Touch - Touch (1980)

Simply put, this album is one of the very best discs that has ever been made in the AOR music category. During the late seventies and early eighties the American rock scene was bursting with deliciously ambitious talent, none more so than New York based quintet Touch. Their sound can be described as power rock, with well crafted songwriting and plenty of soaring harmony vocals by Brooks suited perfectly with Mangold’s striking keyboards.

En termes simples, cet album est l'un des meilleurs disques jamais produits dans la catégorie musique AOR. À la fin des années soixante-dix et au début des années quatre-vingt, la scène rock américaine débordait de talents délicieusement ambitieux, tout comme le quintette Touch de New York. Leur son peut être décrit comme du power rock, avec une écriture bien conçue et de nombreuses voix d'harmonie envolées de Brooks parfaitement adaptées aux claviers frappants de Mangold.

Tracks :

Side 1 :

A1 Don't You Know What Love Is 3:50

A2 Spirit 3:56

A3 Love Don't Fail Me 4:24

A4 Black Star 3:32

A5 There's A Light 3:56

Side 2 : 

B6 So High 5:18

B7 Last Chance For Love 3:51

B8 Yes (You Need To Rock 'n Roll 4:22

B9 Listen (Can You Feel It) 5:02

B10 My Life Depends On You 4:51

Line-Up :

Bass, Backing Vocals, Lead Vocals – Doug Howard

Drum, Percussion – Glenn Kithcart

Guitar, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Craig Brooks

Keyboards, Backing Vocals, Lead Vocals – Mark Mangold

Enjoy Music :

Touch - Touch (LP)

1980

Joni Mitchell - Hejira (1976)

This is the 8th album of Joni Mitchell and she still manages to surprise us with a coherent disc that oscillates between blues / rock, folk and jazz.

Here, the songs are long and Joni takes his time to paint a succession of paintings through rich and poetic lyrics. His voice has matured, we hear him. And through this "journey" (hejira meaning trip in Arabic), we understand better what Rousseau meant when he wrote "to say and to sing was formerly the same thing" ...

The bass of Jaco Pastorius gives all the original and warm atmosphere of this record. Neil Young even plays the harmonica on the very melodic 'Furry sings the blues'. The whole bathing in a certain languor, the songs do not miss however pace as shows the excellent 'song for sharon'. And what about the very sensual and jazzy 'Blue motel room': beautiful!

C'est le 8ème album de Joni Mitchell et elle arrive encore à nous surprendre avec un disque cohérent qui oscille entre blues/rock, folk et jazz.

Ici, les chansons sont longues et Joni prend son temps pour peindre une succession de tableaux à travers des paroles riches et poétiques. Sa voix a muri, on l'entend. Et à travers ce "voyage" (hejira signifiant voyage en arabe), on comprend mieux ce que Rousseau voulait dire quand il écrivait "dire et chanter était autrefois la même chose"...

La basse de Jaco Pastorius confère toute l'atmosphère originale et chaleureuse propre à ce disque. Neil Young intervient même à l'harmonica sur le très mélodique 'Furry sings the blues'. Le tout baignant dans une certaine langueur, les chansons ne manquent pourtant pas de rythme comme le montre l'excellente 'song for sharon'. Et que dire du très sensuel et jazzy 'Blue motel room' : magnifique!

Tracks :

Side 1  :

A1 Coyote 5:00

A2 Amelia  6:00

A3 Furry Sings The Blues 5:03

A4 A Strange Boy 4:15

A5 Hejira   6:35

Side 2 :

B1 Song For Sharon  8:30

B2 Black Crow 4:20

B3 Blue Motel Room  5:03

B4 Refuge Of The Roads    6:37

Line-Up :

Acoustic Guitar – Larry Carlton 

Bass – Jaco Pastorius 

Drums – John Guerin 

Guitar, Vocals – Joni Mitchell

Lead Guitar – Larry Carlton 

Percussion – Bobbye Hall 

Horns – Chuck Findley, Tom Scott

Vibraphone – Victor Feldman

Bass – Chuck Domanico

Bass – Max Bennett

Clarinet – Abe Most

Harmonica – Neil Young

Enjoy Music :

Joni Mitchell - Hejira (LP)

1976

Sweet - Fanny Adams (1974)

Sweet Fanny Adams, the second album of the British glam rock group Sweet, was released in April 1974. Sweet Fanny Adams marked a huge change in the tone of the band, from the pop of their previous album to an album whose sound is much more oriented hard rock.

No weak piece in this little gem of the purest british glam rock.

