The Savage Rose are a Danish rock band from København, formed in 1967 and fronted by Annisette Koppel. Between 1968 and 1973, they released six English-language albums and a soundtrack on Polydor. They combined folk rock and psychedelia on the 1968–69 albums The Savage Rose, In the Plain, and Travelin’, then embraced soul, cabaret, and […]
Joachim Kühn (born March 15, 1944) is a German pianist who appeared on more than 400 recordings across six decades. During the 1970s, he released multiple jazz-funk albums on MPS/BASF and Atlantic. After early work with his older brother Rolf Kühn, Joachim debuted with the 1968 Impulse! release Impressions of New York. He collaborated with […]
Steve Hillage is an English guitarist, composer, and producer from London who first recorded under the pseudonym Simon Sasparella in psych-rockers Arzachel, the starting vehicle of keyboardist Dave Stewart (Egg, Hatfield & the North). The two re-teamed in Khan (with bassist Nicholas Greenwood) for the 1972 Deram release Space Shanty. In 1973, Hillage backed Kevin […]
Starry Eyed and Laughing were an English rustic-rock band that released the 1974–75 CBS albums Starry Eyed and Laughing and Thought Talk. Earlier recordings later surfaced on the archival discs Forever Young and To Try for the Sun. Their use of Rickenbacker 12-string guitars and West Coast harmonies drew comparisons to The Byrds. Members: Tony […]
Ann Peebles is an American soul singer from St. Louis who released seven albums between 1969 and 1977, including the Hi Records classics Straight From the Heart and I Can’t Stand the Rain. She landed R&B hits with “Part Time Love,” “I Pity the Fool,” “Breaking Up Somebody’s Home,” “I Can’t Stand the Rain,” and […]
Natalie Cole (Feb. 6, 1950 — Dec. 31, 2015) was an American soul singer from Los Angeles. She recorded soul, pop, jazz, and standards across a career that began with a sequence of Capitol albums produced by Chuck Jackson and Marvin Yancy. Her first four albums spawned the 1975–77 R&B No. 1’s “This Will Be,” […]
All About Eve was an English ethereal-goth band that released four singles on Eden Records and the 1988/89 Mercury albums All About Eve and Scarlet and Other Stories, charting with “Our Summer,” “Flowers in Our Hair,” “Wild Hearted Woman,” “Every Angel,” and “Martha’s Harbour.” Members: Julianne Regan (vocals), Tim Bricheno (guitar), Andy Cousin (bass), Mark […]
Tarika Blue was a New York-based, multi-national jazz-funk/soul collective that released the 1976 album The Blue Path, followed by a 1977 self-titled release. Members: Phil Clendennin (keyboards, piano), Ryo Kawasaki (electric guitar), Barry Coleman (bass), Kevin Atkins (drums), Marvin Blackman (tenor saxophone), Bradie Speller (percussion), Justo Almario (soprano saxophone), James Mason (electric guitar), Tequila (vocals), […]
Marc Almond is an English vocalist, songwriter, and arranger from Southport, Merseyside, who rose to fame as one-half of the synthpop duo Soft Cell, which released three albums between 1981 and 1984. Concurrently, he released two 1982–83 albums with the goth–cabaret side-project Marc and the Mambas. As a solo artist, he released nine full-length studio […]
Westwind was an English folk trio that released the album Love Is… on the Penny Farthing label in 1970. Members: Chris Stowell, Nick Storey, Sarah Dyson The Band Westwind consisted of singer-songwriters Chris Stowell, Nick Storey, and Sarah Dyson. Their light harmonies and arrangements drew from soft ’60s folk-pop à la Gale Garnett, The Seekers, […]
Fred Frith is an English avant-garde multi-instrumentalist, composer, and improviser who gained international cult renown as a member of Henry Cow, which made three studio albums and two collaborative discs with Slapp Happy. They instigated the UK/Euro Rock In Opposition network but disbanded over musical differences that spawned the Art Bears. As a solo artist, […]
Ronnie Laws is an American jazz-funk flutist and saxophonist who played in the 1972/73 lineup of Earth, Wind & Fire. Between 1975 and 1981, he cut three albums each on Blue Note and UA/Liberty. His 1975 debut Pressure Sensitive produced “Always There,” while the 1977 album Friends and Strangers earned US gold certification. Laws placed […]
