Supernova - Ages 3 and Up

Name: Supernova
Album: Ages 3 and Up
Year: 1995
Style: Punk
Similar Bands: Ramones, Dead Milkmen, Devo, Sleater-Kinney, Buzzcocks, The Presidents of the USA, Aquabats, Tom Verlaine, Man or Astro-Man?
"One-Word" Review: Wacky, Silly Punk
Based Out Of: Costa Mesa, CA
Label: Amphetamine Reptile Records, Atlantic

Cover & Back

Liner Notes, CD Back, CD

Ages 3 & Up (1995)

1. Vitamins 2:07 (single)
2. Oreo 1:35
3. Harry Gato 2:18
4. Up & Down 2:16
5. Mechanical 3:01
6. Gum Fighter 2:15 (single B-Side)
7. Wabbit 1:58
8. Invasion 2:14
9. Best Coast 2:09
10. Drool 1:14
11. Hippy 0:12
12. Sea Stunt 1:54
13. Daredevil 3:04
14. Math 2:18
15. Mentos 0:31
16. Boo! 2:16
17. Our Way 0:49
18. Electric Man 3:21 (single)
19. Supersong 3:00
20. Close Encounters 1:04

Album Rating (1-10): 9.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Art (Mitchell) - Bass (Gum Fighters)
• Dave (Collins) - Drums (Gum Fighters)
• Jo(dey Lawrence) - Guitar
• Tiim Mac - Producer, Recording
• Andrea Collins - Toy Piano
• Tim Connolly - Affirmations, Synth, Backups (Delicious Mind Garden)
• Haze XXL - Design
• Corrigan - Photos

Unknown-ness: Picked this up because it looked wacky. Like Presidents of the US- but in space wacky. Like somewhere between Dead Milkmen and They Might Be Giants wacky. Like so energetic you think it's cocaine, but it's really just too much Tang and Pixy Stix wacky. They are van-traveling-in-space, 20 tracks with 3 under a minute,  and weird haircut in space suits, which is wacky. The promo sticker on the front doesn't promote any "single," but instead, apologizes for language used in a 12 second song called "Hippy." 

Album Review: Right off the bat, the song Vitamins speeds through with some fuzzy, rockabilly punk guitars and sarcastic propaganda. The general sound is speedy punk with some juvenile imagery and silly lyrics. "Harry Gato" oddly sounds like Sleater-Kinney. "Mechanical" sounds like Tom Verlaine on acid. Live, the band tends to employ a sci-fi / space theme, with astronaut suits, like a punk version of surf rock Man or Astro-man? In fact, their original singer/guitarist (Hayden Thais) left Supernova right before this album was made to join Man or Astro-man? Their origin story is also similar: aliens from Cynot 3 who escaped a supernova that engulfed their planet. They landed in So-Cal and ask for folks to come to their shows bearing tin foil...not too far from what Man or Astro-Man or Peelander Z did for that matter.

Their song Up & Down, which sounds like any a solid, jittery/nervous early 80's new wave song, was performed on Yo Gabba Gabba in 2007, and their song from the previous album, Chewbacca (Chewy/What A Wookiee), was on the Clerks Soundtrack. Even though this was their first full length for a major label, they had previous released a bunch of singles (grouped together in the early years comp Pop as a Weapon in 2001). This record helped get them on the initial Vans Warped Tour in 1995. They enacted legal trouble for CBS in 2006, where the network produced a show called Rock Star, where contestants battled to become lead singer of a band, they called Supernova. The show knew of the other band's existence but ignored them and stole the name anyway. In the end, the original Supernova won, and the tv band was renamed Rock Star Supernova.

Stand Out Track: Up & Down

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Gaylor, Bobby - Fuzzatonic Scream

Name: Bobby Gaylor
Album: Fuzzatonic Scream
Year: 2000
Style: Spoken Word, Stories
Similar Bands: Jim Carroll, Dennis Leary
"One-Word" Review: Wankery Stories set to acoustic jazz
Based Out Of: Boston, MA
Label: Atlantic, WEA,

Cover, Lyrics, Back, CD Tray

Liner Notes, Pics, CD, CD back

Fuzzatonic Scream (2000)

1. Suicide - 6:27 (single)
2. One Moment 4:17
3. Hit a Guy With My Car 5:52
4. Smelt 4:03
5. Tommy the Frog Killer 8:08
6. Animals 5:48
7. Out the Window 6:06
8. Masturbation 4:20
9. Business End of a Gun 9:19
10. Suicide (Non-Explicit Version) 5:21

Album Rating (1-10): 2.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Bobby Gaylor - Words & Music
• Marc Bonilla - Producer, Arrangement, Music, Instruments (California Transit Authority, Keith Emerson Band, John Debney, Kevin Gilbert, Thomas Lang, Eddie Jobson, James Newton Howard, 3rd Matinee, Glenn Hughes, Masahiro Andoh, Lyden Moon, Eric Westphal, Jordan Rudess, Steve Porcaro)
• Don C Tyler - Mastering
• Michael Scott - Music, Instruments (Jeff Scott Soto, Koobaatoo Asparagus / Oasis of the Zombies)
• Bob Birch - Bass
• Joii Goodman - Backing Vox
• Nick Casinelli - A&R
• Doug Buttleman - Mgmt
• Elliot Groffman - Legal
• Jeff Newton - Production Manager
• Richard Bates - Art Direction
• Martin Ogolter - Art Direction & Design
• Gregg Roth - Cover Photo
• Michael Tweed - Photos
• Christian Staehr - Photos

Unknown-ness: I've never heard of this artist, but the photos make him look like an aging hipster, possibly an old punk frontman going out solo. Kind of an Elvis Costello vibe if he were trying to start a career in the 00's. The goatee screams some sort of previous life in rockabilly or ska.

Album Review: This is a bunch of self-wankery stories that the listener may or may not be able to associate with. Not poetry, more story slam songs with a noticeable Boston accent. The music accompanying the songs is a little jazzy maybe, but mostly generic acoustic Dave Matthews-y. Suicide is in poor taste, as half the monologue is about taking your life, and the other is about what you'd miss. And I had to skip past Tommy the Frog Killer...but i can guess where it was going.

Gaylor is an all-around media arts guy, including actor and stand up who moved from Boston to LA for his writing gig for the TV show Rosanne. He also voiced Buford van Stomm & wrote for Disney Channel's Phineas & Ferb. 

