Introducing: The Sonic Vault

http://thesonicvault.blogspot.com/

Hello friends!  Well, after some contemplation I have decided to open a new blog for the sole purpose of telling the stories of the many artists I have featured on this very blog over the years, and many others as well.  This site will feature content sourced directly from the artists themselves.  It is a labor of love that I have touched upon over the years and now with the creation of The Sonic Vault, there will be a place to archive this information.  Please take a look, subscribe to the newsfeed and interact with me and others there as we will finally shed light on the artists who have fueled our curiosities for decades.

Coming Soon...

Keep an eye out for a new feature, where I'll be publishing interviews with bands plucked right out of 60's/70's obscurity. I'll still be bringing the rarities, but will also be spending some time bringing you the fascinating stories of these wrongfully overlooked artists from yesteryear. On the immediate horizon, Bike (Detroit, MI) and Butch (Utica, NY). I'm working on Crystal Haze (Decatur, IL) and Fyter (Little Rock, AR) for future articles. This should be informative and interesting. I have several others lined up and quite a few I'm pursuing as well. 2011 is going to be a GREAT year here at RFR. Rock forth!

Wheatstone Bridge - Bad Connection (1976)

Wheatstone Bridge are one of those bands that few people have any information about. Aside from the fact that the band were based out of Kankakee, IL and recorded this LP in 1976 at Bob Millsap's Ironside Studios in Nashville, there are precious few historical traces left behind. Guitarist, Joe Bright was presumably the creative force behind the band, given that he is credited for almost all of the album's songwriting. It is also safe to say that Bright sang the material, although drummer Kim Berry and producer George Marakas were also credited for some vocal assistance as well. "Bad Connection" was issued in 1976 by Marakas' publishing/management company, SanRon Music. The album failed to break nationally but in hindsight has found a second life in collector's circles. Acid Archives featured a flattering review of the album and obscurity lovers have raved about if for years.

Musically, the band are a tight well-oiled machine. There's a slight british influence happening in some of the arrangements and a nice blend of distorted and clean guitar tones. Tracks like "Bad Connection", "Make It Rhyme", "Dance The Whole Night Long", "Thunderock" and "Nightflight" all featuring blistering guitars and stand among the best material on the album. There are a couple of ballads present as well that lack the immediacy and impact of the heavier tracks. The production is solid and crisp and the writing is nice and compact. This is definitely one of the better 70's private pressings I've heard in quite awhile. I have no doubt lovers of old-school melodic hard rock will eat this up. Dig this sweet vinyl rip...

320kbps @ http://lix.in/-96d560

Fyre - Pyromancy (1977)

Fyre's story begins in Hays, KS in 1968, upon the dissolution of midwestern beat group The Blue Things. The Blue Things, who had experienced a lineup change, re-dubbed themselves as Fyre and moved to the west coast in the hopes of gaining massive exposure. The band managed to land a contract with Dot Records and embarked on a national tour with Them, but by early 1970 the band had dissolved with some members staying in California and others relocating back to Kansas. Several years later in Emphoria, KS Fyre were resurrected with a mostly revamped lineup and were packing clubs all over Kansas as well as select venues in Hollywood. By mid-'77, the band were holed up in Leon Russell's home studio tracking their debut LP, "Pyromancy". Upon its release, Billboard magazine were singing the band's praises and expectations were high. However, limited distribution in some markets kept the album from breaking big nationwide and as the 80's were approaching, not much was heard from Fyre. It is presumed the band split sometime early in the new decade. Since then, Fyre embarked on a reunion tour in 2007 and even had their own website at one point before vanishing again shortly thereafter. The activities of the members are currently unknown.

Musically, Pyromancy is one schizophrenic affair. The band dabble in AOR, country, boogie, funk and to a lesser extent, hard rock. As would be expected, this kitchen sink approach does not make for a consistent listen whatsoever, but there are a handful of gems worth noting. "L.A. Lady" is a solid AOR styled track, "Musicband" tastefully lifts from the west coast flavorings of bands like Firefall or Pablo Cruise and "6th Avenue" has great energy and tasteful harmonies. Overall though, Pyromancy lacks the strong identity of the heavy hitters of their era making Fyre a minor curiosity for obscurity hounds.

Dig this satisfactory vinyl rip and enjoy the subtle charms of Kansas' Fyre...

320kbps @ http://lix.in/-97d3b7

Bull - It's A Rock & Roll World (1979)

Bull was a band from the mid-Atlantic that played between 1976 and 1980. Ray Pittman started this rock group in early 1976 with Clayton Butchard, Richard Cowles, Chris Link and Ricky Lewis. Clayton quit after two months and Bull became a band of four. The next year saw Bull at every southeastern town from Richmond to Miami. They played 268 nights during their 1st twelve months. A club fire destroyed the band's equipment in June and they paused to re-gear the show. They were back on the road by July. They recorded in the late summer of 1977 two songs called "Better Mean What You Say" and "Sometimes". This got some radio exposure which boosted Bull's popularity. Doug Gilcrest became their manager and was instrumental in attaining new opportunities for Bull.

Interest from record companies came after 1977 and Bull was seen on the bill at some major East Coast concert extravaganzas. Early in the spring of 1978, the band signed a contract with "Wheels Records" and Rod Seagream became the new Bull manager replacing Doug. Terry Garland came aboard as second guitarist the Ray became the group's featured lead singer. Bull recorded an LP in the Fall of 1978 featuring songs written by the band. In early 1979, Bull was a promising new recording act. Their album was released on March 20 and a buzz was in the air of the possibilities. The group carried a four man road crew in 1979 and traveled in a new luxury club van. Wheels Records supplied the band with a state of the art sound system, a new equipment truck and complete lighting gear. Bull LPs, T-shirts, buttons and bumper stickers were sold at shows and at record stores. Bull had its own following and was known as a crowd magnet by the establishments who hosted them. College radio stations played tracks from their LP as Bull experienced its peak popularity. Bull had a large fan base and felt positive about their future. Talk of national sponsorship fueled expectations that Bull was on its way to bigger and better things.

The euphoria ended in August with news of dishonesty and fraud on the part of Wheels Records. Bull canned Rod as manager in September and cut ties with Wheels. The band members felt the air had been let out of their balloon. Bull reorganized in early October with Dale Williams on bass. Ricky went to the west coast making Bull again a quartet. Chris left the band in March 1980 as Mike Mann took over as drummer. Terry left in October of 1980 to join Chris Link, Richard Cowles and Bruce Olsen in forming "The Offenders". Bull ended at that point and Ray started an all new group. The Ray Pittman Band issued an LP of Ray's new songs during 1981(Getcha Some). Terry Garland later became an internationally known solo blues singer/guitarist. Chris and Richard continued playing together in Virginia bands for the next 20 years. Ricky Lewis made a name for himself in California and put together "The Ricky Lewis Band". Chris, Ray and Richard worked together again for two years during the early nineties with The Kingpins. Ray Pittman currently performs with his group,"Julius Pittman & the Revival". All former members of Bull are still playing music today! (Bio taken from the band's myspace tribute page)

This somewhat rare album is chock full of very typical late 70's hard rock, which features a slight southern rock edge. Musically, the band are tight and the production is solid for an indie release from this era. There's some great guitar playing across the board, but the tracks do tend to suffer slightly from rather pitchy vocals. Overall it's a difficult album to praise or condemn, simply because while nothing is mindblowing, there's nothing here cringeworthy either. I recommend everyone visit the fabulous Zosopat blog for a download of Ray Pittman's post-Bull album. In the meantime, dig this HQ transfer from virgin vinyl. Merry Christmas!