Steel Pulse are an English roots-reggae band from Birmingham that released the 1978–80 Island albums Handsworth Revolution, Tribute to the Martyrs, and Caught You, scoring UK hits with “Ku Klux Klan,” “Prodigal Son,” and “Sound System.” Their 1982–83 Wise Man Doctrine albums True Democracy and Earth Crisis made further headway with “Ravers” and “Steppin’ Out,” […]
The Mission are an English goth-rock band formed in Leeds in late 1985 by singer-guitarist Wayne Hussey and bassist Craig Adams. Guitarist-keyboardist Simon Hinkler and drummer Mick Brown completed the original lineup. The quartet released three studio albums and two companion compilations on Mercury across the 1986–90 period. North American releases used the name The […]
Scritti Politti was an English art-pop band led by singer/musician Green Gartside. The original trio with bassist Nial Jinks and drummer Tom Morley cut three post-punk EPs in 1978/79, including the pioneering DIY release “Skank Bloc Bologna.” In 1981, Scritti Politti resurfaced with a new sound on the Rough Trade single “The ‘Sweetest Girl’,” followed […]
Sade are an English jazz–pop–soul band fronted by namesake Nigerian–British singer Sade Adu. They achieved fame with their 1983–85 singles “Your Love Is King,” “Hang On to Your Love,” “Smooth Operator,” and “Sweetest Taboo.” Their first two albums, Diamond Life and Promise, each topped global charts and sold ten million copies. After their 1988 release […]
Berlin was an American new wave band from Los Angeles, best known for the synthpop hits “Masquerade,” “The Metro,” “No More Words,” and the 1986 Top Gun ballad “Take My Breath Away.” Bassist-songwriter John Crawford formed the band in 1979 with teenage actress Terri Nunn (Thank God It’s Friday), who cleared for Berlin’s 1980 debut […]
The Fixx are an English modern rock band that released five studio albums between 1982 and 1991. On their early releases, they carried the sonic innovations of producer Rupert Hine to a wider transatlantic audience. The debut Fixx album, Shuttered Room, spawned the early MTV staples “Stand or Fall” and “Red Skies.” Their 1983 second […]
Ratt was an Americann hard-rock band from Southern California that took shape on the Hollywood club circuit after vocalist Stephen Pearcy reshaped his earlier Mickey Ratt vehicle into a five-piece with guitarists Warren DeMartini and Robbin Crosby, bassist Juan Croucier, and drummer Bobby Blotzer. The band debuted in 1983 with a self-titled EP, then signed […]
The New York Dolls were an American hard-rock/glam band that released a self-titled album (produced by Todd Rundgren) on Mercury in 1973, followed by Too Much Too Soon in 1974. Fan favorites include the band originals “Personality Crisis,” “Trash,” “Puss ‘N’ Boots,” and their cover of the Gamble/Huff song “(There’s Gonna Be a) Showdown,” originally […]
Love Sculpture was a Welsh blues-rock powertrio, best known for the songs “In the Land of the Few” and the 1968 instrumental “Sabre Dance.” They released two albums on Parlophone: Blues Helping and Forms and Feelings. Guitarist David Edmunds launched a solo career and later teamed with Nick Lowe in Rockpile. Members: Dave Edmunds (guitar, […]
April Wine is a Canadian hard-rock band from Halifax that released twelve studio albums and three live discs between 1971 and 1985 on Aquarius Records. They caught domestic wind with their 1972/73 albums On Record and Electric Jewels, charting with “You Could Have Been a Lady,” “Bad Side of the Moon,” and “Lady Run, Lady […]
Tír na nÓg was an Irish folk–psych duo comprised of guitarist–vocalist Sonny Condell and onetime Emmet Spiceland multi-instrumentalist Leo O’Kelly. They made the 1971–73 Chrysalis albums Tír na nÓg, A Tear and a Smile, and Strong in the Sun. Condell made the praised 1977 album Camouflage and co-founded the folk combo Scullion. Members: Leo O’Kelly […]
The Spencer Davis Group was an English R&B/beat band from Birmingham, fronted by teenage singer–keyboardist Steve Winwood. Signed to Fontana, they released three albums during 1965–66 comprised mostly of blues and soul covers. Though the band was democratic, they made guitarist/singer Spencer Davis their namesake because he was the only member willing to field journalists. […]
