, the first with lyrical vocals, the tone has shifted to funk and soul. 

While being a left handed self taught drummer on a right handed kit, he is considered one of the founders of the Jazz Fusion concept. He played on the uberfamous Bitch's Brew with Miles Davis, is the winner of 4 (of 6 nominations) Grammy awards, and is a professor at NYU Steinhardt. He has also recorded soundtrack music for films, including House Party with Kid n' Play.

Stand Out Track: Universal Love, Stew Cabbage & Galactic Beans

Links:

Spotify Album
Wiki

Discogs

Allmusic
Facebook
Drummer World
NYU Music Adjunct Faculty
Istanbul Cymbals
Vic Firth Zildjian
NY Jazz Workshop
Chesky records
All About Jazz
Modern Drummer (subscription)
Rate Your Music

UK - Danger Money

Name: UK
Album: Danger Money
Year: 1979
Style: Prog, Jazz Fusion
Similar Bands: Styx, Brand X, Battles, Mike Batt, Emerson Lake Palmer, King Crimson
"One-Word" Review: Cinematic Space Soundscapes
Based Out Of: England
Label: EG Records, Polydor, Polygram Distribution

Cover, Record, Liner Notes

Back, Record, Sleeve Notes

Danger Money (1979)

1. Danger Money 8:12
2. Rendezvous 6.05 5:00 (single)
3. The Only Thing She Needs 7:53 (single) /
4. Caesar's Palace Blues 4:42 (single B-Side)
5. Nothing to Lose 3:57 (single)
6. Carrying No Cross 12:20

Album Rating (1-10): 6.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Eddie Jobnson - Writing, Arrangement, Producer, Violin, Keys (Curved Air, Roxy Music, Frank Zappa, Jethro Tull, Legacy, UKZ, Ultimate Zero, Fat Grapple, Roger Glover, Neoteric Orch, Yes, Mark Mancina, Andy Mackay, Bryan Ferry, Dana Gillespie, Amazing Blondel, John Entwistle, Mike Heron's Reputation, Phil Manzanera, Jasun Martz, Spyro Gyra,   more)
• John Wetton - Writing, Arrangement, Producer, Vox, Bass (Asia, King Crimson, Roxy Music, Brian Eno, Uriah Heep, Edward Hand, Family, The Human Experience, Jack-Knife, Mogul Thrash, Qango, Renaissance, Wishbone Ash, Ultimate Zero, Bryan Ferry, Phil Manzanera, Atoll)
• Terry Bozzio - Drums, Percussion (Frank Zappa, Missing Persons, HoBoLeMa, Lonely Bears, Vai, Bozzio Levin Stevens, Brecker Bros, Jeff Beck, Luis Gasca, Barretto, A.Heller, Spinettam Group 87, more)
• John Punter - Engineer
• Geoff Emerick - Recording
• Nigel Walker - Asst. Engineer
• Dave Fidler - Crew
• Graham Davis - Crew
• Hipgnosis - Cover Design, Photos
• George Marino - Mastering
• Mark Fenwick - Special Thanks
• Sam Alder - Special Thanks

Unknown-ness: I've never heard of this band. The cover of a corporate employee washing their hands, couple with the album title Danger Money offer a political commentary on corporate greed and the difficult subjugation. The back show long hairs with their instruments, and overall, i get a hard rock, power pop standing on the edge of metal vibe...if it were not for the 6 tracks at rather lengthy times. That makes me think it is more of a prog act. Not to say the two cannot be blended. Also, I see the name John Wetton, whom I have reviewed previously as a solo artist. So if that gives me any indication, this will still be that fine line of power pop & arena rock.

Album Review: The music emits the feeling of a cohesive theatrical play about psychedelic space adventures, even if that was not the intention. The vocal sections show they can be an arena rock band like Journey, but the rest of the progressive sections tie them to the 8-10 minute musings genre. The first 4 minutes of The Only Thing She Needs is a nice song with some Battles and Genesis sounding sections, but the song pauses and builds itself back up for an extra 4 minutes or so.

UK were a supergroup, with each member coming from 3-5 different popular bands from King Crimson, Roxy Music, Frank Zappa to name a few (obviously i'm not well versed enough in these bands or I may have picked a name out.). The end of Prog's popularity & differences in stylistic direction plagued the band, as this is their second of two studio albums (where the first one had four members, one of whom was a different drummer [Bill Bruford], and they did not replace the guitarist [Allan Holdsworth]), and they broke up while touring for the album. But their differences were not enough to burn any bridges, as these three all worked together in various projects, and reformed together for a US tour in 2012.

