Dismissed by rock critics but adored by its fans, Head East was the quintessential Midwestern arena rock outfit of the 1970s. Head East, for the most part, wasn't the most challenging band in the world; the St. Louis natives lacked the complexity of progressive rockers, and they weren't nearly as provocative and daring as punk, new wave, and heavy metal artists…
Considered by many to be the second last good Grobschnitt album before the departure of Eroc. In fact consciously Grobschnitt elected after "Merry Go Round" to stop recording their signature fairytale - like music and move more in the spirit of the '80's. Considering this was one of the later Grobschnitt albums it contains many of their most beloved melodies. "Merry-Go-Round" contains everything that you would expect with great drumming - bass - guitar interplay with fairytale-like keyboards and atmospheres. Songs are exceptionally well written and performed and if you are a completist then you can snag Repetroire's re-mastered version with 2 bonus tracks.
Unlike many bands whose careers had begun in the early 1970s, Camel still continued to enjoy much success at the close of the decade. I Can See Your House From Here was a revitalized work that included many fine songs such as Ice (featuring Phil Collins on Percussion), Hymn To Her and Your Love is Stranger Than Mine. Produced by Rupert Hine, the album was a chart success and spawned an extensive World tour. This Esoteric Recordings edition has been re-mastered from the original tapes and features two Bonus Tracks, including a live version of Ice recorded by the BBC in 1981. The accompanying CD booklet includes copious photographs and memorabilia and a new essay.
Herbie Hancock's V.S.O.P. project with his former bandmates from the Miles Davis Quintet – Ron Carter, Wayne Shorter, Tony Williams – and trumpeter Freddie Hubbard was a band that almost single-handedly tried to re-establish acoustic jazz in the United States. And though they made three recordings, all of which were favorably reviewed and heralded by true jazz fans, none of them sold very well, and the band could find few gigs in the United States. The 1978 tour of major cities was thought to be a triumph at the time, but the unit could find few gigs afterward, and so its various members all went back to their other projects. In 1979, they got the opportunity to tour Japan and jumped at the chance. Sony, Hancock's Japanese label, recorded the two evenings, and the first, which took place during a furious rainstorm, was broadcast live on national television! Live Under the Sky marks the first time that this album has been available in the United States in any form.
Esoteric Recordings is pleased to announce the release of The Studio Albums 1979-1987, a new clamshell boxed set that gathers together all seven studio albums released by the legendary classical rock band Sky over a nine year period.
Formed in 1979, Sky brought together the worlds of rock and classical music in a highly successful and inspiring way. Featuring the gifted talents of guitarist John Williams, percussionist Tristan Fry, legendary bass player Herbie Flowers, former Curved Air keyboard player Francis Monkman and guitarist Kevin Peek, Sky recorded their debut album at Abbey Road studios in the early months of 1979. The band’s self-titled debut reached the UK top ten in May 1979 and went on to achieve Platinum status in the UK and was also a major hit in Europe and Australia…