Shooter - Shooter (1975 GRT Records) 

Artist: Shooter
Album: Self Titled
Label: GRT Records
Catalog#: 9230-1059
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Released: 1975
Country: Canada
Genre: Rock, Rock & Roll
Duration: 00:33:41

• Shooter was initially known as The Greaseball Boogie Band, a covers band playing hits from the '50s. Formed in 1970, most of the members had roots in other Toronto area bands, each enjoying various degrees of relative local success.
• They developed a following and landed a deal with GRT Records in '73, releasing a self-titled double album of covers that saw their version of Gene Vincent's "Be Bop A Lula" make a minor dent in the Toronto charts. This helped earn them a Juno nomination a year later for most promising group, tho they lost out to Rush. Still, they toured nationally with The Guess Who, Sha Na Na, and even Roxy Music, with their biggest show being at Toronto's Ontario Place, in front of 15,000 people.
• Label boss Ross Reynolds took them back to the studios for a follow-up album, recording a cover of Leo Sayer's "Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance)." It was at this point the band and Reynolds both realized an image change was needed, as the agreed new direction of the music wasn't going to fit the '50s greaser gimmick they had going. They changed their name to Shooter Revue, then shortened it to just Shooter, dabbling in a couple of new gimmicks before they settled on a Dirty '30s gangster image, complete with real guns as props and showing up in a mid '30s sedan.
• Several personnel changes also happened around this time, and by the time the album was in the can, the lineup was now Duncan White on vocals, Ray Harrison on organ and piano, sax player Wayne Mills, guitarist John Bride, Norm Wellbanks on bass, and drummer Sonnie Bernardi (who played with Harrison in a version of Crowbar), with Pamela Marsh providing backup vocals.
• Produced by Ralph Murphy at Eastern Sound Studio, their self-titled debut album under their new name was released in the spring of '75. Not one song was written by a band member, and along with a boogied-down "Long Tall Glasses" as the first single (just prior to Sayer's own version hitting the Canadian airwaves) b/w the unreleased "Hole In My Soul," it also included another Leo Sayer cover, "Train," as well as Neil Sedaka's "Standing On The Inside," which became the band's third single. Other noteable cuts included a groovy cover of Jackie Lynton's "Jack The Toad," "Rock on Rockette" (penned by Murphy and Perry Cane), and a pair of songs by Roger Cook - "Beautiful Memories" and "Please Get My Name Right."
• "Long Tall Glasses" reached #6 on CHUM FM's chart, while "Train" made it to #23, and "Standing On The Inside" failed to chart. Along with cameos by half a dozen other singers, some who'd briefly been official members during the band's image transition period, including Laurie Hood (Sugar Shoppe, the record also featured original drummer Dave Breckels, and Peter Hodgeson and Tom Fyer on bass, who'd all been replaced during the time in the studios.
• While working on a follow-up album, they released the single "Hard Times" in '76, which failed to make it past #83 on the charts, then re-released "Train" as a single, which failed to chart at all. By this point GRT was in serious financial trouble, and after the label's demise, they moved over to Casino Records. With a revised lineup that featured Joe Ress as the new keyboardist, Lance Wright replacing Bernardi on drums, and JP Bedard on guitars, they released a pair of singles - "Cherokee Queen" in '78, and "Flows Like A River" early the next year, both to little fanfare.
• Casino closed its doors and the album they were working on, tentatively titled RELOADED, was never released. And after a few more personnel changes, by 1980 the band called it quits, and everyone went on to other projects, became session players, or got out of the business all together.
                                             - With notes from Don Edwards, Christine Garner, Jaimie Vernon

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 • Side One:
A1. Everybody Loves A Drinking Man 02:29
A2. Train 03:45
A3. Morning Glory 02:28
A4. Beautiful Memories 03:40
A5. Jack The Toad 04:19
 • Side Two:
B1. Long Tall Glases (I Can Dance) 03:53
B2. Standing On The Inside 03:19
B3. Please Get My Name Right 02:39
B4. Rock On Rockette 02:19
B5. Blue Highway 03:37

    Manufactured By – GRT Of Canada Ltd.
    Distributed By – GRT Of Canada Ltd.
 