320kbps @ http://lix.in/-92e004

Diamond Reo - Ruff Cuts (1978)

Diamond Reo's third and final album marked another stylistic shift in the band's sound. Where their debut was soulful and their sophomore release raucous, "Ruff Cuts" brings in elements of powerpop to the sound, while still retaining some of the edge found on "Dirty Diamonds". The album was their first locally pressed effort as well, being issued by Pittsburgh based Mad Dog Records. The band enjoyed continued regional success, but Nardini's departure in 1979 would prompt a full blown breakup. Members would go on to work as session men as well as involvement in acts like Norman Nardini and the Tigers, The Silencers and numerous local outfits.

"Ruff Cuts" unfortunately suffers from atrocious production, which makes this affair a mixed bag. There are several strong cuts that recall some of the better moments from "Dirty Diamonds", but the muted and muffled sound makes them come across amateurish and clumsy. Quite disappointing. On the upside, there's some real passion in these grooves and tracks like "Electricity" and "Party Girl" are proof. Overall, "Ruff Cuts" may be somewhat low on classic hooks, but the album holds historical importance.

A note about this vinyl transfer. I took a lot of time trying to get this LP to sound great without disrupting the integrity of the original recording. I EQ'd quite a bit, with the intention of bringing out the highs which were sorely absent on the original vinyl. I think it sounds a little better, but you can only 'polish a turd' so much. Your feedback is welcome, as always. Enjoy!

320kbps @ http://lix.in/-94a5c6

Rabbitt - Rock Rabbitt (1978)

South Africa's Rabbitt formed in the city of Pretoria out of the ashes of local favorites The Conglomeration. The Conglomeration (1968-1971) consisted of Trevor Rabin, Neil Cloud, Ronnie Friedman and Allan Rosenberg and were local favorites, winning a Battle of the Bands competition in 1971. Despite squeaking out a single, "Locomotive Breath" in 1972, the band (now calling themselves Rabbitt) effectively split when Cloud joined the South African Army. Two years later, upon Cloud's discharge, Rabin, Cloud and Friedman regrouped adding Duncan Faure to the lineup.

The band landed a record deal with SA label Jo'Burg Records, as well as international licensing through Capricorn Records (US). By late 1975, the band had recorded their debut "Boys Will Be Boys", which became a huge success in their homeland. The band literally exploded onto the scene and by the time their sophomore album "A Croak And A Grunt In The Night" was issued in 1977, Rabbitt were mega-stars. Soon word spread and North American/European promoters were clamoring at the prospect of bringing the band to a whole new level. Unfortunately, the political upheaval occurring in their homeland brought the band's global aspirations to a halt, prompting Rabin to depart. The band soldiered on as a trio, releasing one last album "Rock Rabbitt" in 1978 before splitting later that year.

Rabin later worked as a solo artist, as well as becoming a key member of Yes. Since 1994, he has worked almost exclusively scoring films. Faure would later join the Bay City Rollers (aka The Rollers) before settling in Los Angeles with bands Karu, The Joybuzzers, Blue Bottles and as a solo performer. Friedman has enjoyed moderate success working in production and Cloud toured with Peter Frampton breifly before retiring from the business. He now manages an office furniture company in South Africa.

"Rock Rabbitt" is easily the most difficult to find of the band's three albums & it is also the only album penned exclusively by Faure. With prominent keyboards & glossy production, the album is somewhat of a stylistic departure from the band's eclectic earlier material. There's a lot of Lennon influences throughout as well as some slight touches of early new wave in places. This would be something Faure would bring with him during his tenure with The Rollers. In fact, "Hello And Welcome Home" (as well as b-side "I Was Eleven" released around this time) would be recut in a rearranged form by The Rollers in 1979.

Though I think this is a fine effort by Rabbitt, there is a fragmented feel in most of the tracks here which I think lack Rabin's knack for clever arranging. In any case, here's a long lost relic from South Africa that I think any Rabbitt, Trevor Rabin or BCR fans will find interesting at the very least. Dig in and enjoy this time capsule from 1978!

128kbps @ http://lix.in/-87a7f9

Bike - Bike (1978)

Bike were a short-lived Detroit area based outfit who never really made waves outside of their region. It's a shame, as the these boys could muster up a furious cacophony when given the chance. The band basically released this album on a local label before dissolving among the slew of more established acts of the time. Very little is known about the band's background, though vocalist Don Pierle (brother of Indiana band, McKay's Ray Pierle) was a notoriously charismatic figure on the local scene. It is presumed that Bike's lifespan was a rather short one.

So what about the album? Well, many rarities come and go, but this one is easily one of the best I've heard. Scarcity aside, this album is chock full of anthemic and powerful 70's hard rock of the first rate. With a sound that resembles Left End, one can easily get a sense of the quality found in the grooves of this monolithic hard rock relic. It would be quite difficult to pinpoint a highlight, as this album is brimming with quality songwriting throughout. There's truly not a weak track in the lot.

I HIGHLY recommend this beast of an album to anyone craving a heavy dose of powerful in your face rock and roll. Though there's nothing here that reinvents the wheel, there's unquestionably a plethora of pounding riffage to behold. Need proof? Dig in and see what this extremely underappreciated band is all about. Being one of the rarest of its kind, you'll surely get a kick out of Bike's one and only album. Courtesy of Harvey M...

LINK REMOVED MOMENTARILY...NEWS TO FOLLOW

Trigger - Trigger Treat (1975)

New Jersey's Trigger formed in 1973 and spent its first three years playing the circuit until landing a production deal with Big Guy Productions in 1976. Within the next year, the band had signed with Casablanca Records and began work on its major label self-titled debut. The album hit shelves in early 1978 and was met with critical praise. Follow up work began on the next album the following year, but production complications halted the release, prompting Casablanca to drop the band from its roster. The band soldiered onward and continued playing in various incarnations until 1985. In 2001, guitarist Jimmy Duggan passed away but the band's loyal fanbase never waivered, which prompted a reunion show on August 16th, 2009. Around this time, "Trigger" was issued on CD for the first time. The remaining members are essentially retired from the business, though there are hopes of additional reunion dates in the near future.

What we have here is "Trigger Treat", the band's semi-legendary and quite rare debut album. Released on the band's own label, Parliament Records, the album circulated around the tri-state area in 1975, helping to increase the band's visibility. Though it did little to capture the band's live sound, it was the impetus in getting the band in touch with major players in the music business. If you own the band's LP from '78, you will be quite surprised at the difference heard here. The band's punchy powerpop sound had yet developed, as "Trigger Treat" sees them trying to find their musical identity. Most of side one is comprised of light fare with a decidedly more pedestrian slant. You'll hear lots of pseudo-disco influences creeping into the arrangements and virtually zero distortion. Side two picks up considerably with the first cut being "Somebody Like You", a primitive version of the track that would later be the first single from their Casablanca album. Most of the highlights are found here, with the standouts being "Little Girl (My Sweet Babe)" and "You Can't Stop Now".

Overall, this album nets only an average rating from me, but there's no denying the demand for this rare slab of homegrown vinyl. Trigger fans will most definitely wanna check this out as well as lovers of mid-fi private LP releases. Whatever your tastes, enjoy this HQ rip of this long lost relic!

