01). Doc Holliday - Last Ride
From the newly remastered and re-released version of their second album, "Rides Again - Reloaded", originally released in 1982, very kindly personally supplied by founder/guitarist & vocalist Bruce Brookshire. Named after notorious gunslinger John "Doc" Henry Holliday, this Georgia, US based Southern Rock band were formed in the late 70's. Initially called ''Roundhouse", they changed their name to Doc Holliday when they discovered another band working under the same name. The band also featured Rick Skelton on guitar, Eddie Stone on keyboards, Herman Nixon on drums and John Samuelson on bass They released their self titled debut album in 1981 and were an immediate hit. The toured relentlessly with the likes of Blackfoot, The Outlaws and Molly Hatchet. Black Sabbath actually liked the band so much that they insisted that they open for them on a run of dates promoting their "Mob Rules" album in 1981.
The follow-up effort was "Rides Again", the featured album, which has to be one of the best Southern Rock albums of all time, and is justly worthy of being remastered and reissued. Next up was "Modern Medicine" in 1983, but the band folded shortly thereafter, returning in 1986 with the excellent "Danger Zone", with the live album "Song For The Outlaw Live" being released in 1989. Other albums worth checking out are "Son Of The Morning Star", "A Better Road", ''Legacy", and "Good Time Music".
The band is still very much around today and has just released a new album called ''Rebel Souls".
"Rides Again - Reloaded" can be purchased via the Doc Holliday website... or via Rock Candy Records.....
02). Black Oak Arkansas - Leather Angel
Taken from ''Balls Of Fire" in 1976, their 11th and second last album for MCA Records. Formed in the late 60's as The Knowbody Else, the band featured vocalist James Mangrum, aka Jim Dandy, who used to play a washboard on stage! The band also featured three great guitarists,Stan Knight, Jimmy Henderson and Ricky Reynolds, together with drummer Tommy Aldridge, who would later find fame in Ozzy Osbourne's band, Pat Travers and Hughes Thrall. BOA split in the late 70's, although Jim Dandy released a few solo albums before reviving the band in the 90's.
Read up on this important band elsewhere on The RockIt Scientist website.
03). Fist - Muscle Gun
From "Reign Of Terror", in 1993. This Canadian hard rock outfit were formed in the late 70's by vocalist/guitarist Ron Chenier, and they released their debut album in 1979. As there was a UK band with the same name, their albums were released under the name of Myofist in Europe. They released about 8 albums, and the line-up on this album included Laurie Curry on keyboards & background vocals, Mike Fenton on bass and Andre Gauthier on drums. Other recommended Fist albums are "Hot Spikes" (1980), "Thunder in Rock" (1982) and "Danger Zone" (1985).
04). Tribe of Gypsies - What's Up
From "Revolucion 13", in 1998, featuring Eddie Casillas on bass, vocals & percussion, Gregory Analla on lead vocals, David Ingraham on drums & percussion, Mario Aguillar and Elvis Balladares on percussion. Tribe of Gypsies is a fantastic Latin/metal outfit put together by guitarist and producer Roy Z, who has worked on albums by Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson and others. The band have released four albums to date, and a compilation album is on the way.
Refer to the other write-up on Tribe of Gypsies here...
05). Malo - Nena
From "En Vivo - Live", recorded in 2005. Malo were formed in San Francisco in the early 70's by guitarist Jorge Santana, Carlo's brother, together with vocalist Arcelio Garcia. They released five albums and folded in the late 70's, although Garcia kept the band going for many years, recording the odd album. This new live cd was recorded in San Francisco and it features the band at their best.
The Malo story on The RockIt Scientist website can be found here....
06). Vargas Blues Band - Amapola Negra
I've had quite a few requests to hear some more from this fantastic guitarist!
From his live "En Directo" album, in 2000. Javier Vargas is a very respected Spanish blues/rock guitarist who has released quite a few albums in his home country. This album features guests Sugar Blue, Larry McCray, David Montes and others. He's recently featured with the likes of Glenn Hughes, Jack Bruce and others on his latest album "Love, Union, Peace".
07). Q Stone - Waiting For The Dawn
This Finnish blues outfit would appear to have been formed in the late 80's, and have released three albums, the others being "No Substitute" and "3". The track was taken from "Pink On Blue", in 1990. The album features vocalist Mikko Kuustonen, keyboard player Max Tabell, guitarist/vocalist Hessu Silvennoinen, bass player Mikko Loytty and Sakke Loytty on drums, together with the Tower of Power horn section as well as famed percussionist Alex Acuna.
