Gerry Rafferty - Right Down The Line stlblair 2011-12-31 | City to City is an album by Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty. It was Rafferty's first solo release in six years - and first release of any kind since 1975 - due to his tenure in the band Stealer's Wheel and subsequent legal proceedings which prevented Rafferty from releasing any new solo recordings for the next three years. The album was strongly received, peaking at #1 in the US and going Platinum[4], as well as reaching #6 in the UK and achieving Gold status. "Baker Street", "Right Down the Line" and "Home and Dry" were successfully released as singles. "Baker Street" is widely perceived as Rafferty's signature song and by October 2010 had reached 5 million plays on British radio.
Alan Parsons Project (Eric Woolfson vocal) - Old and Wise stlblair 2020-04-05 | Eye in the Sky is the sixth studio album by English rock band The Alan Parsons Project, released in June 1982 by Arista Records. At the 25th Annual Grammy Awards in 1983, Eye in the Sky was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album. In 2019, the album won the Grammy Award for Best Immersive Audio Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.Track listingAll tracks are written by Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson.No. Title Lead vocals Length1. "Sirius" Instrumental 1:542. "Eye in the Sky" Eric Woolfson 4:363. "Children of the Moon" David Paton 4:514. "Gemini" Chris Rainbow 2:115. "Silence and I" Eric Woolfson 7:196. "You're Gonna Get Your Fingers Burned" Lenny Zakatek 4:227. "Psychobabble" Elmer Gantry 4:518. "Mammagamma" Instrumental 3:349. "Step by Step" Lenny Zakatek 3:5410. "Old and Wise" Colin Blunstone 4:552007 Remaster Bonus TracksNo. Title Lead vocals Length11. "Sirius" (Demo) Instrumental 1:5612. "Old and Wise" Eric Woolfson 4:4313. "Any Other Day" (Woolfson) (studio demo) Instrumental 1:4214. "Silence and I" Eric Woolfson 7:3315. "The Naked Eye" Instrumental medley 10:4916. "Eye Pieces" (Classical Naked Eye) Instrumental 7:51
Camel - Who We Are stlblair 2020-03-22 | I Can See Your House from Here is the seventh studio album by English progressive rock band Camel. Released in 1979, a new line up was introduced with founding members Andrew Latimer (guitar) and Andy Ward (drums) joined by bassist Colin Bass (to replace Richard Sinclair) and keyboardists Jan Schelhaas (who joined in 1978 for the Breathless tour) and Kit Watkins (ex-Happy The Man) who replaced Dave Sinclair. At one point, the album was going to be called Endangered Species.Track listingSide one"Wait" (Andrew Latimer, John McBurnie) – 5:02Andrew Latimer – guitar, backing vocalsKit Watkins – Yamaha electric grand and Rhodes electric pianos, Hammond C3 organ, Solina and Moog synthesizersJan Schelhaas – Yamaha electric grand piano, Yamaha CS-80, Prophet-5 and Moog synthesizersColin Bass – bass, lead vocalsAndy Ward – drums"Your Love Is Stranger Than Mine" (Colin Bass, Latimer, Jan Schelhaas, Andy Ward) – 3:26Andrew Latimer – guitar, backing vocalsKit Watkins – Prophet-5 synthesizerJan Schelhaas – Yamaha electric grand piano, MinimoogColin Bass – bass, lead vocalsAndy Ward – drumsMel Collins – alto saxophone"Eye of the Storm" (Kit Watkins) – 3:52 – this was an updated version of a track that Watkins had played with his previous band Happy the ManAndrew Latimer – guitarKit Watkins – Hohner Clavinet, flute, Solina and Moog synthesizersColin Bass – fretless Wal bassAndy Ward – drums, massed marching military snares"Who We Are" (Latimer) – 7:52Andrew Latimer – guitar, lead vocals, flute, autoharpKit Watkins – Solina and Moog synthesizersJan Schelhaas – grand pianoColin Bass – bass, backing vocalsAndy Ward – drumsSimon Jeffes – orchestral arrangementsSide two"Survival" (Latimer) – 1:12Simon Jeffes – orchestral arrangementsGavin Wright – leader of the orchestra"Hymn to Her" (Latimer, Schelhaas) – 5:37Andrew Latimer – guitar, lead vocals, flute, autoharpKit Watkins – Hohner Clavinet, Hammond C3 organ, Solina and Moog synthesizersJan Schelhaas – grand pianoColin Bass – bass, backing vocalsAndy Ward – drums"Neon Magic" (Latimer, Vivienne McAuliffe, Schelhaas) – 4:39Andrew Latimer – guitar, lead vocalsKit Watkins – Hammond C3 organ, Yamaha CS-80 and Solina synthesizersJan Schelhaas – Yamaha electric grand piano, Solina, Yamaha CS-80 and Moog synthesizersColin Bass – bassAndy Ward – drums"Remote Romance" (Latimer, Watkins) – 4:07Andrew Latimer – guitarKit Watkins – Hohner Clavinet, Yamaha CS-80 and Moog synthesizers, EMS sequencerJan Schelhaas – EMS sequencerAndy Ward – drums, percussion, loops"Ice" (Latimer) – 10:17Andrew Latimer – guitarKit Watkins – Yamaha electric grand and Rhodes electric pianos, Hammond C3 organ, Solina and Moog synthesizersJan Schelhaas – grand pianoColin Bass – bassAndy Ward – drums
Automatic Man - My Pearl stlblair 2020-03-22 | Automatic Man was an American 1970s progressive rock quartet from San Francisco which also featured elements of funk, space music, psychedelic rock, heavy metal, Krautrock, Musique concrète, art rock and Santana-inspired jazz fusion. Automatic Man brought together well-respected musicians of diverse backgrounds within the rock, funk and jazz communities of the mid-1970s.Despite a well-reviewed 1976 eponymous début on Island Records and a lone charting single, 1976's "My Pearl", which reached No. 97 on the Billboard Hot 100., the line-up of Automatic Man was not cohesive. After a second album entitled Visitors, they disbanded in 1977, retaining a small but very loyal, global cult following.With both releases being reissued on CD in 2004 after 28 years of only being available in vinyl format and with the advent of the internet, Automatic Man are being rediscovered and roundly praised for their genre-defying, boundary-breaking musical sound and unique lyrics.Side one"Atlantis Rising-Fanfare" – 1:37"Comin' Through" – 3:35"My Pearl" – 3:34 (Automatic Man)"One and One" – 5:57"Newspapers" – 3:57"Geni Geni" – 5:32Side two"Right Back Down" – 5:55 (Bayete/CasaBianca)"There's a Way" - 5:14 (Automatic Man/CasaBianca)"I.T.D. (Interstellar Tracking Devices)" – 5:14 (Bayete/CasaBianca)"Automatic Man" – 3:55 (Bayete/CasaBianca)"Atlantis Rising Theme (Turning of the Axis)" – 3:16
Angel - Rock and Rollers stlblair 2020-03-21 | Angel is the first album by the rock band Angel. "Tower", the keyboard-heavy opening track, was used widely during the late 1970s and early 1980s by album rock radio stations in the USA for various advertising purposes. The track is also on K-SHE radio's Classic List. This album can be seen as representing the band's early progressive roots, with Helluva Band seeing the group starting to move towards an increasingly hard rock-oriented sound. Tracks 6-8 segue to form a 10-minute mini suite.Track listing"Tower" – 6:59 (Frank Dimino, Greg Giuffria, Punky Meadows)"Long Time" – 7:02 (Dimino, Giuffria, Meadows)"Rock and Rollers" – 4:01 (Dimino, Giuffria, Meadows)"Broken Dreams" – 5:15 (Dimino, Meadows)"Mariner" – 4:23 (Dimino, Giuffria, Big Jim Sullivan, Derek Lawrence)"Sunday Morning" – 4:10 (Dimino, Giuffria)"On & On" – 4:19 (Dimino, Giuffria, Meadows, Mickey Jones)"Angel" (Theme) – 1:39 (Giuffria, Barry Brandt)
Robert Plant - Far Post stlblair 2012-12-31 | Pictures at Eleven is the debut solo album by former Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant, released in 1982. Genesis drummer Phil Collins played drums for six of the album's eight songs. Ex-Rainbow drummer Cozy Powell handled drums on "Slow Dancer" and "Like I've Never Been Gone". The title is an often-heard phrase in U.S. television news[citation needed] that would follow a brief announcement of a story of interest to be shown later during a station's 11 p.m. news program.[1] Pictures at Eleven is the only one of Plant's solo albums to appear on Led Zeppelin's record label Swan Song. By the time of Plant's next release, 1983's The Principle of Moments, Swan Song had ceased to function and Plant had started his own label titled Es Paranza, which would also be distributed by Atlantic Records. Rhino Entertainment released a remastered edition of the album, with bonus tracks, on 20 March 2007.