Stand Out Track: The Only Thing She Needs

Links:

Youtube full album
Wiki

Discogs

Allmusic
Music Aficionado (first album)
Prog Archives
classic rock history
Q104.3
Under the Bridge 2015 show promo
John Wetton
Something Else!
Progrography
The Progressive Aspect
Rate Your Music
Music Street Journal
all about jazz

Snopek - Thinking Out Loud

Name: Snopek
Album: Thinking Out Loud
Year: 1979
Style: Musical New Wave, Avant-Garde, 
Similar Bands: Sparks, Be-Bop Delux, Gruppo Sportivo, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci
"One-Word" Review: Quirky Campy Avant-Wave Pop
Based Out Of:  Milwaukee WI
Label: Mountain Railroad Records

Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Sleeve, Record

Thinking Out Loud (1979)

1. Kathleen 4:20 (single)
2. Radio Hearts 2:54
3. Shining in Here 4:34 (single)
4. Hamburger Holocaust 5:04 /
5. God is a Big Wheel 2:45
6. New York Jumpers 3:06 (single b-side)
7. San Francisco Radio 9:35
8. Kali Kala 4:16

Album Rating (1-10): 7.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Sigmund Snopek III - Writer, Vix, Synth, Keys, Flute (Bloomsbury People, Violent Femmes, Milwaukee Symphony & Chamber Orch, Tom Paxton, Brian Ritchie, Jim Spencer, Major Arcana, Btsy Kaske, Lou & Peter berryman, Java, Jim Post, Ecoteur, John Kruth, Heidi Spencer,  )
• Byron Wiemann III - Writer, Vox, Guitar (Man With a Camera, The Coachmen, Wayward Set, Rocket 88, Byron and Band, Betsy Kaske)
• Jim Gorton - Vox, Bass, Asst Engineer, Asst Mixing (Man With a Camera, Newlook, Jim Spencer, Betsy Kaske)
• Mike Lucas - Drums (Man With a Camera, Elliott Murphy, Chris Spheeris, Michael Jones, Wayne Gratz, LD Levy)
• Hermie Dressel - Producer
• Steve Powers - Co-Producer
• Charlie Keenan - Album Design, Art Direction
• Al Gartzke - Photos
• Stanley Ryan Jones - Photos
• Joel Gast - Project Coordinator
• Dave Neitzke - Engineer, Mixing
• Andy Waterman - Asst Engineer

Unknown-ness: Not much to go on here on a band i've never heard of, named after one of the member's last names, and a cover picture that looks kinda like the Bee Gees. The very general, but geometric art design, and basic all caps font do not help. I'm gonna guess they're a basic light rock, power pop band

Album Review: Like a mom tells her interesting but awkward and ultimately underwhelming child, this album is "creative." It is definitely a new wave act, with signs of prog, jazz, vaudeville and theatrical / musical tendencies, but misses the mark and lacks the perfect recipe, posessed by a band like Sparks. I mean, just the title Hamburger Holocaust is quite cringe-worthy taken at surface value. Single "Kathleen" sounds a little like a Ben Folds song, and "God is a Big Wheel" has a bit of a Talking Heads / Human Hands feel. Alas, Sigmund is the band leader and has a history in music dating back to the late 60's, where he was a pioneering Progressive Rock artist in Bloomsbury People before the term prog was universally accepted. Before that, he was writing and recording classical style music for pipe organ and guitar. So it makes sense to combined his two passions of classical and guitar to form prog music. This album comes roughly 10 years later, and while it keeps a foot in the prog and avant-garde arena, it embraces the pop & new wave genre (which was pushed to the front for any band with commercial drive) with extra help from Wiemann (Wiemann, who lives in Germany now, and Gorton had been a part of Sigmund's solo albums before they donned the band name). After Snopek, Wiemann and the rest of the band formed Man With A Camera: a more rock oriented outfit. Sigmund was induced into the Wisconsin music hall of fame, which also makes sense as many of his compositions are a shining tribute the pride of the state (from beer, to small towns to baseball and other assorted WI highlights).

Stand Out Track: God is a Big Wheel, Kathleen

Links:

Youtube album
Sigmund's Wiki

Discogs

Sigmund's Allmusic

Sigmund's Website

Byron's Website

Sigmund's FB

Man W/A Camera FB

Prog Archive

OZY

On Milwaukee

Bavarian Bierhaus (live 2020 show)

Wiemann interview

rate your music

Shooting Star - s/t

Name: Shooting Star
Album: s/t
Year: 1979
Style: Power Pop, Hair Rock
Similar Bands: Journey, Foreigner, REO Speedwagon, Jefferson Starship, Bad English, .38 Special, Kansas, Scorpions, 
"One-Word" Review: Midwestern Hair Power Prog
Based Out Of: Kansas City MO
Label: Virgin, Atlantic, Warner Communications Company

Cover, Record

Back, Record

Shooting Star (1979)

1. You Got What I Need 3:45 (Single)
2. Don't Stop Now 4:36
3. Higher 4:15
4. Just Friends 3:58
5. Bring It On 4:45 (Single) /
6. Tonight 4:38
7. Rainfall 2:49
8. Midnight Man 3:35
9. Stranger 4:47
10. Last Chance 6:51 (Single)

Album Rating (1-10): 6.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Gary West (Gary Hodgden)- Writer, Lead Vox, Keys, Guitar, Drums, Percussion (Chesmann Square, The Beckies, Missouri, Madison Avenue)
• Van McLain(Van Allen McElvain) - Writer, Lead Vox, Lead Guitar (The Shooting Stars featuring the Galaxies, Craig W. Lindesay)
• Steve Thomas - Drums
• Ron Verlin - Bass (The Shooting Stars featuring the Galaxies)
• Bill Guffey - Keys
• Charles Waltz - Harmony Vox, Violin, Keys (Toledo Waltz, Human Drama, Incubus)
• Gus Dodgeon - Producer, Tambourine (Elton John, David Bowie)
• Stuart Epps - Engineer, Short Vox Appearance
• Stewart Eales - Asst. Engineer
• Kosh - Design, Art Direction
• Peter Howe - Photos
• John Kostick - Mgmt
• Greg Kimmelman - Mgmt