Musicians:
Norm Wellbanks - Bass
Duncan "King Grease" White - Vocals
John Bride - Guitar, Banjo, Ukelele
Ray Harrison - Keyboards
Sonnie Bernardi - Drums, Percussion
Wayne Mills - Saxophone, Synth

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Dave Lambert - Framed (1979 Polydor) 

Artist: Dave Lambert
Album: Framed
Label: Polydor
Catalog#: PD 1-6193
Format: Vinyl, LP, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1979
Genre: Rock
Duration: 00:42:19

• Guitarist Dave Lambert's long-running career began with the pop psych/proto-prog band Fire; recording one not-so-hot but collectable Procol Harum-ish LP 'The Magic Shoemaker' in 1970. Joining up with The Strawbs in 1972, his influence can be felt during the bands best period on classic albums like 'Hero and Heroine', 'Ghosts' and my personal favorite but much-maligned 'Deadlines'. That 1978 album with its clever Hipgnosis sleeve would be The Strawbs major label swansong and the last with Lambert, at least temporarily.
• Intentional or not 'Framed' released later the same year was an extension of 'Deadlines' flirtation with the pop progressive format. While overlooked by radio and record buyers, the set was produced by Spencer Proffer and features movers and shakers John Entwistle and former Wings drummer Denny Seiwell on several tracks. Most of the tunes are co-writes between Lambert and Proffer and if you've never heard Dave's voice imagine Daryl Braithwaite or Terry Slesser and you'll have a pretty good idea what to expect. Bands like Manfred Mann's Earth Band and Spooky Tooth are obvious influences on the opening 'Take A Little Bit Of My Life' which was rightly chosen as a single, too bad no one played it. Those of you who know and admire Boxer's 1979 'Bloodletting' album will find solace in 'Remember Me, All Ways' and the arty 'Dorian' although the second side holds the musical sweet spots. Lightweight and radio-ready 'Welcome To My Dream' is a pleasant diversion before peaking with 'So Lucky'; an inventive and ambitious cut dripping with luscious 10cc vocal arrangements while the pre-neo proggy closer 'Crystal Virgin' could have easily dovetailed on any late '70s Strawbs slab 'o plastic.
• Lambert returned to The Strawbs fold late in the 1980's and remains with the band today. 'Framed' has never been on CD which is surprising although from what I gather some hardcore Strawbs fans don't care for the album, something I really can't understand but it's their loss as this is a fine collection and worth owning.

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 • Side One:
A1. Take A Little Bit Of My Life 04:25
A2. Framed 04:40
A3. Remember Me, All Ways 05:45
A4. Dorian 04:25
A5. This Is My Neighbourhood 03:59
 • Side Two:
B1. Welcome To My Dream 04:06
B2. So Lucky 05:12
B3. White Night 03:48
B4. Crystal Virgin 05:45

   Produced by Spencer Proffer for The Pasha Music Organization
   Engineer : Larry Brown
   Second Engineer : Spencer Proffer
   Assistant Engineers : Daniel Lazerus, Duane Baron & Drew Bennett
   Recorded at The Pasha Music House, Hollywood, 
   California & Arnakata Studios, London
   Mixed at The Pasha Music House, Hollywood
   Mastered by Bernie Grundman at A&M Studios, Hollywood, California
   Arrangements & Basic Tracks Arrangements : Dave Lambert & Spencer Proffer
   Basic Tracks Arrangements : Tom Hensley
 

Musicians:
Backing Vocals – Phil O'Kelsey, Randy Bishop
Bass – Leland Sklar, John Entwistle
Clavinet – Tom Hensley
Drums – Denny Seiwell
Guitar – Dave Lambert, Richard Bennett
Percussion – Larry Brown
Piano – Robbie Buchanan, Tom Hensley
Producer – Spencer Proffer
Vocals – Dave Lambert