320kbp @ http://lix.in/-76eaf2

Crystal Haze - Crystal Haze (1977)

Crystal Haze are mostly shrouded in mystery, however it is known that the band sprang from the Decatur, Illinois sometime in 1975. Basically comprised of high school friends, Crystal Haze tracked their sole album mostly live in the studio with vocal duties being split between the two guitarists, Greg Bickers and Dave Ellis. After a rather slipshod attempt at mixing, the album was pressed as is in extremely limited numbers. It is rumored that only 100 copies were ever pressed. Since the rather low-key release of their debut album, very little has ever been heard of Crystal Haze though it is believed the band continued to gig around the area for another year before dissolving. The band's post-split activities are murky, though Bickers is now fronting local band, The Hitmen in his hometown.

"Crystal Haze" is certainly one of the most elusive mid-70's recordings in existence, fetching insane prices in collector's circles. From a rarity perspective, I can certainly understand the fervor often raised by this album, given how rarely it ever surfaces. What about the music though? Well, let me just say that the fretwork is fantastic. Excellent guitar tones & fiery performances abound here. Overall, the musicianship is pretty solid considering how young the players were at the time. There's some cool dual guitar work here and there as well, which elevates the intensity another notch. Standouts include the opening instrumental, "Flame" as well as two of the mellower tracks, "In The Night" and "Goodnight".

If you are a sucker for homegrown lo-fi 70's rock, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by "Crystal Haze". Tough to peg and elusive as the Dodo, this album's legend is at least somewhat justified. Dig it...

192kbps @ http://lix.in/-6144d3

Re-upped: Bad Boy - Electric Eyes (1984)

Continuing with another entry from Milwaukee's Bad Boy, this is their fourth studio release from 1984, "Electric Eyes". In an attempt to remain relevant among the giants of overblown 80's hard rock, Bad Boy update their sound embellishing it with synth pads and noodley fretwork. Does it work? Well, it does a little but even then, it all comes off a bit third tier in the end. With Xeno (original Cheap Trick vocalist) now at the helm, the melodies are more prominent than ever, but the lack of originality reduces this obscurity to nothing more than a curiosity. There are some strong cuts here, but nothing really has staying power. Regardless, here it is in all its newly ripped digital glory. Bad Boy fans will want to sink their teeth into one of the band's forgotten releases.

LINK REMOVED AT REQUEST OF ARTIST

Re-upped: $27 Snap On Face - Heterodyne State Hospital (1977)

Sonoma County weirdos, $27 Snap On Face, rank among the strangest of west coast cult acts from the 70's. Formed sometime early in the decade by guitarist Bob O'Connor and vocalist David Petri, the lineup was soon complete with the addition of bassist Steve Nelson, guitarist Jim Doherty, keyboardist Frank Walburg and drummer Ron Ingalsbe. Almost immediately, O'Connor and Petri knew they wanted to create something truly bizarre. Though the other members were resistant at first, soon the band were making waves in Sebastopol and its surrounding cities. With over the top performance art integrated into their shows, the band seemed destined for cult status from the get go. The band's history goes blurry from this point onward, though I am aware of at least one single issued in 1975, prior to the "Heterodyne State Hospital" album.

As for this album, well, let's just say it's an acquired taste. Some get it and others don't. I suppose I'm with the latter, though I can appreciate the band's desire to do something unusual. With Zappa flourishes penetrating the music presented here, the album comes across like an inside joke that only a select few were intended to understand. This being said, the listener might often feel a bit alienated by the material here. Sounding like an early Frisco hippie act fronted by Frank Zappa, the focus here is sublime and not so much about musicality as it is lyrical content. The band self-issued 1,000 copies of the album in 1977, though it sounds like it may have been recorded considerably earlier. The band continued for a short time, doing mostly union gigs in the Sonoma County area before eventually calling it a day. O'Connor now lives in Hawaii, Petri is a realtor in Cobb, Walburg runs a vacation community in Santa Rosa and Ingalsbe's whereabouts are unknown. Doherty passed away in 1993.

If weird cult bands are your thing, then you'll surely find something to love about $27 Snap On Face. This elusive piece of west coast psychedelic is, if anything, something you're not likely to ever forget. Enjoy this re-up from 'Gumby'!

224kbps @ http://rapidshare.com/files/284095110/_27_Snap_On_Face_-_Heterodyne_State_Hospital.rar

Bad Boy - Back To Back (1978)

Back again with another entry from Milwaukee's very own Bad Boy. "Back To Back" was the band's final effort for United Artists Records, released in 1978. The album spawned no singles and failed to chart, prompting the label to opt out of extending the band's contract. The band continued playing the midwest for a number of years before finally fizzling in the late 80's. With the imminent release of a greatest hits album in 1998, the band reunited and has been recording and performing ever since.

"Back To Back" is an improvement over the band's debut, featuring more focused songwriting, a harder sound and more direct melodic hooks. "Back To Back" also marks the band's first foray into power pop, a style that would be fully explored on their follow up release, "Private Party". Though there are a handful of somewhat pedestrian cuts, there are some equally compelling tracks to offset them. "It's Alright" is a powerful opening track, with a sound reminiscent of early Trooper. "Always Come Back To You" and "Accidental" are both brimming with hooks lifted from the Raspberries songbook. "No Stopping Me Now" is easily the heaviest track here, with a sleazy guitar tone to die for. All in all, this is a satisfying listen, especially for Bad Boy fans.

Dig this killer 1st gen vinyl rip, de-clicked and EQ'd for maximum effect. You'll be pressed to find a better transfer anywhere else, folks!

LINK REMOVED AT REQUEST OF ARTIST

New Blog!

Be sure to drop in and visit my second blog, Planet Powerpop. If you're a lover of huge hooks and Beatlesque melodies, I'm sure you'll find something to love there. I'll continue blogging here, in addition to the new blog. Eat it up!

Bad Boy - Girl On The Run (1986)

Bad Boy's fourth release came in the form of "Girl On The Run", a five song EP released in 1986. The band opted to release the record on their own label, Legend Records. With the limited distribution that is typical of indie labels, the album failed to launch the band back into the mainstream but it was well-received in parts of the midwest. Over the next few years the band slowly began winding down, as members defected to other area bands and solo projects. In 1998, the band reunited and has been performing locally ever since.

"Girl On The Run" is quite a departure from the band's 70's output, with a strong AOR slant full of embellishments like saxophones and keyboards. The band's grit has been replaced by a slick sheen that was very common for the times. The album's title track is clearly the standout here, though "Hypnotize" and "She Can Drive You Crazy" are also fantastic. Unfortunately, the two remaining tracks fall flat. "Midnight Love" lacks a strong hook and "The Longest Night" comes off sounding very formulaic and stiff. Overall, this is a worthy effort and a fine addition to the Bad Boy musical legacy.

This EP is extremely rare and usually quite expensive whenever it surfaces online. Check out this fantastic vinyl rip I've done and get hip to some rare Milwaukee AOR. You'll dig it.

LINK REMOVED AT REQUEST OF ARTIST

Re-Upped: Bad Boy - Private Party (1981)

Here's another rarity from Milwaukee's legendary Bad Boy. By the time "Private Party" was in record stores, the band had already spent three years struggling to regain its composure after the sudden split from United Artists Records. With their fanatical hometown following keeping them aloft through this lean period, Bad Boy launched Streetwise Records to issue their third album in 1981. Though the album gained them newfound critical acclaim, it was not enough to launch them into superstar status. The band slagged it out in the midwest for another five years before finally giving up the ghost. A resurgence in interest eventually inspired a reunion in 1998 and the band can still be found conquering venues in their region today.