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band. And nice little play on their name + artwork. They're paparazzi, shooting the stars, thus the band name and bright flash bulb cover. the back band photo catches the flash in a less bright stage, so we see who they are. And they look kinda Talking Heads - new waveish from their general, non-flamboyant outfits. I'm going to guess this will be a solid new wave band

Album Review: They definitely tend to err on the side of Hair Band / Metal side of power pop rather than quirky, jittery new wave end of the spectrum. "You've Got What I Need" borrows a little bit from the chorus melody of  "Philadelphia Freedom," perhaps to using the same Producer Dodgeon. Album Ender "Last Chance" shows their progressive side. Even with those elements, they have the auspicious claim to fame as the first american band to sign with Virgin Records. A second world's first claim, for them was that in 1989, they had the first ever album (a greatest hits CD called Touch Me Tonight) on Billboard's pop album chart that wasn't released on vinyl. Members floated in and out of the band due to illness, touring schedules and disenfranchisement with the music industry, but the band has continued in one way or another to this day, despite McLain's passing in 2018, with plans to play one-off shows here and there sporadically.

Stand Out Track: You've Got What I Need

Links:
Wiki

Discogs

Allmusic

goldmine 2013

ultimate classic rock - McLain obit
moondance jam 2009

rate your music

facebook

Classic Rock revisited

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

Links:

Youtube full album
Wiki

Discogs

Allmusic

let's not get carried away

OC Register

rolling stone

Saga - Worlds Apart

Name: Saga
Album: Worlds Apart
Year: 1982
Style: Prog, New Wave
Similar Bands: Prism, Genesis, Yes, Rush, Styx, Triumph, Toto, Marillion,
"One-Word" Review: Fun Driving Melodic Pop-Prog
Based Out Of: Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Label: Portrait, CBS

Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Lyrics, Record

Worlds Apart (1982)

1. On the Loose 4:12 (Single US #26)
2. Wind Him Up 5:48 (Single Canada #22)
3. Amnesia 3:29 (Single)
4. Framed 5:42
5. Time's Up 4:08 /
6. The Interview 3:51
7. No Regrets (Chapter V) 4:44
8. Conversations 4:44
9. No Stranger (Chapter VIII) 7:05

Album Rating (1-10): 8.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Rupert Hine - Producer
• Stephen W. Tayler - Recording Engineer
• Ian Morris - Asst Engineer
• David Rolfe - Asst. Engineer
• Clive Corcoran - Mgmt
• Zoran Busic - Mgmt
• John Berg - Design
• David Kennedy - Cover Photo
• Shostal Associates - Star Photo
• Bob Ludwig - Mastering
• Michael Sadler - Lead Vox, Keys (Pockets, Voices with Heart, Ozzy Osbourne, Emmanuel, Magnum, No Sweat, Lovetrick, Boby Kimball, Frankfurt Rock Orch, Toss 'n' Turn, Sheela, Rudy's Journey, Chain, Frameshift, Henning Pauly, Amaran's Plight, Jeff Jones, Transmission, Roswell Six, Lisa LaRue, David Barrett, Rock Sympnoy Orch ORSO, Karibow, Alan Simon, Dissociative Identity Disorder, Jonah Kihlberg;s Impera, In Continuum, Chardeau)
• Jim Crichton - Bass, Keys (Pockets, Fludd, magnum, No Sweat, Yes, Wet Paint)
• Jim Gilmour - Lead Keys, Vox, Clarinet (GNP, Phil Henry, Terry Crawford, James Gerrard Gilmour, Spookey Ruben, Henning Pauly, Negus, Glen Drover, ACT, Karibow, Mike Thorne)
• Ian Crichton - Guitars (Pockets, H30+, Any Day Now, Asia, The Alchemist, Herring Pauly, John Payne, Phenomena, Michael Sadler, Rob Moratti)
• Steve Negus - Drums, Percussion, Simmons Electronic Drums (Pockets, Fludd, GNP, Fullerton Dam, Chris de Burgh, Rupert Hine, Nylons, One to One, Lunch At Allen's)

Unknown-ness: Never heard of Saga, but i bet this sounds like Yes or Genesis, or any other Prog band of the 70's, even if this is dated 81/82. No doubt about it: from the fonts, to the name, to the world map on the back: definitely  conceptual prog.

Album Review: The songs are definite Prog: Meandering, energetic complex riffs that paint a picture all their own, with passionate vocals. The songs are very lively, catchy, and I feel like there is very little self-masturbatory jam sessioning here. I'm really enjoying the album more so than normal prog bands. This is their fourth - and first with American break out songs - of their 21 album catalogue. The core group of members have come, gone, and returned over the years, with a couple You Tube auditions for replacements. Every time a milestone was set, the fans pulled them right back in (including a strong following in Germany), including calling it quits in 2017 after 40 years, only to play final shows in 2018 and a reunion tour in 2020. Interestingly, they have a concept album scavenger hunt across seven records between 1978 - 2003, where some tracks- not in any particular order, are scattered and numbered as individual chapters: 16 in all. Upon completion, a live compilation of the chapters was released in 2005 to unveil a conceptual sci-fi story line about Einsteins brain, alien interest in humanity's self-destruction, and technological resurrection of the dead. Chapters 5 and 8 are here.