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Oily Rags & Chas & Dave - Selftitled (1974) 

Artist: Oily Rags & Chas & Dave
Album: Selftitled
Label: Signature Records
Catalog#: BSL1-0598
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1974
Genre: Rock, Pop/Rock, Spoken
Duration: 00:33:48

• Though this self-titled LP is credited to Oily Rags, it's really a Chas & Dave album in all but name, as the duo would start to release recordings under that billing the following year. Chas & Dave had previously been responsible for another mighty obscure album issued under a different name (a self-titled 1971 effort by Country Pie). Like the Country Pie LP, this has a pronounced debt to the kind of honky tonk-cum-rock & roll that Jerry Lee Lewis was doing in the late '60s and early '70s. Oily Rags, however, is far more laid-back, to the point of sometimes verging on lethargy, if truth be told. Often these are the kind of rolling, reflective songs you might expect to hear at a local pub catering to a clientele that wants something grittier than folk music, but nothing too loud or nervy. Nothing wrong with that, but like much such music, it's really only adequate for background settings, and hardly inspiring enough to warrant devoted listening attention. It's only occasionally that this rocks Jerry Lee style, as "Country Boy Picker" does; mixed in are nearly turgid country ballads like "Boiled Beef and Carrots" and "Baby Doll," usually with a barroom piano base, though "Jody and the Kid" sounds almost like a country-folk Leonard Cohen. Vague reference points might also include artists like Leon Russell, the Band, and Dr. John, but Oily Rags are consistently more country-oriented and consistently less interesting. - Richie Unterberger

           • Official Website of Chas and Dave

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 • Side One:
A1. Come Up And See Me Anytime 03:34
A2. Boiled Beef And Carrots 04:27
A3. Time To Kill 03:09
A4. Baby Doll 03:10
A5. Holy Cow 03:12
 • Side Two:
B1. Silver Dollar 03:08
B2. Mailman Bring Me No More Blues 02:49
B3. Barefoot Days 02:25
B4. Jody And The Kid 03:41
B5. Country Boy Picker 03:20

 

Musicians:
Bass, Vocals – Dave Peacock
Drums – Ian Wallace
Steel Guitar – Gerry Hogan
Vocals, Piano, Guitar – Chas Hodges

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The Chris Moon Group - Self Titled (1970 Kinetic Records, Z-30228) 

Artist: Chris Moon Group
Title: The Chris Moon Group
Label: Kinectic Records
Catalog#: Z-30028
Released: 1970
Country: New York, US
Genre: Rock
Duration: 00:32:58

• Chris Moon (aka Jeffrey Neuman) enjoyed his first brush with commercial success as a member of New York's The Third Bardo. Following that group's collapse he struck out as a solo act under the name 'Chris Moon'.
• Produced by Beau Ray Fleming (Larry Fallon handling two tracks), 1970's "The Chris Moon Group" may have been billed as a band, but appears to be a Moon/Neuman solo effort. To be honest about this album, the first time I played it, Moon's ravaged voice simply didn't do much for me. Luckily, I was willing to give the set a couple of spins which allowed the album to reveal some of its charms. Whereas The Third Bardo specialized in psych, Moon's interest is more conventional rock. Tracks such as 'Think' (not a remake of the Aretha Franklin classic), the bluesy 'Give It To Me' and 'Natural Man' sport entertaining melodies that are well suited to Moon's gruff vocals. Moon handled guitar in The Third Bardo, so going on the assumption he did here as well, there are several tasty solos, including 'Give It To Me' and 'My Love Is Over'. Mind you, this won't drastically change you life, but it is better than dozens of more costly rarities. In case anyone cares, Kinetic released 'Good' b/w 'Give It To Me' as an instantly forgotten single (Kinetic catalog number 6000).

