Warren, Paul & Explorer - One of the Kids

Name: Paul Warren & Explorer
Album: One of the Kids
Year: 1980
Style: Powerpop, Oldies
Similar Bands: Beatles, Marshall Crenshaw, Steve Forbert, Pezband, Shoes, Records
"One-Word" Review: Good & Plenty Pop
Based Out Of: Detroit, MI, Los Angeles, CA
Label: RSO, Polygram

Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Lyrics, Record

One of the Kids (1980)

1. One of the Kids 3:04
2. Takin' Her Back 4:01 (single)
3. The Others 2:29
4. A and R Man 3:06
5. Suzanne 3:59/
6. You Can't Touch Her 3:25
7. Kiss Me Chrissy 2:56
8. Faded Glory 4:30
9. For the Love of a Girl 3:07
10. Hats Off to Winners 2:50

Album Rating (1-10): 7.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Peter Coleman - Producer
• Paul Warren - Vox, Guitar (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, Nite City)
• Steve Gornall - Guitar, Vox (Carl Stewart)
• Jimmy Hunter - Drums (Nite City, Nick Gilder, Hilary Laddin, David London, Gabriele Morgan, POOK Family All Star Line Up Band, Fortune, Bobby Barth, Bobby Alexander, Greg Ginn. Beckley)
• Dene Jordan - Bass, Vox 
• Doug Schwartz - Engineer Asst
• Steve Hall - Mastering
• Charles Weinberger - Mgmt
• Greg McCutcheon - Mgmt
• Glenn Ross - Art Direction
• Tim Owens - Design
• Moshe Brakha - Photos
• Rachel Guinan - Cover Kid
• Andy Owens - Cover Kid

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but the mixed message of Warren smoking in front of the kids, yet declaring himself as one of the kids in the title is a shame. The kids, obviously from the future sport the 80's new wave business clothes with Geordie La Forge glasses. There was a big drive in the early 80's to mark yourself as new wave with the Red, Black & White color scheme, and this fits in with the red lines across the title and back of album. So the only question is how nerdy or power poppy will this record be...no mention of keys on the member list, so my guess is that it most likely won't be the bouncy neurotic powerpop, and will lean on the more pub rock sound.

Album Review: The album is full of singer/songwriter powerpop, lots of Beatles influence in the simple melodies, and basic, catchy song structures. The only difference, and quite shockingly so, is the driving metal anxiousness of "For the Love of a Girl."

Last June, I added a record from his band, Nite City, that preceded this album. Starting in the early 70's, Warren was a session guitarist for Motown Records (recorded The Temptations' "Papa Was A Rolling Stone"), as he was discovered in the area at 17. He moved with the label when they relocated to LA. After this one album and a bankrupt RSO label, he began his stint as a guitar for hire, before he ended up as touring guitarist for Richard Marx in 1987 - 1994 and Rod Stewart 1999 - 2013.

Stand Out Track: For the Love of a Girl

Links:

Youtube album + 1 extra track
Wiki

Discogs

Allmusic

Rate Your Music

Down Underground

This Is Powerpop
Local Show 2010

Van Zant Band, The Johnny - No More Dirty Deals

Name: The Johnny Van Zant Band
Album: No More Dirty Deals
Year: 1980
Style: Southern Rock, Hair Metal
Similar Bands: .38 Special, Outlaws, Winger, ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Allman Brothers, Bandera, Marshall Tucker, Molly Hatchet
"One-Word" Review: Fledgling Metal
Based Out Of: Jacksonville, FL
Label: Polydor, Polygram

Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Lyrics, Record

No More Dirty Deals (1980)

1. No More Dirty Deals 5:25
2. Coming Home 4:08
3. 634-5789 - 2:43 (Wilson Pickett cover)
4. Put My Trust In You 2:44
5. Only the Strong Survive 3:34 /
6. Hard Luck Story 3:08
7. Stand Your Ground 3:11
8. Never Too Late 3:44
9. Keep On Rollin' 3:27
10. Standing in the Darkness 4:57 (Tribute to his brother, Ronnie)

