Werner, David - s/t

Name: David Werner
Album: s/t
Year: 1979
Style: Pub Rock, Power Pop, Glam

Similar Bands: Steppenwolf, Bad Company, Mott the Hoople
"One-Word" Review: Classically Rocked Glam
Based Out Of: Pittsburgh, PA
Label: Record Logic, Epic, CBS

Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Sleeve, Record

S/T (1979)

1. Can't Imagine 3:38
2. What's Right 3:42 (single, #104)
3. What Do You Need to Love 4:01
4. Melanie Cries 4:50
5. Eye to Eye 4:52 /
6. Hold on Tight 4:13
7. Every New Romance 5:35
8. Too Late to Try 2:39
9. High Class Blues 4:07
10. She Sent Me Away 4:31

Album Rating (1-10): 5.5

Members & Other Bands:

• David Werner - Writer, Publisher, Vox, Guitar, Piano, Percussion, Mixing (Granati Bros)
• Mark Doyle - Guitar, Piano/Keys, Bass, Vox, Percussion (Jukin' Bone, Dokken, Steppenwolf, Free Will, Penetrators, Andy Pratt, Cindy Bullens, Meat Loaf, Bryan Adams, The Doyle, Backbone Slip, Judy Collins, Leo Sayer, Far Cry, Joe Whiting & the Bandit Band, Kingsnakes, NKOBT, The Richards, Built for Comfort  Blues Band, Rich Mendelson, Mary Fahl, Frank Briggs, Flashcubes)
• Thom Mooney - Drums (Nazz, Curtis Bros, Tattoo, Paris, Cindy Bullens, Danny O'Keefe, John Hiatt, James Lee Stanley, Noel & the Red Wedge, Jimmy Buffett, Rita Coolidge, Tom Peterson & Another Language, Domino, Scott Richardson, Ray Manzarek, Lightnin' Willie & the Poorboys)
• Albritton McClain - Bass (Bridge of Souls, Donnie Iris, The Innocent, Beechwood Farm, Pete Emmett, Kym Ryder, Roy Buchanan)
• Ken Bishell - Synth (Gerson Kingsley's First Moog Quartet, Lonnie Liston Smith & the Cosmic Echoes, Side Show, Jobriath, Exuma, Ian Lloyd & Stories, Bette Midler, Jackie DeShannon, Kahli Gibran, Arif Mardin, Aretha Franklin, Felix Cavaliere, Margie Joseph, Average White Band, Zulema, David Ruffin, Van McCoy, Nikki Giovanni, Black Heart, Judy Collins, Phoebe Snow, Miroslav Vitous, Brigati, Andy Pratt, Roy Buchanan, Carman Moore, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Cy Coleman, Michael Stewart, Philippe Wynne, Elliott Randall, Ringo Starr, Wilbur Bascomb, Mark & Clark Band, Joe FFarrell, Jaroslav, The Persuaders, Sylvia Syms, Cindy Billens, Vicki Sue Robinson, Herbie Mann, Carly Simon, Kate Taylor, Chaka Khan, Peter Paul & Mary, Liner, Noel Paul Stookey, Liner, Keith Barrow, Richard Peaslee, George Benson, Fame (musical), Larry Elgart, Shlomo Haviv, Stories, Ted Rosenthal, Mandy Patinkin, Jazz Timpanist Jonathan Haas, Rachel Portman, Charlie Gross, Carter Burwell, Marcelo Zarvos, Ashford & Simpson, James Galway)
• Richard Hunter - Hamonica (Space Negros, Magic Mose & his Royal Rockers, Erik Lindgren, Willie Loco Alexander, Chris Cacavas, Edward Abbiati, Lowlands & Friends)
• Tim Cappelo - Sax (Galdston & Thom, Labamba's Big Band, Garland Jeffreys, Tina Turner, Ringo Starr, Peter Gabriel, Robert Kraft & Ivory Coast, Far Cry, Randy Goodrum, The Flirts, Dimas, Chris Thompson, Tony LeMans, John Sebastian, Nu Colours, Karen Carpenter, Beckley, Izzy James, Emilie Surtees, Gunship)
• Ian Hunter - Vox, Mixing (Mott the Hoople, Mick Ronson, Choir of St. Paul's Cathedral, Genya Ravan, Iron City Houserockers, Scott Folsom, Mick Jones, Brian May, Corky Laing, Ozzy Osbourne, Def Leppard, Dennis Dunaway, Aleandro Escovedo, Rebelles, Cloud District, Bronco, Ellen Foley, David Johanson, Payola$, Mountain, Michael Monroe, Ringo Starr  many)
• Maxine Dixon - Vox (Looking Glass, Elliot Lurie, DC LaRue, Tom Scott, Kiss, Murray McLaughlan, Little Feat, Lowell George)
• Bob Clearmountain - Recording, Mixing (Chic, Silencers, Bruce Springsteen)
• Jeff Hendrickson - Recording, Additional, Asst. Engineer 
• Roy Willard - Asst. Engineer
• Ed Evans - Tech. Ingenuity
• Janet Perr - Design
• Paula Scher - Design
• Benno Friedman - Photos

Unknown-ness: I've never heard of David Werner. It looks like he is a New Wave Singer Songwriter, based on his attire on the full body spread artwork, plus all the technical and musical credits he lists.

Album Review: There is more power chords in these classic rock / pub rock tracks than typical nervous, fast paced jittery new wave, but the vocals do fall back on a nasally tone. "Hold On Tight" has a hook that sounds like Michael Jackson's "Black or White." Single "What's Right" follows a bluesy southern rock hook [Glam] that sounds like T-Rex "Get it On [Bang a Gong].

Biggest claim to fame? Writing Billy Idol's 90's hit "Cradle of Love." when he was a house writer for EMI. He recorded 2 albums for RCA in 1974 & 1975 before signing with Epic for 2 albums in 1979 (this one & a promotional one-sided album: Live). In his first life (label) he was touted as a Glam artist and Bowie rival, even through they shared the same label (and those albums sound much better than this one).

Stand Out Track: Can't Imagine

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Werner's Whizz Kid via Vinyl Treasures

20/20 - Lookout!