Stand Out Track: 

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Brides of Funkenstein - Funk or Walk

Name: The Brides of Funkenstein
Album: Funk or Walk
Year: 1978
Style: Disco, Funk
Similar Bands: Disco Boogie, Parliament Funkadelic, Bootsy's Rubber Band, Sly Stone, Parlet
"One-Word" Review: Big Band Mellow Funk
Based Out Of: Detroit, MI
Label: Atlantic Records, Warner Communication

Cover, Record

Record, Back

Funk or Walk (1978)

1. Disco to Go 5:03 (single: gold in US, platinum in Europe/Asia)
2. War Ship Touchante 5:27 (single b-side)
3. Nappy 4:29
4. Birdie 5:39 /
5. Just Like You 9:17
6. When You're Gone 5:19 (single b-side)
7. Amorous 4:54 (single)

Album Rating (1-10): 5.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Lynn Mabry - Vox (Sly Stone, P-Funk, Eddie Hazel, Talking Heads, Fred Wesley & Horny Horns, Junie, George Michael, Elton John, Aaron Neville, Mick Jagger, Shelia E, Eric Clapton, Steve Perry, Hozier, Killers, more)
• Dawn Silva - Vox (Sly Stone, P-Funk, Eddie Hazel, New Wave Brides, Gap Band, Ice Cube, Fred Wesley & Horny Horns, Sweat Band, General Caine, Yarbrough & Peoples, WC and the Maad Circle, Slapbak, Bootsy Collins, Caine, Shorty, )
• George Clinton - Producer, Writer, 
• Williams Collins - Producer, Bass, Drums (Bonzo Goes to DC, Bootsy Phelps & Gary, The Complete Strangers, Bootsy's Rubber Band, Flo, Funkadelic, Hardware, House Guest Rated X, Malcolm McLaren, P-Funk Allstars, Parliament, Praxis, Science Fiction, Groovegrass Boys, JB's, World-Wide Funkdrive, Deee-Lite more)
• Phelps Collins - Guitar (Bootsy Phelps & Gary, Complete Strangers, Bootsy's Rubber Band,  Houseguests, The JB's, Funkadelic, Parliament, Fred Westley & Horny Horns, Bernie Worrell, Parlet, James Brown, George Clinton, Brian Culbertson)
• Gary Shider - Guitar (Drugs, Flo, Funkadelic, Incorporated Thang Band, Legz, P-Funk All Stars, Parliament, The Put Yo Body Where Yo' Mouf Iz Choir, U.S., Bernie Worrell, Sweat Band, Bohannon, Bootsy Collins, George Clinton, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Boogie Boys, Prince, Material, Digital Underground, Too $hort, Black Crows, Parlet, many)
• Michael Hampton - Guitar (Funkadelic, Kiddo, Material, No Self Control and the Band, P-Funk Allstars, Parliament, Slave Master, Spaceship Earth, Michael Hampton, Bootsy's Rubber Band, Fred Wesley & Horny Horns, Eddie Hazel, Fuzzy Haskins, Parlet, Bernie Worrell, Sly & Robbie, Golden Palominos, Afrika Bambaataa, Deee-Lite, Digital Underground, Too Short, Meshell Ndegrocello, Dean Ween Group, more)
• Bernard Worrell - Keys, String & Horn Arrangement (Activities of Dust, Baby Elephant, Bahia Black, Black Jack Johnson, Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains, Flo, Fool Proof, Funkadelic, Jack Bruce, Cuicoland Express, Jerry Harrison, Khu.eex, Material, Method of Defiance, Niels & NY St Percussionists, Parliament, Praxis, SociaLybrium, Space Cadets, Spacer, Third Rail, WesNWorrell, Open Operatives, Fred Wesley, Horny Horns, Talking Heads, Fred Schneider, Bootsy Collins, Ruth Copeland, Parlet, O'Jays, Lou Rawls, Stephanie Mills, Nona Hendryx, Rita Coolidge, Gil Scott-Heron, Mtume, Black Uhuru, Yoko Ono, Golden Palominos, Sly & Robbie, Matthew Sweet, Public Image Ltd, Pretenders, Afrika Bambaataa, Victoria Williams, Little Steven, Face to Face, Woodentops, Drivin' N Cryin, Keith Richards, Syd Straw, Throwing Muses, Maceo Parker, Soul Asylum, Deee-Lite, Color Me Badd, Mike Watt, Arlo Lindsay, Jah Wobble, Cibo Matto, Spin Doctors, Big Head Todd & Monsters, Herb Alpert, Bijou Phillips, Gov't Mule, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Simply Red, Mos Def, OAR, Buddy Guy, Burning Spear, Keith Richards,Lee Scratch Perry, more)
• Joel Johnson - Keys (Bootsy's Rubber Band, Madhouse, Sweat Band, The Put Yo Body Where Yo' Mouf Iz Choir, Parliament, Maceo Parker, Bootsy Collins, Octavepussy, Fred Wesley & the Horny Horns, Super Sonic Sid, Boy Meets Girl, Parlet, Dodge, Kohndo, Cody ChesnuTT, Freekbass)
• Rodney "Skeet" Curtis - Bass (Parliament, Funkadelic, P-Funk All Stars, Bernie Worrell, Parlet, Fred Wesley & Horny Horns, Philippe Wynne, Mutiny, Gerry Cott, George Clinton, Dolby's Cube, Thomas Dolby, Richie Rich, Maceo Parker, Da Campaign, Corey Parker, Dennis Chambers, Martha High, Ishan Cooper, Susanne Alt)
• Gary Cooper - Drums  (Parliament, Funkadelic, P-Funk All Stars, Bernie Worrell, Parlet, Fred Wesley & Horny Horns, Bootsy's Rubber Band, Madhouse, The Put Yo Body Where Yo' Mouf Iz Choir, Da Universal Playaz, Matrieal, Shining Path, Sly Fox, Eddie Hazel, Mtume, George Clinton, Empyre, Sly & Robbie, Bernie Worrell, Deee-Lite, Digital Underground, Black Crows, Jimmy Cliff, Mick Jagger, Anastacia, more)
• Frankie "Kosh" Waddy - Drums (400 Years of What, Parliament, Funkadelic, Bootsy's Rubber Band, Houseguests, JB's, Fred Wesley & Horny Horns, Parlet, Stealin' Horses, George Clinton)
• Tyrone Lampkin - Drums (Parliament, Funkadelic, Flo, Space Cadets, Bernie Worrell, Fred Wesley & Horny Horns, Philippe Wynne, Busta Jones, Parlet, Jesse Rae)
• Larry Fratangelo - Percussion (Parliament, Funkadelic, Albert King, Solid Solution, Bobby Womack, David Ruffin, Dramatics, Bootsy's Rubber Band, Philippe Wynne, Parlet, Alicia Myers, Jerry Carr, Was (Not Was), LJ Reynolds, Sweat Pea Atkinson, Shotgun, Josep LoDuca, Wendell Harrison, Pharaoh, Eramus Hall, Floy Joy, One Way, Mitch Ryder, Jimmy G & Tackheads, Lyman Woodard, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dennis Coffey, RJ's Latest Arrival, Anita Baker, Helen Terry, Detroit Energy Asylum, Minister Thomas A Whitfield, Bert Robinson, Al Hudson, Earl Klugh, Eric Leeds, Aretha Franklin, Higher, AWOL, Dave Stewart, Ronnie McNeir, Alto Reed, Hip Bop Essence Allstars, Bob James, Dan Hall, John Arnold, Amp Fiddler, Kid Rock, Randolph. Mark Moultrup, Blackfoot)
• Wayman Reed - Horns (Count Baise, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Butch Miles, James Brown, George benson, Frank Foster, Eddie Jefferson, Oliver Nelson, Art Webb, Harold Vick, Pee Wee Ellis, Charlie Rouse, John Gordon, Milt Kackson, Sarah Vaughan, BB King, Hank Crawford, Al Grey, Bobby Byrd, Buddy Rich, Marva Whitney)
• Pete Minger - Horns (Count Baise, Frank Wess, Mel Torme, HIlton Ruiz, Al Grey, Oliver Nelson, Milt Jackson, Cleveland Eaton, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Reed, University of Miami Concert Jazz, Joe Turner, Athenas, Turk Mauro, Keter Betts, Oscar Peterson, Alice Day)
• Danny Turner - Horns (Chris Powell, Five Blue Flames, Count Baise, Doc bagby, Jimmy McGriff, Bobby Cook, Milt Buckner, Jack McDuff, Pat Martino, Jimmy Witherspoon, Voices Four, Shirley Scott, Bohannon, Milt Jackson, Caroline Crawford, Cleveland Eaton, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Manhattan Transfer, Caterina Valente, Viktor Lazlo, Diane Schuur, Thad Jones, George Benson, Joe Williams, Lena Horne, Four Tops, Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Lucky Thompson, Hans Mantel, Gladys Knight & Pips, 
• Detroit Symphony - Strings
• Ron Banks - Backing Vox (The Dramatics, Browns All-Star Band, Bobby Lyle, Wayne Henderson, The Dells, WC)
• Larry Demps - Backing Vox (The Dramatics, Ron Banks, Dells)
• Dave Van De Pitte - String Arrangement
• Fred Wesley - Horn Arrangement
• Jim Vitti - Mixing & Recording Engineer
• Mike Iacopelli  - Recording Engineer
• Jerry Estes - Recording Engineer
• Allen Zentz - Mastering
• In Search of the Miraculous - Cover Concept, Design, Illustrations

