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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White, Lenny - Presents the Adventures of Astral Pirates

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

Cover, Back, Sleeve, Record

Gatefold Story, Sleeve, Record

Presents the Adventures of Astral Pirates (1978)

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

Album Rating (1-10):

Members & Other Bands:

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

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

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

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

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

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Vanwarmer, Randy - Beat Of Love

Name: Randy Vanwarmer
Album: Beat of Love
Year: 1981
Style: New Wave, Island, Light Rock
Similar Bands: The Cars, Grandaddy, Generationals, Marshall Crenshaw, Cecilio & Kapono, Eric Carmen, Howard Jones, Billy Squier
"One-Word" Review: Wispy Contemplative Pop
Based Out Of: New York

Label: Bearsville, Warner, Warner Communications

Cover, Record

Back/Lyrics, Record

Beat of Love (1981)

1. Suzi Found a Weapon 3:08 (single #55)
2. Always Right 3:56
3. Babel / Don't Hide 3:07/4:08
4. Amen 1:48 
5. I Guess it Never Hurts to Hurt Sometimes 3:54 /
6. Frightened By the Light of Day 3:26
7. Hanging On To Heaven 3:18
8. The Beat of Love 4:33
9. When I'm Dead & Gone 3:27 (McGuinness Flint cover)
10. Don't Wake Me Up 2:48