"Private Party" is an astonishing accomplishment, especially considering the climate in which this album was created. Few commercially successful acts ever have the fortune of trumping their most fruitful period of mainstream visibility, much less those who have never quite bridged the gap between being underground and being household names. Bad Boy had spent several years trying to capitalize on the support they were receiving from United Artists, but mainstream success eluded them in every way possible. So, it's quite amazing that their first self-financed album would not only push their songwriting to a whole new level, but also result in a production that glistens with a punishingly clear sheen that rivals any major label's output from the same time period.

The album swaggers with confidence at every angle, complete with charging guitars, heavyhanded rhythms and a charismatic vocal approach that demands your immediate attention from the very first note. "Private Party" is the sound of a hungry band on fire and hellbent on making a powerful musical statement. There are literally no weak tracks to be found here, folks. It's that damn good. With a sound that blends Cheap Trick, Bachman-Turner Overdrive and Kiss, the band blasts through all ten tracks with total gusto. The result is unquestionably the most relevant collection of tracks this band ever laid to tape. Need proof? Check out this fresh vinyl tranfer done by me. It simply blows away the previous version that was available here!

LINK REMOVED AT REQUEST OF ARTIST

Snakeye - Blue Feeling (1975)

Snakeye's debut came in 1975, two years after it had been actually recorded. The band were briefly courted by United Artists Records and the label subsequently issued a single "Choked Up" b/w "Blue Feeling" in 1973, but a full fledged contract never happened, leaving the band with master tapes to an album without a label. Eventually Harold Langille's local label, Big Harold's Records, issued the album in a limited pressing. Though the album did quite well for the band regionally speaking, with limited funds and resources, "Blue Feeling" was ultimately destined for the abyss and that's where it has remained ever since.

It's quite unfortunate too, as this album is a pretty enjoyable melange of styles that range from moody ballads to energetic hard rock. The album opener "See The Sun" is an excellent mood setter, with atmospheric flutes, tight vocal harmonies and a captivating dynamic shift throughout. "Something To Believe In" is one of the highlights, with a funky James Gang vibe firmly in place, it should've been a single. Other cuts worth mentioning are the sizzling title track and "I Can Stand" which sounds like David Byron fronting a southern rock band.

The verdict on this elusive relic is mostly positive. Though there are a few missteps sprinkled throughout, this is by and large a fairly tight and concise set of tracks. Check out this vinyl rip, but be aware that you may hear some very subtle pops on occasion. I labored hard over digitally restoring this one, but the source vinyl was only a VG+ rating. I didn't want to filter too much noise, as it would've compromised the music itself. I think you'll dig this one in any case! Dig it...

320kbps @ http://lix.in/-58c27e

Wizard - Wizard (1979)

Wizard were a Los Angeles based hard rock act which featured brothers Dave Walsh (guitar) and Brian Walsh (drums), as well as Bruffie Brigham (vocals, bass). It's not known when the band was established but their one and only album was self-financed & pressed under the guise of their own label, Future Track Records. The album circulated in nearby shops for awhile before disappearing completely. As the new decade approached, the band fizzled and Brigham moved on to Masque and later worked as a session player. The Walsh brothers activities are unknown.

This album has been fetching ridiculous prices at collector fairs and online auctions for a number of years now and I can't help but wonder why. Sure, the musicianship is decent enough and the songwriting isn't completely terrible by any means but methinks this is a clear case of hype over substance. The production here is half the problem, as the dynamics have all but been tossed out the window. What's left is a leaden and somewhat claustrophobic sounding mix that does no justice to the music at all. There have been many Rush comparisons made about Wizard and I just don't hear it at all. Am I missing something here? Overall, this LP is on the low end of "good", barely scraping by on the fact that there's exceptional musicianship happening here. Otherwise, unless you're a sucker for plodding lo-fi early 80's hard rock, you might want to bypass Wizard.

Unfortunately, this rip leaves alot to be desired. It's fuzzy and part of the opening track has been truncated, but I have seen no alternate rips floating around and until then, this will have to do. Thanks to my friend Orchman, here is Wizard. What do you think?

320kbps @ http://lix.in/-4eacf4

Vinyl For Sale!

Yep, time to start unloading some of my humble collection. I suffered a 450gb hard drive crash recently and all proceeds from this sale will go towards a reliable 1 or 2tb external drive. This makes my 2nd drive crash since 2005 and this one in particular stings! Fear not, alot of my rarities that I've been waiting to post here have been salvaged, so RFR will only get better and more active as I begin reorganizing files and doing write ups as I go. In the meantime, take a look at the vinyl I'm offering below. All LPs are graded conservatively and freight charges will be calculated on your zipcode or postal code. There will be no extra charges and each item will be shipped within 24hrs of payment, so there'll be no excessive waiting! I'm selling on a first come first serve basis, so use my email link at the bottom right margin of this blog to confirm your selection and we'll exchange contact information. Keep in mind that the gradings are for cover/vinyl. Thanks!

Thundermug – Orbit 1972 Axe Recs EX-/EX $12.00

Thundermug – Strikes 1973 Epic Recs EX-/EX $ 8.00

Thundermug – Ta-Daa!! 1975 Mercury Recs EX-/EX+ $12.00

Trooper – Trooper 1975 MCA Recs NM/EX- $12.00

Hello People – Bricks 1975 ABC Recs NM/NM $ 8.00

FM – City Of Fear 1980 Passport Recs EX-/EX- $10.00

Target – Captured 1977 A&M Recs EX-/EX- $ 6.00

Growl – Growl 1974 Discreet Recs EX-/EX $10.00

Voyager – Halfway Hotel 1979 Elektra Recs NM/NM $10.00

Glider – Glider 1977 United Artists Recs EX/EX+ $12.00

Flying Squad – Flying Squad 1978 Epic Recs EX-/EX+ $15.00

Baby – Baby 1975 Mercury Recs EX/EX+ $12.00

Baby – Where'd All The Money Go? 1976 Chelsea Recs EX/EX+ $12.00

Christ Child – Hard 1977 Buddah/Arista Recs VG+/VG+$ 8.00

Locust – Playgue 1976 Annuit Coeptus Recs NM/EX+ $12.00

Neon – Neon 1970 Paramount Recs VG+/EX- $ 8.00

The Pirates – Hard Ride 1979 Pacific Arts Recs VG+/EX- $ 6.00

Child – Child 1977 Ariel Recs NM/NM $15.00

Thundermug - Orbit (1973)

I've posted most of Thundermug's recorded output here before, but not their 2nd LP, "Orbit". Prior downloads I've come across from other sources have sounded scratchy and muddy. Not this one, folks. I ripped this myself from clean vinyl and the sound is amazing. The album came in mid '73 and though it was critically acclaimed in Canada, it never made a dent elsewhere in the world. It's a shame, as this is arguably their most cohesive release.

Though the album is notably less experimental as their debut, it makes up for this change in direction by focusing on tighter arrangements and melodies. In fact, later that year Epic records issued a Thundermug compilation LP which contained all but three cuts from this release. Yes, it's that strong. If you are a Thundermug fan or just enjoy clever melodic power pop/hard rock, you will be more tha satisfied with "Orbit". Click the link below and give your ears a taste of one of Canada's best kept secrets.

