ELKIE BROOKS / TWO DAYS AWAY

Digitized from the original vinyl, released in 1977 on A&M Records 
FORMAT: Mp3 
BIT RATE: 320 kbps 
ALBUM INFO: 
Produced By: Jerry Lieber And Mike Stoller
Recorded at: Air Studios London, Electric Lady Studios, New York and The Record Plant, New York
Engineered By:Steve Nye, London and Carmine Rubino, New York
Mastered By: Bob Ludwig, Masterdisk, New York
Album Design: Fabio Nicoli
Make Up: Way Bandy
SONG LISTING: 
Love Potion #9
Spiritland
Honey, Can I Put On Your Clothes
Sunshine After The Rain
Pearl's A Singer
Mojo Hannah
Do Right Woman, Do Right Man
You Did Something For Me
Night Bird
Saved 
THE PLAYERS: 
Issac Guillory - Guitars
Jean Roussel - Keyboards
Trevor Morais - Drums
Steve York - Bass
Additional Help By:
Mike Stoller - Keyboards
George Devins - Vibes, Antique Cymbal, Tambourine
Carl Hall, Peggy Blue, Mary Ellen Johnson, Jimmy Chambers, George Chandler, Lee Vanderbelt - Background Vocals
The Muscle Shoals Horns
Pete Gage - Guitar
Morris Pert - Shaker
Corky Hale - Harp
Barbara Ingram, Evette Benton, Carla Benson - Background Vocals
The New York Horns
Jerry Friedman - Guitar
Eric Weissberg - Steel Guitar
WEBSITE: 
http://www.elkiebrooks.com/ 
REVIEW(S): 
By Yours Truly,
This is a great album. The first one was a bit sketchy at times, but someone was paying attention and all those little issues were taken care for this second and much more cohesive album. The album starts off with an inspired and original version of the old Searchers tune, Love Potion #9 and then it just pretty much keeps going from there. I don't have anything more recent than this on her and that's probably a failing of mine. After being reacquainted with this one I'm going to have to go looking to see what else I can find that's more recent. If I were you I'd look for a copy of this one to add to your collection. 
YOUTUBE:
http://youtu.be/NKEtBZM_EPg
CONTACT: 
READ THIS for more information on this album

ELKIE BROOKS / RICH MAN'S WOMAN

Digitized from the original vinyl, released in 1975 on A&M Records 
FORMAT: Mp3 
BIT RATE: 320 kbps 
ALBUM INFO: 
Produced By: Kenny Kerner & Richie Wise
Recorded at: The Record Plant, Los Angeles, California, Summer 1975
Engineered By:Warren Dewey, with Bob Merritt and Doug Rider
Mastered By: Bernie Grundman at A&M Studios, Hollywood, California
Art Direction: Roland Young
Hand Lettering: Stan Evenson
Photography: Chris Micoine
Design: Junie Osaki 
SONG LISTING: 
Where Do We Go From Here (Rich Man's Woman)
Take Cover
Jigsaw Baby
Roll Me Over
He's A Rebel
One Step On The Ladder
Rock 'N' Roll Circus
Try A Little Love
Tomorrow 
THE PLAYERS: 
Steve Burgh - Guitars
Bruce Foster - Keyboards
David Kemper - Drums
Dennis Kovarik - Bass
Additional Help By:
Ben Benay - Guitars
Max Bennett - Bass
Mike Boddicker - Synthesizer
Alan & Gene Estes - Percussion
John Gurein - Drums
David Paich - Keyboards
Nina Tempa - Saxophone
Backing Vocals: Elkie Brooks, Stan Farber, Venetta Fields, Gerry Garrett, Ron Hicklin, Clydie King, Gene Morford, Verlene Rogers, Jerry Whitman 
WEBSITE(S): 
http://www.elkiebrooks.com/
REVIEW(S):
Melody maker - November 1975 
For more years than it would be polite to recall, Elkie Brooks has been too much of an underground heroine among students of lady rock singers. Now, at long last, she has delivered the album which can shoot her to international acclaim, and establish her, finally, as perhaps the finest rock singer Britain has produced.