Album Rating (1-10): 6.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Randy Vanwarmer - Vox (Brian Briggs, Michael Franks, Svenne & Lotta, Barbara Mandrell, Ottar "Big Hand" Johansen, Tony Wilson, Pat Terry)
• John Holbrook / Brian Briggs - Producer, Engineer, Guitar, Synth, Vox (TCTC, Freida Parton, Utopia, Josh Joplin Group, Claude Dubois, Paul Butterfield, Bernie Cash, Isley Bros, Terence Boylan, Roger Powell, Ian Hunter, Nicole Wills, Tony Wilson, natalie Merchant, Joy Askew, Katell Leineg, Madder Rose, David Mead, Jim Weider, Honky Tonk Gurus, Brian Vander Ark, Five Day Rain, Upchuck, Verve Pipe)
• Ian Kimmet - Producer, Vox (Jook, The Band, Trevor White)
• Del Newman - String Arrangement & Conducting (Cat Stevens, Ten Years After, Peter Frampton, Donovan, Roger Daltrey, Elton John, Kiki Dee Band, Neil Sedaka, Rod Srtewart, Charles Aznavour, Art Garfunkel, George Harrison, Squeeze, Paul Simon, Carly Simon, more)
• Jeff Golub - Guitar (Avenue Blue, Rod Stewart, Billy Squier, Sharz, Patris, Bill Evans, Peter Wolf, Toshiki Kadomatsu, Palace, David Broza, Paul Shaffer, Tina Turner, Grayson Hugh, Bryan Adams, Rick Braun, Cheryl Wheeler, Dar Williams, Gato Barbieri, Kazee, Shawn Mullins, Philippe Saisse, Marcia Hines, Joe Lynn Turner, Miu Sakamoto, Everette Harp, Marc Antoine, Dulcie Taylor, Richard Elliot, VIP Club, Marek Niedzeiecki, Krysten Berg, Jimmy Norman, Steve Cole, Steve Ferrone, Yves Carini, Sax Pack, Harlem Parlour Music Club, Bernie Williams, Kirk Whalum. Euge Groove, David Benoit, Michael Lington, Nils, Bob James
• Leigh Foxx - Bass (Blondie, Brian Briggs, Benny Mardones, Paley Bros, Frankie & Knockouts, Nicole Willis, Iggy Pop, Henry Lee Summer, Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Harry, Yoko Ono, DJ David Knapp, Clayton Bruce Ost, Holly & the Italians, Sonny Kenn Band, Karen Lawrence & the Pinz)
• Mike Braun - Drums, Percussion (Graham Parker & the Shot, Brian Briggs, Elliott Murphy, King of Hearts, Arlen Roth, Eddie Schwartz, Tycoon, Rick Wakeman, Leon Redbone, Peter Criss, Nicole Wills, Michael Bolton, Ellen Shipley, Stevie, Dian Tell, Rick Springfield, Peter Allen, Jennifer Rush, Elm St Group, John Waite, Hall & Oates, Diane Tell, Eileen Ivers, Madgesdiq, Mackintosh Braun, Kenny Rogers)
• Murray Weinstock - Keys, Horn Arrangement (Fifth Ave Band, Mark Moogy Klingman, Jon Paris Band, Bread & Butter, Manhattan Transfer, John Sebastian, Tom Pacheco, Woodstyock Mts Revue, Artie Traum, Pat Alger, Sic Fucks, Nicole Wills, Motherhead Bug, Richie Havens)
• Kevin Jones - Congas (Sunrize, Winard Harper, Charles McPherson, Archie Shepp, Isley Bros, Michael Gregory, Clyde Criner, Sweet Obsession, Larry Price, Blaze, Nick Rolfe, Norman Simmons, Babatunde Lea, Winvent Ector, Jihad Muhammad, Organissimo, 
• Cyndi Cashdollar - Dobro, Vox (Asleep at the Wheel, Bob Dylan, Leon Redbone, Dave Alvin, Guilty Women, Geoff Muldaur, Tx Sheiks, Woodstock Mt revue, Happy Traum Band, John Herald, Ryan Adams & Cardinals, Cathy Winter, Karen Beth, Jean Redpath, Christopher Shaw, Graham Parker, Peter Rowan, Hans Theessink, Don Walser, Steve Hames, Peter Stone Brown, Manhattan Transfer, Omar & the Howlers, George Strait, Trace Adkins, Red Dirt Rangers, Kris Kehr, Rod Moag, Leroi Bros., Rex Foster, Gina Lee, Dwight Yoakam, Susanna Van Tassel, Roger Wallace, Ted Roddy, Lucky Tomblin Band, Joe McDermott, Beausoleil Avec Michael Doucet, Cooder Graw, The Gimbles, Eric Hanke, Van Morrison, Bill Kirchen, The Twang, Heybale, Burrito Delux, Matthew Ballard, Fingerpistol, Marcia Ball, Carolyn Wonderland, James Hand, Leo Rondeau, JaLaLa, David Newbould, Houston Marchman, Bordertown Bootleggers, Esteban, Manodlin Bros, Booka & Flaming Geckos, Pinetop Perkins, Carla Olson, Arlen Roth, Okee Dokee Bros, Amy Laber, Happy Traum, Elly Wininger, Rosie Flores, Mamadou Kelly, Leif Vollebekk, Shelley King)
