Earth Quake!

Earth Quake - Leveled. 1977.
Own vinyl rip. BitRate 192.

1. Lovin' Cup
2. Emma
3. Kicks
4. Trainride
5. Nothing Personal
6. Street Fever
7. Julie Anne
8. Upstairs

John Doukas - Vocals

Robbie Dunbar - Guitar

Gary Phillips - Guitar

Stan Miller - Bass

Steve Nelson - Drums

allmusic.com:

'Earth Quake started in 1976, under the leadership of singer/guitarist Greg Kihn. He started the group while working at Beserkley Records, the label which would sign the group soon after it started. Other members included Steve Wright (bass), Robbie Dunbar (lead guitar), and Larry Lunch (drums). They played the San Francisco area and often toured with other Beserkley bands due to the communal attitude the label took. The group eventually broke up in 1980, leaving Kign to go on with minor success three years later with "Jeopardy".'

This might be their best album, judging by what I've read & heard, but I've not heard them all. This isn't AOR, far from it, but more of the rockin' 70's kind, and often labeled new-wave'ish, which I don't find this at all. In my ears, an old Kiss fan, I hear a touch of early Kiss in here, maybe even as early as Wicked Lester, the singer sometimes sounds a bit Paul Stanley, and the background vocals too. In fact, Brownsville Station are another name that pops up in my head.

Anyway, don't let that stop you from having a try of this album :)

Link:

http://rapidshare.com/files/41787693/Earthquake-Leveled.rar

Toto Sisters

Cherie & Marie Currie

Not an essential gotta-have in any way, but with most of Toto contributing (Marie later married Steve Lukather, Cherie had a thing goin' on with one of the other Toto's, but she later married actor Robert Hays, from 'Airplane'), it certainly got it's moments. Featuring the over-covered Russ Ballard song 'Since You've Been Gone' and Free's 'Wishing Well', among other tracks written by Bobby Kimball, Eric Carmen, David Paich and Jai Winding.

Are you ready? Mike Baird, Mike Porcaro, Steve Lukather, Joey Brasler, Jai Winding, Trevor Veitch, Bobby Kimball, Michael Botticker, Tom Werman, Bill Champlin, Keith Landry, Tom Funderburk, Billy Bizeau, Waddy Wachtel, Jon Pierce, Mike Landau and Tom Kelly... that's the amazing team responsible for this piece of music. Although the signature marks of all these magicians clearly shines through, it's light weight productionwise compared to what those people later gained of quality. And let's face it, the nice sisters aren't exactly the top notch of female rock singers. Anyway, a fun album, worth having.

Cherie and Marie Currie - Messin' With The Boys. 1979.
Produced by Jai Winding. Own vinyl rip. BitRate 192.

1. Messin' With The Boys
2. Since You've Been Gone
3. I Just Love The Feeling
4. All I Want
5. Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)
6. Elaine
7. This Time
8. Wishing Well
9. Secrets
10. We're Through


Messin' with the sisters, two hiding Toto's...


Link:
http://rapidshare.com/files/41695239/CherieandMarieCurrie-Messin_WithTheBoys.rar

Blind Date, anyone?

Blind Date

I remember seeing this album and it's weird and colorful cover, a long time ago. 'Produced by Jeff Glixman' got my attention, and the band looked cool enough. Looking back at it now, playing it, I guess there's people that would call it powerpop, a genre that at that time didn't exist, but it certainly is heavy on the guitars. And that bass sound! I've never since heard a Glixman production with this much focus on the bass. Glixman played in a number of bands, including the pre-Kansas band, Cocky Fox. His first production was the 1974 Kansas release Song for America (and three more releases by that band in the '70s), and later a wide range of bands, Clapton, Gary Moore, Magnum, Yngwie 'unleashed-the-fury-raving-maniac' Malmsteen, Allman Brothers, E.L.O, Mother's Finest, Black Sabbath, Illusion, Heart, Saxon, Georgia Satellites, Cinderella, waaay too many to mention them all. But at that moment, it was his work on the Paul Stanley solo album one year earlier, that impressed me most, the huge Kiss fan I was back then. I must have bought every release by every involved name on those early Kiss releases. But strangely enough, in most cases I rarely got disappointed.