Little Feat - Voices On The Wind stlblair 2012-06-02 | Let It Roll is the eighth studio album by the American rock band Little Feat, released in 1988. (see 1988 in music).Eight of the ten songs on the album were co-written by new band member Craig Fuller,the founding member of Pure Prairie League. Fuller also dominates the lead vocals. The album attained R.I.A.A certified gold status February 14, 1989. It is the first Little Feat studio album without Lowell George, after his death in 1979 and is one of their most successful albums, sparking a comeback by the band. The first single, "Hate to Lose Your Lovin'", earned the band their first #1 hit on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
Foghat - Stay With Me stlblair 2011-12-30 | Stone Blue is the seventh studio album by the blues rock band Foghat. The album was released in May 1978 on Bearsville Records. The album is preceded by Foghat Live and is followed by Boogie Motel.
Eric Clapton - Better Make It Through Today stlblair 2011-12-17 | There's One in Every Crowd is a 1975 album by blues rocker Eric Clapton. Recorded shortly after 461 Ocean Boulevard, the album features a style very similar to its predecessor, but did not enjoy similar commercial success.
The Doobie Brothers - Another Park, Another Sunday stlblair 2011-12-17 | What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits is the fourth studio album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers, released in 1974. Tom Johnston's "Another Park, Another Sunday" was chosen to be the album's first single. "It's about losing a girl," stated Johnston. "I wrote the chords and played it on acoustic, and then Ted [Templeman] had some ideas for it, like running the guitars through Leslie speakers." The song did moderately well on the charts. Personnel
Delaney & Bonnie - Groupie stlblair 2011-12-06 | D&B Together is a 1972 album by Delaney & Bonnie and Friends. It was their last album of new material, as Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett would divorce soon after its release. Although released by Columbia/CBS (catalog no. KC 31377), D&B Together was actually recorded for the Atco/Atlantic label, under the working title Country Life. According to his autobiography Rhythm and the Blues, Atlantic executive Jerry Wexler was dissatisfied with the album's quality upon its delivery to the label, and, upon investigating the situation and discovering Delaney and Bonnie were splitting up, sold their contract - including this album's master tapes - to CBS.[2] CBS reordered the running sequence of the album as shown below. On reflecting on the matter in 2003, Delaney Bramlett was quoted as saying "I thought [D&B Together] was a fine piece of work, so did Bonnie. Unfortunately, Jerry Wexler didn't agree."[3] Guest musicians on the album include Eric Clapton, Leon Russell, Duane Allman, Dave Mason, John Hartford, Billy Preston, Tina Turner, and Steve Cropper. The standout tracks (all issued prior to the album's release as singles on Atco/Atlantic) are "Move 'Em Out," "Only You Know and I Know," "Comin' Home," and "Groupie (Superstar)." (The inclusion of the last three tracks on this album is somewhat incongruous, as they date back to Delaney and Bonnie's first recording sessions for Atco/Atlantic in September 1969. Delaney and Bonnie were still under contract with Elektra Records when these recordings were made; these songs' master tapes were subsequently purchased by Atco/Atlantic, and transferred to Atlantic by Elektra on 10 November 1969.)
Commander Cody - Lost In The Ozone stlblair 2011-12-05 | Lost in the Ozone is the debut album by the Country rock band Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen that contains their hit cover version of "Hot Rod Lincoln" as well as the band's live staples, "Lost in the Ozone" and "Seeds and Stems (Again)." Personnel George Frayne (Commander Cody) -- piano, vocals on "Hot Rod Lincoln" John Tichy -- rhythm guitar, harmony vocals, lead vocals on "Family Bible" and "Beat Me Daddy" Andy Stein -- fiddle, saxophone Lance Dickerson -- drums Bruce Barlow -- Fender bass, acoustic bass on "Midnight Shift", harmony vocals Bill Kirchen -- lead guitar, trombone, harmony vocals, lead vocals on "Seeds and Stems" and "Home in My Hand" Billy C. Farlow -- lead vocals, harmonica (Steve Davis] West Virginia Creeper -- pedal steel guitar
Quick Silver Messenger - Gypsy Lights stlblair 2011-12-03 | Solid Silver is the eighth album by American psychedelic rock band Quicksilver Messenger Service and their mid-70s comeback album. Although the songs were much shorter than on their classic late 1960s albums, Solid Silver has generally been considered a "comeback" because the original line-up found on their first two albums had temporarily reunited. Personnel Gary Duncan -- vocals, guitar, pedal steel guitar John Cipollina - vocals, guitar, Hawaiian steel guitar David Freiberg -- vocals, bass Greg Elmore -- drums Dino Valenti -- vocals, guitar
Barry Goudreau - Life Is What We Make It stlblair 2011-04-08 | Barry Goudreau (November 29, 1951) is a musician, best known as one of the original guitarists for the rock band Boston. Goudreau had developed a musical interest at an early age and got his first guitar, an acoustic which he borrowed from a friend, at age 11. He began taking lessons and by age 13, joined his first band, the "Tornadoes". At age 15, he joined another band with future Boston drummer Sib Hashian. They would often play at night clubs, sometimes seven times a week. Later, he met up with Brad Delp and Fran Sheehan, both future members of Boston. He auditioned for Delp's band, but didn't make the cut as he explains here: It was around this time that I met Fran Sheehan and Brad Delp. Fran's house was the place musicians went to and jam. We had some great times there, refining our chops until the wee hours. I'm sure the neighbors didn't appreciate it as much as we did. I met Brad when I auditioned for his band. The guitar player had decided to leave and brought me there as his replacement. Brad sang Led Zeppelin's "Communication Breakdown". I had never heard anybody sing like that before, I will never forget it. Unfortunately, I did not get the gig.When he went to college at Boston University, he sought to get a degree in Geology. He tried to put music aside to focus on school, but he soon met up with Tom Scholz who was right across the river at MIT. The group evolved from Goudreau's college band "Mother's Milk" which also included Tom Scholz and Brad Delp.[citation needed] Goudreau worked with Scholz and Delp as early as 1969 on an initial set of demo tapes, where he performed all of the rhythm and lead guitar work. These early attempts to attract record label interest did not succeed.I would put more info in here - but, youtube will not allow it. Thanks.