08). Bernie Marsden - After All The Madness
Bernie Marsden is one of England's most accomplished guitarists, having worked with the likes of Wild Turkey, Babe Ruth, Whitesnake, Company of Snakes and others. He released two solo albums in 1979 and 1981. The featured track was taken from the 1981 album, "Look At Me Now", which featured Ian Paice, Cozy Powell and Simon Phillips on drums, Neil Murray on bass and Jon Lord on keyboards.
09). Cozy Powell - Living a Lie
From his "Tilt" album, in 1981, his second solo album. Cozy Powell was one of the UK's best drummers, having worked with many diverse artists and bands, from Hot Chocolate and Donovan to Bedlam, to Whitesnake and MSG, to Black Sabbath. The featured album included Elmer Gantry of Stretch fame, together with guitarists Jeff Beck, Kirby and Bernie Marsden and bass players Neil Murray and Chris Glen. Powell's Bedlam mate Frankie Aiello is on vocals on this track. Born on December 29th, 1947, Powell, who was a lover of fast cars and motorcycles, was tragically killed in a car crash on April 5th,1998.
10). Mantis - Souls Of All The People (9/11)
One of four tracks released by this fantastic South African progressive rock band who are led by attractive singer, songwriter and acoustic guitarist called Toni Rowland. The rest of the band is comprised of Kate Maloba on harmony vocals and percussion, John Welch on guitars, Justice Tshabalala on bass and Jacques Cronje on drums. The band have fantastic potential and are an outfit to look out for. Uriah Heep's Ken Hensley, who is now involved in promotion and management, has taken a keen interest in the band and, should the necessary funding be raised, will take them under his wing.
The band appeared at the official launch of The Rock Fest on 1485 Radio Today (introducing SA radio greats Rafe Lavine, Phil Wright, Chris Prior and David Blood to the record companies and media) on 15 February 2006.
11). Mostly Autumn - Caught In a Fold
From ''Passengers", in 2003. Led by vocalist Heather Findlay, Mostly Autumn are one of the hottest progressive bands to emerge from the UK in the last 20 years or so. Often compared to Pink Floyd, the band have taken Europe and the US by storm and are favorites at the many progfests. They released a stunning album last year called "Storms Over Still Waters'', as well as a number of excellent dvds. The line-up on "Passengers" included Bryan Josh on vocals and guitars, Iain Jennings on keyboards and vocals, Angela Goldthorpe on flute, recorders and backing vocals, Liam Davison on guitars, Jonathan Blackmore on drums and Andy Smith on bass.
Refer to the other write-up on The RockIt Scientist website on this fantastic prog outfit.
12). Lana Lane - Secrets of Astrology
The title track of her 2002 album. Known as the Queen of Symphonic Rock, Lana Lane and her husband Eric Norlander (of the band The Rocket Scientists), have put out some incredible music since the early 90's. She's extremely popular in Japan and Europe. She released a new album last year called "Lady Macbeth" (featured on The RockIt Scientist a few months ago). Joining her and Norlander are seasoned professionals Ed Warby on drums, Arjen "Ayreon" Anthony Lucassen on guitars, Tony Franklin on bass and David Victor on guitar.
13). Alan Bown - The Messenger
From "Stretching Out", their fourth and final album, in 1971. British trumpet player Alan Bown formed his band as The Alan Bown Set in the mid 60's, playing blues and soul music. They later moved in a more jazz/rock direction and recorded two great albums in the early 70's, "Listen", and the featured album, which included Tony Catchpole on guitars, the very underrated Stan Haldane on bass, Jeff Bannister on keyboards and Vic Sweeney on drums. The Alan Bown is also well know for having both the late Robert Palmer and Jess Rode as vocalists at different times. Alan Bown later joined Jonesy in 1973 (appearing on "Keeping Up" and "Growing", both released in 1973), before accepting the A & R position at CBS Records. Sax player John Anthony Helliwell became a member of Supertramp, and vocalist Gordon Neville later featured with Dragonfly, Rick Wakeman and Beggars Opera. Tony Catchpole had a stint with The O Band, as did Jeff Bannister, who also appeared with Bronco, amongst others.
Alan Bown is well documented elsewhere on The RockIt Scientist website.
