Auracle-Glider (1978) Forgotten Music Of My Youth

In 1978 I met an a great mallet percussionist (Unfortunately with old age I don't recall his name) from Eastman School of Music in Rochester NY, which is one of the great music schools in the country. He told me about a friend of his Steven Rehbein who was a percussion major specializing in mallets who started a band called "Auracle". He told me that the band was made up of some Eastman students that were playing incredible jazz fusion. When I finally saw this album in a record store, I made the connection and bought it.
Boy was I blown away!


For jazz fans you might recognize two names. One is Rick Braun trumpet player who has done many solo albums to his credit as well as play with Rickie Lee Jones, Sade, Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, Glenn Frey, Natalie Cole, Tom Petty, Crowded House, Phoebe Snow and of course, War. The other is John Serry Jr. An incredible jazz keyboardist.


Rahbein who was the co-founder of the band really shines on this album with his virtuoso mallet playing. This band was way ahead of it's time.  Auracle recorded two albums - both out of print - before disbanding. "Auracle was a lot more adventurous and complicated than the other fusion groups that were working at the time, so that meant we were doomed to failure," Rick Braun said.


I especially love the song "Sleezy Listening" It's got some great time changes in it. This band really burns when they go into the solo sections. The tightness of the band is amazing. I knew I should of gone to Eastman.


Here is the back cover.

At some part I will get back to the swank, but for now it's my jazz fusion days when I dreamed of being a drummer with a group like this.

More Caldera "Caldera" (1976) Forgotten Music From My Youth

I found my other Caldera album!

This is from 1976, and is a killer! Great songs and virtuosity of the musicians!
Produced by Wayne Henderson of the "Crusaders" fame. 
Song Listing:
1) Guanacaste
2) Coastin'
3) Exaltation
4) Synesthesia
5) Out of the Blue
6) El Juguete


You'll love the funky bass groove of "Coastin" The samba's "Exaltation" and "El Juguete" really move with the outstanding drumming of Carlos Vega (of James Taylor fame who died in 1998)
Here is the back cover of the band

Check it out! This is some of the best Jazz-Funk Latin Fusion you will ever hear.

Caldera (1978) Forgotten Music Of My Youth

If you never have heard of Caldera, you are in for a treat if you like unbelievable Latin Jazz/Funk Fusion. These guys are unreal. I don't remember how I got turned on to these guys, I think it might have been the album cover since I used to go into the record store and buy some groups just because I like the album cover.

(from wikipedia)

Members of Caldera, which was led by keyboardist 

Eduardo del Barrio and guitarist Jorge Strunz, came from all over Latin America as well as parts of the United States. While bass player Dean Cortez and saxophonist Steve Tavaglione were US born, other members were born in Costa Rica (Strunz), Argentina (del Barrio), Cuba (drummer Alex Acuna) and Brazil (percussionist Mike "Baiano" Azevedo). In 1976, Caldera signed with Capitol and recorded its self-titled debut album, which was followed by Sky Islands in 1977, Time and Chance in 1978, and Dreamer in 1979. The four albums (only the first of which have been reissued on CD) did not sell, and the band called it quits in 1979.

However, most of Caldera's members kept busy long after its breakup. Strunz went on to form the guitar duo Strunz & Farah with Iranian/Persian guitarist Ardeshir Farah, while del Barrio worked with artists such as Earth, Wind & Fire, Stan Getz and Dianne Reeves throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

What stands out is the virtuosity of the players. The fast furious riffs played by the whole band will amaze you. Drummers will enjoy Alex Acuna's fine playing.

Song Listing is as follows

1) The Arousing

2) Reviviscence

3) Mosaico

4) Magewind

5) Crosscountry

6) Passages

7) Dreamborne

8) Shanti

9) Horizon's End

Caldera is:

Jorge Strunz- Guitars

Eduardo del Barrio -Keyborads

Steve Tavaglione- Flute and Saxes

Mike Azevedo- Congas and Percussion

Gregg Lee- Bass

Hector Andrade-Timbales, congas and Percussion

Guest Musician's

Alex Acuna-Drums

Roberto Da Silva-Drums on Shanti

Luis Conte- Percussion on Horizon's End

Akim Robert Davis Bata on Horizon's End

Larry Dunn- Keyborads on Shanti

George del Barrio Electric Piano on Crosscountry and acoustic

piano on Magewind

Charles Faris-Digital Aquasonic Modulator on Horizon's End

Diane Reeves-Background Vocals

I forgot how good this album is! Give it a listen you will be blown away.

 

"The Twist" (1962) Forgotten Music Of My Youth

Ok, I'm not that old. This is really an album of my parents. As a kid loving music, I loved looking at album covers. The more unique the cover, the more it interested me. I loved this cover. I somewhat remember this album being played. What's cool is that the back of the album had how to do the dance. 

