Eloise Laws is an American soul singer who released four albums between 1977 and 1982, charting with “1,000 Laughs,” “Number One,” and “Strength of a Woman.” Background Lavern Eloise Laws was born on November 6, 1943, in Houston as the fourth of eight children of Miola Luverta Donahue and Hubert Laws Sr. She grew up […]
Venegoni & Co. were an Italian jazz-rock band that released the 1977–79 albums Rumore Rosso and Sarabanda. Members: Luigi “Gigi” Venegoni (guitar, bass, percussion), Ludovico Einaudi (keyboards), Luca Francesconi (keyboards), Ciro Buttari (percussion, vocals, piano), Pietro Pirelli (percussion), Massimo Aimone (drums) Background Venegoni & Co. formed in Turin in 1977 when guitarist-composer Luigi “Gigi” Venegoni […]
Kahvas Jute was an Australian post-psychedelic hard-rock band from Sydney that released the 1971 album Wide Open on Infinity Records. Members: Dennis D. Wilson (lead vocals, guitar, 1970-71, 1973-74), Bob Daisley (bass, harmony vocals, 1970-71), Tim Gaze (guitar, steel guitar, piano, vocals, 1970-71), Dannie Davidson (drums), Scott Maxey (bass, 1971, 1973-74), Peter Roberts (bass, 1974) […]
Zaine Griff is a singer-songwriter, bassist, and visual artist from New Zealand. He cut two albums with The Human Instinct, then moved to England and released a single apiece with the bands Baby Face and Screemer. As a solo artist, he released the 1980–82 albums Ashes and Diamonds and Figures. Background Zaine Griff was born […]
Ayers Rock was an Australian jazz-rock band from Melbourne that released two albums on Mushroom: Big Red Rock (1974) and Beyond (1976). In 1980, a revised lineup released Hot Spell on Red Rock Records. Formed by storied veterans of the Aussie rock and jazz scenes, they took their name from Uluru, a famous outback formation. […]
Thomas Leer — aka Thomas Wishart (born 1953) — is a Scottish musician and producer who cut the seminal 1978 DIY minimal-wave single “Private Plane,” followed by The Bridge, a collaborative album with guitarist/keyboardist Robert Rental. In 1981, Leer issued the home-recorded EPs 4 Movements and Contradictions on Cherry Red. His first proper album, The […]
Earth Opera was an American psych-rock band from Boston that released the 1968/69 Elektra albums Earth Opera and The Great American Eagle Tragedy. Members: Peter Rowan (guitar, saxophone, vocals), David Grisman (mandolin, keyboards, saxophone, vocals), John Nagy (bass, cello), Paul Dillon (drums, guitar, percussion, vocals), Bill Stevenson (keyboards, vibraphone, 1967-68) Background Earth Opera formed in […]
Chute Libre was a French jazz-rock band that released the 1977/78 EMI albums Chute Libre and Ali Baba. Members: Gilles Douïeb (bass), Olivier Hutman (keyboards), Umberto Pagnini (drums), Mino Cinélu (vocals, percussion), Denis Barbier (flute), Patrice Cinélu (guitar), Pierre-Jean Gidon (saxophone), Eric Letoumeux (saxophone) Background Chute Libre (Free Fall) formed in 1975 in Boulogne-Billancourt when […]
Joe Walsh (born Nov. 20, 1947) is an American guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter from Wichita, Kan., who emerged at the turn of the 1970s in hard-rockers the James Gang, appearing on the albums Yer’ Album, Rides Again, and Thirds. In 1972, he debuted as a solo artist with the ABC Dunhill release Barnstorm, named for […]
Thirsty Moon was a German jazz-rock band that released four albums on Brain between 1972 and 1976, followed by a standalone single on Boccaccio in 1977 and a final album on Sky in 1981. Members: Norbert Drogies (drums, percussion), Michael Kobs (electric piano, organ), Erwin Noack (congas, percussion), Willi Pape (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, clarinet, […]