Long before Vinegar Joe, itself a fine band, Elkie paid her dues as a jazz singer in various bands, and now the years of experience, together with her unique  power, reaches fruition with a simply stunning album.

But power, so often the only asset of lady rockers, is not played up by Elkie to the detriment of her intrinsic bluesy feeling. She has always displayed taste, even as a bawdy rocker, and taste is the hallmark of this immaculately-produced album.

To make it, Elkie went to Los Angeles and received  accompaniment from some inspired musicians, and some immensely careful production by Kenny Kerner and Richie Wise, who have been closely connected    with Gladys Knight's records. The result: nine tracks without one duff moment.

The opener, "Where Do We Go From Here (Rich Man's Woman)", is one of five written by Elkie - another aspect of her progression - and gets the album off to a startling momentum. It's a rock track with fine control, and never goes over the top, which could easily have happened; it also has a fine hook-line.

"Roll Me Over" is an example of Elkie's  jazz leanings, and "One Step On The Ladder" is a bright commentary on what is happening to her at this moment. "Try A Little Loving" shows her tender songwriting capabilities, as well as her imaginative sense of delivery.

But "Jigsaw Baby" is the absolute high spot on this album. The aforementioned Brooks-written songs come nowhere near this gem - a richly-experienced  piece, again autobiographical, with a delightful melody line. Her singing is superb here, and contains the sort of inflections that could only come from an artist grounded in jazz, because the pace of the song is so hard to control.

Leo Sayer's "Tomorrow" gets a vital new treatment, and she has a stab at "He's A Rebel" - an unfortunate choice, but we'll let that one pass. The vocal backings are excellent, and include Clydie King and Venetta Fields plus Jim Gilstrap.

 The track record of female rock singers through the years has been fairly bleak, but this goes a long way to redress the balance. It will stand as one of the finest albums of the year. Patriotism, I know, is the last refuge of the scoundrel, but this time, go and buy British.

 At least it was made in the States. Seriously - an exceptional album.

-Ray Coleman 
YOUTUBE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVjA0BsVZc8&feature=youtu.be&t=3m43s 
CONTACT:
READ THIS for more information on this album

MARTIN BRILEY / ONE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER

Digitized from the original vinyl, released in 1983 on Mercury Records
FORMAT: Mp3
BIT RATE: 320 kbps
ALBUM INFO:
Produced By: Peter Coleman
Recorded & Mixed at: MCA Whitney Studios, Glendale, California October '82 / January '83
Engineered By:Dave Hernandez
Mastered By: Steve Hall at Future Disc Systems
Art Direction: Bill Levy & Murray Whiteman
Album Design: Lumel Whiteman Studio
Photography: Murray Whiteman
Illustration: Stan Watts 
A&R: Peter Lubin
All songs written and arranged by Martin Briley 
SONG LISTING:
The Salt In My Tears
Just A Mile Away
Put Your Hands On The Screen
Maybe I've Waited Too Long
She's So Flexible
A Rainy Day In New York City
I Wonder What She Thinks Of Me 
Dumb Love
One Night With A Stranger 
THE PLAYERS:
Martin Briley - Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards
Jamie Herndon - Keyboards, Guitars
Pat Mastelotto- Drums & Percussion
Robin Sylvester - Bass Guitar
George Meyer Backing Vocals
WEBSITE(S): 
http://www.martinbriley.com/index.htm
REVIEW(S): 
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful 
The high point of his career 
By Marty Jones on August 28, 2007 
Format: Audio CD 
Of course, you get the MTV hit "salt of my tears", but the other cuts on this album have a lot of merit, too. There is a variety of tempo, from the hard rockin' "I wonder what she thinks of me" to the fun/frantic "One night with a stranger" to several slower numbers. Make sure to listen to the lyrics, as they are more than half of the fun.

