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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handcuffs pin-ebay

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

Allan Clarke - I've Got Time

Name: Allan Clarke
Album: I've Got Time
Year:1976
Style: Singer / Songwriter Covers, Easy Listening
Similar Bands: 70's version of the Hitmaker Cover bar bands
"One-Word" Review: Wispy-Soft-Musak-Familiars
Based Out Of: Salford, Lancashire, England
Label: Asylum Records, Elektra, Nonesuch, Pasha Music Org

 Cover, Record

Back, Record

I've Got Time (1976)

1. Blinded By the Light 4:37
2. Light A Light 4:16
3. We've got Time 3:53
4. Stand By Me 3:26
5. The Long Way 4:20 / 
6. Hallelujah Freedom 3:40
7. If Your Think You Know How to Love Me 4:11
8. If You Walked Away 4:18
9. Sunrise 4:18
10. Living In Love 3:30
11. Finale 4:05

Album Rating (1-10): 5.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Allan Clarke- Vox (Hollies, Clarke-Hicks-Nash, Fourtones, Deltas)
• Spencer Proffer - Producer, Arrangement
• Jimmie Haskell - Arrangement: Strings, Horns, Finale, Conductor
• Ron Malo - Engineering & Sound
• David Apps- Management Direction
• Glen Christensen - Art Direction
• John Van Hammersveld - Design
• Norman Seeff - Photography

Unknown-ness: I've never heard of this singer/songwriter, but he looks weathered, and confident, so my guess is the tracks will be thoughtful countrified (cowboy hat) versions of hit songs.

Album Review: I did not know he was the famous hall of fame lead singer of the Hollies and childhood friend/bandmate with Graham Nash. The songs are light, almost like a band that would play for a 40th wedding anniversary or retirement party. But Clarke is still recording, despite taking time off from medical problems with his vocal chords, but he released a new album in 2019.

Stand Out Track: Blinded By The Light

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