Subject ESQ. was a German jazz-rock band that released a self-titled album in 1972 on Epic. They reconfigured as Sahara for two further albums during the mid-1970s. Members: Michael Hofmann (flute, alto saxophone, vocals), Alex Pittwohn (jaw harp, 12-string guitar, vocals), Harry Rosenkind (drums, percussion), Peter Stadler (keyboards), Stefan Wissnet (bass, vocals), Peter Markl (guitar, […]
Nosferatu was a German hard-rock/psych band that released a 1970 self-titled album on Vogue Schallplatten. Members: Michael “Mick” Thierfelder (vocals), Christian Felke (saxophone, flute), Michael “Mike” Kessler (bass), Reinhard “Tammy” Grohè (organ), Michael “Xner” Meixner (guitar), Byally Braumann (drums), Michael Winzkowski (guitar, 1968-70) Background Nosferatu emerged under the wing of Peter Hauke, a German rock […]
The Awakening was an American spiritual-jazz ensemble from Chicago that released two albums on the Black Jazz label: Hear, Sense and Feel (1972) and Mirage (1973). Members: Ken Chaney (electric piano, piano, whistle, bells), Frank Gordon (trumpet, flugelhorn), Richard Ari Brown (tenor saxophone, flute), Arlington Davis, Jr. (drums, whistle, bells), Steve Galloway (trombone, whistle, bells), […]
Centipede was an English avant-garde jazz big-band led by pianist Keith Tippett for the 1971 RCA/Neon double-album Septober Energy, comprised of a title-sake improvisation split across four sides. It was produced by Robert Fripp shortly after Tippet’s involvement with the 1970 King Crimson albums In the Wake of Poseidon and Lizard. The 50+ ensemble featured […]
Sherbet was an Australian rock band from Sydney that released seven studio albums between 1972 and 1978 and scored hits with “Summer Love,” “Life,” “Howzat,” and “Magazine Madonna.” They made European inroads with the 1976–77 albums Howzat! and Photoplay (aka Magazine) and recorded their 1978 eponymous album (aka Highway 1) in Los Angeles. Sherbet disbanded […]
The Dramatics were an American soul group from Detroit, formed in 1964. After a string of ’60s local-press singles, they released three albums on Volt between 1971 and 1974, charting with the songs “In the Rain” and “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get.” After a joint album with The Dells, they issued six albums on ABC […]
The Alarm are a Welsh big music band formed in 1981 and first active for ten years. They debuted with an eponymous 1983 EP on I.R.S., followed by five albums, including their 1985 stateside breakthrough Strength. Guitarist–singer Mike Peters reactivated the nameplate in the 21st century. Members: Mike Peters (lead vocals, guitar), Dave Sharp (guitar, […]
Freur was a Welsh synthpop band that released the 1983–85 CBS albums Doot-Doot and Get Us Out of Here. Drummer Bryn B. Burrows played earlier in the Fabulous Poodles. Freur’s nucleus morphed into Underworld. Members: Rick Smith (keyboards, guitar), Karl Hyde (vocals, guitar), Bryn B. Burrows (drums), John Warwicker (synthesizer), Alfie Thomas (bass) Background Freur […]
Loose Ends were an Afro-British soul-funk trio that released the 1984–86 Virgin albums A Little Spice, So Where Are You?, and Zagora and charted with “Magic Touch,” “Hangin’ on a String (Contemplating),” “Slow Down,” and “Stay a Little While, Child.” Their 1988–90 albums The Real Chuckeeboo and Look How Long landed further hits with “Mr. […]
Débile Menthol was a Swiss avant-garde new wave band that released the 1982–85 albums Émile au Jardin Patrologique and Battre Campagne on RēR-affiliate RecRec. Members: Cédric Vuille (clarinet, guitar, drums), Jean 20 Huguenin (guitar, percussion, vocals), Gilles Rieder (drums, bass, percussion, vocals), Patrice Dupasquier (saxophone), Marie Schwab (violin, vocals), Christian Addor (keyboards, bass, vocals), Yvan […]