• Mark McKenna - Engineer, Vox (Johnny Average Band)
• Ray Neznik - Asst Engineer
• RJ Raymon - Asst Engineer
• Shep Siegel - Asst Engineer
• Bob Ludwig - Mastering
• Philip Balou - Backing Vox (Revelation, Utopia, Genral Johnson, Southside Johnny & Asbury Jukes, Steve Goodman, Joe Thomas, Major Harris, Asleep at the Wheel, Jebadiah, John Hall, Ramona Brooks, Bette Midler, Charles Earland, Lou Rawls, Luther Vandross, Hi-Gloss, Pleasure, Change, High Fashion, Aretha, Michael Franks, Irene Cara, Melba Moore, Howard Johnson, Cheryl Lynn, Fonzi Thorton, Bernard Edwards, Michael Wycoff, Lillo Thomas, Dionne Warwick, Manhattans, Kashif, Nile Rodgers, Carl Anderson, EPM, Teddy Pendergrass, Damaris, Merc & Monk, Village People, Ralph macDonald, Jeff Tyzik, Nona Hendryx, Tramaine, Air Supply, Peter Gordon, Jonathan Butler, Glenn Jones, The System, Gavin Christopher, Bernard Lavilliers, George Benson, Stage Dolls, Billy Ocean, Darryl Tookes, Carol Davi$, Dance With A Stranger, Laurie Anderson, James Taylor, Billy Joel, Simon Tittley, Arnold McCuller, David Lasley, Carly Simon, Harvey Miller, Michael Wycoff, Power Station, Boys Choir of Harlem, Tom Jones)
• Benny Diggs - Backing Vox (Revelation, Douglas Sisters, Melba Moore, Southside Johnny & Asbury Jukes, Asleep at the Wheel, Lou Rawls, Ramsey Lewis, Hi-Gloss, Sylvester, Nona Hendryx, Robert Palmer, Doc Powell, Joe Cocker, Diana Ross, Dance With a Stranger, Al Green, Braxtons, Laurie Anderson, Carly Simon, George Benson, Westlife more)
• Morris Gray - Backing Vox (Revelation, Ramsey Lewis, Cheri, Peter Gordon, Golden Gospel Singers)
• Kevin Owens - Backing Vox (Revelation, Ray Goodman & Brown, Luther Vandross, Jaheim, Caress, Festival, Masquerade, Lou Rawls, Cheri, Ramsey Lewis, Pleasure, Nona Hendryx, Curtis Hairston, Doc Powell, Gavin Christopher, Kirk Whalum, Gregory Hines, Philip Michael Thomas, Millie Scott, Freddie Jackson, Darryl Tookes, Dance With a Stranger, Edelweiss, Marc Nelson, Lisa Fischer, Noel Pointer, Ava Cherry, Smappies, Byron Stingily, USA-European Connection, Boris Midney, Black Russian, Kathy Troccoli, Anastacia, Norman Connors)
• Dick Katz - String Performance (New World Philharmonic, Benny Carter, Buck Clayton, Gene Quill, Jimmy Knepper, Joe newman, Larry Sonn, Lee Konitz, Loren Schoenberg, Manny Albam, Oscar Pettiford, Osie Johnson, Paul Horn, Stan Getz, American Jass Orch, Jay and Kai, Mat Matthers, Tony Scott more )
• George James - Trumpet (Benny Carter, Louis Armstrong, Lucky Millinder, Teddy Wilson, Harlem Blues & Jazz Band, Sarah Vaughn, Jabbo Smith, Clyde EB Bernhardt, Fats Waller, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Punch Miller, Albert Wynn, Sine, Alex Hill, Hoagy Carmichael, Junie C. Cobb, :Kid Punch" Miller)
• Josh Shneider - Alto Sax (Irene Cara, Eric Von Schmidt & the Cruel Family, Artie Traum, Steve Forbert, Late Nite Music Band, Tom Rush, Force MDs, Joy Askew)
• Ralph Carney - Tenor Sax (Tom Waits, Tin Huey, B-52's, Marc Ribot, Jim White, Jonathan Richman, Waitresses, Clarinet Thing, Caucho, Labatomy, Swollen Monkeys, Pluto, Preacher Boy, Melon, Bill Laswell, Victoria Williams, Jad Fair, Allen Ginsberg, Galaxie 500, Loved Ones, Elvis Costello, Grant Lee Buffalo, Pere Ubu, Custard, Chuck Prophet, Jack Kerouac, Black Francis, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down, Stephen King-John Mellencamp-T Bone Burnett,St. Vincent, Drive By Truckers, Legendary Shack Shakers, more)
• Tim Ritchie - Art Direction, Design
• Broun - Photos
• RonVanwarmer - (WDST)
• Helen Kimmet - Haircuts

