Headwinds - Warrior Song / Just To Be With You. 1977 USA ~ Los Angeles, California

I can't remember how I first heard about Headwinds, but the 45 found its way onto my want list eventually. The music here is a commercially oriented progressive rock. Somewhat like same era Yes and Starcastle. And the B) side leans towards Styx even. The synthesizer work in particular is very much from the prog school. Nice saxophone, acoustic guitar, and harmony vocals. It's not rhythmically complex, so this for fans of lush "symphonic", though it would have been better served had it featured mellotron. Headwinds aren't for underground fans looking for psych excursions. Given that this is a custom pressing, I'll presume the band had no real intention of getting radio airplay. Rather they were documenting their efforts to that point in time. One wonders if they have more material sitting in a vault somewhere.

After some research I found 'Warrior Song' on YouTube posted by keyboardist Mark Poynter (going by Eric). It's a longer take. So there may be more after all.

Further research teaches us that Headwinds were from Pasadena and often played with Van Halen. Now isn't that interesting? Especially back then when Mammoth / VH were at their heaviest. After breaking up in 1980, two of the members (guitarist Michael Britton and keyboardist Poynter) joined forces with Tommy Lee (yes, pre-Motley Crue) to form a hard rock band called Dealer (there is an archival CDr demo of their recordings). Later, guitarist Michael Britton went onto to form Romeo then his namesake Britton, who managed to put out three albums. Later Britton found Woodbury Boys in Salt Lake City and that seems to be the end of the line from a recording perspective.

You would never know that Headwinds housed heavy metal / hard rockers in their midst as they didn't display that angst on this 45.

Own.

3/28/25 (new entry)

Cheyenne - Heart Throb Girl / Bad Taste of Love. USA

Complete unknown here. It would be tempting to say they're from Wyoming but probably not. The A) side is bordering hard rock, more like 70s classic rock with a late night bar aura. The guitar solo is interesting, a bit more notes per second than usual, making me think this might be from the 80s. The B) side is straight up AOR music with even a hint of synthesizer, adding more credence to the 80s claim. Not very interesting musically but worth documenting for the historical record.

2.5 / 2.0

1/9/25 (first listen / review)

Hatterfox – Lonely Tonight / Holdin' On. 1981 USA-Alabama

From Hunstville, Hatterfox played a mix of hard rock and AOR. This 45 is their debut, a year before their sole LP. Neither of these tracks made it to the album.  After hearing this 45, I'd submit the album is probably worth giving a listen. Despite the origin of the group, Hatterfox are not Southern rock in the slightest. They have their eye on the national charts, and the music plays to that. They have some talent, but neither song has a memorable hook. The vocalist isn't very dynamic. Decent dual guitar work. Overall it sounds more like something from a few years earlier, but now with synth pop in the limelight, bands like Hatterfox needed to slick it up a bit. And it's nowhere near heavy enough to be an underground hard rock classic. Yea it's just too 70s for the 80s I'm afraid.

3/3

1/9/25 (first listen / review)

Rapscallion - Rain And Shine / Just A Rapscallion. 1979 USA-Cleveland

Rapscallion were one of many great AOR / hard rock bands hailing from Cleveland, a mecca for the blue collar muscular sound. The A) side mixes some heavy riffing with acoustic guitars and harmony vocals. It's way too raw to make inroads into the corporate FM sound, but the attempt is admirable. B) side has a Rush meets Styx vibe. Features a killer guitar mid song break. These guys had the right sound at the right time, but didn't catch the break. Pity that.

1/9/25

Chance - Harbor Nights / Magic Eyes. 1978 USA ~ Pueblo, Colorado

Solid AOR music from down south in Pueblo.

Full history of the band here

I got into a bit of a dispute on Discogs when another owner insisted this was psych garage and removed AOR. I had to disagree on that one, and put back AOR, though left their interpretation out of respect of other's opinions. That person also added 'Magic Eyes' to YouTube, so you can hear for yourself. But there's no way this is psych ;-)

 

Own. From a local garage sale (2019). I consider this the first 45 obscurity I found in the wilds where the music was agreeable too (i.e. not country). I didn't really know what I was doing yet, and bought all of the 45s for a $1 each (there were about 150 titles). Fortunately there were a few that were worth much more than that and I made a healthy profit. Last year I finally ditched the rest in a bulk auction, and I think they went for something like 30 cents each. Haha - I should have cherry picked. But that's how you learn!

2019 (first listen); 3/27/20 (review); 1/1/25 (update)

Bill Stein - Where To Go, What To Do? / Come To Me. USA

Eclectic 45, but has elements of hard rock, psych, AOR, and prog. And how about that label name?

Own. 

I found two copies and we sold one of them. I suspect it may have been released in Colorado. 

9/12/19 (first listen); 3/27/20 (review); 1/1/25 (new entry)

Lightkraft - Now Or Never / Take Me. 1984 USA ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

I never really wrote a review, but I described the genres as thus: A-side = Modern Soul Boogie sound; B-side = AOR / New Wave sound.