Name: 20/20
Album: Look Out!
Year: 1981
Style: Power Pop
Similar Bands: Records, Pezband, Strokes, The Tubes, The Knack
"One-Word" Review: power-less powerpop
Based Out Of: Tulsa, Oklahoma / Los Angeles, CA
Label: Portrait, CBS

Cover, Record

Back, Record

(1981)

1. Nuclear Boy 3:20 (single)
2. Out of My Head 3:49
3. Strange Side of Love 3:37 (single)
4. Alien 3:39
5. A Girl Like you 2:29 /
6. Life in the USA 2:37
7. The Night I Heard a Scream 3:14
8. Beat City 3:02
9. Mobile Unit 245 4:10
10. American Dream 4:50

Album Rating (1-10): 7.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Richard Podolor - Producer
• Christopher Silagyi - Guitar, Synth, Piano, Vox (Ex Teens)
• Steve Allen - Lead Guitar, Keys, Vox (Long Players Band)
• Joel Turrisi - Drums
• Ron Flynt - Bass, Keys, Vox
• Tony Lane - Art Direction
• Nobru Tarui - Design
• Tim Guyer - Design
• Bill Cooper - Engineer
• Pat Foley - Engineer
• Shelly Heber - Mgmt
• Johnnie Randels - Photos

Unknown-ness: Never heard of 20/20. Not a fan of the font or overall color scheme of the album art, but they do look like a bunch of power pop rockers from the cover photo. The back darkly lit alley photo gives them a grittier, pub band feel, so I'm, not sure if it will be more in line with bands like Journey and Foreigner than Big Star or the Flaming Groovies.

Album Review: The album is pretty straightforward clean cut power pop, not much darkness or mysterious elements to their music, if any. I feel like the album is inspired by Star Wars with some of their lyrics on "Alien" and "Mobile Unit 245," or perhaps the pride (actually, sarcastic critique) in the US with "Nuclear Boy," "Life in the USA," and "American Dream". Either way, the album seems to capture the time in which it was recorded. "Out of My Head" feels a little Strokes-y (or the Strokes feel like this). And there is a slight tinge of psychedelia on "A Girl Like You." John Mellencamp's ROCK in the USA sounds a little like their "Life in the USA."

The nucleus of the band formed in Tulsa Oklahoma back in grade school. Inspired or challenged by cross town success of the Dwight Twilley band in LA, Allen and Flynt moved where they eventually came together with a fully formed idea of 20/20 by Mike Gallo, who departed before this record. Their first album was considered a power pop masterpiece, and this one a somewhat disappointing follow up. Like most bands, the writing was on the wall, and a third, final album followed as sales/promotion/ waned and frustration increased. Flynt & Allen regrouped in the 90's following album reissues and ended up putting a new pair of albums out in 95,98. Coincidentally, all members of 20/20 own or work in different recording studios.

Stand Out Track: Alien

Links:
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Best Classic bands Top 10 power pop songs
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Translator - Heartbeats and Triggers

Name: Translator
Album: Heartbeats & Triggers
Year: 1982
Style: Post Punk, New Wave
Similar Bands: Alarm, Jonathan Richman, Clash, Jam, Rifles, The dB's, Wire Train
"One-Word" Review: Solid Punky Art Rock
Based Out Of: San Francisco, Los Angeles
Label: 415 Records, Columbia, CBS

Cover, Record

Record, Back

Heartbeats and Triggers (1982)

1. Everywhere That I'm Not 4:03 (single)
2. Necessary Spinning 3:41
3. Everything You See 3:35
4. When I Am With You 3:06 (single b-side)
5. Nothing is Saving Me 5:16 /
6. Sleeping Snakes 3:37
7. Favorite Drug 3:32
8. Everywhere 3:19
9. Dark Region 2:31
10. My Heart, Your Hear 3:43

Album Rating (1-10): 10.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Steve Barton - Guitar, Vox (The Oblivion Click, Present Tense, Blow Up, Waking Bartonomous)
• Robert Darlington - Guitar, Vox (The Lies)
• David Scheff - Drums (Teatro ZinZanni, Dead Kennedys, Bang Bang Men, Half True, Winter Hours, Wilma, Bounty, Slow Children, American Music Club, Sachiko, Ramona The Pest, Flying Color, Billy & Dolly)
• Larry Dekker - Bass (Bang Bang Men, Map of Wyoming, Sachiko)
• David Kahne - Producer, Engineer
• Philip De Lancie - Remote Assistant
• Paul Stubblebine - Mastering
• Robin A. Spear - Cover Concept & Design
• Trudy Fisher - Photos

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band. While the date is 1982, the cover looks like a millennial angular pop-punk offering. The bleak two tone color scheme give them a darkness to the music, potentially. But i really don't know what's going to be on here...based on their pics, they look like a new wave band, so let's go with that.

Album Review: This record is really great. Two vocal styles from two vocalists round out the good with a Jonathan Richmond style voice, and a Peter Weller style vocal, with music to complement both styles. The songs can be a little jangly like the Alarm, but a good recent comparison would be to the UK band, the Rifles. It feels like the third or fourth catalogue offering of a previously raucous punk band who has aged well and lost a bit of their driving, angsty edge, yet this is their debut.

This record received substantial airplay for college and underground radio stations via the record label's connection to CBS/Columbia, particularly their anthem "Everywhere That I'm Not." They release 4 albums in the 80's then quit, and reformed 26 years later to release another album, two best-ofs and a handful of new singles. One of their biggest inspirations was the Beatles, and they sounded so much like them, that many Beatles fan thought their 1983 cover of "Cry for a Shadow" was a new recording by the living members in time for the Beatles Anthology release in 1995.