Unknown-ness: Never heard of the Brides of Funkenstein, but this is one album that's pretty clear what's going to be played: Disco Funk. George Clinton (& Parliament Funkadelic), Bootsy Collins (& Bootsy's Rubber Band) and Bernie Worrell have their name all over the writing and performing of this record. Between this and the Disco Boogie cover, it seems like there was a Sci-Fi niche in the funk boogie & disco category, most likely, boosted by Star Wars popularity.

Album Review: The music on the first couple tracks is definitely funk, with driving percussion, and bouncy bass, but they don't dive head first into disco. "War Ship Touchante" takes on the space/sci-fi genre with aliens boarding a ship...to have a dance party. "Nappy" is a smooth, slower groove, but not without life: definitely a showtune. "Just Like You" slows it down and dims the lights. 

The duo started as background singers for Sly Stone and progressed to Parliament Funkadelic, and the name comes from George Clinton himself, as an extension of his album Clones of Dr. Funkenstein. The band won awards as best new act, their second album was rated as a top 50 coolest albums by Rolling Stone, and they had a hall of fame list of funk musicians in support and production but they never received the acclaim that they seemed to be destined for. Mabry was in The Talking Heads as of 1984, and Silva worked with Ice Cube.

Stand Out Track: Disco to Go

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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

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Loz Netto - s/t

Name: Loz Netto
Album: s/t
Year: 1986
Style: Synth Pop/Rock
Similar Bands: Taco, David Bowie, ABC, Thomas Dolby, INXS
"One-Word" Review: Overproduced smooth synthetic back alley
Based Out Of: Brighton / Coventry UK
Label: Atlantic, Warner

Cover, Record

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Loz Netto (1986)

1. Walking in the Dark 4:15 (single)
2. We Touch 4:45 (Single, on Miami Vice)
3. Dance to the Music 5:05 (single)
4. No Reaction 3:22
5. Silent Movie 4:48 /
6. Fat City 3:13
7. Do What You Want 5:27
8. One Night Out 3:46
9. Substitute 3:58

Album Rating (1-10): 6.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Loz Netto - Vox, B. Box, Guitar (Moon, Sniff N' The Tears, Los Pacaminos, Tasmin Archer, Sharpeez, Ben E King, Thomas Dolby, Lene Lovich, Paul Young, Eye Talk, Brian Copsey & the Commotions, )
• Tessa Niles - B. Vox (George's Band, OPbsession, Sharpe & Niles, Strictly Unreasonable Zang Tuum Tum Big Beat Colossus, ABC, Morrissey Mullen, Tik & Tok, Caroline Munro, Higsons, Gary Numan, Flesh For Lulu, Tina Turner, Shakin' Stevens, Bowie & Jagger, Grace Jones, Explorers, Gloria Gaynor, The The, Everything But the Girl, Eric Clapton, Paul Hardcastle, Duran Duran, Berlin, Julian Cope, Cabaret Voltaire, Marillion, Pet Shop Boys, Escape Club, Steve Winwood, Sad Cafe, Spandau Ballet, Tears for Fears, Liza Minnelli, Rolling Stones, Dusty Springfield more)
• Steve Butler - B. Vox (Kartoon, Russ Abbot, Martyn Lacey, Party Boppers, Silver Screen Orch, The Law, Wendy James, London Theater Orch, Newton. High Jinx, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Don Estelle, Enlightenment, russell Watson, kevin Kennedy, Nigel Stonier, Barclay James Harvest, Thea Gilmore, Keith Hopwood, Malcolm Rowe)
• Paul Young - B. Vox (Gyro, Mike & the Mechanics, Sad Cafe, Measles, Toggery (5), Young Bros, Young & Renshaw, Roger Cook, Mandalaband, Union, Sir John Betjeman, SAS band, Streetband)
• Ian Wilson - B. Vox (Barclay James Harvest, Greasy Bear, Gyro, Mandalaband, Sad Cafe, Ramones, Kartoon, Sign System, Jon Astley, Martyn Lacey, The Law, Chippendales, Wendy James, Deborah Harry, Newton, Don Estelle, Kevin Kennedy, House of Saints, Keith Hopwood, Malcolm Rowe, Oleta Adams, Bunk Dogger, Paul Young, Casey Abrams, Johann Sebastian Bach, Joanna Eden)
• Richie Close - Keys (Annette, Both Hands Free, Frequency 9, Masters of Acid, T-Coy, Mainstream, Mike Harding, Maddy prior. Mandalaband, Heebeegeebees, Corey Hart, Allan Taylor, Camel, Tracey Carmen, Kartoon, Hombres G, Michael Chapman, Icicle Works, Jon Astley, Marilyn Martin, Jim Capaldi, Shadowland, Texido, ABC, Roger Spencer, Houghton Weavers, Danza Invisible, M People, Big Country, Thomas Lang, Barclay James Harvest, Keith Hopwood, Malcolm Rowe, 2AM, David Alexander)
• Jon Carin - Keys (Industry, Fishermen, Pink Floyd, Pete Towsend, David Gilmour, Bryan Ferry, Corey Hart, Psychedelic Furs, Escape Club, Dream Academy, Roger Daltry, Live, Love Spit Love, Soul Asylum, Gipsy Kings, NWO, Who, Richard Butler more)
• Phil Palmer - Guitar (Bob Geldof & Vegetarians of Love, Dragonfly, K Wallis B and the Dark Shades of Night, Legacy, Spin 1ne 2wo, Symphnoica Band, Bliss Band, House Band, Troll, Dire Straits, David Gilmour, Chris de Burgh, Shakin' Stevens, Joan Armatrading, Frank Zappa, Ian Matthews, Joe Egan, David Essex, Sheena Easton, Tears for Fears, Murray Head, Scott Walker, Toyah, Howard Jones, Alphaville, Swing Out Sister, Sam brown, Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, George Michael, Dusty Springfield, Celine Dion, Tasmin Archer, Pete Townshend, Katy Sagal, Milla, Take That, Bryan Adams, Robbie Williams  more)
• Mike Hehir - Guitar (Barclay James Harvest, Sad Cafe, Sneaky Pierre, Corey Hart, Jon Astley, Greenway, Jim Capaldi, The Law, Marie Claire, Deborah Harry, Alan Simon, Paul Young)
• Ashley Mulford - Guitar, Producer (Champion, Mandalaband, Sad Cafe, Chilliwack, Therapy, Tim Hart, Mark Haines, Candi, Michael Learns to Rock, Tears For Jeanie, Jascha Richter, Paul Young, Riversea, Last Knight)
• Dave Irving - Drums Overdubs (Dianno, Eddie Cave & the Fyx, Sad Cafe, Supercharge, Paul Young)
• Jon Astley - Fairlight, Producer (Virginia Astley, Corey Hart, Tori Amos, Heavy Metal Kids, Gary Shearston, Sandy mcLelland & the Backline, Sad Cafe, The Law, Deborah Harry, Wendy James, The Who,  more)
• Steve Piggot - Keys (10cc, Living In A Box, Dogs D'Amour. Jon Astley, Ian Thomas, Brother Beyond, Escape Club, Gary Moore, Sad Cafe, Mark V, Vicki Morgan, Celine Dion, The Law, Mike & the Mechanics, Phillip Boa & the Voodooclub, Mikel Erentxun, Cliff Richard, Deborah Harry. Mitch Malloy, Jaki Graham, Sheena Easton, Zazie, Edyta Gorniak, Julien Clerc, Gipsy Kings, Joe Cocker, Jennifer Rush, Loreena McKennitt, Russell Watson, Preacher Boy, Rod Stewart, Barclay James Harvest, Kevin Kennedy, Dzal Martin, Nazareth, Keith Hopwood, Malcolm Rowe)
• Snake Davis - Sax (James Brown, Smokey Robinson, Chaka Khan, Eutythmics, Massive Attack, M People, B*Witched, Lisa Stansfield, Blue Shoes, Was (not Was), Sad Cafe, Swing Out Sister, Paul McCartney, Dusty Springfield, Shirley Bassey, OMD, Robert Palmer, Soul II Soul, Dionne Warwick, Pet Shop Boys, Denise Williams, Tina Turner, George Michael, Spice Girls, Paul Hardcastle more)
• Andy "Heavy" Macpherson - Producer, Recording, Guitar
• Phil Chapman - Asst Producer
• Michael Hoppen - Photos, Concept
• C-More Tone Studios - Graphics, Design
• Bob Defrin - Art Direction
• Robert Raymond - Mgmt