Stand Out Track: Amnesia, On The Loose

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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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Roger Powell - Air Pocket

Name: Roger Powel
Album: Air Pocket
Year:1980
Style: Synth, New Wave
Similar Bands: Kraftwerk, Yellow Magic, Thomas Dolby, Duran Duran
"One-Word" Review: harmonic synth prog
Based Out Of: California
Label: Bearsville Records, Warner Bros

Cover, Record

Record, Back

Air Pocket (1980)

1. Lunar Plexus 4:04
2. Landmark 3:50
3. Air Pocket 3:45
4. Windows 4:01
5. Emergency Splashdown 4:54/
6. Morning Chorus 1:59
7. March of the Dragonslayers 3:19
8. Prophecy 3:25
9. Sands of Arrakis 5:26
10. Dragons 'N' Griffins / Mr. Triscuits Theme 4:51

Album Rating (1-10):6.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Roger Powell - Producer, Video Synth Graphics, Music & Lyric Composition & Performance (Utopia, David Bowie, Steve Hillage, Meat Loaf, Born Bluesers, Shaun Cassidy, Ian Hunter, Alice Cooper, Felix Cavaliere, Charlie Rouse Band, Rick Derringer, Randy Vanwarmer, Jim Steinman, Kasim Sulton, Logic System, Barry Manilow, Rubinoos, Sons of Heroes, Joy Ride, Bob James, Todd Rundgren, Lyle Workman, Shelagh McDonald )
• John Holbrook - Engineer, Production Assistant, Rhythm Guitar, Remix (Baba Scholae, Five Day Rain, Utopia, Josh Joplin Group, Paul Butterfield, Claude Dubois, Bernie Cash, Randy Vanwarmer, Isley Bros, Terence Boylan, Ian Hunter, Nicole Wills, Tony Wilson, Natalie Merchant, Joy Askew, Katell Keineg, Madder Rose, David Mead, Jim Weider, Honky Tonk Gurus, Brian Vander Ark, Upchuck, Verve Pipe)
• Mark Styles - Associate Synth Tech, Keyboard Computer (Centrifuge, Jahneen, Thee untuchables, Knew Romeo, Those XCleavers, Stanton Davis)
• Bill Melville - Cover Design, Layout, Inside Sleeve Art
• Jennifer Morris - Video Synth Graphics
• Danny O'Connor - Photos
• Cleve (Robert) Pozar - Drums (Bob James, Peter Ivers, Ed Curran, Bill Dixon, Ed Curran, Peter Ivers, Arthur Miller, Richard Avery, Donald Marsh, Stephen Whynott, New England Conservatory, Michael Sahl, Eric Salzman, Eric Dolphy, Bobby Naughton)
• Todd Rundgren - E-Bow Guitar Solo (Doug Legacy, Legends of the West, Money, Nazz, Ringo Starr & his ALl Starr Band, The New Cars, Utopia Grokware, Woody's Truck Stop, so many more)
• Chris Andersen - Remix
• Lady Jane - Inspiration
• Susan Lee - Coordination
• Mike Pillot - Coordination
• Bob Ludwig - Mastering

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this musician, but the cover looks like a racing checkered flag on an 80's video screen, so my initial though it that this is going to be some long hair power pop. The nerdy tweed-clad person on the back counters that idea, but i still don't know what this will be...singer songwriter perhaps?

Album Review: This album is full of synth-heavy harmonic new wave and prog rock. The titles definitely create a nerdy, science and mythical world. The vocals are nasally, somewhere between Brian Eno and Duran Duran. Most of the songs on side 2 are instrumental soundscapes, exploring the effects and limits of programmable music, and others are just synthy power pop with guitar solos and layered harmonic choruses. Roger Powell was the keyboard player in Todd Rundgren's Utopia, thus the appearance of Rundgren on the album. Powell was right there in the beginning of the Moog synthesizer, as a protege to its creator, Bob Moog and has been at the forefront creating and writing articles about synth technology. He also created the first hand held remote synth controller and called it the Powell Probe. He's worked at many electronics/audio companies, including his time as a senior programmer for both Apple computers and Electronic Arts, and created one of the first PC MIDI sequencers for the Apple II called Texture in 1985.  