I like this album a lot. I guess it can be described as rock with a pop touch. From the opener 'Boys Will Be Boys' which make me think about Cheap Trick & New England's first album (produced by Paul Stanley, an obviously yet thin link there), and the instrumental hard rocking 'Twin Engine', that gives me associations both of Starz 'Colliseum Rock', and Michael Schenker Group's 'Into The Arena'. But as I said, mostly good rockin' pop songs with enough guitars to satisfy most of you, I think. And the band? Don't know much 'bout them. Released this album only, of sweet catchy
heavy-on-the-4-and-6-strings pop rock. Enjoy it!

Dane Bramage - Vocals, bass, keyboards
Arnie Badde - Vocals, guitars
Brad Billion - Vocals, guitars
Pinky Chablis - Drums

Blind Date - Blind Date. 1979.
Produced by Jeff Glixman.
Own vinyl rip. BitRate 192.

1. Boys Will Be Boys
2. Baby Goodbye
3. Do You Love Me
4. All of You
5. Twin Engines
6. I'll Take You Anywhere
7. Hollywood Girl
8. Trouble Maker
9. Midnight Imagination


Link:
http://rapidshare.com/files/41691629/BlindDate-BlindDate.rar

Randle-Rosburg / Striker

Striker

Rick Randle - Vocals, Keyboards, Guitar (Child)
Scott Rosburg - Vocals, Bass, Guitar (Shyanne, Randy Hansen)
Rick Ramirez - guitar (Boomerang, Bruzer, Pamela Moore Band, Ruffians)
Rick Taylor - Drums (Strypes)

Randle-Rosburg, Seattle, Washington (1971-1974), became Striker (1974-1980), and was amongst Seattle's leading hard rock bands in the late 70's. And they released only one album.

Is it any good? Yes it is. If you're into classic hard rock, like early Legs Diamond (Firepower), try this one. I think you'll like it. And yes, my copy of the album have been played quite some times these years, but it's a good rip, not worn out the vinyl like it's cover...
:)

Striker - Striker. 1978.

1. Think About It

2. Midnight Flyer

3. Wish

4. More Than Enough

5. On My way

6. Hard On Me

7. Somebody Help Me

8. By Your Side

9. Running In The Wrong Lane

10. We Got The Power

Link:

http://rapidshare.com/files/41494599/Striker-Striker.rar

The Russians are coming...

Well, where do I start? I LOVE THIS ALBUM!
An essensial listen to all people that appreciate well played, creative, playful theatrical-prog-pomp-pop rock. I could say Saga as a reference, or even Queen, without coming near to describe this album/band. If I add City Boy, Be Bop Deluxe, Aviary, Zon, or even The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, I may be closing in a bit. But there's no need for comparing, this album stands perfectly on it's own secure set of big feets. It's frankly amazing, and this sort of theatrical prog might never been touched by any other band, until... maybe swedish The Act, or even lately My Chemical Romance. But don't let that scare you. You gotta listen to this, if you haven't already. Why they didn't sell, I won't even guess, but their name have been mentioned. How stupid. A masterpiece everyone should have.

RockReport:
'Touring America on the 'Rock n' Roll Marathon' tour on a bill that also featured MAHOGANY RUSH, MOTHER'S FINEST, ANGEL and HUMBLE PIE following the album's release. (WHY!!? Why wasn't I there!? I could've died a happy man right there. Well, a happy boy at least...)
Frustrated by their lack of progress and at the constant claims by mentally challenged members of the American public who were convinced they were Communists, RUSSIA took the decision to change their name to FORCE 10. They consequently changed their musical direction and losing whatever fan base they had as a result.'

