| THE DINOSAUR DAYS - 28 NOVEMBER 1999 |
| Y&T |
 Y&T
- Winds of Change, taken off their fourth album, " Black Tiger
", in 1982. Also known as " Yesterday and Today ", Y&T were
formed in San Fransisco in the mid seventies as a Top 40 covers band. They
released their first album in 1976, a classic in its time, as was their second
album. Unfortunately their record company didn't get behind the band as much
as they would have liked and they subsequently moved to A&M Records, for
whom they recorded a number of excellent albums before splitting in 1990. They
reformed in the mid nineties and have released a few more really good albums,
not having lost any of the bite and power that made them one of the US's
classiest bands.Guitarist Dave Meniketti released a stunning solo blues album
in 1998. If we have one complaint about Y&T, it's that some of their best
albums, " Black Tiger " included, appear to be available only on
ridiculously expensive Japanese pressings. Worthwhile checking out, though, if
you don't have any qualms about dipping into your Access Bond! |
| SNOWY WHITE |
Snowy
White - Land of Freedom, from "
Snowy White ", his second solo album, released in 1984. (Snowy White is
the subject of this week's Dino Quiz. What is up for grabs is an imported copy
of this very album, courtesy of CD Collection in Alberton City. Read on for
the question! ). Snowy White's career goes way back to the late sixties when
he featured with Sweden's November, a very competent hard rock trio in the
Budgie/Stray mould. He moved to the UK and got involved with Stud, the band
formed by the remaining Taste members when Rory Gallagher left to do his solo
thing, although White never appeared on any of Stud's three albums. He became
one of the most sought after guitarists, featuring with the likes of Jonathan
Kelly's Outside, Pink Floyd and a host of others. He's probably best known for
his work with Irish rockers Thin Lizzy ( he replaced Gary Moore in the band ).
He recorded his first solo album in 1983, and both he and his record company
were astounded at how much of a hit " Bird of Paradise" would
become. In the 80's, he formed his Blues Agency and he's still around today,
recording under the name of Snowy White and The White Flames. A new album,
" Keep out - we are toxic ", surfaced recently. You would need to
look very far to find a guitarist better than Snowy White.
The question is: " Snowy White replaced Gary Moore in which famous Irish hard rock outfit?" Answer: Thin Lizzy |
| RANDY PIE |
 Randy
Pie - Goin' through the motions, from " Kitsch ", their 3rd
album, in 1975.A very interesting and underrated band, were Randy Pie. They
were formed in Hamburg, Germany in the early seventies out of the ashes of a
number of bands, one being the pop group, " The Rattles ", and
another being a prog group called " Gash". Their first self titled
album (also released as "Sightseeing Tour " ) was a prime
example of excellent prog rock, complete with long, intricate passages,
expertly performed. From their second album onwards ( Highway Driver ), they
adopted a more Jazz/Funk/Pop direction, having a minor hit in 1975 ( in the
disco's, nogal! ), with the track " Highway Driver ". Some of
Germany's best musicians, notably Dickie Tarrach, Jochen Pietersen,
Werner Becker, Jean Jacqes Kravetz and Peter French, vocalist with Leafhound,
Atomic Rooster and Cactus, passed through the ranks in Randy Pie. They split
in the late seventies and reformed for a one off album in 1986. As far as we
know, to date only " Highway Driver " is available on CD. Come on,
Repertoire Records - you're getting slack! |
| LAKE |
Lake -
Into the night. From " Paradise
Island ", with its very apt cover, released in 1979, the third album from
this sadly much maligned " Anglo/Saxon" German band. They were
formed as the Krautrock scene was dying out in the mid seventies by guitarist
Alex Conti ( formerly of Atlantis and Psy Free, nowadays with Rockship and The
Hamburg Blues Band ) and Englishmen, vocalist James Hopkins-Harrison and
terribly underrated keyboard player Geoff Peacey. It seems as if their
"lightweight" brand of " Americanized " pop/rock won them
few friends amongst the diehard Krautrock fans, a sentiment with which we
don't agree, and the odd unkind review was spotted in one or two of the
respected music newspapers/magazines. A pity, though, because they did record
some really good material ( check out their fantastic " Live " album
). They split in the late 80's, having released about nine albums. |
| STAN WEBB'S CHICKEN SHACK |
Stan
Webb's Chicken Shack - I'm torn
Down, taken off " Webb's Blues", his thirteenth album, released in
1994. One of the unsung heroes of the British blues scene, Stan" the
man" Webb has been around for many years. He formed his band in the mid
sixties, together with bassist Andy Sylvester and vocalist Christine Perfect (
later McVie ). Like Savoy Brown, Chicken Shack went through many line-up
changes over the years, with Webb putting the band on " ice " a few
times. He was once a member of the aforementioned Savoy Brown ( what a treat -
Kim Simmonds, Stan Webb and Miller Anderson of Keef Hartley fame, three of the
