Geordie (1976) ?????- LOST 70s GEMS

A simple song by song rundown of Geordie's 1976 sophormore album Save the World; Goodbye Love is an Abba styled disco rocker while She's a Teaser has an awesome falsetto hook, Fire Queen is a chugging, heavy rocker full of Heavy Metal/ Pre-Maiden drive and snarl, I Cried Today is a flawless Reggae booster, while title track, Save the World, positively rocks with it's cynicism dressed in an upbeat chorus and a circular riff. Then there's is a bizarre Tom Jones Ripoff called of course She's a Lady, was this a subconscious lift as the chorus is almost worded the exact same? Light in the Window is a warning against stumbling from desperate romantic into stalker tendencies. So my choice is.. I Cried Today; when reggae by white rock artists works and doesn't sound forced and inauthentic.

Wild Oats (1977) Lady I'm Waitin - LOST 70s GEMS

A very Southern sounding, folk pop/rock album full of startlingly, dreamy, wide eyed balladry; dominated by glistening acoustic guitars, unusual jazzy solos, gentle pianos and the lead singer songwriter Marc Levy's nasally country accent. Gospel backing and interesting percussion choices are present throughout such as the big drum of dramatic love song Friendship (Is So Hard To Find).
All I Think About Is You dreamy pedal steel driven folk rocker, Heartache a nice smooth rocker with an usual mix of pounding rock rhythms, acoustic guitars , slightly phased harmonies, calypso interlude and a truly magnificent guitar solo that takes centre stage; one of the best I've heard. Lovely Woman sounds like a lullaby, while Take Off For The Sky continues to showcase the band's extremely talented jazz guitarist's vamping abilities and the closing track's mix of exotic percussion with country folk pop encapsulates the album's unique style.

 The sonic, outer space filtered pedal steel sounding like the THX sound logo peeps in and out of Lady I'm Waitin, a very uncomplicated tune full of excellent pop melodies and a Latin jazz coda. If only half the songs were as catchy as this maybe they would've been more marketable, though I must say most bands would kill for a guitarist like the one Wild Oats; who just happens to be Firefall's Jock Bartley, a successor to Tommy Bolin in Jazz Rock outfit Zephyr confirming his credentials immensely as a virtuoso. It does seem to be an album of cameos surrounding Marc Levy rather than a fixed unit which might explain things too.

Geordie (1978) Wonder Song - LOST 70s GEMS

From old Glam Rockers, Geordie, 1978's No Good Woman album was the last put out during the 'height' of their fame, Brian Johnston had already been replaced by Vic Malcolm who keeps people from really noticing any change of personnel as their fan base weren't growing to the same level as say Johnston's later group, ACDC. Ironically the flippant rock n roll of this album sounds the closest to Acca Dacca though it isn't my cup of tea mainly due to a lack of good material, a muddy mix and lacking their distinctive crunching Glam Rock.

One track that does sound like the original Geordie is You've Got It with it's stone age, crunching, monolithic power chords; even if the sweet feminine backing vocals sound like a bad Photoshop copy and paste with no real marriage of the two elements. It is also quite bad that Malcolm sounds so clearly bored and not invested on the track and the gospel singers sound so eager passionate that there is such a cringe worthy contrast. The multi-tracked synth lines of Give It All You Got are noteworthy, though the fat, heavily warped Moog of bizarro New Wave track Show Business doesn't work. Dollars- Deutsche marks has a nice mellow, singalong chorus and a strong ACDC groove, but nothing else. Sweet Little Rock n Roller has a punchy disco keyboard bass line mixed in with more awkward sax driven, rock n roll . Worse is Victoria a saccharine ballad that sounds terribly out of place on anything other than The Spy Who Loved Me soundtrack, it's yacht rock synth whooshes remind me of Clouds by David Gates, the only person who should attempt let alone can pull off a track like that.

Wonder Song starts with a cool loping synth effect before devolving into more of their hair raising, meat and potatoes rock full of organs, soaring synth drones and demonic guitars. The analog synth solo and organ work along with the tight drumming, including a gong and the widescreen Raga harmonies make this an interesting almost Prog, almost Metal. The draconian monk styled harmonies and the old timey jazz verses keep this song from feeling boring; but the whole album doesn't quite bear the crisp, streamlined production of their turbo charged 1974 debut when they sound like a progenitor of bands such as Survivor, Target, Night Ranger, Cobra and other early 80s pop/hard rock bands.

