Priority: 1 (for Outside Looking In)
2/22/25 (new entry); 10/3/25 (update)
On the back cover, the band name is stylized as MoFoYa.
Priority: 2
6/16/25 (new entry)
Not to be confused with the more well known band from 1970. Technically the band is known as Androméda.
I've only heard the debut to date.
Priority: 3
6/16/25 (new entry)
Here's an album that I've had on my curiosity list for decades. I can't remember when or how I'd heard the name, but it never surfaced during the CDRWL heyday despite having it on lists sent to those who were helping me with the site. It's on Albert Productions which is most famous for pressing the original AC/DC albums. Well lookee there, someone posted it on YouTube. Let's dig in.
Stephen Joseph Christopher Powell offers up ten short form vocal tracks and one trippy interlude ('Supernova'). So the prog rock tag is definitely a misnomer here. The music belongs more to the loner folk rock genre, with copious vocals and acoustic guitar being the primary sounds. Powell's vocals are on the airy side, and there is some use of synthesizer giving it that "celestial" feel I suppose. I can certainly hear the appeal as there's a type of collector who will eat this up. Add to that the genuine rarity, and that's how albums like this become sought after worldwide. Not really my bag though.
Apparently Powell went deaf after this recording and that was essentially the end of his career.
Priority: none
4/17/25 (new entry)
Satwa play a type of commercial rock with period instrumentation. Very much like an American AOR band with ballads and occasional harder edged guitars (think same era Journey) but sung in Spanish. A4 draws on some Yes themes (one chord progression comes straight from 'And You and I') but is slick and very much watered down. Straightforward and rather uninteresting overall. Not neo prog, hard rock, nor jazz fusion, at least as I define those terms.
Priority: none
11/7/23 (review); 4/13/25 (new entry)
Not even sure how or where I ended up with this title (probably could say that about most of the albums I've jotted down). Hard rock and prog are the descriptors on Discogs. Hard rock maybe. Prog no - unless having a Hammond organ in 1981 qualifies as such. This is German sung rock, otherwise known as Deutschrock. Apparently they were from Austria. There's some interesting breaks on A3, A4, and B4. The second side is more straightforward overall. Good but inessential album.
Priority: none
4/13/25 (new entry)
Crazy Dog were one of hundreds of hard rock bands roaming this fine land. This time we're in St Georges, Delaware, a place in the north part of the state on the way in and out of Wilmington. Hard guitar and synthesizers rule the palette of sounds. This is definitely the hard edged bar n' roll / AOR hybrid music of 1979 America, where every band with one unique riff, a half way decent singer, and a standing invitation to the Local 101. Then made a go at a private press hoping that Capitol or Columbia Records would take notice. Put five promo pictures on the back cover with harmless, friendly poses and hope for the best. 46 years later no one has still noticed except those of us crawling around on the floor looking at the dustiest crates - in the back - hoping to find something like Crazy Dog. Once you hear it, you are transported to that time where the bands that did manage to get one album on a major (and one album only) are just as forgotten. Except they go for five bucks today instead of 50. This isn't the album that has aged well like those that gave the middle finger to the establishment. Crazy Dog were the establishment. It's worth a couple of spins (maybe only one actually). Might want to watch James at 16 or Eight is Enough to prep though.
Priority: none
4/13/25 (new entry)
Help were a band from the Los Angeles area (appears to be near Thousand Oaks), and Second Coming is appropriately their sophomore effort. Right out of the gate we're treated to two upbeat Grand Funk styled burners, with killer wah wah guitar. This is followed by two lengthier tracks, where each also features some great guitar among some more typical "west coast" psychedelic rural songwriting. The even longer 'Dear Lord' uses the time wisely to get in some extended jamming. Jack Merrill really goes for the pedals like early Stray, which is awesome to my ears. Many reviewers call this a Christian album, but it's nothing of the sort, confirmed by at least one band member. Dear Lord is an American colloquialism that is the equivalent to the more modern use of OMG. In this one song you hear can also hear them use the phrase in the generic "answer my prayers" way. No proselytizing here. B2 continues on like A3 and A4. Album closes with the appropriately named 'Power' with perhaps too much "Power to the People" chanting and drum circle hippyisms. Overall a very strong early 70s hard rock album, the fast pacing predicting the late 70s variant of the style.