Stand Out Track: Everywhere That I'm Not, Necessary Spinning, Everywhere

Links:
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Songfacts 2012 Barton Interview

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

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Rex Smith - Rex

Name: Rex Smith
Album: Rex
Year: 1976
Style: Glam, Power Pop, Hard Rock
Similar Bands: T. Rex, Alice Cooper, Rick Springfield, Leif Garrett, ZZ Top
"One-Word" Review: 70's Pretty-Glam-Boy Power Rocker
Based Out Of: Jacksonville Florida
Label: Columbia, CBS

Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Sleeve, Record

Rex (1976)

1. Trouble 4:11 (Single)
2. Ten Seconds of Love 4:02
3. Feeling Better 4:27
4. Stay With Me 4:41 (Lorraine Ellison cover)/
5. Call Her "Easy" 4:20
6. Dead End Kids 3:35
7. I Can't Explain 2:59 (Who cover, single B-Side)
8. Rock & Roll Dream 2:40
9. Violent Playground 3:21

Album Rating (1-10): 8.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Orville Davis - Bass (Hydra, Starz)
• Lars Hanson - Guitar, Backing Vox (Genya Ravan, Ronnie Spector, Rudolf's Nightmare, Benny Mardones)
• Mike Ratti - Drums, Percussion (Heavy Balloon, Morgen, The Nails, Shorud of Lowell)
• Rex Smith - Vox (Phaedra, Rachel Sweet, Frank Wildhorn )
• Lou Vandora - Guitar, backing Vox (Lou's Blues Revue)
• Eddie Leonetti - Producer
• Lee De Carlo - Engineer
• Jay Krugman - Asst. Engineer
• Rod O'Brein - Asst. Engineer
• David Krebs - Direction

Unknown-ness: Never heard of Rex, but that could be short for, or have changed for a number of acts. The cover and band photo make him look to be a typical power pop with a prog edge, with a touch of androgyny.

Album Review: The album is def power pop, but leans heavy on hard rock and glam. Many songs sound like they are going to transition into ZZ Top's "Tush." Vocals take cues from Robert Plant. But the album sounds good with talented musicians and a solid, thick, heavy rock feel, typical of the mid-70's era. The album is attributed to a band named "Rex" but most cataloging databases file this as a Rex Smith album, and i'm following suit. His pretty-boy looks made him a teen idol in the late 70's and early 80s. Rex was just as poplar as an actor as a music. This album came 2 years before he made his debut on broadway in Grease. He was also in the tv series Street Hawk, and is the Quizzo answer to "Who is the first live action actor to portray Marvel Comic's Daredevil." He has had two  top 40 singles with "You Take My Breath Away" (#10 and was on his soundtrack to the film he also starred in Sooner or Later) in 1979, and "Everlasting Love" (#32) as a duet with Rachel Sweet. You can get a personal message made from Rex for $75 bucks on Cameo.

Stand Out Track: Trouble

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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:
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Saga - Worlds Apart

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

Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Lyrics, Record

Worlds Apart (1982)

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

Album Rating (1-10): 8.0

Members & Other Bands:

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

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

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

Stand Out Track: Amnesia, On The Loose

Links:

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Steve Khan - Arrows

Name: Steve Khan
Album: Arrows
Year: 1979
Style: Jazz Fusion
Similar Bands: Brand X, Brecker Brothers Band
"One-Word" Review: Elevator Waiting Room 'Zac
Based Out Of: LA, CA
Label: Columbia, CBS,

Cover, Record

Back, Record

Arrows (1979)

1. City Suite 11:42
1. City Monster Pt 1 5:32
2. Dream City Pt 2 6:10
2. Candles 6:52 /
3. Daily Village 6:37
4. Some Arrows 5:45
5. Calling 6:23

Album Rating (1-10): 5.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Steve Khan - Composer, Electric Guitar, Producer, Mixing (Chantays, Friends of Distinction, Larry Coryell, Brecker Brothers, Ashford & Simpson, Rupert Holmes, Billy Joel, Steely Dan, Eyewtiness, Joe Zawinul's Weather Update, Caribbean Jazz Project, Atmospheres, Blood Sweat and Tears, Elements, Farberius, Flying Monkey Orchestra, Man Doki Soulmates, People, Steps Ahead, Mendoza/Mardin Project, NY All Stars, Players Association More)
• Michael Brecker - Sax (Black Light Orch, Bob Mintzer, Buddy Love, Don Grolnick, Dreams, Flying Monkey Orch, Hal Galper, Harris Simons, Harvie S & Eye Contact, Herbie Hancock, Man Doki Soulmates, Mke Mainieri, Mike Nock, People, Rainbow, Sax Summit, Stardrive, Steps Ahead, Brecker Brothers, NY All Stars, Players Assoc., SNL Band, White Elephant, Wolfgang Schalk Bandett, Ringo Starr, Roger Voudouris, Mongo Santamaria much more)
• Steve Gadd - Drums (Bill Watrous, Blicher Hemmer Gadd, Chuck Mangione, Clinque, David Matthews, Lalo Schifrin, Manhattan Jazz Quintet, Mike Mainieri, Rainbow, Return to Forever, Stardrive, Steps, Stuff, Superfriends, Boys from Rochester, Chick Corea, Clams, Family of Mann, Gadd Gang, Gaddabouts, NY All Stars, NY-LA Dream band, White Elephant much more)
• Don Grolnick - Organ, Keys (Dreams, Steps, Steps Ahead, Bob Mintzer, James Taylor, Brecker Bros., 10 Wheel Drive, Bette Midler, Bonnie Raitt, Harry Chapin, Barry Manilow, BJ Thomas, Cleo Laine, Melissa Manchester, more)
• David Sanborn - Alto Sax (Bob Mintzer, Gil Evans, Chaos Choir, Domenic Troiano, NY All Stars, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Players Association, SNL Band, Worlds's Most Dangerous Band, Paul Schaffer, Stevie Wonder, BB King, Todd Rundgrend more)
• Elliot Scheiner - Producer, Engineer, Mixing 
• Christine Martin - Production Coordinator
• Doug Epstein - Engineer
• Errol "Crusher" Bennett - Percussion (Michel Legrand & Co. Salsoul Orch, Melba Moore, Betty Davis, Bill Withers, Peaches & Herb more)
• Randy Brecker - Trumpet (Andy LaVerne, Art Blakey, Black Light Orch, Blood Sweat & Tears, Bob Mintzer, Child is Father to the Men, Chroma, CTI All Stars, Dalia Faitelson, Das Pferd, Dizzy Gillespie, Don Groinick, Duke Pearson, Farberius, GRP All Stars, Hal Galper, Harlem River Drive, Jaco Pastorius, Kerry Strayer, Loren Schoenberg, Man Doki Soulmates, Marc Copland, Mike Mainieri, Milky Way, Mingus Big Band, Mingus Dynasty, NY All Stars, Pond Life, Renolds Jazz Orch, Roif Kuhn, Ron McClure, Brecker BrosDavid Liebman, Domenic Troiano, Eleventh House, Fisher Fidelity Standard Rock Band, George Gruntz, Horace Silver,  Jack Wilkins, Jamie Baum, Jazz Composers Orch, White Elephant, Woody Witt so much more)
• Will Lee - Bass (Band Of Other Brothers, BFD, Bob Mintzer, Child is Father to the Men, Eric Doney, Flying Monkey Orch, Gary Burton. Hiram Billock, John Blackwell, Metro, Paul Shaffer, The 24th St Band, Gary Schreiner, Worlds Most Dangerous Band more)
• Rick Marotta - Drums (Brethren, Noght, Ronin, Yesca, James Taylor, Al Kooper, Warren Zevon, Yoko Ono, Don McLean, Hall & Oates  more)
• Jeff Mironov - Guitar (Flying Monkey Orch, Writers, Bonnie Raitt, Tom Rush, Gloria Gaynor, Richie Havens, Jimi Hendrix, Frankie Valli, Peter Nero, Gary Glitter, Ben E King more)
• Rob Mounsey - Synth (Flying Monkey Orch, Love Childs Afro Cuban Blues Band, Spyro Gyra, Carly Simon, Michael Franks, Donny Osmond, Aaron Neville, Roberta Flack  more)
• Jean-Michel Folon - Art