Sweet Fanny Adams, le deuxième album du groupe de glam rock britannique Sweet, est sorti en avril 1974. Sweet Fanny Adams marqua un énorme changement dans le ton du groupe, passant du son pop de leur album précédent à un album dont le son est beaucoup plus orienté hard rock.

Aucun morceau faible dans ce petit joyau du plus pur british glam rock.

Tracks :

 

01.  Set Me Free (3:59)

02.  Heartbreak Today (5:02)

03.  No You Don't (4:35)

04.  Rebel Rouser (3:24)

05.  Peppermint Twist (3:29)

06.  Sweet F.A. (6:14)

07.  Restless (4:28)

08.  In To The Night (4:23)

09.  AC-DC (3:27)

Line-Up :

Lead Vocals, Bass Guitar, Bass [6 String] – Steve Priest

Lead Vocals, Guitar, Synthesizer [Moog], Piano, Cello – Andy Scott

Lead Vocals, Handclaps, Tambourine – Brian Connolly

Vocals, Drums, Timpani, Bells [Tubular], Gong, Voice – Mick Tucker

Enjoy Music :

Sweet - Fanny Adams (LP)

1974

Mott - Drive On (1975)

Album from the British band made up of former members of Mott the Hoople. Having gone from a struggling club band to wider international success, it came as something of a shock when leader Ian Hunter pulled the band apart by quitting in late 1974, taking flamboyant guitarist Mick Ronson with him to peruse a solo career. For the other members of Mott the Hoople this could have spelt disaster but fortunately their resolve and determination overcame all obstacles resolving to carry on with a revised line up. Enlisting new guitarist Ray Major and unknown vocalist Nigel Benjamin, the band reconvened, still signed to CBS, but under the new handle of Mott.

Album du groupe britannique composé d'anciens membres de Mott the Hoople. Après être passé d'un combo pour petits clubs en difficulté à un groupe au succès international plus large, le leader Ian Hunter a démonté le line-up originel en abandonnant le groupe à la fin de 1974, emportant avec lui le flamboyant guitariste Mick Ronson pour une carrière solo. Pour les autres membres de Mott the Hoople, cela aurait pu être un désastre mais, heureusement, leur opiniatreté et leur détermination ont surmonté tous les obstacles et ils se sont résolus à poursuivre avec une nouvelle équipe. En recrutant le nouveau guitariste Ray Major et le chanteur inconnu Nigel Benjamin, le groupe se reconstitue, toujours signé à CBS, mais sous la nouvelle dénomination de Mott.

Tracks :

1. By Tonight

  2. Monte Carlo

  3. She Does It

  4. I'll Tell You Something

  5. Stiff Upper Lip

  6. Love Now

  7. Apologies

  8. The Great White Wail

  9. Here We Are

  10. It Takes One to Know One

  11. I Can Show You How It Is

  12. Shout It All Out

Line-Up :

Bass, Vocals – Overend Watts

Drums, Vocals – Dale Griffin

Lead Guitar, Vocals – Ray Major

Lead Vocals, Guitar – Nigel Benjamin

Piano, Organ, Synthesizer, Vocals – Morgan Fisher

Enjoy Music :

Mott - Drive On (LP)

1975

The Buoys - The Buoys (1971)

The Buoys were a short-lived American group who had garnered only one major hit, “Timothy.” It was written for them by Rupert Holmes, who also wrote the bulk of the Buoys’ material. Anyway, “Timothy”s song was deliberately controversial as it relates cannibalism...

The Buoys étaient un groupe américain de courte durée qui n'avait récolté qu'un seul succès majeur, "Timothy". Il a été écrit pour eux par Rupert Holmes, qui a également écrit la majeure partie du matériel des Buoys. Quoi qu'il en soit, la chanson de "Timothy" a été délibérément controversée car elle concerne le cannibalisme ...

Tracks : 

Side 1 :

A1 Give Up Your Guns 4:14

A2 Castles 2:24

A3 Sunny Days 1:43

A4 Memories 3:20

A5 The Prince Of Thieves 4:15

Side 2 : 

B1 Timothy 2:46

B2 Tell Me Heaven Is Here 3:31

B3 Bloodknot 2:12

B4 Tomorrow 3:23

B5 Absent Friend

Line-Up :

Bass – Gerry Hludzik

Drums, Percussion – Chris Hanlon

Guitar, Flute – Bill Kelly

Guitar, Keyboards – Fran Brozena

Guitar, Keyboards, Flute – Carl Siracuse

Elton John • Just Like A Strange Rain (1973)

No comment. Just listen Sir Elton's best.