Pousette - Dart Band - County Line stlblair 2010-11-26 | From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Pousette-Dart Band (also known as PDB) was an American soft rock group active in the 1970s and early 1980s. Originally conceived in 1973 as a string band from Cambridge, Massachusetts, PDB comprised Jon Pousette-Dart, John Troy and John Curtis. With a shift to a more commercially-oriented sound and a steady succession of additional personnel, the group went on to record a series of albums for their label Capitol Records: Although the band formally broke up in 1981, members reunited in 1991 for a series of concerts, and a "Best Of" album was released in 1994. Since then collaborations between various former personnel have continued, with original members Jon Pousette Dart and John Troy also launching solo careers. The song "Fall on Me" from the band's second album Amnesia featured in a season 2 episode of Lost.
Pavlovs Dog - Fast Gun stlblair 2010-11-06 | Pavlov's Dog is a 1970s progressive rock/AOR band formed in St. Louis in 1972. Pavlov's Dog originally comprised David Surkamp, Steve Scorfina, Mike Safron, Rick Stockton, David Hamilton, Doug Rayburn, and Siegfried Carver (born Richard Nadler). On their second album At the Sound of the Bell (1976), Tom Nickeson was added to the line-up on guitar and he took over Hamilton's keyboard position after the album had been recorded as Hamilton left the band. Safron was still a member of the band but did not appear on the second album, former Yes drummer Bill Bruford played as a guest musician. Safron left in the aftermath of this, partially due to his failure to receive a promised credit on the album sleeve and the band's third album featured Kirk Sarkisian on drums. The band's debut Pampered Menial was briefly released in 1974 on ABC Records but then quickly re-issued by Columbia Records. The result was that both versions appeared in stores at nearly the same time, which may have confused the public. The album was produced by Sandy Pearlman and Murray Krugman who had found success earlier in the decade producing Blue Öyster Cult. Carver left the band after the release of Pampered Menial. Their second album At The Sound Of The Bell followed on Columbia in 1975. In addition to the personnel changes noted above, a raft of guest artists contributed to the album including jazz saxophonist Michael Brecker and Roxy Music's Andy MacKay. The band recorded a third album in 1977, but due to poor sales of the first two albums, Columbia refused to release it, hastening the band's split. The third album finally appeared as a bootleg in the 1980s, a limited edition pressed from stolen master tapes. It was released under the name The St. Louis Hounds, without Pavlov's Dog's name on the sleeve. The third album finally was released legally in 2007 by German label Rockville Music, titled Has Anyone Here Seen Siegfried?, remastered and including additional 10 bonus tracks of unreleased material from the 1970s. The German label TRC illegally bootlegged the album, with title Third, but this version does not include the bonus tracks. David Surkamp's high-pitched and quickly wavering vibrato has been compared to that of Geddy Lee of Rush. Surkamp once wept openly after losing a table tennis match in St. Louis in 1977. When the band split up in the late 1970s, Surkamp was rumored to be dead, although in fact he was working with former Fairport Convention member Ian Matthews on a band named Hi-Fi. While living in Seattle the group was successful on the club scene and recorded a 5-track live 12" EP in 1981 entitled Hi-Fi Demonstration Record and a studio album in 1983 entitled Moods For Mallards. Both Hi-Fi records were released on First American Records and distribution was mostly limited to the Pacific Northwest region. The small label self-destructed not long after when investors ran into tax trouble with the Internal Revenue Service. In 1990, a reformed version of the band, with only Surkamp and Rayburn from the original line-up along with some contribution from Scorfina, recorded Lost In America for US label Telectro Records, which was re-released worldwide by Rockville Music in 2007, after TRC also having illegally bootlegged it in the late 1990s. On June 26, 2004, a reunion concert with the original lineup, except for Siegfried Carver, took place in St. Louis, Missouri. A version of the band has since toured annually in Europe since 2005. Among other venues, they played the Arrow Rock Festival in Holland 2006 in front of 54,000 people, as well as headlining both the Burg Herzberg Festival in 2007 (12,000 people) and the Woodstock Festival in 2008 (5,000 people). In 2007 the solo album Dancing On The Edge Of A Teacup, by Pavlov's Dog's lead singer David Surkamp, was released by Rockville Music. The band will tour again late 2010 and release a new studio albumn (Echo & Boo). Richard Nadler, the band's violinist (under the stage name Siegfried Carver), died on May 30, 2009. He was 60 years old.
The Strawbs - Little Sleepy stlblair 2010-11-06 | Review by Paul Collins This chameleon of an album sounds more like ten different bands on a compilation than a unified Strawbs effort; fortunately, those ten bands are very good indeed. The album roars to life with spot-on imitations of Peter Gabriel in "To Be Free" and the Who in the windmilling riffs of "Little Sleepy." The bluesy torch song "Absent Friend" features some fine piano work and pensive electric guitar, while drummer Rod Coombes contributes a superbly withering (and still timely) blast at campaign finance and corruption in "A Mind of My Own." Rick Wakeman even shows up to pitch in a harpsichord part on the otherwise goofy throwaway "Tokyo Rosie." Unjustly neglected on its release by fans bewildered by the band's sudden reinvention of its sound, in retrospect this album easily stands among the best of their work.