Humble Pie was an English hard-rock/blues band that released two albums in 1969 on Immediate, followed by six albums and a live double-LP between 1970 and 1975 on A&M. For the length of its run, the band featured ex-Small Faces vocalist/guitarist Steven Marriott, who formed the band with ex-Herd guitarist/singer Peter Frampton, who departed for […]
Blackfoot was an American hard-rock/boogie band from Jacksonville that released the 1975 Island album No Reservations, followed by the 1976 Epic release Flyin’ High. Between 1979 and 1984, they released five Atco albums and scored FM hits with “Highway Song” and “Fly Away.” Members: Rickey Medlocke (vocals, guitar, Dobro, guitar synthesizer, percussion, drums, 1969-97), Charlie […]
Klaus Nomi (Jan. 24, 1944 — Aug. 6, 1983) was a German singer and performance artist based in New York’s East Village. He scored club hits with “Total Eclipse” and “Falling In Love Again” from his 1981–82 RCA Victor albums Klaus Nomi and Simple Man. Background Klaus Nomi was born Klaus Sperber on January 24, […]
Blue Cheer was an American hard-rock band that released six albums between 1968 and 1971 on Philips. They first recorded as a power-trio with guitarist Leigh Stephens, who plays on the 1968 albums Vincebus Eruptum and Outsideinside. The former contains an amplified cover of “Summertime Blues,” often cited as the world’s first heavy metal recording. […]
Buki-Yamaz was a Danish jazz-rock/funk band that made a 1975 self-titled album on Hookfarm, followed by the 1976 Stuk release Segundo. In 1979, they teamed with American vocalist Debbie Cameron for the CBS album Maybe We. Members: Aske Bentzon (flute), Kim Sagild (guitar), Klavs Nordsø (percussion), Mikkel Nordsø (guitar), Henrik Bødtcher (bass), Ethan Weisgard (drums) […]
Parchment was an English folk-rock trio from Liverpool active from 1972 through 1978. The group recorded four albums for Pye, Myrrh and Grapevine. Their 1972 debut single, “Light Up the Fire,” reached No. 31 on the UK Singles Chart. Members: Sue McClellan [aka Sue Mack] (vocals, guitar, mandolin, slide guitar), John Pac (sitar, dulcimer, guitar, […]
Blonde on Blonde was a Welsh folk-rock/psych band that released the album Contrasts on Pye in 1969, followed by the 1970/71 albums Rebirth and Reflections on a Life on Ember Records. Singer/guitarist Ralph Denyer left after the first album to explore brassier territory with the RCA Victor one-off Aquila. Members: Gareth Johnson (guitar, sitar), Les […]
Slack Alice was an English barroom-rock band, led by veteran singer Alice Spring. In 1974, they issued a self-titled album on Philips. Keyboardist John Cook moved on to Kestrel and Midnight Flyer. Spring and bassist Mike Howard reconfigured in new wavers Darling for a 1979 album on Charisma. Members: Alice Spring [aka Sandra Barry] (vocals), […]
Toubabou was a Québécois jazz-funk/soul ensemble that released a 1974 live album on Kot’Ai, followed by the 1975 Barclay studio release Attente. They featured a revolving-door lineup with members of Harmonium and the Ville Emard Blues Band. Members: Michel Seguin (percussion), Lise Cousineau (vocals), Robert Stanley (guitar, 1974-75), Michel Dion (bass, 1974-75), Yvan Ouellet (keyboards, […]
Beggars Opera was a Scottish symphonic/psych band that released four albums on Vertigo between 1970 and 1973 — including the popular 1971/72 efforts Waters of Change and Pathfinder — followed by two mid-decade titles on Jupiter. A return to Vertigo yielded the 1980 album Life Line. A further round of ’80s-era recordings would appear on the […]