Album Rating (1-10): 5.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Johnny Van Zant - Vox (Lynyrd Skynyrd, .38 Special, Austin Nickels Band, Van Zant, Jim Peterik, )
• Robbie Gay - Lead Guitar (Van Zant, Robert Paul Band)
• Erik Lundgren - Lead Guitar (Van-Zant)
• Danny Clausman - Bass (Van-Zant)
• Robbie Morris - Drums (Van-Zant, Shanytown)
• Ron Hinklin - Backing Vox (Modern Barbershop Quartet, Ray Conniff, Bob Alcivar, California Dreamers, Eligibles, Zip-Codes, Hugo Montenegro, Stan Kenton, Bud Shank, Ralph Carmichael, Michael Colombier, Gabor Szabo, Jack Daugherty, Partridge Family, Dominic Frontiere, PF Sloan, Beaver & Krause, David Wagner, Climaz, BJ Thomas, Sarah Vaughn, Gram Parsons. Austin Roberts, Vikki Carr, Paul Williams, John Davidson, Keith Moon, Elkie Brooks, Jack Jones, Danny & Joyce, Cyndi Grecco, Deanna Edwards, Jim Weatherly, The Tubes, Linda Ronstadt, Elton John, Donovan, Doonesbury's Jimmy Thudpucker, Wayne Parker, TN Ernie Ford, Sparks, Shaun Cassidy, Leif Garrett, Tony Rizzi & Pacific!, Captain & Tennille, Neil Diamond, Alan Price, Jon Bryon, Lalo Schifrin, Westside Strutters, Harvey Mason, Outlaws, Reba Rambo, Dony McGuire, Paul Johnson, David Essex, Sammy Nestico, Nico Ramsden, Frank Sinatra, Jerry Lee Lewis, Harry Connick Jr, Chipmunks, Elvis Presley, The Yellow Balloon, Vince Gill, Patrick Williams, Monkees, Jan & Dean, Charles Fox, Norman Gimbel, Suzanne Klee, Johnny Koonce)
• John Balhler - Backing Vox (Bahler Bros, LA Voices, Ray Conniff, Bob Alcivar, California Dreamers, Love Generation, Bud Shank,Ralph Carmichael, Dory Previn, Gabor Szabo, Partridge Family, Dominic Frontiere, Climax, David Cassidy, Sarah Vaughn, David Essex, Toto, Association, Elvis Presley, Jerry lee Lewis, Jan & Dean, Carpenters, Love Generation, more)
• Jerry Whitman - Backing Vox (Hollywood Film Chorale, David Axelrod, Michael Colombier, Partridge Family, Burt Bacharach, Hal David, Tedd Smith, Ray Conniff, John Strachan, Bob Zwirn, Paul Williams, Phantom of Paradise [sndtk], Cam Floria, Jose Feliciano, Carpenters, Elkie Brooks, The Tubes, Wayne Parker, TN Ernie Ford, Ralph Carmichael, Triumvirat, Grease [sndtk], Jon Bryon, Harvey Mason, Reba Rambo, Dony McGuire, Outlaws, Jimmy & Carol Owens, David Essex, Norman Saleet, Juice Newton, Vince Gill, Frank Sinatra, Werid Al Yankovic, Neil Diamond, Harry Connick Jr, Billy May, Glen Gray, James Newton Howard, Alan Silvestri, Simpsons, Henry Mancini, Charles Bernstein, Ralph Cramichael, Kurt Kaiser)
• Gene Morford - Backing Vox (Modern Barbershop Quartet, Hugo Montenegro, Ralph Carmichael, Jack Daugherty, Michael Legrand, BJ Thomas, David Wagner, Paul Johnson, John Kay, Sarah Vaughn, Sherman Hayes, Paul Williams, John Davidson, Cam Floria, Elkie Brooks, Jose Feliciano, Jim Weatherly, Jon Bryon, Tubes, Elton John, TN Ernie Ford, Shaun Cassidy, Captain & Tennille, Dolly parton, Tony Rizzi & Pacific!, Grease [sndtk], Neil Diamond, Alan Price, Susie Allanson, Jimmy & Carol Owens, Continental Singers, Barry McGuire, David Essex, Kenny Rogers, Parachute, Reba Rambo, Dony McGuire, Laura Branigan, Gail Davis, Toto, John Denver, Roy Orbison, Little Shop of Horrors [sndtk], Frank Sinatra, Weird Al Yankovic, David Foster, Jerry Lee Lewis, harry Connick Jr, Tom Inglis, Natalie Cole, Chipmunks, Clare Fischer, Amy Grant, Simpsons [sndtk], Tom Jones, Suzanne Klee, Johnny Koonce)
• Marti McCall - Backing Vox (Magic, Space Angels, Tuxedo Junction, JOhn Lee Hooker, Linda Ronstadt, Michael White, Righteous Bros, Peggy lee, Paul Williams, Dory Previn, nancy Wilson, Harry Chapin, Jack Jones, Frankie Valli, Seals & Crofts, Blackbyrds, Boz Scaggs, Dolly Parton, David Soul, Dionne Warwick, Burt Bacharach, Sat Night Fever [sndtk], Donna Summer, Roger Voudouris, Grease [sndtk], Peter Allen, Gloria Gaynor, Christopher Cross, The Babys, Gil-Scott heron, Aretha Franklin, Reba Rambo, Imperials, Striesand, Jose Feliciano, Milt Jackson, Madleen Kane, Booker T, Jermaine Jackson, Kids from Fame, Kenny Rogers, Lou Rawls, Barry Gibb, Bil Withers, Diana Ross, Cher, Linda Ronstandt, Olivia-Newton John, Arlo Guthrie, Glen Campbell, more
• Myrna Matthews - Backing Vox (Hollywood Film Chorale, Magic, Paul Johnson, Saint Tropez, Babettes, Space Angels, Billy Preston, Dusty Springfield, Tim Buckley, Steely Dan, Dory Previn, Quincy Jones, Boz Scaggs, Bill Withers, Don Cornelius, Frankie Valli, TN Ernie Ford, Blackbyrds, Seals & Crofts, Helen Reddy, Dolly Parton, Captain & Tennille, Miracles, Dion Warwick, Shaun Cassidy, Grease [sndtk], Cheryl Ladd, Babys, Roger Voudouris, Christopher Cross, Outlaws, Eddie Money, Aretha Franklin, Barbara Streisand, Booker T, Jose Feliciano, SOS Band, Diana Ross, Kenny Rogers, Imperials, Patti Austin, Barry Gibb, Cher, Whitney Houston, Gary Wright, China Crisis, Teddu Pendergrass, Jon Bon Jovi, Dick Tracy [sndtk], Kenny Loggins, Muppets, Pat Boone, Harry Connick Jr more)
• Lorna Willard - Backing Vox (Maxine Waters/Willard, Scott McKenzie, Pacific Gas & Electric, Michael Colombier, Al Kooper, Marc McClure, David Cassidy, Tim Buckley, BW Stevenson, Willie Hutch. Boz Scaggs, Keith Moon, Bobby Womack, Cydni Grecco, Paul Kelly, Alice Cooper, Lenoard Cohen, Tanya Tucker, Chanson, Moulin Rouge, Ken Lauber)
• Julia (Ardie) Waters Tillman - Backing Vox (Rock Flowers, Sugar, Brothers & Sisters, Darlings, Dynels, Goldman Girls, Waters, Waters Sisters, Stan Kenton, Al Kooper, Carole King, Dave Mason, Boz Scaggs, Funk Inc, Eric Andersen, Jose Feliciano, Carly Simon, Johnny Rivers, Keith Moon, Tina Turner, Righteous Bros, Buffy Saint-Marie, Andy Williams, Rare Earth, Glen Campbell, The Tubes, Cher, Paul Butterfield, Santana, Barbara Streisand, Tavares, Carpenters, Inner Circle, BB King, Patti LaBelle, Ben E King, Tony Orlando, Cuba Gooding, Neil Diamond, Gloria Gaynor, Kiss, Denise Williams, Rick James, Teena Marie, Donna Summer, Herbie Hancock, Eddie Money, Jacksons, Peaches & Herb, Kim Carnes, Diana Ross, Curtis Mayfield, Smokey Robinson, Toni Basil, Sam Harris, Lionel Richie, Commodores, Joe Cocker, Gap Band, Natalie Cole, Harold Faltermeyer, many)
• Bobby LaKind - Percussion (Doobie Brothers, Lauren Wood, Nicolette Larson, Little Feat, Eikichi Yazawa, Paul Barrere, Bonedaddys, Michael McDonald, Chris Hillman, Cheech y Chong, Robbie Patton, Ronnie Hawkin, Freddy Henry, Dirt Band, Four on the Floor, Night, Sneaker, Tom Johnston, Benny Hester, Karen Brooks, Greg Guidry, Spirit, Honeymoon Suite, Glenn Hughes, BulletBoys, Tommy Bolin, Steve Fisher)
• Paul Barrere - Slide Guitar (Little Feat, Chicken Legs, Bluesbusters, Robert Palmer, T Lavitz, Jack Casady, Coco Montoya, Steamroller Wheelies, Bonnie Raitt, Eric Kaz, Carly Simon, John Cale, Oak Ridge Boys, Travis Tritt, Taj Majal, Jackson Browne, more)
• Al Kooper - Producer, Arrangement, Remix, Keys (Lynyrd Skynyrd, Blood Sweat & Tears, Child is Father to the Man, Four on the Floor, Frankie & Johnny, Rekooperators, Blues Project, Landlords, Musclemen, Royal teens, Sensational Guitars of Dan & Dale, Mike Bloomfield, Sweet Linda Divine, Mose Jones, David Essex, Green on Red, Tim Petty, Bob Dylan, Tom Rush, Peter Paul & Mary, Moby Grape, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Janis Ian, BB King, Rolling Stones, Bo Diddley, Rita Coolidge, The Who, Alice Cooper, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Ravi Shankar Project, Was (Not Was), Roy Orbison, Thelonious Monster, Chuck Prophet, Neil Diamond many)
• Ernie Watts - Sax, Flute (Andreas Pettersson, Buddy Rich, Charlie haden, Doc Severinsen, Gerad Wilson, GRP All Star Big Band, Jasper Van Hof's Face to Face, Karma, Leonard Feather, Liberation Music Orch, Love Unlimited Orch, Nat Adderley, Session II, Bruce Eskovitz, John Dentz, The Meeting, The Mothers, Night Blooming Jazzmen, Sergio Mendes, T-Bone Walker, Cannonball Adderley, James Brown, Ella Fitzgerald, Carole King, Spencer Davis, Diana Ross, Arlo Guthrie, Bonnie Raitt, Quincy Jones, Marvin Gaye, Steely Dan  many)
• Paul Grupp - Basic Engineer
• Bob Edwards - Overdub Engineer, Remix
• Mark Linett - Background Vox Engineer
• Linda Corbin - Asst Engineer
• Peggy McCreary - Asst Engineer
• Niko Bolals - Asst Engineer
• George Ybarra - Asst Engineer
• Stewart Henderson - Asst Engineer
• Scooter Sandweiss - Production Coordinator
• Charlie Brusso - Mgmt (High Tide)
• George Cappellini - Mgmt (High Tide)
• Aaron Rapoport - Photos
• Ria Lewerke-Shapiro - Art Direction, Design

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but based on the cover, they make me think of an Ugly Kid Joe meets Journey combination...and that is pretty much what i imagine the music to take form as, too, even if it was 9 years before UKJ.

