LOST IN AFRIKA

Artist: LOST IN AFRIKA

Title: Tropical Flavors

Format: Vinyl EP

Year: 1986

Songs: 5

Label: Self Released

Style: Melodic Rock

Lost In Afrika is a very rare private female fronted rocker one off extended player.  The group consisted of a trio with Trina Perrin leading the way with her big vocal pipes.  They seem to have been from the United States.  There’s lots of big production keyboards and programming, but it’s done to good effect, especially coupled with Trina’s killer vocals.

Keith Luis

Artist: Keith Luis

Title: New Orleans Gothic    

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1986

Songs: 7

Label: Tain-Hamilton Records

Style: Rural Rock

What looks to be via the crazy cover a killer psych rock extravaganza is NOT what you will get here unfortunately – and there’s no gothic music to speak of either.  Keith and crew dole out rural country back water melodies with some goofy humor splashed in.

THE JETS

Artist: THE JETS

Title: Status 980      

Format: Vinyl EP

Year: 1983

Songs: 4

Label: Self Released

Style: AOR

The Jets were a Tucson, AZ based rock trio who released this one off private four song EP full of up-beat AOR melodic rock.

MARTYN JOSEPH

Artist: MARTYN JOSEPH

Title: Sold Out

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1986

Songs: 10

Label: Ears & Eyes Music

Style: Christian Rock

Christian singer, songwriter and musician with his backing band.  They play a variety of melodic AOR with up-tempo and ballad work.

FX

Artist: FX

Title: Self Titled

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1981

Songs: 10

Label: Bent Records

Style: AOR New Wave        

New York City based early 80's art-synth-pop rock quartet who came together to record this one off effort.  They had some minor local success with the songs ‘Stimulation’ and ‘Insomnia’.  Other notable cuts include the synth wave fire up ‘The Spoon’ and new wave rocker ‘The Big Time’.  The only real dud is the cover of ‘Fever’.  A cool pick up for the private press synth rock collectors out there.

SLEEZY PIECES

Artist: SLEEZY PIECES                  

Title: Self Titled       

Format: 7” Vinyl EP

Year: 1977

Songs: 4

Label: Self Released

Style: AOR

Sleezy Pieces were a five member rock band from the state of Washington.  They played a typical late 70’s bar band sound with tinges of rural rock influences.  Side Two is the better with the standout ‘Everybody Gits It’ and the rural hard rock closer ‘I Want Rock n’ Roll’. 

THE JENSONS

Artist: THE JENSONS

Title: Five Songs      

Format: Vinyl EP

Year: 1987

Songs: 5

Label: Boone Island Records

Style: New Wave

The Jensons were a Maine based indie new wave rock band who were led by a competent vocalist in Marvin Boone.  Catchy keyboard inflected new wave rock with some striking guitar work and pronounced drumming provide a satisfying set.  The album standout ‘Life Behind Bars’ takes on a Cars influence with its crafty rhythms and infectious choruses.  

VALE OF TEARS

Artist: VALE OF TEARS

Title: Stand Up!       

Format: 7” Vinyl EP

Year: 1990

Songs: 4

Label: Cry-N-Tyme Records

Style: Indie Alternative 

Vale Of Tears was a Kentucky based indie foursome.  Their rare private one off EP delivers hard-edged indie rock with extra helpings of Saxophone and a punk twist.  ‘My Friend Roger’ employs a blistering pace with fast distinct guitar riffing.

ARCHRIVAL

Artist: ARCHRIVAL    

Title: Bee Yourself   

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1983

Songs: 10

Label: Frightened Records/Big Cheese Music

Style: Melodic Rock Power Pop

Here we have a very rare private press from a Connecticut based indie rock band.  This fivesome were young, fresh and dress the part with their new wave influenced clothes.  The album starts in a new wave power pop influenced vibe and then travels into a more melodic hard rock vein.  ‘Shout It Out’ blends both power pop and hard rock with infectious results and cool gang choruses.  They really get into hard rock territory with the driving ‘Waiting On An Angel’, but mostly keep it down the fairway with the melancholic ‘Where Are You Tonight’, ‘Take Me Away’, the power popped up opener ‘The Question Connection’ and ‘No Time’.  This one off scarcity is quite the satisfying mix of styles – Recommended for both Hard Rockers and Power Poppers!!