Bread Love and Dreams were a Scottish folk trio that released a self-titled album on Decca in 1969. After the departure of bassist Carolyn Davis, singing guitarists David McNiven and Angie Rew continued as a duo and recorded a double album that was split into the 1970/71 albums The Strange Tale of Captain Shannon and […]
The Blue Nile was a Scottish art-pop/sophisti-pop trio that released four albums at lengthy intervals between 1984 and 2004. Formed in Glasgow in 1981, the band debuted with a single that year on RSO. Three years later, the album A Walk Across the Rooftops appeared on Linn/A&M, followed a half-decade later by Hats. The subsequent two […]
Danny Wilson was a Scottish sophisti-pop band that charted with “Mary’s Prayer” from their 1987 Virgin debut Meet Danny Wilson. They scored another hit with “The Second Summer of Love” from their 1989 sophomore release Be Bop Mop Top. Members: Gary Clark (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Kit Clark (multi-instrumentalist), Ged Grimes (bass guitar, keyboards) Background Danny […]
Fingerprintz was a Scottish new wave band signed to Virgin Records. Between 1979 and 1981, they released three albums: The Very Dab, Distinguishing Marks, and Beat Noir. Bandleader Jimme O’Neill also wrote songs for Lene Lovich and later worked with Jacqui Brookes. He and guitarist Cha Burns later reteamed in The Silencers. Members: Jimme O’Neill […]
Pilot was a Scottish pop-rock band, best known for the transatlantic hit “Magic” and the UK/Australian chart-topper “January.” They released four albums between 1974 and 1977, led by the singing/songwriting team of bassist David Paton and keyboardist William Lyall. Alan Parsons produced their first two albums: From the Album of the Same Name and Second […]
Cado Belle was a Scottish soul-funk band that released a 1976 self-titled album and a 1977 EP, both on Anchor. Singer Maggie Reilly sings on the Mike Oldfield hits “Family Man” and “Moonlight Shadow.” Members: Maggie Reilly (vocals), Alan Darby (guitar), Gavin Hodgson (bass), Stuart MacKillop (keyboards), Davy Roy (drums, percussion), Colin Tully (saxophone, flute) […]
The Skids were a Scottish new wave rock band that released four albums and thirteen singles between 1978 and 1981 on Virgin. They scored UK hits with “Into the Valley,” “Masquerade,” and “Working for the Yankee Dollar.” Bill Nelson produced and played keyboards on their 1979 second album Days in Europa. After their 1980 release […]
Stealers Wheel was a Scottish folk-pop band that released three albums on A&M: Stealers Wheel (1972), Ferguslie Park (1973), and Right or Wrong (1975). They scored an international hit with “Stuck In the Middle With You,” performed by their original five-piece lineup. After the first album, songwriters Joe Egan and Gerry Rafferty maintained the band with […]
Writing On the Wall was a Scottish post-psych band that released a standalone single and the album The Power of the Picts on Middle Earth in 1969. Four years later, the band released a one-off single on Pye. Members: Jake Scott (bass, vocals), Jimmy Hush (drums), William “Bill” Scott (keyboards), Linnie Paterson (lead vocals, 1968-70), […]
Big Country are a Scottish rock band formed in 1981 by former Skids guitarist Stuart Adamson. They soared internationally with their 1983 debut album The Crossing and its lead-off single “In a Big Country,” noted for its Celt-tinged e-bow guitar licks; followed by the 1984–88 Mercury albums Steeltown, The Seer, and Peace in Our Time. […]
Berlin Blondes were a Scottish coldwave/New Romantic band that released a self-titled album on EMI in 1980. Members: Steven Bonomi (vocals), Robert Farrell (guitar, synthesizer), Jim McKinven [Jim Spender] (keyboards, synthesizer, 1979-80), David Rudden (bass, 1979-80), Nick Clarke (bass, 1980-81), Steve ‘Stevo’ Jones (keyboards, 1981), Alasdair Gowans (bass, 1981), Brian Miller (drums, 1981), David Freeman […]