Unknown-ness: Never heard of Steve Khan. I like the artwork, reminds me of native american art with a lot of energy thanks to the arrows. My guess is this is overthought, conceptual new wave, but an act that had a good sound at the same time.

Album Review: So this is jazz fusion, akin to Brand X or many dentist office soundtracks or elevators, even. Maybe some 80's tv shows that never made it out of pilot status. Khan is recognized for his groundbreaking expertise in Latin Jazz Guitar work and received two Grammy nominations. He called this album the last attempt to keep the sound of fellow contributors, the Breker Brothers' band going.

Stand Out Track: Some Arrows

Links:
website
wikipedia
discogs
allmusic
all about jazz
the last miles: interview
vintage guitar
spotify album

Jules and the Polar Bears - Got No Breeding

Name: Jules and the Polar Bears
Album: Got No Breeding
Year: 1978
Style: Power Pop
Similar Bands: Journey, ELO, Kinks, Badfinger, Police, Steve Forbert, Todd Rundgren, Cheap Trick, Rockpile
"One-Word" Review: Melodic Powerpop
Based Out Of: LA, CA
Label: Columbia, CBS

Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Sleeve, Record

Got No Breeding (1978)

1. You Just Don't Wanna Know 4:09 (single)
2. Black Fever Sleep 4:09
3. Lovers By Rote 3:46
4. Shadows Break 4:46
5. Convict 3:28 / 
6. Got No Breeding 2:45
7. The Soul of Many Places 3:26
8. Love It Again 3:09
9. Home Somewhere 2:58
10. Following Every Finger 4:08
11. Driftwood From Disaster 2:02

Album Rating (1-10): 6.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Jules Shear - Vox, Guitar, Design (Funky Kings, Reckless Sleepers, Raisins in the Sun, Cyndi Lauper, Bangles, Iain Matthews, Aimee Mann, Matthew Sweet, Shear Shazar, Polar Pair more)
• Richard Bredice - Guitar (Mercy Ray, Kathy Troccoli, Michael English, Pressure, Scott Sechman)
• Stephen Hague - Keys, Engineer (La Seine, Polar Pair, Walter Egan, Gordan Lightfoot, Gleaming Spires, Ric Ocasek, OMD, Pere Ubu, Blur, James, Pretenders, Peter Gabriel, A-Ha,   many)
• David Beebe - Drums, Percussion (Banana Blender Surprise, El Orbits, Bob Beland, Slow Children, Mercy Ray, Roches, Randy Vanwarmer, Pal Shazar, Jimmy Somerville, Jesse Dayton, Nina Katchadourian)
• Larry Hirsch - Engineer, Percussion (Guthrie Thomas, Seventy Sevens, Maria Muldaur, SDteven Soles, Sand Rubies, Peter Case)
• Alex Rosenthal - Asst Engineer
• Dennis Moody - Asst Engineer
• John Golden - Mastering
• Elizabeth Lennard - Cover Art
• Max Hellweg - Sleeve Photo
• Alyson - Cover Lettering
• Tony - Design
• Eddie Reeves - Personal Mgmt
• Kenny Altman - Bass and Gone (Fifth Ave band, Strangers, White Horse, Bread & Butter, John Sebastian, Peter Gallway, Seanor & Koss, Melvin Van peebles, Reggie Knighton, David Batteau)
• Jim Gordon - Baritone Sax (Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, Jesse Davis, Shelley manne, Shotgun LTD, Duane Allman, Elvin Bishop, Hap Palmer, Alex Richman, Thomas & Richard Frost, Ben Sidran, Maria Muldaur, Stephen Cohn, Delaney Bramlett, Linda Ronstadt, Jesse Ed Davis, Becky Hobbs, Freddie King, Bonnie Raitt, Jessi Colter, Jackson Browne, Bert Jansch, Waylon Jennings, Gary Hill, Rick Danko, Tompall Glaser, the Band, Alpha Band, CY Walkin Band, Rick Cunha, Rod Stewart, Kayak, Ken Lauber, Ringio Starr, Rita Coolidge, Mike Bloomfield, Keb Mo, John kay & Co, Andrew belling, Leon Russell)
• Jerry Petersen - Tenor Sax (Billy Vera & The Beaters, Creation, HUB, Golden Avatar, Michael Cassidy, Olivia Newton-John, Cindy Bullens, Tonio K. Alpha Band, Ronnie Hawkins, Evie Sands, Foxy. Matthew Moore, Joe Dassin, Mouse, Edwin Starr, Norman Connors, Robbie Dupree, Chuck Francour, Ollie Mitchell's Sunday Band Kim Carnes, Nils Lofgren, peter Alsop, Danny Deardorf, Larry John McNally, Martha Bishop, Leslie Smith, Linda Ronstady, Motels, Kuniko Fukushima, APB, Bob Welch, Matthew Wilder, Marty Balin, DFX2, Carl Wilson, New Edition, Lynn Carey, Jack Wagner, ODA, Off Course, barbara, Dennis Edwards, Black Tie, Steve Narahara, Phyllis Nelson, 38 Special, Dwight willey, Amanda McBroom, Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Cris Williamson, Cruzados, Heidi, Dramarama, Michael Bolton, Gashouse Dave, Greg Cooper, John Miles, Teresa James, Rick Danko JJ Cale, Johnny Rivers)
• Jerry Jumonville - Tenor Sax (Delaney&Bonnie&Friends, Les Getrex & Creole Cooking, Dr. John, Ry Cooder, Duane Allman, Doobie Brothers, Maria Muldaur, Mike Bloomfield, Dave Mason, Bonnie Raitt, Iron Butterfly, Rod Stewart, Gap Band, Van Morrison, Johnny Rivers, Dusty Springfield, David Soul, Little Feat, Leo Sayer, Brooklyn Dreams, Albert Lee, Bette Midler, Harry Nilsson, Doobie Brothers, Ringo Starr, States, Eikichi Yazawa, Tommy Tutone, Michael Bolton, Smokey Robinson, Captain Beefheart,   some more)
• Mike Henderson - Tenor Sax (Eddie Cochran, Kelly Four, Allan Breed, Gary Paxton, Your Gang, Ben Benay. Pete Candoli, Firar Tuck, Tommy Roe, Marketts, Tony Conn, Johnny Legend & Skullcaps, Ray Campi, Jimmie Lee Maslon, The Ballroom, Lee Mallory,  )
• Mark Underwood - Trumpet (Darlene Zschech, West Australian Symphonic Orch, Serfs, 3rd Ave Blues Band, Becky Hobbs Andrae Crouch & the Disciples, Cate Bros., Van Morrison, Bette Midler, David Soul, Alvino Rey, Michael Vlatkovich, Vinny Golla, Hank Marvin, Rhibosome, Flow Dynamics)
• Lee Thornberg - Trumpet (Richard Cheese, Lounge Agaisnt the Machine, Supertramp, Bob Florence Ltd Ed. Bruce Eckovitz, Heart Attack Horns, Soul Lips, Steve Huffsteter, Tower of Power, Little Feat, Doobie Bros, Rod Stewart, more)
• Jay Pruitt - Trumpet
• Darrell Leonard - Trumpet, Horn Arrangement (Delaney&Bonnie&Friends, Phantom Blues Band, Texacali Horns, more)
• Skip Wiesner - Trombone
• Bill Edwards - Trombone
• Linda Small - Trombone (Gary Urwin Jazz Orch, Cate Bros, Tompall Glaser, Tavares, Pete Christlieb 11 piece band)