Priority: 2 (for Second Coming)
1/15/24 (review); 4/8/25 (new entry)
***Reissued by Got Kinda Lost (2021)
From the Elkhart, Indiana area, Magi play a typical brand of Midwest hard edged bar n' roll with occasional guitar jamming. There's definitely a southern tilt to the songwriting. Picking up some early era Styx as well (first four albums), minus the keyboards of course. A3 has some excellent dual guitar work, with complete knucklehead lyrics "Girl I'm only interested in what's below your waist". A4 is a fine instrumental though one would hope for more of a lethal guitar assault. Definitely appreciate the break section though. B1 gives off a whiff of classic Ted Nugent especially the 'Stranglehold' styled solo towards the end. The subject matter certainly would appeal to him as well. B2 is the requisite ballad, because you know, they're sensitive. These guys will try anything to score it would appear. It's a boring tune BTW. B4 has a strong finish, but by then it's too late. Seems Magi might have been a killer live act if they let loose for a few minutes. Perhaps a more meaty production coupled with a commitment to original songwriting would have taken this to the first division. Too much crowd pleasing boogie, not enough extended jamming and composition. They had the talent, no question. Solid straightforward hard rock, but inessential I would submit.
Priority: none
4/8/25 (new entry)
Huh - starts off with a song named 'Grand Illusion'. You won't be thinking Styx here. Has a nice laid back jam vibe, some Allman Bros. feel. Then a bit of footstompin' Ram Jam on A2. Another nice southern rock solo here. A3 is the mid-side introspective piece, with yet another quality guitar solo. 'Stairway to Heaven' isn't a Zep cover fortunately. The opening riff has a 70s Judas Priest feel to it. And so it goes, subsequent tracks following the guidelines laid out above. Some catalog dealer hyped it like this: "Rare privately issued hardrock blaster; thunderous beat, tortured vocalist, and the ever-present smokin' axework." Umm...noooo. Completely oversells the heaviness. Tortured vocalist? Que? That's not what the band were striving for here. Enjoy what the album gives you which is primarily a straightforward hard rock / southern rock with excellent soulful guitar work.
Priority: 3
1/18/24 (review); 4/7/25 (new entry)
From Fort Wayne, Indiana, FBC gives us a tale of two albums. The studio Side 1 is terrific. The classic Midwest mix of hard rock and prog, with organ and synthesizers. Side 2 is live and introduces a much more straightforward hard rock sound complete with sax. Most of the prog has been rubbed out in favor of bar patron pleasers. The guitar work is still quite good and there are some analog synth solos. Would be great if there exists archival material in the vein of Side 1.
Priority: 3
5/3/24 (review); 4/5/25 (new entry)
Such an interesting album this one is, coming from 1982 Mexico. The end tracks of each side are exactly what one would expect from an early 70s Italian prog rock album, with constant twists and turns, and an overall excitement and mystery that is rarely captured today. And the rest... (other than the very good 'Precasico')... is pedestrian rock with Spanish vocals. Not terrible mind you, but rather average across the board. This is just the kind of perfect album to be captured on a compilation somewhere. Grab those three tracks and run.