Album Review: Greasy rock begins with the needle drop. Not necessarily hard or heavy, just sleazy, southern rock with the two lead guitars, and trying to rock your face off (not not doing it) driving tempos. 

The Van Zant family has its fair share of connection and history with southern blues rock. Johnny is the younger brother of Ronnie (died in the 1977 plane crash), who founded/sang for Lynyrd Skynyrd. Johnny is their current singer (since 1987). He also founded .38 Special with brother Donnie, and later Van Zant also with Donnie. This is the first release of the band that evolved from Austin Nickels Band, who formed 3 years earlier. Skynyrd had their farewell tour in 2018-19, Johnny said they could still record.

Stand Out Track: 634-5789

Links:
Youtube full album
Wiki

Discogs

Allmusic
Pure Southern Rock
GB Gazette 2018
Madness to Creation
IMDB
Pollstar 2018
1980 Live show - Wolfgang's
USA Today 2019
Metal Music Archives
What JVZ drives

Jacksonville Paper Father's Obit 2018
RTJ Webzine 
MN Star Tribune 2018

Touch - s/t

Name: Torch
Album: s/t
Year: 1980
Style: Hair Rock, Power Pop
Similar Bands: Journey, Supertramp, Def Leppard, Styx, Prism, Loverboy
"One-Word" Review: Sweaty, Generic Love-Sick Rock
Based Out Of: NYC
Label: Atco, Atlantic, Warner Communications Company

Cover, Record

Back, Record

Torch (1980)

1. Don't You Know What Love Is? 3:50 (single #69)
2. When the Spirit Moves You 3:56 (single)
3. Love Don't Fail Me 4:24
4. Black Star 3:32
5. There's A Light 3:56 (single b-side) /
6. So High 5:18
7. Last Chance for Love 3:51
8. Yes (You Need to Rock 'n Roll) 4:22
9. Listen (Can You Feel It) 5:02

Album Rating (1-10): 6.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Craig Brooks - Guitar, Vox (American Tears, Michael Bolton, Roger Glover, Malisham White Vision, Bitter Suite)
• Mark Mangold - Keys, Vox, Arrangement, Words & Music, Co-Producer, Mixing (American Tears, Michael Bolton, Drive She Said, The Sign, Mystic Healer, Jon Bivona, The Radiant, Flesh & Blood, Valhalla, Chantal, Houston, 91 Suite, Magic Freak Society, Ellen, Seven, Benny Mardones)
• Doug Howard, Bass, Vox (Utopia, Todd Rundgren, Edgar Winter, Stun Leer, Roy Buchanan )
• Glenn Kithcart - Drums, Percussion (American Tears)
• Tim Friese-Green - Engineer, Producer
• Scott Litt - Assoc. Engineer
• Clayton Hutchinson - Assoc. Engineer
• Tom Heid - Assistant
• Garry Rindfuss - Assistant
• Greg Calbi - Mastering
• Robert Lewis - Cover Photo
• Jim Houghton - Back Photo
• Lynn Dreese Breslin - Album Design
• Bruce Payne - Direction (Deep Purple)
• OM Productions - Hand

Unknown-ness: Never heard of such a generic, emotionless named band called Touch. But i love the stereotypical cover of mystery, sexy, future, and angular shapes. What game are they playing? Who's the sexy girl? Who / what is she playing (robot)?  Why are they floating in space on an angle? None of these answers and more are sure to lie in the songs contained on the record. From the leftover 70's looks of the band on the back, I'm going to guess they are a general power pop band. 

Album Review: And Power Pop band they are. Their long hair heavier version of the power pop genre puts them in line with Def Leppard more than the sunny, digestible bands. They mask the hooks and harmonies under some heavy guitars- but not all the time...they do use synth lines, sometimes verging on Prog. but tending to keep one foot in hair rock at all time. The opening song is a study in mansplaining, as the song can't believe the girl in question doesn't know what love is...but they are prepared to explain & show her love. Comes off creepy, which is par for a lot of the imagery in this genre. And "Black Star" is a driving rocker with some Nick Gilder-like harmonized chorus.

Three of the four members here had released 3 albums together for Columbia Records as American Tears. This was their only album as Touch, and a second recorded album never saw light of day. However, as of Oct 2020, the full Torch lineup is back in action, recording new songs together.

Stand Out Track: When the Spirit Moves You

Links:
Spotify Album
Wiki
Discogs
Allmusic
Heavy Harmonies
Melodic Hard Rock
Steve Hoffman Music Forum
Who Sampled
Get Ready to Rock - 10?s: Mangold
Psych Baby 2011 Interview
Rate your Music
People Pill Mangold
Goldmine Giveaway
0 Day Rox

Blowfly - Rappin', Dancin', and Laughin'

Name: Blowfly
Album: Rappin', Dancin', and Laughin'
Year:1980
Style: Rap / Hip Hop
Similar Bands: Grandmaster Flash, Kurtis Blow, Two Live Crew, Afroman, Sugarhill Gang, Kool Keith, ODB
"One-Word" Review: vulgar old school rap
Based Out Of: Georgia / West Palm Beach, FL
Label: TK Productions, Weird World

Cover, Record

Record, Back

Rappin', Dancin', and Laughin' (1980)

1. Convoy 7:15
2. Blowfly Vs. Darth Vader 7:40
3. Cricka 5:00 /
4. The Incredible Fulk 8:40 (single)
5. The Word Game 6:00
6. The Insects Theme 4:00

Album Rating (1-10): 7.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Blowfly/Clarence Reid - Writer, Producer, Vox (Clarence Reid & the Delmiras, Betty Wright, Sam & Dave, Bobby Byrd and KC & Sunshine Band, Helene Smith, Paul Kelly, Gwen McRae, Flea, 2 Live Crew, Deep City Band, Palmerforce Two, Funky Party Band, Miami, Le Coffret Ideal Blaxploitation, many)
• Freedy Stonewall - Recording, Mixing
• Marc Vaughn - Cover Photo
• Rob Vaugn - Art Direction

Unknown-ness: Never heard of Blowfly. Although most of what seemed envelope pushing in the 80's would seem more common place, the hype behind the sexually tinged name and the "X-Rated" classification on the cover & back make me think this is going to be some juvenile, suggestive hip hop music with basic beats and lots of lyrics about the singer himself. Especially interested to see the take on Blowfly vs. Darth Vader...is he posing as the hero, up against the villain? 

Album Review: The album is 80's old-school hip hop with familiar, laid back bass lines and guitar hooks and more talking in skits rather than straight up rapping over the music. But the lyrics are quite vulgar and raunchy; talking about dick size and hard sex, with "fuck" used ad nauseum. Unfortunately, there are no parodies of popular tunes here, as that is what Blowfly made his name for.

His nickname was earned from his grandmom, called him "worse than a blowfly" when he'd sing explicit parodies of radio hits like "Come on baby, and suck my dick (do the twist)" for money on a farm where he worked. He had natural musical skills, as he was an accomplished, renown song writer in his day job as a staff songwriter at TK Records, working with Betty Wright, Sam & Dave, Bobby Byrd and KC & Sunshine band. His mixed style of soul, funk & Caribbean helped coin the term "The Miami Sound." He was also a pioneer in "Soul Talking," the direct predecessor to rap, and might have self-pressed the first rap record in 1964 with a rough version of "Blowfly's Rapp" . Because of that, had to use the stage name Blowfly to protect his integrity. He was one of the first musicians to perform masked, and his gross parodies earned him legal trouble and record store bans (first artist ever?), which eventually led to him selling all his rights to his music in 2003. But in 2005, he signed to Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles label. His later career saw a couple more albums and international tours and even had a documentary "The Weird World of Blowfly" in 2010. But his career was a huge influence to many rap and hip hop stars on top of his material being highly sampled. in He passed away in Jan 2016, just before his final album came out. On a side note, his daughter, Tracy Reid played in the WNBA.