Unknown-ness: never heard of this band, but from the band name, lowercase font, color choice, and grittiness of the photo makes me think this is a good new wave band, maybe electronic & synth based, or maybe minimal and no wave. Perhaps like Martha & Muffins.

Album Review: So this is pretty straightforward power pop and a little pub rock. "Love It Again" has a little Police feel, but most has an ELO harmonic and Kinks pop feel: nothing too memorable or remarkable. Singer Shear was in a relationship with Aimee Mann at one point. Shear also created and hosted the first 13 episodes of MTV's Unplugged.

Stand Out Track: You Just Don't Wanna Know

Links:
spotify album
wiki - Jules Shear
allmusic
discogs
latimes
starling
musicmap
madnest
rateyourmusic
robert christgau
Jules Shear site

Illinois Speed Press (the) - s/t

Name: The Illinois Speed Press
Album: s/t
Year: 1969
Style: Blues, Southern Pub Rock
Similar Bands: Hendrix, Chicago, Lynard Skynyrd, Buffalo Springfield, Allman Brothers
"One-Word" Review: Country R&B Rock
Based Out Of: Chicago, IL
Label: Columbia, CBS

Cover & Back, Sleeve, Record

Gatefold, Sleeve, Record

Illinois Speed Press (1969)

1. Overture 3:29
2. Get In The Wind 2:57 (single)
3. Hard Luck Story 4:46
4. Here Today 3:18
5. Pay the Price 5:18 /
6. P.N.S. (When You Come Around) 7:54
7. Be A Woman 4:57
8. Sky Song 2:25
9. Beauty 5:19
10. Free Ride 4:37

Album Rating (1-10): 6.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Paul Cotton (Norman) - Guitar, Vox (The Capitols, The Mus-Twangs, The Starfires, Carol Vega Trio, The Gentrys, The Rovin' Kind, Poco, Peter White, Gunhill Road, Ten City, Hannibal, Richie Furay)
• Kal David (David Raskin) -  Guitar, Vox (The Exceptions, The Rovin' Kind, The Fabulous Rhinestones, HP Lovecraft, The Stupid Guys, Merryweather & Carey, Rhythm Heritage, Kat McCord, Robbie Dupree, Leslie Smith, Jennifer Warnes, Julie Brown, Smokey Robinson, Darlene Love, Dirk Hamilton, Vonda Shepard, Rod Piazza & Mighty Flyers, Janis Ian, Bobby Martin, Bonnie Raitt, Tony Wilson, Robert Lee, Thelma Camacho, Ringo Starr, Johnny Rivers, John Mayall, BB King, Pete Levin)
• Mike Anthony - Keys, Vox (The Gentrys, The Rovin' Kind)
• Fred Page (Pappalardo) - Drums (The Gentrys, The Rovin' Kind)
• Rob Lewine - Bass (Song)
• Jerry Hochman - Engineer
• Dave Dillar - Engineer
• Roy Halee - Engineer
• Glen Kolotkin - Engineer
• James William Guercio - Producer (Chicago, Buckinghams, Blood, Sweat & Tears)
• Craig Butler - Design
• Dave McMacken - Design
• Patti Mitsui - Design
• Dave Swaney - Writer
• Mark Gottlieb - Photos
• Frank Bex - Photos

Unknown-ness: Never heard of them. Cover and front and back photo look like any CSNY or Loggins and Messina record, so i am supposing it will be southern-bluesy rock. The gatefold newspaper liner notes & stories is a fun artistic choice, centered around their printing press name suggestion.