Pavlovs Dog - Episode stlblair 2010-11-02 | Pavlov's Dog is a 1970s progressive rock/AOR band formed in St. Louis in 1972. Pavlov's Dog originally comprised David Surkamp, Steve Scorfina, Mike Safron, Rick Stockton, David Hamilton, Doug Rayburn, and Siegfried Carver (born Richard Nadler). On their second album At the Sound of the Bell (1976), Tom Nickeson was added to the line-up on guitar and he took over Hamilton's keyboard position after the album had been recorded as Hamilton left the band. Safron was still a member of the band but did not appear on the second album, former Yes drummer Bill Bruford played as a guest musician. Safron left in the aftermath of this, partially due to his failure to receive a promised credit on the album sleeve and the band's third album featured Kirk Sarkisian on drums. The band's debut Pampered Menial was briefly released in 1974 on ABC Records but then quickly re-issued by Columbia Records. The result was that both versions appeared in stores at nearly the same time, which may have confused the public. The album was produced by Sandy Pearlman and Murray Krugman who had found success earlier in the decade producing Blue Öyster Cult. Carver left the band after the release of Pampered Menial. Their second album At The Sound Of The Bell followed on Columbia in 1975. In addition to the personnel changes noted above, a raft of guest artists contributed to the album including jazz saxophonist Michael Brecker and Roxy Music's Andy MacKay. The band recorded a third album in 1977, but due to poor sales of the first two albums, Columbia refused to release it, hastening the band's split. The third album finally appeared as a bootleg in the 1980s, a limited edition pressed from stolen master tapes. It was released under the name The St. Louis Hounds, without Pavlov's Dog's name on the sleeve. The third album finally was released legally in 2007 by German label Rockville Music, titled Has Anyone Here Seen Siegfried?, remastered and including additional 10 bonus tracks of unreleased material from the 1970s. The German label TRC illegally bootlegged the album, with title Third, but this version does not include the bonus tracks. David Surkamp's high-pitched and quickly wavering vibrato has been compared to that of Geddy Lee of Rush. Surkamp once wept openly after losing a table tennis match in St. Louis in 1977. When the band split up in the late 1970s, Surkamp was rumored to be dead, although in fact he was working with former Fairport Convention member Ian Matthews on a band named Hi-Fi. While living in Seattle the group was successful on the club scene and recorded a 5-track live 12" EP in 1981 entitled Hi-Fi Demonstration Record and a studio album in 1983 entitled Moods For Mallards. Both Hi-Fi records were released on First American Records and distribution was mostly limited to the Pacific Northwest region. The small label self-destructed not long after when investors ran into tax trouble with the Internal Revenue Service. In 1990, a reformed version of the band, with only Surkamp and Rayburn from the original line-up along with some contribution from Scorfina, recorded Lost In America for US label Telectro Records, which was re-released worldwide by Rockville Music in 2007, after TRC also having illegally bootlegged it in the late 1990s. On June 26, 2004, a reunion concert with the original lineup, except for Siegfried Carver, took place in St. Louis, Missouri. A version of the band has since toured annually in Europe since 2005. Among other venues, they played the Arrow Rock Festival in Holland 2006 in front of 54,000 people, as well as headlining both the Burg Herzberg Festival in 2007 (12,000 people) and the Woodstock Festival in 2008 (5,000 people). In 2007 the solo album Dancing On The Edge Of A Teacup, by Pavlov's Dog's lead singer David Surkamp, was released by Rockville Music. The band will tour again late 2010 and release a new studio albumn (Echo & Boo). Richard Nadler, the band's violinist (under the stage name Siegfried Carver), died on May 30, 2009. He was 60 years old.
The Charlie Daniels Band - Georgia stlblair 2010-11-02 | Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine Release year - 1975 Four albums in, Charlie Daniels -- now fronting the Charlie Daniels Band -- finally found a way to not just synthesize his various influences, he found a way to streamline them and polish them, turning them into something proudly Southern and redneck yet commercial with Fire on the Mountain. This means that he's toned down the wild, messy eclecticism that he displayed on his ignored debut in favor of a bluesy, jam-oriented country-rock owing a great deal to the Allman Brothers. The change is brought into sharp relief because he revives two of the best songs from Charlie Daniels -- the rampaging rocker "Trudy" and the sweet ballad "Georgia," both given more direct arrangements here; the originals were ragged and right, but these have more of a rock feel, even if they're not as loose as those on the debut. And that pretty much sums up the difference with Fire on the Mountain -- here, Charlie Daniels and his band have fused their Southern-fried country to a rollicking, jam-intensive blues-rock, where it plays like rock but feels like redneck country. It's a rather brilliant move, because it's every bit as jam-oriented as Capricorn bands like the Alllmans or the Marshall Tucker Band (the latter are thanked in the liner notes, while Dickey Betts of the former cameos on this record), but the CDB have yet to give themselves over to playing for the sake of playing (which they soon would with Saddle Tramp). Instead, they focus that energy into the songs, which are all top-notch, and the result is probably the best balance of songs and performances that the Charlie Daniels Band ever did. They would wander into longer jams and Daniels would become unapologetically redneck later, but here the mix is just right, which is why this is the quintessential Charlie Daniels Band album.
Bob Seger - Fine Memory stlblair 2010-01-26 | Beautiful Loser is the eighth album by American rock singer/songwriter Bob Seger, released in 1975. The liner notes credit Nutbush City Limits to the Silver Bullet Band, while the album as a whole is simply credited to only Bob Seger. Side One "Beautiful Loser" 3:29 "Black Night" 3:24 "Katmandu" 6:09 "Jody Girl" 3:41 Side Two "Travelin' Man" 2:41 "Momma" 3:22 "Nutbush City Limits" (Tina Turner) 3:57 "Sailing Nights" 3:18 "Fine Memory" 2:56
Bob Seger - Turn On Your Love Light stlblair 2010-01-26 | Smokin' O.P.'s is an album by American rock singer/songwriter Bob Seger, released in 1972 (see 1972 in music). The album was reissued on CD by Capitol Records in 2005. It is currently the earliest Bob Seger album available on CD. The cover art is a parody of the Lucky Strike cigarette logo. Smokin' O.P.'s refers to Smokin' Other People's Songs, a derivation on the slang phrase "Smoking O.P.'s" meaning to smoke other people's cigarettes exclusively (never purchasing your own for consumption). Most of the tracks on this release are covers of songs written by other artists.
Blood Sweat & Tears - I Love You More Than Youll Ever Know stlblair 2009-06-22 | Child Is Father to the Man is the debut album by Blood, Sweat & Tears, released in February of 1968. Widely regarded as a classic fusion of jazz, rock and roll, psychedelia and classical music, Child Is Father to the Man is one of bandleader Al Kooper's most enduring works. The album introduced the idea of the big band to rock and roll and paved the way for such groups as Chicago. Kooper left the band after this album, changing the nature of the group. Child Is Father to the Man peaked at #47 on Billboard's (North America) Pop Albums chart. It failed to generate any Top 40 singles in the United States, although "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know" and "I Can't Quit Her" found some play on progressive rock radio. In 2003, the album was ranked number 264 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. The title is a quotation from a similarly titled poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins, slightly misquoting a poem by William Wordsworth called "My Heart Leaps Up When I Behold". The album was re-released in the UK in 1973, entitled "The First Album" on Embassy Records, a subsidiary of Columbia Records (catalogue number EMB 31028) with an identical track listing and the same picture on the front of the sleeve. The rear had new sleeve notes written by English DJ, Noel Edmunds.