Rush (1975) Beneath, Between & Behind - LOST 70s GEMS

A great example of a Rush song, a malevolent falsetto vocal by Geddy Lee and crashing rhythms of Alex Lifesons' power chords and Neil Peart's brutal drums. They assault you on a spatial level, Lee sings in a piercing, high spirited manner like Jon Anderson but on steroids, while Lifeson's slashing power chords cut through the mix with their heavy delay mixing well with Peart's array of cymbals smashing and machine gun rolls. It's an energetic display that rivals Zeppelin and Yes for it's Prog air and Hard Rock intensity; it's an incendiary melody at it's core that just screams 70s rock at it's very finest.

The Faragher Brothers (1978) Open Your Eyes - LOST 70s GEMS

The Faraghers were of more use as studio singers back in the day, but did release a string of white funk RnB albums in the 70s.  While it doesn't age as well as the Bee Gees or ring as authentic, they were the only other acts to perform this type of music other than the Bee Gees and Wild Cherry; i.e a more softer, rocking mainstream brand of funk, not necessarily disco but funk rock.

While often their melodies were catchy, the lyrics were terribly corny except for what should've been a hit single, today's song post called Open Your Eyes. A gem from their extremely mellow third album, it is a common heartfelt plea to a lover but effectively hit home with a killer central hook delivered in their strong falsettos. The full bodied atrue of their high harmonies reminding you why they were in demand session singers in the 70s soul scene, also working on solo albums for part time superheros such as Lynda Carter and ..ahem Peter Criss.

Stars (1979) Innocent Bystanders - LOST 70s GEMS

 The title track of Australian Country rock band Star's second album, Land of Fortune, has melodic circular rhythm full of late 70s pop rock, a melody Boston would have been green for with it's bright overdriven and acoustic rhythm guitar combo. Red Neck Boogie has one of the best boogie riffs I've heard while Gold fever has a mesmerising story about the gold rush against a shiny, smoothly distorted guitar punch and sweet laidback oriental but xenophobic bridge. The band improves on their 77 debut with less country pickin and mixing those lead vocals with more original guitar tones. In and Out of Love again displays some sweet guitar with a thick slide guitar and funk strum to elevate a more simple rocker with some cool lyrics 'I'm a victim of counterfeit sleep', while All Good Things Will Come To You in Time is a sweet one minute little ditty to keep listeners engaged. The record loses it moment with the by the numbers old time RnB workout I'm Ready which is disappointing.

 So if you're wondering, my choice for the album's gem is Innocent Bystanders, a gloriously weeper of a track with it's sensitive vocals that reminds me of the Old English receded pronunciation of high tenor, Prog rock singers like Peter Hammill, Jon Anderson, Geddy Lee etc. The sharp hard rock turns are fine and also like Rush in their slamming delay effect, while the superb lead solos along with the wistful jangle multi guitar verse progression which is the highlight. Lyrically it's all about participation in lvoe and is sung with true heart breaking conviction.

The Stairsteps (1976) Pasado - LOST 70s GEMS

Formerly the family Bubblegum group The Five Stairsteps, The rechristened Stairsteps released a mainstream funky album i the mid 70s in which is hidden this future hit. Written by group member James Burke and would later become a hit for the Pockets the following year, but their Quiet Storm version is too mellow, I much prefer the original by the Stairsteps. Of course famous for hits such as 'World of Fantasy' and 'Ooh Child', Pasado is an equally dreamy pop song filled with strong Latin and funk overtones, it has an early Earth Wind and Fire vibe of smooth sensual RnB balladry. The hook of the song is part in Spanish and part in English basically saying all things will pass, ironic as this was released through George 'All Things Must Pass'Harrison's Dark Horse record label; "Ya yo-ha pasado por esa cosa / Ive been all through this thing". Though the narrator states "But I cant afford to make the sacrifice, Cause I, cause I've been through this thing ", the Latin passion is evident in the restrained instrumental texture even if the lead vocals are more wearied. The slinky groove is accentuated by chiming acoustic guitars and flute like whirls of synthesizer, add in the crisscrossing vocals and the song turns into a remarkable cocktail of enveloping emotions. Keni Burke's lead vocals are nicely mixed low to capture the lower register of his vocals, while the tight drum work keeps this locked in the 'You were never here' bridge is striking as we are lead into a prominent salsa beat also drives the melody along in the final third of the song. It is a gloriously joyous summery song full of gorgeous harmonies and congas, it lulls you in a beautifully subtly way and the lyrics are delivered in understated sentiment.