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this artist. And i'm not sure what to make of the prediction. From the name Loz and the dude on the motorcycle i presume is Netto, i first thought this may have a Hispanic / Latin influence. The year makes it hard to deduce what will be on it...86 was a year without one popular guessable style.  

Album Review: The album sounds like there is not one real instrument on it, which was popular at the time. So it is pretty smooth in production, and the vocal style is smooth as well and relaxed, and a little Bowie + Michael Hutchence-like. Fat City shares a very similar intro as Prince's 1999.

Loz was a nickname acquired back in elementary school growing up in the UK by Netto. He grew up in a variety of bands but first made it big in Sniff N' the Tears until a motorcycle accident put him in a cast and caused his departure. This only led to a recovery time full of songwriting, which in turn, catapulted his solo career. He's produced and created his own studio and recorded with many artists which all links back to his past connections. Still making music today, he never gained notable popularity, especially not in the US.

Stand Out Track: Fat City

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System (the) - The Pleasure Seekers

Name: The System
Album: The Pleasure Seekers
Year: 1985
Style: Synth, R&B, 
Similar Bands: Stevie B, Color Me Badd, Nu Shooz, Scritti Politti, Generationals, Billy Ocean
"One-Word" Review:80's synth pop club floor scene
Based Out Of: NYC
Label: Mirage, Atlantic, Warner

Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Sleeve, Record

The Pleasure Seekers (1985)

1. The Pleasure Seekers 4:39 (single)
2. It Takes 2 4:12
3. Big City Beat 3:25
4. Love Won't Wait For Lovin' 4:47 /
5. This is For You 4:57 (single)
6. My Radio Rocks 3:43
7. Did In By A Friend 3:11
8. I Don't Run From Danger 4:45

Album Rating (1-10): 6.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Mic Murphy - Vox, Produced, Wrote, Arranged (Kleeer, Flowchart, Sass, Howard Johnson, Lenny White, Chaka Khan, Howard Jones, Nona Hendryx, Natural Selection, Tom Jones, Mtume, more)
• David Frank - Keys, Produced, Wrote, Arranged (Kleeer, Orch on the Half Shell, Linear, Carole Davis, Rick James, Mtume, Robert Palmer, Scritti Politti, Chaka Khan, Phil Collins, Steve Winwood, Billy Squire, Billy Idol, Nona Hendryx, Aztec Camera, Ashford & Simpson, Phoebe Snow, Natalie Cole, Sheena Easton, Vanessa Williams, Marc Anthony, Eric Clapton, Michael McDonald, Katy Sagal, Dionne Farris, Notorious BIG, 98 degrees, Destiny's Child, Christina Aguilera, Vitamin C, O-Town, Victoria Beckham, S Club, Pussycat Dolls, Jordin Sparks, Brie Larson more)
• Paul Pesco - Guitar (Madonna, Hall & Oates, John Blackwell Project, Dave Weckl, C+C Music Factory, Joan Baez, Chaka Khan, Norma Jean, Michael Bolton, Force MDs, Eddie Murphy, Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa, George Benson, Pointer Sisters, Sheena Easton, Jellybean, Whitney Houston, Steve Winwood, Fat Boys, Gregory Hines, Stephanie Mills, Don Johnson, Cyndi Lauper  more
• Audrey Wheeler - Vox (Unlimited Touch, Blue Moderne, Jellybean, Robin Gibb, Kurtis Blow, Fat Boys, Debbie Harry, Jermaie Stewart, Boogie Boys, Little Steven, Blow Monkeys, Melba Moore, Billy Ocean, Millie Jackson, Donny Osmond, George Benson, Eddie Murphy more)
• Denise Chaplin - Vox
• Jimmy Maelen - Percussion (Roxy Music, Peter Gabriel, James Taylor, Alice Cooper, John Lennon, The Jacksons, Talking Heads, Ambergris, Shobizz, Hollywood Vampires, Latin Dimension, BJ Thomas, more)
• Tom Lord-Alge - Engineer, Mixing
• Chris Lord-Alge - Mixing
• Acar Key - Assistant
• Dennis King - Mastering
• Bob Defrin - Art Direction
• Steve Fraser - Mic's hair
• Roy Volkmann - Photos

Unknown-ness: I have heard of this band; only saw their name on a sleeveless 45, but never heard anything by them. From the cover, it looks like it will have a Fun Boy Three vibe, so even though it is 85- which is apparent by the clothes, I'm going to guess it is on the tail end of new wave, but dancey.

