Stars (1977) Jupiter Creek - LOST 70s GEMS

 Stars were an Australian country, rock band from outside my usual knowledge zones of the UK and America, this band hailing from Adelaide produced a couple albums in the 70s though were never close to dethroning the Little River Band, the most prominent of Australia's country scene if you like to call it that. First off check out the awesome golden sunlight album cover one of the best photographs I've seen, but now to the music within. 

 Working my way chronologically through this record to get a flavour for the band, the album opener, Back Again reminding me of Joe Lynn Turner's band Fandango, mixing gospel and stadium rock into the equation. Let's Get Moving has that funky beat that a lot of Country Rock bands took from the Doobie Brother's cue, though the chorus is gentle and pretty sounding. The music has rage, from Mighty Rock's exuberant party rock is positioned next to the ballad West Is The Way which borders on easy listening while title track Paradise shares the same qualities of Let's Get Moving with a funky rhythm and a nice, laidback soul harmony.

 The band has a strong Doobie styled fast and funky backbeat all over the album from the bluegrass pickin Song For The Road and even the soothing pop of Looking After Yourself still still bears a revved RnB chug. Jupiter Creek is for me the gem as it's the most unassuming track on a rambunctious record full of showoff country leads, engaging melodies and a funky cocktail of country, bluegrass ballads and arena rock punchiness. Full of a catchy acoustic strum, some Dylanesque harmonica wailing, but it's the jazzy lines of the song that give away to some epic soloing a superb, restrained vocal delivery: layed-back!