Jett Black [Night flight - 1985]

Jett Black [Night flight - 1985]

Origin: Toronto (Canada)

Take a listen on Odysee

Take a listen on youtube

Line-up:

Joe Atkins - Vocals, guitar

Mark Atkins - Guitar

Gary Atkins - Drums, percussion

John Rhyman - Keyboards

Additional musicians:

Jeff Jones - Bass

Norm Brown - Synthesizers

John Dudgeon - Backing vocals

Tracks:

1. Night Flight

2. Hold On

3. Bad News

4. Don't Knock The Kids

5. Stranger (In You)

6. Big City Lights

7. Chase The Dream

8. Don't Walk Away

9. Make Your Move

10. Breaking Away

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Jett Black

  Origin: Toronto (Canada)

JETT BLACK

Gary Atkins - Joe Atkins - John Rhyman - Mark Atkins - Jeff Jones

Discography:

Night flight - 1985

Notes:

- Melodic Hard-rock lovers, this Jett Black-LP should have a place of honour in your collection and in your heart! This album is essential! Beautiful, melodic songs, catchy refrains and an outstanding singer is what you'll hear!

Jett Black was an awesome Toronto based band formed in 1983. They produced a 1984 cassette before heading into the studio for their now collectible “Night There is also a video for the band's song "Hold On". Formed by the Atkins brothers, they released this precious and dedicated this album in memory of Randy Rhoades.

The 1985 album "Night Flight" also featured Jeff Jones (Red Rider) on bass, listed as a "guest performer" because original bass player, Mike Greger, had left before the album was completed, although he did appear on a pre-production cassette of the album called "Night Visions"; and there was also Steel River's John Dudgeon on additional vocal parts. -

(Notes by https://citizenfreak.com/artists/97190-jett-black)

- An rather unknown eighties AOR/Hard rock etc. band formed by the three Atkins brothers in 1983 in Toronto, Canada. Jett Black produced a 1984 cassette before heading into the studio for their now collectible "Night Flight" LP. . There is also a video for the band's song "Hold On".

The 1986 album "Night Flight" also featured Jeff Jones (Red Rider) on bass, listed as a "guest performer" because original bass player, Mike Greger, had left before the album was completed, although he did appear on a pre-production cassette of the album called "Night Visions"; and there was also Steel River's John Dudgeon on additional vocal parts. -

(Notes by https://www.last.fm/music/Jett+Black/+wiki)

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Aidean

 Origin: Mannheim, Baden-Wuerttemberg (Germany)

AIDEAN

Angelo Vilardo - Markus Neutard - Klaus Neskudla - Steve Lydakis - Peter Nardo - Michael Gudjan

Discography:

Promises - 1988 (with lyrics)

Notes:

- Aidean from Mannheim belongs to the most underrated bands of the whole decade and it's really a mystery that a band of their format never made it big back in the day. The band was founded 1980 and recorded some first Demo recordings in July 1985. The 5 trax was still sung by Frank Heukemes who later got replaced by Steve Lydakis. After adding keyboarder Angelo Vilardo they got signed 1987 by the indie label Run Records, while they truly deserved some bigger label in the back for sure to promote the band in a bigger way. Their album "Promises" belongs to the most promising albums of the whole 80's german pompish Melodic Metal/Hard Rock scene, that could be mentioned equally to the ones of Zeno, Fair Warning, Craaft, Bonfire, Heartlyne or Mydra, delivering only top notch material that's been equal to top sellers of the US american charts. While other bands wrote Rock history, Aidean vanished into nothingness quickly after the album and didn't even get a Wikipedia entry nowadays. -

(Notes by https://thecorroseum.org/features/germanmetal/index.php?char=A#res)

- Aidean is a AOR / hard rock band from Mannheim, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, that was formed in 1987. Unfortunately the band did not survive beyond 1990, despite some local success in Germany during 1988/89.

The group released its debut album, "Promises" in 1988, before splitting up sometime afterwards. "Promises" was re-issued by Breakout Classics label in 2000. -

(Notes by https://www.last.fm/music/Aidean/+wiki)

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Aidean [Promises - 1988]

Aidean [Promises - 1988]

Origin: Mannheim, Baden-Wuerttemberg (Germany)

Take a listen on Odysee

Take a listen on youtube

Line-up:

Steve Lydakis - Vocals

Michael Gudjan - Guitar, backing vocals

Peter Nardo - Guitar, backing vocals

Markus Neutard - Bass, backing vocals

Klaus Neskudla - Drums, backing vocals

Angelo Vilardo - Keyboards

Tracks:

1. Promises lyrics

2. Tokyo (Light Stopped Shining On) lyrics

3. Rocks You Up lyrics

4. Fell In Love Again lyrics

5. Livin' Lovin' Losin' lyrics

6. Children Of The Night lyrics

7. Diana lyrics

8. Stranger lyrics

9. Do You Call Again lyrics

10. Aidean Medley

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Little America

  Origin: Los Angeles (USA)

LITTLE AMERICA

Kurt Custer - Mike Magrisi - John Hussey - Andy Logan

Discography:

st - 1987 (with lyrics)

Fairgrounds - 1989 (with lyrics)

Notes:

- Little America was a mid-'80s quartet that came out of the so-called "paisley underground," though their sound was closer in spirit to '60s folk-rock than to psychedelia. Andy Logan was attending the University of California at Santa Barbara when he crossed paths with John Hussey. Both played guitar and sang, and were admirers of '60s folk-rock bands such as the Byrds and the Beau Brummels, and the two of them formed the Colours, a name that would later become something of an albatross around their necks as they weren't British -- on top of which, there had already been a group recording using that name. They eventually headed to Los Angeles, where Logan met Mike Magrisi, who had been the bassist in a local group called the Turn that was part of the then active psychedelic revival scene, often referred to as the paisley underground. Magrisi was as much a Byrds fan as Logan, only his idol was Gene Clark, whereas Logan affected a look and sound similar to David Crosby; a team-up seemed not only logical but natural and inevitable, and Magrisi brought his ex-Turn bandmate, drummer Kurt Custer, along with him. The quartet cut a three-song demo financed by Capitol Records, and seemed destined to be signed to the latter label until a disappointing live gig caused the company to lose interest. Instead, they ended up signed to Geffen Records, where they cut their self-titled debut album, released in 1987. It proceeded to sell over 100,000 copies on the strength of the single "Walk on Fire," and among those contributing to the album was Poco/Eagles alumnus Timothy B. Schmit on vocals. They toured a lot and were building up a following, but they found it hard to overcome the two-year gap between their first and second albums, or the bad feeling that resulted when the label insisted on bringing in an outside songwriter to augment their work, Magrisi providing most of their originals up to that point. The group broke up after being dropped by the label following the poor showing of the Fairgrounds album. Since then, Logan and Custer have worked together, and the latter has also been a member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, and played with Steve Earle, while Logan has recorded solo and also written songs. -

(Notes by Bruce Eder, https://www.allmusic.com/artist/little-america-mn0000837267#biography)

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Little America [Fairgrounds - 1989]

Little America [Fairgrounds - 1989]

Origin: Los Angeles (USA)

Take a listen on Odysee

Take a listen on youtube

Line-up:

Mike Magrisi - Vocals, bass

Andy Logan - Vocals, guitar

John Hussey - Guitar, backing vocals

Kurt Custer - Drums, percussion, backing vocals

Additional musicians:

Jimmy Waldo - Keyboards

Peter Case - Harmonica

Tracks:

1. Where Were You lyrics

2. Do You Feel lyrics

3. Save Me lyrics

4. Never Be Alone lyrics

5. Maryjane lyrics

6. Fairgrounds lyrics

7. I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better lyrics

8. Changing Tune lyrics

9. I See Your Face lyrics

10. They Cast Shadows lyrics

11. It's Not Me lyrics

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Little America [st - 1987]

Little America [st - 1987]

Origin: Los Angeles (USA)

Take a listen on Odysee

Take a listen on youtube

Line-up:

Mike Magrisi - Vocals, bass

Andy Logan - Vocals, guitar

John Hussey - Guitar, backing vocals

Kurt Custer - Drums, percussion, backing vocals

Timothy B. Schmitt - Backing vocals, handclaps

Tracks:

1. You Were Right lyrics

2. That's The Way It Stays lyrics

3. Walk On Fire lyrics

4. Perfect World lyrics

5. Lost Along The Way lyrics

6. Lies lyrics

7. Walk The Land lyrics

8. Heroes lyrics

9. Underground lyrics

10. Out Of Bounds lyrics

11. Conversations lyrics

12. Standin' On Top lyrics

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Alexa [st - 1989]

Alexa [st - 1989]

Origin: (Switzerland)

Take a listen on Odysee

Take a listen on youtube

Line-up:

Alexa Anastasia - Vocals

Paul Sabu - Guitar

Murrill Maglio - Bass

Charles Esposito - Drums

Tommy Rude - Keyboards

Devon Meade - Backing vocals

Tracks:

1. I Can't Shake You

2. We Don't Remember Why

3. Dance This Night Away

4. Wanderlust

5. Let It Rock

6. A Cry Away

7. Cool Wind

8. Heart To Heart

9. Spooky

10. From Now On

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Alexa

 Origin: (Switzerland)

ALEXA

Alexa Anastasia

Discography:

st - 1989

Notes:

- Classic female fronted melodic rock with some glorious pompous keyboard moments. Alexa Anastasia was a Swiss beauty discovered by Paul Sabu. The fact is that Paul Sabu and his complete band at the time, Only Child, assisted in the recording of this sole album. Comparable to Saraya and Witness, with her deepish, gritty delivery, her voice sounded uncannily like Sabu's (or is it me?!). As usual Paul Sabu's guitar work shines. Alexa also made two tracks for the soundtrack album ‘Bram Stokers Dracula: The Love Story To Die For’ that are incredible hard to find (if it was released at all). The two tracks ‘For You I'd Die’ and ‘Where Are You’ are just as fantastic female fronted AOR/Melodic Rock like the debut album. The album was re-issued by MTM in 2007 and it would have been great if the re-issue had featured the two tracks but unfortunately it isn’t. Alexa was an artist with strong visual image that missed the boat in 1989 which really was a disgrace really since its an essential album chocked full of fine melodies and unforgettable hooks, and should be sought out at the earliest opportunity. Classic Rock magazine recently said this album was an undiscovered classic. This is the very rare out of print original version on Savage records. -

(Notes by https://tpl.se/music/alexa-paul-sabuonly-child-st-original/)

- Alexa Anastasia, Switzerland. Discovered by Paul Sabu (Only Child; Sabu), this Los Angeles, California-based vocalist Alexa combined hard rock overtures with pop hooks. Sabu produced her debut album, which invited comparisons to Lita Ford and Lee Aaron, but was unable to sell in sufficient numbers to attract wider interest. In 2006, Alexa was reissued by MTM Records."Alexa" is the AOR/melodic rock debut by female vocalist Alexa Anastasia originally released in 1989. Despite baring the name of the Swiss singer, "Alexa" is often considered to have been directed entirely by songwriter/guitarist Paul Sabu who was the driving force behind this project.Indeed the line up that recorded "Alexa" are actually the members of Sabu's late `80s outfit "Only Child" featuring bassist Murrill Maglio, key-player Tommy Rude, drummer Charles Esposito and Paul only on guitars as all vocals were performed by Alexa. Excluding the singer, the rest of the line up cut one of the greatest-arguably-AOR albums of all time, the "Unruly Child" debut, therefore fans of the group should expect that Alexa's album is just as strong a melodic offering. -

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Climb

 Origin: Tokyo (Japan)