City Boy - Cigarettes stlblair 2009-06-22 | In the early 1970s Lol Mason, Steve Broughton, Max Thomas and Chris Dunn were playing folk music in the Birmingham area. They toured the clubs of the Midlands until, towards the end of 1975, they decided to turn professional. Meanwhile Broughton had begun to write quite impressive songs. They were offered a recording contract by Phonogram Records on condition that they change their name (they were called "Back In the Band") and add drums and electric guitar. This prompted them to recruit Roger Kent and Mike Slamer. Their first albums failed to impress the audience, although some critics gave quite favourable reviews to City Boy (1975) and Dinner At The Ritz (1976). It was not until 1978, and their hit song "5.7.0.5.", and the subsequent album Book Early, that the public realised their potential. The single reached the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart,[1] achieving also a silver award for 200,000 copies sold, although the album failed to scratch the UK Albums Chart.[1] With complex harmonies co-developed by the band and producer Robert John 'Mutt' Lange, City boy's sound could best be described as an early Def Leppard. Lange would later refine this sound in Leppard's legendary recordings. They were able to repeat their success with their 1979 album, The Day The Earth Caught Fire, and its title song as a single release. This album marked an early recording appearance by Huey Lewis, who played harmonica on the second track 'Only The End of The World'. After that, Broughton left the band, but they had one more successful album with Heads Are Rolling in 1980. Many critics believe this one to be their best, but then their recording contract expired. In 1981 one last record, It's Personal, failed to attract any attention. Most of City Boy's albums were labelled and distributed by Vertigo Records, also known as PolyGram and Polydor. Unable to secure a contract with any of the major companies, the band split up in 1982. Lol Mason formed The Maisonettes in 1982. In the Philippines, the group was briefly popular for another song, "Speechless", the track from the band that played there. In 2000, Jorn Lande covered "The Day The Earth Caught Fire" with Ronni Le Tekro on guitar and Sid Ringsby on bass. In August 2008, several City Boy albums, Book Early, Young Men Gone West, Dinner at the Ritz and the band's self-titled debut, were reissued. It is unclear if the rest of the band's catalogue will be reissued.
City Boy - 5-7-0-5 stlblair 2009-06-21 | In the early 1970s Lol Mason, Steve Broughton, Max Thomas and Chris Dunn were playing folk music in the Birmingham area. They toured the clubs of the Midlands until, towards the end of 1975, they decided to turn professional. Meanwhile Broughton had begun to write quite impressive songs. They were offered a recording contract by Phonogram Records on condition that they change their name (they were called "Back In the Band") and add drums and electric guitar. This prompted them to recruit Roger Kent and Mike Slamer. Their first albums failed to impress the audience, although some critics gave quite favourable reviews to City Boy (1975) and Dinner At The Ritz (1976). It was not until 1978, and their hit song "5.7.0.5.", and the subsequent album Book Early, that the public realised their potential. The single reached the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart,[1] achieving also a silver award for 200,000 copies sold, although the album failed to scratch the UK Albums Chart.[1] With complex harmonies co-developed by the band and producer Robert John 'Mutt' Lange, City boy's sound could best be described as an early Def Leppard. Lange would later refine this sound in Leppard's legendary recordings. They were able to repeat their success with their 1979 album, The Day The Earth Caught Fire, and its title song as a single release. This album marked an early recording appearance by Huey Lewis, who played harmonica on the second track 'Only The End of The World'. After that, Broughton left the band, but they had one more successful album with Heads Are Rolling in 1980. Many critics believe this one to be their best, but then their recording contract expired. In 1981 one last record, It's Personal, failed to attract any attention. Most of City Boy's albums were labelled and distributed by Vertigo Records, also known as PolyGram and Polydor. Unable to secure a contract with any of the major companies, the band split up in 1982. Lol Mason formed The Maisonettes in 1982. In the Philippines, the group was briefly popular for another song, "Speechless", the track from the band that played there. In 2000, Jorn Lande covered "The Day The Earth Caught Fire" with Ronni Le Tekro on guitar and Sid Ringsby on bass. In August 2008, several City Boy albums, Book Early, Young Men Gone West, Dinner at the Ritz and the band's self-titled debut, were reissued. It is unclear if the rest of the band's catalogue will be reissued.
Dave Mason - Dont It Make You Wonder stlblair 2009-06-21 | David Thomas Mason (born May 10, 1946) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Worcester, who first found fame with the rock band Traffic. In his long career, Mason has played and recorded with many of the era's most notable musicians, including Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jackson, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Fleetwood Mac and Mama Cass Elliot. Mason's best known song is "Feelin' Alright?", recorded by Traffic in 1968 and covered by dozens of artists, including Joe Cocker, who had a major hit with the song in 1969. For Traffic, he also wrote "Hole in My Shoe", a kind of psychedelic satire that became a classic in its own right. "We Just Disagree", Mason's 1977 solo hit written by Jim Krueger, has become a staple of Oldies and Adult Contemporary radio playlists.
The Marshall Tucker Band - Foolish Dreaming stlblair 2009-06-19 | Review by Rob Theakston Riding high from such late-'70s classics as "Carolina Dreams" and "Together Forever," the Marshall Tucker Band appeared to be running on full cylinders heading into 1980. With the success and return to their cowboy roots on 1979's Running Like the Wind, many thought the tradition would continue with their next record. That said, Tenth was almost a 90° turn for the band, favoring the slick, warm radio-friendly production and boogie rock à la the Doobie Brothers and other contemporaries. Things only go back to the ranch ever so slightly on the jam-friendly "Cattle Drive," which could easily be backdrop music for a scene on Dallas rather than a "hands-down-back-at-the-ranch" working man's anthem. This isn't the band in their finest form, but it's nowhere near their worst, either. This 1980 release, recently reissued on theWounded Bird imprint in 2005, was the last recording by the Marshall Tucker Band to feature the original lineup. Founding member Tommy Caldwell died tragically a month after the album's release from injuries sustained in a severe automobile accident.
Bob Seger - 20 years From Now stlblair 2009-06-18 | Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine With his seventh album, appropriately titled Seven, Bob Seger delivered one of his strongest, hardest-hitting rock records — the toughest since the days of the Bob Seger System. Not to say that he ever abandoned rock & roll, since Back in '72 was filled with fantastic rockers, but it was tempered with reflective singer/songwriter material. Not here. Even the slowest song, "20 Years from Now," is a steady mid-tempo ballad that showcases the band. Still, that's a rare moment of reflection on a record that opens with "Get out of Denver," the greatest Chuck Berry knockoff ever written, and never loses momentum. Great, raucous rockers pile up one after the other as Seger spins out barroom anthems ("Seen a Lot of Floors"), anti-establishment tirades ("Long Song Comin'," "Cross of Gold"), jokes ("U.M.C. [Upper Middle Class]"), bluesy rock ("All Your Love"), and simple garage rockers ("Need Ya," "School Teacher"). Only nine songs, lasting just over a half-hour, but it's one of the most infectious sets Seger ever cut, proving that he wasn't just a dynamite rocker, but he had the songs to match. And, again, it didn't have any success — it didn't even chart, actually. That doesn't change the fact that this is one of his very best albums.
REO Speedwagon - How The Story Goes stlblair 2009-06-15 | Thanks Jason (jasbigj) for the request R.E.O./T.W.O. is the second LP released by the Illinois based rock band REO Speedwagon. Under the leadership of guitarist Gary Richrath, this album continued the musical direction set on 1971's R.E.O. Speedwagon with Richrath's own classic compositions carrying the record. R.E.O./T.W.O launched REO on its first national tour and presented a more polished production than the band's debut album. The album introduced Kevin Cronin as vocalist and contributing song writer to the band, replacing Terry Luttrell. Highlights of the album include Richrath's "Golden Country," a compelling political statement with possibly his finest guitar solo as well as "Like You Do." Both songs, as well as Cronin's "Music Man," have stood the test of time and are frequently part of the band's current set list.