Rip Rig + Panic was an English post-punk and avant-funk band that released the 1981–83 albums God, I Am Cold, and Attitude on Virgin. Original vocalist Neneh Cherry later gained fame as a solo artist. Members: Gareth Sager (piano), Neneh Cherry (vocals), Bruce Smith (drums), Mark Springer (piano), Sean Oliver (bass), Andrea Oliver (vocals, 1982), […]
The Babys were an English rock band that released the 1976–77 Chrysalis albums The Babys and Broken Heart. They moved stateside and changed members for the 1978–80 albums Head First, Union Jacks, and On the Edge. They charted with two songs co-written by American singer Ray Kennedy: “Isn’t It Time” and “Every Time I Think […]
Lalo Schifrin (June 21, 1932–June 26, 2025) was an Argentinian pianist, composer, and arranger who began his career in the mid-1950s. During his first active decade, he served as a backing musician for Ástor Piazzolla, Xavier Cugat, Duke Ellington, and Dizzy Gillespie. Schifrin’s first headlining album was the 1959 release Piano Espanol on Tico Records. In […]
Nara Leão (January 19, 1942 — June 7, 1989) was a Brazilian singer and actress who carried Rio bossa nova repertory into samba, protest song, Tropicália-linked material, and later MPB. She made her album debut with the 1964 Elenco release Nara and built her mid-Sixties profile on Philips with Opinião de Nara and O Canto […]
Osibisa are an Afro-funk/jazz-rock band formed in London by four Ghanaian and three Caribbean musicians. Between 1971 and 1976, they made eight albums on MCA, Warner Bros., and Island, including the soundtrack to the second installment of the Super Fly franchise. Their first three albums feature cover illustrations by fantasy painter Roger Dean (Yes, Uriah […]
The Buggles were a studio-based English new wave/art pop duo that scored a global hit in 1979 with “Video Killed the Radio Star,” of which the video became the first clip to air during MTV’s premier day of broadcast on August 1, 1981. The duo released two albums — between which they were briefly integrated […]
Locomotive was an English brass-rock/psych band that was active with multiple lineups between 1966 and 1970. Based in Birmingham, they initially drew from Jamaican ska/bluebeat on three non-album singles. In 1969, they recorded the album We Are Everything You See, released after the departure of keyboardist and bandleader Norman Haines. Bassist Mick Hincks and drummer […]
Sailor was an English music-hall pop band from London that released five albums between 1974 and 1978 on Epic. Rupert Holmes produced their 1975 second album Trouble, which spawned the UK hits “Glass of Champagne” and “Girls, Girls, Girls.” After the departure of singer–guitarist Georg Kajanus, a revamped Sailor linked with onetime Chicago producer James […]
Sweet was an English hard-rock/pop band from Harefield, Greater London, that released four studio albums and 18 singles on RCA between 1971 and 1976. Under the guidance of songwriters Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, they placed eight singles on the UK Top 10, including “Little Willy,” “Block Buster!,” “Hell Raiser,” “The Ballroom Blitz,” and “Teenage […]
Ippu-Do was a Japanese New Wave/synthpop trio that released four albums and a live disc between 1980 and 1984 on Epic/Sony. Guitarist/singer Masami Tsuchiya played beforehand with Lily, Junko Ohashi, and Kaleidoscope. He and keyboardist Akira Mitake followed Ippu-Do with solo careers. Members: Masami Tsuchiya (vocals, guitar), 見岳章 [Akira Mitake] (keyboards), Shoji Fujii (drums, 1979-81) […]
Prefab Sprout was an English sophisti-pop band that released five albums between 1984 and 1990 on Kitchenware Records. Members: Paddy McAloon (vocals, guitar, keyboards, programming, bass), Martin McAloon (bass, 1978-2010), Michael Salmon (drums, percussion, 1977-83), Wendy Smith (vocals, keyboards, guitar, 1982-2000), Neil Conti (drums, percussion, 1984-92) Background Prefab Sprout evolved from The Dick Diver Band, […]
