Taking Care of Business is an album by American jazz-funk/soulsters the Ted Coleman Band, released in 1980 on JSR Records. “Due Consideration” is marked by rising/falling 3rds within a two-chord (G/Cm) verse sequence. An octave bassline/hi-hat slide accents the chordal arc (E♭/Dm/Gm) of the bridge. The verse theme is reimagined with an enveloped guitar solo, […]
Coincide is the third headlining album by American free-jazz saxist Dewey Redman, released in 1975 on Impulse! The album was recorded on September 9–10, 1974, at N.Y.C.’s Generation Sound Studios. Violinist Leroy Jenkins and bassist Norris Jones (aka Sirone) were cohorts in the Revolutionary Ensemble. Trumpeter Ted Daniel and drummer Eddie Moore round out the combo. […]
Canyon Lady is a jazz-funk album by American saxist Joe Henderson, released in May 1975 on Milestone. Notable players on the album include keyboardist George Duke, trombonist Julian Priester, trumpeter Luis Gasca, and reedists Hadley Caliman and Ray Pizzi. The album was recorded at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, Calif., on October 1–3, 1973. “Tres Palabras” […]
Odyssey is a jazz-funk album by American keyboardist/composer Charles Earland, released in 1976 on Mercury. Notable players on the album include guitarist John Abercrombie, trumpeter Randy Brecker, drummer Norman Connors, and violinists Michał Urbaniak and John Blair. The album was the first of four on Mercury for Earland, who had just wrapped a six-year, 10-album stint […]
Aera Humanum Est is the debut album by German jazz-rock combo Aera, released in 1975 on Erlkönig. The album features six originals composed by guitarist Muck Groh. Harmonic notes and tuning twang presage “Papa Doing,” which coalesces around a sharp soprano sax riff at 2:00. The riff is intermittently overtaken by the clean leads and […]
Artport is an album by the namesake American jazz-rock combo, self-released by the band in 1982 with the catalog number APW-0001. “Don’t Think Do” starts with a tangled mesh of acoustic plucking, interspersed with brisk strums in B. The arrangement is drum-swept into a flurry of scales that momentary crescendo in E-maj7 with harmonic bass notes. “At […]
Cut the Cake is the third album by Scottish soul-funk group the Average White Band, released in June 1975 on Atlantic. The album is their second for the label and the first to feature drummer Steve Ferrone, who stepped in following the death of founding member Robbie McIntosh. Bassist/singer Alan Gorrie and guitarist/singer Hamish Stuart […]
Dai Primitivi All’Elettronica is an album by Italian avant-garde combo Futuro Antico, recorded in July 1980 and released a decade later on Casal Gajardo Records. The album crosses experimental drone music with electronic minimalism and percussive maximalism. It was recorded two months after their self-pressed eponymous cassette. “Piano Synt” starts with sparkling piano filigree on […]
Metro is the debut album by the English art-pop trio of the same name, released in 1976 on Transatlantic Records. The album would be the sole release of the trio lineup fronted by singer/songwriter Duncan Browne, who resumed his solo career the following year. Tracklist: A1. Criminal World A2. Precious A3a. Overture To Flame A3b. […]
Very Special is the first of two solo albums recorded to date by American session vocalist Debra Laws, released in 1981 on Elektra. The album features instrumental contributions from her brothers Hubert and Ronnie Laws, who served as co-producers. Sister Eloise Laws provides backing vocals on the track “Long as We’re Together.” Tracklist: A1. “On My […]
Tomorrow is the homonymous, lone longplayer by the English popsike quartet that featured vocalist Keith West and guitarist Steve Howe. Released in 1968 on Parlophone, the album contains the band’s two 1967 singles, minus the b-side “Claramount Lake.” Tracklist: A1. My White Bicycle A2. Colonel Brown A3. Real Life Permanent Dream A4. Shy Boy A5. […]
Grand Hotel is the sixth studio album by Procol Harum, released in 1973 on Chrysalis. This was their first studio album after the departure of Robin Trower, who is replaced here by ex-Cochise guitarist Mick Grabham. Tracklist: A1. “Grand Hotel” (6:10) A2. “Toujours L’Amour” (3:31) A3. “A Rum Tale” (3:20) A4. “T.V. Ceasar” (5:52) B1. […]
Weekend Rendezvous is the second album by Welsh funk-rock band Racing Cars, released in 1977 on Chrysalis. Tracklist: A1. Swampy (Down By the River) A2. Ticking Over A3. Didn’t I Tell You A4. Clever Girl A5. Weekend Rendezvous B1. Take Me From the City B2. Standing In the Rain B3. Backwater Road B4. High and […]