Steve Reid (Jan. 29, 1944 — April 13, 2010) was an American jazz drummer and bandleader who made the 1976 albums Rhythmatism and Nova. Background Steve Reid was born on Jan. 29, 1944, in the South Bronx, New York City. His father played piano and organ and had performed with Chick Webb before marriage. Reid’s […]
Neuronium are a Spanish electronic combo from Barcelona, formed in 1976 by keyboardist Michel Huygen. In 1977, the band debuted with Quasar 2c361, their first of two albums on Harvest. Starting with their 1980 album Digital Dream, they released music on the self-run Neuronium Records. Members: Michel Huygen (keyboards), Carlos Guirao (keyboards, guitar, 1976-82), Albert […]
Sweet Smoke was a German-based jam-rock/psych band comprised of expat Americans. In 1970, they released the album Just a Poke on Columbia. After an extended stay in India, they returned with the 1973/74 Harvest titles Darkness to Light and Live. Members: Andrew Dershin (bass, percussion), Jay Dorfman (drums, percussion), Marvin Kaminowitz (lead guitar, vocals, percussion), […]
Dr. Strangely Strange was an Irish folk–psych combo that released the 1969–70 albums Kip of the Serenes and Heavy Petting. Songs for a planned third album later appeared on the archival disc Halcyon Days. Members: Tim Booth (vocals, guitar), Ivan Pawle (bass, keyboards), Tim Goulding (vocals, keyboards), Joe Thoma (fiddle, mandolin, 1980-present) Formation Dr. Strangely […]
Fruupp was an Irish symphonic-rock band that released four albums on Dawn between 1973 and 1975. Members: Vince McCusker (guitar, vocals), Peter Farrelly (vocals, bass), Stephen Houston (keyboards, oboe, cello, violin, 1971-74), John Mason (keyboards, 1975-76), Martin Foye (drums) Inception The band formed in 1971 when guitarist Vincent McCusker enlisted singer/bassist Peter Farrelly, keyboardist Stephen […]
Peggy’s Leg was an Irish symphonic-folk band that was active for three years during the early 1970s. The band released one album, Grinilla, in 1973 on their self-ran Bunch label. A non-album single followed in 1974. The final lineup of the band included original Thin Lizzy guitarist Eric Bell. Members: Jimi Slevin (guitar, vocals, 1972-74), […]
Taste was an Irish blues-rock power trio, active between 1968 and 1970. They made two turn-of-the-decade albums on Polydor before guitarist/singer Rory Gallagher disbanded the group and launched his solo career. Two live documents and a mini-album of unreleased early recordings appeared post-breakup. Members: Rory Gallagher (vocals, guitar, 1966-70), Eric Kittringham (bass, 1966-68), Norman Damery […]
Andwellas Dream was an Irish psychedelic pop trio that released the 1969 CBS album Love and Poetry. As the four-piece Andwella, they released the 1970–71 Reflection albums World’s End and People’s People. Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist David Lewis release three seventies solo albums. Andwellas Dream members: David Lewis (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Nigel Smith [Nigel Portman-Smith] […]
The Whispers were an American soul group from Watts, Calif., formed in 1964. A four-year run of singles on Dore preceded the group’s self-titled album on Soul Clock in 1969. The group released three albums on Janus between 1972 and 1974, followed by a pair of albums on Soul Train in 1976 and 1977. The […]
Syrinx was a Canadian electronic/psych band from Toronto that released the 1970/71 True North albums Syrinx and Long Lost Relatives. They featured ex-Intersystems/Kensington Market keyboardist John Mills-Cockell, who issued multiple solo titles and soundtracks. Members: John Mills-Cockell (piano, organ), Doug Pringle (saxophone), Malcolm Tomlinson (drums, vocals), Allan Wells (percussion) Background Syrinx formed in Toronto in […]