Tracks :

01.  I've Been Loving You

02.  Here's To The Next Time

03.  Lady Samantha

04.  All Across The Havens

05.  It's Me That You Need

06.  Just Like Strange Rain

07.  Rock And Roll Madonna

08.  Grey Seal

09.  Friends

10.  Honey Roll

11.  Step Into Christmas

12.  Ho! Ho! Ho! Who'd Be A Turkey At Christmas

Line-Up :

Congas – Nigel Olsson

Electric Guitar – Davey Johnstone

Piano, Mellotron, Electric Piano – Elton John

Bass – Dee Murray

Drums – Nigel Olsson

Enjoy Music :

Elton John - Just Like A Strange Rain (LP)

1973

Nick Gilder - City Nights (1978)

Gilder moved to Vancouver, Canada, at the age of 10 and after leaving high school formed a band called Rasputin. This band eventually became known as Sweeney Todd, and they charted in the US with their 1976 single ‘Roxy Roller’. With band member Jim McCulloch, Gilder relocated to Los Angeles and signed as a solo artist to Chrysalis Records. Shortly afterwards, the band recorded another version of ‘Roxy Roller’, featuring a young Bryan Adams on vocals, which broke into the US chart nine positions below the Gilder-sung version. ‘Hot Child In The City’ was his first and greatest success.

Gilder a déménagé à Vancouver, au Canada, à l'âge de 10 ans et après avoir quitté l'école secondaire, il a formé un groupe appelé Rasputin. Ce groupe est finalement devenu connu sous le nom de Sweeney Todd. Ils ont alors joué aux États-Unis avec leur single 'Roxy Roller' de 1976. Avec le membre du groupe Jim McCulloch, Gilder s'est ensuite installé à Los Angeles et a signé en tant qu'artiste solo chez Chrysalis Records. Peu de temps après, le groupe a enregistré une autre version de «Roxy Roller», mettant en vedette un jeune Bryan Adams au chant, qui a fait irruption dans le classement américain neuf positions en dessous de la version chantée par Gilder. 

'Hot Child In The City' fut son premier véritable et plus grand succès.

Tracks :

Side 2 

A1 Got To Get Out 2:45

A2 We'll Work It Out 3:37

A3 (She's) One Of The Boys 3:24

A4 All Because Of Love 3:16

A5 Hot Child In The City 3:45

B1 Frustration 3:03

Side 2

B2 Here Comes The Night 3:03

B3 21st Century 3:14

B4 Fly High 4:52

B5 Rockaway 3:21

Line-Up :

Bass – Eric Nelson

Drums, Percussion – Craig Krampf

Guitar – James McCulloch

Keyboards, Synthesizer, Guitar – Jamie Herndon

Vocals – Nick Gilder

Smokie - Changing All The Time (1975)

Changing All the Time is the second studio album by the English rock band Smokie, released in September 1975. Early pressings of the album had been made with the original band's name "Smokey", but in November 1975 it was announced that the name would be altered to "Smokie" in order to avoid confusion with soul legend Smokey Robinson. All later copies of the album would bear the changed spelling.

Changing All the Time est le deuxième album studio du groupe de rock anglais Smokie, sorti en septembre 1975. Les premiers pressages de l'album avaient été faits avec le nom du groupe original "Smokey", mais en novembre 1975 il a été annoncé que le nom serait modifié à "Smokie" afin d'éviter la confusion avec la légende de l'âme Smokey Robinson. Toutes les copies ultérieures de l'album porteront l'orthographe changée.

Tracks :

Side 1 :

A1. Don't Play Your Rock 'N' Roll To Me 3:17

A2. If You Think You Know How To Love Me 3:24

A3. It's Natural 2:39

A4. Give It To Me 4:03

A5. We're Flying High 3:54

Side 2 :

B1. Changing All The Time 3:23

B2. Julia 3:01

B3. Take Me In 3:53

B4. Umbrella Day 3:43

B5. Back To Bradford 2:41

Line-Up :

Chris Norman – lead vocals, back vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano

Alan Silson – lead guitar, acoustic guitar, steel guitar, back vocals, lead vocals (on "Give It to Me")

Terry Uttley – bass guitar, back vocals

Pete Spencer – drums, flute, percussion

Enjoy Music :

Smokie - Changing All The Time (LP)

1975

Brett Smiley - Breathlessly Brett (1974)

This album of the unknown Brett Smiley, unearthed in 1974, is a concentrate of androgyny and vintage Glam Rock. More than Ziggy, it is perhaps to Jobriath that he refers (for his character outrank glitter). Produced by Andrew Loog Oldham (the producer of the Stones), Brett does not write less his own songs. And what songs! Queen Of Hearts is probably one of the most beautiful glam ballads of the time, just below Life On Mars and Perfect Day. There are also killings on the T-Rex way (Va Va Voom, Precolombian Love), and cool times (I want to hold your hand sounds a little less innocent here).