Crisis? What Crisis? is the fourth album by English symphonic-pop band Supertramp, released in 1975 on A&M. The release was the band’s second to feature the “classic” lineup that premiered on the prior year’s Crime of the Century LP. Tracklist: A1. Easy Does It A2. Sister Moonshine A3. Ain’t Nobody But Me A4. A Soapbox […]
Walk into Light is the first-ever solo album by veteran Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson. Released in 1983 amidst his embrace of hi-tech electronics, the album is a collaborative effort between the singer/flutist and Tull’s then-keyboardist Peter-John Vettese. Serving as a stylistic midway between the synth-enmeshed rusticism of The Broadsword and the Beast and the […]
Airplay is the sole album by the namesake project of producers/composers Jay Graydon and David Foster, recorded with assorted LA studio musicians. Released in 1980 on RCA, the album consists of 10 collaborative originals, two of which had recently been cut by associated acts Earth, Wind & Fire (“After the Love Is Gone”) and the […]
Argent is the debut album by the namesake English art-rock/pop foursome, released in 1970 on Epic. Recorded a year after the band evolved from the ashes of The Zombies, the album bears some of that band’s hallmarks, as heard in the breathy, haunted vocals and smooth, frontal keyboards of “Schoolgirl” and “Dance in the Smoke.” […]
Rupert Holmes is the second album by the namesake American composer, released in 1975 on Epic. Tracklist: A1. Too Scared To Sing A2. Brass Knuckles A3. You Burned Yourself Out A4. Deco Lady A5. I Don’t Want to Hold Your Hand B1. Rifles and Rum B2. Studio Musician B3. Everything Gets Better When You’re Drunk […]
The Beating of Wings is the debut solo album by English pianist/composer Andrew Poppy, released in 1985 on ZTT Records. Tracklist: A1. The Object Is a Hungry Wolf A2. 32 Frames for Orchestra B1. Listening In B2. Cadenza
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 is the fourth album by Kiwi art-rockers Midnight Oil, released in 1982 on CBS. The album was their first to be issued in the Northern Hemisphere, where the band made initial headway with the video for “Power and the Passion” — a medium-rotation clip on […]
Aviator is the first of two albums by the namesake English supergroup, recorded in 1978 and released in 1979 on EMI’s Harvest imprint. Tracklist: A1. Your Loving Is My Home A2. Keep Your Heart Right A3. Evil Eye A4. Time Traveller A5. Silver Needles B1. Cleveland Ohio B2. Country Morning B3. Greed B4. Morning Journey […]
Welsh-Connection is the eighth studio album by Welsh rockers Man. Released in 1976, the album would be the band’s last before their initial split. Tracklist: A1. “Ride and the View” (5:01) A2. “Out of Your Head” (4:04) A3. “Love Can Find a Way” (5:13) A4. “The Welsh Connection” (7:18) B1. “Something Is Happening” (6:21) B2. […]
Skinny Boy is the solo debut album from Chicago keyboardist/vocalist/composer Robert Lamm. Released in 1974, it would be his only solo effort for another 19 years. Tracklist: A1. Temporary Jones A2. Love Song A3. Crazy Way to Spend a Year A4. Until The Time Runs Out A5. Skinny Boy B1. One Step Forward Two Steps […]
Spike is the eleventh album of original material by Elvis Costello, released in February 1989. The album was recorded in four locations — Dublin, London, New Orleans, and Hollywood — with augmented casts of backing players on an assortment of brass and folk instruments. Rapturously received on both sides of the Atlantic, the album and […]
Vital Signs is the fifth album by American rock quintet Survivor. Released in 1984, the album marked the arrival of ex-Target frontman Jimi Jamison, who replaced Dave Bickler as the band’s vocalist. Tracklist: A1. I Can’t Hold Back A2. High on You A3. First Night A4. The Search Is Over A5. Broken Promises B1. Popular […]
Magic Theater is a 1975 album by American pianist/composer Barry Miles, credited here with his backing combo Silverlight. Tracklist: A1. Rebate A2. The Battle A3. Star-Gaze A4. Down to Mirth B1. Finger-Ring B2. I’ve Touched Your Soul B3. Magic Theater
Life in a Day is the debut album by Scottish New Wave band Simple Minds, released in April 1979 on Zoom Records. Tracklist: A1. Someone A2. Life in a Day A3. Sad Affair A4. All for You A5. Pleasantly Disturbed B1. No Cure B2. Chelsea Girl B3. Wasteland B4. Destiny B5. Murder Story Credits: […]
