Locust -

Locust was an American hard-rock band that released the 1976 album Playgue on small-press Annuit Coeptis.

Members: Keith Brown (guitar, backing vocals), Dean Davis (drums), Court Hawley (bass, lead vocals), Randy Roseberry (keyboards, lead vocals)

Inception

Locust was an American hard-rock band from Fort Dodge, Iowa. The quartet comprised guitarist Keith Brown, drummer Dean Davis, bassist/vocalist Court Hawley, and keyboardist/vocalist Randy Roseberry. Brown wrote and produced “Hold On to America,” a 1976 Annuit Coeptis promo single on A-203-DJ.

Playgue

Locust released their sole album, Playgue, in 1976 on Annuit Coeptis Records. The album appeared as AC 1004 in the United States.

Keith Brown wrote five songs and co-wrote two with Randy Roseberry. Court Hawley co-wrote two, aided by fifth wheel Dave Hearn on “Let’s Just Say Goodbye.”

Playgue cuts a crisp, layered guitar-keyboard surface with clear separation between piano motifs, vocal accents, bass movement, and treated guitar parts.

“Hesitation” opens on a close-cadence verse with choppy piano under the vocal, then swells into an open bridge as Leslie-treated guitar and backing voices widen the chorus. The piano motif places high-register notes over the tonic while the lower hand interacts with the bass line. “You’ll Never Know” sears through fuzz-toned sustain, dropout passages, and phased guitar layers. The vocal line accents hard vowels without drawn-out phrasing, which gives the track a clipped theatrical edge. The bass line folds under the upper-register distortion while the percussion gains weight near the close.

A1. “Hesitation” (3:28) – Brown
A2. “Let’s Just Say Goodbye” (5:24) – Hawley, Hearn
A3. “You’ll Never Know” (4:05) – Brown
A4. “Madonna” (8:35) – Brown, Dave Steen

B1. “All for You / Turn Around Lady” (5:26) – Brown, Roseberry
B2. “You Should Have Just Cried” (4:09) – Brown
B3. “Outside Chance” (3:27) – Brown
B4. “Hold on to America” (2:46) – Brown
B5. “Blood in the Hand” (3:11) – Hawley, Brown, Roseberry

Locust recorded Playgue between June and September 1976 at West Minist’r Sound Inc. in Otho, Iowa, with producer Michael Adler and producer-engineer Keith Brown. The album was mixed in October 1976 at Music Recorders, Inc. in Los Angeles.

Pen Point Studio created the sleeve graphics. Michael Adler served as executive producer.

Annuit Coeptis issued promo singles of “Hesitation” and “Madonna” (b/w “Let’s Just Say Goodbye”). The Iowan Magic label lifted “Hold on to America” (b/w “You Should Have Just Cried”).

Discography: