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| THE DINOSAUR DAYS - 14 NOVEMBER 1999 |
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| TOM COSTER |
 I give my heart to you, taken off his first solo album in
1981, called "T.C". Keyboard player Tom Coster is probably best known for
his work with Santana between 1972 and 1978. He co-wrote the hits "Europa"
and "Dance sister Dance". When he left Santana, he had a short stint in
drummer Billy Cobham's band prior to embarking on a solo career, utilizing
the services of bassist Randy Jackson, drummer Steve Smith ( of Journey
fame ) and guitarist Joachim Lievano from Jean luc Ponty's band. To date,
he's released eight albums and he's also appeared on albums by Joe
Satriani, Boz Scaggs and with Vital Information. |
| MICHAEL STANLEY BAND |
| Michael Stanley Band - Voodoo, from "Heartland" in 1980, their eigth
album. Guitarist/vocalist Michael Stanley started out as a folky/country
singer/songwriter with Joe Walsh and a few others as backing musicians. By
1975, he'd formed his own permanent band and developed a harder, more
rockier style to his music, which went down well with lovers of American
AOR. The Michael Stanley band released approximately 12 albums between 1973
and 1983. |
| THE OUTLAWS |
 The Outlaws - Easy does it, taken off "Los Hombres Malo" in 1982. ( The
Outlaws are the subject of this weeks Dino Quiz ). The Outlaws were formed
by guitarists Hughie Thomasson, Billy Jones and Henry Paul, bassist Frank
O'Keefe and drummer Monte Yoho in the early 70's. They released their first
album on Arista Records in 1975 ( they were one of the label's first
signings ). The album peaked at number 13 on the Billboard charts, later
going gold. The "four man guitar army ", as they were affectionately known,
went on to record a total of 9 albums before being put on ice in the late
80's. Thomasson reformed the band in the 90's, and two albums for Blues
Bureau International were released. He's currently one of the guitarists
in Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Visit their website. |
| HENRY PAUL BAND |
 Henry Paul Band - Feel the Heat, the title track from his second album,
released in 1980. Guitarist Henry Paul was one of the founders of The
Outlaws in the early seventies. He broke away from the band in the late
seventies and formed his own band, signing a lucrative four record deal
with Atlantic Records, all of which were quite good. He rejoined The
Outlaws for their "Soldiers of Fortune" album in 1986.
Visit their website. |
| TOWER OF POWER |
 Tower of Power - To say the least, you're the most, taken off "Soul
Vaccination: Live ", released this year. The album was recorded in
California during their 1998 World Tour, in celebration of their thirty
years of existence. The band's roots go back to Oakland, Calfornia in the
mid to late sixties when they evolved out of
"The Motowns". Tenor sax player Emilio Castillo was the band's founder, and
is still with them today. They were regulars at Winterland and The
Fillmore, where they built up a firm following. Numerous line - up changes
ensued over the years, and although there were sometimes long breaks
between album releases, the band never really split up. Their famed horn
section has appeared with many other artists, including Huey Lewis and the
News and Phil Collins, to name just a few. The nineties have seen Tower of
Power back where they belong : the world's best soul/brass rock outfit. |
| BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS |
 Blood, Sweat & Tears - Nuclear Blues, from " Live ", released in 1980,
which was their thirteenth and final album. Guitarist and keyboard player
Al Kooper formed the band in the late sixties. Vocalist David Clayton -
Thomas was one of the most dynamic and charismatic front men of the
seventies and an excellent vocalist to boot. Blood, Sweat & Tears had a
number of major hits and they sold in excess of 35 million albums between
1968 and 1980.Rumour has it that they're still alive and kicking, although,
to date, no new recordings have surfaced. Trumpet player Bruce Cassidy is a
very well known and highly respected musician in South Africa.
Visit their website. |
| LIGHTHOUSE |
 Lighthouse - Eight miles high, a great extended cover of The Byrds'
classic, taken off " Live ", recorded at New York's famed Carnegie Hall and
released in 1972. Drummer Skip Prokop had been in The Paupers. He formed
Lighthouse, Canada's finest band, in the late sixties. At times, Lighthouse
numbered as many as thirteen musicians, featuring strings, brass and a
serious rhythm section, with a sadly underrated guitarist in Ralph Cole.
Prokop also collaborated with Al Kooper and Mike Bloomfield in Super
Session, which didn't do his reputation as a great drummer any harm. He
released a very hard-to-find solo album, called " All growed up " in 1977.
Lighthouse split in the mid seventies, having recorded nine albums. They
reformed in the mid nineties and recorded an album called "Song of the
Ages" in 1996.
Visit their website. |
| EDGAR BROUGHTON BAND |
 Edgar Broughton Band - Evening over Rooftops, from "The Edgar Broughton
Band ", also known as "The Meat Album ", with it's controversial cover,
originally released in 1971. The band were formed in Warwick, England in
1969 by the Broughton brothers, Edgar on guitars and vocals and Steve on
drums and vocals. Arthur Grant was the third member, on guitar, bass and
vocals. Their anarchic and revolutionary attitude won them many fans, sort
of England's answer to the Grateful Dead, although , unlike the Dead, it
was widely felt that they couldn't reproduce on vinyl what they could on
stage. They released eight albums and disbanded in the late seventies. |
| OTIS WAYGOOD |
| Otis Waygood - A Madman's Cry taken off "Ten Light Claps and a Scream",
released in 1971, their third and final album. Also known as The Otis
Waygood Blues Band, they were formed by the Zipper brothers, Rob on guitar
and Alan on bass, drummer Ivor Back and guitarist Leigh Sagar, all of whom
originated from Zimbabwe. Their early influences were Muddy Waters and John
Lee Hooker, and it showed in their music. They moved to South Africa and
became one of the country's best blues/rock bands. They moved to the UK,
playing various small clubs, under the name of Isaiah. Original pressings
of their three albums are extremely hard to find. Their cover of the
classic "Fever" is one of the best ever recorded. |
| BLUES IMAGE |
| Blues Image - Pay my dues, taken off "Open", their second album in
1970. A band with tremendous potential. They were formed in Florida, USA,
in the mid sixties, by guitarist Mike Pinera, later of Iron Butterfly fame.
Their music was a stunning combination of hard rock with a Latin feel. They
opened up their own club, The Image, giving themselves a perfect platform
to present their unique brand of music to an appreciative crowd. They split
at the beginning of 1971, with Pinera joining Ramatam in 1972, and in 1973,
forming The New Cactus Band with percussionist Manuel Bertematti. Drummer
Joe Lala went on to become a much sought after and respected musician,
featuring with the likes of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Joe Walsh and
Manassas.
Visit their website. |
| ROCK WORKSHOP |
| Rock Workshop - Living Reason, from their second and final album, "The
very last time ", released in 1971. Rock Workshop were a short lived
English brass rock band, similar in style to The Keef Hartley Band and
Heaven. Formed in 1970 by guitarist Ray Russell, their very experimental
first album featured Scottish vocalist Alex Harvey, of Teargas and The
Sensational Alex Harvey Band fame. Members of the band, in turn , appeared
on Harvey's first album. Both Rock Workshop albums, released on CBS, are
fairly collectible today. |
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