Cet album de l'illustre inconnu Brett Smiley, déterré de 1974, est un concentré d'androgynie et de Glam Rock millésimé. Plus qu'à Ziggy, c'est peut-être à Jobriath qu'il renvoie (pour son caractère outrancièrement glitter, pas pour le côté second couteau). Produit par Andrew Loog Oldham (le producteur des Stones), Brett n'en écrit pas moins ses propres chansons. Et quelles chansons ! Queen Of Hearts est probablement une des plus belles ballades glam de l'époque, à ranger juste en dessous Life On Mars et Perfect Day. Il y a aussi des tueries à la T-Rex (Va Va Voom, Precolombian Love), et des chouettes reprises (I want To Hold Your Hand sonne un peu moins innocente ici).

Tracks :

1.   Brett's Lullaby 

2.   Highty Tighty 

3.   Space Age 

4.   April In Paris 

5.   Solitaire 

6.   Va Va Va Voom 

7.   Run For The Sun 

8.   I Want To Hold Your Hand 

9.   Pre-Columbian Love 

10.   Queen Of Hearts 

11.   I Can't Help Myself / Over The Rainbow 

12.   Young At Heart

Line-Up :

Brett Smiley - vocals

Jim Keltner - drums

Ken Ascher - piano

David Spinozza - guitar

Steve Marriott - guitar/bass

Enjoy Music :

Brett Smiley - Breathlessly Brett (LP)

1974

Billion Dollar Babies - Battle Axe (1977)

Michael Bruce is a member of the group Billion Dollar Babies with Mike Marconi, Dennis Dunaway, Bob Dolin and Neal Smith after learning his relationship with Alice Cooper in 1974. The group was implicated in action in justice sur the use of the name. Ils once came out on an album in 1977, Battleaxe, before separating.

Michael Bruce fonda le groupe Billion Dollar Babies avec Mike Marconi, Dennis Dunaway, Bob Dolin et Neal Smith après leur séparation avec Alice Cooper en 1974. Ce groupe a été impliqué dans une action en justice sur l'utilisation du nom. Ils n'ont sorti qu'un album en 1977, Battleaxe, avant de se séparer.

Tracks :

1.  Too Young 

2.  Shine Your Love 

3.  I Miss You 

4.  Love Is Rather Blind 

5.  Rock n' Roll Radio 

6.  Dance With Me 

7.  Rock Me Slowly 

8.  Ego Mania 

9.  Battle Axe 

10.  Sudden Death 

11.  Winner 

Line-Up :

Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Neal Smith

Bass, Vocals - Dennis Dunaway

Lead Guitar, Vocals - Mike Marconi

Keyboards, Synthesizers, Vocals - Bob Dolin

Lead Vocals, Guitar - Michael Bruce

Enjoy Music :

Billion Dollar Babies - Battle Axe (LP)

1977

Geordie - Save The World (1976)

Save the World is the third studio album by British glam rock band Geordie. 

Geordie were a British glam rock band from Newcastle upon Tyne, most notably active in the 1970s. Brian Johnson, lead singer, left the band and joined AC/DC.

Save the World est le troisième album studio du groupe de rock glamour britannique Geordie.

Geordie était un groupe britannique de glam rock de Newcastle upon Tyne, particulièrement actif dans les années 1970. Brian Johnson, chanteur principal, a quitté le groupe et a rejoint AC/DC.

Tracks :

1.  Mama's Gonna Take You Home

2.  She's A Teaser

3.  Goodbye Love

4.  I Cried Today

5.  You Do This To Me

6.  Save The World

7.  Rocking Horse

8.  Fire Queen

9.  She's A Lady

10.  Light In My Window

11.  Ride On Baby

12.  We're All Right Now

13.  Black Cat Woman

14.  Geordie Stomp

Line-Up :

Brian Johnson - vocals

Vic Malcolm - guitar, vocals

Micky Bennison - guitar

Tom Hill - bass

Brian Gibson - drums

Enjoy Music :

Geordie - Save The World (LP)

1976

The Heavy Metal Kids - Anvil Chorus (1975)

The Heavy Metal Kids were formed by the merger of two previous bands: Heaven and Biggles. They took their name from a gang of street kids, featured in the novel Nova Express by William S. Burroughs. Anvil Chorus, the band’s second and final album for Atlantic records, originally released in 1975 on CD, features the singles ‘The Big Fire’ and ‘Blue Eyed Boy’.