Rare Bird - Somebodys Watching stlblair 2009-06-15 | Thank you Jason (jasbigj) for the request. Rare Bird was a progressive rock band founded in 1969. They were formed in England, but had more success in other European countries than they did at home. They are mostly remembered for the haunting, organ based track "Sympathy". It sold one million copies globally. The band's initial line-up was as below, although there would be changes by the time they came to work on their third album. The first two members listed were a constant throughout the lifetime of the band. Steve Gould (lead vocals & bass, rhythm guitar) - born 25 March, 1950, Battersea, South London Dave Kaffinetti (pianos & assorted keyboards) - b. 17 April 1946, Folkestone, Kent Graham Field (organ & assorted keyboards) - b. 3 May 1946, Beaminster, West Dorset Mark Ashton (drums & backing vocals) - b. 23 June 1949, Bridge, Kent The history of Rare Bird began when Graham Field placed an advertisement for a pianist in a musical periodical. He got thirty replies and formed a group called 'Lunch'. He met Dave Kaffinetti in November 1968, and together they formulated the basic ideas for Rare Bird. In August 1969, they finally found the ideal rhythm section in Steve Gould and Mark Ashton. Two weeks later, they had signed management and agency contracts, and three weeks later, were in the studio recording their debut album. With Van der Graaf Generator and The Nice, they were one of the very first bands that signed to Charisma Records, the record label that Tony Stratton-Smith had founded.[2] Their late 1969 release "Sympathy" reached #2 in Italy, sold 500,000 copies in France and over one million globally.[1] A 1970 cover version of the track by The Family Dogg, reached number two in the Netherlands. Later members included Fred Kelly (Nic Potter), Ced Curtis, Paul Holland, and Paul Karas on the Epic Forest album with Andy Curtis and Fred Kelly appearing on the album Somebody's Watching. The band finally split up in the mid 1970s.
Billy Joel - Root Beer Rag stlblair 2009-05-17 | Streetlife Serenade was Billy Joel's third album, and his second with Columbia Records. Streetlife Serenade was released in 1974 (see 1974 in music), after the hit songs "Piano Man" and "Captain Jack" from the album Piano Man. The album did not enjoy the financial success of its predecessor, and marked the beginning of Joel's frosty relationship with music critics and the music industry in general. In the song "The Entertainer", Joel mocks the callousness of executives who care little about a musician's artistry or even feelings: "I am the entertainer, I've come to do my show/You've heard my latest record, it's been on the radio/It took me years to write it, they were the best years of my life/It was a beautiful song but it ran too long/If you're gonna have a hit you gotta make it fit/So they cut it down to 3:05" "The Entertainer" reached #34 on the charts. The album contains two songs that featured in many of Joel's live shows. He would regularly open the program with "The Mexican Connection" and finish with the short piano-only (and encore ready) ballad "Souvenir."
The Marshall Tucker Band - Running Like The Wind stlblair 2009-05-14 | Running Like the Wind finds the Marshall Tucker Band returning to their ever popular cowboy theme, with Toy Caldwell's strong, melodic title track, and George McCorkle's "Last of the Singing Cowboys." The music is well-produced, with some fine vocal arrangements from singer Doug Gray. Tommy Caldwell sings the only lead vocal of his career in a heartfelt love song to his wife, "Melody Ann."
Little River Band - Middle Man stlblair 2009-05-14 | This was the last time this popular Australian band released an album that matched the earlier Sleeper Catcher and Diamantina Cocktail. With a mix of harmony-drenched pop tunes and unthreatening rockers, they appealed to a wide audience. This album features some of their most poignant lyrics. You can empathize with Glenn Shorrock when he earnestly sings about the albatross and the whales being his brothers in "Cool Change," this release's standout track. If you haven't heard "Lonesome Loser," you just weren't listening to AM radio in 1979.
Little River Band - Days On The Road stlblair 2009-05-14 | Diamantina Cocktail was the first Little River Band album to make signficant commercial headway in America, peaking at number 49 on the album charts and spawning the hit singles "Happy Anniversary" and "Help is on Its Way." With its laidback, sweet country-rock, the album has a simliar sound to the band's debut, but the melodies are a little sharper and catchier, making the album a better, more fully-rounded collection.
Quicksilver Messenger Service - Shady Grove stlblair 2009-05-11 | Quicksilver Messenger Service is an American psychedelic rock band, formed in 1965 in San Francisco and is considered one of the leading acts on the city's psychedelic scene in the mid-to-late 1960s. Essentially a jam band, Quicksilver Messenger Service gained wide popularity in the Bay Area and with psychedelic rock enthusiasts around the globe. Many of their albums ranked in the top 30 of the Billboard Pop charts. Though not ultimately as commercially successful as their contemporaries Jefferson Airplane and The Grateful Dead, the band was integral to the beginnings of their genre. With their jazz and classical influences, as well as a strong folk background, the band attempted to create a sound that was individual and innovative. Member Dino Valente drew heavily on musical influences he picked up during the folk revival of his formative musical years. The style he developed from these sources is evident in Quicksilver Messenger Service's swung rhythms and twanging guitar sounds. After many years, the band has attempted to reform despite the deaths of several members. With the modest success of these ventures, many members have also attempted solo careers including Gary Duncan, former guitarist of Quicksilver Messenger Service, who has enjoyed a prolific career after leaving the group.
Poco - Bad Weather stlblair 2009-05-10 | Poco is an American country rock band originally formed by Richie Furay and Jim Messina following the demise of Buffalo Springfield in 1968. The title of their first album, Pickin' Up The Pieces, is a reference to the break-up of the Springfield and is the only debut album ever to receive a perfect rating from Rolling Stone Magazine. A favorite of AOR FM stations in the early 1970s, Poco was considered to be a highly innovative and pioneering band. Although the band charted a handful of Top 20 hits, overall their Top 40 success was uneven, and many of their most innovative records were commercially unsuccessful. Throughout the years Poco has performed in various groupings, with the latest version still active today. With 24 original albums and 26 "Best of" and anthology collections, the band boasts a total catalog of 50 releases.
Its A Beautiful Day - Good Lovin stlblair 2009-05-07 | The second long-player from It's a Beautiful Day is an exceedingly more pastoral effort than the band's self-titled debut. As many of the Bay Area groups — most notably the Grateful Dead with Workingman's Dead and American Beauty — had begun to do, the band realigns its sound from the dark psychedelia and proto-prog of its earlier works and into a lighter and earthier country-flavored rock. Marrying Maiden does, however, continue highlighting both the sextet's stellar instrumental proficiencies as well as vocals — featuring the entire band — throughout. "Don and Dewey," the album's opener, is a hot-steppin' spotlight for David LaFlamme's classically trained violin work. Presumably, the tune is an ode to the late-'50s/early-'60s R&B duo of the same name. The track has distinct hints of the concurrent contributions that LaFlamme had been making in an incipient incarnation of Dan Hick & His Hot Licks. It likewise sets the tenor for the remainder of the disc's down-home feel. The cover of folkie Fred Neil's "The Dolphins" is notable for Fred Webb's honky tonk piano fills and LaFlamme's vocals, recalling some of the earliest New Riders of the Purple Sage sides. One of the more solidly unifying factors linking the NRPS and It's a Beautiful Day is the guest appearance by Jerry Garcia, who is featured on two numbers. As he had done on Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's "Teach Your Children," Garcia lends a few distinct pedal steel guitar riffs to the perky "It Comes Right Down to You." The track also features former Charlatan Richard Olsen on, of all things, clarinet. Another sign of the times is the pickin' and grinnin' on the appropriately titled "Hoedown" — on which Garcia adds some fiery banjo fretwork.