Stand Out Track: Convoy

Links:
Wiki

Discogs

Allmusic

Saustex website

Facebook

rollingstone obit

NPR obit

NYTimes obit
Rate your music
Reggieslive
Vulture

Ponderosa Stomp

Brooklyn Vegan obit

Tapes (the) - Party

Name: The Tapes
Album: Party
Year: 1980
Style: Post Punk, Punk, New Wave
Similar Bands: Talking Heads, Husker Du, XTC, Residents, The Jam, Wire, Television
"One-Word" Review: Disjointed Space-filled Angular Wave
Based Out Of: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Label: Passport Records, Jem Records, WEA

Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Lyrics, Record

Party (1980)

1. (I Fall) Head First 3:00
2. The Mating Season 3:48
3. Blue Thighs 2:55
4. Point Eighty Eight 3:38
5. Into Action 4:14 /
6. To Assemble 4:05
7. LG/DG 2:18
8. Lonesome Max 2:45
9. Party 3:20
10. In The Crocodile's Mouth 2:16
11. Inside Out 5:03 

Album Rating (1-10): 8.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Rolf Hermsen - Vox, Guitar, Cover Design (Mathilde Santing)
• Fred Hermsen - Mgmt, Writer
• Peter Meuris - Drums (Frits, Zonder Naam, Slagwerkgroep, Mathilde Santing, The Nits, Astrid Seriese, Julya Lo'ko, Trockener Kecks)
• Igor Roovers - Bass (Dynastie Van Oer)
• Michiel Brandes - Guitars (Mathilde Santing)
• Don Willard - Producer
• Angele Grevelink - Photos
• Peter O. Kapteijn - cover photo inspiration

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band. From the cover art (and back art, which is basically a cover for side two) of white outfits and ties, it would seem to project new wave. They look rather clean cut, so my guess is more to the synth side of new wave than dirty, hard, or blue collar new wave. 

Album Review: It's a tad funky, with some discordant, flat hooks similar to the Residents, and vocals similar to the Jam. They can be categorized right there in the middle of the new wave / post punk bridge. Lg Dg is quite frantic and a little spooky with the guitar sound meshed with the vocals.
Known as the Dutch Talking Heads for their first two records, this band from Amsterdam recorded 3 records, and took cues from the scene of XTC, Wire, and the aforementioned Talking Heads. This is the only of their records remastered & put to CD with bonus live tracks

Stand Out Track: Lg Dg, Into Action

Links:
Discogs
Allmusic
4 live tracks on Bandcamp
The Velvet Vox - in Dutch
No Longer Forgotten Music
Fredheadset - live recording
Rate your Music
Written in Music

Keith Sykes - I'm Not Strange I'm Just Like You

Name: Keith Sikes
Album: I'm Not Strange I'm Just Like You
Year: 1980
Style: Americana, Oldies Rock, Roots Rock
Similar Bands: Fabulous Thunderbirds, Walter Egan, Marshall Crenshaw, Steve Forbert, Blasters
"One-Word" Review: Buddy Holly Updated
Based Out Of: Memphis, Tenn.
Label: Backstreet Records, MCA Distribution

Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Lyrics & Credits, Record

I'm Not Strange I'm Just Like You (1980)

1. B.I.G. T.I.M.E 3:09
2. Love to Ride 4:15
3. Smack Dab in the Middle 2:38 (Charlie Calhoun cover)
4. Ain't That Some Lovin' 4:31
5. 928 2:07 /
6. I'm On A Roll 2:45
7. Maybe I'm a Mockingbird 3:58
8. Makin' It Before They Got Married 3:37
9. When My Work Is Done 2:57
10. I'm Not Strange (I'm Just Like You) 3:12

Album Rating (1-10): 7.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Keith Sykes - Writer, Vox, Lead & Rhythm Guitars (Jimmy Buffett, Kris Kristofferson, Rita Coolidge, John Prine, Billy Prine, )
• John Hampton - Drums, Backing Vox, Percussion, Engineer (Todd Rundgren, Hard Rain, Todd Agnew, Mylon Fefevre, Tommy Keene,  many more)
• Mike Brighardello - Bass, Backing Vox, Percussion (Giant, Steven Curtis, Lydia Miller, Amy Grant, Michael W Smith, Imperials,Glen Campbell, Jummy Swaggert, Alabama, Kenny Rogers, Anne Murray, Neil Diamond, Dolly Parton, Travis Tritt, Oak Ridge Boys, Billy Ray Cyrus, Emmylou Harris, Shania Twain, BJ Thomas, Jeff Foxworthy, Barry Manilow, Corey Hart, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, Eddie Rabbitt, Lee Ann Womack, Clint Black, Van Zandt, Faith Hill  many more)
• Mike Crews - Guitar, Backing Vox
• Joe Hardy - Bass, Backing Vox, Engineer (Alice Cooper, ZZ Top, Ry Cooder, Georgia Satellites, Replacements, Jim Corcoran, Mylon LeFevre, Deborah Conway, CJ Chenier, Degarmo & Key. Siniestro Total, Marie Wilson, Cross Canadian Ragween, Loud Machine, Damn Quailes, Billy Gibbons, Tommy Keene, Tom Cochran, Jeff Healy Band,   many more)
• Ed Degarmo - Organ, Engineer (Degarmo & Key, The Cause)
• Jerene Sykes - Producer
• Greg Ladonyi - Mixing
• BACKING VOX/AUDIENCE ON TITLE TRACK: Terry Dane Adney, Redbeard & Sandy, Walter Dawson, Suzanne Phelps, Kay King, Trish Mitchell, John Kilzer, Stacey Parks, Bobby Grace, Harry Chittenden, Jamie Chittenden, Bobby Lane, Sky King, Jody McCarthy, Bobby Maupin, Lynn Yates, Luis Scholes, Robert Donahue, Mark & Debbie Jowers, Gerry Haas, Mary Tillerson, Tommy Jackson, White Heart, Steve Camp, Ace Cannon, Stacie Orrico many more)
• Doug Sax - Mastering
• Mike Reese - Mastering
• Tom Corcoran - Photos

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this singer/songwriter. I'm guessing he's gonna be your average storyteller, unpretentious singer, that is part bar room open miker (miller lite can), part musician's musician (photo on back in the studio) trying to break the mold (based on the album title) but won't.

Album Review: The album is part Americana, Roots rock, and part revival of the style of Buddy Holly- pretty much the formula of any singer song writer trying to sound different. The only stand-outish track- and not really for good- is the album ending title track. It features what sounds like a live audience of folks with background conversational ambiance to a Blasters-like song with some yelps, whistles and claps. The audience also does a bit of  call and response with the chorus, reminding me of Chuck Berry's My Ding-a-ling live recording.

Sykes has had a long career in the music industry rollercoastering between performing and writing. He has performed solom accompanied many famous musicians, and was even in Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefers. He has also written many songs recorded by others like The Judds, John Prine, Jerry Jeff Walker, Rosanna Cash, Guy Clark, George Thorogood, Sissy Spacek, Mitch Ryder Rodney Crowell, and he co-wrote Volcano with Jimmy Buffett. He started out in 1968 after hitchhiking to the Newport Music Festival and was inspired by Arlo Guthie's perfomance of "Alice's Restaurant Massacree." He even performed the single B.I.G. T.I.M.E on SNL in 1980, in support of this album, which was released on Tom Petty's record label.

