UK - Danger Money

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

Cover, Record, Liner Notes

Back, Record, Sleeve Notes

Danger Money (1979)

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

Album Rating (1-10): 6.0

Members & Other Bands:

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

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

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

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

Stand Out Track: The Only Thing She Needs

Links:

Youtube full album
Wiki

Discogs

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

John Wetton - Caught in the Crossfire

Name: John Wetton
Album: Caught in the Crossfire
Year:1980
Style: Powerpop, Arena Rock
Similar Bands: Europe, Foriegner, ELO Steely Dan
"One-Word" Review: Singer/Songwriter Arena Rocker
Based Out Of: England
Label: EG Music, BMI, JEM

 Cover & Record

Back & Record

Caught in the Crossfire (1980)

1. Turn on the Radio 3:47
2. Baby Come Back 3:24
3. When Will You Realize? 4:34
4. Cold is the Night 5:22
5. Paper Talk 4:00 /
6. Get Away 4:30
7. Caught in the Crossfire 5:03
8. Get What You Want 3:18
9. I'll Be There 3:33
10. Woman 4:33

Album Rating (1-10): 7.5

Members & Other Bands:

• John Wetton - Producer, Vox, Guitar, Bass, Keys (Asia, King Crimson, Roxy Music, Brian Eno, Uriah Heep, Edward Hand, Family, The Human Experience, Jack-Knife, Mogul Thrash, Qango, Renaissance, U.K., Wishbone Ash, Ultimate Zero, Bryan Ferry, Phil Manzanera, Atoll)
• John Punter - Producer, Engineer
• Simon Kirke - Drums, Percussion (Bad Company, Black Cat Bones, Free, Kossoff, Krike, Tetsu & Rabbit, Lonerider, Ringo Star & his All Starr Band, Wildlife)
• Malcolm Duncan - Sax (Average White Band, Mogul Thrash, Pumping Spumona Horns, Buddy Guy)
• Martin Barre - Guitar (Fat Mattress, Jethro Tull, Penny Peeps, VCF Band)
• Martin Moss - Engineer
• Richard Mason - Engineer
• Nigel Walker - Engineer
• Tex Read - Equipment

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this artist, but he looks like a simple Americana singer songwriter

Album Review: The album takes Power Pop to the arena rock level, some echos, some power chords, and lots of opportunity for mainstream rocking and ELO Steely Dan harmonies. And obviously i don't know my Prog bands very well, or i'd probably have know Wetton's name as associated with Asia or King Crimson, or any other number of popular bands listed above. He has had a very long and superstar life, which gives reason to his arena rock sound as a solo artist. He passed away in 2017.

Stand Out Track:Turn on the Radio

Links:
youtube full album
Website
Discogs
Allmusic
Wiki
Rolling Stone Obit 2017
Prog Archives
Rate Your Music