Unknown-ness: I've never heard of this singer / band. From the cover photo and the band photo on the back, I imagine this will be nasally, anxious, neurotic, jittery, catchy-as-hell power pop. I'll actually be slightly upset if it is not...perhaps i'm setting too high a bar, surly to lead to disappointment.

Album Review:  From the first track, Vanwarmers voice is delicate and warm, a little like Ric Ocasek  but an octave higher. The opening two tracks mixes power chords with jangleypop melodies and throws in some keys and synth to keep up with appearances in the 80's. Much of the rest are lighter ballads, that harken back to simple oldies and classic country, and a couple would fit right in to today's breezy island pop sound, even if it is not all synthesized.

Vanwarmer was a friendly, well liked musician who passed away too early at 48 years old from leukemia, a year after diagnosis. He had a short, bright career in pop, with the #1 single "Just When I Needed You the Most," a song that his wife sued Warner/Chappell for copyright ownership. Soon after his first 3 records, he transitioned to writing Country songs when "I Guess It Never Hurts to Hurt Sometimes" which already sounds like a country ballad, was covered by the Oak Ridge Boys. Other musicians Charley Pride, Michael Johnson, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Alabama (and many more) converted his songs to hits. Upon his death a portion of his ashes were sent into space.

Stand Out Track: Suzi Found a Weapon

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Utopia - s/t

Name: Utopia
Album: s/t
Year: 1982
Style: Power Pop
Similar Bands: Bad Finger, Foreigner, XTC, Squeeze, 10cc, Supertramp, ELO, Jellyfish, Be Bop Delux
"One-Word" Review: Buoyant Harmonic Hook Pop
Based Out Of: NYC, NY, Upper Darby, PA
Label: Elektra, Asylum, Warner, Network

Cover, Sleeve, Records

Back, Sleeves, Records

Utopia (1982)

1. Libertine 2:47
2. Bad Little Actress 2:50
3. Feet Don't Fail Me Now 3:06 (single)
4. Neck On Up 2:53
5. Say Yeah 3:04 / 
6. Call it What You Will 3:48
7. I'm Looking At You, But I'm Talking to Myself 3:38
8. Hammer in my Heart 4:10
9. Burn Three Times 3:15
10. There Goes My Inspiration 3:24 /
11. Princess of the Universe 3:29
12. Infrared and Ultraviolet 2:17
13. Forgotten But Not Gone 2:31
14. Private Heaven 3:12
15. Chapter and Verse 3:40

Album Rating (1-10): 9.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Todd Rundgren - Guitar, Vox, Producer, Engineer (Jean-Yves Labat, Luther Vandross, The New Cars, Doug Legacy & the legends of the West, Money, Nazz, Ringo Starr & His All Star Band, Woody's Truck Stop, James Cotton Blues Band, Runt, Mark Moogy Klingman, Hall & Oates, Bette Midler, Meat Loaf, Rick Derringer, Ian Hunter, Jim Steinman, Robby Krieger, Bonnie Tyler, Dragon, Hunter, Allen Ginsberg, Pandora's Box, The Residents, Celine Dion, Alice Cooper, Bad Religion, Stephen Bishop, Ken Emerson, XTC, NIN, Brent Bourgeois, Donald Fagen, Lemon Twigs, Johnny Winter, New York Dolls, Hello People, Ultra Violet, Grand Funk more)
• Roger Powell - Keys, Vox (David Bowie, Robert Moog, Steve Hillage, Meat Loaf, Born Bluesers, Shaun Cassidy, Ian Hunter, Alice Cooper, Felix Cavaliere, Charlie Rouse Band, Rick Derringer, Randy Vanwarmer, Jim Steinman, Kasim Sulton, Logic System, Barry Manilow, Rubinoos, Sons of Heroes, Joy Ride, Bob James, Todd Rundgren, Lyle Workman, Shelagh McDonald) 
• Kasim Sulton - Bass, Vox (Meat Loaf, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Scandal, Hall & Oates, Blue Oyster Cult, The New Cars, Cheap Trick, Yellow Matter Custard, Rick Derringer, Tom Robinson Band, Zoot Money, Jim Steinman, Price, Patty Smyth, David Drew, Johnny Hates Jazz, Celine Dion, Alice Cooper, Bif Naked, Ken Sharp, Steve Hillage, Shaun Cassidy, Frankie Eldorado, Rubinoos, Ronnie Spector, more )
• Willie Wilcox - Drums, Vox (Hall & Oates, Stacey Q, Shaun Cassidy, Brian Briggs, David Lasley, Rubinoos, Gregory Hines, James young, Judson Spence, Bijan, Rory Block, Bardeux, Transvision Vamp)
• Doug Howard - Writer
• Chris Andersen - Engineer
• The Creative Directors, INC - Design, Production
• Len Zabala - Art Director
• John Wagman - Art Director
• Bill Hayward - Photos
• Yonah Schurink - Stylist
• Eric Gardner - Mgmt

Unknown-ness: So I had never heard of the band when I bought the record, nor did i look at the back to see famous Todd Rundgren or Keyboardist Roger Powell (whom I have reviewed a solid solo album of prior). So I'm almost positive this will be catchy powerpop.