This album is more consistent than the first album and MUCH better than dangerous moments. It is probably one of my top-20 all time albums. I had it on vinyl and then bought the boxed set (my recommendation, as it contains all three of his early albums at a very good price).
Absolutely a unique artist who is vastly underrated / unknown 
YOUTUBE:
http://youtu.be/netMRfWRTTY 
CONTACT:
READ THIS for more information on this album

BRETHREN / MOMENT OF TRUTH

Digitized from the original vinyl, released in 1971 on Tiffany Records 
FORMAT: Mp3 
BIT RATE: 320 kbps 
ALBUM INFO: 
Produced By: Brethren
Recorded at: Electric Lady Studios, New York City
Mixed Down By: Stan Green
Engineered By: Dave Palmer, Eddie Kramer, Don Casale
Album Photography: Richard Marx
Inside Photograph: Jerry Sobel
Photographs of Brethren on back cover: Frank Kolleogy
Art Direction & Design: Dick Smith 
Cover Concept: Lila Schulman 
SONG LISTING: 
Loop Garoo
Wesley
The Sun & The Moon
Freedom Blues
Lady On The Terrace
Move On
Rainy Day Lady
History Repeats Itself
Blaze
THE PLAYERS: 
Tom Cosgrove - Guitars, Lead  Vocals & Percussion
Stu Woods - Bass, Clavinette
Rick Marotta - Drums & Percussion
Mike Garson - Keyboards
Special Thanks to: 
Ralph McDonald - Congas
Barry Rodgers - Trombone
Dave Liebman - Baritone Sax
...And The Girls: Marretha Stewart, Albertine Robinson, Tasha Thomas, Marilyn Jackson, Adrienne Albert, Amanda Ambrose - Background Vocals 
WEBSITE(S):
http://www.bsnpubs.com/scepter/distributed/tiffany.html 
REVIEW(S): 
By Yours Truly,
I don't have much to say about this album because I never really played it all that much back in the day, but now, with older ears, it's not bad stuff at all. This is the second album of two and I like this second one quite a bit. It's nothing earth shaking to be sure, basically just early 70's rock 'n' roll, but still worth sharing I thought. 
YOUTUBE: 
http://youtu.be/JN1JcfvKTPE 
CONTACT: 
READ THIS for more information on this album

BRETHREN / BRETHREN

 Digitized from the original vinyl, released in 1970 on Tiffany Records 
FORMAT: Mp3 
BIT RATE: 320 kbps 
ALBUM INFO: 
Produced By: Jay Senter and Brethren for Nix Nix Productions, Inc.
Recorded at Gold Star Studios, Hollywood, California
Engineer: "Doc" Siegel
Album Photography: Murray Head
Art Direction & Design: Dick Smith 
SONG LISTING: 
Midnight Train
Don't Talk Now
Mississippi Freighter
Success Brand Oil
Hitchin' To Memphis
Everybody In The Congregation
Provided For
Outside Love
Just To Be There 
THE PLAYERS: 
Tom Cosgrove - Guitars, Lead  Vocals
Stu Woods - Bass, Vocals
Rick Marotta - Drums
Mike Garson - Keyboards
Special Thanks to:
Dr.John - Keyboards
Rusty Young - Pedal Steel
The Blossoms - Background Vocals 
WEBSITE(S):
http://www.bsnpubs.com/scepter/distributed/tiffany.html
REVIEW(S): 
By Yours Truly,
I don't have much to say about this album because I never really played it all that much back in the day, but now, with older ears, it's not bad stuff at all. This is the first album of two and I like the second one quite a bit. It's nothing earth shaking to be sure, basically just early 70's rock 'n' roll, but still worth sharing I thought. 
YOUTUBE: 
http://youtu.be/b_edmNdh4bE 
CONTACT:
READ THIS for more information on this album

KENNY YOUNG / CLEVER DOGS CHASE THE SUN

 