Lou Rawls (Dec. 1, 1933 — Jan. 6, 2006) was an American soul singer from Chicago who began in gospel groups in the early 1950s. He released numerous albums on Capitol during the 1960s, scoring hits with “Love Is a Hurtin’ Thing,” “Dead End Street,” “Show Business,” and “Your Good Thing (Is About to End).” […]
Cardiacs are an English avant-garde rock band, active since the late 1970s. They self-pressed two limited-edition cassette albums, followed in 1984 by The Seaside, their first professional release. In 1988, they scored an indie hit with “Is This the Life” and secured a global cult following with A Little Man and a House and the […]
Wapassou was a French chamber-rock band that released six albums between 1974 and 1986, including the large-scale neo-classical works Messe en ré Mineur and Salammbô. Members: Freddy Brua (keyboards), Jacques Lichti (violin), Karen Nickerl (guitar) Background Wapassou formed in 1972 in Strasbourg with keyboardist Freddy Brua, guitarist/bassist Karin Nickerl, violinist Jacques Lichti, and sound engineer […]
Aunt Mary was a Norwegian post-psych band that debuted with a 1970 self-titled album on Polydor, followed by the hard-rocking 1972 Philips release Loaded and the ambitious 1973 Vertigo opus Janus. Members: Bjørn Christiansen (guitar), Jan Groth (vocals, organ, 1969-72, 1982-2013), Svein Gundersen (bass, 1969-2012), Ivar Lauritzen (drums, 1969-70), Per Ivar Fure (flute, saxophone, 1969-71), […]
Almendra was an Argentine blues-rock/psych band from Buenos Aires that released a self-titled album on RCA Vik in 1969, followed by an eponymous double album in 1970. Guitarist, singer, and songwriter Luis Alberto Spinetta recorded a subsequent solo album, also titled Almendra, then fronted the popular Argentine bands Pescado Rabioso, Invisible, and Spinetta Jade. In […]
Solis Lacus was a Belgian jazz-rock band that released a self-titled album in 1975 on IBC. Members: Michel Herr (electric piano, keyboards, percussion), Richard Rousselet (trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion), Robert Jeanne (tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone), Nick Kletchkovsky (electric bass), Bruno Castellucci (drums, percussion), Félix Simtaine (drums) Background Solis Lacus (Latin for “Sun Lake”) formed in 1974 […]
Riff Raff was an English jazz-rock band that released the 1973–74 RCA albums Riff Raff and Original Man. Pre-contract, they recorded an album that later appeared as Outside Looking In. Keyboardist Tommy Eyre made three subsequent albums with Zzebra. Members: Bud Beadle (saxophone), Aureo de Souza (drums), Tommy Eyre (keyboards, vocals), Pete Kirtley (guitar, vocals), […]
Red Rider was a Canadian hard-rock band from Toronto that released seven albums on Capitol between 1980 and 1989, scoring a huge international hit with “Lunatic Fringe” from their 1981 release As Far as Siam. The final three albums give featured billing to frontman and once-and-future solo artist Tom Cochrane. Members: Tom Cochrane (vocals, guitar), […]
Rupert Hine (1947–2020) was an English musician, songwriter, and producer who first recorded with David MacIver during the mid-sixties. They cut a 1965 Decca single as Rupert & David and released the 1971 album Pick Up a Bone, produced by Roger Glover on Purple Records. Hine recorded his 1973 solo album, Unfinished Picture, with backing […]
Pat Lundy (194?–1994) was an American soul singer from New York who released five Sixties small-label singles and signed with Columbia for her 1968 debut album, Soul Ain’t Nothin’ but the Blues. After four De Luxe singles, she resurfaced with the 1973 RCA album Only Love Spoken Here. In 1976, she landed on Pyramid Records […]