CLIMB

Warren Cromartie - Joe Hamilton

Discography:

Take a chance - 1988 (with lyrics)

Notes:

- Best remembered for his successful baseball career as a rising young star with the Montreal Expos, Warren Cromartie earned the affectionate nickname "Cro" and even had a candy bar named after him, a la Babe Ruth. After ten years in the major leagues, at only 30 years old, Cromartie became the first prominent American player still in his prime to sign with a Japanese baseball team. In Japan, Cromartie became a rock star of sorts, winning the coveted MVP award in 1989 and led his team to the Japan Series championship. What most people didn't know was the fact that Cromartie was an accomplished drummer who befriended and jammed with the Canadian rock band Rush - Cromartie's name appears on the back cover of Rush's 1982 album, Signals and he is also thanked in the liner notes. While in Japan, Cro formed an AOR band called Climb with Austrian lead vocalist Joe Hamilton. In 1988, the band put out a limited edition album that was released in Japan only. Cro enlisted a veritable all star lineup for the Steve Klein-produced album including Rush lead singer Geddy Lee; the legendary Detroit session player and producer Bruce Nazarian; Foreigner's lead singer Lou Gramm; David Rosenthal, the keyboard player of the popular rock band Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, who is currently keyboardist and musical director for Billy Joel's band; and award-winning veteran industry vocalist Mitch Malloy. Hit songwriter Russ Ballard contributed a track ("Caught In A Crossfire") as did Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly ("Lonely In Each Other's Arms"). Steinberg and Kelly were writers on Madonna's "Like A Virgin" and Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors, among many other hits. The album Climb is a funky rocking affair with Cromartie in the driver's seat, totally wailing on the drums and leading the band through nine solid tunes that can stand with the best the 80's had to offer. The album has been newly remastered and finally released Worldwide for the first time, with a bonus track, the instrumental version of the single "Girl Like You," that was previously only released in Japan as a 45 RPM single b-side. After hearing the album, one can only wonder what Cromartie could have achieved musically had he not become a baseball star. -

(https://www.amazon.co.za/Take-Chance-Climb/dp/B01ACNB5ZI)

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Climb [Take a chance - 1988]

Climb [Take a chance - 1988]

Origin: Los Angeles (USA)

Take a listen on Odysee

Take a listen on youtube

Line-up:

Joe Hamilton - Vocals, percussion, backing vocals

Warren Cromartie - Drums, percussion, backing vocals

Additional musicians:

Lou Gramm - Vocals

Geddy Lee - Vocals

Bruce Nazarian - Guitar, bass, keyboards

George Terry - Guitar, bass, backing vocals

David Rosenthal - Bass, keyboards, percussion

Jim Bull - Backing vocals

Mitch Malloy - Backing vocals

Kitty Terry - Backing vocals

Tracks:

1. Girl Like You lyrics

2. Adult Situations lyrics

3. Lonely In Each Others Arms lyrics

4. Who's Missing Who lyrics

5. Thinking Of You lyrics

6. Caught In A Crossfire lyrics

7. Rock An A Stone lyrics

8. Try On lyrics

9. Chance lyrics

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The Strand [st - 1980]

The Strand [st - 1980]

Origin: Los Angeles (USA)

Take a listen on Odysee

Take a listen on youtube

Line-up:

Rick 'Moon' Calhoun - Vocals

Scott Shelly - Guitar, backing vocals

Dean Cortez - Bass, backing vocals

Peter Reilich - Keyboards, backing vocals

Kelly Shanahan - Drums

Additional musicians:

Michael Boddicker - Synthesizers

Lenny Castro - Percussion

Jim Horn - Saxophone

Tracks:

1. Rock It Tonight

2. Long Hot Summer

3. I Like It Like That

4. Just A Little More Time

5. Prisoners In Paradise

6. Stay Away From My Girl

7. Frustration

8. Children Of The Night

9. Dirty Little Girl

10. Can't Look Back

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