320kbps @ http://lix.in/-464be8

The Hello People - Bricks (1975)

I'm back with another post from The Hello People, this one being their final release from 1975, "Bricks". By this point, the band had been pruned down to a quartet and streamlined their musical approach considerably. Under the direction of mentor Todd Rundgren, the band entered the studio in early 1975 and had "Bricks" on store shelves by the summer. Though Rundgren's golden touch had revived many sagging careers of the artists he worked with, The Hello People did not fare quite as well. By early 1977, the band had stopped touring and effectively fizzled by year's end. The post-breakup activities of former members are not known.

If you enjoyed the psychedelic sounds of the band's early albums, you will probably not find much to enjoy with "Bricks". Here we see a pastiche of mellow pop, hard rock and 50's doowop. Though there are highlights such as the perfectly crafted "Pass Me By", which incidentally appeared earlier in a different form on a previous album by the band, most of the material here is rather pedestrian. Despite this flaw, I honestly do enjoy this album from time to time. It's all about moderation folks and this is an album that does not hold up well under repeated listenings. Having said that, this is a relic worth checking out, especially if you are already familiar with the band. Check out this excellent rip from virgin vinyl. Enjoy!

320kbps @ http://lix.in/-488f68

Re-Upped: Baby - Where Did All the Money Go? (1976)

Back again with another entry from Baby, this time being their 2nd and final release, "Where Did All the Money Go?". From the get go, it is apparent that the band has tempered their sound considerably, transforming from a raunchy southern hard rock sound to a slicker, more laid back bluesy rock style. Some will find this change an improvement, but it's impossible not to notice the decline in songwriting present here. I personally prefer the supercharged crunchiness of the debut, but there are a few standouts here. "Easy Street, Hard Luck Avenue" and "Still in Love" are both closer to the band's signature hard rock sound and are two of the better cuts here. To the band's credit, they've added keyboards to the sound and this enhances the dynamics of the songwriting quite a bit. Whatever your preference, this obscurity deserves to be heard and this new transfer I've done from mint vinyl should please fans and newbies alike.

320kbps @ http://lix.in/-3e088c

Re-Upped: Trooper - Trooper (1975)

Trooper's roots trace back to 1965 in the fair city of Vancouver, BC, where Ra McGuire (vocals) and Brian Smith (guitar) honed their chops as the creative force behind eccentric rockers, Winter's Green. Though the band enjoyed success on a marginal level in their native region, it wasn't until 1974 that the duo's new group, Applejack, drew the attention of Randy Bachman. Bachman, having been a pivotal player in the success of numerous bands like The Guess Who, Brave Belt and BTO, was instrumental in giving the band its first taste of national exposure and also their subsequent record contract with his own label, Legend Records. That album was released in 1975, under the band's new guise, Trooper. Immediately the band were placed on high profile tours of the US with BTO, Aerosmith, ZZ Top, Fleetwood Mac, AC/DC and the Doobie Brothers, which did little to bring crossover success for the band in the states. North of the border, however, was an entirely different matter as the band enjoyed two high charting singles and a Juno award that same year.

This success prompted MCA Records to step into the picture and for the next five years, the band issued numerous gold and platinum albums and singles, sold out venues from coast to coast and recieved multiple Juno nominations. It wasn't until 1980 that their success began to wane, which resulted in a revolving door of label deals, sporadic releases and lower profile tours over the next eleven years. Trooper, though in a largely different lineup, continue to tour sporadically in their homeland to this day with McGuire and Smith still at the helm.

This album, their eponymously titled debut, is an excellent introduction to the band. With a perfect musical balance of muscle and levity, "Trooper" is chock full of tasteful classic hard rock. With crunchy workouts in the majority here, the album reigns in the energy only a few times to allow the listener a glimpse at the band's subtle interplay. Highlights include rockers like "Roller Rink", "Eddy Take It Easy", "Baby Wontcha Please Come Home" and "Don't Stop Now", while "General Hand Grenade" serves as an interesting diversion in the proceedings. Of Trooper's recorded output, I consider this to be among the best work the band's ever done. Though there's nothing here that reinvents the wheel, McGuire's articulate raspy vocals and sublime melodies elevate this from plain to exceptional.

Newly ripped by me from an excellent quality copy of the LP. Considering the iffy production of the album, this is a fantastic and clear transfer. All the more reason for you to download and get hip to one of Canada's most beloved classic rock acts.

320kbps @ http://lix.in/-411538

Re-Upped: Locust - Playgue (1976)

This extremely obscure proto arena rock act sprang from Iowa in the early 70's, becoming legendary in their home state while remaining unknown just about everywhere else. Their local fame brought them to Annuit Coeptus Records, who issued their sole release, "Playgue" in 1976. Though the band regularly landed supporting slots for many of the bigger acts touring through Iowa, they never managed to break through to very many other regions outside of the midwest.

So what about the music? Taking on a sound remiscent of Morningstar or early Styx, the band assembles an interesting batch of songs that seem complex in places, yet underdeveloped. With capable vocals, quirky melodies and pitch perfect harmonies, they certainly had the chops to do something spectacular. As it stands, though, "Playgue" is an unremarkably pleasant affair through and through. With lackluster production that sounds more like something engineered in the 60's, alot of the music here suffers from bad sonics. Had the production values been more contemporary, perhaps Locust could have developed their sound more elaborately. The band did split a few years later, frustrated by lack of visibility and not much is known about the members subsequent activities, though bassist Court Hawley would end up in macabre theatrical metal act, Impaler, almost a decade later.

Newly ripped by me from Mint vinyl. This is a huge sonic upgrade from the original posting. In any case, enjoy this HQ vinyl rip and sink your teeth into one of Iowa's few contributions to the AOR genre. Hope you dig it!

320kbps @ http://lix.in/-3f8e6f

Next... - Dusty Shoes (1971)

Winnipeg's Next were an offshoot of regional heroes The Fifth. After a fairly successful run of singles in Canada, The Fifth split in 1970 with several members of the band defecting to other acts in the region. One such product of the split was Next. The band were quickly able to secure a contract with Warner Brothers and by late 1971, "Dusty Shoes" was released. With somewhat limited exposure and very poor distribution, the album sank without a trace and Next were history by the end of 1973. Members would later turn up in The Guess Who, Harlequin and The Litter.

"Dusty Shoes" is very much typical of the era from which it sprang. Overall, it's tastefully arranged organ/guitar driven pseudo hard rock that recalls Grand Funk Railroad quite a bit in places. With the soulfully gritty vocals of George Belanger, everything here has an edge which makes much of the material here sound harder than it actually is. That subtle dynamic is what carries most of this album and makes it a truly satisfying listen. Check out this obscure offering from Next, contributed by Orchman. Dig it...

192kbps @ http://lix.in/-3c7f57

Cool Feet - Burning Desire (1976)

Cool Feet are unquestionably one of the most sought after acts from the 70's underground. In fact, their sole full-length release easily fetches a few thousand dollars each time a clean copy surfaces online. Not much is known about this band, but the quartet formed in the Gutland of Luxembourg sometime in the early 70's. One half of the band were German & the other half British. Their self-titled album was recorded at Dierks Studios. Issued in very limited quantities on the small Pallas label, the album virtually came and went without much fuss at the time, though over time it has gained a nearly unparalleled amount of attention due to its scarcity.