Tim Moore is an American singer/songwriter who emerged beside Daryl Hall in Gulliver and released the 1974/75 Asylum albums Tim Moore and Behind the Eyes, followed by the 1977–79 titles White Shadows and High Contrast. He charted with “A Fool Like You,” “Second Avenue,” “Charmer,” and “In the Middle.” His songs inspired covers by Cliff […]
Panthéon was a Dutch jazz-rock band that released a standalone single on Philips and the album Orion on Vertigo, both in 1972. Members: Ruud Wouterson (vocals, keyboards), Hans Boer (saxophone, harmonica, vocals), Rob Verhoeven (drums), Albert Veldkamp (bass), John Schut (guitar), Jan Slijkhuis (drums), Guus Swerissen (bass) Background Panthéon formed in Arnhem in 1971 as […]
1994: was an American hard-rock band from Los Angeles with singer Karen Lawrence. They released one album as L.A. Jets, followed by the 1976 single “Prisoner (Captured By Your Eyes),” a later hit for Barbra Streisand. As 1994:, they cut two albums in 1978/79 on A&M. In 1981, Lawrence released an album of retro girl-group […]
The Neutrons were a Welsh rock band formed in 1973 by keyboardist Phil Ryan and bassist Will Youatt after both left Man. On United Artists, they made the 1974/75 albums Black Hole Star and Tales From the Blue Cocoons. Members: Phil Ryan (keyboards, vocals), Will Youatt (bass, guitar, vocals), John “Pugwash” Weathers (drums), Martin Wallace […]
Mad River was an American psychedelic-rock band that self-released a 1967 EP and signed to Capitol for the 1968/69 albums Mad River and Paradise Bar and Grill. Members: Lawrence Hammond (vocals, bass, guitar, piano, recorder), David Robinson (guitars, banjo, vocals), Rick Bockner (guitars, vocals), Tom Manning (12-string guitar, bass, vocals), Gregory Leroy Dewey (drums, vocals). […]
Surprise was an American symphonic/art-rock band from the St. Louis area that released the 1977 album Assault on Merryland through self-press Carousel Records. Members: Rick Bess (electric guitar, bass, twelve-string acoustic guitar), Blair Blake (Hammond organ, grand piano, MiniMoog, Moog Taurus bass pedals, ARP string ensemble, celeste), Dave Kelly (drums, timpani, orchestra bells, gongs, triangle, guiro), […]
Lakeside was an American soul-funk band from Dayton, Ohio, that released a self-titled debut on ABC in 1977 and then cut a sustained Solar run from Shot of Love through Party Patrol between 1978 and 1990. Their breakthrough came with Fantastic Voyage in 1980, which reached No. 2 on the R&B album chart, earned Gold […]
Mushroom was an Irish folk-rock band that released the 1973 album Early One Morning on Hawk Records. Members: Aonghus McAnally (guitar, recorder, tin whistle, vocals), Colm Lynch (percussion, wind chimes, wood chimes, vocals), Alan Brown (bass, 12-string guitar, vocals), Michael Power (organ, harpsichord, Moog, vocals), Pat Collins (violin, electric mandolin, vocals) Background Mushroom emerged on […]
YU Grupa was a Yugoslav hard-rock band from Beograd, Serbia, that released five albums and ten singles between 1973 and 1979 on Jugoton. Further titles followed from 1987 onward. Members: Dragi Jelić (vocals, guitar), Žika Jelić (bass, vocals), Miodrag Okrugić [Mive] (organ, 1970-71), Velibor Bogdanović [Boka] (drums, 1970-72, 1987-89), Miodrag-Bata Kostić (guitar, 1971-72, 1973-75, 1978-92), […]
Linda Clifford is an American soul singer from Brooklyn who released eight solo albums between 1977 and 1985; the first five on Curtom/RSO. She also made a duets album with Curtom founder Curtis Mayfield. Her best-known songs include the 1978–80 R&B/dance hits “Runaway Love,” “If My Friends Could See Me Now,” “Don’t Give It Up,” […]