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 • Side One:
A1. Think (Chris Moon) - 4:00
A2. I've Seen It Happen Before (Chris Moon) - 3:40
A3. Good (Chris Moon) - 2:00
A4. Natural Man (Chris Moon) - 3:40
A5. Give It to Me (Chris Moon) - 5:09
 • Side Two:
B1. No Doubt About It (Chris Moon) - 2:55
B2. My Love Is Over (J. Talli - Larry Fallon - F. Talli) - 2:36
B3. 2000 B.C. (Chris Moon) - 3:00
B4. Got to Have You (J. Talli - Larry Fallon - F. Talli) - 3:24
B5. Get Together Jim (Chris Moon) - 3:28

 

-----  ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ ----- 

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Extras - Road to Zambando (1982) 

Artist: Extras
Title: Road to Zambando
Format: Vinyl LP Album
Label: Ready Records
Catalog: LR 022
Released: 1982
Origin: Toronto, Ontario
Genre: Pop Rock, Disco
Duration: 00:39:34

• In the Spring of 1979, Denis Keldie was working in a band called Sneakers with Leon Stevenson (who had known each other from school in Mississauga, Ontario) During the same period Stevenson was working with B.B. Gabor as a songwriter on material for Gabor. His group, The Instaband, featured Paul Armstrong on drums and Tom Griffiths on bass. When Gabor signed his record deal with Anthem Records, he decided to combine Stevenson and Keldie with the members of The Instaband as his musicians for his first solo.
• Following two weeks of pre-production with Terry Brown a disastrous and very drunken performance by B.B and us at The Edge in Toronto was apparently witnessed by a label rep and the brakes were quickly put on the recordings with Gabor's backing band. Though the various members were asked to sign publishing contracts for the material they co-wrote with Gabor (Stevenson writing the lyrics to "Metropolitan Life"; Armstrong writing the lyrics to "Soviet Jewelry"; Keldie co-writing "Moscow Drug Club"), the band itself was fired from the recording sessions.
• From this fiasco was born the united Extras who signed with Ready Records and released "Bit Parts" featuring soon-to-be famous producer David Bendeth. The album spawned two hit singles: the hilarious condom conundrum "Circular Impression" and "Jealous Girl" (The Extras and BB Gabor would eventually reconcile and Gabor would record "Jealous Girl" on his sophomore album).
• The group released the unspectacular 'The Road To Zambando' in 1982 and in 1983 they released a 5 song EP called 'The Watcher' which featured the departure of Armstrong and the addition of Pat Rush (guitar) and Paul Daiter (bass). The record spawned the single of the title track.
• It was in 1984 on their fourth outing, 'Extrapolis', that the band drew any real success. The album featured the single "Can't Stand Still" which was a catchy song and had a very entertaining video -- the second animated Canadian video ever (Klaatu's "Routine Day" being the first).
• The album hit #66 on CSCR's Top LP's of 1984 and they won a CFNY-FM U-Know Award for the video to "I Can't Stand Still".
• The band struggled until the demise of Ready Records and the members embarked on other musical projects. In 1990 Leon Stevenson joined forces with guitarist Wally Matas to form Industrial Artz.

-------- ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ --------

 
 • Side One:
A1. Turning It Out 04:24
A2. I'll Be Wanting You 04:15
A3. Zambando 04:17
A4. Don't Put Me on Hold 02:52
A5. Sporting Life 03:50
 • Side Two:
B1. Mega Media Myth 04:47
B2. Never a Headache 03:58
B3. High Tech Promises 03:34
B4. Seeing You Again 03:40
B5. Sentimental Fool 03:53

 

Musicians:
Paul Armstrong - Drums, Percussion, Vocals
Denis Keldie - Vocals, Keyboards
Leon Stevenson - Lead Vocals, Synthesizer
Paul Daiter - Bass, 1983-present
Pat Rush - Guitar, 1983-present

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BruBrussel Sprout - Brussel Sprout (1976 MCA Records) 

Artist: Brussel Sprout
Album: Selftitled
Label: MCA Records
Catalog#: 2211
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: Canada
Released: 1976
Genre: Blues Rock, Folk Rock, Classic Rock
Duration: 00:35:14