Back Street Crawler was an English/American hard-rock band that released two albums on Atco in 1975 and 1976. The band took its name from a 1973 solo album by ex-Free guitarist Paul Kossoff, who formed the group with members of Houston rockers Bloontz. After Kossoff’s death in early 1976, the remaining members carried on as […]
Randy Crawford is an American soul and jazz singer featured on albums by Harvey Mason, Steve Hackett, and The Crusaders. As a solo artist, she released eleven albums between 1976 and 1993 on Warner Bros. Crawford’s R&B hits include “Same Old Story (Same Old Song),” “One Hello,” “Nightline,” and “Your Precious Love,” a duet with […]
Brass Construction was an American soul-funk band from Brooklyn, best known for their crossover hit “Movin’.” They released six numerically titled albums (1975–80) on United Artists, followed by four titles (1982–85) on Liberty and Capitol. Members: Randy Muller (keyboards, vocals), Michael Grudge (saxophone), Jesse Ward Jr. (saxophone), Wayne Parris (trumpet), Morris Price (trumpet), Joseph Arthur […]
Gòtic was a Spanish symphonic-rock band that released the 1978 album Escenes on Movieplay. Members: Rafael Escoté (bass, gong, palmas), Jordi Martí (drums, percussion, palmas), Jep Nuix (flute, piccolo, palmas), Jordi Vilaprinyó (keyboards) Background Gòtic formed in 1975 in Barcelona around the long-running partnership between keyboardist Jordi Vilaprinyó and drummer Jordi Martí, who first collaborated […]
Richard Hell — aka Richard Lester Meyers (born Oct. 2, 1949) — is an American singer, bassist, songwriter, and poet from Lexington, Ken., who became a fixture of NYC’s Lower East Side bohemian/art scene during the early 1970s. He first recorded with The Neon Boys, a formative version of Television. After a brief stint with […]
Providence was an American folk sextet from Oregon that mixed baroque, chamber, and symphonic sounds on Ever Sense the Dawn, released in 1972 on the Moodies‘ Threshold label. Members: Bob Barriatua (electric bass, vocals), Bartholomew Bishop (lead vocals, piano, harpsichord, organ, autoharp), Jim Cockey (violin, glockenspiel, vocals), Andy Guzie (guitar, vocals), Tim Tompkins (cello, vocals, […]
Pat Travers (born April 12, 1954) is a Canadian guitarist, singer, and bandleader who released eight albums and a live disc between 1976 and 1984 on Polydor. His popularity peaked with the 1977/78 albums Makin’ Magic, Putting It Straight, and Heat in the Street, recorded with input by Glenn Hughes (Trapeze, Deep Purple), Pat Thrall […]
B.T. Express was an American soul-funk band from Brooklyn that charted with their 1974 debut Do It ‘Til You’re Satisfied on Scepter Records. After their 1975 Roadshow release Non-Stop, they cut four albums (1976–80) on Columbia. Members: Bill Risbrook (saxophone, vocals), Dennis Rowe (percussion), Rick Thompson (guitar), Carlos Ward (saxophone, flute), Kashif (keyboards), Pike (guitar, […]
X is an American rock band from Los Angeles, formed in 1977 during the Southwest punk explosion. They debuted with the 1978 Dangerhouse single “Adult Books” and released the 1980–81 Slash albums Los Angeles and Wild Gift, followed by the 1982–83 Elektra albums Under the Big Black Sun and More Fun in the New World […]
Ramatam was an American hard-rock band that released two albums on Atlantic: Ramatam (1972) and In April Came the Dawning of the Red Suns (1973). Members: April Lawton (lead guitar), Mitch Mitchell (drums), Mike Pinera (guitar), Russ Smith (bass, vocals), Tommy Sullivan (keyboards, reeds, vocals), Jimmy Walker (percussion, vocals) Background Ramatam formed in 1971 when […]
Saluki was a Norwegian progressive jazz-rock band that release a 1976 self-titled album on Compendium Records. Members: Freddy Dahl (vocals, guitar), Peter Berg Nilsen (vocals, saxophone), Kjell Rønningen (keyboards), Sverre Beyer (bass), Bjørn Jenssen (drums) Background Frontman Freddy Dahl emerged from Junipher Greene, contributing to their 1971 double album Friendship, then worked with the George […]
Kimiko Kasai — 笠井紀美子 (born Dec. 10, 1945) — is a Japanese jazz vocalist who released a clutch of live and collaborative recordings on assorted labels during the early 1970s, culminating with her solo-studio debut Umbrella, released in 1972 on Liberty. Between 1973 and 1986, she released fourteen albums on CBS/Sony. Background Kimiko Kasai was […]