Album Review: The album has a computer-generated 80's radio friendly r&b dance sound...everything sounds synthetic, and the beats have lots of 80's Casio effects processed in. The style has been adopted by some of the current Caribbean-yacht rock synth bands of today, but it also sounds like late 80's Stevie B Miami dance music.

This was basically a duo, hiring session musicians to fill in the rest, but were at the forefront of using synth as the spotlight sound. They gained notoriety for having their music in film & TV, on Miami Vice, Coming to America, Beverly Hills Cop, and they were in Real Genius. They worked with Scritti Politti, Phil Collins and Chaka Khan and their songs were used by musicians like Tupac Shakur and the Notorious BIG. They went back & forth being together and splitting apart as a duo, and have their own recording studio.


Stand Out Track: The Pleasure Seekers

Links:

spotify full album
Wiki

Discogs

Allmusic

Miami Vice Fandom

Rate Your Music

Website

facebook

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

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

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

Other Ones (the) - s/t

Name: The Other Ones
Album: s/t
Year: 1987
Style: Light Rock, Pop
Similar Bands: Sonic the Hedgehog sndtk, Thomas Dolby, Eurogliders, a-ha, Howard Jones, Eurythmics, ABC, Spandau Ballet, Animotion
"One-Word" Review: Overproduced 1-D pop
Based Out Of: Berlin, Germany
Label: Virgin, WEA, Atlantic

Cover, Record

Record, Back

The Other Ones (1987)

1. Holiday 3:32 (single)
2. Stay With Me (It's Not Forever) 3:28
3. We Are What We Are 4:25 (single)
4. Losing It 2:59
5. Moments 5:06 (single b-side) /
6. He's A Man 3:43
7. All That Love 3:15 (single)
8. All Day, All Night 5:07
9. It Makes Me Higher 3:38 (b-side single)
10. Stranger 3:47 (single)

Album Rating (1-10): 7.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Christopher Neil - Producer
• Simon Hurrel - Engineer
• Alf Klimek - Lead Vox (You Pretty Thing, Spliff, Alphaville, Klaus Baumagrt)
• Johnny Klimek - Bass (You Pretty Thing, Reinhold Heil, 030, Babyloon, Clemek, Effective Force, Holy Language, Pale 3, System 01, Nina Hagen Band, Franka Potente, Tykwer, Matador, Alphaville, Sir Simon Rattle)
• Uwe Hoffmann - Drums (Ca Lingo, King Kong, La Loora, Rockin' G & the G-Letters, White Russia, Zebra Zebra, Die Arzte, Silly, Nina Schultz, Wire, Wiglaf Droste & Bela B, Terrorgruppe, the Twins)
• Stephan Gottwald - Keys (Albert & the Heart of Gold, Zebra Zebra, Marian Gold, D Base 5, Spiro, Bobo in White Wooden Houses, Alphaville, 
• Andreas Schwarz-Ruszczynski - Guitar (Alphaville, Marian Gold, You Pretty Thing, Boy George, Trevor Horn, Klaus Schulze, Pet Shop Boys, Steve Lipson, Julian Mendelsen, Jack White, UKW, Albert & The Heart of Gold, Martin de Vries, Atlantic Popes, Andreas Feidbaumer)
• Jayney Klimex - Lead Vox (Alphaville, Marian, Bankstatement, Tony Banks, Tangerine Dream, Paul van Dyk, XII Alfonso, Terranova, You Pretty Thing, System 01, Simon Bonney, Johnny Logan, Atlantic Popes, Anita Lane, Xaver Von Treyer)
• Greg Fulginiti - Mastering
• Mike Schmidt - Cover
• Dieter Eikelpoth - Photos
• Margo Chase - Logo

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band. Their outfits (over-sized jackets with broad shoulders and fluffy mullets) scream mid-80's renaissance/jazz, and i'm getting a Shriekback vibe from the black & white photo. So i imagine this to be some weird overproduced chamber pop music or something.

Album Review: So the album is in fact quite overproduced in an ultra smooth synth way, but the record is very listenable compared to much of this era. It has enough catchy and lively song melodies buried beneath the extraneous guitar solos and synth sounds that don't quite sound like any instrument they are intending to mimic. The band consists of 3 Australian siblings and three German musicians who met after the Aussie family moved to Berlin in search of a European music break. They only have 2 albums and their big hit Holiday reached 29 on the US Billboard hot 100. Internationally, it was 22 in Switzerland, 13 in Austria, 10 in New Zealand and 4 in Germany. Johnny has made a career working in film and tv soundtrack composing, amassing credits for Run Lola Run, Cloud Atlas, Sense8, Deadwood, One Hour Photo, and Land of the Dead.

Stand Out Track: It Makes Me Higher

Links:

Spotify full album
Wiki

Discogs

Allmusic

forever young 80s

tampa bay lost & found

Cosmic Meadows

Midnight Flyer - Rock 'N' Roll Party

Name: Midnight Flyer
Album: Rock 'N' Roll Party
Year: 1981
Style: Hard Rock, Classic Rock
Similar Bands: Sheer Mag, Cold Blood, 10 Wheel Drive, Janis Joplin, ZZ Top, Foghat
"One-Word" Review: If TX Discovered Metal
Based Out Of: UK
Label: Swan Song ATCO, Atlantic

Cover, Record

Record, Back

Label

Rock 'N' Roll Party (1981)

1. Rock 'N' Roll Party 3:50
2. Waiting For You 3:13 / (single)
3. French Kisses 3:59
4. Sweet Loving Woman 3:27
5. Rough Trade 4:01 (Single)