Les Heavy Metal Kids ont été formés par la fusion de deux groupes précédents: Heaven et Biggles. Ils ont pris leur nom d'une bande d'enfants de la rue, dans le roman Nova Express de William S. Burroughs. Anvil Chorus, le deuxième et dernier album du groupe pour les disques Atlantic, initialement sorti en 1975 sur CD, présente les singles 'The Big Fire' et 'Blue Eyed Boy'.

Tracks :

1. Hard At The Top

2. You Got Me Rollin'

3. On The Street

4. Situations Outta Control

5. Blue Eyed Boy

6. Old Time Boogie

7. The Turk (An' Wot'E Smokes)

8. Crisis

9. The Cops Are Coming

10. The Big Fire

Line-Up :

Bass – Ronnie Thomas

Drums – Keith Boyce

Guitar – Cosmo Verrico

Keyboards – Danny Peyronel

Lead Vocals – Gary Holton

Andy Fraser Band - Andy Fraser Band (1975)

It is as bass player with Free that Andy Fraser is understandably and rightly best known. Perhaps less well known by many is his significant songwriting partnership with Paul Rodgers, producing and co-writing, for example, theirs and one of the world's biggest rock hits 'All Right Now', but also so many more outstanding Free numbers, many on their first great album 'Tons of Sobs'.

In 1975, Fraser released two albums as the Andy Fraser Band, the first eponymously and the second titled 'In Your Eyes'. It is this first release that is excellent. The songwriting, not surprisingly, is superb and without doubt reflects the signature Free sound of which he was so instrumental.

C'est en tant que bassiste du groupe Free que Andy Fraser est le plus et le mieux connu. Peut-être moins connu par beaucoup est son partenariat significatif avec Paul Rodgers, produisant et co-écrivant, par exemple, l'un de leur plus grands succès mondiaux du rock 'All Right Now', mais aussi beaucoup plus de d'autres morceaux de Free notamment sur leur premier grand album 'Tons of Sobs'.

En 1975, Fraser sort deux albums comme le Andy Fraser Band, le premier éponyme et le second intitulé «In Your Eyes». C'est cette première version qui est excellente. L'écriture, sans surprise, est superbe et reflète sans doute la signature Free sound dont il était si instrumental.

Tracks :

1.  Don't Hide Your Love Away

2.  Changed Man

3.  Ain't Gonna Worry

4.  I Wanna Be There

5.  Bring It On Home

6.  Double Heart Trouble

7.  Keep On Loving You

8.  Love Is All Around

9.  Baby Forever

Line-Up :

Drums – Kim Turner

Electric Piano, Pedalboard [Bass] – Nick Judd

Vocals, Bass Guitar – Andy Fraser

Enjoy Music :

Andy Fraser Band - Andy Fraser Band (LP)

1975

Ace Frehley - Ace Frehley (1978)

Ace Frehley is a 1978 solo album from Ace Frehley, the lead guitarist and vocalist of American hard rock band Kiss. It was one of four solo albums released by the members of Kiss on September 18, 1978. The album featured Anton Fig on drums. He later performed session work on the Kiss albums Dynasty and Unmasked, and later became a member of Ace Frehley's band Frehley's Comet. Fig along with Will Lee, who played bass on three tracks on the album, became permanent members of Paul Shaffer's band on Late Night with David Letterman and Late Show with David Letterman.

Ace Frehley est un album solo de 1978 par Ace Frehley, guitariste et chanteur du groupe de hard rock américain Kiss. Ce fut l'un des quatre albums solos sortis par les membres de Kiss le 18 septembre 1978. Le LP mettait en vedette Anton Fig à la batterie. Il a ensuite interprété les albums de Kiss, Dynasty et Unmasked, avant de devenir membre du groupe Frehley's Comet d'Ace Frehley. Will Lee, qui a joué de la basse sur trois morceaux de l'album, est devenu membre permanent du groupe de Paul Shaffer dans le Late Night avec David Letterman et le Late Show avec David Letterman.

Tracks :

1.  Rip It Out 3:39

2.  Speedin' Back To My Baby 3:35

3.  Snow Blind 3:54

4.  Ozone 4:36

5.  What's On Your Mind? 3:26

6.  New York Groove 3:01

7.  I'm In Need Of Love 4:36

8.  Wiped-Out 4:10

9.  Fractured Mirror 5:25

Line-Up :

Backing Vocals – David Lasley (tracks: A2, A5, B1), Susan Collins (tracks: A2, A5, B1)

Bass – Will Lee (tracks: A4, B2, B3)

Drums, Percussion – Anton Fig

Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Synthesizer [Guitar], Bass – Ace Frehley

Enjoy Music :

Ace Frehley - Ace Frehley (LP)

1978