• Allen Park, "чума" мичиганских школ Perrish и Lush были в группе под названием Old Friend и начали джеммовать с бывшими участниками Custer's Last Band Manning, коими являлись Treece и Vass, ещё в 1972 году. Вскоре на ферме в Монро, штат Мичиган, им встретился Denny Mosese и этого состава музыкантов хватило, чтобы начать записывать домашнее демо. Они также дали один концерт как The Amazing Vibrasonics, но затем изменили своё название на Brussel Sprout (Брюссельская капуста) после ухода их басиста (Park). Benjamin был принят на его место аккурат в момент изменения названия.
• При выступлении в графстве Эссекс, провинция Онтарио, неподалеку от Виндзора, их заметил один концертный агент, который организовал для них концерты в Niagara Falls и Торонто, что позволило группе временно переехать в Jordan (Онтарио). Шоу в El Macombo в Торонто привело к тому, что на них обратил внимание Hilly Leopold из Eastern Sound Studio's A440 Productions. Gordon Lightfoot записывал альбом "Summertime Dream", пока группа была там, и вскоре они встретились с ним.
• В итоге Brussel Sprout заключили контракт с продюсерами A440 и записали три демо-песни. Hilly Leopold решил продолжать в том же духе и вскоре обеспечил неплохую сделку, подписав группу на MCA Records, где и был выпущен их одноимённый альбом в 1975 году. Чтобы, так сказать, прощупать почву, "Dance She Said" был запущен на радио в качестве канадского контента, так как альбом был записан и произведён в Канаде. Таким образом полностью американская группа в радио-чартах фигурировала как канадская. В 1976 году был выпущен второй сингл с альбома - "High In The Rockies", но затем, увы, слава и богатство ускользает от них, группа распалась и её музыканты вернулись в США.
• Perrish живёт в штате Мичиган, владеет и управляет строительной компанией и продолжает сочинять и играть музыку; Lush обосновался в Нэшвилле, тоже ещё долго профессионально занимался музыкой и гастролировал с несколькими группами; Manning также, в штате Мичиган работает учителем в школе, но и не забывает писать и играть музыку; Treece в Мичигане работал генеральным менеджером на радиостанции в Монро, а сейчас - на радиостанции в Толедо, штат Огайо; Vass живёт в штате Мичиган и до сих пор играет в христианской группе; и, наконец, Benjamin живёт в Лос-Анджелесе и служил в качестве контролёра оргкомитета летних Олимпийских Игр 1984 года, был также казначеем Совета директоров Фонда помощи Live Aid, в настоящее время является директором игровых видеопрограмм филиалов корпораций Sony Music и Sony Imagesoft, в Лос-Анджелесе, а также выступает менеджером певца и композитора Кенни Рэнкина (Kenny Rankin).

• Allen Park, Michigan school chums Perrish and Lush were in a band called Old Friend and began jamming with ex-members of Custer's Last Band Manning, Treece and Vass in 1972. They got together with Denny Mosese on a farm in Monroe, Michigan, where most of the members were from, and started making home demos. They performed one gig as The Amazing Vibrasonics and then changed their name to Brussel Sprout following the departure of their bass player. Benjamin was added at the point of the name change.
While playing a gig in Essex, Ontario near Windsor, they were noticed by a booking agent who lined up gigs for them in Niagara Falls and Toronto allowing the band to temporarily relocate to Jordan, Ontario. A show at the El Macombo in Toronto brought them to the attention of Hilly Leopold of Eastern Sound Studio's A440 Productions. Gordon Lightfoot was recording the album 'Summertime Dream' while the band was there and they soon met him.
• Brussel Sprout signed a production deal with A440 and recorded three demo songs. Hilly Leopold decided to pursue a recording deal and after getting them signed to MCA, produced their self-titled album in 1975. To test the waters "Dance She Said" was released to radio as Canadian content as the production and recordings were done in Canada. The all-American group qualified as Canadian on the radio charts. With the release of the album in 1976, the second single, "High In The Rockies" followed. Alas, fame and fortune eluded them, the band split up and the members returned to the US.
• Perrish lives in Michigan, owns and operates construction company and continues to write and play music; Lush lives in Nashville, has continued to play music professionally and has toured with several bands; Manning lives in Michigan, teaches 5th grade and continues to write and play music; Treece lives in Michigan, worked as general manager at radio station in Monroe, Michigan and now works at radio station in Toledo, Ohio; Vass lives in Michigan, and plays in Christian band; Benjamin lives in Los Angelese and served as Controller of the 1984 L.A. Summer Olympic Organizing Committee, is Treasurer and on the Board of Directors of the Live Aid Foundation, is Director of Sony Music’s video game division, Sony Imagesoft, in Los Angeles, and manages singer/songwriter Kenny Rankin.

