King Harry - Divided We Stand (1977)

Little is known about british trio, King Harry. The band landed a deal with the largely progressive rock oriented label, Harvest Records. Given the label's rich history of progressive artists like Pink Floyd, Barclay James Harvest, Edgar Broughton Band, Kayak, Quatermass, Soft Machine and Be-Bop Deluxe, it comes as quite a surprise that King Harry should appear on their roster in 1977. King Harry was hardly a prog act, though there is a certain quirkiness that puts them outside of mainstream rock. Sounding somewhat like fellow brits, Charlie, the band blends shifting chord structures and time signatures with a rather obtuse sense of melody. The band did tour for a short time in 1978, but virtually vanished after Harvest pulled the plug on their contract. The subsequent and current activities of the members is unknown.

With the exception of the fabulous "Dear Matthew" and "Dressed Up To Kill", most of the tracks are lacking a clear hook. Though this unique sound made for a fairly distinct identity, it certainly did not translate into record sales. Easily found in european record shops, this release is among the more elusive albums here in the states. Since it is unlikely to ever be given the digital treatment, this vinyl rip from Steffen will do nicely. Dig this obscurity straight from the UK.

320kbps @ http://sharebee.com/3b2e41f3

Stonebolt - Juvenile American Princess (1982)

Here it is, the last Stonebolt entry. "Juvenile American Princess", the band's fourth and final album, was released in 1982 and went virtually unnoticed in the states. Canada, however, was a different story as numerous singles came and went with modest success. The next year was spent touring and promoting the album but by the end of 1983, the members amicably laid Stonebolt to rest. Members went on to their own respective projects until reconvening in 1997 for a live appearance and to work on their greatest hits package. Since then, Stonebolt has resurfaced sporadically to perform shows in the Vancouver area.

"Juvenile American Princess" is a decent addition to the band's repertoire, though the material is notably more lightweight than much of their previous output. I would compare this release to their debut, with a less varied approach to the music. There are plenty of hooks to be found here, as evidenced by the compact tightness of tracks like "Slow Dancin", "Are You Listening?" and the title track. Though the band's sense of melody hasn't left them here, many of the songs collapse under the weight of their predictability and MOR tendencies. Whatever the case, this final piece of the Stonebolt puzzle is a must for fans. This clean vinyl rip was contributed by 'Nuxx'. THANK YOU! Enjoy "Juvenile American Princess"...

320kbps @ http://sharebee.com/022bdc48

Contact Update!

Just wanted to let everyone know that I have a new email address, so if you wish to submit a request or contribution for the site, please update your address book accordingly. You can go straight to my email by clicking the link at the bottom right margin of this blog :)

There will be a new posting coming in the next 24hrs, so keep your eyes peeled. We're getting there, folks. I sincerely appreciate your patience and readership! See you in a short while!

A Word On 'Intellectual Property'...

Hello everyone, just wanted to drop in for a quick hello and take a moment to address something that I believe is important in maintaining the integrity of the blogging community at large.

It has recently come to my attention that many of the synopses I have written have been reproduced for both other blogs and also various music websites. I am flattered by this, however, I must ask that IF you choose to use any of the content in this blog, please credit me as such. I am passionate about music and sharing it with others is an integral part of that passion. I work very hard in my research before ever posting my findings here, so it's important to me that my work is properly credited. Crediting those who originate the content of their sites not only creates new traffic to the source site, but it also maintains a healthy relationship between bloggers everywhere.

It has always been my aim to make this site not only a repository for lost music, but also a resource for inquiring minds who want to know about the artists behind the music. It would be easy to blindly throw a handful of download links to the site each day and leave it at that, but Robots For Ronnie exists primarily for glorifying artists who escaped mass recognition and appreciation when it mattered most. Nothing would be more rewarding than knowing an artist has visited here and read your comments. As a musician myself, the true reward of writing and performing music is the appreciation and inspiration reciprocated from the listener. My intent here is to bring these artifacts to light, in the hopes that these talented individuals who have left behind the relics we unearth here, will know that time has not forgotten them. Call it overly sentimental, call it cheesy, but this is important to me. Judging from your feedback, many of you find this to be part of RFR's charm. Mission accomplished!

So, I ask...please, if you wish to use the writings or download links I've posted here, please acknowledge the source as well. It's good etiquette, it's ethical and it's just the nice thing to do. Fair?

I'll see you all in a few days. Much love from RFR :)