Roadmaster - Roadmaster (1977)

Continuing with another entry from Roadmaster, this is their debut from 1977. This album represents an era of the band that preceded the arrival of premier vocalist, Stephen McNally. This album also sees the band in full-on midwestern basr band mode, complete with the rudimentary vocals of Asher Benrubi. It is also noteworthy to mention that this is the only Roadmaster release to feature drummer, Stephen Riley, who would later join The B'zz, WASP and LA Guns.

The album is a somewhat bland MOR effort, though it does feature some diversity with the presence of saxophones, congas and other percussion instruments. This mixture gives the album a certain latin feel, though it is very subtle. Most of the material here is subpar and beckons the Doobie Brothers in many places. A startling contrast to the quality writing that would be seen on subsequent albums, "Roadmaster" is best viewed as something to provide perspective and the evolution of a band that would go on to greater things later. Released on Village Records, this album has yet to see reissue. Enjoy it here and keep that Roadmaster collection growing!

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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

Roadmaster - Fortress (1980)

Indiana's Roadmaster were a highly skilled quintet who masterfully blended AOR and Pomp Rock with subtle ease. Being a native Hoosier, I can tell you that Roadmaster were true hometown heroes in the mid to late 70's. Taking cues from REO Speedwagon and The Rockets, their self-titled debut album (released on Village Records) was very much typical of the times, though tastefully written and performed. After a year of touring with bands like Molly Hatchet, Angel, Michael Stanley Band and others, Mercury Records stepped in and signed the band in 1978. This marked a noticeable shift in direction as the band (with new frontman Stephen McNally) steered towards a more polished evolved sound, not unlike Styx or Morningstar. By 1980, the band was fully entrenched in the AOR craze spawned by bands like Journey, Survivor, The Babys, etc...

That year, "Fortress" was released and is widely considered the band's creative peak. Whether this is true is up for debate, but there's no denying the potency of the urgent hooks found all over this album. Mysteriously, Roadmaster had lost its footing by this point and Mercury summarily dropped the band the following year. It wasn't until 1989 that the band saw a regional revival and issued another album. This was, once again, followed by a long period of silence until 1994's "One For the Road" hit the racks. This, essentially a one-off reunion concert, acted as a perfect bookend for the band with both vocalists present for their respective contributions to the band's legacy. Four years later McNally passed away and Roadmaster is no more.

Check out this slick slice of arena rock by way of Indianapolis. Roadmaster was simply another one of those bands whose name you should've heard alot more than you actually did.

256kbps @ http://www.megaupload.com/?d=T46PCP4M

Roadmaster - Hey World (1979)

Another Roadmaster post for everyone here. "Hey World" is their third album, which continues their climb from standard midwest hard rock to AOR pomp. The hooks are still very subtle and the keyboards have taken a more prominent role than before. Depending on your preference, that can be good or bad. The band's sound is a bit softer than their previous releases, with an emphasis on pop more than hard rock. I personally consider this an improvement over their two preceding albums, though it doesn't quite stand up to the band's final studio album, "Fortress". In any case, lovers of midwestern arena rock should devour this one up. It's worthy of its entry here and deserves to be revisited all these years later. Enjoy!

224kbps @ http://sharebee.com/2f4e8338

Head East - A Different Kind of Crazy (1979)

I've decided to post yet another Head East album...for two reasons. First, the album was only issued once on CD in the late 80's and only in France. Second, the album is easily the best thing the band ever recorded. Growing up in the midwest during the AOR craze of the 70's, bands like REO Speedwagon, Styx, Roadmaster and The Rockets were the order of the day for midwestern radio. Head East, in particular, were the darlings of these radio stations. Coming off of the mega single, "Never Been Any Reason" in 1975, Head East released a flurry of excellent albums over the next five years. It all peaked in 1979 with this fine album, "A Different Kind of Crazy". Though its success was modest, the band's formula had reached its pinnacle with this release. It's really quite baffling how this incredible collection of songs did not fare better. With superior writing, musicianship and the pitch-perfect vocals of John Schlitt, it just never quite came together more perfectly for the band than it did here. "Gettin' Lucky" from 1977 was a very close second for the band, in terms of quality material.

Oddly enough, the band splintered while touring in support of the album. Schlitt later became born again and fronted Petra through the remainder of their career. Some of the members carried on with Head East to lesser success and are still at it today on the oldies circuit. Bassist, Dan Birney, passed away in 2003 from a cardiovascular condition.

So rather than waiting for A&M to give up the masters and allow Head East an opportunity to resissue this splendid album, I'm offering it here for now. This is a must for 70's AOR lovers!

320kbps @ http://www.megaupload.com/?d=I4EQF3BT