Priority: 3
11/7/17 (review); 3/31/25 (new entry)
If one were to stumble upon Wacholder's debut LP for the first time, they may think they'd unearthed some unknown Krautrock classic. With tracks like 'Marokko' and 'Känäbis', could it be the continuation of Agitation Free's Malesch? Ehh... no. In fact it's side 1 that is the more interesting since it's all instrumental. The first three tracks are jazz fusion with a prog rock slant. Nothing too radical, and in fact, it's a bit pedestrian for the era. 'Time of Your Life' is the peak of the entire album, and it's not going to excite much I'm afraid. Side 2 is the where the vocals come in - in the usual out-of-tune English we expect from this time and place. Here Wacholder are going for an Anglo styled progressive rock sound, and overall not too bad, especially on the two fetching titles as mentioned in the prelude. 'Tolstefanz' (named for a district in Germany) however is best skipped over.
Priority: none
7/13/18 (review); 3/31/25 (new entry)
Sea Fluorescent reissued by SouffleContinu (2020).
Alain Bellaïche's second album Sea Flourescent is a mix of mellow acoustic guitar soundscapes, light jazz fusion, and American styled funk with English lyrics. Not one of the highlights of the mid 70s French jazz rock scene, but not without its moments. Title track is quite nice in a stare-out-the-window kind of way.
I haven't heard the debut yet.
Priority: none
7/13/18 (review); 3/31/25 (new entry)
***Reissued by Rockpod (2016)
They have many other albums that I should investigate. Their debut has also been reissued.
Priority: 2
3/31/25 (new entry)
Priority: 3
***Reissued on LP by Subliminal Sounds (Oct 2021)
3/31/25 (new entry)
Priority: 1
They have a second album (Force This) which is essentially hair metal and falls outside the scope of this list.
3/31/25 (new entry)
Priority: 3
They have at least two other albums, one not listed in Discogs, but the bass player has confirmed its existence.
3/31/25 (new entry)
Priority: 2
Marquez has two follow up albums that I don't know about. One has polka in the title. Never a good sign.
3/31/25 (new entry)
For many years I was on the worldwide prog rock chase. But never once did I run into anything from Azerbaijan. Now Sevil isn't prog, but rather a very interesting jazz meets funk meets mugham, the latter an indigenous form of modal singing. I haven't been exposed to mugham before, so that sounds fascinating on its own - mostly handled by a female vocalist. To my untrained ears, it sounds Arabic, but of course that's not correct, it's just the similarity of scales and passion. The jazz is cool, mostly piano, bass, and drums in improv mode. The funk is the most interesting aspect to my ears. Mostly this element is brought forth by the wah wah rhythm guitar, sounding quite a bit like Isaac Hayes' 'Theme from Shaft'. You begin to wonder how that even came about - especially in the Brezhnev era of the USSR, not known for his tolerance of Western influence.
Priority: 3
There exists LP and CD reissues, both apparently from vinyl. In this part of the world it's difficult to know what is legit and what isn't. Creating the entry as it certainly fits the purpose of this site.
11/21/23 (review); 3/31/25 (new entry)
If I hadn't personally wandered all over Eastern Europe at various stages from 1990 to 1994, and lived the reality, I could be fooled into thinking the West got the wrong end of the stick. I mean seriously - who wouldn't want to dance at Theo's Beat Bar? I'm so there - a casual foreign observer holding up the darkened wood panel bar, plumes of smoke everywhere, while enjoying multiple steins of awesome nickel beer from a local brewery. And watching hotty frauleins dance wildly in their tight fitting state worker uniforms. Male fantasy overload I'd submit. And who is providing this fanciful soundtrack? Well... none other than Theo Schumann of course! Who is that? I have no idea. Does it matter? Digging those period analog synthesizers, organ, and smooth electric sax. And that rhythm section! Nonstop fills. Miles would approve. This is some groovy ass sh...t. There are some straighter jazz / blues numbers as well.
The photo of the band on the back is priceless. So square, they're hip.
Priority: 3
11/7/23 (review); 3/31/25 (new entry)
Priority: 2
There are many iffy reissues, but nothing solid.
3/30/25 (new entry)
Priority: 2
***Reissued on LP by BCP (2023)
A lot of CD pirate editions out there, but nothing legit like the LP above.