Album Rating (1-10): 6.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Mick Ralphs - Producer (Bad Company, Mott the Hoople)
• Maggie Bell - Vox (Stone the Crows, Kinning Park Ramblers, Locarno, Palais Band, Power, BA Robertson, British Blues Quintet, Chris Farlowe, Manfreds, Hamburg Blues Band, Frankie & Johnny, Jon Lord Blues Project, John Baldry, Deavid Allen, Rod Stewart, Ellis, London Symph Orch, Eric Burdon, Raven Ohtani, Rick Wakeman, Tony Coe, Eddie Hardin, Ronnie Wood, Pete Brown, Dave Kelly, Clem Clempson, Michael Kamen, Eddie Hardin)
• Dave Dowle - Drums (Brian Auger's Oblivion Express, Runner, Streetwalkers, Whitesnake, Francis Monkman, Kevin Lamb, David Coverdale, Adrian Snell, Renaissance, Steve Hyams, Moody Marsden, Annie Haslam, Canterbury Glass, Bernardo Lanzetti)
• Antony Glynne - Guitars (Razar, Roger Chapman, Rick Wakeman, The Divorce, Mike Oldfield, The Fabulos Singlettes, Asia, Soft Cotton County)
• Tony Stevens - Bass (Foghat, Nobody's Business, Savoy Brown, Shortlist, Joe Jammer, Roger Chapman, Julio Finn Blues Band, Jimmy Dawkins, Kazimierz Lux, Tommy soundtrack, Rock Follies, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Julie Covington, Andy Mackay, Billy Nicholls, Dana Gillespie)
• Chris Parren - Keys (Forever Amber, High Society, Hudson-Ford, JJ Jackson's Dilemma, Locust, Rocky Horror Band, Strawbs, Brother Jack McDuff, Albert Hammond, Ray Russell, Wilding / Bonus, Ian Gomm, Jim Capaldi, Andy Mackay, Julie Tzuke, John Mizarolli, Great Dames of RnR, Dave Davies, Zen Attack, George Michael, Jim Diamond, Trevor Walters, Jack-E McAuley, The Monks, Cliff Bennett)
• John Cook - Keys (Kestrel, Mungo jerry, Octopus, Slack Alice, Stars, The Mixed Bag, The Joseph Consortium, Kirby, Stretch, Danny Kirwan, Noel Janus, Kit Hain, Ozzy Ozbourne, Graham Bonnet, Cozy Powell, John Parr, Jackie Lynton, Bernie Marsden, Fay Hallam)
• Peter Grant - Exec Producer (Led Zeppelin Mgr)
• Niall Connoly - Photo

Unknown-ness: Never heard of them. Their name is a quite generic pub rock style name, and their look spans the gamut of hippie, 70's AOR rock, 80's metal facade, and two air plane pilots...maybe the flyer part of their name? This is an EP, with only 5 songs, but i'm going to guess its just female fronted pub rock.

Album Review: The singer has some range to her voice, and on the opening track, it reminds me a lot of Sheer Mag (and it is an obvious borrowed lyrics and melody from ZZ Top's "Tush"). The album blends honky tonk pub with power guitars and a rangefully powerful & slightly raspy vocal. The members in the band were a supergroup of sorts, with members of Whitesnake, Foghat, and Bell at the helm. Both Bell and Stevens were also part of various early Tommy recorded performances.

Stand Out Track: Rock 'N' Roll Party

Links:
Wiki - Maggie Bell

Discogs

Allmusic

classicrock history

hunter-mott

Microdisney - Crooked Mile

Name: Microdisney
Album: Crooked Mile
Year: 1987
Style: Jangle Pop, Light Rock
Similar Bands: XTC, ABC, Loud Family, Aztec Camera
"One-Word" Review: Melodic Overproduced Hookey Pop
Based Out Of: Cork, Ireland
Label: Virgin, Atlantic

Cover, Record

Record, Back

Crooked Mile (1987)

1. Town to Town 3:19 (single)
2. Angels 3:41
3. Our Children 4:33
4. Mrs. Simpson 3:54
5. Hey Hey Sam 4:19
6. Give Me All Your Clothes 4:02 /
7. Armadillo man 3:04
8. Bullwhip Road 3:37
9. And He Descended Into Hell 3:46
10. Rack 4:29
11. Big Sleeping House 3:03
12. People Just Want to Dream 5:17

Album Rating (1-10): 7.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Cathal Coughland - Writer, Lead Vox, Grapefruit Segment Keyboard, Flexatone (Fatima Mansions, Bubonique, North Sea Scrolls, Martin Stephenson, Dave Couse, Francois Ribac, Eva Schwabe, Ruefrex, Christopher Young, Avalanche, Luke Haines, Eileen Gogan & the Instructions)
• Sean O'Hagan - Writer, Guitar, Harmonica, Backing Vox (High Llamas, Stereolab, Damian O'Neill & the Monotones, Turn On, Palace Songs, Laila Amezian, Cornelius, Kev Hopper, Young Fresh Fellows, Minus 5, Bonnie Pink, Heavy Blinkers, Alexander Von Mehren, House of Hiss, Jean-Emmanuel Delux & Friends, House of Love, Edith Frost, Laila Amezian, Piero Umiliani, Schneider TM, Saint Etienne, Aluminum Group, Dondre lerche, Kahimi Karie, Kev Hopper, Pluramon, Oddtoot, Super Furry Animals, the Coral more  )
• Tom Fenner - Drums, Percussion, Backing Vox (High Llamas, Tom Robinson, Fiddlers Dram, Brad is Sex, 
• Steve Pregnant - Bass
• James Compton - Keys, Accordian, Backing Vox (Microgroove, Straight Eight, Railway Children, Marshall & the SHooting Stars, Hank Wangford & Lost Cowboys, Paul Ansell's Number Nine, Imelda may, Shakin' Stevens)
• Lenny Kaye - Producer, Backing Vox (Link Cromwell & the Zoo, Patti Smith Group, Jim Carroll Band, Andy Zwerling, Throwing Muses, Joey Ramone, The Shams, Eugene Chadbourne, more)
• June Miles-Kingston - Harmony Vox (Mo-Dettes, Pride of the Cross, Fun Boy Three, Everything But the Girl, Big Country, Max Eider, Communards, Woodentops, Jimmy Somerville, David Freeman, 
• BJ Cole - Pedal & Lap Steel Guitars (Scott Walker, Marc Bolan, Bjork, Luke Vibert, Cochise, Lushlife, Mike batt, Black Eyed Dogs, Hank Wangford Band, New Hovering Dog More)
• CP Roth - String Arrangement (Blessed Union of Souls, John Giorno Band, Poptarts, Edgar Winter, Rick Derringer, Dead at Birth, Karen Haglof, Regina Richards, Neeva, Nolan Thomas, Suzanne Vega, NKOTB, more)
• Sabah El - Frugalhorns of Allah
• Bill Gill - Engineer, Recording, Virtuoso Tambourine (Railway Children)
• Greg Fulginiti - Mastering
• Mark Boyne - Jam Studios
• Matthew Kay - Representation c/o Farrago MGMT
• Robert Brimson - Sleeve Photos
• Keith Breeden - Sleeve Design

Unknown-ness: I have heard of Microdisney from being a casual fan of the High Llamas & Sean OHagan, but did not know what they sounded like. I only assumed it was similar to the light indie rock with a bit of a grounded, alt-country feel.

Album Review: At first most of the album is sleepy, with smooth & tinny, "fake" mid to late 80's production, and bits of country peppered through out. That is, except for the superior, fun, soulful "Big Sleeping House"; a song i'd love to hear XTC or the Jam cover. But as i listened to it more, the vocals became more enjoyable in a bit of an Andy Partridge way at the same mid-late 80's era. In 2018, after winning the Irish Music Rights Org / NCH Trtailblazing award, they played their self-declared final two shows ever after a 30 year hiatus.