Album Review: Harmonies, Powell's swirling 80's synth and power pop chords play throughout the full album. It is jovial, bouncy hook-filled sugary sweet pop. Knowing Rundgren produced XTC's Skylarking, you can really hear his style on "Bad Little Actress." "There Goes My Inspiration" sounds like Be Bop Deluxe.

The band was started by Rundgren as an outlet to explore synth and prog music, but the band paralleled his own solo endeavors as it evolved from Prog Rock to straightforward ELO+Big Star power pop. They only lasted 4 more years after this (and had been together 10 years before). The spiral downward seemed to happen by no fault of their own, a matter of two labels folding (Network, then Passport). A few revivals happened in 1992, 2011 & 2018. 

Stand Out Track: Princess of the Universe, Libertine

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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

Record, Back

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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Marc Tanner Band (the) - No Escape

Name: The Marc Tanner Band
Album: No Escape
Year: 1979
Style: Disco, Rock
Similar Bands: Bee Gees, Journey, Steely Dan, Supertramp, Doobie Bros.
"One-Word" Review: Smooth Disco infused Pub Band
Based Out Of: California
Label: Elektra, Asylum, Nonesuch, Warner Communications

Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Lyrics, Record

No Escape (1979)

1. Never Again 3:12 (single b-side)
2. Crawlin' 2:54
3. She's So High 4:30 (single)
4. Elena 3:27 (single)
5. Edge of Love 3:25 /
6. Getaway 3:35
7. Lady in Blue 3:51 (single b-side)
8. In A Spotlight 4:15
9. Lost at Love 3:42
10. Your Tears Don't Lie 3:33 