Sleepy Hollow was an American art-pop trio from Philadelphia that released a self-titled album in 1972 on the Family Productions label. Members: Richard Billay (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Richie Bremen (bass), Joe Zucca (drums) Background Sleepy Hollow formed in Philadelphia, where singer and songwriter Richard Billay teamed with bassist Richie Bremen and drummer Joe Zucca. […]
Side Effect an American soul-funk vocal group from Los Angeles, formed in 1972 by producer–arranger Augie Johnson. They debuted on Canada’s G.A.S. label in 1973 and recorded four albums for Fantasy Records between 1975 and 1978. During this period, the group featured a sequence of female vocalists—Sylvia Nabors, Helen Lowe (Helen Baylor), and Sylvia St. […]
Kellee Patterson is an American singer who released the 1973 album Maiden Voyage on Black Jazz Records, followed by the 1976–79 soul-funk albums Kellee, Turn On the Lights, and All the Things You Are on Shadybrook. Background She was born Karen Lynette Patterson and grew up in Gary, Indiana, where she competed in child talent […]
Stephen Bishop (born Nov. 14, 1951) is an American singer/songwriter who debuted with the 1976 ABC release Careless, which spawned the hits “On and On” and “Save It for a Rainy Day.” In 1982, he charted with the ballad “It Might be You” from the comedy film Tootsie. His songs have been recorded by Frida […]
Dexter Wansel is an American keyboardist, singer, composer, and producer who cut a 1973 album with the funk-psych one-off Yellow Sunshine. As a solo artist, he released four albums between 1976 and 1979 on PIR. Background He was born Dexter Gilman Wansel on August 22, 1950, in Philadelphia. From age nine to thirteen, he worked […]
Starcastle was an American symphonic-rock band that released four albums between 1976 and 1978 on Epic. Their first three albums — Starcastle, Fountains of Light, and Citadel — are noted for their elaborate fantasy covers and lavish music, which explore themes of aquatic enchantresses and celestial marvels. Starcastle’s epic numbers include “Lady of the Lake,” […]
Larry Coryell (April 2, 1943 — Feb. 19, 2017) was an American guitarist who emerged in the late-1960s jazz-rock-psych combo The Free Spirits. During the mid-1970s, he led the jazz-rock supergroup The Eleventh House, cutting the albums Introducing, Level One, and Aspects. He also partook in Wolfgang Dauner’s Et Cetera with Colosseum drummer Jon Hiseman, […]
Andy Pratt is an American singer/songwriter from Boston, best known for the song “Avenging Annie” as his acclaimed 1976 album Resolution. Background He was born Andrew S. Pratt on January 25, 1947; the youngest of four children borne to educator Edwin Howard Baker Pratt (1913–1975) and Monte Carlo-born Aileen Kelly (1915–1976). The elder Pratt served […]
Release Music Orchestra was a German jazz-rock ensemble active from the mid-to-late 1970s. Formed from the remnants of Tomorrow’s Gift, they fused electric jazz textures with chamber elements, percussion motifs, and tonal improvisation. The band released five albums on Brain between 1974 and 1979, each with shifting personnel and stylistic emphasis. Keyboardist Manfred Rürup led […]
Quantum Jump was an English supergroup that fused jazz-funk and space-rock on their 1976–77 albums Quantum Jump and Barracuda, both released by the Electric Record Company. Singer–producer Rupert Hine fronted the band, which featured Peddlers drummer Trevor Morais, Caravan bassist John G. Perry, and Kevin Ayers guitarist Mark Warner. In 1979, their re-released single “The […]
Locanda delle Fate was an Italian symphonic-rock band that released the 1977 Polydor album Forse le Lucciole non si Amano Più. Members: Giorgio Gardino (drums, vibraphone), Luciano Boero (bass), Oscar Mazzoglio (Hammond organ, keyboards), Alberto Gaviglio (rhythm guitar, flute, backing vocals, 1973-78), Ezio Vevey (lead guitar, backing vocals, 1973-78), Michele Conta (piano, keyboards, 1973-78), Leonardo […]