world's best blues guitarists, in one band together! Pity the Boogie Brothers
didn't go much further. ). Webb also formed Broken Glass at one stage, but
Chicken Shack was always clucking under the surface and he reformed the band
on numerous occasions, sometimes under his own name.He's apparently still
around today, playing to very appreciative audiences in small venues in the
UK. British Blues at its best! |
| JOHN MAYALL'S BLUESBREAKERS |
John Mayall's
Bluesbreakers - Bare
Wires Suite, taken off " Bare Wires ", released in 1968, and
featuring Colosseum members, bassist Tony Reeves, drummer Jon Hiseman and sax
player Dick Heckstall-Smith, Juicy Lucy reedman Chris Mercer and guitarist
Mick Taylor, an awesome line-up in anybody's language! But then again, Mayall,
who, together with Alexis Korner, Graham Bond and Cyril Davies, was a pioneer
of the British Blues scene, and he could call on the era's best musicians to
feature on his albums. Mayall formed his band in 1955 whilst at college, and
has, over the years, become one of the world's most respected, influential and
revered blues musicians. He's still recording and performing today. We wish
him well - he turned 66 years old on the 29th of November. Long may he reign! |
| CHAIN |
| Chain - Boogie, from " Towards the Blues ", released in 1971, the second album from this Australian blues/rock band. Chain were one of the few bands playing " white " blues in Australia, a country better known for its great hard rock and prog bands. Formed in Melboune in 1969, they had a fairly large hit with the track " Black and Blue ", off this particular album, although they were more comfortable playing long, extended blues jams than three or four minute hits. They went through over a dozen line-up changes before finally calling it quits in 1974, although it does appear as if they reformed sometime in the eighties, as a number of albums were released at that time. To date, we know of seven albums by this great band. |
| GROBSCHNITT |
 Grobschnitt
- Symphony, taken off their first, self titled album in 1972. Arguably one
of the Krautrock scene's best bands. Their roots go back to Hagen, Germany
when they evolved out of two bands, one called "Crew '' and the other
called " Charing Cross". Grobschnitt (meaning "rough cut",
as in tobacco ), were formed in February 1970 and they were signed to the
German Brain label. Their fascinating combination of progressive and
psychedelic music with theatrical undertones and weird costumes made them a
highly original yet accessible band, and they were well known for their
entertaining live concerts, not to mention their incredible musicianship.
Although this debut album was highly regarded, their best album is widely
considered to be "Solar Music Live ", their fifth album, and it's
probably one of the best progressive rock albums ever recorded. They went on
to release about 14 albums before splitting in the late eighties. Two
definitive compilations, "Die Grobschnitt Story volumes 1 and 2",
have been released, and are highly recommended, as are most of their albums. |
| WISHBONE ASH |
Wishbone
Ash - Throw down the
sword, from their best known album, "Argus", released in 1972, the
band's third album, and their biggest commercial success. Previously known as
"Tanglewood", the Ash were formed in the late sixties. Mention
Wishbone Ash to any lover of good old fashioned rock and roll, and they'll say
" Oh yeah, weren't they one of the first bands to use two lead
guitarists?" Their twin axe attack was devastating at times, with messrs.
Andy Powell and Ted Turner complimenting one another. Turner was replaced by
another sadly underrated guitarist, Laurie Wisefield, from the British band,
Home. Wisefield and Powell worked really well together and the band went on to
release many excellent albums over the years. They became tax exiles in the
US, but they returned to the UK to play at The Reading Festival in 1975.
They're still very much around today, and have recently released a new album
called " Bare Bones ". |
| GENTLE GIANT |
 Gentle
Giant - A cry for everyone, from "Octopus", in 1973, their
fourth album. Gentle Giant were a band blessed with talent, from vocal
harmonies to musicianship to songwriting. The band was formed by the Shulman
brothers, Phil on sax and vocals, Derek on vocals, guitars and bass and Ray on
vocals, bass and violin, all of whom had been in "Simon Dupree and The
Big Sound " in the sixties. Keyboard player Kerry Minnear, guitarist Gary
Green and drummer Martin Smith, completed the line up of this immensely gifted
British progressive rock band. Listen to modern bands like Spock's Beard -
you'll hear a strong Gentle Giant influence. Their brand of thinking man's
music was sometimes difficult to get into at times because it seemed as if so
many things were happening in the music, all at the same time, and it would
require a few listens before you understood what they were doing. Stunning! Do
yourself a favour next time you're in a CD store - buy a Gentle Giant CD. All
thirteen or so albums are recommended, but you may spot the odd compilation.
They are as important and influential to the progressive rock movement as were
ELP, Genesis, Camel and King Crimson. |