Orion is the singular album by Dutch jazz-rock quartet Panthéon, released in 1972 as part of Vertigo’s famed “swirl” series. Tracklist: A1. “Daybreak” (2:30) A2. “Anaïs” (5:00) A3. “Apocalyps” (10:52) A4. “The Madman” (1:20) B. “Orion” (9:27) Credits: Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Albert Veldkamp Drums, Percussion – Rob Verhoeven Flute, Alto Saxophone, […]
Stories to Tell is a 1974 album by Brazilian vocalist Flora Purim. The release is her third as a solo performer and the second after a two-album stint with Chick Corea’s Return to Forever. Tracklist: A1. Stories to Tell A2. Search for Peace A3. Casa Forte A4. Insensatez A5. Mountain Train B1. To Say Goodbye […]
You Can Fly on My Aeroplane is the sole longplayer from Midwest soul-funk combo Wee, released in 1977. Pressed locally on the namesake label of Columbus, Ohio’s Owl Recording Studios, the album followed a string of 1975–77 singles by the band. Little-heard in its own time, the album was issued in expanded form by Numero […]
The Age of Plastic is the first of two albums by The Buggles, the studio project of Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes. Released in January 1980 on Island Records, the release was preceded by the duo’s version of “Video Killed the Radio Star” — co-written with departed third-wheel Bruce Woolley, who concurrently recorded the song […]
The New One is the second of two albums Danish ensemble Tequila, released in 1976 on Metronome. Tracklist: A1. Galaxy A2. Only You A3. G-Blues A4. The New One A5. Thunder A6. Star-Struck B1. Barbara Ellen B2. Walther Jensen’s Jalisco Chicken B3. Lady of My Life B4. People B5. Bossa Nova, Another Day – Another […]
Ali Baba is the second of two albums by French jazz-rock ensemble Chute Libre, released in 1978 on EMI. Tracklist: A1. “Ali Baba” (5:10) A2. “Trop Tard” (4:45) A3. “Paysages D’Ur” (4:15) A4. “Octopus” (2:48) B1. “Cello” (4:48) B2. “E 330” (5:00) B3. “Flipper Nana” (4:36) B4. “Canaan Part 1” (4:20) B5. “Canaan Part 2” […]
The Black Angel is a jazz-funk album by American trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, released on Atlantic in 1970. It was recorded on May 16, 1969, at NYC’s Regency Sound Studios with keyboards by Kenny Barron. “Coral Keys” Two-note bass figure by Reggie workman, modulates to trumpet theme… hazy, mellow vibe reminiscent of the late 1950s.. full-on […]
Rhythm of Youth is the debut full-length studio album by Quebecois New Wave/synthpop trio Men Without Hats, released in 1982 on Statik/MCA. Tracklist: A1. “Ban the Game” (0:48) A2. “Living in China” (3:04)* A3. “The Great Ones Remember” (4:41) A4. “I Got The Message” (4:44) A5. “Cocoricci (Le Tango Des Voleurs)” (3:24) B1. “The Safety […]
Group 87 is the first of two albums by the namesake American studio-based supergroup. Released in 1980, the album finds the studio trio augmented by drumming virtuoso Terry Bozzio and Austrian producer/musician Peter Wolf. Tracklist: A1. Future of the City A2. Magnificent Clockworks A3. Frontiers 1856 A4. Sublime Feline B1. The Bedouin B2. While […]
Valle del Pasis the third album by Spanish ensemble Granada, released in 1978. Tracklist: A1. No sé si Debo A2. Breve Silueta de Color Carmín A3. Noches Oscuras, Ocas Contentas A4. Himno del Sapo B1. Valle del Pas B2. Calle Betis (Atardeciendo) B3. Ya Llueve Credits: Carlos Basso – acoustic/electric guitar Joaquín Blanco – bagpipes, […]
Raw Power is a 1973 album by The Stooges, credited here with frontman Iggy Pop before the band name. Produced by David Bowie, the release marked the band’s only studio recording to feature guitarist James Williamson. While the album’s mid-tempo blues rock and sludgy vibe was in step with the era’s hard rock trends, the […]
Things May Come and Things May Go, but the Art School Dance Goes on Forever is the first of two albums — both released in 1970 — by English quintet Pete Brown & Piblokto! Issued on EMI’s Harvest imprint, the title-track sets a lightning pace with blazoning fuzz-tones and soaring harmonium amidst cyclonic percussive assaults […]
Picture Book is the 1985 debut album by Mancunian sextet Simply Red. Arresting listeners with the shivery strings and haunting introspection of “Holding Back the Years,” the album reveals a band broadly adept with the 20th century musical lexicon — from the ritzy trumpet-romp “Look at You Now” to the lonely late-night bass-walk “Sad Old […]