Stand Out Track: Landmark

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Nite City - s/t

Name: Nite City
Album: s/t
Year:1977
Style: Garage Psych, Synthy Prog, Power Pop
Similar Bands: Doors, Tubes, Sniff N The Tears, Supertramp
"One-Word" Review: Psych Tinged Garage Power Pop
Based Out Of: Los Angeles, CA
Label: 20th Century Fox Records

Cover, Photo Insert, Record

Back, Lyrics, Record

Nite City (1977)

1. Summer Eyes 4:26
2. Nite City 4:55
3. Love Will Make You Mellow 4:50
4. Angel W/No Freedom 6:39 /
5. Midnight Queen 3:55 (single)
6. Bitter Sky Blue 3:12
7. Caught In A Panic 4:41
8. In the Pyramid 3:48
9. Game of Skill 4:40

Album Rating (1-10): 7.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Ray Manzarek - Producer, Keys, Vox (Doors, Rick & the Ravens, Skrillex, Mamas & Papas, X, Robby Krieger, Annabel Lamb, Bruce Joyner & the Plantations, Echo & the Bunnymen, Michael C Ford, Darryl Reed, Bill Walton, The Knack, Jurassic 5, Earthling, Pauyl & Georgia, D21C, Santana, Sly Stone, Weird Al Yankovic,  )
• Jay Senter - Producer
• Noah James - Vox (Nova Casanova)
• Paul Warren - Guitar, Vox (Rod Stewart, Rare Earth, Pacific Gas & Electric, Explorer, Jack Wagner, Robin Trower, Neil Norman, Bobby Sexton, Richard Marx, Ventures, Temptations, Undisputed Truth, Funkadelic, Elkie Brooks, Prism, Tina Turner, USA for Africa, Richard Marx, Tamara Champlin, Eros Ramazzotti, Alessandro Mara, Joe Cocker, Her Name is Death, ABC, Actual Russian Brides)
• Nigel Harrison - Bass (Blondie, BP Fallon & the Bandits, Chequered Past, Silverhead, The Grabs, Tamdrin, The Runaways, Michael Des Barres, Syar, Iggy Pop )
• Jimmy Hunter - Drums Vox (Paul Warren & Explorer, Hilary Laddin, Nick Gilder, David London, Gabriele Morgan, Fortune, Bobby Barth)
• Roger Dollarhide - Recording Engineer
• Leonard Kovner - Mixing Engineer
• Zox - Art & Illustration
• Todd Gray - Photos
• Clyde Terry - Lettering

Unknown-ness: Never heard of Nite City, but they look like a bunch of long haired power pop hippies. I'm guessing this is straight ahead pub rock. But the dudes in the band look a little old for a new band or a one off album.

Album Review: The main draw of this band is the presence of ex-Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek. His Doors-like keys can be heard throughout the album, but perhaps never as much as the opening track. He also historcially "discovered & Produced the LA cow punk band X. Bass player Nigel Harrison would move on to join Blondie. This is a collection of 70's harmonic power pop tracks with a slight edge that puts them basically as pub rock. It was theorized that Iggy Pop was a potential singer for this outfit, but he decided to join Bowie in Berlin at the time (place, not band). Influence and member history aside, this is a decent set of power/pub rock songs that don't do anything unique, but are not bad tracks. They were probably a huge let down for Doors fans looking for closure or a rebirth. Perhaps most notable are the lyrics on Angel W/ No Freedom, an obvious tribute to Morrison, featuring lyrics like "Wild Child Dreaming Wild" and "Bury all your sadness deep within you arm." And if that was not obvious enough, there's the final line "Heroin...killed my friend"

Stand Out Track: Bitter Sky Blue

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NY Times 1977 article

Mountain - Flowers of Evil

Name: Mountain
Album: Flowers of Evil
Year: 1971
Style: Prog, Southern Bluesy Rock, Classic Rock
Similar Bands: Black Sabbath, Cream, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Bloodrock
"One-Word" Review: Mystical jam-band metal.
Based Out Of:  Long Island, NYC
Label: Windfall, Bell Records, Columbia Pictures

Cover, Record

Record, Back

Flowers of Evil (1971)

1. Flowers of Evil 4:53
2. King's Chorale 1:04 (instrumental)
3. One Last Cold Kiss 3:45
4. Crossroader 4:47
5. Pride and Passion 7:05 /
6. Dream Sequence (live Fillmore East 1971) 24:27
1. Guitar Solo
2. Roll Over Beethoven (Chuck Berry cover)
3. Variations
4. Swan Theme
7. Mississippi Queen (live Fillmore East 1971) 3:53

Album Rating (1-10): 7.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Leslie West - Guitar, Vox (Vagrants, West Bruce and Laing, David Rea, Dana Valery, Joe Bonamassa, John Entwhistle Band, Clutch, Michael Schenker Group, Voices of Classic Rock, Todd Wolfe & Under the Radar, Jolliver Arkansaw, Mylon, Felix Cavaliere, Deadly Nightshade, Bo Diddley, Dion, Gillian, Billy Joel, Carmine Appice's Guitar Zeus, The Who, Joe Lynn Turner, Randy Coven, Don Nix, Ozzy Osbourne, Hotshot, Ian Gillan, Johnny Winter, Eli Cook)
• Felix Pappalardi - Bass, Vox, Producer (Cream, Pompeii, Devil's Anvil, The Flock, The Realists, Jack Bruce, David Rea, Natural Gas, Jesse Colin Young, Creation, Gasolin', Dead Boys', Casey Anderson, Vince Martin, Fred Neil, Tom Paxton, Richard & Mimi Farina, Tom Rush, Ian & Sylvia, Spider John Koerner, Tim Rose, Bo Grumpus, Kensignton Market, Bunky & Jake, Jolliver Arkansaw, Mylon, John Sebastian, Eric Clapton, Bedlam, Back Door, Eddie Mottau, Sierra, Tim hardin, Vagrants, Tom Paxton)
• Corky Laing - Drums (West Bruce and Laing, Energy, Bartholomew Plus Three, Cork, Pompeii, The B+3, Leslie West Band, The Mix, Jason Hartless, David Rea, Mylon, Dana Valery, Mahogany Rush, Bo Diddley, Tony Wilson, Charlie Karp & Name Droppers, Men Without Hats, Lost & Profound,  JD Blackfoot, David Grahame, Visitors From Bellatrix)
• Steve Knight - Keys (Devil's Anvil, Wings, Feenjon Group, Herbie Mann, George Mgrdichian Ensemble, Andrea Glass, Yacov Dan)
• Gail Collins Pappalardi - Writer, Lyrics
• Bob d'Orleans - Engineer
• Judy Szekely - Asst. Engineer
• Gail Collins - Cover
• Bud Prager - Exec. Producer
• Music Agency - Graphics Coordination