We eventually learned that the band is local to us here in Colorado Springs! Released in the spring of 1984 in fact. Elk Bugles says the band were from Indiana and Minnesota. But there was another poster in her collection that showed the band playing here. 

Even though it doesn't appear Tiny Barge was a performer on the 45, his name is listed as the publisher. Here's a page for him, as he's still performing it appears.

Sadly we found lead singer Ric Wright's obituary.

Own. Missing pic sleeve.

After updating the Discogs entry, I received three unsolicited - and generous - offers for it, which tells me there's a huge market for this. I usually keep rare items like this and the music is good for the collection.

7/18/22 (first listen / review); 1/1/25 (new entry)

The J.T. Cooke Band - Bright Blue Eyes / Lasting Man. 1982 USA-Kansas City

The J.T. Cooke Band were typical of their era. Not too far from REO Speedwagon or Journey, but a bit more raw with some nice lead guitar. As good as the groups that "made it" for better or worse. This is no underground classic, but it's well done. B side is more enjoyable here at PPR. BTW - there is no one named J.T. Cooke in the band.

Own. Antique Mall find in Newton, Kansas (2023).

12/21/23 (first listen / review); 1/1/25 (new entry)

Lance-Horizon - Rage / I Don't Like It. 1979 USA-North Carolina

From Chapel Hill. This 45 was released initially with the artist name as Lance, and later copies appended Horizon. A) side has a hard edged AOR bent to it. Love the guitar tone here. One can hear the Hendrix ghost of 'All Around the Watchtower' for sure, not a common sound for 1979. Though I suppose Frank Marino can be spotted here too. B) side is more radio friendly, though the guitar soloing is still excellent. Vocals kinda blow in that indie rock monotone way. 

4.0 / 3.0

8/2/24

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)

Passenger - Better Man / Sally Ann. 1977 USA-Tennessee

Here's another great find! The a) side is a total ripper, with a heavy guitar/synth riff and some mean organ. Sounds like a heavy version of Styx (think James Young). The flip side is more of a romantic ballad. Maybe think Dennis DeYoung here. Some definite Styx vibes. Maybe a little Elton John on the b) side too. But it's the first song that you're after here.

The label is mostly known for country music, so this is a real outlier in their catalog.

Ownership: SP: 1977 Prairie Dust. Online acquisition (2022).

4.5 / 3.0

2/5/22

Sly Dog - Your Soul / Cryin' For Love. 1982 USA-Detroit

Sly Dog were a little known group from the Detroit area who released only this one 45. The a) side sits at the conjunction of hard rock, AOR, and progressive rock. There's some fine flute that gives credence to the latter style. Good guitars as well (both acoustic and electric). The b) side is pure AOR, not too far from Gerry Rafferty with the presence of saxophone. Certainly could have been a regular on FM radio, though 1982 is too late for this kind of commercial rock. This is the rock sound of 1976/1977. The a) side makes this one a keeper.

Ownership: SP: 1982 private. Online acquisition (2020). Comes in a fold over paper pic sleeve with recording details on the back. 

7/4/20 (first listen); 5/16/21 (review / new entry)

Harmon, Pelot, Prichard & Bear / Joe Prichard - Loneliness / Advantage, Miss Evert. 1977 USA-Missouri

Sounding more like a law firm, Harmon, Pelot, Prichard & Bear get right down to proggy business straight from the get. This is the archetypal Midwest prog sound. Mixes hard rock, AOR, and complex progressions with ease. Apparently Joe Prichard is the keyboard player, as the b) side starts off more like an electronic track, but with saxophone layered on top. And a little boogie/honky tonk piano as well. An odd instrumental song honestly. The a) side is what you're after here. Desoto is a small town south of St. Louis. Before men played women sports, cutie Chris Evert dominated tennis in the mid to late 70s. Given that, I'd put 1976 or 1977 as the date of this interesting release (and that was confirmed later).

I've just been recently informed that this is the same Joe Prichard who was in the group Joe Prichard and Gibraltar, a very rare 1974 private album that I was unfamiliar with prior.

Ownership: SP: 1977 Cadde. Online acquisition (2020)

10/25/20 (first listen); 5/16/21 (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)

3éme Oeil - La Haine Reine. 1983 France

The stylized 3éme Oeil, sometimes referred to in written form as Troisieme Oeil, released this one 45 in 1983. And it sounds for all the world like an early 80s rock album. Hard edged AOR is the name of the game here, though with more progressive styling than that may imply. 'La Haine Reine' conjures up similar era Journey, with vocals in French of course. 'Les Mutants' is a fine instrumental, serving up a sound not that dissimilar to Rush's Moving Pictures era. The latter half adds in some fine Moog synthesizer work, and for the last 30 seconds, all hell breaks loose into a mid 70s prog rock extravaganza! These guys had the chops and the knowledge. They came around either too late or too early depending on one's perspective. Certainly they would have been a force in the 90s prog rock revival, especially if they eschewed any commercial ambition.

5/10/19