Sparks is the musical partnership of American keyboardist–songwriter Ron Mael and his vocalist brother Russell Mael. They first recorded as Halfnelson, a quintet with drummer Harley Feinstein and another set of brothers, guitarist Earle Mankey and guitarist–bassist Jim Mankey. They signed to Bearsville for the 1971 release Halfnelson, produced by Todd Rundgren. Soon after, they […]
Metro was an English symphonic/art-pop combo that was active through two iterations between 1976 and 1980. In its initial trio formation with veteran singer/songwriter Duncan Browne, the band released a classic self-titled album in late 1976. After his departure, two further albums appeared circa 1979/80 from a revised five-piece lineup. Musically, Metro wed the quasi-symphonic […]
Cockney Rebel was an English rock band fronted by Steve Harley. They released the 1973/74 albums The Human Menagerie and The Psychomodo and scored UK/European hits with “Judy Teen” and “Mr. Soft.” Their sound combined music hall, folk, and lavish orchestral pop. After the original band’s breakup, Harley retained drummer Stuart Elliott for the second […]
Deaf School are an English art-rock band that released three albums on Warner Brothers between 1976 and 1978. On its first two albums — 2nd Honeymoon (1976) and Don’t Stop the World (1977) — the band pairs ’30s/’40s ambience (cabaret, music hall) with the lavish arrangements of contemporary theatrical pop (Sparks, Sailor, Cockney Rebel, Brian […]
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 […]
David Werner is an American rock singer and songwriter from Pittsburgh. At nineteen, he signed with RCA and released the 1974–75 albums Whizz Kid and Imagination Quota, both influenced by the UK glam rock of David Bowie and Mott the Hoople. In 1979, he resurfaced with a new wave rock album on Epic. As a […]
Brian Protheroe is an English singer, keyboardist, and songwriter associated with the mid-seventies cabaret glam scene. He released the 1974–76 Chrysalis albums Pinball, Pick-Up, I/You, and the soundtrack to the fifties rock musical Leave Him to Heaven. Early Life, Activities Protheroe was born on June 16, 1944, in Salisbury, Wiltshire, to an English mother and […]
Carmen was an English-American flamenco-rock band, formed in Los Angeles by guitarist–keyboardist David Allen. They relocated to London and released the 1973–74 albums Fandangos in Space and Dancing on a Cold Wind on Regal Zonophone. After opening the 1975 US Jethro Tull tour, Carmen recorded The Gypsies for Mercury. Members: David Allen (vocals, guitar, piano, […]
Brett Smiley (Sept. 25, 1955 — Jan. 7, 2016) was an American singer, songwriter, and actor from Indiana who worked with ex-Stones producer Andrew Loog Oldham on a proposed 1974 album. Anchor issued “Va Va Va Voom” (b/w “Space Ace”) in the UK, but RPM first released the full project as Breathlessly Brett in August […]
John Howard is an English pianist, singer, and songwriter who released the 1975 album Kid in a Big World on CBS, which vaulted his two subsequent albums, Technicolour Biography and Can You Hear Me OK? He cut five single between 1978 and 1984, but didn’t return as an album artist until the 2005 discs The Dangerous […]
Lewis Furey is a Québécois cabaret/art-pop singer/songwriter who released the 1975–79 Aquarius albums Lewis Furey, The Humours Of, and The Sky Is Falling. His subsequent work includes film scores, musical theatre, recordings with Carole Laure, and the 2017 solo release Haunted by Brahms. Background Furey was born Lewis Greenblatt on June 7, 1949, in Montréal […]
Flashman was an English cabaret/art-pop trio that released a 1977 self-titled album on Pye/Vanguard. Pianist and singer/songwriter Gerald Watkiss released the 1978 solo album Purgatory and Paradise, followed by three albums as Gerald Masters. Members: Gerald Watkiss [aka Gerald Masters], Nick Walpole (timpani, percussion), Chris Hudman (bass), Dylan Fowler Background Flashman formed by 1975 while […]
Roderick Falconer (aka Rod Taylor) is an American musician, poet, and television producer. As Rod Taylor, he released a 1973 singer/songwriter album on Asylum. Under the Roderick Falconer stage name, he made the 1976/77 UA albums New Nation and Victory in Rock City, both glam-rock efforts inspired by David Bowie‘s 1972–74 output. He made two […]
Orchestra Luna was an American operatic art-rock septet from Boston that released a self-titled album in 1975 on Epic, produced by Rupert Homes. Members: Rick Berlin (keyboards), Scott Chambers (bass), Randy Roos (guitar), Don Mulvaney (drums), Lisa Kinscherf (vocals), Liz Gallagher (vocals), Peter Barrett (vocals), Steven Paul Perry (guitar), Chet Cahill (bass), Bob Brandon (keyboards), […]
Jobriath Salisbury (1946–1983) was an American singer, pianist, and songwriter who released the 1973–74 Elektra albums Jobriath and Creatures of the Street. Background Jobriath was born Bruce Wayne Campbell on December 14, 1946, in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. As a child, he played organ at his family church and gained recognition as a piano prodigy […]
Casino was an English pre-wave cabaret glam band that released a 1976 self-titled album on State Records. Members: Peter O’Donnell (guitar, vocals), Rob Sinnick (bass), Chris Moores (guitar), Syd Guppy (drums, 1973-?), Steve Mills (vocals), Simon Breakspear (keyboards), Timothy Pavitt (drums) Background Casino evolved from Tuesday, a Yeovil, Somerset, folk act formed in 1972 by […]
Dorian Zero — aka Kenneth J. Passante (Jan. 16, 1948 — Jan. 7, 1994) — was an American art-rock musician and songwriter from Manhattan who released a self-titled album in 1977 on Amerama Records. Background Passante started with Sweet Dirt, an unrecorded rock band active circa 1973 on the NYC circuit. After a brief stint […]
Peter Straker (born Nov. 7, 1943) is a Jamaican cabaret-pop singer who issued three singles on Polydor at the start of the 1970s, followed by the album Private Parts on RCA in 1972. He reemerged on EMI in 1977 with the Freddie Mercury-produced This One’s on Me, followed by Changeling in 1978. His final album, […]
Faust’o is an Italian singer/songwriter who made the 1978–80 albums Suicidio, Poco zucchero, and J’accuse… Amore Mio. His 1979 single “Oh! Oh! Oh!” brought him a Festivalbar appearance. He followed through 1985 with Out Now, Faust’o, and Love Story, then resumed under his birth name Fausto Rossi with the 1992 disc Cambiano le cose. Background […]
Space Waltz was a New Zealander art-rock band that released a self-titled album on EMI in 1975. Members: Alastair Riddell (vocals, guitar, synthesizer), Eddie Rayner (piano, Hammond organ, Mellotron, synthesizer), Greg Clark (electric guitar), Peter Cuddihy (bass), Brent Eccles (drums) Background Riddell (b. 1952; Auckland) got his musical start as the guitarist and singer of […]