Unknown-ness: Never heard of Mountain. I picked this up in a Goodwill Thrift record stack along side a Mothers of Invention album, so I assume this is going to be similar: odd, avant garde pop. Their band name artwork looks a little spiritual/renaissance/baroque/new agey, so it might go that direction, too.

Album Review: The album's studio side has a theatrical, rock opera, concept theme going on (about drug abuse in Vietnam), perhaps a little like some of early Ween's classic rock, face melting songs, even if this record is not that face melting. Side B is recorded live at the Fillmore East in 1971. The first "track" is a 24 min 30 sec medley that has Chuck Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven" mixed in. Leslie West was the main artist behind Mountain, as the band name is taken from West's first solo album, which refers to his large size and stature. They were a unique sound, blending elements that they were able to fit together very naturally. They soared at Woodstock's Saturday Night stage, only the band's fourth every live performance. After that, they released their first proper album, featuring the classic rock and cowbell hit Mississippi Queen, featured on here as a gritty, filthy live version. Pappalardi was shot & killed by his wife in 1983, and she served about a year in jail. With him gone, West and Laing have regrouped and recorded Mountain albums off an on into the aughts. Some verison of Mountain will still perform today with West & Laing composing the core.

Stand Out Track: One Last Cold Kiss

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Max Webster - Universal Juveniles

Name: Max Webster
Album: Universal Juveniles
Year: 1980
Style: Pub Rock, Power Pop, Prog
Similar Bands: Foreigner, Rush, Trooper, April Wine, Triumph
"One-Word" Review: Bland Power Prog
Based Out Of: Toronto / Sarnia, Ontario Canada
Label: Mercury, Phonogram INC, Polygram

Cover, Lyrics & Liner Notes, Record

Back, Lyrics and Liner Notes, Record

Universal Juveniles (1980)

1. In the World Of Giants 4:18
2. Check 2:37 (single)
3. April in Toledo 3:40
4. Juveniles Don't Stop 3:32
5. Battle Scar 5:48 /
6. Chalkers 3:45
7. Drive and Desire 3:53
8. Blue River Liquor Shine 4:15 (single)
9. What Do You Do With the Urge 3:20
10. Cry Out Your Life 5:33

Album Rating (1-10): 5.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Jack Richardson - Producer
• Kim Mitchell - Guitar, Vox (Grass Co., The Quotations, Big Al's Band, ZOOOM,Northern Lights, Toronto Together, USA for Africa, Voices With Heart, Shelton Kirby III, Coney Hatch, Steve Blimkie, Garnett Ford, Hagood Hardy, The Hunt, Gowan, Ian Thomas, Tom Cochrane, Helix, Flutie Bros Band, Tiles, Barenaked Ladies)
• Gary McCracken - Drums (Zing Dingo, Wrabit, Klaatu, Tony Ray, Lisa Price, Gary O, Triumph, Ronnie Flay & Panama Bandits)
• Dave Myles - Bass (Grass Co., ZOOOM, Zing Dingo, Rastus, Tony Ray)
• Pye Dubois (Paul Woods) - Lyrics, Overseeing (Grass Co., The Quotations, Big Al's Band, ZOOOM)
• Doug Riley - Piano, Clavinet, Synth (Brian Russell, Prototype, White Wolf, Pat Hervey, King Biscuit Boy, Guido Basso, House of Commons, Everyday People, Beverly Glenn-Copeland, Moe Koffman, Rob McConnell & Boss Brass, Milan Kymlicka, Bruno Gerussi, Edward Bear, Kenny Rogers, A Foot in Coldwater, Patsy Gallant, Dr. Music, Joe Probst, Billy Mysner, more)
• Neil Pert - Drums (Rush)
• Terry Watkinson - Keys (Grass Co., The Quotations, Big Al's Band, ZOOOM, Antlers, Rock Show of the Yeomen, Klaatu, Teratology, Sonny Brite & The Sequins)
• Alex Lifeson - Guitar (Rush, Bubbles & Shit Rockers, Jakalope, Rock Aid Armenia, Bid Girty Band, Victor, more )
• Dave Stone - Synth (AraPacis, Rainbow, Symphonic Slam, Oak, Vision, Paul Odette, Quincy Jones, Dio)
• Geddy Lee - Vox (Rush, Bubbles & Shit Rockers, Northern Lights, Big Dirty Band, USA For Africa more)
• Meloshe - Bass
• Dave Greene - Engineer
• Lenny DeRose - Asst Engineer
• Ringo Hrycyna - Asst. Engineer
• Bob Ludwig - Mastering
• Rodney Bowes - Cover Design, Photos
• Greg Elliott - Illustrations, Lettering
• Peter George - Special Effects
• Jon Erikson - Sound
• John Coulson - 
• L.Stephen M. - 
• Mike McCarty - 
• Rascal Houndi -

