The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect is a 1982 album by Todd Rundgren. The album continues the modernized, synth-laden approach of its predecessor, replete with lyrics that further probe the human psyche on several numbers. The angular, neon-toned “Influenza” and the self-harmonized, humorously worded “Don’t Hurt Yourself” are among the highlights. Tracklist: A1. Hideaway A2. […]
Oblivion is a 1983 album by American foursome Utopia. The music refines the player’s recent embrace of hi-tech electronic equipment — a trend previewed on the earlier Swing to the Right LP, as well as on Todd Rundgren’s two most recent solo albums, Healing and The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect. In contrast to the […]
Once Upon a Twilight is a 1968 concept album by Australian beat combo The Twilights. The album culminated from months of painstaking work by the band’s mastermind Terry Britten. The band split soon afterwards when the guitarist/writer scored a gig with Cliff Richard, who covered the track “Take Action” on his 1969 Sincerely LP. Tracklist: […]
The Story of Simon Simopath is a 1967 concept album by English symphonic/psych ensemble Nirvana. Clocking in at just under 30 minutes, the album’s songs are tied together by a plot line, making this possibly the world’s first full-length rock opera, predating similar concept works by The Pretty Things, Small Faces, and The Who. Tracklist: […]
Sallies Fforth is a 1968 album by pop-psych merchants Rainbow Ffolly. Though recorded as a set of demos, EMI found the recordings fit for release. The result is an album of thematic vision akin to The Story of Simon Simopath, S.F. Sorrow, Odgens’ Nut Gone Flake, and Once Upon a Twilight, but with a low-tech, […]
Quatermass is the singular album by the English trio of the same name, released in 1970 on Harvest. Sporting a Hammond-heavy hard rock sound, the music echoes the concurrent work of their fellow Episode Six alumni in Deep Purple. Tracklist: A1. “Entropy” (1:10) A2. “Black Sheep Of The Family” (3:41) A3. “Post War Saturday Echo” […]
Gringo is the singular album by the English pop-rock band of the same name, released in 1971 on MCA/Decca. It features nine harmony-laden band originals with intricate musical passages. The track “I’m Another Man” was issued as a single with the non-album b-side “Soft Mud.” Tracklist: A1. “Cry the Beloved Country” (5:40) A2. “I’m Another […]
Barracuda is the second of two albums by experimental funk-rock combo Quantum Jump, released in 1977 by the Electric Record Company. The album alternates rhythmically convoluted passages with tempered numbers reflective of mastermind Rupert Hine‘s concurrent production work for Scottish trio Café Jacques. Tracklist: A1. Don’t Look Now A2. The Seance (Too Spooky) A3. Barracuda […]
Entertainment! is the debut album by English punk-funk band Gang of Four, released in 1979 on EMI/Warner. The songs match jagged rhythms and piercing fret-work with oblique sociopolitical metaphors. Tracklist: A1. Ether A2. Natural’s Not in It A3. Not Great Men A4. Damaged Goods A5. Return The Gift A6. Guns Before Butter B1. I Found […]
From Genesis to Revelation is the 1969 debut album from English quintet Genesis. Recorded in 1968 while the teenage members were still enrolled at Charterhouse boarding school, the album was produced by eccentric pop maestro Jonathan King. Mood-wise, the album ranges from orchestral melodrama (“In the Wilderness”) and lithe romanticism (“One Day”) to haunting suspense […]
Happy the Man is the 1977 debut album by the American quintet of the same name. A primarily instrumental affair, the music ranges from lucid and pastoral to punctual and frenzied. Tracklist: A1. Starborne A2. Stumpy Meets the Firecracker in Stencil Forest A3. Upon the Rainbow (Befrost) A4. Mr. Mirror’s Reflection on Dreams A5. Carousel […]
I Can See Your House From Here is a 1979 album by English band Camel. The album was produced by ex-Quantum Jump keyboardist/vocalist Rupert Hine, who was just emerging as one of the industry’s most prolific and innovative studio hands (Café Jacques, Anthony Phillips). The band were joined on these sessions by erstwhile Happy the […]
International is the second of two albums by Scottish art-pop/soul trio Café Jacques, released in 1978 on Epic/Columbia and produced by Rupert Hine. The album features nine collectively-penned originals in addition to a cover of the 1933 Harry Warren/Al Dubin chestnut “Boulevard of Broken Dreams.” The original European release closes with the lengthy “Medley” while […]
Round the Back is the first of two albums by Scottish art pop/soul trio Café Jacques, released in 1977 on Epic/Columbia and produced by then-Quantum Jump keyboardist Rupert Hine. Genesis/Brand X drummer Phil Collins guests on four cuts. The album consists of nine originals plus a cover of “Ain’t No Love in the Heart of […]
Adolescent Sex is the debut album by English funk-rock/art-rock quintet Japan. Released on Ariola in April 1978, the album fuses the subterranean buzz of London’s underground haunts with the rhythmic chic of New York’s strobe-laden nightclubs. The songs Wedding the sonics of Eno and concurrent Ultravox to the precision of Kool & the Gang and […]
Deceptive Bends is the fifth album by English art-pop band 10cc. Preceded by the departure of co-founders Kevin Godley and Lol Creme, the songs on this album are performed by the remaining duo of Graham Gouldman and Eric Stewart with help from drummer Paul Burgess and assorted studio personnel. Released in April 1977, the album […]
How Dare You! is the fourth album by English quartet 10cc. Released in 1976, the album sees the four members divide into the exclusive songwriting partnerships of Gouldman/Stewart and Godley/Creme. The latter pair would leave the band soon after the release of this album. Most of the album’s songs are written in through-composed form. A1. […]
The Cock is the singular full-length studio album by the original formation of Italian New Wavers Frigidaire Tango, released in 1982 on Young Records. Recorded in 1981, the album highlights the band’s staccato sound. Tracklist: A1. “Dangerous Echo” A2. “Any Time You Dress So Fine” A3. “Blue & Pink” A4. “Push” A5. “Frigidaire Tango” B1. […]
E=mc² is a 1976 album by French multi-instrumentalist Teddy Lasry. The recording is self-contained, save for the contributions of percussionist André Ceccarelli and Magma bassist Jannick Top, who each help on two tracks. Musically, the album consists of beaming, oscillating Space Age instrumentals. Tracklist: A1. Life A2. Quasar A3. Earth A4. Nebular B1. Birth of […]
Starcastle is the 1976 debut album by the American sextet of the same name. The music is noted for its contrapuntal density among the instrumentalists, each of whom are rendered with tonal clarity by Tommy Vicari’s state-of-the-art production. Side one is dominated by the anthemic “Forces” and the multisectional epic “Lady of the Lake” while […]