Album Review: Although the album begins with a collage of tracks layered over each other, sounding like a bit of chaos, the album is a soulful slice of country-blues rock. Singer Paul Cotton went on to replace Messina in Poco, and the band was instrumental in the formation of Lynyrd Skynyrd. They were originally from Chicago, and along with The Flock, Aorta & Chicago, were touted as the "Chicago Sound" by Columbia Records, even through they had moved to LA. "Beauty" carries more Psych & California pop in it than the other tracks on the record.

Stand Out Track: P.N.S. (When You Come Around), Beauty

Links:
Youtube full album
wiki
Discogs
allmusic
angelfire paul cotton archive
rate your music
steve hoffman music forum
rock tour database
wiki commons
second hand songs

Hitmen, The - Aim For the Feet

Name: The Hitmen
Album: Aim for the Feet
Year: 1980
Style: New Wave, Power Pop
Similar Bands: Graham Parker, Elvis Costello, Buddy Holly,
"One-Word" Review: Nasally, Upbeat-Happy-wave
Based Out Of: London UK
Label: Urgent Records, CBS, Columbia

Cover, Record

Record, Back

Aim for the Feet (1980)

1. O.K. 3:34
2. Private Eye 2:50
3. She's All Mine 4:13 (Single)
4. Kid's Stuff 3:46
5. Guess Who 3:50 /
6. I Still Remember It 2:31
7. Slay Me With Your 45 2:39 (single B-Side)
8. Eyes Open 2:25
9. Bad Timing 2:28
10. Hold on to Her 4:09

Album Rating (1-10): 8.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Pete Glenister - Guitar, Backing Vox (Kirsty MacColl, Alison Moyet, Terence Trent D'Arby, Bruce Foxton, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Fischer-Z, Bryan Ferry, Bojangles, Johnny Marr, Slow Fade, New Asia, Frida, Tom Robinson, Anne Linnet, Matt Moffitt, Bronski Beat, Marquis De Sade, State of Play, Double, Fou Gorki, Bros, EG Daily, Waterfront, Toni Halliday, Dreams Come True, Mary Coughlan, Inga Humpe, Helen Watson, Geoffry Williams )
• Ben Watkins - Lead Vox, Guitar (Brilliant, Flowerpot Men, Juno Reactor, The Empty Quarter, Apollo XI, Electrotete, IOU, Jungle High, New Asia, Psychoslaphead, Sunsonic, Alison Moyet, The Youth, Oubliettes)
• Stan Shaw - Keys (Elvis Costello, Bruce Foxton, Nick Lowe, Pepper Adams Quartet)
• Mike Gaffey - Drums, Backing Vox (EG Daily, Bernard O'Neill)
• Neil Brockbank - Bass (Wooden Horse, The Cheaters, Nick Kamen, The Orgone Box, Sterling Roswell, Geraint Watkins, Tanita Tikaram, Jack Penate, Nick Lowe, Martin Belmont, Sterling Roswell, Jim Lauderdale, Los Straightjackets)
• Bill House - Producer
• Ross Honeysett - Photography
• Jules - Design
• Chris Bellman - Mastering

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but i'll be really surprised if this is not some sort of angular new wave band that might verge on punk, based on their outfits.

Album Review: While it is new wave, stealing or borrowing bits from Costello & Parker, there are also a lot of vocal cues taken from Buddy Holly. The songs feel like the artistic individuality of those other artists have been stripped away, leaving a compact and commercially fun, one-dimensional party band- not to say that is a bad thing. The upbeat happiness in these tracks far outweighs anything darker that may be implied from their name, or songs like "slay me," "bad timing" or "private eye." The vocals in "Kids Stuff" sounds very very similar to Elvis, even if the music a synthetic new wave that he'd never dream of. Supposedly, their second/final album is much better.

Stand Out Track: Private Eye, Kids Stuff

Links:
Wiki
trouser press
discogs
allmusic
Rate your Music
Band to band
Fantod Under Glass

Frankie Eldorado - s/t

Name: Frankie Eldorado
Album: s/t
Year: 1980
Style: Power Pop
Similar Bands: Badfinger, Big Star
"One-Word" Review: Light & Smooth Harmonic Power Pop
Based Out Of: NYC, NY
Label: Epic CBS

Cover, Record

 Back, Record

Sleeve Graffiti

Frankie Eldorado (1980)

1. Good Thing 2:55 (Single)
2. Can't Tell Love 2:53
3. Fine Time 2:19
4. Do I Like You 3:01
5. Ain't That Peculiar 5:39 (cover Smokey Robinson & Miracles)/
6. I Know 3:33
7. Hey Little Girl 4:02
8. Don't You Take 3:12 (Single B-Side)
9. Dancin' To Me 3:20
10. Crazy 5:11

Album Rating (1-10): 7.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Frankie Eldorado (D'Augusta)- Producer, Vox, Percussion, Engineer, Remixing, Arrangements (Ellen Shipley, Max Demian Band)
• Mark Rocket - Drums, Keys, Arrangements
• Thomas Morrangello - Guitar
• Kasim Sultan - Bass (Blue Oyster Cult, Joan Jett & Blackhearts, Scandal, New Cars, Utopia, Yellow Matter Custard, Meat Loaf, Rick Derringer, Tom Robinson Band, Zoot Money, Jim Steinman, Price, Patty Smyth, David Drew, Johnny Hates Jazz, Celine Dion, Alice Cooper, Bif Naked, Todd Rundgren, Ken Sharp, Steve Hillage, Shaun Cassidy, Indigo Girls)
• Deborah Bucks - Backing Vox (also signature on sleeve)
• Joe Mauri - Guitar (Hilly Michaels, Helen Schneider)
• Jack Leslie - Synth (Tony Orlando, G-Men)
• Benno Friedman - Photography
• Ron Contarsy - Photography
• Paula Scher - Design
• Joey Barbaria - Remix Engineer

Unknown-ness: From the cover and candy lollipop guitar on the back, and the strong color scheme plus New Wave glasses, I assume this will be really fun nervous/anxious/neurotic new wave. Candy themes = bubblegum pop, so strong harmonies and painfully catchy are expected.

Album Review: Well, definitely light on the new wave production, and heavy on the Badfinger style harmonies and pretty straight forward power pop. "Aint That Peculiar" is a Smokey Robinson & the Miracles cover, and reminds me of "The Neutron Dance" slightly for some reason...or at least like the build up could launch the Pointer Sisters song with an easy transition. The opening track has a Fast Times at Ridgemont High feel to it. Not much of a history or future for Frankie, but it looks like he's carved out a little obscure corner to work on production from what i've been able to gather on line.