Blue Oyster Cult - In Thee stlblair 2009-05-07 | Blue Öyster Cult was the thinking man's heavy metal group. Put together on a college campus by a couple of rock critics, it maintained a close relationship with a series of literary figures (often in the fields of science fiction and horror), including Eric Von Lustbader, Patti Smith, Michael Moorcock, and Stephen King, while turning out some of the more listenable metal music of the early and mid-'70s. The band that became Blue Öyster Cult was organized in 1967 at Stony Brook College on Long Island by students (and later rock critics) Sandy Pearlman and Richard Meltzer as Soft White Underbelly and consisted of Andy Winters (bass), Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser (guitar), John Wiesenthal — quickly replaced by Allen Lanier — (keyboards), and Albert Bouchard (drums), with Pearlman managing and Pearlman and Meltzer writing songs. Initially without a lead singer, they added Les Bronstein on vocals. This quintet signed to Elektra Records and recorded an album that was never released. They then dropped Bronstein and replaced him with their road manager, Eric Bloom, as the band's name was changed to Oaxaca. A second Elektra album also went unreleased, though a single was issued under the name the Stalk-Forrest Group. Cut loose by Elektra, they changed their name again, to Blue Öyster Cult, and signed to Columbia Records in late 1971, by which time Winters had been replaced by Albert Bouchard's brother Joe. Blue Öyster Cult, their debut album, was released in January 1972 and made the lower reaches of the charts. Columbia sent a promotional EP, Live Bootleg, to radio stations in October, and followed with BÖC's second album, Tyranny & Mutation, in February 1973. Their third album, Secret Treaties, was released in April 1974 and became their first to break into the Top 100 bestsellers. (It eventually went gold.) BÖC released a live double album, On Your Feet or on Your Knees, in February 1975. In May 1976, came their fourth studio album, Agents of Fortune, including the Top 40 (Top Ten on some charts) hit single "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" (featured in the classic John Carpenter horror film Halloween), which became their first gold and then platinum album. (On Your Feet went gold shortly after.) BÖC's sixth overall album, Spectres, was released in October 1977 and went gold in January 1978. In September 1978 came a second live album, Some Enchanted Evening, which eventually would become BÖC's second million-seller, followed by the studio album Mirrors in June 1979. A year later, BÖC released its ninth album, Cultosaurus Erectus, with the gold Fire of Unknown Origin, containing the Top 40 hit "Burnin' for You," following in June 1981. In the summer of 1981, drummer Albert Bouchard was replaced by the band's tour manager and lighting designer, Rick Downey. BÖC's third live album, Extraterrestrial Live, was released in April 1982, followed by the studio album The Revolution by Night in October 1983. Downey left in 1984 and was replaced in 1985 by Jimmy Wilcox. The same year, Lanier left and was replaced by Tommy Zvonchek. BÖC released its 13th album, Club Ninja, in January 1986. Bassist Joe Bouchard left in 1986 and was replaced by Jon Rogers. In 1987, Lanier returned to the group, and Ron Riddle replaced Wilcox on drums. BÖC's 14th album, the concept recording Imaginos, became their final new album on Columbia Records in July 1988. BÖC scored the movie Bad Channels in 1992, by which time Chuck Burgi had replaced Ron Riddle on drums. In 1994, Blue Öyster Cult released Cult Classic, an album of re-recorded favorites, in connection with the use of their music in the TV miniseries of horror novelist Stephen King's The Stand. Numerous lineup changes ensued throughout the '90s (as the band kept on touring the world), and in 1995, were the subject of a double disc anthology, Workshop of the Telescopes. By the late '90s, BÖC had signed with the CMC label, resulting in their first album of all-new studio material in ten years, 1998's Heaven Forbid, and three years later The Curse of the Hidden Mirror. The group's music reached a whole new generation of hard rock fans when Metallica covered the BÖC classic "Astronomy" for their best-selling Garage Inc. album in 1998, as a few other best-of collections surfaced around the same time — Super Hits and Don't Fear the Reaper: The Best Of. In 2001, Columbia/Legacy reissued BÖC's first four releases with a newly remastered sound and added bonus tracks.
REO Speedwagon - Say You Love Me Or Say Goodnight stlblair 2009-05-06 | REO Speedwagon's seventh studio album was the first to be produced entirely by lead singer Kevin Cronin and lead guitarist Gary Richrath. The album was REO's first to make the Top 40, peaking at #29. The album sold over 2 million copies in the U.S. which led it to go 2x Platinum. This is the first album to feature Bruce Hall on bass. He replaced Gregg Philbin.
Neal Schon & Jan Hammer - Dont Stay Away stlblair 2009-05-05 | Back for round two, guitarist Neal Schon and keyboardist Jan Hammer united for a collaboration once again — 1982's Here to Stay — barely a year after their debut appeared. Like the debut (1981's Untold Passion), the album is a combination of both player's prog, fusion, and rock backgrounds — although a short songwriting leash prevents most of the tracks from stretching past the four-minute mark. The duo were obviously aiming for the top of the charts with the album-opener (whose accompanying video was quite popular during the early days of MTV), "No More Lies," which sounds like a song tailor-made for Pat Benatar. Elsewhere, Hammer gets to spread his wings on "Time Again," while Schon shows off his hard rocking side with the Zeppelin-esque "Turnaround." Like Untold Passion, Here to Stay was a moderate chart success. But despite its bold title, the album would prove to be the last Schon/Hammer collaboration.
John Lodge & Justin Hayward - Blue Guitar stlblair 2009-05-04 | The most romantic album to come out of the Moody Blues' orbit, and the biggest success of their five-year hiatus. Hayward has the more distinctive body of songs, but their strength as a unit lies in their vocal pairing, which is as strong here as it ever was with the group. The pair play the guitars and basses, backed by a group that includes members of the Threshold-signed band Providence. Hayward wrote or co-wrote seven of the original album's ten songs, and most of it is fairly impressive as soft romantic rock, although "Nights Winters Years" is a little bit too melodramatic. Lodge has one of the better rockers to come out of the group's orbit, however, in "Saved By the Music," which is also a surprisingly spiritual song. The production by Tony Clarke echoes the best Moody Blues sound. The bonus track, "Blue Guitar," is an added attraction to the CD.
