UK - UK 1978

In some ways UK represented both the last hurrah of progressive music’s golden age, and the standard by which all other supergroups that followed would be judged. The impeccable technical precision, complex yet modern arrangements, and dynamic live performances made them an overnight legend whose reputation has far outlasted their brief existence. No other supergroup, progressive or otherwise, has had such an immediate and lasting impact.

The band was formed in 1978 by bassist John Wetton and drummer Bill Bruford, both fresh from the USA tour (and accompanying live album) of KING CRIMSON. Keyboardist & violinist Eddie Jobson had also played on the KC tour and album, but was better known for his brilliant work on a string of ROXY MUSIC albums, as well as their seventies live album, “Viva!”. Wetton briefly secured guitar wiz-kid Eric Johnson for the band as well, but Johnson’s own project (the “Seven Wonders” solo album) and the legal wranglings that were accompanying it would cause Johnson to quickly withdraw and be replaced by another guitar virtuoso, Allan Holdsworth, who had worked with SOFT MACHINE and GONG, in addition to his solo work before joining UK. This was the first in what would become a series of lineup changes before the band would disband for good less than two years later.

The star-studded lineup had no trouble securing a record deal, and Polydor released their self-titled debut on the E.G. label that same year, which is often credited as the first successful rock supergroup studio release ever. The music is characterized by layered synthesizers, jazz-inspired guitars and bass, and in general by exceptionally high-quality musicianship. The band followed the release with a lengthy promotional tour.

Bruford would release a couple of albums under the BRUFORD BAND name following this tour, and would eventually return to the KING CRIMSON lineup for their “Discipline” release in 1981. Holdsworth also appeared on the BRUFORD BAND releases, and would later issue a series of solo albums in addition to a wide range of session appearances. Terry Bozzio (FRANK ZAPPA, GROUP 87) would replace Bruford, and the trio would release the band’s second and final studio album a year later (“Danger Money”). Without a replacement for Holdsworth, this album suffered due to overcompensation on violin and keyboards, and the band disbanded following after the Japanese leg of the promotional tour. A live album of that tour would be released shortly after, but the band was finished. There were rumors of a reunion in the nineties, but despite the fact that most of the members would work together on occasion following the band’s demise, no UK collaboration would occur. Wetton would go on to commercial success with ASIA, and Bozzio would likewise strike it rich with MISSING PERSONS.

UK generated a brilliant flash of publicity when they formed at the end of the progressive music decade. But the fickle and rapidly changing tastes of the public, record label pressure to commercialize their sound, and other more lucrative opportunities all combined to bring about a rapid end to a fascinating lineup. GTR, ASIA, and many others would travel down the supergroup path in UK’s wake, but none would do it with more style.

UK deserve a place in the Archives for the impressive resumes of its various members, the essentially classic self-titled debut they issued in 1978, and the influence they had over an entire generation of top-notch progressive and rock musicians by piloting the concept of a super group of musicians being brought together for the sole purpose of capitalizing on each other’s sounds.

reviewed by Bob Moore


Track listing

1. "In the Dead of Night" (Jobson/Wetton) 5:36
2. "By the Light of Day" (Jobson/Wetton) 4:40
3. "Presto Vivace and Reprise" (Jobson/Wetton) 3:06
4. "Thirty Years" (Wetton/Jobson/Bruford) 8:02
5. "Alaska" (Jobson) 4:38
6. "Time to Kill" (Jobson/Wetton/Bruford) 5:00
7. "Nevermore" (Holdsworth/Jobson/Wetton) 8:09
8. "Mental Medication" (Holdsworth/Bruford/Jobson) 7:24

Note: The first three tracks belong to a suite entitled "In the Dead of Night."

Personnel

* Eddie Jobson: Electric Violin, keyboards and Electronics
* John Wetton: Voice and bass
* Allan Holdsworth: guitars
* Bill Bruford: Kit drums and percussion

Link http://www.mediafire.com/?xgdedowmaym

Natural Gas - Natural Gas

1975
NATURAL GAS
Natural Gas
(Private Stock PS 2011)

Produced by: Felix Pappalardi

Musicians:

Joey Molland: guitar, vocals
Mark Clarke: bass, vocals
Peter Wood: keyboards
Jerry Shirley: drums

In the summer of '75, Joey Molland and former COLOSSEUM and URIAH HEEP bassist Mark Clarke discussed forming a group together. Both of them were originally planning to record solo albums. The solo albums were skipped when former HUMBLE PIE drummer Jerry Shirley joined the duo of musicians. They decided to form a group together, which they called NATURAL GAS.