Stand Out Track: B.I.G. T.I.M.E

Links:

Youtube (9/10 tracks, missing Mockingbird)
Wiki

Discogs

Allmusic

website

facebook

second hand songs

about KS

Trop Rockin

American Songwriter

Steve Swindells - Fresh Blood

Name: Steve Swindells
Album: Fresh Blood
Year: 1980
Style: Pub rock, Power Pop, New Wave
Similar Bands: Dire Straits, A's, Graham Parker, Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen, 
"One-Word" Review: Unpolished Americana Wave
Based Out Of: London, England
Label: Atco, Warner Communications Company, Atlantic

Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Lyrics, Record

Fresh Blood (1980)

1. Turn It On, Turn It Off 3:12
2. Fresh Blood 3:36
3. I Feel Alive 3:47
4. Low Life Joe 4:16
5. Bitter and Twisted 3:50 /
6. Don't Wait on the Stairs 3:22
7. Is It Over Now? 4:08
8. Down on Love Street 5:37
9. Figures of Authority 5:12
10. Show Down in the Night 5:12

Album Rating (1-10): 7.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Steve Swindells - Producer, Writer, Vox, Keys (Squidd, Pilot, Hawkwind, Hawklords, Danmingo, The Plastic Surgeons, Sacrosanct, Spirits Burning, Bridget Wishart, Dave Evans, Capdevielle, Robert Calvert, 
• Huw Lloyd-Langton - Guitars (Hawklords, Widowmaker, 2001 A Space Rock odyssey, Broken Bits band, Cosmograf, Hawkestrel, Hawkwind, Robert Calvert, Nic Potter, Dr Brown, The Meads of Asphodel, Sacred Geometry Band)
• Nic Potter - Bass (Van der Graaf Generator, Pool Sharks, The K Group, The Misunderstoods, The Noise, The Tigers, Unkestra, Henry Schifter, Colin Scot, Peter Hammill, Rare Bird, Chuck Berry, Guy Evans, Magna Carta, Steve Hyams, VDGG, Huw Lloyd-Langton, )
• Simon King - Drums (Hawklords, Hawkwind, Captain Lockheed & Starfighters, Michael Moorcock's Deep Fix, Opal Butterfly, Brian Eno, Robert Calvert, The Bunch,  )
• Simon Fraser - Engineer
• Bill Price - Mixing
• Jerry Green - Asst. Engineer
• Bob Carlos Clarke - Photos
• Richard Evans - Graphics
• Bill Curbishley - Mgmt & Direction
• Pete Fountain - Mgmt & Direction

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this dude. From the cover and back, it looks like he's trying to be a scummy version of Billy Joel...a harder edge and if the back has any say, it looks like the model for the film They Live. 

Album Review: The album starts out strong, the first two tracks are fun and bouncy, with calm focused vocals similar to Mark Knopfler, but the rest takes a dive into darker territory mixed with blue collar Americana. Don't Wait on the Stairs has a little Elvis Costello / Graham Parker sound in his voice. A couple songs, like Bitter and Twisted embrace electronic synth effects, which were en vogue at the time. Figures of Authority brings in an extra layer of Goth, sounding a little like Sisters Of Mercy, or one of the early record reviews Bay of Pigs. 

So apparently, he's English, from Ipswich, Suffolk. And after music didn't pan out (to which he considers being "out-gay" might have been a contributing reason in 1981), he shifted it to a hobby and worked as a party/concert promotor and later a journalist. He then returned to music, and is still active self-releasing old and new material. A couple of his songs were recorded by Roger Daltrey.

Stand Out Track: Turn It On, Turn It Off

Links:
Wiki
Discogs
Allmusic
Facebook
music gateway 
Soundcloud
Steve's Wordpress
Second Songs
Record Collectors Mag

Surf Punks - My Beach

Name: Surf Punks
Album: My Beach
Year: 1980
Style: Punk, Rock
Similar Bands: Dead Milkmen, Surf MC's, Ramones
"One-Word" Review: Silly Juvenile Surf-Topical Tunes
Based Out Of: Malibu, CA
Label: Epic, CBS

Cover, Record

Back, Record

My Beach (1980)

1. My Beach 1:48
2. My Wave 2:27
3. Teenage Girls 3:06
4. Shoulder Hopper 2:42
5. The Dummies 2:32
6. Beer Can Beach 1:54
7. Surfer's Nightmare 1:43
8. I Live For the Sun 2:17 (Sunrays cover)
9. Meet me At the Beach 2:44 /
10. Big Top 2:46
11. Somebody Ripped My Stick 2:50
12. Letter From Hawaii 2:13
13. The Surfmen 3:27
14. Can't Get a Tan 2:44
15. The Surf Instructor 3:55
16. Punch Out at Malibu 1:58
17. Bird Bathroom 1:41

Album Rating (1-10): 6.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Dennis Dragon - Drums, Vox, Percussion, Producer, Engineer (Beach Boys, Byrds, Neil young, Rick Springfield, Captain & Tennille, Farm, Joyous Noise, Protein Bros, Dragons, Marc McClure, Ron Elliott, Heavenz, Scott Goddard, Eliminators, Royal Philharmonic Orch, DJ Food & DK, Apokaful, )
• Drew Steele - Guitars, Vox, Synth, Keys (Crowbar Salvation, Scott Goddard)
• Johnny Malibu - - Guitar, Vox
• Richard Arrindell - Photos
• Rat (Tommy Steele) - Art
• John Hunt - Bass
• Spino Urchin - Guitar
• Jeff Ray Ban Eyrich- Bass (Roadrunners)
• Jo Hansch - Mastering
• The Hulk - Harmonica, Guitar

Unknown-ness: Never heard of the Surf Punks. Just having listened to the Surf MC's, i can't help but feel this will be another terrible niche version of a particular musical genre. Where the MC's were bad hip hop, this, I fear will get bogged down at trying to fit all the surf vernacular into short punk songs...maybe it will be surprisingly good?

Album Review: As the music is, it is not very punk rock...it is silly, short, and eccentric at times, but it does not embody the sound or spirit of punk. It is kinda close to the Ramones at times, particularly on the power-pop-punk "Teenage Girl," and the song "My Wave" has a great punk bass line, but the majority is flawed. They also use a lot of surfing jargon like tubes for waves, stick for surf board, and they mention beaches and girls an awful lot...one song is all about a largely endowed woman walking on the beach. They also have a song about not being able to  get a tan- a trait shared with the other surf themed band, Surf MCs. 

It is a long album full of short songs, and most of the tracks were previously released before they got signed to CBS/Epic on Shelter Records. Dennis Dragon basically put the whole thing together being drummer, singer, engineer and producer. The two punk kids came from rather established entertainment families. Dragon's dad was a symphony conductor, and his brother was Captain in Captain & Tennille. Steele's step dad was Gavin MacLeod: McHale's Navy, Mary Tyler Moore, Love Boat. They apparently had a wild live show and were locally loved. They started in 76, and self released their first album, which was re-released with bonus tracks via Epic in 1980.