Stand Out Track: Big Sleeping House

Links:
Wiki

Discogs

Allmusic

Guardian

John Peel Wiki

irish Times

tv tropes

stereogum 2018 30yr reunion

trouser press

medium

hotpress

Loudness - Thunder in the East

Name: Loudness
Album: Thunder in the East
Year: 1985
Style: Hair Metal
Similar Bands: Judas Priest, Dio, Iron Maiden, Motley Crue
"One-Word" Review: Hyper Hair Drive
Based Out Of: Japan
Label: ATCO, Atlantic, Warner

Cover, Lyrics, Record

Back, Sleeve, Record

Thunder in the East (1985)

1. Crazy Nights 4:04 (single)
2. Like Hell 3:44
3. Heavy Chains 4:18
4. Get Away 3:55
5. We Could Be Together 4:35 /
6. Run For Your Life 3:48
7. Clockwork Toy 3:55
8. No Way Out 4:01
9. The Lines Are Down 4:57
10. Never Change Your Mind 4:09

Album Rating (1-10): 7.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Minoru Niihara - Vox, Lyrics (Earthshaker, Ded Chaplin, Sly, X.Y.Z.->A, Honjoh Misako, She-Ja, Powergod,Fumihiko Kitsutaka,)
• Akira Takasaki - Music, Guitar (Lazy, JI-ZO, Tuska20, Tusk of Jaguar, Honjoh Misako, Buddha Brand, Tomoko Aran, Mass Mental?, Mari Hamada, JAM Project, Hironbu Kageyama, Animetal The Second, Koshi Inaba, Amorphis, Ayasa )
• Masayoshi Yamashita - Bass (Blood Circus, M.T. Fuji, Akira Takasaki, Honjoh Misako, Paul Raymond Project, Higuchi Project Team, Animetal The Second)
• Munetaka Higuchi - Drums (Lazy, Sly, Blood Circus, Higuchi Project Team, Honjoh Misako, Hamada Mari, Rock'n Roll Standard Club Band, JAM Project, Rica Matsumoto)
• Max Norman - Producer
• Bill Freesh - Engineer
• Ray Leonard - Asst Engineer
• Tosi Nakashita - Mgmt
• Masumi Sasaki - Mgmt
• Danny O'Donovan - Co-Mgmt
• George Azuma - Supervisor
• Mikio Shimizu - Director
• Hiroyuki Munekiyo - Director
• Akira Ohmachi - Guitar Tech
• Masaharu Nakajima - Drum Tech
• Barry Levine - Photography
• Jeff Wilkinson - Art Director
• Paul Cooper - Exec Producer
• Bernie Grundman - Mastering

Unknown-ness: Never heard of Loudness, but it is quite obvious that this is japanese hair metal. No ifs, ands or butts.  The name Loudness is a little too on the nose, i'm not sure if its a parody of metal, if it's like a disclaimer for a culture where metal is not first nature, or it's their best guess at what an American metal band should be named & look like. In any case, they are all in on the look and hair.

Album Review: While the pictures and artwork flaunts their Japanese culture in the western hair metal culture, there is no hint of the band being from Japan when it comes to the music. It is chugging, raging, melodic scream-singing, with the typical power ballad moments added in, where the singer occasionally sounds like Steve Perry. Of course i'm very naive to what was going on in Japan's culture, as Japanese Metal was on the rise in 1981, when Loudness began. This is their fifth album overall, second in English (after re-recording album 4 in English) and reached #74 in US charts. It was the first Japanese heavy metal artist to be signed to an international record deal. But as popularity swayed their musical direction, their next album moved away from metal to a more commercial glam-metal sound, losing them some of their fanbase. Although denied visa/entry for a tour by the awful US president in 2017, they are slated to come back stateside in 2020.

Stand Out Track: Clockwork Toy

Links:

Wiki

Facebook

website

cancelled tour due to trump

spinditty

allmusic

metal archives

Niihara Interview 2018

discogs

antiwar songs

skullznbones

artists worldwide

J.J. Fad - Supersonic the Album

Name: J.J. Fad
Album: Supersonic the Album
Year: 1988
Style: Rap, Hip Hop
Similar Bands: Salt & Pepa, Sugarhill Gang, Neneh Cherry, Queen Latifah
"One-Word" Review: Spittin Non-Threatening Diss Battles
Based Out Of: LA, CA
Label: Ruthless Records, Warner Communications, Atco Records, Atlantic Recording

 Cover, Record

Back, Record

Supersonic the Album (1988)

1. Supersonic 3:53
2. Way Out 2:49
3. Blame it on the Muzick 3:47
4. In the Mix 3:32
5. Eenie Meenie Beats 2:55 /
6. My Dope Intro 3:38
7. Let's Get Hyped 3:41
8. Now Really 3:20
9. Time Tah Get Stupid 1:55
10. Is It love 3:04

Album Rating (1-10): 8.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Baby D (Dania Birks) - Vox (West Coast Rap Allstars)
• Sassy C (Michelle Franklin) - Vox (West Coast Rap Allstars)
• M.C. J.B. (Juana Burns)- Vox (West Coast Rap Allstars)
• Dr. Dre (Andre Romelle Young) - Producer, Mixing, Backing Vox (NWA, so much)
• D.J. Yella (Antoine Carraby) - Procucer, Mixing, Backing Vox (NWA, World Class Wreckin Cru, Kid Frost TMS)
•  Arabian Prince (Mik Lezan) - Co-Producer, Mixing, Backing Vox (NWA, Egress, Mistress & DJ Madame E, Ministry)
• Eric Wright (Eazy-E) - Executive Producer, Backing Vox (NWA, DOC, Bone Thugs-N-harmony more)
• Donovan Smith - Engineer
• Bernie Grundman - Mastering
• Chris - Mastering
• Aaron Rapoport - Photography
• Bob Defrin - Art Direction
• Lay Law (Larry Goodman)  - Backing Vox (Above the Laaw, Who Am I, Anotha Level)
• M.C. Ren (Lorenzo Jerald Patterson) - Backing Vox (NWA, DOC, CPO, Eazy E, Snoop Dogg, Big Bennay, Gangsta Squad)
• Stan The Guitar Man - Guitar, Backing Vox (Torcha Chamba, Michel'Le, A Lighter Shade of Brown, KMC, DJ Quik, Above the Law, Small Change, Kid Sensation, Toddy Tee, Street Mentality, Cristofire, LL Cool J, Coolio, Bo$$, Too $hort, Ebony Vibe Everlasting, jade, Sa Lench Mob, TomJones, Po Broke N Lonely. Spice 1, Rodg, Quincy Jones, MoKenStef, Soultry, Dr Dre, B-Legit, 40 Thevz, C-murder, Tha Liks, Big Kutch, Bushwick Bill, Cherish, DOC, K-Ci & JoJo)
• Steve - Scratch Records
• D.J. Train (Clarence Lars)- All Scratches (CPO, MC Ren. Kam, Street Soulga, Mel-Low)
• Jerry Heller - Mgmt (NWA)
• Cara Lewis - Agency

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, and rap and hip hop was never a focused genre for me, but i of course recognize the producers Dr Dre & Eazy E. The pastel sporty outfits complete with stop watches fit the late 80's pop/hip hop genre, so i have no doubt this will be up beat old school hip hop.