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 • Side One:
A1. High In The Rockies 03:31
A2. Turn My Life Around 03:22
A3. Dance She Said 03:19
A4. Used To Feel So Satisfied 03:32
A5. Blessing In Disguise 03:41
 • Side Two:
B1. Tryin' To Get Next To You 03:35
B2. One More Time 02:44
B3. In The Long Run 03:33
B4. Follow Me Down 03:30
B5. Feeling Right Down Home 04:22

 

Musicians:
Tom Treece - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
Roger Manning - Vocals, Harp
Don Perrish - Vocals, Lead Guitar
Ken Lush - Keyboards, Flute
Jeff Benjamin - Bass
Denny Moses - Drums, Vocals, Congas, Fiddle
John Vass - Guitar, Drums, Vocals

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Tarra - Hard Nipples (1981 Platerie Records) 

Artist: Tarra
Album: Hard Nipples
Label: Platerie Records
Catalog#: RCS 433
Country: Netherlands
Format: Vinyl, LP
Released: 1981
Genre: Rock, Pop Rock, Symphonic Rock
Duration: 00:40:54

• Мало кому известная группа из страны тюльпанов, в состав которой входили столь же неизвестные музыканты: Rene Muller (lead guitar), Wouter Van Der Meulen (guitar), Bennie Kock (bass), Franky Ligtenberg (drums) и Theo Mulder (organ, piano, strings, synthesizer, vocals). Единственный альбом записан на Eagle Sound Studios, в городке Zwolle, и выпущен на маленьком частном лейбле Platerie Records сначала в 1979 году, и повторно в 1981-м. Продюсером альбома выступил Cor Mestebeld, пожалуй, наиболее известный из всей перечисленной компании. Так, в середине 70-х годов, вместе с братьями Andre, Ben и Henk Groote, он начинал басистом в голландской же поп-группе Air Bubble из упомянутого Zwolle, прославившейся своим хитом "Racing Сar" 1976 года. В дальнейшем Cor больше преуспел на ниве продюсирования, работая с такими отечественными исполнителями, как Roy Kuschel, Andre Groote (бывший коллега по Air Bubble), O.R.D.U.C. и даже суринамским ансамблем, игравшим в стиле латино, Orkhestra Tropical.
• Альбом Hard Nipples принято относить к стилю Symphonic Prog, по другим оценкам — это Pop Rock, Symphonic Rock и даже Heavy Prog Rock, и последнее, скорее всего, более близко к истине. Альбом достаточно редкий и на CD пока, похоже, не переиздавался.

-------- ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ --------

 
 • Side One:
A1. T.V. Victim 04:49
A2. Vacation 07:09
A3. What's Safety 03:35
A4. They Seem Very Mad 04:58
 • Side Two:
B1. The Way Of Music 04:31
B2. No Hard Feelings 03:39
B3. Highnight 05:58
B4. Forbidden Love 02:11
B5. Shiny Tiny 04:10

    Recorded at Eagle Sound Studios, Zwolle.
    Producer – Cor Mesterbeld*
 

Musicians:
Bennie Kock - Bass
Wouter Van Der Meulen - Guitar
Rene Muller - Lead Guitar
Theo Mulder - Organ, Piano, Strings, Synthesizer, Vocals
Francky Ligtenberg - Drums

-----  ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ ----- 

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