Diagram Brothers were an English art-punk band from Manchester that debuted with “We Are All Animals,” a 1980 DIY maxi-single. Buzzcocks manager Richard Boon signed them to his New Hormones label for their second single (“Bricks”) and 1981 album Some Marvels of Modern Science, followed by the 1982 10″ Discordo 45. Bassist/trumpeter Andy Diagram doubled […]
Phoebe Snow (July 17, 1950 — April 26, 2011) was an American singer/songwriter from New York, best known for the songs “Harpo’s Blues” and “Poetry Man” from her 1974 debut album. Between 1976 and 1978, she released four albums on Columbia. Background She was born Phoebe Ann Laub to Merrill and Lili Laub, a Jewish […]
ZZ Top is an American hard-rock/blues trio from Houston that formed in 1969 and built its first run on five London albums issued between 1971 and 1976. The classic lineup paired guitarist-singer Billy Gibbons, bassist-singer Dusty Hill, and drummer Frank Beard across ZZ Top’s First Album, Rio Grande Mud, Tres Hombres, Fandango!, and Tejas. That early […]
Birth Control are a German hard-rock band that released eleven studio albums and two live LPs between 1970 and 1982. Members: Bernd Koschmidder (bass, 1966-73), Reinhold Sobotta (keyboards, 1966-72), Rolf Gurra [Rolly Joker] (saxophone, vocals, 1966-69), Reiner Borchert (guitar, 1966-69), Hugo Egon Balder (drums, 1966-68), Klaus Orso (guitar, 1966-68), Fritz Gröger (lead vocals, guitar, 1968-69), […]
Café Jacques was a Scottish trio on Epic–Columbia that released the 1977–78 albums Round the Back and International, both produced by Rupert Hine. Members: Chris Thomson (guitar, vocals), Mike Ogletree (drums, percussion, acoustic guitar, vocals), Peter Veitch (keyboards, accordion) Background Café Jacques formed as a septet in 1973 when guitarist–singer Chris Thomson, an accounting student […]
Captain Beyond was an English-American hard-rock band that released the 1972–73 Capricorn albums Captain Beyond and Sufficiently Breathless. They featured original Deep Purple singer Rod Evans and two Iron Butterfly graduates: guitarist Larry Reinhardt and bassist Lee Dorman. Drummer Bobby Caldwell left after the first album but resurrected Captain Beyond with new musicians for the […]
Picchio dal Pozzo are an Italian avant-jazz/rock band from Genova, Liguria, formed in 1973. The band debuted with a 1976 self-titled album on Grog Records, followed by the 1980 L’Orchestra release Abbiamo Tutti i Suoi Problemi. Cuneiform later issued Camere Zimmer Rooms, comprised of tracks from an intended 1977 album. Members: Aldo De Scalzi (keyboards, […]
Gary Wright (April 26, 1943 – September 4, 2023) was an American singer, musician, and songwriter who served as the co-vocalist and keyboardist in Spooky Tooth during two three-album periods between 1968 and 1974. After leaving the group, he launched a solo career centered on keyboard-based production and spiritual lyrical themes. His third solo album, […]
The Nice was an English psychedelic rock band with keyboardist Keith Emerson. In 1968, they scored a UK hit with “America” and released two albums on Immediate Records: The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack and Ars Longa Vita Brevis. In 1969, The Nice released a self-titled third album (aka Everything as Nice as Mother Makes It) […]
New Model Army was an English post-punk band that emerged with two 1983 singles, followed by the 1984 album Vengeance on small-press Abstract Records. Between 1985 and 1991, the band released five albums and assorted shortplayers on EMI. Members: Justin Sullivan (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Stuart Morrow (bass 1980-87), Phil Tompkins (drums, 1980-82), Rob Heaton (drums […]
National Health was an English avant-jazz/rock band from Canterbury that released a self-titled album on Affinity in 1978, followed that same year by Of Queues and Cures on parent-label Charly. The band featured three-fourths of Hatfield and the North — keyboardist Dave Stewart, guitarist Phil Miller, and drummer Pip Pyle — with a revolving line […]
Dan Hartman (Dec. 8, 1950 — March 22, 1994) was an American vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter who emerged as the bassist in The Edgar Winter Group. He wrote and sang their 1974 hit “Free Ride” before launching a solo career that spanned blue-eyed soul, disco, and pop-rock. His 1978/79 hits “Instant Replay” and “Relight My […]