Marillion - Kayleigh stlblair 2009-05-03 | Marillion emerged from the short-lived progressive rock revival of the early '80s to become one of the most enduring cult acts of the era. The group formed in Aylesbury, England, in 1979, and adopted its original name, Silmarillion, from the title of a J.R.R. Tolkien novel. Initially, Marillion were comprised of guitarist Steve Rothery, bassist Doug Irvine, keyboardist Brian Jelliman, and drummer Mick Pointer, but after recording "The Web," an instrumental demo, they recruited vocalist Fish (born Derek Dick) and bassist Diz Minnitt. Prior to recording their debut single, "Market Square Heroes," keyboardist Mark Kelly and bassist Pete Trewavas replaced Jelliman and Minnitt. Marillion issued their debut album, Script for a Jester's Tear, in 1983, and on the strength of a relentless touring schedule they won a loyal following. With new drummer Ian Mosley (formerly of Curved Air) firmly in place, they returned to the studio for 1984's Fugazi, which streamlined the intricacies of the group's prog rock leanings in favor of a more straight-ahead hard rock identity; the refinements paid off, and both "Assassin" and "Punch and Judy" became British hits. With 1985's Misplaced Childhood, an elaborate conceptual album reflecting Fish's formative experiences, Marillion earned their greatest success to date; the lush ballad "Kayleigh" reached the number two position on the U.K. charts, and became a hit in the U.S. as well. The follow-up, "Lavender," was also a smash, but the group began crumbling: Fish developed alcohol and drug problems, and egos ran rampant. After 1987's Clutching at Straws (and the 1988 live effort The Thieving Magpie), Fish left the band for a solo career. The initial release of post-Fish Marillion did not substantially alter the sound the band had displayed on Misplaced Childhood and Clutching at Straws. The addition of lyricist John Helmer and lyricist/vocalist Steve Hogarth came after the band had developed much of the musical material for Season's End, and few alterations in style were made. The follow-up, Holidays in Eden, was intended as a more mainstream rock album but failed to attract a wider audience. Marillion's record label, EMI, gave the band a higher budget for the next album and the result of 15 months labor was Brave, a concept album that mixed classic symphonic progressive rock with standard rock. The following release, Afraid of Sunlight, considerably altered the band's approach with great success — it is the most consistent Marillion release to date. Following Afraid of Sunlight, the bandmembers split up briefly to record side projects. Hogarth released Ice Cream Genius under the name H, Rothery formed the Wishing Tree (which produced Carnival of Souls), and Mosley and Trewavas joined Iris for Crossing the Desert. The Rothery and Hogarth projects were both very acoustic in nature, and when the band re-formed for This Strange Engine in 1997, Marillion's style changed again to a softer sound. After the release of This Strange Engine, Marillion scheduled a European tour, but keyboardist Kelly posted an Internet message stating that the band would not tour the United States due to a lack of record company support. Fans of the band worldwide joined forces to raise over $60,000 to underwrite the tour, and the band undertook its largest North American tour since Holidays in Eden. In 1998, the band returned to the studio to record its tenth album, Radiation. Again changing styles, the effort showed the influences of the Beatles and Radiohead, specifically OK Computer. Marillion.com followed in 1999, and the 2000s have thus far seen the release of two additional studio albums, 2001's Anoraknophobia and 2004's Marbles, the latter displaying the influences of both U2 and Pink Floyd.
Les Dudek - Old Judge Jones stlblair 2009-05-03 | Guitarist Les Dudek has played with some of rock and pop's biggest names (Stevie Nicks, Steve Miller, Dave Mason, Cher, Boz Scaggs, and the Allman Brothers Band, among others), in addition to issuing solo albums on his own. Born on August 2, 1957, in Rhode Island, Dudek began playing guitar at the age of 11 (first inspired by such pop hitmakers as Elvis Presley and the Beatles), and only three years later, would sneak into bars to play with bands. It was during his teenaged years that Dudek discovered such blues masters as Freddie, Albert, and B.B. King, as well as such then-modern day blues rockers as Paul Butterfield and Steve Miller. By the early '70s, Dudek was residing in Florida, playing in the obscure group Power, whose keyboard player was friends with the Allman Brothers' Dickey Betts. Soon a friendship was struck up between Betts and Dudek, as Betts contemplated forming a side band in addition to his Allman duties. The duo cut some demos, but the group was disbanded when work on the Allman's classic Brothers and Sisters album got underway. But Dudek was present for the recording sessions, laying down some guitar lines alongside Betts on "Ramblin' Man" and helping co-write one of the Allman's best-known songs, "Jessica" (for which Dudek also played on). After his brief detour with the Allman Brothers, Dudek signed on with Boz Scaggs, playing with him for five years and appearing on the 1976 release Silk Degrees. Dudek became friends with one of his main guitar influences during this time, Steve Miller, leading to a co-headlining tour between Scaggs and Miller, which saw Dudek appearing with both artists each night. (Miller would subsequently record a few of Dudek's original compositions, including "Sacrifice" for his Book of Dreams release, while Dudek also played on Miller's Fly Like an Eagle album.) A planned acoustic tour with just Dudek and Miller was shelved at the last minute, as Dudek returned for a tour with Scaggs. With all this activity, Dudek still found time to sign a solo deal with Columbia Records, issuing four albums between 1976 and 1981 — 1976's self-titled debut, 1977's Say No More, 1978's Ghost Town Parade, and 1981's Gypsy Ride — as well as launching the DFK Band (which saw Dudek joined by keyboardist Mike Finnigan and guitarist Jim Krueger), who issued a lone, self-titled release in 1979. Dudek also played with Cher briefly in the early '80s, as the famous singer attempted to launch a rock-based outfit, Cher & Black Rose, which failed to get off the ground due to record label turmoil. Cher launched her successful movie acting career shortly thereafter and even helped Dudek land a bit part in 1985's Mask as a boyfriend (Cher and Dudek demoed a song for the movie which has remained unissued). Dudek then guested on Stevie Nicks' 1985 release, Rock a Little, and was the guitarist on the album's ensuing tour. The '90s saw Dudek return to his blues roots, as he appeared on Steve Miller's back-to-basics release, 1993's Wide River, and issued his fifth solo release overall, 1994's Deeper Shade of Blues.
Trooper - Two For The Show stlblair 2009-05-03 | Vocalist Ramon McGuire formed Trooper (originally Applejack and later Winters Green) in 1972. By 1974 they had added drummer Tommy Stewart and bassist Harry Kalinsky. After hearing Trooper play, Randy Bachman signed the band for his Legend label and released "Baby Woncha Please Come Home" in 1975. The group's self-titled debut appeared the same year; it was followed by Two for the Show (1976). Soon after, Frank Ludwig became Trooper's piano player and Kalinsky was replaced by Doni Underhill. Ludwig played on Knock 'Em Dead Kid (1977), Thick as Thieves (1978), Flying Colors (1979) and Hot Shots (1979), but was then replaced by Rob Deans. The Last of the Gypsies (1989) and Ten (1991) were the last albums recorded for Warner Music, but Trooper is still active.
Trapeze - Midnight Flyer stlblair 2009-05-02 | Trapeze were an English rock band formed in March 1969, by vocalist John Jones and guitarist/keyboardist Terry Rowley (who named the band), with guitarist Mel Galley, singer/bassist Glenn Hughes, and drummer Dave Holland. The band had a fairly fluid line up, finally dissolving in 1994, and although they never found commercial success themselves, several members went on to join better known bands including Deep Purple, Whitesnake, Judas Priest and Uriah Heep. The core and more familiar line-up of the band was Glenn Hughes, Mel Galley and Dave Holland. After Glenn Hughes' departure in June 1973, Galley and Holland decided to try to keep the band together, which they did with constantly members varying until 1979 when Holland went on to join Judas Priest. At this point the band broke up. Holland tried to revive the band in 1990, after leaving Priest, but the band finally broke up in 1994. Their first three albums remain their best known and most commercially successful.