Stand Out Track: Teenage Girls, My Wave

Links:
Spotify full album

Wiki

Discogs

Allmusic

Facebook

riff relevant

pop matters

imdb

Dragon's Obit 2017

Why it Matters

Encyclopedia of Surfing

Logo'ed Surf Shorts

Sumner - s/t

Name: Sumner
Album: s/t
Year: 1980
Style: New Wave, Blue Collar Rock
Similar Bands: John Mellencamp, Nick Gilder
"One-Word" Review: Wispy Power Rock
Based Out Of: Los Angeles
Label: Elektra/Asylum, Warner Communications, Nonesuch Records

Cover, Record

Back, Record

Sumner (1980)

1. Radioland 4:22
2. Dynamite 2:46
3. Wishes 3:28
4. Hot Night 7:28 /
5. No Time to Stop 3:24
6. Run Cindy Run 3:00
7. It Ain't Up to Me 2:56
8. You Excite Me 4:18
9. More Beer 3:14

Album Rating (1-10): 7.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Sumner Mering - Vox, Guitar (Lauren Wood, Rock Along)
• Larry Treadwell -Guitar, Backing Vox (Thomas Dolby, Lost Toy People, Repairs, J. Eric Freedner, Peter McCann, Lauren Wood, Tom Franzak, Allee Willis - Pee Wee Herman, Pointer Sisters, Ofra Haza, Mona Lisa, Cyndi Lauper, Fiorella Terenzi, Honey Pig, Jeff Larson, David Vidal, Gerry Beckley, America)
• Novi (Ilene) Novog - Keys, Electric Viola (Rebecca & the Sunny Brook Farmers, Nilsson, Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Indigo Girls, Violent Femmes, David Poe, Flat Duo Jets, Cynthia Clawson, Kenny Loggins, Holly McNarland, 10000 Maniacs, 
• Robert Louis DiChiro - Bass (Les Deux Love Orch, America)
• Mark Sanders - Drums (Jah Wobble, Asunder Trio, Atlas, Badlands, Bruise, David Tucker Group, Dean-Trovesi Double Quartet, Deep Whole Trio, Dirty Songs, Elton Dean Quartet, Foils Quartet, Georg Graewe Quintet, Howard Riley, John Law, John Lloyd, London Improvisers Orch, Lunge, Minnow, Nick Stephens, Orch Entrophy, Paul Dunmall Moksha Big Band, PAURA, Predicate, Riverloam Trio, Rope, Santers, SFE, Six-In-One, Speeq, English Roots Band, Kris Wanders, The Number, Trevor Watts, Thomas Borgmann, Trio Nang Naak, ZFP Quartet more)
• Jack Nitzsche - Producer
• Bill Evans - Engineer
• David (Gino) Giorgini - Second Engineer
• Gregory J. Edwards - Prophet Programming
• Wally Traugott - Mastering
• Ron Coro - Art Direction & Design
• Jeffrey Scales - Photos
• Steven Steinberg - Mgmt

Unknown-ness: Never heard of Sumner, but it looks like he's got a full band on the back, so not just a singer/songwriter, but that's what I'd imagine this will be. 

Album Review: Sumner's vocals are slight and struggling. He seem a little pained, either like he's just getting over laryngitis or that the vocals will faint or dissolve away into thin air. Music this is pretty straight forward power pop/new wave. The theatrical Hot Night is unnecessarily 7 1/2 minutes long and is sparce, leaving a lot of room for anticipation and experimentation, and even though it builds slowly to a back alley, street walker rock jam, it really lacks anything exciting to look forward to. The album ending track is fratty in it's overly masculine chanting of the title "More Beer." "Radioland," "It Ain't Up to Me" and "No Time to Stop" (with is two note Simpsons theme sound-alike) are some catchy pop songs. While there are some strong, fun, bouncy bass lines throughout the record, and it definitely rocks at times, as a whole, it feels slight, like the vocals.

While Sumner may not be that popular, his daughter, as Weyes Blood, has become very popular over the past couple of years. Apparently she did not know her father was a touring musician (dated Joni Mitchell apparently) until she was about 6 when they lived in Doylestown. But it sounds like Sumner lived fast on the roller coaster ride that burned out many bands in the late 70s: from talented bar band to major label to one-(or two) album-and-done, then back into obscurity. 

Stand Out Track: No Time to Stop

Links:

Youtube Full Album

Discogs

Allmusic

Bandcamp

Weyes Blood Connection

Sumner Mering Ministries

Live Youtube Set Madame Wong's 5-31-80

Silencers (the) - Rock 'N' Roll Enforcers

Name: The Silencers
Album: Rock 'N' Roll Enforcers
Year: 1980
Style: Power Pop, New Wave
Similar Bands: Cars, A's
"One-Word" Review:Keyboard Heavy Dancy Hard Power Wave
Based Out Of: Pittsburgh, PA
Label: Precision, CBS

Cover, Record, Promo Photo, PR Bio

Back, Record, PR Bio

Rock 'N' Roll Enforcers (1980)

1. Modern Love 3:18 (Single)
2. Head On Collision 3:50 (Single)
3. Remote Control 3:35
4. Illegal 3:45
5. Johnny Too Bad 3:40 (Slickers Cover) /
6. Peter Gunn Theme 2:21 (Henry Mancini cover, Single)
7. Shiver & Shake 3:23 (Single)
8. Take Out Service 3:20
9. Cold Sweat 3:47 (James Brown Cover)
10. I Can't Believe It 3:16

Album Rating (1-10): 9.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Bob Clearmountain - Producer, Recording, Mixing (Bowie, Springsteen, Stones, Pretenders)
• Tom Cossie - Exec. Producer
• James Farber - Asst. Engineer
• Raymond Willhard - Asst. Engineer
• Lucy Laurie - Asst. Engineer
• Jason Corsaro - Asst. Engineer
• Ed Evans - Tech Assistant
• Ira Kemp - Tech Assistant
• Mark Betts - Tech Assistant
• Malcolm Pollack - Tech Assistant
• Gregory Mann - Asst Engineer
• John Palermo - Asst. Engineer
• Walt Seng - Photography
• Frank Czuri - Vox, Piano, (Jaggerz, Diamond Reo, Solid Gold, Skyliners, Igniters, Medallions, Von'Ls, Jimmy Mack & Music Factory, Friends, Hollywood, Laurels, Dancing in the Street, Keith Sparbanie and the Soft Parade, Joey G, IronCity Houserockers Joe Grushecky, Brick Alley Band)
• Warren King - Guitar (Diamond Reo, James King, Usual Suspects, Keith Sparbanie & the Soft Parade, Norman Nardinin & the Tigers, Midnight Creepers, Mystic Knights of the Sea, Noble Thin Man Watts, Joey G, Ernie lancaster, Iron City Houserockers, Floyd Miles & Friends, Chicago Bob Nelson, Screaming Iguanas of Love, Smokehouse, Eric Culberson, Sonny Rhodes, Roy Roberts, Kenny Neal, Junior Markham, Lour Pride, Joe Grushecky, Sharkweek, JJ Burner )
• Ronald "Byrd" Foster - Drummer, Vox, (Roy Buchanan, Bon Ton Roulet, Friends, Iron City Houserockers, Jimmy Mack & the Music Factory, Keith Sparbanie & the Soft Parade, Skin & Bones, Sweet Lightnin', Igniters, Midnight Creepers, Mystic Knights of the Sea, Joey G,  Norman Nardini, Floyd Miles & Friends, Noble Thin Man Watts, Dr Hector & Groove Injectors, Roy Roberts, Chizmo Charles, John Harrison, Joe Grushecky, Skin & Bone, Brick Alley Band, Philip Harris, Screaming Iguanas of Love, Ace Moreland, Smokehouse, Chicago Bob Nelson, Eric Culberson, Sonny Rhodes, Lou Pride, Barry Rapp, Galloway & Kelliher)
  
• Dennis Takos - Keys, Vox 
• Michael Pella - Bass, Vox (BE Taylor Band)
• Cathi Capiola - Writer 

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but from the looks of the cover band photo, and the artwork, and a cohesive theme of spys and espionage, with full members as operatives rap sheet included as a promo insert. Their mission is to "preserve rock 'n' roll," but i chalk them up to just another power/pub pop band.