The Lounge Lizards were an American avant-jazz ensemble from New York, formed in 1978 by saxophonist John Lurie. Emerging from the No Wave scene, they subverted jazz conventions with abrasive textures and theatrical irony. Their 1981 debut appeared on Editions EG, followed by live and studio releases on Europa and Island. The group’s early output […]
The 13th Floor Elevators were an American psychedelic rock band from Austin that released three studio albums and a live disc between 1966 and 1969 on International Artists. Led by frontman Roky Erickson and electric jug player/lyricist Tommy Hall, the 13th Floor Elevators pioneered acid rock with a raw, reverb-heavy sound and explicit references to […]
Shylock was a French symphonic-rock trio that self-released the Crimson-esque 1976 album Gialorgues, followed by the 1978 CBS release Île de Fièvre. Members: André Fisichella (drums, percussion), Frédéric L’Épée (guitars), Didier Lustig (keyboards), Serge Summa (bass guitar) Background Self-taught drummer André Fisichella founded the instrumental progressive rock trio Shylock in Nice, France, in 1974. Fisichella […]
Brainticket was a Swiss Krautrock band the made the 1970–73 albums Cottonwoodhill, Psychonaut, and Celestial Ocean. Between the first two, keyboardist Joel Vandroogenbroeck performed with Drum Circus. He resurrected Brainticket for the 1980–82 albums Adventure and Voyage. Members: Joel Vandroogenbroeck (flute, keyboards, vocals), Ron Bryer (guitar), Werni Fröhlich (bass), Hellmuth Kolbe (keyboards), Cosimo Lampis (drums), […]
Light of the World was an English soul-funk group that debuted with a 1979 octet album and expanded for the 1980 release Round Trip. Guitarist Neville “Breeze” McKreith, trumpeter Kenny Wellington, and saxophonist David Baptiste then formed Beggar & Co., whose 1981 album Monument continued the same personnel network. Percussionist Ganiyu “Gee” Bello, trombonist Nathaniel […]
The 360 Degree Music Experience was an American jazz ensemble formed in New York in 1968 by drummer Beaver Harris, pianist Dave Burrell, and trombonist Grachan Moncur III. Harris sustained the project through changing lineups and six albums, ending the sequence with the Shemp release A Well Kept Secret. Their repertory joined early-jazz forms with […]
Oneness of Juju was an American spiritual-jazz/funk band from Washington, D.C., that grew out of Ju Ju. Background Oneness of Juju evolved from Ju Ju, an avant-garde jazz sextet that released the 1973/74 albums A Message From Mozambique and Chapter 2 Nia on Strata-East. Saxophonist James “Plunky Nkabinde” Branch formed Ju Ju in San Francisco, […]
Blackfeather was an Australian post-psychedelic hard-rock band that released the 1971 Infinity album At the Mountains of Madness. Amid multiple lineup changes, they cut two standalone singles and the 1972–74 live albums Boppin’ the Blues and Live! (Sunbury). Members: John Robinson (guitar, 1970-71), Neale Johns (vocals, 1970-73, 1975-76, 1978, 1983), Leith Corbett (bass, 1970), Mike […]
The Easybeats were an Australian rock band that released five albums between 1965 and 1969 and scored national hits with “Sorry,” “She’s So Fine,” “Wedding Ring,” and “Heaven and Hell.” Abroad, they charted with “St. Louis” and the sixties anthem “Friday On My Mind.” The creative team of Harry Vanda and George Young went into […]
The Sylvers were an American soul-funk family act from Memphis, best known for the 1975/76 hits “Boogie Fever,” “Hot Line,” and “High School Dance.” As a sextet, the Sylvers cut three 1972–74 albums on Pride/MGM, then welcomed three younger siblings for the 1975/76 Capitol titles Showcase and Something Special. After 1977’s New Horizons (as a […]
Automatic Man was an American space-funk band from San Francisco that released the 1976–77 albums Automatic Man and Visitors on Island Records. Members: Bayeté (keyboards, vocals), Pat Thrall (guitar), Doni Harvey (bass), Michael Shrieve (drums) Background Automatic Man formed in 1975 in San Francisco when drummer Michael Shrieve, fresh from a lengthy Santana tenure, teamed […]