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this artist, but he looks rather old for jumping around with a guitar in one hand, a flame in the other, all while clad in a bright yellow bam-bam one shoulder strap spandexy leotard. Kinda like a post-prime David Lee Roth. The back pics of him basically running don't help out. All that said, I can't see this being cut and dry metal or rock, but i'm going to have to guess it is hard rock trying to have an much heavier edge than it does.

Album Review: This is the fifth and final album from this band which has never featured one member named Max Webster (they were going for a Jethro Tull type name). Although popular in Canada, thanks in part to a energetic stage presence and wild antics, they never reached success elsewhere. This album features the song Battle Scar, which was recorded along side the Rush trio of Lee, Pert & Lifeson. Honestly, the album is not very good: the vocals sound rushed and the music feels like it is trying to cover too many genres, and because of that, failing to stand on it's own feet.

Stand Out Track: Battle Scar

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Image (thee) - Inside the Triangle

Name: Thee Image
Album: Inside the Triangle
Year: 1975
Style: Prog, Jazz, Disco, Psych
Similar Bands: Traffic, Little Feat, Dr. John, Bee-Gees
"One-Word" Review: Hard Jazz Fusion Disco
Based Out Of: Miami FL
Label: Manticore, Motown

Cover & Record

Back, Record

Inside the Triangle (1975)

1. Fly Away 6:36
2. Far Away Places 2:55 (single b-side)
3. High Time Feeling 3:34
4. IOU's 2:32
5. All Night Long 4:15 / 
6. Good To You 6:02
7. Alone With You 5:05 (single)
8. Rapture of the Deep 1:45
9. Nobody Wins till the Game is Over 4:15 (cover Sir Mack Rice)

Album Rating (1-10): 5.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Mike Pinera - Producer, Guitar, Lead & Backing Vox (Blues Image, Iron Butterfly, Cactus, Alice Cooper, Ramatam, Classic Rock All Stars, Fanz, Thee Butterfly, Judy Mayhan, )
• Duane Hitchings - Keys, Moog, Synth, Backing Vox (Buddy Miles Express, Cactus, Charmer, Steel, Kim Carnes, Carmine Appice,  The Runaways, Rod Stewart, Bad Finger, Alice Cooper )
• Donny Vosburgh - Drums, Percussion, Backing Vox (Blues Image, Buddy Miles, Fortress, Mother's Finest, Darrell Mansfield Band)
• Karl Richardson - Recording & Mixing
• Ed Mashal - Asst. Engineer
• John Blanche - Mastering Engineer
• Srat Stills - Cover Art
• Mario A Algaze - Photography
• Thee Big "M" - Album Concept & Art Direction
• Mario Medious - Executive Producer

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band. Although the title and cover are is heading to somewhere ominous...the Bermuda triangle...the three guys in the band couldn't look more like three stoner surfer dudes incapable of evil. I assume the back image is of them at some palace in Bermuda, with the three guys looking a little glammy with cape, embroidered shirt, and bedazzled bell-bottoms. So I'm guessing this band is somewhere between glam, and prog, with the cover art being conceptual enough to make me think of prog.

Album Review: The Band name was a nostalgic throw-back tribute for Pinera & Vosburgh, who used to play together in Blue Image at a "legendary" club in Miami called Thee Image. Some of the album (Single "Alone With You") sounds like if a typical lounge singer like Tom Jones would decide to make a funky-disco album..okay, that might actually work or sound cool, but this does not sit in such a positive light. But some sounds like psych rock, or prog fusion. "IOUs" sounds kind like a video game

Stand Out Track: IOU's

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Illusion - Out of the Mist

Name: Illusion
Album: Out of the Mist
Year: 1977
Style: Prog, New Age, Baroque Chamber
Similar Bands: Renaissance, Rush, Dream Theater, Pink Floyd, Emerson Lake & Palmer
"One-Word" Review: Enchanting Mystic Chamber Prog.
Based Out Of: London, England
Label: Island

Cover, Record

Record, Back

Out of the Mist (1977)

1. Isadora 6:58
2. Roads to Freedom 3:55
3. Beautiful Country 4:21
4. Solo Flight 4:20 /
5. Everywhere You Go 3:18
6. Face of Yesterday 5:43
7. Candles Are Burning 7:10