Album Review: Hailing from Pittsburgh, this five piece band plays new wave power pop with a bit of a harder rock edge. Typical bouncy new wave + heavy on the keys makes this band a very catchy pop outfit with the undercover cold war espionage/enforcer theme, perhaps exemplified in their honorary cover of the private eye Peter Gunn theme. They had a record deal before they even played a show, thanks to contacts gained from Czuri and King's prior bands. They were right in time for the MTV age, and had a music video (medley of Peter Gunn, Remote Control, Illegal, directed by fellow Pittsburgh native, George Romero) run on the initial 1981 broadcast at spot #40. While Takos, Foster and King have all passed away from cancer, Czuri has performed with a variation of the band as recent as 2019.

Stand Out Track: Illegal, Head-On Collision

Links:
Czuri Wiki

Discogs

Allmusic

Pitts Music History

Facebook

Post Gazette

2019 HRC Pitts show review

Czuri website

Pitts Music Takos Obit

What Frank's Listening To

2005 Herald Standard

Pitts Music Story Fat City lounge

Rate your Music

Youtube MTV played medley

Sherbs - The Skill

Name: Sherbs
Album: The Skill
Year: 1980
Style: Power Pop
Similar Bands: Journey, Genesis, New Musik
"One-Word" Review: Smooth, Slightly Eccentric Pop
Based Out Of: Sydney, Australia
Label: ATCO, Atlantic, Warner Communications Company

Cover, Record

Back, Record

The Skill (1980)

1. I Have The Skill 3:46 (single)
2. Back to Zero 3:22
3. Cindy is Waiting 4:16
4. Crazy in the Night 3:50 (single)
5. I'll Be Faster 3:43
6. Never Surrender 3:47 (single) /
7. No Turning Back 5:30 (single b-side)
8. Love You to Death 4:08
9. Into the Heat 3:14
10. I'm O.K. 3:31 (single)
11. Juliet and Me 4:16 (single)
12. Parallel Bars 4:08

Album Rating (1-10): 7.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Garth Porter - Keys (Samael Lilith, Toby Jugg, Sherbet, Highway, Melanie Horsnell, Craig McLachlan, James Blundell, Colin Buchanan, Lee Kernaghan, Doc Neeson's Angels,  Jay Denham, Sinead Burgess)
• Tony Mitchell - Bass (Blackfeather, Sherbet, Highway, harry Young & Sabbath, Wheelbarrow, Rick Wakeman, Streets, Barry Andrews, Hepworth Band, Stewart D'Arrietta, Martin Erdman, John Waters)
• Daryl Braithwaite - Vox (Bright Lights, House of Bricks, Samael Lilith, Sherbet, Highway, Australian Olympians, Company of Strangers, Sony Music All Stars, Margaret Ulrich, James Reyne, Lisa Edwards)
• Harvey James - Guitar (Mississippi, Ariel, Sherbet, Highway, Party Boys, Richard Clapton, )
• Alan Sandow - Drums (Daisy Roots, Sherbet, Highway, Flash & the Pan, Dave Miller, )
• Richard Lush - Producer, Engineer
• Alan Ewart - Cover
• David Cafe - Engineer
• Neil Rawle - Engineer
• Warren Barnett - Lacquer Cut
• Roger Davies - Mgmt
• George Marino - Mastering

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band. No real tells with the artwork, name or title, but it kinda reminds me of the bland early 80's style that many soft rock / power pop bands went for. Its interesting though that they have a lot of sports themes - specifically gymnastics on the cover and some song titles, with the "plot twist" that the red ball is oozing paint on the back.

Album Review: They were also know as Sherbet (1969-1979) and Highway, and were a huge Australian band in the 70's with a string of top 20 hits, 10 platinum albums, and were the first Aussie band to reach one million $$$ in domestic sales. They were a Motown/rock cover-band for their first 3 years, transitioning to original clean cut boy band pop rock after. The name Highway was crafted for a harder sound to try & break into the US market, which always eluded them and even failed with the change. They held on, maintaining the name, even in their homeland, but their popularity decline and failure lead to a short break up in 1979, where they reemerged as Shrebs in 1980 with a modified new wave / power pop sound and some slightly quirky effects. The trade off landed them minor success in the US, but eroded any success they previously saw in Australia- or anywhere else for that matter. They reverted back to Sherbet in '84 for a farewell tour, were inducted into the Aussie music HOF in 1990, and have had occasional reunions since 1998, despite the passing of James in 2011 due to lung cancer. 

Stand Out Track: I'm O.K.

Links:
Wiki

Discogs

Allmusic

facebook

Australian music history

Tampa Bay Times 2016

707 - s/t

Name: 707
Album: s/t
Year: 1980
Style: Power Pop, Light Rock
Similar Bands: Hawks, Producers, Shoes, Journey, Styx, Kansas, Nick Gilder, Foreigner, Ben Folds
"One-Word" Review: Piano Heavy Harmonic Pop
Based Out Of: LA, CA & Detroit, MI
Label: Casablanca Record & Filmworks Inc.

Cover & Record

Back & Record

707 (1980)

1. I Could Be Good For You 4:46 (single #52 BB Hot 100)
2. Let Me Live My Life 2:46
3. One Way Highway 4:17
4. Save Me 2:49
5. You Who Needs To Know 4:59 /
6. Slow Down 3:19
7. Feel This Way 3:49
8. Waste of Time 4:51
9. Whole Lot Better 6:37

Album Rating (1-10): 7.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Phil Bryant - Bass, Lead & Backing Vox (Sax Maniacs)
• Jim McClarty - Drums, Percussion 
• Duke McFadden - Keys, Lead & Backign Vox, Acoustic Guitar (Chi Coltrane)
• Kevin Russell - Guitars, Lead & Backing Vox (Brian & the Sensations, Rick Derringer, Clarence Clemons, Whitesnake, Phantom-Rocker&Slick, Kokomo, NYC, Taxxi, Frank Marino, Leslie West, Jimmy Dillon, Ted Nugent, Stu Blank, F Machine Sea Hags, Nils Lofgren, Rod & The Shotgun Blues, Ruminators)
• David Carr - Piano, Arrangements (Simeon, Janine Maunder, Rich Mountain Tower, London, Tim Steen, Judty McComb, Kyle Vincent, Sarah Sarah, Paul Colman, Acetylene, Antiskeptic, Naked Raven, Steph Atkins, Guy Sebastian, Cilla Jane, Solicitors, Joe Cannon)
• Norman Ratner - Producer
• Fred Ruppert - Executive Producer
• Bob Stringer - Engineer, Mixing
• Steve DeGennaro - Production Assistant
• Bess Gilbert - Production Assistant
• Russell Schmitt - Asst. Engineer
• Dan Everhart - Asst. Engineer
• Mike Saunders - Asst Mixing Engineer
• Ed Schreyer - Mastering
• Ross Warren - Album Design & Execution
• Gribbitt - Graphics

Unknown-ness: Never heard of 707. On one hand, they look like a power pop band, but i've also seen where this sort of album design means they are a jazz fusion band. The liner notes on the back do suggest there are three singers, so most likely not a jazz band, and their photographs on the band steer them clear from any sort of new wave act.

Album Review: The band had success with their lead off song from this album, and after two more albums, one recorded in 1981, but never released until 2004, they left their label and recorded their biggest record Megaforce, who's title track was the theme for the film of the same name in 1982. For that album, their new label wanted one single front man, instead of a shared mix of various leading vocalist. McFadden passed away in 2005, and Russell tried to continue in the spirit of 707 with new material which fell apart to the degree he is now just leaving it in the past. The name 707 was considered a catchy name, and was also Russell's birthdate. This record is mostly light power pop, lots of harmonies and piano support that reminds me of Ben Folds at times. 