14). Mick Abrahams Band - Maybe Because
From "At Last", in 1972. Mick Abrahams was one of the original members in Jethro Tull, and he appeared on the band's debut album, ''This Was", in 1968, before leaving to form Blodwyn Pig. He recorded a couple of albums with Blodwyn Pig before forming the Mick Abrahams Band in 1970. He recorded two albums ("A Musical Evening With Mick Abrahams" in 1971, the featured album in 1972) before reforming Blodwyn Pig in 1974, although this proved to be unsuccessful. He then released a number of solo albums, one of them being "Have Fun Learning The Guitar" in 1975, before reviving Blodwyn Pig in the 90's. At least seven more Blodwyn Pig albums, many of them live, have surfaced since the band released their two albums, "Getting To This" and "Ahead Rings Out" in the late 60's/early 70's.
The featured album includes bass player Walt Monaghan of Freedom and If fame, together with Bob Sargeant on keyboards, guitar, mandolin and vocals, Ritchie Dharma on drums and Jack Lancaster on sax, flute and clarinet.
15). Tonton Macoute - Don't Make Me Cry
From their excellent self-titled debut, and sole, album, in 1971. A UK outfit, they were initially known as Windmill and they released a few singles under that name. Moving from pop and soul to jazz/rock, they changed their name to Tonton Macoute and were signed to Vertigo Records, although at the time, some Vertigo staff were moving away to form their own label, Neon, and they took the band with them. The album, which featured Nigel Reveler on percussion, Dave Knowles on sax and flute, Chris Gavin on bass and guitars and Paul French on keyboards, is a masterpiece of early UK jazz rock. (Vincent Crane of Atomic Rooster once said that this was one of his favorite albums and bands).
16). Atomic Rooster - Break The Ice
From "In Hearing Of", in 1971, the band's third album. February 14th, 1989, was a particularly sad day for music in general. It was the day that keyboard player and founder of this great British group, passed away. He left a legacy of some of the finest music to come out of the UK for many years. This album featured guitarist/vocalist John Du Cann,(who wrote one of the band's biggest hits, "Devil's Answer") drummer Paul Hammond and vocalist Peter French, of Leafhound, Cactus and Randy Pie fame.
Read up on this legendary group elsewhere on The RockIt Scientist website.
17). Baker Gurvitz Army - People
From "Elysian Encounter", their second album, in 1975. This powerful UK outfit was formed by drummer Ginger Baker (of Cream, Blind Faith and Airforce fame), together with brothers Paul and Adrian Gurvitz of Gun and Three Man Army fame. They released their debut album in early 1975 before recruiting Mr. Snips, vocalist for Andy Fraser's band, Sharks. They released one further album, "Hearts On Fire", before splitting, although quite a few albums of unreleased and live material have since been issued. Baker was in the recently reformed Cream.
18). Black Sabbath - N.I.B.
Black Sabbath's debut album was released 36 years ago, on 13 February 1970! Recorded on a minimal budget in a very short space of time, it went on to become a classic album. The initial line-up, who evolved out of two bands, Polka Tulk and Earth, were Tony Iommi on guitars (who turns 58 years old on the 19th of February), Bill Ward on drums, Ozzy Osbourne on vocals and Geezer Butler on bass. They did a great version of Crow's "Evil Woman" on this album.
Read an extensive history on this important band here....
20). Chicken Shack - I'd Rather Go Blind
From "39 Bars", in 1990, one of their best known tracks. Formed by Stan "The Man" Webb in the mid 60's, Chicken Shack were one of the most respected blues bands in the UK, alongside Fleetwood Mac, Savoy Brown, Ten Years After, Climax Blues Band and others. Stan Webb is the only original member of the band that has split and reformed a number of times over the years. He later recorded under his own name.
Read up elsewhere on The RockIt Scientist website on Stan The Man and Chicken Shack.
21). XYZ - What Keeps Me Loving You
From their excellent self-titled debut album in 1989. Essentially an Italian hard rock band, featuring Terry Ilous on vocals, Pat Fontaine on bass, Marc Diglio on guitars and Paul Munroe on drums, based in Los Angeles, the band signed to Enigma Records and linked up with Don Dokken, who produced the album. It was one of the best hard rock albums of the 80's.
They released a further album, ''Hungry", in 1991 as well as a live album called "Take What You Can - Live" before folding for quite a while, only to resurface on the early 2000's with "Letter To God", which featured Monroe and Ilous, together with guitarist JK Northrup and bass player Paul McNabb. The band are still around today, and they released a new album about six months ago.