Fashion was an English new wave trio (later quartet) that released three albums and a clutch of singles between 1979 and 1984. Bassist-synthesist John Mulligan and drummer Dik Davis remained through three lineups fronted in succession by Luke James, De Harriss, and Alan Darby. In the three-year gap between their debut album Product Perfect (released […]
Gwendal was a French Celtic-folk instrumental ensemble that combined Breton and Irish traditional material with original compositions across seven studio albums and the 1981 live release En Concert. Members: Youenn Le Berre (flute, bombard, bagpipe), Bruno Barré (violin, 1972-?), Patrice Grupallo (mandolin, 1972-?), J-M Renard (guitar, 1972-?), Roger Schaub (bass, 1972-?), Ricky Caust (guitar, 1976-?), […]
Der Plan are a German NDW trio who pioneered experimental synth-pop and dadaist electronics across six albums on Ata Tak between 1980 and 1991. They fused surreal lyricism with DIY electronics on Geri Reig (1980) and crystallized their self-styled electronic schlager on Normalette Surprise (1981). The group expanded into film soundtracks with Die letzte Rache […]
Edgar Froese (June 5, 1944 — January 20, 2015) was a German multi-instrumentalist best known as the mastermind behind electronic pioneers Tangerine Dream, which he founded in 1967 and led for nearly five decades. In 1974, he debuted as a solo artist with the album Aqua on Brain Metronome. Between 1975 and 1983, he released […]
Buffalo was an Australian hard-rock band from Sydney that released five albums between 1972 and 1977 on Vertigo. Their first two, Dead Forever… and Volcanic Rock, have since gained classic status among international hard-rock circles. Members: Dave Tice (vocals), John Baxter (guitar, 1971-75), Pete Wells (bass, 1971-76), Paul Balbi (drums, 1971-72), Alan Milano (vocals, 1971-72), […]
BB Gabor — aka Gabor Hegedus (1948 — Jan. 17, 1990) — was a Hungarian-born/Canada-based singer, guitarist, and songwriter who released two albums in 1980/81 on Anthem. Background BB Gabor was born Gabor Hegedus in 1948 in Hungary. The Hegedus family fled Hungary during the Soviet suppression of the 1956 uprising and settled in London. […]
Brainstorm was an American soul-funk band from Detroit, best known for the R&B hits “Lovin’ Is Really My Game,” “Wake Up and Be Somebody,” “Hot for You,” and the quiet storm evergreen “This Must Be Heaven.” On Tabu Records, they released the 1977–79 albums Stormin’, Journey to the Light, and Funky Entertainment. Members: Belita Woods […]
The Beckies were an American pop-rock band from NYC that released a self-titled album on Sire in 1976. Keyboardist Michael Brown hailed from the bands Left Banke, Montage, and Stories. Drummer–singer Gary Hodgden later joined Shooting Star under the name Gary West. Members: Michael Brown (keyboards), Gary Hodgden [aka Gary West] (vocals, drums), Mayo James […]
Fusioon was a Spanish jazz-rock band that made the 1973/74 albums Fusioon and Fusioon 2, followed by the 1975 Ariola release Minorisa. Members: Manel Camp (piano, keyboards), Jordi Camp (bass), Santi Arisa (drums, percussion), Martí Brunet (guitar, synthesizer) Background Fusioon formed in 1971 in Manresa, Catalonia, where interest in the post-psych maximalist diaspora (symphonic-rock, jazz-rock) […]
Timebox was an English rock band that released two 1967 singles on Piccadilly. With singer Mike Patto, they released six singles on Deram and scored a soul-pop hit with “Beggin’.” Patto’s songwriting partnership with guitarist–vibraphonist Ollie Halsall produced an unreleased album and the 1969 singles “Baked Jam Roll In Your Eye” and “Yellow Van.” Musically, […]