3/30/25 (new entry)
Priority: 2
***Reissued on LP by Out-Sider (2019)
3/29/25 (new entry)
Priority: 2
This is one of those albums I left off the initial list because there was an iffy reissue. We'll leave here until a more definitive reissue arrives.
3/29/25 (new entry)
Priority: 1 (for Street Talk)
These are his early albums. Ratzer was to release many more but I haven't heard them. Not sure they fall into the scope of this list as Finger Prints is marginal as it is.
3/29/25 (new entry)
Priority: 1
3/28/25 (new entry)
***Reissued on LP by Verve (2022). One year after our feature of it.
Priority: 2
5/1/20 (review); 3/28/25 (new entry)
Nova's sole album is a private press instrumental fusion affair from Stockton, California. Sure, it's quite typical of the era, and there's little here to distinguish it from countless others. However the album does feature some excellent guitar and synthesizer work, along with some well written compositions. In a nutshell, it's the usual sunny and tropical fusion, but with plenty of technical prowess. This one's a grower - worth pursuing for sure.
Priority: 3
3/28/25 (new entry)
Stubbs is a new discovery for me, though it appears to have been out in the blogosphere for some years. In any event, this is hardcore mid to late 70s Hatfield and the North / National Health worship. Which means it pushes all the right buttons for me. There's nothing here to indicate it to be a mid 80s recording. It was retro before retro was even imagined! Probably would have been tagged "dated" in its own day. If it even had its own day. More on that below. With The Prime Moving Lumps you get highly melodic and complex instrumental jazz infused progressive rock. Fuzzy keyboards, bass, and guitar lead the way. Music like this never gets tiresome. This is an album that needs to be discovered by the horde.
As far as its provenance goes, that's more of a mystery. RYM claims it to be on cassette, whereas ProgArchives had it once on CD, now they say it's an LP. Online you might find what looks like a CD, but almost assuredly it's a CD-R mockup. It's not in Discogs at all (as of 3/27/25), and Popsike says there's no history of a sale on ebay. My best guess here - and I've talked about this before - is that Stubbs were part of the tape trading culture of Japan in the 80s and early 90s. It was not uncommon for newly recorded material - live or studio - to be passed around via cassette. These were not official releases, but were meant to gain the artist exposure. For example, Happy Family was well known via this method long before their first official CD arrived on Cuneiform (and even before their one cassette). Perhaps it does exist in physical form already - but it sure is damn obscure then. Wouldn't be the first time, but for now, I think the theory above holds until proven different.
This is certainly an album worthy of a CD release - or reissue if it turns out that way.
3/27/25 (new entry)
Another one of those acts I had in the main list not but never featured.
Pole was both a label and a random group of musicians lead by a one Paul Putti. It wasn't a band in the traditional sense, but rather various get-together's for the purposes of releasing an album. To add to the confusion, the Rizet / Besombes album was also titled Pole, in the same stylized font. This apparently was not authorized by either gentleman. Same thing happened to Henri Roger. From here, Putti sold his label to the now infamous Tapioca imprint. Putti himself carried on to the porn industry, which might explain things from an ethics standpoint.
This history of Putti and the Pole moniker helps explain how two albums can be so entirely different. The first album from Putti, Kotrill, is an avant garde mess, favored by those who worship at the altar of the NWW list. It holds nothing back in its experimentation, but is very difficult to sit all the way through. But on the follow up Inside the Dream, we are treated to a more atmospheric and pleasant album. One that features fine synthesizer textures and excellent guitar leads. Rizet did help on this album, and he foreshadows his next move with Phillippe Besombes, a far more realized collaboration than Inside the Dream.
Priority: 2 (for Inside the Dream)
3/27/25 (new entry)
Calatea. 1978 Philips Elements. 1980 Vertigo. (To be reissued on their own label in 2024!) Out In the Dark. 1981 Vertigo (To be reissued o...