Digitized from the original vinyl, released in 1971 on Warner Brothers Records 
FORMAT: Mp3 
BIT RATE: 320 kbps 
ALBUM INFO: 
Recorded at Island Studios & Rockfield Studios
Engineers: Phil Brown, Kingsley Ward, Ralph Down
Cover Photograph: Mike Newton
All songs written by Kenny Young 
SONG LISTING: 
Me Without You
Passing
Rosalis
About The Road
Shake The City
Lord It Ain't Easy
Rocking Horse Man
Simple Joys
Dancing In The Graveyard
Snow Hair Jack
Ain't that The Way It Oughta Feel?
But I Love My Car 
THE PLAYERS: 
Kenny Young - Guitar
Bob Falloon - Guitar
Bruce Epstein - Guitar
Mark Warner - Guitar
Chris Spedding - Bottleneck Guitar
Dave Edmunds - Guitar
Dave Wintour - Bass
Mike Giles - Drums
Fiachra Trench - Keyboards
Gerry Hogan - Pedal Steel Guitar
Barry DE Souza - Percussion 
WEBSITE(S): 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_Young 
REVIEW(S):
By Yours Truly,
This is a pleasant album. It came out in 1971 and when I think back to other albums of this genre from that time period it holds up pretty well to be sure. I did not realize it until I bought this album years ago that Kenny Young is one of the people who wrote the song "Under The Boardwalk". I always thought it was a Drifters tune, I had no idea some white guy wrote it.

This album as a whole is a simple collection of nice, 3 minute tunes. There's nothing earth shaking here and it's not going to alter anyone's path thru life, but it's easy to listen to and Kenny's voice is more than adequate. Now that I've got a digital version of this album i suspect that the vinyl piece will never see sunlight again, but for a collector this is an album that probably should be in your sights, if not your collection.
YOUTUBE: 
http://youtu.be/tUm7xQfe_2M 
CONTACT:  
READ THIS for more information on this album

KENNY YOUNG / LAST STAGE FOR SILVERWORLD

Digitized from the original vinyl, released in 1973 on Warner Brothers Records 
FORMAT: Mp3 
BIT RATE: 320 kbps 
ALBUM INFO: 
Produced By: Kenny Young & Robert Appere 
Recorded at Clover Recorders, CBS (Loudon), Sound Labs & Island Studios 
Engineers: Robert Appere, Bernie O'Gorman, Phil Brown
Mixed at Clover Recorders
Photography: Lee Lawrence
Cover Art:John Kosh
All songs written by Kenny Young
SONG LISTING: 
Amanda In A Sliver World
Light To Light
Play Electric Waters
Last Year Of The Blue Men
Under The Boardwalk
Blue Men Serenade
Dawn
Wake Up Navajo
Solitary Sing Song
Teyo-Starlight Scorpio
Pisces Babies
Last Stage For Silverworld 
THE PLAYERS: 
Kenny Young - Guitar
Dean Parks - Guitar
Louis Shelton - Guitar
Dave Cohen - Guitar
Wayne Perkins - Guitar
Mark Werner - Guitar
Wilton Felder - Bass
Leeland Sklar - Bass
Tracy Harrill - Bass
Mike Kelly - Drums
Jim Keltner - Drums
Russ Kunkel - Drums, Percussion
Joe Sample - Keyboards
Richard Kerr - Keyboards
Tom Canning - Keyboards
John "Rabbit" Bundick - Keyboards
Clarence McDonald - Keyboards
Jim Horn - Sax, Recorder
Jim Price - Horn
Bobby Keys - Horn
Chris Gunning - Strings
Bobbye Hall - Percussion
Gary Coleman - Percussion
Albert Hammond, Susan Traynor, Andee Silver,Andy Kim, Carol Carmichael, Linda Carey, Rita Bodine, Gerald Garret - Background Singers 
WEBSITE(S): 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_Young 
REVIEW(S):

Forma MP3 Music
Who is Kenny Young? New York songwriter and performer. Wrote "Under the Boardwalk" (Drifers, Rolling Stones). Wrote "Just A Little Bit Better" (Herman's Hermits). Wrote "Silverbird" (Mark Lindsay). Wrote "Don't Out In The Rain" (Herman's Hermits).

This the second of 2 LP's he recorded when he was signed to UK and US Warner Bros as an artist. Cleverly written and performed.
========================================= 
By Dennis Lea on January 4, 2014

Format: MP3 Music Verified Purchase

I've been affected by this album since the 70s. To finally get a copy almost 40 years later and get transported back is amazing. Fantastic album ! Genius Kenny Young deserves credit. The lost art of album covers says it all.
================================= 
By Gerald S. Bales on July 18, 2011

Format: MP3 Music Verified Purchase

In college in the 70's, a housemate who worked in a radio station brought home a promotional LP. I fell in love with it instantly and made a cassette, which I prized for decades. I never new if the album had ever been released. Even in the early years of the Internet it was non-existent. Now it can find a new audience. The vocals are brilliant, the melodies and orchestrations are creative and interesting, and the lyrics are intriguing and entertaining (it has been classified as a Sci-Fi rock or Fantasy rock genre, of which there isn't enough of). Every song is unique (not repetitive), but as a concept album, it flows incredibly cohesively, much as does Abbey Road (each song seems to flow naturally from the one before). The album is brilliant. 
YOUTUBE: 
http://youtu.be/bi8sMLkgoRI 
CONTACT: 
READ THIS for more information on this album.

DAVID SANCIOUS & TONE / TRUE STORIES

Digitized from the original vinyl, released in 1978 on Arista Records. 
FORMAT: Mp3
BIT RATE: 320 kbps 
ALBUM INFO: 
Produced By: Eddy Offord & David Sancious 
Recorded on the Eddy Offord Remote Studio in Woodstock 
Engineers: Tommy Edmonds & Eddy Offord
Mixed at Bearsville Studios
Engineers: Eddy Offord & Chris Andersen
Mastered at Master Disk by Bob Ludwig
Cover Art:John E. Barrett, Richard Sarbin, Bob Nacy
Logo Design: Hal Fiedler
Logo Sculpture: Nick Fssciano
Art Direction: Howard Fritzson 
TRACK LISTING: 
Sound Of Love
Move On
Prelude #3
On The Inside
Fade Away
Ever The Same
Interlude
Matter Of Time 
THE PLAYERS:
David Sancious - Keyboards, Guitars. Bass
Ernest Carter – Drums & Percussion
Gerald Carboy- Bass
Alex Ligertwood - Vocals
Brenda Madison – Vocals
Gail Boggs - Vocals 
WEBSITE(S):
http://www.davidsancious.com 
REVIEW(S): 
By Yours Truly
To the best of my knowledge this is David's 3rd solo album and it's another great one, full of excellent musicianship and songs. Right now I can't think of much else to say about it, but listen and see what you think....... 
=============================================== 
True Stories, Truly Wonderful

By J. J. Martin on March 18, 2001

Format: Audio CD

If I hadn't been shopping in my favorite record store one day in 1978 when this album happened to be playing on the store's sound system, I probably would have missed out on one of the most beautiful and spiritual albums of the rock era. I bought the album immediately and turned most of my friends on to it. At the time we had all been through our progressive and fusion phases and were now immersing ourselves in punk / new wave. But there was something about this recording that transcended musical boundaries. I was familiar with David Sancious through his keyboard work with Bruce Springsteen, but none of his previous work prepared me for this experience. It's hard to describe this music. Powerful melodies, virtuoso playing, spiritual/uplifting themes, soulful singing. I have always been a huge Todd Rundgren fan and this album, while sounding nothing like Rundgren, reminds me of his best spiritual, positive vibe offerings. The whole album is absolutely majestic! Lead singer,Alex Ligertwood, who previously had worked with Brian Auger's Oblivion Express and Santana is a revelation-the best work of his career.The female voices of Gail Boggs and Brenda Madison are gorgeous. Gerald Carboy's bass playing is solid throughout and drummer Ernest Carter is absolutely mind boggling, where is this guy now? Of course David Sancious gets credit for writing this incredible music and playing all the melody lines through his banks of keyboards. The music doesn't sound at all dated to my ears and it never sounds pompous like some prog rock. The production by Eddie Offord of Yes and ELP fame is sparkling, crystal clear. I have had to make do with my two vinyl copies of this LP for years in hope that some bright label would have the sense to reissue it on CD (shamefully, none of Sancious' back catalog has been available for years). Thanks to those wonderful folks at One Way records in my own hometown of Albany, NY, True Stories is once again in print and it sounds better than ever. If you have ever loved progressive rock or fusion jazz, buy this CD! you will not be sorry
============================================  
Music for the musicians soul