Somewhere I’ve Never Travelled is the second album by American symphonic/art-rock band Ambrosia, produced by Alan Parsons and released in 1976 on 20th Century Records. A gala of sound and spectacle, the album spins with the xylophone gusts that course through “The Brunt” and the spiraling ivory of “Danse With Me George.” Earlier on, “Cowboy […]
Slow Dancer is the sixth solo studio album by American vocalist/guitarist Boz Scaggs, released in 1974 on Columbia Records. The lavish sweep of “You Make It so Hard (To Say No)” and the watery glimmer of “Take It for Granted” exhibit a newfound elegance and chivalry from the crooner. Elsewhere, the cutting thrust of “Angel […]
Tilt – Immagini Per Un Orecchio is the 1974 debut album by Italian sextet Arti & Mestieri. From the synth-walled/violin-strewn metric shuffles of “Gravità 9,81” to the guitar/vibraphone filigree of the exceedingly brisk “Positivo/Negativo,” Furio Chirico bombards the proceedings with tome/snare spray of unparalleled speed. Across the epic proportions of “Articolazioni,” the frenzied approach alternates […]
Byzantium is the debut album by the namesake English quartet, released in 1972 on A&M. Across the album’s eight tracks — mostly written by manager Jamie Rubinstein — the young members prove competent on a range of sundry instruments. The scratching licks and fold-out vocal refrain of “What Is Happening” segues into the standstill strum and […]
Frob is the sole album by German instrumental four-piece Frob, released in 1976. Coursing throughout this release are the searing scales of guitarist Philippe Caillat and the machine-gun fills of drummer Peter Meuffels. “Flash” kicks off with a four-note bass gallop in D that is swiftly joined by snare-hyper drums, icy organ keys and the […]
Peter Gabriel — aka the “melting face” album — is the third consecutive self-titled solo album from Peter Gabriel. The album was issued in 1980 by Geffen after having been rejected by the artist’s longtime label Atlantic. Stylistically, the songs experiment with the buzzy, trebly sonorities of the day. Percussive ethno sounds course through “No […]
The Affectionate Punch is a 1980 album by Scottish duo The Associates. Joining the team of Billy Mackenzie and Alan Rankine for this debut offering is Cure frontman Robert Smith, who sings backup vocals on the chordally scrambled title-track. Sporting a clean, refined, and vocally suave sound reflective of the duo’s image, the album is […]
Siren is the fifth album by Euro-style English sextet Roxy Music. Released in 1975, the album — which completes the Jobson trilogy that also includes Stranded (1973) and Country Life (1974) — would be the band’s last before their initial split. Continuing the trilogy’s romanticism of decadence and dissonance, the album is highlighted by the […]
Country Life is the fourth album by Euro-styled English sextet Roxy Music. Released in 1974 at the height of the band’s popularity, the album refines the newfound classicism of its predecessor. With a mood that veers between opulent and ominous, the album is highlighted by the windy vortex of “Out of the Blue,” the searing […]
Stranded is the third album by Roxy Music. Released in November 1973, the album is the first in a trilogy to feature violinist/keyboardist Eddie Jobson, whose lavish classicism refined the band’s sound. The flamboyant exuberance that emblazons “Street Life” is swiftly betrayed by a darker vibe best embodied by the melancholic melodrama of “A Song […]
For Your Pleasure is the sophomore full-length from English sextet Roxy Music. Released in March 1973, the album is their last to feature synthist Brian Eno, who would launch his solo career that same year. Thematically, the album contrasts romanticism and decadence with material that ranges from flamboyant (“Do the Strand”) to fractious (“Editions of […]
Roxy Music is the debut album by the namesake English art-rock band, released in 1972 on Island Records. Despite its muddy production, the album pioneers sonic territory with the effects-laden, expressionistic contributions of the three main soloists. Evoking a mix of film noir and futurism, the music alternates fractured epics (“Remake/Re-model”, “Sea Breezes”) with simmering […]
Todd Rundgren’s Utopia is a 1974 album by Rundgren’s revolving-door studio ensemble, which had come together during sessions for his recent A Wizzard, a True Star and Todd LPs. Expanding on the musical directions of that latter release, the four tracks on this album weave contrapuntal interplay with intergalactic sonics. The 30-minute suite that occupies […]
