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

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)