Tail Gunner – Sassy / Ten Years. 1980 USA-Baltimore

Tail Gunner is a great example of the American hard rock sound from the late 70s going into 1980. A full album (which apparently was planned) would have been a revelation. Neither of these two tracks exceed two and a half minutes, but they do pack a few ideas into each. Which tells me an album would have fallen into the sophisticated hard rock category. 'Ten Years' eerily sounds like the great Micah, especially the way the vocals are handled. Keyboards are a nice touch. The YouTube video confirms these guys have the "look" to go with the chops.

3.5 / 3.5

1/9/25

West (West The Band) - Ghost Riders / Turkey Necks. 1980 USA-Wyoming

Best I can tell is that West started out as a hard rock band and evolved into a more typical country rock / pop group. They started in Powell, Wyoming which is way up north toward the Montana border. Eventually they moved to Cody, which is famous for its rodeo scene. And it's closer to Yellowstone / Jackson Hole, where I'm sure there were plenty of gigs to be had as well.

 'Ghost Riders' is indeed the known late 1940's track that was made most famous by The Outlaws in 1980. Interesting then, to find out this was copyrighted and published in 1977. But it may have been recorded in 1980 (probably was). Interesting in that it is also a wicked hard rock version of the song. Is this where The Outlaws got the idea? The 'Turkey Necks' side is more typical country rock/pop and is copyrighted 1980.  According to the back sleeve, these two tracks were recorded in San Diego. San Diego? That's a long way from home and couldn't have been cheap.

Own. Estate sale find (2020).

3/28/20 (first listen / review / new entry)

Just say weeeeeeeeeeee.

Idlewilde South - Feel It / Pedro's Bar & Grill. 1980 USA-South Carolina

From the hinterlands of South Carolina. A) side is FM friendly bar n' roll. B) side features an opening cool hard rock riff that reminds me of Blackfoot when they catch a groove. Actually the whole song reminds me of Blackfoot.

1/23/24

Silverhorse – Weariness / Lady Marian. 1980 USA-Cleveland

Starting off very much in the same territory as Kansas' 'Carry On Wayward Son', Silverhorse's sole release promises eight minutes of hard rock / prog / AOR. And that's pretty much what you get. More stripped down - no violins or keyboards to get in the way. But dual guitars and harmony vocals are very much accounted for. It appears they're from the Cleveland area, and their sound is hardcore Midwest club circuit. Grab it if you see it.

Ownership: SP: 1980 Thoroughbred. Recent online acquisition (2023). There is a picture sleeve, but my copy doesn't have it. It's obscure but not enough to qualify for the Unknown Vinyl blog.

5/24/23 (first listen / review / new entry)

Bobby Saunders Xplosion - Chain Reaction / Angel. 1980 USA-Baltimore

'Chain Reaction' is a solid late 70s styled hard rocker with a heavy guitar riff and features both Moog and Hammond Organ. Good stuff, and definitely cutting edge for 1980. 'Angel' is definitely more rooted in the 1980s sound with cheap synthesizer and a more ballad like approach. All the same, the guitar has some muscle. This isn't metal, definitely hard rock. The a) side makes it a keeper.

Nothing is known about this artist from the Baltimore area. They had one more single from 1982 that must have been much more popular, as it's cataloged in various places. But not this one.

Ownership: SP: 1980 Mob. Online acquisition (2020). 

5/14/20 (first listen); 2/28/21 (review / new entry)

Marianus - Magical Man / Prelude to Magical Man. 1980 USA-Boston

It's been many a year since I heard Boston based Marianus' sole album Visions from Out of the Blue. I don't recall much great about it - but clearly I missed the boat on some of it. 'Magical Man' is probably more inline with my memory. It's something of a New Wave / AOR / prog hybrid. Not too bad actually in reflection, and certainly the kind of sounds I would have scoffed at 20 years ago. But the real money here is 'Prelude to Magical Man', which is just slathered in mellotron. As atmospheric as one could possibly hope for. It looks like it's simply known as 'Prelude' on the album proper.

Ownership: SP: 1980 Jupiter Phonodisc. No real reason to seek out this 45 to be honest, as the LP isn't out of reach cost wise. I just happened to pick this one up on the cheap, while getting some other albums online. I'll keep it.

2/23/20 (first listen / review / new entry)