Album Rating (1-10): 6.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Marc Tanner - Writer, Vox, Guitar (Eddie Money, Nelson, Choice Reunion)
• Mike Baird - Drums (Ironhorse, Airborne, HP Riot, Journey, Sam Kinison, Cecilio & Kapono, Hall & Oates, Buffy Saint-Marie, Richie Havens, Tommy James, Doonesbury's Jimmy Thudpucker, Rita Coolidge, Pointer Sisters, Johnny Mathis, Denise Williams, Nigel Olsson, Shawn Phillips, Flyer, Brooklyn Dreams, Paul Anka, Cher, Art Garfunkel, Beach Boys, Rick Springfield, America  many)
• Bob Glaub - Bass (Jackson Browne, Adam Sandler, Journey, Dave Mason, Booker T, Rod Stewart, Arlo Guthrie, Carly Simon, Leo Sayer, Warren Zevon, Steve Miller Band, Gladys Knight, Jim Morrison, Cher, Bonnie Raitt, Rita Coolidge, Donna Summer, Linda Ronstadt, Seals & Crofts, Eric Carmen, Eddie Money, Gordon Lightfoot, Peter Cetera, Phoebe Snow, Bee Gees, David Lindley, Stevie Nicks, Karla Bonoff, Laura Brannigan, CS&N, Don Henley, Jimmy Buffett, Donovan, Carole King many)
• Ritchie Zito - Guitar (Snowball, The Bay Ridge, Teri DeSario, Joey Carborne, Eric Carmen, Annie, Eddie Money, Tyketto, Prism, Mr. Big, Liza Minnelli, Diana Ross, Art Garfunkel, Beach Boys, Nigel Olsson, Harry Nillsson, Elton john, Peter Allen, Elton john, Sparks, Ringo Starr, Kenny Rogers, Chuck Berry, Toni Basil, Barry Manilow, Lionel Richie, Irene Cara, Giorgio Moroder, Nina Hagen, America, Janet Jackson, Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Neville Bros, Red 7, Kenny Loggins, Berlin  more)
• William Smitty Smith - Piano, Backing Vox (Motherlode, Eric mercury, Ricky Lee Jones, Domenic Troiano, Craig Doerge, Neil Sedaka, Bruce Miller, Jade, Richie Havens, Jorge Calderon, Dianne Brooks, Blood Sweat & Tears, Larry Carlton, Leah Kunkel, Ronnie Dyson, Gap Mandione, Ry Cooder, Renee Geyer, Rita Coolidge, David Lindley, Brenda Russel, Danny Kortchmar, Bob Dylan, James Gang, Etta James, Harry Nilsson, Billy Joel, Sam & Dave, Bonnie Raitt, Lily Tomlin, Kenny Rankin, Robert Palmer, Tina Turner, Rare Earth, Dusty Springfield, Tom Jones, Pointer Sisters, Peter Cetera, Donovan, Bruce Willis lots)
• Vanetta Fields - Backing Vox (Ike & Tina Turner, Pink Floyd, Humble Pie, Barbara Streisand, Elkie Brooks, Neil Diamond, Steely Dan, Rolling Stones, Richard Clapton, Australian Crawl, Cold Chisel, Jimmy Barnes, James Morrison, John Farnham, Blackberries, Ikettes, Mirettes, Mundane Willis Singers, Quincy Jones, Shuggie Otis, Johnny Rivers, more )
• Jim Horn - Flute (Duane Eddy, George's Band, Johnny Rivers, Kip Tyler, Lalo Schifrin, Horn Section, The Rebels, The Shelter People, Righteous Brothers, Ike & Tina Turner, Lou Rawls,  many more)
• Gary Mallaber - Drums (Chi Blues Reunion, Raven, Stan & the Ravens, Steve Miller Band, Thunderbox, Tracker, Tom Rush, Van Morrison, America, Paul Williams, Cher, Danny O'Keefe, Randy Newman, Jose Feliciano, David Soul, Warren Zevon, Paul Williams, Eddie Money, Joan Armatrading, Peter Frampton, Beach Boys, Muppets, Dusty Springfield, Tommy Tutone, Barbara Streisand, Kim Carnes, Bob Seger, Alyssa Milano, Bruce Springsteen, Los Lobos, The Heights, more)
• Ben Benay - Guitar (Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, Funzone, Goldenrod, Your Gang, Kim Fowley, Mama Cass, Grass Roots, Tommy Roe, Mae West, Chi Coltrane, Duane Allman, T-Bone Walker, Dusty Springfield, Steely Dan, Four Tops, Fifth Dimension, Neil Sedaka, Righteous Bros, Tavares, BB King, Barbara Streisand, Johnny Rivers, Glen Campbell, Hues Corp., Joe Cocker, Three Dog Night, more)
• Jay Graydon - Guitar (Airplay, JaR, Planet, Rhythm Heritage, Manhattan Transfer, Airplay, Al Jarreau, Lou Rawls, Michael & Stormie Omartian, Don Ellis, Boz Scaggs, Joe Cocker, Edwin Starr, Barbara Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Jack Jones, Four Tops, Paul Anka, Supremes, Cher, Donovan, Candi Staton, Marvin Gaye, Stephen Bishop, Dionne Warwick, Leo Sayer, Gary Wright,  so many)