So does this album deserve the hype? Well, let's just say that it's most certainly not the masterpiece one might expect, but it's also much better than a good portion of the relics that collectors tend to lavish praise upon. With a sound that references alot of the early Scorpions material, there's some real worthy music happening here. The vocals are eerily quite similar to Birth Control's own Bernd Noske. It's almost uncanny, really. There's plenty of turbocharged hard rock among the batch of tracks presented, along with a handful of more introspective numbers. One such heavy standout is the ballsy "Hello Lucy", with fantastic vocals & perfect rhythmic pacing. If drawing comparisons is your preference, see bands like Doctor Downtrip, Bastard or Hairy Chapter for other points of reference. Whatever your angle, I'm sure many of you will find something to love about Cool Feet. While we wait for a much needed proper reissue, dig into this decent vinyl rip and hear what all the stir is about.

128kbps @ http://lix.in/-423c9f

Roadmaster - Sweet Music (1978)

In this final entry for Roadmaster, we have the band's 2nd album "Sweet Music". This effort was the first to signal the band's change of artistic direction, which veered away from journeyman boogie to full blown AOR pomp. Nothing signifies this change more than the opening cut, "It Doesn't Mean a Thing". With hooks galore and syrupy synths and strings, it should've been a huge single. Oddly enough, that never happened and it's matters like this that help to explain why Roadmaster never really broke through to the mainstream. Poor promotion, lack of exposure and mismatched touring partners were all to blame and it's a real shame. Needless to say, in the ensuing years since the band's dissolution there has been an all-new appreciation for their music. Whether you dig hard rock, radio friendly ballads or full-blown AOR...Roadmaster had it all. Perhaps it's the bittersweet irony of Roadmaster's fate is what makes them so appreciated in retrospect.

In any case, dig this excellent rip from William and make your Roadmaster collection complete!

224kbps @ http://lix.in/-36d7ec

Mother's Finest - One Mother To Another (1983)

This rare entry is from Atlanta's hard soul pioneers, Mother's Finest. After enjoying moderate success in the 70's as the most powerful multicultural hard rock act on the concert circuit, the band found themselves at a crossroads as musical climates changed in the early 80's. With the failure of 1981's "Iron Age" release and their subsequent ousting from Atlantic Records, the band reconstructed its sound with a decidedly more R&B slant. Soon Epic Records came calling & before the end of 1983, "One Mother To Another" was released. The album was met with indifference almost from the onset, while also suffering from distribution glitches that would essentially derail the band by the middle of 1984. Members went on to work with Blackfoot, Molly Hatchet, The Outlaws as well as enjoying some success as solo artists. 1989 would see the band regrouping and over the next two decades, they've enjoying moderate success despite an inability to establish a solid musical identity.

For lovers of classic Mother's Finest, this album will surely be a real disappointment. This collection of songs rarely deviates from being straight up MOR commercial soul. No rock hard guitar fireworks, no dual vocals, no intense rhythms...nothing. For all intents and purposes, this is a Joyce Kennedy solo album. There are some moments of inspiration here, like "Take Me to the Middle of Your Luv", but for the most part what you find here is flat and devoid of the groove for which this band has always been known.

Due to its rarity, this album deserves to be shared, especially for completists who have never had a chance to hear the band during this transitional phase of their career. Thanks to Nuxx for sharing this ultra-clean vinyl transfer. Dig in and give "One Mother To Another" a spin.

320kbps @ http://lix.in/-404a94

Re-Up Shoutbox

Just a quick update to let everyone know that I've added a shoutbox at the bottom right margin of this page. Since many of the older links on this site have either been deleted by nefarious blog trolls or have simply timed out, I'm proposing the usage of this new feature to resurrect dead links. Many of the albums posted here in 2007 and 2008 are no longer in my personal library. This is due to both a data loss and simple inventory control on my part. I encourage visitors looking for re-ups to make their suggestions in the shoutbox. It will provide some of the regular contributors here an opportunity to possibly fill your requests. Fair enough? Let's try this experiment and see if we can make it work. Keep your eyes peeled for a new posting this week!

Child - Child (1977)

I have very little information about this obscure Seattle outfit, which consisted of Lance Baumgartel, Mick Flynn, Tim Turner and John O'Connor. The band formed in 1969 and spent quite a few years playing the club circuit before finally issuing their self-titled LP on Seattle label, Ariel Records. The band enjoyed local success and issued a few singles before dissolving in 1981. Members went on to production and session work, as well as some sporadic musical activities with bands like Cooltones, The Tim Turner Band and The Mick Flynn Band.

This is an obscurity that has often been sought by collectors over the years. Despite the esoteric cover art, this LP is a collection of strictly meat and potatoes rock. No swirling synths, no flashy organs, no acid drenched guitar tones, no wailing vocals. This is straight down the middle rock, folks. For me, this wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing but this batch of songs really just doesn't stand up on its own. Most of the writing seems half-baked and the vocals come across as a little lazy. There's pretty great guitar work but the weak arrangements fail to capitalize on the band's obvious musical prowess. There are a few uninspired ballads, a few blues workouts and a handful of rock/hard rock cuts. The harder material is easily the best here, particularly "I Just Want to Be With You" which beckons Artful Dodger or late period Raspberries.

I suggest you download this artifact and see for yourself. While certainly not bad, Child isn't exactly setting the world on fire either. Check this rip from virgin vinyl and give Child a spin.

320kbps @ http://lix.in/-3e200c

Updated Wishlist!

Finally just added some titles that I'd forgotten about. If you or anyone you know has any of these titles in a digital format, I'd be grateful for their contributions! Thanks!!!!

Hero - Hero (1977)

Continuing on from my previous Hero post, this is the band's self-titled debut issued by Mercury Records in 1977. Backed by Michael Lloyd's credentials and solid promotion, the band issued two singles from the album, but ultimately american radio wasn't biting. The band subsequently lost their label deal, only to find a new home with 20th Century Records. A stronger followup, "Boys Will Be Boys", came the following year but whatever momentum the band had built before was essentially gone. The band fractured in 1980 with members working both in and out of the business. Guitarist Neil Citron resurrected the band in the mid-80's to no avail.

Unlike the muscular "Boys Will Be Boys", this album was closer to harmless pop than robust hard rock. Listening to this gem, one can't help but notice the almost childlike innocence that lies within most of the tracks. There are plenty of standouts like the hook driven "Taxi Driver", "I'm the King, I'm the Star" and "You Are the People". Conversely, there is alot of filler here as well. Tracks like "I Love the Way You Rock & Roll", "Smile", "Runaway" and "You Cheat" aren't necessarily short on hooks, but certainly lacking any real substance or staying power. Regardless, this album is worthy of modest praise and deserves a place in any 70's pop fanatic's collection. Dig this sweet vinyl transfer and pop till you drop :)

320kbps @ http://lix.in/-3a8fef

Re Upped: Baby - Baby (1975)

Texas hard rockers, Baby, came together in late 1968 as a quintet playing mostly regional high schools. In 1969, the band began stretching out to clubs in the midwest and found themselves gaining quite a following in the process. Within the next year, the quintet underwent a lineup change, bringing hot shot axeslinger Johnny Lee Schell onboard to handle vocals and songwriting. This marked a new beginning for the band, who by this time had adopted a heavier sound. Over the next few years, Baby reigned supreme over the club circuits in the midwest. In 1974, the band financed their own recording and issued their self-titled debut on their own label, Lone Starr Records.

