All About Music

Winnipeg's Streetheart played hard guitar and keyboard-mixed radio rock throughout the course of the late '70s and early '80s, and are comparable to country mates Prism and Trooper, who flourished at around the same time. Led by guitarist Paul Dean and Matt Frenette, who later formed Loverboy, Streetheart's straight-ahead approach of energetic, highly animated guitar throttle somehow failed to gain momentum outside of Canada.

The 14-track album contains 10 original pieces of instrumental music, as well as two new songs written by Harvey and sung by Gillian Anderson and Lily James; this physical release also includes demo versions of ‘The Sandman’ and The Moth’, performed by PJ Harvey.

Norma Mendoza with the Jimmy Wisner Trio - All About Norma (1961) {Firebird Japan XQAM-1080 rel 2014}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 147 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 72 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 10 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1961, 2014 Firebird Japan | XQAM-1080
Jazz / Pop / Vocal Jazz / Piano

Apart from the liner notes on the back of the cover I have no further information about either the singer or the recording. It seems this was her only album. Trained as a classical pianist, Wisner known admiringly as “The Wiz,” has gone on to become one of the most sought after professionals on the creative side of the music industry. He’s been involved in more than 100 hit records as either producer, arranger, writer or artist with cumulative sales of releases in which he has participated estimated at well over 150 million worldwide.

This full-length debut from British blues-rockers Spooky Tooth has a tone similar to Traffic with its psychedelic take on the influential pop and soul music of the '60s. A few cover tunes including Janis Ian's "Society's Child" and the Nashville Teens' "Tobacco Road" are included, but original songs like the soulful ballad "It Hurts You So" and "Bubbles" (with its Beach Boys sensibility) are the real standouts. The cheery, psychedelic "It's All About a Roundabout" is the catchiest number by far. On this dreamy cut, vocalist/keyboardist Gary Wright demonstrates some sharp melodic and compositional instincts. Although Spooky Tooth eventually became better-known for their straightforward blues-rock, the trippy pop of It's All About counts as a career highlight for the group. Fans of late-'60s British rock are definitely advised to check out this impressive release.