Hillary Blaze -

Hillary Blaze was an American space-rock band from Arizona that released the 1977 album Exposure on self-press 30th Century Fox. The lineup included three alumni of the late-Sixties New York psych-pop group Paper Garden.

Members: Sandy Michael (lead vocals, synthesizer), Paul Gran (bass, vocals), Scott Dickson (guitar), Jimmy Tirella (percussion), John Williams (percussion)

Background

Hillary Blaze grew from Paper Garden, a New York quintet active from 1967 with rhythm guitarist and keyboardist Sandy Napoli, lead guitarist Paul LoGrande, and drummer Jimmy Tirella. Musicor issued the Geoff Turner-produced album in 1968 as the quintet’s sole LP. Paper Garden dissolved in the early Seventies.

Napoli adopted the Sandy Michael name, while LoGrande shortened his surname to Gran. The three Paper Garden alumni formed Hillary Blaze with newcomer Mark Nowicki. The new band built a theatrical hard-rock presentation and prepared Exposure for release through 30th Century Fox, the musicians’ own label.

Exposure

Hillary Blaze released their singular album, Exposure, in 1977 on self-press 30th Century Fox.

Nowicki’s departure altered the Exposure lineup. Gran moved to bass, and Scott Dickson took guitar. John Williams added percussion alongside Tirella before replacing him in the performing lineup.

“Opening” surges through electronic passages and symphonic flourishes; searing guitar and a sneering lead delivery sustain metallic bite.

A1. “Opening” (6:33)
A2. “Teaser” (2:33)
A3. “Metropolis” (6:11)
A4. “First Burst of Madness” (5:06)

B1. “Lover” (3:04)
B2. “Razor Baby” (5:44)
B3. “Yes It’s Love” (6:50)
B4. “Electrizion” (6:32)

Hillary Blaze recorded and mastered Exposure in summer 1976 for the 30th Century Fox pressing. Lead singer and former Paper Garden member Sandy Michael produced the sessions, then shared engineering and mixing with Jeffrey Hitz.

The original sleeve places rounded white lettering above a mushroom-cloud photograph.

Rockadrome reissued the album on CD in 2011 from the original tapes. The Rockadrome booklet pairs liner notes by Nicole Napoli with photography by Scott Condray.