The key was as the instructions noted, "start twisting upper parts of the body, from left to right, all while keeping the feet in place." I don't remember ever seeing my parents do the twist. If they did it was probably after they put us to bed.

The music from Teddy Reynolds and the Twister's is pretty good. Not much on the web about Teddy Reynolds. If you like classic 60's rock n roll give this album a listen.

 

Bobby Lyle - "The Genie" (1977) Forgotten Music Of My Youth

Bobby Lyle is a great jazz-funk keyboard player.  I don't remember how I discovered him or this album, it might have been because it was produced by Wayne Henderson of the "Jazz Crusaders."  This album has some great jazz-funk crossover music such as the title track "The Genie." Bobby even sings on a couple of tracks such as "Magic Ride" with it's great funk bass line and the ballad "You Think of Her." Check out the solo piano piece "I Didn't Know What Time It Was." Bobby can PLAY!! So if you like great jazz-funk give "The Genie" a listen, It's good to get some Funk on!!"

Getting Down With "Upp" Forgotten Music Of My Youth

UPP "This Way Upp" 1976

Going through my albums of my youth, I came across this great one. Upp was a British rock,jazz, fusion and funk band active in the 1970s. The group  consisted of Stephen Amazing (bass guitar), David Bunce (guitar), Andy Clark (keyboards) and Jim Copley (drums). Stephen Amazing, aka Steve Fields. This was their sophmore outing coming out in 1976 in the beginning of disco.


What is unique was that a very fine guitar player Jeff Beck (you all know who he is right?) not produced the album, but played guitar solos on it as well. Saxman great Tom Scott is also on the album.


This album has some real nice funk groovin on it. You will like "Dance Your Troubles Away" with it's great bass funk line , "Nitto" and "Groovin Mood" Stephen Amazing is simply that "Amazing."


This album is great. I'm surprised that you can't get it on cd. It is a classic of the late 70's sound of groovin and dance orientated music..

So take a listen. You will get down with Upp!

The Man Cave

man cave n. A dedicated area of a house,
such as a basement, workshop, or garage,
where a man can be alone or socialize with his friends. 

(I should add it helps to make it family orientated)


I have always loved the look of 1960's bachelor pads. Now a days they could be considered man caves.
When my father designed and help me build our family home theater in the basement I had the man cave concept in mind. Some place that was cozy where you could relax and watch movies, listen to music and have a cocktail. We use the swank pad to entertain guests.


Here is the entrance sign I commissioned the Blue Hipster (artist from the Netherlands) to make for the blog and theater.

Here is a few more pics from Greg's Swank Pad Lounge

The Bar Area (Very important for cocktails)

Seating for plenty

Here are some great pics from retro bachelor pad/ man caves

Love the Eames Chair

Lets not forget that being married to an incredible woman who lets me be me and enjoy the swank pad lounge makes all the difference in the world. Thank You Honey! for understanding man's quest for caves.

Sugarloaf.... Forgotten Music of My Youth (and my hitchhiker story)

Sugarloaf, was a great one hit wonder band from Colorado. Best known for their hit "Green-Eyed Lady" Sugarloaf recorded their self-titled debut album in 1970, and the single "Green-Eyed Lady" -- co-written by Corbetta and based on a piece of a scale exercise in a practice book -- slowly became a nationwide hit, catching on in more and more markets until it finally peaked at number three on the pop charts. 


The Band Consisted of Jerry Corbetta on Keyboards and Vocals. Bob Webber on Guitar and Vocals, Bob Raymond on Bass, and Bob MacVittie on drums. What stands out on this album is the fine musicanship from all the players but especially from Corbetta on the organ. Other songs of note are the fine blues tune and jam "Gold and the Blues' and the the "Take Five" inspired "Things Gonna Change Some."


The Songs on the album
Side One
1) Green-Eyed Lady
2) The Train Keeps A-Rollin (Stroll On)
3) Medley: Bach Doors Man, Chest Fever


Side Two
1) West of Tomorrow
2) Gold and the Blues
3) Things Gonna Change Some


NOW FOR THE STORY OF HOW I MET ONE OF THE BAND MEMBERS


Unfortunately at my age, I do forget some things, but there are other things I remember very well. In the seventies my parents sent my brother and I on a camping trip with a friend of my dad's,  artist and sculptor Paul Slepak. We took the family station wagon to Colorado to explore the wild. While driving in the mountains Paul decided to pick up a hitchhiker along the road. He was a long haired fellow with a backpack. I was very nervous about picking up a hitchhiker but Paul was like " it will be just fine." I don't remember what the guys name was but I do remember this. When asked by Paul what he does, The fellow answered, "I play in a band called Sugarloaf." For some reason that stuck with me because I wanted to be a musician. He also went on to say they were hoping to make it some day. Well they did as a one hit wonder. Download the rip I did from their classic debut album titled "Sugarloaf."