• David Paich - Piano (Far Corporation, Steve Vai, Toto, Leo Sayer, Diana Ross, Black Rose, Joe Scott, Boz Scaggs, Leo Sayer, Sonny & Cher, Seals & Crofts, Jackson Browne, Steely Dan, Cecilio & Kapono, Loggins & Messina, Neil Diamond, Hues Corp, Righteous Bros, Fifth Dimension, Helen Reddy, Glen Campbell, Jose Feliciano, Nilsson, Boz Scaggs, Sparks, Paul Williams, Paul Anka, Aretha Franklin, Barbara Streisand, Eric Carmen, Bob Weir, Dusty Springfield, Pointer Sisters, many)
• Bryan Savage - Sax (John McEuen, LA String Wizards, Shot in the Dark, Broadway Clique, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Starwood, Steve martin, Louisiana's Le Roux, David James Holster Mary MacGregor, Al Stewart, Amazing Rhythm Aces, William E McEuen, Al Stewart, Night Plane, hans Olson, Rhythm & Bluefield Band, 3rd Force, McLain & Gregg)
• Rosemary Butler - Backing Vox (Birtha, Metro Voices, Daisy Chain, Honey Sisters, Catfish Hodge, Bonnie Raitt, Ned Doheny, Warren Zevon, Jackson Browne, Paul Williams Doobie Bros, Tim Moore, Dirt Band, Fuller &Katz, Steve Harley, Ben Sidran, Maria Muldaur, Allen Toussaint Richie Furay, Little Feat, Nicolette Larson, Lauren Wood, Leah Kunkel, Rosanne Cash, Linda Ronstadt, Ozark Mt Daredevils, Boz Scaggs, Rodney Crowell, Johnny Lee, Billy Katt, Anne Bertucci, Night Plane, Jack Mack & Heart Attack, Yichiro Oda, Masato Kai, Darrell Mansfield Band, Keith Emerson, Derek Austin, Karisma, Sissy Spacek, Dolly Parton, Jack Wagner, Charlie Daniels Band, Laura Branigan, James Taylor, Cher, Pure Prarie League, Russel Hitchcock, Steve Camp, Michael Rofgers, Karen Stanley, Burton Cumings, The Simpsons, Julio Iglesias, Glenn Frey, Aaron Neville, Bob Seger, Allen Toussaint, Maggie's Farm, Darrell Mansfield, Ringo Starr, Neil Diamond, Joshua Kadison, Willie Nelson, Ray Charles, Candye Kane, Micael McDonals, Neil Young)
• Mike Finnegan - Backing Vox (Black Rose, Finnigan & Wood, Dudek Finnegan Krueger Band, Jerry Hahn, Phantom Blues Band, Serfs, West Coast Gang, Serfs, Jerry Hahan Brotherhood, Dave Mason, Maria Muldaur, Funky Kings, Peter Frampton, Rod Stewart, Stephen Stills, Ringo Starr, CS&N, Alice Cooper, The Heights, Steve Vai, Andy Griffith, barbara Blue, Taj Mahal, Joe Cocker, Bonnie Raitt, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Dan Fogelberg, Sharks, Manhattan Transfer some more)
• Max Gronenthal - Backing Vox (New Breed Blues Band, Chancellors, Fabulous Flippers, Gangbusters, Energy, DFK Band, Dan Fogelberg, Don Henley, Elton John, Kenny Loggins, Molly Hatchet, Bonnie Raitt, Bette Midler, Jack Mack & the Heart Attack, 38 Speical, Joe Cocker, Bad Company, Charlie Daniels, Wynonna Judd, Richard Marx, Tower of Power, Grand Funk Railroad, Rod Stewart, Dusty Springfield)
• Tommy Vig - Percussion (Chappy Tanczenekara, Henry Mancini,  The Vigs, UssDob, Martin Denny, Jack Wilson, Dr. John Street Corner Symphony, Rod Stewart, Alexander's Discotime Band, Randy Edelman, Quincy Jones, Bruce Roberts, Carpenters, Freddie Hubbard, Johnny Mathis, Denise Williams, Dusty Springfield, George Deffet, Marlena Shaw, Stephen Bishio, Paul Jabara, Art Garfunkel. Manhattan Transfer, Dream Express, High Energy, Robben Ford, Jesse Barish, Art garfunkel, Hans Koller, Diana Ross, Lajos Dudas, Maxi Anderson, Four Tops, Bruce Broughton, Joe Fritz, Marvin Gaye, Bruce Roberts)
• Jeff Porcaro -Drums (Sonny & Cher, Toto, Steve Lukather, Greg Mathieson, Grimaldi / Zeiher, Joe Cocker, Ricky Gianco, Melanie, Jack Daugherty, Seals & Crofts, Steely Dan, Joe Cocker, Juice Newton, Bonnie Raitt, 5th Dimension, Helen Reddy, Robert Palmer, Leo Sayer, Boz Scaggs, Three Dog Night, Jackson Browne, Paul Williams, Eric Carmen, Hall & Oates, Barbara Streisand, Diana Ross, Etta James, Al Stewart, Gary Wright, lots)