Radio success in the region continued and soon Mercury had licensed the album for national release. Though the material was strong, Baby were unable to break into other markets and soon the album sank without a trace. The following year, Mercury pushed the band back into the studio for another album, "Where Did All the Money Go?". Though the album had its share of decent material, it fared no better and the band were dropped. While in LA on a press junket for the album, the band called it a day and everyone went their separate ways.

Members went on to work with acts like Phantom Blues Band, Taj Mahal, Bonnie Raitt, John Fogerty, Buddy Guy and Melissa Etheridge. Schell also produces acts at his own recording studio and writes film soundtracks. Bassist, Stephen Crane issued a solo album on MCA in 1984.

The album is a pretty solid batch of crunchy Texas boogie, much like early ZZ Top, but with an emphasis on hard rock. Schell's guitar work and vocals are the centerpiece here and rightfully so. The clear standout is "Long Legged Woman", which should've been a huge single for the band. Raunchy, filled with swagger and brimming with energy, the track just rocks from start to finish. The rest of the album is a mix of hard rock and smooth jams, at times bordering on mediocrity but always retaining the band's consistent style and sound. I recommend digging into this one, as it's a mostly satisfying slab of Texas 70's hard rock. Check out this improved vinyl transfer, courtesy of me. Snap it up!

320kbps @ http://lix.in/-316739

Glider - Glider (1977)

Glider were a studio project assembled by former The Lost & Chamaeleon Church (and briefly Ultimate Spinach) guitarist, Ted Myers. He quickly drafted Scott McCarl (Raspberries), Gene Barkin (The Grassroots), Eddie Tuduri (Boxer) & hotshot session men Steve Halter, Jeff Stillman and Jeff Eyrich to round out the lineup. The band were quickly signed in 1976 to United Artists Records and began production at Conway Recorders in Los Angeles. Subsequent sessions continued throughout most of the year at Sound City, Village Recorder, Studio 55, Whitney Recorders and Heider Filmways. Their self-titled album hit store shelves the following year, with lead-off single, "You're Like a Melody" making a valiant attempt at conquering the airwaves. Despite fairly solid songwriting, the single flopped and quickly the album faded into obscurity. The project was seemingly dead in the water before it really began. Members went on to work with Surf Punks, Tanya Tucker, Air Supply, Natalie Cole, Nick Gilder and John Cale. Myers later became a successful songwriter before eventually transitioning into A&R work for Rhino & Concord Records.

This nugget has been a curiosity for many AOR lovers over the last three decades. With a lavish front cover (courtesy Annie Neilson), one could only assume this is an exercise in pretentious pomp. Well, there's good news and there's bad news. The good news is this is NOT pretentious pomp. The bad news is that it's not a mindblowing collection of lost AOR classics either. Honestly what we have here is a decent batch of mostly MOR 70's pop. Nothing terrible, but nothing really commanding your attention either. To Myers' credit, the writing here is mostly good, but his occasionally tuneless vocal delivery does tend to dull the edges a bit. There are big standouts though...such as the cynical "It's Too Bad", the rootsy "Always the Last One to Know" & my personal favorite "You're Like a Melody". The track bears a certain Pete Townsend stamp that seems at odds with the majority of this album's lightweight material.

Ripped by me (with my new USB turntable) from clean vinyl, here is Glider. Listen without prejudice and enjoy...

320kbs @ http://lix.in/-3a66c3

Taggett - Taggett (1974)

Taggett were a british based studio project assembled by fairly well-known players from other british bands. Comprised of Peter Arnesen (If, Daddy Longlegs), Colin Horton-Jennings (Greatest Show on Earth), Terry Fogg (Sounds Incorporated) and Tim Wheatley (Gracious), the band hired Tony Hicks (Hollies) and Alan Parsons to produce and engineer their debut. Landing a short-term contract with EMI Records, their self-titled album was finally issued in the UK in early 1974. The album tanked and the members soon split, but two years later, United Artists had issued the album in the US. Expecting to have the band launch a promotional tour for the album, execs were surprised to find the members working on other projects instead. That was essentially the last that was ever heard from Taggett. Members went on to work in various acts like Ian Hunter, Hollies and The Rubettes.

The album is a rather indistinct batch of songs, though there's nothing particularly bad about it either. With a vibe that veers from pub rock to country rock to folk rock, there's really no cohesive sound present. Arnesen's vocals make some of the tracks feel disjointed at times, but there are some highlights here as well. "Lonely Nights, Lonely Days" is hooky enough and "I'll Be You Anchor Man" has a charming cockney approach that's hard not to like. "Time" is also another strong track that has some creative and subtle time signature changes in places. Aside from these tracks, the remainder is predominantly very laid back and unassuming. Perhaps that's the problem. There's just no strong character in much of this album.

In any case, there's certainly an audience for this kind of thing. It's all a matter of taste, folks. Check out this sweet vinyl rip and judge for yourself...

256kbps @ http://lix.in/-3b3785

Missing?

I've had quite a few inquiries asking where I've run off to. Just dropping in to let everyone know that I'm still around. Honestly, I've been struggling with a number of setbacks as of late which have inhibited my productivity here. I've been getting visits from a few trolls who are trying to use legal harrassment to stifle my posts. I don't know why I've been targeted, but I've seen many of my favorite bloggers close shop because of this kind of thing. On top of that, I am currently using a very faulty DSL connection which makes uploading an absolute nightmare. The first several months of my blogging last year were done using a fantastic cable connection, but things are a little different at the moment. Until I have acquired a better internet connection, my posts will be a bit hit or miss. It's frustrating, but I'm making due until I have better options to work with.

I have quite a few new uploads I want to do, courtesy of a few cool readers and I promise I'll work dilligently to get them up ASAP. I appreciate any contributions some of you have made and continue to make. I WILL get those contributions posted here as quickly as possible. You have my word. Some things you can expect to see here shortly are: Roadmaster, Taggett, Gypsy, Shabby Tiger, Private Eye, Turbo, Trillion, Rox and some really cool super mega rarities that I'd rather leave a surprise for now.

Anyway, that's it for now. I'll see you all soon. I hope the FM repost made a few of you happy, as I know it's been the most requested repost of them all here. Talk to you all very shortly :)

Re-upped: FM - City of Fear (1980)

Unless you're from Canada or just a geek for obscure prog, the name FM will probably not ring a bell. Not to be confused with the UK artists of the same name, this band was formed in Ottawa in the early 70's and went on to release a string of critically acclaimed albums before splitting numerous times in the 80's and 90's. The earliest and most widely recognized lineup featured Cameron Hawkins (vocals/bass/synths), Martin Deller (drums/percussion) and renaissance weirdo Nash the Slash (viola/electric mandolin). This lineup recorded the excellent "Black Noise" album in 1977 only to find Nash embarking on a solo career the following year. In his absence, the now famous songwriter Ben Mink was drafted as his replacement.

Like the previous FM entry here, this also featured Ben Mink. In fact, this was to be his last recording with the band before the return of Nash the Slash a few years later. Personally, I consider this to be the band's finest album. Though it is noticeably more commercial, the excess has been stripped away, resulting in an album full of compact hook driven neo progressive rock. Cameron Hawkins puts in his finest vocal performance ever laid to tape and Mink's sinewy electric mandolin playing brings a very dissonant vibe to the proceedings. The album as a whole is very dark, which compliments the bands sound very well.

Like most of the band's repertoire, this has never been issued on CD. A fire at Passport Records' storage vault destroyed everything within, including the masters to "City of Fear". Considering that this album will likely never see digital conversion, this particular download will be a pleasant surprise for fans. Ripped from pristine vinyl, here it is...."City of Fear".