JAMES BUSH

Artist: JAMES BUSH

Title: Fire And Skye  

Format: 7” Vinyl EP

Year: 1982

Songs: 4

Label: Cosmos Records

Style: New Wave  

A rather interesting mix from this US based musician. Four songs that range from new wave to slight garage to experimental psych.  A very cool and uber rare private press EP.  

HUMAN INTELLIGENCE

Artist: HUMAN INTELLIGENCE        

Title: Core              

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1985

Songs: 10

Label: Twilight Eagle Records

Style: Melodic Rock

Human Intelligence consisted of a duo of talented musicians - Kevin Brennan and Enzo Micali.  Core seems to have been the product of musical whiz kid Kevin Brennan.  Kevin wrote and arranged all the songs, played the majority of the instruments and sang.  For what was probably a limited budget to work with, this mighty duo created quite a kicking AOR melodic rock affair.  Lead off ‘My Eyes’ and hard edged rocker ‘Take My Love’ play like  solid album singles with their radio worthy melodies.  The rest is of the set doesn’t let up and demonstrates a consistent quality.  Unfortunately these guys didn’t get the exposure necessary to take their games to the next level.

THE HOSE BAND

Artist: THE HOSE BAND

Title: Fire In The Dark        

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1986

Songs: 9

Label: Earth Moon Records

Style: Rural Country AOR

Rural good old boy rockers from this campy Michigan outfit.  The lead off title track is pretty good and is no doubt the album’s single.  Other not so bad offers are ‘Hold On’ and the up-tempo breezy AOR ‘It Is You’, but then you get sappy countrified songs like ‘I’ve Changed My Mind’, ‘Right Or Wrong’ and ‘Hold On To Your Dream’.

GENTRY

Artist: GENTRY

Title: The Emergence Of     

Format: 7” Vinyl EP

Year: 1981

Songs: 4

Label: Up Records

Style: New Wave

Highly obscure one off private 7” extended player from this Arizona outfit.  The trio throw a slew of styles around to produce an almost unclassifiable mix of punk, glam, psych and new wave – add in unique time signatures and you have iconoclastic gem. 

BACKSTREET

Artist: BACKSTREET

Title: Runaway        

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1983

Songs: 12

Label: USA Records

Style: AOR

Backstreet was a six member Dallas, TX based local rock band who played their first ever gig back in 1980 at a local Dallas bar called Madison's.  They play a consistently tight, well constructed album of catchy AOR tunes.  On ‘Baby I’m Gone’, they employ cool vocal/guitar sound effects, saxophone and keyboard work.  Hard rock melodies drive the pulsing guitar work of Side A closer ‘Nothing To Lose’.  Both ‘Law Of Love’ and ‘Something In The Air’ are standouts that rock with up-tempo vibes.  Side A only has one lame song – ‘With This Ring’.  Side B opens with the feel good spirited chorus title song.  ‘Timeless’ and ‘Things I Should Have Said’ both exhibit solid ear pleasing Westcoast arrangements.  Album closer ‘One In A Million’ employs more guitar/vocal sound effects, an emotive chorus and prominent piano chirps.

NEW YORK TO PARIS

Artist: NEW YORK TO PARIS

Title: Self Titled

Format: Vinyl EP

Year: 1988

Songs: 5

Label: Self Released

Style: New Wave Synth

New York To Paris was an indie new wave sextet from Alden, New York.  They self released this highly obscure five song set of up-tempo keyboard driven new wave.