By "tommoorebh" on August 11, 2002

Format: Audio CD

True Stories. David Sancious was a keyboard player in Bruce Springsteen's band. The story goes that he was such a virtuoso that he was always blowing everyone away (not ALWAYS a good thing to do). So one night, he picks up a guitar and almost instantly was playing the worlds hottest licks and tasty rhythm guitar. TOO hot for Bruce, but wait till YOU hear it. The keyboards are incredible. Synth riffs and pads that gush the best. Chord changes that work, pounded expertly into place by the rhythm section. Earnest Carter performs feats of drum magic. A drummer's drummer. Many tunes feature Jeff Berlin on bass, another powerhouse virtuoso. But often it's not the playing - it's the ensemble here that counts. Alex Ligertwood doing impossible vocal things backed by almost choral vocals with the total band soaring away behind and throughout it all ... whoa, back to Earth. It's Fusion, it's funk. It's jazz, but that's bunk. David Sancious music, to this listener (and bass player), is simply top of the line stuff.
Musician: To miss this is to miss much. Tax your credit a little and simply buy this one. Whatever you play, there is REAL music here to be heard. If you don't play an instrument, you'll just have a seizure when you hear this music or go into arrest. Don't hold me responsible! 
YOUTUBE: 
http://youtu.be/jwMxDbFmVi0?list=PLF26BE20130F7B83B 
CONTACT: 
READ THIS for more information on this album

DAVID SANCIOUS / JUST AS I THOUGHT

RADIO SILENCE IS OVER!   

(at least for now.....)

Gonna give this ole blog another go after a 6 year layoff. We'll see if there's anyone out there these days with an interest in finding some new / old music to to tickle their ears. 

All the same rules and requirements are in place now that were the norm back in 2009. So, look around for awhile, read up on the way I do things and see if you can follow the required steps.

Digitized from the original vinyl, released in 1979 on Arista Records 
FORMAT: Mp3
BIT RATE: 320 Kbps 
ALBUM INFO: 
Produced By: Eddy Offord & David Sancious
Engineers: Rob Davis & Eddy Offord
Recorded At: Eddy Offord’s mobile unit in Woodstock, New York
Cover Art: Jan Staller
Art Direction: Howard Fritzson 
TRACK LISTING: 
Run
Just As I Thought
Again
The Naked I
Valley Of The Shadow
Suite (For the End of an Age)
Remember
And Then She Said
Again (Part II) 
THE PLAYERS:
David Sancious - Keyboards, Guitars. Bass
Ernest Carter – Drums & Percussion
T.M. Stevens – Bass
Jeff Berlin – Bass
Brenda Madison – Female Choir
Kabir Ghani – Vocals
Eve Otto - Harp 
WEBSITE(S): 
 http://www.davidsancious.com/ 
REVIEW:
By Yours Truly
To the best of my knowledge this is David's 4th solo album and it's another great one, full of excellent musicianship and songs. Right now I can't think of much else to say about it, but listen and see what you think....... 
========================== 
Simply magnificent
By Ron Cronovich TOP 500 REVIEWER on June 9, 2002 
Format: Audio CD 
The kind of person who will love this album loves Stanley Clark's School Days, Romantic Warrior by RTF, The Billy Cobham/George Duke Band live. David Sancious is a brilliant musician, composer, and arranger. I appreciate this record on so many levels - pure emotional response, brilliant compositions & arrangements of keyboard layers, exciting yet in the pocket drumming, amazing keyboard & guitar solos. It's amazing the rich textures and colors that Sancious gets out of the late 70s vintage synthesizers.

If you will permit a digression.... technology seems to have become an unfortunate substitute for human ingenuity. In movies, as new technology has made it increasingly easy to create brilliant special effects, less attention and effort has been put into making the story really great. Witness the new vs. old Star Wars films, or compare "Independence Day" to "Aliens". In the context of music, when synthesizers were in their infancy, and not capable of making every sound imaginable, artists had to use their creative ingenuity to get the most out of the available palette of colors and textures. Now, though, we seen a proliferation of mediocre music manufactured with technologically superior synths (that are also inexpensive and common), drum machines, sequencers, and samplers. Back in The Day, people like David Sancious made better music with less technology than the average recording "artist" today.
============================= 
YOUTUBE: 
http://youtu.be/T3C3XfQNAJU
CONTACT:
 READ THIS for more information on this album.