So, DL this album, play it LOUD, and prepare to love it. And guess what, the mentioned Force 10 are among my next postings! :)

RUSSIA

Russia - Russia. 1980.
Own Vinylrip. Good sound. 192bitrate.
Produced and Engineered by Paul Ratajczak

1. Fight Back (Time After Time)
2. Who Do You Think You Are?
3. Gotta Get Away
4. Nothing To Say
5. Laughing (In The Face Of Fire)
6. If I Were You
7. Out Of My Mind
8. Poignant Claims
9. Piece Of Ice
10. Outer Space Seeds

Griff Stevens - Lead vocals, Woodwinds, Railroad Springs

Thomas Richard Brighton - Guitars & vocals

Richard Allyn White - Keyboards & vocals

Larry Tuttle - Bass & vocals

Jeff Swisstack - Drums

Link:

http://rapidshare.com/files/41315224/Russia.rar

Vinyl! Desperately Seeking Susan

Well, whaddya know... figured out the vinyl rip thingy (Big thank you! to Castor). So, big fanfare... I proudly present my first rip using this turntable & my new pc! As promised, my first one would be Susan's '79 debut album.
As with most vinyls and ripping, there's a few obvious things that influence the result. That is, if the setup are right and the turntable are good enough for this kinda stuff. First, the original state and quality of the vinyl pressing, the production back then and finaly, and maybe most important, the physical condition of the piece of vinyl after maybe 30 years of usage and storage.
There's a lot that can be done when it's placed on the hard drive, running processes to remove clicks, hiss and noise. And manually removing. But that's time consuming, and my first attempts, I post here without trying to 'remaster' them. Due to the fact that my sound on this pc right now, aren't good enough to do that 'by the ear'. So, if you DL some of my own rip's, please leave a comment and tell me how you think it sounds. That'll make it easier for me to know if it's good enough, and what can be done better. Thank you!

Oops, sorry. Just found out, in my eager to share some rare vinyls with you, I forgot to tag the tracks so that the titles appear in your player. Well, always room for some improvements. That won't happen the next time. All files are properly named with album & titles, though... :)

SUSAN

Susan - Falling In Love Again. 1979.
Produced by Frank Aversa and Mike Ricciardella (Ex Network drummer).

1. Takin' It Over
2. I Was Wrong
3. Falling In Love Again (Intro)
4. Marlene
5. A Little Time
6. Power
7. Too Bad
8. Really Gonna Show
9. Don't Let Me Go
10. Love The Way
11. Tonight You're Mine

Charles Leland - vocals/bass
Ricky Byrd - guitar
Tom Dickie - guitar
Mick Leland - drums

Link:
http://rapidshare.com/files/41206127/Susan-FallingInLoveAgain.rar

Watch out for some more goodies here in the near future...

More Konnoisseurs...

Tantrum

Hi again. Just a short post this time. Pathetic enough, my setup for vinyl ripping are still not satisfying soundwise. Still looking forward to get started. But I have to wait until it's good enough. It'll take quite some time to rip & prepare good stuff anyway, so the result might as well be as good as it gets.
Still in the Konnoisseurs topic. Here's the two album released by the Chicago based 70-80's band Tantrum. Not quite as ABBA as their look, I recommend both albums. Good stuff.
I read about some rerelease of this stuff, or plans, including material from a never released third album, but that's something I sadly never seen/heard/found/got my hands on...

Sorry for the bad quality of the pics, used a bad digicam, my scanner are not operative right now. So, this'll do for now. See, both my vinyls pictured here are still sealed :))

Pam Bradley - vocals
Sandy Caulfield - vocals
Barb Erber - vocals
Ray Sapko - guitar
Phil Balsano - keyboards
Bill Syniar - bass
Vern Wennerstrom - drums



Tantrum - Tantrum. 1978.

1. Listen
2. You Came To Me
3. You Are My Everything
4. Happy Yesterdays
5. Kidnapped
6. Flash Commander
7. Night On Main Street
8. Livin' My Life Without You
9. Kid Brother
10. No More

Link:
http://rapidshare.com/files/38531622/Tantrum_-_st.rar

Tantrum - Rather Be Rockin'. 1980.

1. Rather Be Rockin'
2. Don't Turn Me Off
3. You Are My World
4. Sammy And Suzie
5. Runnin'
6. How Long
7. You Need Me
8. Take A Long
9. Applaud The Winner
10. Search For A Reason

Link:
http://rapidshare.com/files/38534977/Tantrum-RatherBeRockin_.rar



Have a great rockin' summer all of you...