THE HOLD

Artist: THE HOLD

Title: Talking Revolution

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1989

Songs: 10

Label: Prisoner Records

Style: New Wave  

Super rare indie private press from Michigan - this foursome had the late 80's leather and trench coat alternative look and put together a well-crafted and produced new wave styled with post punk and indie rock leanings set.

THE ACTUALS

Artist: THE ACTUALS

Title: Self-Titled

Format: Vinyl EP

Year: 1984

Songs: 6

Label: Egg Acres Records

Style: New Wave

Southport, Connecticut new wave fivesome in the early 80's.  A very catchy, melodic and synth ridden set with the stand out tracks being the funky spiced 'Space Gun'. 

IAN SHELTER

Artist: IAN SHELTER 

Title: Self-Titled

Format: Vinyl LP      

Year: 1979

Songs: 9

Label: ILUVU Music

Style: AOR

Sacramento based band that was formed by local musicians Jeff Heller and Mike Linn.  This is there very rare private album that was pressed in a quantity of 2000 only.  The band gigged the local club circuit as well as being in battle of the bands.  ‘She Takes Me By Surprise’ has a good guitar riff and playing as well as keyboards.

GATE EIGHT

Artist: GATE EIGHT            

Title: Turbo Rock

Format: Vinyl EP

Year: 1985

Songs: 4

Label: Self Released

Style: Melodic Rock

Local private rock band hailing out of Jupiter, FL.  The song choruses get nice and fiery, especially on album single ‘Arizona Roads’.  

JEFF FOGERTY

Artist: JEFF FOGERTY

Title: New Orleans Lady

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1987

Songs: 4

Label: TJ Records

Style: AOR    

California based singer songwriter & musician with his private AOR melodic rocker.  Seemed to have some help from family members as well. 

DART

Artist: DART

Title: Self-Titled

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1968

Songs: 12

Label: Garland Records

Style: Garage Pop   

Super rare underground DIY garage pop rock one off.  There’s very limited information available, however - these boys seemed to have been from the Pacific Northwest.  Their record label Garland Records was based out of Oregon and the owner Gary Nieland was also the leader of Dart.  I’d venture to day this was the first album released on the label.  There’s also some sort of connection with another Oregon based underground band New Dawn, who put out a scarce private press in 1970.  This platter has a very indie sounding garage pop sound with limited production values and has a mix of original material and covers.  It’s very hit or miss – there’s some solid cuts (‘Genevieve’, ‘Mr. Love’, ‘I Can’t Understand’) and then lame cuts (‘Our Wedding Day’, ‘I’ll Keep You Happy’, ‘This Guys In Love With You’).  

Artist: VYSION

Title: Self-Titled       

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1986

Songs: 7

Label: Self Released

Style: Melodic Rock   

Super rare private press out of Denver, CO.  Some of the vocals sound like a female lead, but they are not…interesting. Best Songs: The heavy guitar pumper ‘Roll With The Punches, the AOR catchiness of ‘Imagination’ and the brooding paced ‘Cryer’.  They end the short set with ‘Suicide Mission’ – a strong power ballad.

MEAT THE RABBIT

Artist: MEAT THE RABBIT

Title: Self-Titled

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1986

Songs: 10

Label: Vertical Bag Records

Style: Hard Rock     

Private indie hard rock band from the USA.   Consistent driving hard rock with tinges of metal, but not quite all in. 

RIVERSTREET

Artist: RIVERSTREET

Title: Self-Titled

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1980s

Songs: 9

Label: Rare Summer Music

Style: Rural Melodic Rock

Riverstreet was a local rock band making a living out of Huntington, WV.  The band has a sturdy guitar led rural rock sound with some boogie tangents mixed in.  The female led songs are standouts - ‘Rock’n Roll Girl’ with its tasteful keyboard arrangements and guitar leads and the sultry guitar burner ‘No Time’.  The guitar soloing in ‘Life In The City’ stands out.