It didn't take long to add to the trio with the new arrival of David Kaffinetti on keyboards. After rehearsing and after some inittiall concerts David Kaffinetti left and the others had to search for a new keyboard player.



After recording a few demos Peter Wood (formerly with the SUTHERLAND BROTHERS AND QUIVER) replaced David Keffinetti. The band relocated to L.A. as the former BEATLES roadie Mal Evans wanted to produce the band. In the end the band used former MOUNTAIN bassist Felix Pappalardi to produce their album. After the release of this debut album, the group went on tour in support of Peter Frampton's FRAMPTON COMES ALIVE. During the tour the inevitable musical differences surfaced and on conclusion Joey Molland left NATURAL GAS.



Tracks

1 Little Darlin’ (Joey Molland)
2 Once Again, A Love Song (Joey Molland)
3 You Can Do It
4 I’ve Been Waiting (Joey Molland)
5 I Believe It’s Love
6 The Right Time
7 Christmas Song (Joey Molland)
8 Miracle Man
9 Dark Cloud (Joey Molland)
10 St. Louis Blues


Link http://www.mediafire.com/?myfmiymmzzu

Or

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=C2FYZODE

John Lawton - Heartbeat

HEARTBEAT

A Brit by birth, John Lawton moved to Hamburg, Germany, when he was with a band called Stone Wall. He stayed there when the band moved on, feeling that this might be the place to get his break. He didn't have to wait long. Peter Hecht, Dieter Horns, Peter Hesslein, and Joachim Reitenbach were members of a band called the German Bonds. The five joined together to record an album under the band name of Asterix in 1970, then changed their name to Lucifer's Friend and continued under that name. He recorded their debut and subsequent releases With Lucifer's Friend. His next group was Les Humphries Singers. He managed to do both of these bands concurrently, as Lucifer's Friend, for the most part were only a studio group.

He continued on doing this double duty until 1976 when he became the new singer for Uriah Heep. He remained with the group for the next three years, leaving to pursue a solo career. However, his album did not light up the charts and Lawton found himself back performing both with Les Humphries Singers and Lucifer's Friend. He also formed a band called Gun Hill and kept himself busy performing with all three of those groups. ~ Gary Hill, All Music Guide

John Lawton's 1980 solo album on RCA, Heartbeat, was a Lucifer's Friend album in everything but name, with the lineup from Sneak Me In performing as backup musicians on that project. Lawton's official return, Mean Machine, found the band returning to heavy metal, this time in the vein of Rainbow. The band officially broke up in 1982 but briefly reformed in the early 1990s to release a new CD, Sumo Grip.

Track List

1. Lola
2. Heartbeat
3. Return To Sender
4. Christine
5. Breaking Out
6. Rainbow Chasing

7. Stairways

8. Daddy's In The Money

9. What A Woman

10. Darkness Over The Island

Bonus Tracks:

11. I'ts Alright With Me
12. Hold Back The Night
13. Let It Ride
14. Downhill Run

Link

Lucifers Friend - Banquet

A German outfit fronted by a British singer, Lucifer's Friend first gained minor notoriety, and later major cult status, as both early practitioners of heavy metal and progressive rock. Formed in 1970 Hamburg, by former German Bonds members Peter Hesslein (guitar), Peter Hecht (keyboards), Dieter Horns (bass), and Joachim Rietenbach (drums), the group was initially dubbed Asterix and recorded an entire album's worth of material before connecting with singer John Lawton, whose then band, Stonewall, was playing a residency at the city's famed Top Ten Club. Lawton's vocals would grace Asterix's only, eponymous album later the same year, and all involved were excited enough by the results that they immediately began collaborating on more material with which to relaunch the band under the provocative new moniker of Lucifer's Friend. Released in early 1971, the Lucifer's Friend album contained organ-intensive hard rock along the same lines as contemporary proto-metal bands like Deep Purple, Atomic Rooster, and, especially, Uriah Heep, for whom, coincidentally, Lawton would wind up singing several years down the line. But, for now, Lucifer's Friend's biggest challenge was a problematic aversion to touring, as well as a compositional restlessness that saw their sophomore effort, 1972's curiously named Where the Groupies Killed the Blues, morphing drastically to acquire progressive rock tendencies reminiscent of King Crimson and, to a lesser degree, the quickly emerging Krautrock acts of the period. These compositional experiments would only intensify on 1973's I'm Just a Rock 'n' Roll Singer, which added entire brass sections in the vein of Chicago Transit Authority, and 1974's Banquet (featuring new drummer Herbert Bornhold), which soared upon even jazzier elements and symphonic arrangements delivered with help from the James Last Orchestra. Lucifer's Friend would finally reign in such extravagance on 1976's Mind Exploding LP (where Bornhold was demoted to percussionist behind new drummer Curt Cress), and they even considered increasing their touring engagements, but their only problem now was that Lawton had quit -- accepting the offer to join Uriah Heep that was mentioned earlier. Scotsman Mike Starrs (formerly singer for Colosseum II) was brought in to replace him and Lucifer's Friend proceeded to abruptly abandon their progressive past for good, embracing melodic mainstream rock on a pair of albums: 1978's Good Time Warrior and 1980's Sneak Me In (adding second keyboardist Adrian Askew). Then, John Lawton returned for a final, harder-rocking Lucifer's Friend album, 1981's Mean Machine, after which the group officially split up until 1994's one-off reunion LP, Sumo Grip. Interestingly, through all of these years and stylistic changes, it's ironic that The original self titled Lucifer's Friend album -- more so than their more abundant prog rock releases -- has enjoyed the most frequent reissues, being considered a classic document of early heavy metal. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide


Track List

1. Spanish Galleon 11:52
2. Thus Spoke Oberon 6:47
3. High Flying Lady - Goodbye 3:43
4. Sorrow 11:39
5. Dirty Old Town 4:46



Link http://www.mediafire.com/?zmnumdcdzzd

Asterix -S/T

Asterix was a direct predecessor of Lucifer's Friend , and released a self-titled album in 1970. There also was one single with a slightly different lineup, i.e. without Lawton. Which is included as bonus material on this release


From an original post on ChrisGoesRock which sadly no longer seems to exist anymore


Size: 81.1 MB
Bitrade: 256
mp3
Ripped By: ChrisGoesRock
Artwork Included

Asterix was a direct predecessor of Lucifer's Friend; released one (eponymous) album in 1970. Technically, this was the first Lucifer's Friend album,
only under a different name. Also, one single was released featuring a slightly altered line-up, without John's involvement.

Peter Hesslein began his musical career way back in 1963 with a band called the Giants. Peter Hecht and Dieter Horns were both members of a group known as
the German Bonds, from 1965 onwards. Peter Hesslein joined the Bonds in 1968 which survived until 1970. At this point the various members took up the
study of graphic design in an attempt to forge more sensible careers.

But the call of rock’n’roll was too strong and in late 1970, the ex-Bonds men, together with Joachim Reitenbach , decided to record a new album.
They needed a lead singer and eventually found John Lawton who had been with the group Stonewall.

The new band took the name Lucifer's Friend and released their first album 'Asterix' in 1970. Their first three albums were undeniably influenced by
contemporary British bands such as Uriah Heep and Deep Purple. 'Lucifer's Friend' was released on the Phillips label in January 1971 followed
by 'Where The Groupies Killed The Blues' (1972). Lucifer's Friend' was given rave reviews particularly in America where the Chicago Express compared
them to Led Zeppelin. This encouraged the five-piece to commence a heavy touring schedule, a policy which later backfired. Gradually their music had
become a shade more sophisticated and serious jazz and symphonic influences were detected by critics and fans. This was no doubt due to the increasing
importance of 'progressive rock' which seemed to appeal to college students and university audiences rather more than good old heavy metal. It was also
more interesting for musicians to play and presented them with new challenges.


Track List

01. Everybody (Bonus Single)
02. If I Could Fly (Bonus Single)
03. Look Out
04. Gone From My Life
05. Broken Home
06. Time Again
07. Jump Into My Action
08. Open Up Your Mind
09. Corner Street Girl
10. Chance In You
11. Morning At My Dawn

