Love Owned

Like another Canadian group from the same era (Mashmakhan out of Montreal), Motherlode will forever be ensconced in that ignominious club known as the One-Hit Wonder, probably due to the fact they had to be one of the most fluid bands of that time, eventually encompassing some 19 different members in no less than five reincarnations over the years. Starting their careers primarily in Toronto, saxophonist/harmonica player Steve Kennedy and keyboardist William "Smitty" Smith both played in a band called The Soul Searchers which featured vocalists Eric Mercury and Diane Brooks.

Collectables combines two very different back-to-back recordings made by guitarist Charlie Byrd for Columbia in the mid-'60s. Travellin' Man (issued in 1965) is a live gig at the Showboat in Washington D.C., a club he was playing in - and owned - 36 weeks out of the year. He is featured with his bass playing brother Joe, and the rather astonishing drummer Bill Reichenbach. The program consists of everything from originals like the title cut and the country and bluegrass tinged opener "Mama I'll Be Home Someday" to Michel Legrand's "I Will Wait for You." With tunes like the Richard Rodgers and Stephen Sondheim standard "Do I Hear a Waltz," Billy Strayhorn's "U.M.M.G.," and Django Reinhardt's "Nuages" sandwiched in between. It' is a hard swinging date where Byrd, a great melodic improviser, turns original arrangements inside out and pours his love for bossa and blues into everything he plays…

Digitally remastered and expanded edition of this 1975 album from the British Pop trio including bonus tracks. Signed to EMI in April 1974, consummate musicians David Paton/Billy Lyall/Stuart Tosh expertly meshed catchy tunes, punchy guitars and strong harmonies to score major international success with three albums in three years. Second Flight was their sophomore album, again produced by Alan Parsons (who would take three of Pilot to record his own album I-Robot a year later), featured a major hit with the single 'January', a #1 in many countries. Also here are the non LP 'Lady Luck' single, two unreleased songs and the demo version of 'January'. RPM. 2009.

It's difficult to listen to Detroit's Rockets without sensing tragedy, nodding mostly to its singer Dave Gilbert, a guy gifted with sexual tension and a voice tailored for '70s FM radio, but who drank himself out of stardom, and later, into the grave. And as much as Gilbert was troubled - adding the booze, coke and attendant rock star life - guitar hero Jimmy McCarty and drummer-songwriter Johnny "Bee" Badanjek (both alums of Mitch Rider & the Detroit Wheels) were a musical force to be reckoned with. That confliction was palpable - and ultimately the band's demise - but when the tension worked, when the sparks flew, the band was on…