Album Rating (1-10): 6.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Doug Bogie - Producer, Engineer
• John Hawken - Keys, Mellotron (Strawbs, Renaissance, Frankie Reid Band, Nashville Teens, Third World War, Trifle, Vinegar Joe, Luther Grosvenor, Claire Hamill, Sutherland Bros, Carl Perkins, Smithereens, Doughboys, Yardbirds, Spooky Tooth)
• Louis Cennamo - Bass (Renaissance, Armageddon, Chicago Line, Colosseum, Herd, Jimmy Powell & the 5 Dimensions, Stairway, Steamhammer, James Taylor, Jody Grind, Al Stewart, Linda Lewis, Beyond Sound, Chuck Berry)
• Jane Relf - Vox  (Renaissance, Holy Smoke, Stairway, Colin Scot, Yardbirds, The Fishermen)
• Jim McCarty - Vox, Guitar, Percussion (Yardbirds, Renaissance, Box of Frogs, Holy Smoke, Pilgrim, Pretty Things, Shoot, Stairway, Together, many)
• John Knightsbridge - Guitar (Third World War, Ruthless Blues, Hug, Yardbirds, Gnidrolog, Warm Dust, Mars, Limey, Box of Frogs )
• Eddie McNeil - Drums, Percussion (Strange Days, Paddy Kingsland)
• Dennis McKay - Mixing
• Goodwin Logie - Tape Operator
• Keith Morris - Photography
• Bloomfield / Travis - Sleeve Design

Unknown-ness: I've never heard of Illusion, assuming this is different than The Illusion. The pictures are all of them as a live band, so one has to wonder if it was hastily put together, or if the live setting was just their art choice. The pink and blue color scheme meshes well with the live photo lighting, creating a mystique that also supports the name Illusion. So i imagine it will be some sort of light new agey-prog.

Album Review: This group is a reshuffled line up of the band Renaissance, with the exception of Keith Reif (Ex-Yardbirds singer whom Jane is the younger sister to), who tragically died of electrical shock at the hands of a guitar amp. They are one of the many bands that succumbed to the capitalistic fan fare (ironically) toward punk rock, as Baroque Chamber Prog was waning in popularity. The songs are lofty, floating compositions, featuring heavy on piano and soothing, delicate vocals.

Stand Out Track: Solo Flight

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Group 87 - s/t

Name: Group 87
Album: s/t
Year: 1980
Style: Classical Jazz, Prog Fusion, New Age
Similar Bands: Brand X, Spaces, Weather Report, Brian Eno
"One-Word" Review: Jazzy Classical-Prog Instrumentals
Based Out Of: San Fran, Cali
Label: Columbia

Cover, Record

Record, Back

Group 87 (1980)

1. Future of the City 5:01
2. Magnificent Clockworks 4:30
3. Frontiers: 1856 3:16
4. Sublime Feline 6:25 /
5. The Bedouin 3:21
6. While the City Sleeps 2:25
7. Moving Sidewalks 4:24
8. Hall of Glass 2:34
9. One Night Away From Day 5:55

Album Rating (1-10): 5.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Ed E. Thacker - Producer, Recording, Mixing
• Brian Leshon - Second Engineer
• Phil Jost - Second Engineer
• Greg Calbi - Mastering
• Terry Powell - Masteting
• Steve Hiett - Cover Photo
• Robert Steve Bauer - Back Photos
• Nancy Donald - Design
• Terry Bozzio - Drums (Frank Zappa, Missing Persons, Bozzio Levin Stevens, Lonely Bears, UK, Vai more)
• Peter Wolf - Piano (Frank Zappa, Starship, Fatty George Crew, Gipsy Love, Music and Fin Is All, Objective Truth Orch, The Mothers, Reform Art Unit, Vienna, Wolf & Wolf more)
• Mark Isham - Brass, Electronics, Keys (Sons of Champlin, Rubiza Patrol, Taj Mahal, Van Morrison, Boz Skaggs, Secret Police more)
• Peter Maunu - Guitar, Keys Violin (Jean-Luc Ponty, Billy Cobham, Airto, Arsenio Hall Band, Bernie Krause, LA Express Claus Ogerman Orch, Simon Stokes, OC Smith, Flower, Gary Brooker, Bobby McFerrin, Heller, Morak, Ludwig Hirsch, Ed Nottle, Grace Slick, Wire Train, Commodores, Sylvester, Starship, laura Branigan, Warren Zevon, Marianne Faithfull, Al Gromer Khan)
• Patrick O'Hearn - Bass (Frank Zappa, Missing Persons more)

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but from the angular lines and basic colors on the cover & negative images on the back, it looks like it may be some sort of new wave or post punk, reminding me of Wire's artwork. Even with the ocean themes: beach towel on the front and beach/water on the back, it still has a cold feel, enhanced further by the robotic factory name like Group 87.

Album Review: The album is all instrumental Jazz...but multiple forms of it: sometimes ambient, sometimes classical, sometimes video game or tv theme sounding, but much of the time futurist-prog. The music contained feels like it is breaching the gap between old-style songs while incorporating "modern day" production techniques and smooth synths. Their song titles do relate to the moods and soundscapes that the music creates. This was the first album for the trio Isham, Maunu, O'Hearn, but they forged a path into instrumental new age after this band, who actually had one more release in '84. Isham having the most illustrious and prolific career of the three, with award winning music and stemming into tv & films

Stand Out Track: Magnificent Clockworks

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