Album Review: As expected, this hip hop album is part pop (side A) and part Hip Hop (side B) (although those genres are not designated specifically to those sides). The album features typical rapping about how the members will rock the mic and throws shade to competition. The sample from Supersonic is used elsewhere on the album (Eenie Meenine Beats). Dr Dre is called out twice, and he does offer support in performance and backing vocals. JJ FAD stood for original members: Juana. Juanita, Fatima, Anna & Dania...but changed to Just Jammin' Fresh And Def when the lineup changed. The Grammy nominated (lost to DJ Jazzy Jeff/Fresh Prince's Parents Just Don't Understand) song Supersonic has been sampled and referenced by many artists (including usage in the trailer for the Sonic the Hedgehog movie in 2020), but most disheartening is that the group and their importance in the Compton scene (their album was put out by Ruthless Records first, before NWA, to legitimize the label & pave a road with their catchy, approachable act) was neglected by the Straight Outta Compton biopic. Twenty years separate their second and final album and their reunion, where the three women line up has reformed and still perform today (2020).

Stand Out Track: Supersonic

Links:
Full Album Spotify
Wiki
FB
discogs
allmusic
instagram
hopes & fears
LA Times forgotten women of Straight outta Compton
Hip Hop DX: 30 yrs later
XXL
the Source
Who Sampled

Instructions - s/t

Name: Instructions
Album: s/t
Year: 1982
Style: New Wave, Synth
Similar Bands: Devo, Styx, Buggles, Adam Ant, Gary Numan, Mi-Sex, Roxy Music
"One-Word" Review: Future Theatrical Synth-Wave
Based Out Of: Canada
Label: Atlantic, Radio Records, Warner Communications

 Cover, Record

Back, Record

Instructions (1982)

1. Wicked Heart 4:00
2. So You Learn From Computers 4:15
3. Don't Say Love 3:47 (single)
4. Suburban Dream 4:19
5. Ha Ha Ha 4:29 /
6. The Factory 3:40
7. The Extra 3:55
8. Naked Deer 2:49
9. Cleek 2:56
10. O K 3:51

Album Rating (1-10): 7.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Owen Smith - Vox, Writer (Vehicle, Maxwell Friday, Old Sailor, Paris Mob, The Immortals)
• Martin Wall - Keys & Textures, Writer (Vehicle, Wenzday)
• Domenic Troiano - Guitar (Guess Who, Black Market, Bush, James Gang, Mandala, Robbie Lane & Disciples, Hawks more)
• Mike Jones - Engineer
• Larry - Backing Vox
• Peter Crolly - Bass, Writer (Frank Soda, Lee Aaron, Robert Connolly)
• Alan Webster - Drums
• Dave Beatty - Guitar (Robert Connolly)
• Regan Myers - Keys, Writer (Cosmic Ray)
• Janet Williamson - Vox
• Kimberly Johnston - Vox
• Phantasmagoria Ltd Toronto - Design
• Greg Lawson - Design
• Hugh Cooper - Asst Engineer
• Jeff Stobs - Asst Engineer
• Mick Walsh - Asst. Engineer
• Robin Brouwers - Asst. Engineer
• Claudette Abrams - Photos
• John Driscoll - Producer
• Gaston Gravell- Producer Asst.

Unknown-ness: I never heard of this band, but it cover makes them look like a dark, pub band with back-alley musical style. The font, however, looks computer-generated, but that might feed into the spy theme with instructions for a secret mission. Still going to assume this is Pub Rock.

Album Review: The music is much more synthetic and new wave, similar to a cold, future concept album like Mr. Roboto, with dark, sanitized synth beats juxtaposed with an emotive singer, sometimes singing with a Devo-like monotone. "Suburban Dream" has a bit of a Police-like reggae melody to it. O K sounds a little like Roxy Music's "The Strand." The synthy part of "Cleek" reminds me of Adam Ant's talk-singing. "The Extra" is fun Power-Pop still keeping a toe in future synth sounds, but "Ha Ha Ha" sounds out of place on the album, like a Supertramp song.

Stand Out Track: Factory

Links:
what Frank is listening to
Willfully obscure
Discogs
owen smith website

Fotomaker - s/t

Name: Fotomaker
Album: s/t
Year: 1978
Style: Powerpop, Light Rock
Similar Bands: Journey, Raspberries, Shoes, Foreigner, Badfinger, Todd Rundgren, Big Star
"One-Word" Review: Forgettable from a Roofie harmonized pop
Based Out Of: Long Island, NYC, NY
Label: Atlantic, Warner Communications,

 Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Credits, Record

Fotomaker (1978)

1. Where Have You Been All My Life 3:36 (single)
2. Can I Please Have Some More 4:26
3. All There In her Eyes 3:34
4. Two Can Make It Work 3:00
5. The Other Side 3:54 /
6. Say the Same for You 2:20
7. Plaything 4:50
8. All These Years 3:18
9. Pain 3:40
10. Lose at Love 4:56

Album Rating (1-10): 6.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Wally Bryson - Guitars, Vox (Raspberries, Tattoo, Peter Panic, The Bryson Group, The CARE Session, The Choir, Sittin' Ducks )
• Gene Cornish - Bass, Vox (New-Young-Rascals, Bulldog, Gene and the Satellites, Unbeetables, Joey Dee & Starliters, BJ Thomas, Labelle, Michael Bruce )
• Dino Danelli - Drums, Art Direction, Design (New-Young-Rascals, Bulldog, Little Steven & the Disiples of Soul, BJ Thomas, Laura Nyro, David Rea, Michael Bruce, Felix Cavaliere, Pepper, Duane Allman)
• Lex Marchesi - Lead & Acoustic Guitars, Vox
• Frankie Vinci - Keys, Flute, Vox (Gary US Bonds, Screen Test)
• Mike Lewis - String Arrangement
• Eddie Kramer - Producer, Engineer
• David Whitman - Asst. Engineer
• Jimmy Douglas - Re-Mixing
• Randy Mason - Remix Asst.
• Joe Schick - Exec. Producer
• Larry Huffman - Exec. Producer
• Thormahler / Rock - Photography & Coloring
• George Jordan - Equipment Manager
• Sam L Hood - Mgmt

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but to be honest, the first reaction is that the cover makes them look paedo-ish. Not sure how old the model on the front is, or what their thought process was, but it looks like a kids-bop singer. Even the song names don't help: "Plaything," "Where Have you Been All My Life," "All There In her Eyes" and make it even more uncomfortable. As there is not much more to go off of, i can only assume by these factors and the year, this will be smooth production with harmonies as either power pop or light/AOR rock.

Album Review: To speak of the elephant in the room, the girl on the cover is about 8-9, and is apparently the daughter of the publisher of Club: an x-rated magazine. But this was part of a grander picture, because their second album released in 1978 as well features a very old person, with red lips and a jesters hat, to offer the concept of aging, i imagine. Musically speaking, it is a group of totally forgettable powerpop tracks...i just heard the full album, and can't remember any of the tracks. I guess All These Years is the most like Big Star of the bunch.

Stand Out Track: All These Years

Links:
full spotify album
Wiki
Discogs
Rate Your Music
Allmusic
something else
classic rock history
facebook
Robert Christgau