Stand Out Track: Good Thing

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N1M

Ellen Foley - Nightout

Name: Ellen Foley
Album: Nightout
Year: 1979
Style: Light Rock, Power Pop, Pub Rock
Similar Bands: Linda Ronstadt, Pat Benetar, Patty Smyth, Bonnie Tyler
"One-Word" Review: Pub Rock Theater
Based Out Of: NYC
Label: Epic, Cleveland International, CBS

 Cover, Sleeve, Record

 Back, Sleeve, Record

Nightout (1979)

1. We Belong to the Night 5:18 (single)
2. What's A Matter baby 3:37 (LJ Reynolds / Timi Yuro cover) (single)
3. Stupid Girl 4:06 (Rolling St0ones Cover) (single)
4. Night Out 5:14 /
5. Thunder and Rain 3:02 (Graham Parker cover)(b-side single)
6. Sad Song 3:30 (single)
7. Young Lust 5:27 (b side single)
8. Hideaway 3:42 (b side single)
9. Don't Let Go 3:56 (single)

Album Rating (1-10): 6.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Ellen Foley - Vox (Meatloaf, Clash, Joe Jackson, Pandora's Box, Blue Oyster Cult, Ian Hunter, Gait MacDermot, Sorrows, Iron City Houserockers, Hilly Michaels, Jim Steinman, Dan Hartman, Bonnie Tyler, 5 Chinese Brothers)
• Ian Hunter - Producer, Arrangement, Keys, Guitar, Percussion (Mott the Hoople, At Last the 1958 Rock & Roll Show, Charlie Woolfe, The Rant Band, Overnight Angels, Pompeii, Apex Group, Hunter Ronson Band, the Scenery, more)
• Mick Ronson - Producer, Arrangement, String Arrangement, Lead Guitar, Keys Backing Vox, Percussion (Arnold Corns, David Bowie, Mott the Hoople, Pompeii, Ronno, Spiders from Mars, Hunter Ronson Band, The Rats, Rolling Thunder Revue, Tony Visconti Trio, The Treacle, The Voice, Mariners, Crestas, The Wanted, The Hype, more)
• Bob Ludwig - Mastering
• Harvey Goldberg - Engineer
• Phil Shrago - Asst. Engineer
• Bob Clearmountain - Engineer
• Rory Dodd - Harmony Vox (Jim Steinman, Fire INC, Meat Loaf, Ted Nugent, Garland jeffreys, Ian Hunter, Suzanne Fellini, Eddie Schwartz, Karla DeVito, Rex Smith, Steve Forbert, Peter Criss, Bel-Air Bansits, Didi Stewart, Air Supply, Billy Joel, Barry Manilow, Bonnie Tyler, Blue Rose, Clarence Clemons, Lou Reed, Martin Brilley, Julian Lennon, Barbara Streisand, Billy Squier, Carly Simon, James Taylor, Sheena Easton, Patty Smyth, Kevin Rowland, Scritti polittim, Survivor, Eddie Rabbit, Bon Jovi, Celine Dion)
• Tom Mandel - Keys (Pins, Miamis, Ian Hunter, David Johansen, Children of the World, Hilly Michaels, Iron City Houserockers, Bryan Adams, Sylvain Sylvain, Klaus Nomi, Gary Private, Amy Kanter, Martin Briley, Payola$, Dire Straits, John Waite, Bon Jovi, Nils Lofgren, Denise Williams, Matthew Sweet, Lone Justice, Tina Turner,  Price, Pretenders, Fleetwood Mac, Peter Wold, Little Steven, B-52's, Cyndi Lauper, Sadistic Mika Band, Foreigner, Violent Femmes, Pavarotti, Christine Lavin, Joey Ramone)
• Hilly Michaels - Drums (Sparks, Joy, Peach & Lee, Roger C Reale, Delta Cross band, Johnny Cougar, Dan Hartman, Van Duren, Bram Tchaikovsky, Tommy Mandel, Espionafe, Scott McCarl, Prix, Ian Hunter)
• Martin Briley - Bass (Green slade, Ian Hunter, Mandrake, Prowler, Starbuck, True Adventure, other credits)
• Kerryn Tolhurst - Slide Guitar (Country Radio, Sundown, Dingoes, others)
• Gene Greif - Design
• Benno Friedman - Photography

Unknown-ness: I've seen this album around for a while at various thrift shops (or maybe it was the same copy multiple times at one store), but finally decided to buy it in hopes it might be some sort of power pop female lead album, or at least one stand out track I'd like a lot. I've never heard of Ellen Foley.

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

Stand Out Track: Young Lust

Links:
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IMDB
website
discogs
allmusic
nightcourt fandom wiki
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Eurogliders - Absolutely

Name: Eurogliders
Album: Absolutely
Year: 1986
Style: Light Rock, Adult Contemporary
Similar Bands: Bangles, Animotion, Shakespears Sister, Boom Crash Opera,
"One-Word" Review:
Based Out Of: Perth, Australia
Label: Columbia, CBS

Cover, Record

Record, Back

Absolutely (1986)

1. Can't Wait to See You 4:13 (single)
2. The City of Soul 4:49 (single)
3. What Kind of Fool 3:49
4. So Tough 3:41
5. We Will Together 4:32 (single) /
6. Absolutely 4:37 (single)
7. Jesse 4:30
8. Moving Away 4:08
9. Enough Love 3:57

Album Rating (1-10): 5.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Bernie Lynch - Vox, Guitar, Keys, Producer (the Stockings, Living Single, Kam Sha)
• Grace Knight - Vox (Living Single, Australian Olympians, Kam Sha, Oz Art for Ozone, Olivia Newton-John)
• John Bennetts - Drums, Percussion, Programming (Eartha Kitt, Dangerzone)
• Ron Francois - Bass (Strutters, Lene Lovich, Teardrop Explodes, James Reyne, Wendy Matthews, Sinceros, Absent Friends, Kaylan, Ganggajand, Fingerprintz, Nick Plytas, Valerie Lagrange, Julian Cope, Cabo Frio, Aleesha Rome)
• Amanda Vincent - Keys (Living Single, Thompson Twins, Boy George, Tim Finn, QED, Renee Geyer, Mondo Rock, Jenny Morris, Billy Bragg, Moodswings, Camelle Hinds)
• Crispin Akerman - Guitar (Living Single)
• Bill Scheniman - Producer. Recording & Mixing
• David Quinn - Additional Engineering
• Peter Cobbin - Additional Engineering
• Tim Kramer - Additional Engineering
• Chris Porter - Producer, Engineer
• Brian Peacock - Mgmt
• Chris Gunn - Mgmt
• Adrienne Overall - Photo Painting

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, and i'll be honest: the year 1986 made me quite hesitant to buy this, as much of this has the production styling of dead drums and one-dimensional synth smoothness. But i do like a good female fronted band, so i wanted to give this band a try. I'm still expecting adult contemporary pop with the bad late 80's production sound.

