Magic Lantern (1972) Country Woman - LOST 70s GEMS

An ecstatic country rocker from this band from Lancashire or all places, it's horns, rolling rock guitar and lead singer's verve make up for the band's strong traditional sound and lack of innovation.

Chicory Tip (1972) Whats Your Name - LOST 70s GEMS

A bouncing Bubblegum bop with classic Chicory Tip singalong chores and synth innovation such as synth bass and incredible frenetic, digitised piano sounding keyboard parts playing in Bachian scales. Just imagine a more keyboard ready version of the Sweet or an early 70s Tremeloes and you pretty much got Chicory Tip.

Stevie Wonder (1973) Misstra Know It All - LOST 70s GEMS

This is a masterpiece never spoken about in the air as his biggest hits, this tune form Stevie Wonder's Innervisons album is formed on a laidback jazz piano progression and suitably slick beat. Wonder' s melody so hopeless yet confidently delievred with a deceptive glibness. The wearied observations about Misstra Know It All, a veiled dig at President Nixon still works on a deeper level such as Living in the City about timeless values of self respect and the individual over the stern authority..who don't know everything.

The gospel fervour of the ending with backing praises and Hail Marys help create a true protest classic that wont ever grow stale as Wonder exhibits his fiery proselytising yet deeply sensual growl singing "Take your hat off to the man who's got the plan!"; Truly Remarkable track one of the best gems I've ever heard.

The Frost (1970) A Long Way From Home - LOST 70s GEMS

Dick Wagner's Frost and Ursa Minor were terrific early 70s rock groups dabbling in Prog hard rock; just listen to his fluid guitar lines at the start of this track reminding me of his work on that famous intro guitar dual for that 1974 live rendition of Lou Reed's Sweet Jane. Awesome cover art aside this song has an piano based tune, but it's his startling epic solo full of Bowie's Glam Rock grandeur. The album's title track, Through The Eyes Of Love (God Help Us Please), has a great refrain and some spooky guitar and organ based work, Black as Night is holy pomp rock sung with crisp power, while It's So Hard has creepy funky blues interplay between guitar and drums.

Jigsaw (1974) Your Not The Only Girl - LOST 70s GEMS

From their 1974 album, I've Seen the Film, I've Read the Book, this Jigsaw moderate hit was full of upbeat rhythms and strong powerful singin, melodies and strings dripping in heartbreaking soulfulness; they were a Disco ballad band and the best at that genre of the more touching yet dance-able music.

Caravan (1971) Love to Love You (And Tonight Pigs Will Fly) -LOST 70s GEMS

You can't get a better album than Caravan's third album, 1971's In The Land Of Grey And Pink with it's mix of acoustic funk, quirky English Prog Pop and colourful song lyrics.
Love to Love You (And Tonight Pigs Will Fly) has the funky cowbell right form the start and cool swagger of a guitar chord progression while Pye Hastings sings dark lyrics such as "When we'd ride to a dock on bended knee / But you'd just smile and gently shake your head / And put a hole through me so I was dead ". The piano and guitar driven power chords yet Pye's mellow vocals make this commercial pop and avant garde rock; listen to the very catchy, two step chorus with it's hoedown hip swing of a melody making it very dance friendly. The breakdown drumming pattern and basic chords of his album made it far more commercially viable then there prior work, listen to the smooth organs and lead guitar solos are so pleasant to the ear and streamlined rhythms.

Poco (1974) Bitter Blue - LOST 70s GEMS

This tune from Poco's Contamos album is an underrated Timothy B Schmidt track where he sings over rootsy cowboy rock guitars in a way similar to Starin at the Sky and I Can See Everything; sought of a ridiculously clean, very high pitched falsetto with a slight breathiness that adds a husky sensuality to the countrified posturing. Then there is the stacked gospel chorus and the awesome bridge ' I look outside and find the rain..' with it's slightly down turn ooh's and tumbling modulation.