• Steve Lukather - Guitar (Baby'O, Far Corporation, Larry Carlton-Steve lukather Band, Los Lobotomys, The Greg Mathieson Project, Toto, discogs page)
• Dan Dugmore - Lap Steel Guitar (Ronin, Can't Hardly Playboys, Linda Ronstadt discog page)
• Joe Turano - Backing Vox (Jam Squad, Stupid Guys, Rickie Lee Jones. Robbie Dupree, Jan Storey, Jack Street band, bette Midler, Allan Holdsworth, Matthew Wilder, Michael Ruff, Joe Lamont, John Denver Van Stephenson, Joe Cocker, Rod Stewart, Julie Brown. Donna Summer, Zuma2, Jack Wagner, Joleen, Eddie Money, Brenda Russell, Boy Meets Girl, Four Tops, Chantal, Michael Bolton, Alice Cooper, Henry lee Summer, Cher, Neil Diamond, Rod Stewart, Albert Hammond, Taylor Dayne, Thom Rotella, Beck, Joe Cocker, Deborah McColl, Al Jarreau, Seawind, Kevin Wells, Ted Taylor, Chris Camozzi, Kids of Widney High, Shapes, George Benson, Michael Ruff)
• Glen Spreen - Co Producer, Engineer, String Arrangements, Piano, Moog, Synth, Bass (Elvis Presley, Dan Fogelberg, Ronnie Milsap, Buffy Saint-Marie, Jose Feliciano, Potliquor, Eric Anderson, James Gang, Joan Baez, BJ Thomas, Donovan, Rusty Weir, Ian Matthews Many more)
• Nat Jeffrey - Producer, Writer, Mixing
• Jeff Monday - Writer
• Sal Marquez - Writer
• Bil Gazecki - Engineer, Mixing
• Teri Diane Becker - Engineer
• Joe Tuzen - Engineer
• Wayne Neuendorf - Engineer
• Nick Van Maarth - Engineer
• Roger Mayer - Engineer
• Bob Bullock - Engineer
• Bob Gore - Engineer
• Karla Frederick - Engineer
• Than Silverlight - Moog Programmer
• Neil Brody - Mixing
• Terry Dunavan - Mastering
• Lewis Kaplan - Mgmt
• Johnny Bright - Mgmt
• Ron Coro - Art Direction & Design
• Elliot Gilbert - Photos
• Johnny Lee - Design

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band / artist. Looks like a typical 70's pub rock singer/songwriter from the picture on a desolate dried up desert/landscape. Other than the picture on front & back, the packaging & fonts are quite generic, so there is nothing to read into the music, unless it parallels the generic artwork.

Album Review: Musically, the album is light, poppy and disco influenced in the bass beats and synth. A lot of the songs feel like he's a piano based singer songwriter with a session/studio musician ensemble in support. 

Later in life, Tanner became a producer for film music and albums, including Nelson's hit record After the Rain. With this release, they packaged a promo gift of a tie clip in the shape of handcuffs, which became a sought after product in and out of the music industry. 

Stand Out Track: Never Again

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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

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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

Sumner - s/t

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

Cover, Record

Back, Record

Sumner (1980)

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

Album Rating (1-10): 7.5

Members & Other Bands:

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

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

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

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

Stand Out Track: No Time to Stop

Links:

Youtube Full Album

Discogs

Allmusic

Bandcamp

Weyes Blood Connection

Sumner Mering Ministries

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

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

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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

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Australian music history

Tampa Bay Times 2016