Public Foot The Roman....Forgotten Music From My Youth

WHO ARE THESE GUYS????

I can't even remember how I heard of this band or how I came to buy the album. As I've been going through my albums of my youth I saw this and thought Hmmmmmm... I remember liking that one.


An obscure and long forgotten progressive rock band from the UK, PUBLIC FOOT THE ROMAN nevertheless were popular enough to released one self titled album in 1973 in both the UK and USA. (Sovereign Records in the UK, Capitol in the USA). In addition they were often seen playing at colleges and were featured on the more outward looking radio shows of the time.

The band did have some line up changes but the best known was Dag Small (keyboards and vocals), the enigmatically named Ward (bass guitar), Sean Byrne (vocals and guitar), Greg Knowles (guitar) and Jamie Lane (drums and vocals). The group eventually transormed itself into THE MOVIES who developed PUBLIC FOOT THE ROMAN's art rock tendenacies and were almost on the verge of a breakthrough when Punk Rock changed the musical climate and killed any chances of success. (above paragraph from prog archives by Dave Presto)


Unfortunately as much as I liked the album I was heavenly into Yes, so it couldn't measure up musically, but if you listen to them you will like their songs. What stands out to me is the solid organ playing of Dag Small. The extended songs like Judas Return and Decline and Fall have some nice touches of prog rock to them. I especially like the groove and interplay  on Judas Return at about 3:30 in. One (On My Mind) has a nice folksy feel to it. Sean Brynes vocals are good and solid. This album has alot of 70's mainstream rock to it with some progressive rock feel to it. This album while maybe not a classic, it does grow on you. It's just good stuff. Download it, give it a listen and remember the good ole days of the seventies.
ENJOY!

Urban Ensemble The Music Of Roland Vazquez

This is one of my all time favorite albums. I finally got around to getting the proper equipment to record my old vinyl into the computer. I don't remember how I got turned on to this album, but I'm sure it might had to do with the players on it.
Roland Vazquez began working as a drummer with rhythm-and-blues and rock bands soon after high school. After earning his bachelor’s degree in music, be began composing for his first jazz-fusion band, eventually forming the “Urban Ensemble” in 1976. His first international release, Urban Ensemble: The Music of Roland Vazquez, was called “a decade ahead of its time” by Billboard magazine in 1979.

Produced by the great Dave Grusin it featured alot of california's best session players. On it are Dave Grusin, Patrice Rushen, Larry Williams (of Seawind fame), Claire Fischer, Ken Wild (Also of Seawind) and the great Abe Loboriel on bass.

Here was some of Dave Grusin's liner notes: " We were first introduced to Roland and his band Urban Ensemble, in the fall of 1978. Roland sent us a demo tape of approximately 40 compositions. The music hit us immediately....It's jazz....latin....Funk....strong ensemble playing.... Cookin'... and all original compositions.

The songs on this album do cook and feature some great playing. If you like Jazz, funk, latin big band this band is for you.

Side One
MUSIC FOR A FLOWERED PIG
LONG GONE BIRD
THE VISITOR

Side Two
RETURN TO CONGOLIA
SOME FRIENDS
SOUL FORCE
STEPHANIE



I ripped the album using a gemsound phono to usb audio interface into my iMac. I used Audacity recording software to clean up the pops and clicks from the vinyl. All I think it sounds pretty good. You can download it to hear for yourself.

More Bands That You Might Not Have Heard About From My Youth

EVER HEARD OF PUBLIC FOOT THE ROMAN?????



I don't remember why I bought this album, but I'm glad I did. At the start of the Prog Rock movement, I got turned on to these guys. An obscure and long forgotten progressive rock band from the UK, PUBLIC FOOT THE ROMAN nevertheless were popular enough to released one self titled album in 1973 in both the UK and USA. (Sovereign Records in the UK, Capitol in the USA). In addition they were often seen playing at colleges and were featured on the more outward looking radio shows of the time.

The band did have some line up changes but the best known was Dag Small (keyboards and vocals), the enigmatically named Ward (bass guitar), Sean Byrne (vocals and guitar), Greg Knowles (guitar) and Jamie Lane (drums and vocals). The group eventually transormed itself into THE MOVIES who developed PUBLIC FOOT THE ROMAN's art rock tendenacies and were almost on the verge of a breakthrough when Punk Rock changed the musical climate and killed any chances of success.

Here is Judas Returns (1973)