Link http://www.mediafire.com/?2yhw5me4mh5

Lone Star - Firing On All Six

Stylish, Welsh Hard Rock merchants centered upon former UNIVERSE and SKID ROW guitarist PAUL CHAPMAN.LONE STAR was originally called IONA Prior to adopting the LONE STAR title, a formative drummer, Steve Williams, joined QUEST in 1973 before he journeyed onto premier Welsh rockers BUDGIE.In turn QUEST bassist Ray Jones joined LONE STAR in 1974.During 1975, with original vocalist Kenny Driscoll, LONE STAR debuted with a British support slot to TED NUGENT to promote the Epic released ‘Lone Star’ album. Driscoll was to pack his bags in 1977 and was replaced by former TRAPPER vocalist JOHN SLOMAN, who recorded the second album, 'Firing On All Six', with the group. The group failed to survive though and guitarist Paul Chapman, following rehearsals with German act the SCORPIONS, rejoined UFO replacing the errant Michael Schenker whom he had covered for previously. A proposed third LONE STAR album 'Riding High' was shelved,finally seeing a belated release in 1999.Sloman would, after contributing keyboards to UFO's'The Wild, The Willing And The Innocent' album, end up joining URIAH HEEP for a period. Post URIAH HEEP Sloman formed part of the short lived BADLANDS project assembled by ex-TYGERS OF PAN TANG guitarist JOHN SYKES and ex WHITESNAKE bassist Neil Murray. BADLANDS folded when Sykes got the call to join THIN LIZZY and Sloman went solo.Drummer Dixie Lee teamed up with WILD HORSES before joining Canadian act STARCHILD then British Metal act PERSIAN RISK.He would also sit in on demos for the proto OZZY OSBOURNEband. Chapman's guitar partner Tony Smith formed SCREEN IDOLS with whom he released one album, 'Premiere', in 1979.

"Firing on all six" is one of those albums which many of those of us of a certain age remember with warm affection. Although with the passing of time it may now sound rather prosaic, at the time of its release it was actually quite exciting and original.
Some of that originality stemmed from the multi-phonic tones of the synthesizer keyboards, something which was still quite a novelty in the late 1970s. By the time of this album, original vocalist Ken Driscoll had moved on, to be replaced by a 20 year old John Sloman. Sloman's introduction brought with it hints of the LED ZEPPELIN sound, especially on tracks such as "The Ballad Of Crafty Jack" and "Lovely Lubina", the latter sounding spookily like the music on the "Presence" album at times. He would later go on to work for a short while with URIAH HEEP, where it was generally felt he was a fish out of water. Here though his high vocals are perfect for the style of music Lone Star create.
The sound of Lone Star (not to be confused with the US band of that name, these lads are Welsh) is fresh, it's exciting. Admittedly it is not particularly progressive, generally sticking to formulaic structures with strong harmonised choruses and sweeping synth or guitar breaks. The opening "Bells of Berlin" sets out the stall perfectly. There is perhaps a hint of ASIA in the power chords and big sound. Interestingly, this song and "Hypnotic mover" were written by the band before Driscoll departed. Sloman however does a wonderful job on making "Bells.." his own.
The eight tracks all clock in around the five minute mark, affording the band a little more space to move beyond the brief pop tenets on which the songs are based. The delicate ballad "Seasons in your eyes" offers the only let up in the pace, the orchestration reportedly being the work of Jeff Wayne.
There are a couple of fillers along the way. "Rivers overflowing" is a rather directionless funky number, although even here the chorus is adequate if not remarkable.
The other stand out track is the closing "All of us to all of you". If ever a track was written to become a band's anthem, this is it. From the opening unaccompanied guitar chords we are immediately swept along by swirling organ and a powerful beat. Sloman rattles out a brief verse and we're into a harmonic "No time to lose" chorus. As the synth solo builds the excitement, the drums lift the pace and the band leave the stage in an ever rising burst of the song title.
Listening to the album now, time has not been as kind to it as it might have been. The bookend tracks still sound wonderful, but the songs in-between have lost some of their bite. This though, for those of us who were there is an album to be remembered with true fondness.

Link http://www.mediafire.com/?negwym3nazy

America Strikes Back - The Sounds Album Volume 5 - Various Vinyl Rip

Great compilation album released in 1980

This was a sounds magazine release(in the UK), I really cant remember if this came free with the mag or not as I picked my copy up second hand (or perhaps i just borrowed it from a friend and "forgot" to give it back). Anyway as I still play this quite regularly I thought it was time to give

it the wave repair treatment

Track list

1 Bad Motor Scooter - Sammy Hagar

Recorded live at Hammersmith Odeon 19th April 1980

2 Ladies Man - April Wine

From The Album 'Harder.....Faster'

3 Narita - Riot

From The Album 'Narita'

4 High Class In Borrowd Shoes - Max Webster

From The Album 'Magnetic Air'

5 Armageddon - Prism

From The Album 'Armageddon'

6 Party Professionals - Motels

From The Album 'Careful'

7 White Hot - Red Rider

From The Album 'Don't Fight It'

8 Bad Case Of Lovin' You - Moon Martin

Recorded Live At El Mocambo

9 Savoir Faire - Mink De Ville

From The Album 'Le Chat Bleu'

10 The Big Beat - Billy Squire

From The Album 'The Tale Of The Tape'

Link