224kbps @ http://lix.in/-307ba4

Private Lightning - Private Lightning (1980)

Boston's Private Lightning came together in the mid 70's, under the direction of brother/sister musicians, Paul and Patty Van Ness. The band built a respectable following along the east coast and soon the band's manager, Fred Heller, had facilitated a contract for the band with A&M Records. The band were jetted off to Monserrat where they spent the next month crafting their debut. It was a short time later before the band were finally able to hear the finished product, which took place at their record release party. The members were horrified to hear that the rough mix and final mix were completely different, as most of the dynamics were muted and the overall production too brittle and trebly.

The band soldiered on and toured the New England region relentlessly, but A&M had usurped most of the band's promotional budget on many of their more established artists, leaving very little to keep the band on the road. The band began work on demos for their followup album, but things finally came to a halt in 1981. Paul now works in film/video production, Patty is a renowned medieval instrumentalist and the remaining members have worked with The Souls and Hank Decken as well as various roles in production/engineering.

The album is a curious blend of art rock, new wave, power pop and AOR. With fluid violin work permeating each of the tracks, there's a unique vibe happening throughout. I hear similarities to late period FM and even Spy to some extent. There's nothing here that leaves a bad taste in my mouth, but the hooks are average to these ears. No doubt, there's an audience for this album and thanks to Steven, we have a sweet vinyl transfer up for grabs. Take a listen already, eh?

320kbps @ http://lix.in/-2a9d6d

Diamond Reo - Diamond Reo (1975)

Continuing on from my prior Diamond Reo post, this is the band's debut issued by Big Tree Records in 1975. While their sophomore album was on the verge of being proto-metal, this release is considerably more subdued and fluid. Contrary to popular opinion, the album is NOT even remotely close to sounding glam. In fact, there's more of a Clempson-era Humble Pie or Bandit [US] vibe happening here. Though the album is universally panned by classic rock aficionados, I actually prefer this to "Dirty Diamonds" simply because the hooks are more evident throughout. Though it's quite easy to find a clean copy of the album at just about any online merchant, it has been virtually ignored by bloggers...until now. Sink your teeth into this fine contrubtion from Brian and hear Pittsburgh's legendary hard rockers at their earliest stage.

128kbps @ http://lix.in/-2e5c12

Doc Rockit - Doc Rockit (1979)

Spokane, Washington's Doc Rockit came together in 1974. The power trio spent several years in the club scene before finally issuing their self-titled album in 1979 on the Primo Sound label. Despite a clearly impressive effort, the limited pressing fell by the wayside and the band parted ways in 1981. It wasn't until 1989 that the lineup would reunite for their followup album, "Azugi". Though clearly more mainstream, the album failed to gain attention outside of their cult following and Doc Rockit once again dissolved. Fast forward to 2002, when the band regrouped and issued "Tomorrow Child" on their own label. Nothing has been heard from the band since then, though guitarist/vocalist Martin Bond has worked with several area bands and issued a number of recordings with them.

This is powerful guitar driven hard rock that actually sounds like it could've been recorded in the early 70's. Solid songwriting, fluid playing and capable singing all highlight this visceral pounding release, justifying the accolades it has received decades after its initial release. I highly recommend everyone to get a taste of this ultra-obscure hard rock gem. You'll be glad you did. This one comes courtesy of Brian...

256kbps @ http://lix.in/-313ccc

Schloss - Schloss (1975)

Schloss were a shortlived german hard rock power trio comprised of Klaus Luley, Roger Kaeschner and ex-My Solid Ground drummer Willy Waid. Early into their career, they were signed to Germany's Oasis Records, which had recently joined up with Casablanca Records for distribution in the states. In 1975, the band's self-titled debut was released in the US but went virtually unnoticed. The band fizzled by the next year, with Luley later reappearing in Tokyo, Craaft and Douglas. The post-split activities of Kaeschner and Waid are unknown.

This album can best be described as straightforward journeyman hard rock. The music often sounds very american, though Luley's accent is detectable in places throughout. Despite a few titles in their native language, all of the lyrics are sung in english. A slight southern rock vibe permeates much of the album, which seems at odds with the european heritage of the band.

In any case, this one is recommended for curious fans of obscure 70's hard rock. Check out this contribution courtesy of Nils and enjoy!

192kbps @ http://lix.in/-2c9dc7

Charmer - Your Presence Requested (1977)

This mysterious act sprang from FL in the early 70's, essentially as a studio project led by keyboardist Duane Hitchings (ex-Cactus) and his cohort, Mike Pinera (ex-Blues Image). It's believed that this album, comprised of recordings were never intended for release, but Pinera had other plans. The recordings surfaced under the guise of "Charmer" and issued in 1977 on the infamous Illusion Records, a label which was later found to be a cloak for illegal tax activities.

Sporting a sound that blends elements of hard rock and soul, "Your Presence Is Requested" is a fairly decent collection of material, though there's an overabundance of monotonous instrumental jamming sprinkled throughout. If you can get past that, you'll find plenty to enjoy here. Obscurity seekers are encouraged to find their follow up LP, "Do It To It". For now, enjoy the one and only, Charmer.

320kbps @ http://lix.in/-2f2eb3

Azurite - Azurite (1979)

Azurite are a perfect example of why blogging has become such an important resource for serious music aficionados and rarity seekers. Very little is known about this interesting act, though they did form somewhere along the west coast in the mid 70's. The album (of which there are only 500 copies) is believed to have been the band's only recorded output.

Musically speaking, Azurite take equal measures of AOR, hard rock and prog to create a sound that is distinctly their own. Somehow though, much of this record falls short on cohesive creativity leaving the listener with a handful of rather unremarkable songs highlighted by some fierce guitar and decent harmonies. If you enjoyed the self-titled LPs by Gran Max or Karroll Brothers, you might find more to love here than I do. Nonetheless, here it is (courtesy of Olias) in full digital glory!

256kbps @ http://lix.in/-2f2ea9

Awakenings and more...

Ok, so wow...it's been quite awhile since I popped in here for an update. I hope many of you are still out there! Anyway, so after a few months away I've decided to start paying more visits here as I slowly work my way towards fully functional. I have some ideas that will improve your experience here and I do believe that in due time, RFR will benefit greatly from them. It's a work-in-progress, folks.

I'll be posting some new music ASAP, so I recommend subscribing to this feed thru your newsreaders so you can stay on top of activity as it happens. I'm still a ways from daily posts, but at the very least I'm hoping for a weekly post. I hope that will suffice for the time being.

I'll be seeing you all in a flash! Till then...

Not Dead Yet

Just wanted to drop in and let everyone know that RFR is still alive. Due to unforeseen attacks on this site and others, I've had to keep a low profile and rethink exactly how to keep this blog pushing forward in the future. There is a possibility that we'll be securing our own dedicated server to avoid further deletions down the line. I've also been reviewing other file hosts who offer better protection. Additionally, I've been in the midst of a career change, working as a realtor. Between classes, testing & negotiating a contract with a reputable firm, I've been short on time since early January.

Rest assured that RFR will not go down without a fight. I have lots of unfinished business to take care of here and no one will deter me. Please add RFR to your newsreader feeds and standby for forthcoming updates. I'm not dead yet! Thanks for checking in and leaving comments of encouragement. It's crucial to the survival of this site :) See you all soon!