HOTEL TOAST

Pleased to see how well the previous post went down with you all, i'm hoping this selection will also find favour with you. We've got a bit of this, a bit of that and, (hopefully), a bit of what you fancy.
Up first tonight, a Japanese compilation of the best of the 4 album career of 1970's American AOR/Hard Rock band Fandango. To avoid confusion, this band has nothing to do with the UK act of the same name which featured ex-DEEP PURPLE bassist Nick Simper. This lot were a very commercial West Coast American five piece and featured on vocals a pre-RAINBOW Joe Lynn Turner. So there is a DEEP PURPLE connection after all, just not the aforementioned one. JLT would eventually front DP for an album in the 1980's, as well as recording with YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, GLENN HUGHES and maintaining a moderately successful solo career. So then, 16 tracks of impeccably written and performed airbrushed Hard Rock from between 1977 and 1980 which stands up extremely well today. Nice guitar too from the unlikely named Ricky Blakemore!

FANDANGO - The Best Of Fandango (1977-1980) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/57953080/FANDANGO_-_The_Best_Of_Fandango__77-80_USA_.rar

Nextly, some excellent meat & potatoes Hard Rawkin' Heavy Metal from the Windy City. This is Chicago Illinois quintet Hammeron and their sole album, "Nothin' To Do But Rock", which came out on the Silver Fin label back in 1986. This is meant to be one of the rarest and most sought after Metal albums of the '80's, changing hands for ludicrous sums on the rare occasions when it surfaces. I can see why there's a bit of a fuss surrounding this one, the songwriting and playing are both top drawer, especially the guitarwork. They've also got a pretty unique sound for 1986, the keyboards of the late Jeff Ward giving them a certain individuality. Ward would later turn up in bands such as MINISTRY, REVOLTING COCKS, LARD & NINE INCH NAILS. He sadly committed suicide in 1993. Vocalist Brian Troch would later make a dent with the band CYCLONE TEMPLE. Good stuff folks, pedigree Metal with a twist.

HAMMERON - Nothin' To Do But Rock (1986) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/57983229/HAMMERON_-_Nothin__To_Do_But_Rock__USA_-_1986_.rar

Up next another slice of rare mid-'80's US Metal gold. This is the sole release by Milwaukee's Blacklist, the self released "The Sign Of Four" EP, from 1984. This is proper old school HM fayre, mid paced and crunchy topped with a fine vocalist in the shape of one Mark Holz. These are anthems built for shaking your fists and heads to. Go grabbit and do so ASAP.

BLACKLIST - The Sign Of Four EP (1984) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/57994168/BLACKLIST_-_The_Sign_Of_Four_EP__USA_-_1984_.rar

Another slice of super rare black vinyl heaven for you now from Oakland godlike Drunk Horse. This is a long gone 7" from 2002, which appeared on the tiny Unknown Controller label. This is volume 2 in the labels ongoing "Unearthed Gems" series, wherein bands get to cover their favourite obscure tracks to enlighten and delighten an unsuspecting and ignorant public. As you might expect, Drunk Horse's selections are definitely on the obscure side, namely : "The Weed Elf" by Sri Lankan '80s metallers ZILLA, and "Pismo", by late '70s Cali bar-rockers ANDY SHERMAN & THE SHERMS. Both tracks are great; the former, (the more Metallic of the 2), comes off like a long lost NWOBHM gem, whilst the flip side is more laconic, delivered with a shit-eatin' grin & bags of sarcasm. Somehow they both sound like Drunk Horse, and for that, we must cry "Hallelujah!"

DRUNK HORSE - Unearthed Gems Volume 2 (2002) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/57261042/DRUNK_HORSE_-_Unearthed_Gems_2_7____2002_-_USA_.rar

Thought i'd serve up a couple of items for you from off the beaten track of NWOBHM tonight. These two certainly fit the bill, being much more Prog-Rock influenced than most of their hairy NWOBHM brethren. There were many bands at the time who were taking just as many cues from GENESIS and NEKTAR as they were from PURPLE & SABBATH. The music press tried to saddle them with the unweildy NWOBPR tag, (you can work it out), but it never stuck, with only MARILLION going on to real success, whilst the likes of PENDRAGON, IQ and TWELFTH NIGHT fleeting attention for a time, but were unable to make much of an impression.
So then, a couple of rare waxings from those heady days.
Up first, here's the sole release by Atlantis Rising, the "Tightrope" 7" from 1983 on CMI Records. The A-Side is nice enough in a Genesis tribute style, but the real jewel in this particular crown is the flipside, "Reverie A Vision". A great track, combining atmosphere and drama and featuring some fine tastefully pulled off DAVID GILMOUR-esque geetar. Give it a try.

ATLANTIS RISING - Tightrope 7" (1983) UK

http://rapidshare.com/files/58001161/ATLANTIS_RISING_-_Tightrope_7____UK_-_1983_.rar

Along similar musical lines, but from the following year, here's another sole release, the "Prophet" 7" from Earthbound, no relation to the similarly named German proggers of the same era. This one flings some Christian lyrical themes into the mix, which grates with me a little usually, but in the context of this style of music, it somehow works nicely. This is a little more "pomp" in style than the AR 7", but is similar in scope and ambition, two neat tracks!

EARTHBOUND - Prophet 7" (1984) UK

http://rapidshare.com/files/57970059/EARTHBOUND_-_The_Prophet_7____UK-1984_.rar

To finish my segment of the post tonight, another slice of sublime Swedish rawkin' from back in 1983. This is R&R (Rum & Raisin apparently!), and their sole privately pressed release, the "Adventures Behind The Eye" 7". Great melodic Heavy Metal/Rock with some bizarre touches in the arrangements, production and instrumentation. I'm sure there's an accordion on here somewhere! I can't summon up the words to do this one justice properly, try for yourselves, it rawks Jim, but not as we know it!

R & R - Adventures Behind The Eye 7" (1983) Sweden

http://rapidshare.com/files/57973565/R_R_-_Adventures_Behind_The_Eye_7____Swe-1983_.rar

To finish tonights Mega-post, a couple of nice NWOBHM items which Metalrorschach has been kind enough to share with us. They're both from the mighty Mendes Prey and as such are obviously worth adding to your collections.
Up first, their classic debut 7" "On To The Borderline", this time posted with the correct B-Side present & correct, ("Running For You"), unlike my previous version. This originally came out back in 1983 on their own MR label, and is a fine slice of Heavy Rockin NWOBHM, one of the classics of the time. It's that simple!

MENDES PREY - On To The Borderline 7" (1983) UK

http://rapidshare.com/files/60335989/Mendes_Prey__1982_single.rar

So now, to end with tonight, another from MR, a rare live gig by Mendes Prey from London's legendary Marquee Club. This one was performed on the 17th of April 1983, and captures a great performance from the band in front of an appreciative audience, good sound quality on this show too.

MENDES PREY - Live At The Marquee (1983) UK

http://rapidshare.com/files/60563875/Mendes_Prey_-_Live_Marquee_1983.rar

Many thanks Metalrorschach!
Hope you all enjoy tonight's posts, let us know by making use of the comment button provided.
Have a great weekend!