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

Stand Out Track: Can't Wait to See You

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

Champaign - Modern Heart

Name: Champaign
Album: Modern Heart
Year: 1983
Style: Light Rock, R&B
Similar Bands: Eric Carmen, Prince, Bobby McFerrin, Atlantic Starr, SOS Band, Luther Vandross
"One-Word" Review: Overproduced Jazzy Adult Contemporary Prince
Based Out Of: Champaign IL
Label: CBS Columbia

Cover, Record, Lyrics

Back, Record, Lyrics

Modern Heart (1983)

1. Let Your Body Rock 4:18
2. Try Again 3:46 (single)
3. Party Line 3:51
4. Cool Running 3:16
5. Walkin' 2:07 /
6. Keep It Up 3:58
7. Love Games 4:39
8. Get It Again 3:38
9. International Feel 4:32

Album Rating (1-10): 5.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Michael Day - Keys, Guitar (Water Bros, MODA, Freddie Jackson, Don Thompson, Coalkitchen, Luther Ingram, Freeze Etch)
• Paulie Carman - Vox (Water Bros, Coalkitchen, Thom Bishop)
• Rena Jones - Vox (Water Bros)
• Leon Reeder - Guitar (Thom Bishop)
• Rocky Maffit - Drums (MODA, Race, Mosaic, Luther Ingram, Freddie Jackson, Milo, Rhythmic Union, Rocking Clones)
• Dana Walden - Keys (Water Bros, Coalkitchen, Kristin Lems, Combo Audio, Erin Isaac, Sergio Buss, Arnold McCuller, Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah, Christian Mayhem )
• James Gadson
• Melvin Webb - Drums
• John Robinson
• Paul Richmond
• Abraham Laboriel
• Neil Stubenhaus
• Dean Parks
• John Kellogg
• Jimi Randolph
• Bill Payne
• Neal Robinson
• Ian Wallace
• Ron Dewar
• James Mack
• Jerry Hey
• George Massenburgh - Production, Sound
• Richard Denhart - Asst. Engineer
• Bill Youdelman - Remote Recording Equipment
• Doug Sax - Mastering
• Beverly Parker - Photography
• Nancy Donald - Design

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but the cover art is exactly what many of today's island synth pop artists are going for. But for 1983, this is going to be some synthetic yacht rock

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

Stand Out Track: Keep It Up

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

Wha-Koo - Fragile Line

Name: Wha-Koo
Album: Fragile Line
Year:1979
Style: Powerpop
Similar Bands: Journey, Rod Stewart, Queen, Roger Daltrey, Air Supply
"One-Word" Review: Smooth Cruiseship Who
Based Out Of: LA, CA
Label: CBS Epic

 Cover, Lyrics, Record

Back, Sleeve, Record

Fragile Line (1979)

1. Silken Chains of Memory 4:02
2. Camarillo 2:55
3. Tonight on Old King's Cross 3:54
4. The Velvet Screw 3:57
5. Love Draws 3:45 /
6. Don't Say You Love Me 3:59 (single)
7. After the Rapture 3:31
8. She Sees the Night 4:20
9. The Chinese Kiss 3:19
10. Everything My Daddy Used to Use 5:54

Album Rating (1-10): 6.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Alan V Abrahams - Producer
• David Palmer - Vox (Steely Dan, Myddle Class, Laura Branigan, Jamie Walters, The Quinaimes Band, Wayne Berry, Thomas Jefferson Kaye, Tom Jones )
• Ron "Wizard" Fransen - Keys (Monda Harris, Tommy Bolin, Dirk Hamilton, Rare Earth)
• Eddie Tuduri - Drums (Boxer, Genya Ravan, Richard Torrance, Baron Stewart, Pink Lady, Joey D Vieira, Bob Carter, Alan Merrill, Paul Lear, Kenny Neal, Jim Messina, Steve Fisher, Anastasia & John, Addie Pray)
• Eric Gotthelf - Bass (Bonedaddys, DFXw, Tonio K, Tin Star, Underthings)
• Chuck Cochran - Guitar, Vox (David Lasley, Jimmy Messina, Tim Weisberg)
• Don Francisco - Percussion, Vox (Atlee, Crowfoot, Highway Robbery, Pan, Linda Ronstadt, Andrew Gold, Rusty Wier, Bob Welch, Randy Meisner, Kim Carnes)
• Ken Perry - Mastering

Unknown-ness: Never heard of Wha-Koo...but their name sounds like it has a lot of energy, even if it is a little silly-sounding. The band looks like a bunch of cool 70's session musicians. I can only imagine it treads a fine line between light AOR rock and powerpop

Album Review: Apparently this is a sort of concept album exploring the fragile line (thus the title) between love & gate, good & bad, etc. The band used to be called Big Wha-Koo, and shortened to just Wha-Koo on the album right before this. This record came with a big line up change, including ex Steely Dan singer (2 songs) David Palmer taking over as frontman. The record (at least the promo copy) omits two names that left the band shortly after its recording, Chuck Cochran and Don Francisco. The album itself is a mix of smooth powerpop tracks, like a light version of The Who, mixed with some softer, overproduced ballads, songs that would fit back where Palmer left his mark with Steely Dan. The most catchy and powerful song, After the Rapture features a repetitive harmonized chorus singing the title, and has Palmer letting out quite a high-pitched scream.

Stand Out Track: After the Rapture

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