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 […]
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 […]
Dorian Zero — aka Kenneth J. Passante (Jan. 16, 1948 — Jan. 7, 1994) — is an American art-rock musician and songwriter from NYC who released a self-titled album on Amerama Records in 1977. Passante hailed from an unrecorded rock group called Sweet Dirt, which was active in NYC circa 1973. He was briefly in […]
Sailor was an English music-hall pop band from London that released five albums on Epic between 1974 and 1978. 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 vocalist and songwriter from Pittsburgh who released two albums on RCA Victor during the mid-1970s, followed by a self-titled release on Epic in 1979. Discography: Whizz Kid (1974) Imagination Quota (1975) David Werner (1979) Live (1979)
Roderick Falconer — aka Roderick Littleton Taylor (born 1950) — is an American vocalist, songwriter, poet, and television producer who released a singer/songwriter album under his real name on Asylum in 1973. After adopting his performance nom de plume, he issued the albums New Nation and Victory in Rock City on United Artists in 1976/77. […]
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 […]
John Howard — aka Howard Michael Jones (born April 9, 1953) — is an English pianist, singer, and songwriter from Bury, Greater Manchester, who released the album Kid in a Big World on CBS in 1975. Further material from the mid-1970s was ultimately released 30 years later across two discs by archivists RPM. Despite releasing […]
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, […]
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 […]
Flashman was an English cabaret/art-pop trio that released a self-titled album on Pye/Vanguard in 1977. Pianist and singer/songwriter Gerald Watkiss released a 1978 solo album. He then adopted the moniker Gerald Masters for a pair of albums during the early 1980s. Members: Gerald Watkiss [aka Gerald Masters], Nick Walpole (timpani, percussion), Chris Hudman (bass), Dylan […]
Lewis Furey — aka Lewis Greenblatt (born June 7, 1949) — is a Québécois cabaret/art-pop vocalist and songwriter who released two albums on A&M in 1975 and 1976, followed by a third on Aquarius in 1979. Discography: Lewis Furey (1975) The Humours Of (1976) The Sky Is Falling (1979) Maria Chapdelaine (OST, 1983)
Cockney Rebel was an English orchestral/art-pop band that released two albums on EMI in 1973 and 1974. After the breakup of the original band, frontman Steve Harley assembled new musicians for a trio of 1975/76 albums with his own name affixed to the Cockney Rebel nameplate. Members: Steve Harley (vocals, acoustic guitar), Stuart Elliott (drums, […]
Brett Smiley (Sept. 25, 1955 — Jan. 7, 2016) was an American art-pop singer from Indiana who released a standalone single on the U.K. Anchor label in 1974. The songs were part of a proposed album that he recorded with ex-Stones producer Andrew Loog Oldham. The full album was ultimately released as Breathlessly Brett on […]
Faust’o (born Jan. 2, 1954) is an Italian singer/songwriter who debuted with the popular CDG release Suicidio in 1978, followed by two further albums for the label in 1979 and 1980. Discography: Suicidio (1978) Poco zucchero (1979) J’accuse… Amore Mio (1980) Out Now (1982) Faust’o (1982) Love Story (1985)
Orchestra Luna were an American art-rock/operatic ensemble from Boston that released an eponymous, Rupert Homes-produced album on Epic in 1975. 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), Ace Holleran (drums, […]
Jobriath Salisbury — aka Bruce Wayne Campbell (Dec. 14, 1946 — Aug. 3, 1983) — was an American singer, pianist, and songwriter from King of Prussia, Penn., who released two albums on Elektra between 1973 and 1974. Discography: Jobriath (1973) Creatures of the Street (1974) As the River Flows (2014, recorded 1972)
Space Waltz were 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) Discography: Alastair Riddell: Space Waltz (1975)