Stand Out Track: Let Me Live My Life 

Links:

full album spotify
Wiki

Discogs

Allmusic

metal storm

facebook

wikivisually

spirit of metal

oldies .com

website

heavy harmonies

a guitar forum

Q-Tips - s/t

Name: Q-Tips
Album: s/t
Year: 1980
Style: Big Band, Jazzy New Wave, Blue Eyed Soul
Similar Bands: Joe Jackson, Rod Stewart, Jackson Browne, Creedence Clearwater Revival, J Geils Band, Sha-Na-Na
"One-Word" Review: Big Band Oldie Pop Party
Based Out Of: England
Label: Chrysalis, EMI, Warner Bros

Cover, Record

Back, Record

Q-Tips (1980)

1. Some Kinda Wonderful 3:42 (John Ellison cover)
2. Tracks of My Tears 3:25 (Smokey Robinson cover) (Single)
3. Please Don't Stay Home 3:20
4. You Are the Life Inside Me 4:33
5. The In Crowd 3:20 (Dobie Gray / Ramsey Lewis cover)
6. (Now I'm Left With A) Beautiful Memory 3:07 /
7. SYSLJFM (The Letter Song) 2:41 (Joe Tex cover) (Single)
8. A Man Can't Lose (What He Don't Have) 6:07 (Single)
9. Uncle Willy 3:14 (single)
10. Different World 3:36
11. Keep Your Shoes On 3:35

Album Rating (1-10):7.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Bob Sargeant - Producer
• Norman (Dingo Blue) Mighell - Engineer
• Mark Dearnley - Engineer
• Nigel Mills - Assist Engineer
• Nick Rogers - Assist Engineer
• John Gifford - Guitar (Streetband, Dmascus Road, Undermind, Street & Rock, Mary Tomaselli)
• Ged Doherty - Mgmt
• Roz Fleetwood - Q-Tips Info
• Paul Young - Vox (Streetbandm, Kat Kool and the Kool Kats, Band Aid, Los Pacaminos, Squeeze, Johnny Logan, Barbara Dickson, Bobby Womack, Il Novecento, Clannad, Vangelis, Zucchero, SAS Band, Robbie McIntosh Band, Small Faces All Star Charity Band, Chicane, Steve Fowler, Cherokee, Music Relief 94, Sharkweek, Sulo)
• Barry Watts - Drums (Adam Ant, John Foxx)
• Mick Pearl - Bass (Streetband, Faraway Stars, Argus, The Monos!)
• Garth Watt-Roy - Guitar, Backing Vox (The Greatest Show on Earth, East of Eden, Marmalade, Adam Ant, Fuzzy Duck, Ossie Laine, Steamhammer, Living Daylights, Limey, David McWilliams, London Symphony Orch, BA Robertson, Bonnie Tyler, Navah)
• Ian (The Rev) Kew (Kewley)- Keys (Samson, Limey. Strider, Royal Family, Wishbone Ash, Jack Lee, The Alarm, Jacqui Brookes, David Gilmour, Squeeze, Stan Webb's Chicken Shack, Mango, Manic Street Preachers, Johnny Hallyday, Gerry McAvoy, National Flag )
• Tony Hughes - Trumpet (Adam Ant, Stiff Little Fingers, Angelic Upstarts)
• Steve (Fix-It) Farr - Baritone Sax, Backing Vox (Adam Ant, Status Quo, Stiff Little Fingers)
• (Oscar) Stewart Blandamer - Alto Sax, Backing Vox (Adam Ant, Status Quo, Stiff Little Fingers)

Unknown-ness: Never heard of them, but with the bright primary colors, matching outfits, they reminded me of Squeeze or Joe Jackson (not Madness with the similar poses, however) to me when i bought it at an Oxfam charity shop in London, so I'm guessing this will be Catchy New Wave.

Album Review: They have big band character, but often settle for power pop tunes, often reminding me of the little i know of Jackson Brown and sometimes sounding like John Fogerty / CCR. Not much new wave here, except their songs are short swinging pop songs that have a lot of brass, and could be swept into a Joe Jackson camp. I was not aware this is a Paul Young band after his former Streetband. I only know Young was a singer because of his solo album i reviewed a while ago, but he does add a little Blue Eye Soul to the tracks here and there. They were a reportedly very fun and popular live act in the early 80s. At the very least, Paul Young is still actively playing out live (2020). This record was reissued in 2013 with live & bonus tracks. 

Stand Out Track: Please Don't Stay At Home (live version)

Links:

Spotify full album
Wiki

Discogs

Allmusic

paul young website

the second disc

rate your music

dervswerve

Klaus Winningers Beat

steve hoffman forums

whizzband 1698

celeb access on tour

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

Links:

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Pollstar: Utopia return (without Powell)

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Expose

Hazel O'Connor - Sons and Lovers

Name: Hazel O'Connor
Album: Sons and Lovers
Year: 1980
Style: New Wave,
Similar Bands: Blondie, Long Blondes, Waitresses, Toyah
"One-Word" Review: Celtic Moon Bounce Punk
Based Out Of: Coventry England
Label: A&M records

Cover, Record

Record, Back

Sons and Lovers (1980)

1. D-Days 3:10 (single)
2. Waiting 2:35
3. Who Will Care 3:19
4. Zoo 4:33
5. Gigolo 2:44
6. Do What You Do 4:37 /
7. Sons and Lovers 4:38
8. Glass Houses 3:19
9. Ain't It Funny 3:58
10. Danny Boy 2:30
11. Bye Bye 3:18
12. Time (Ain't On Our Side) 3:19

Album Rating (1-10): 8.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Hazel O'Connor - Writer, Vox, (Ferry Aid, Megahype, Anti-Heroine Project, Stranglers, Eberhard Schoener, GOSH, KFT, Billy Currie, Andy Bell)
• Nigel Gray - Producer
• Ed Case - Drums (999, Eternal Triangle, JC Mainmen)
• Wesley Magoogan - Sax (Phil Cordell, Lambrettas, English Beat, Anti-Nowhere League, Joan Armatrading, Ward Brothers, Crazy House, Russ Abbot, Magnum, Gina G)
• Andy Qunta - Keys (Factory, Icehouse, Manfred mann's Earth Band, Stallion, Chris Thompson) 
• Wild Oscar - Bass 
• Neil O'Connor - Guitar (The Flys, Die Toten Hosen, Whereabouts, Papillon, Adam Bomb, Ginger Snaps)
• Garry Tibbs - Bass (Adam & the Ants, Code Blue, Louie Louie, Merrick & Tibbs, Roxy Music, Vibrators, Zu Zu Sharks, Believers, Kirsty MacColl, William Sheller, Mickey Jupp, Anthony More, Corey Hart, Brian May, Aztec Camera, Let Loose, The Fixx, Amanda Kramer)
• Edward Bell - Sleeve
• Modern Mgmt - Direction

Unknown-ness: Never heard of Hazel O'Connor, but it could be great, or really bad...unsure based on the artwork. Good year, but A&M had a wide variety of bands on their bill, so not a giveaway. She's a little reminiscent of Annie Lennox, so i'm going with that as my best guess.

Album Review: Half the album is really fun and full of a bouncy energy. Those songs straddles the edge of Punk and new wave, eccentric musically, but a fast, driving punk pace. Blondie is a great comparison. But the sax almost gives her an X-Ray Spex feel at times, and falls into a Celtic groove on occasion, too (inluding her own arrangement of the traditional "Danny Boy"). The other half of the album feels a bit more theatrical; slow and pronounced, allowing her to tell a story. Her big break came as an actress before her albums, in a film and accompanying album Breaking Glass, an award winning film from 1980. Opening band on tour with her to promote the soundtrack/album was an unknown Duran Duran. She's been a fixture in the UK music scene, as well as acting in theater and television, still performing to this day (2020). Her brother, playing guitar on this album, was also in the punk scene in the late 70's, early 80's

Stand Out Track: Gigolo, D-Days

Links:

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2021 tour date: Guildhall Arts Center

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