Russ Ballard's eponymous 1984 album and its sequel, The Fire Still Burns, were reissued on a single disc by Renaissance Records in 1996. Both albums are fairly spotty, but they have enough highlights to make this worthwhile for dedicated fans of Ballard or his former band Argent.Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Head East went through several lineups and musical approaches before consolidating in St. Louis in the early '70s as a hard rock quintet consisting of John Schlitt (vocals), Mike Somerville (guitar), Roger Boyd (keyboards), Dan Birney (bass), and Steve Huston (drums), all alumni of the University of Illinois. They recorded their debut album, Flat as a Pancake, independently and released it on their own Pyramid Records label in early 1975…
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…
The true power of music is impossible to define and yet we can all feel it when the sonic planets align. The magical impact of the finest rock'n'roll - that hazy but overwhelming blend of inspiration and perspiration - sustains us through dark times and fills our hearts with joy and strength. Music unites us, nourishes us and provides us with an emotional clarity that the rest of our turbulent lives singularly fails to offer. For those reasons and many more, we must proudly acknowledge and salute the true architects of the musical world that we call home. Above all else, Ritchie Blackmore is one of rock's greatest architects; a six-string seer that laid robust foundations upon which four decades of thunderous, perpetual evolution have taken place.
After the Zombies broke up, keyboardist/songwriter Rod Argent formed his own band in 1969, which incorporated more classical, jazz, and art rock influences in accordance with Argent's musical training. The group's other members were guitarist/songwriter Russ Ballard, bassist Jim Rodford, and drummer Bob Henrit…
Brian Wilson is the eponymous debut studio album by Brian Wilson released in July 1988 on Sire Records. It was voted one of the best albums of 1988 by NME, and as part of its acclaim, garnered the nickname "Pet Sounds '88" among some critics. Brian Wilson has since been reissued on several formats with bonus tracks, and cited by some as a standout in Wilson's solo oeuvre.