DANCING WITH THE CAPTAIN

All kinds of good stuff coming your way tonight, there should be something here for every musical taste no matter how jaded the palette.
Without further ado, up first, the great lone self titled album by Orang-Utan, an English band who released this one on Bell Records (USA) back in 1971. Yup, a London based 5 piece who released their only album in the US, but not back home in Blighty. Apparently it only surfaced in America & West Germany, which led many to think the band were in fact German, and just to add to the confusion, somehow or other the band themselves didn't know the album had been released at all until after they had split up. Featuring the excellent vocals of former JASON CREST singer Terry "Nobby" Clark, Orang-Utan can be comfortably filed beside LEAF HOUND, FREE, LED ZEPPELIN and all those other British blues based psych soaked Hard Rock bands of yore. In fact, opener "I Can See Inside Your Head", is so Leaf Hound-esque it could almost be an outtake from "Growers Of Mushroom". There's more light & shade to be found over the breadth of the album, and a lighter touch than a lot of their peers, but this actually serves to enhance the impact of the harder edged tracks, such as the albums stand out moment, the lengthy druggy sounding "Chocolate Piano", which shows off a thudding rhythm section, some fine guitar wrangling and once again, soaring over the whole thing, the excellent vocals of Clark. Amazing that such a shortlived band could leave as it's legacy such a strong & versatile legacy. Post Orang-Utan, Clark spent some time with VENDETTA, alongside ex-members of T2, whilst drummer Jeff Seopardie's CV includes stints with ISOTOPE, BRAND X, PACIFIC EARDRUM & CHUCK BERRY.
Don't pass this one up, it's the sort of record this blog was made for, honest to goodness lost treasure.

ORANG-UTAN - Orang-Utan (1971) UK

http://rapidshare.com/files/104130299/ORANG-UTAN_-_Orang-Utan__UK-1971_.rar

Fast forward 13 years through time, and we find ourselves with a similar proposition, another UK band with a shortlived career, one album to show for it, a fantastic singer, and a whole lot of "what if's". The year is 1984, the album was called "Taken By Storm", and the band were Bronz. Fronted by former MOBY DICK and NIGHTWING vocalist Max Bacon, Bronz were a slightly slicker proposition than most of their NWOBHM brethren, although not in a wishy washy watered down fashion. The gloss was obviously added with American radio in mind, and most of the choruses would have fitted in perfectly there, but there's a bit more meat on the music's bones than you ever heard on radio then, there's more substance to the music, there's intelligence at work in the dynamics of the songwriting. These guys sounded like seasoned pros despite their youth, but their youthful enthusiasm still shone through. Like many a hard luck tale 'round these parts, everything went tits up for Bronz following the album's release, and despite limping on through various line up comings & goings, the band called it a day in '86. Bacon found a little post BRONZ success, albeit short-lived, in America with the GTR project, the vocalist working with guitar legends STEVE HOWE (YES) and STEVE HACKETT (GENESIS).

BRONZ - Taken By Storm (1984) UK

http://rapidshare.com/files/104137783/BRONZ_-_Taken_By_Storm__UK-1983_.rar

Another slab of Swedish gold now, courtesy of Dom, curator of kick ass Viking relics. This is the sole album by Stockholm Heavy Metal heroes Burn, and this self titled ten tracker surfaced in 1984 on the Moonshine Records label. The band had debuted the previous year with the "Get Out Of My Way" 7" on Kobold Records, and the album expands on the promise present in the earlier 45 very nicely. This is pretty traditional stuff, elevated above the run of the mill by some inventive guitars and some really memorable choruses. Following some line up changes, the band released a further EP, "Brown Envelope Invasion" also known as "Still...Going Wrong" in 1988, but the band wound down soon after.
Burn have since reformed under the name of SQUEALER.

BURN - Burn (1984) Sweden

http://rapidshare.com/files/104145659/BURN_-_Burn__Swe-1983_.rar


Next up, the lone self released, self titled 12" EP by little known American Heavy Metal trio Childhood's End. Released on their own Childhood's End label in 1984, this four tracker falls neatly into the Melodic Metal category, heavy enough for the headbangers, but catchy enough for radio too, with fantastic guitar from Dino Alden and very impressive vocals from singer Jennifer Hall which remind me of the "rough but smooth" style of HELLION's Anne Boleyn. The band had enough individuality to have made a real splash, but unfortunately it wasn't to be, and no more was heard from Childhood's End.

CHILDHOOD'S END - Childhood's End EP (1984) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/104159675/CHILDHOOD_S_END_-_Childhood_s_End_EP__USA-1984_.rar

A request filled promptly for you next, not by me i must confess, but by blog visitor and font of Metallic knowledge, Nightsblood. NILOOB salutes you for your sterling work sir. This is the 1983 "Full Moons Eyes" EP by Belgian Heavy Metal gods Ostrogoth, which was released by the Mausoleum Records label. No Metal collection is complete without something by Ostrogoth, and if you've never heard them this is a great place to start. If you enjoy this taste then seek out their "Ecstasy & Danger" full length album, my personal pick by Belgium's finest.

OSTROGOTH - Full Moons Eyes EP (1983) Belgium

http://rapidshare.com/files/105108261/OSTROGOTH_-_Full_Moon_s_Eyes_EP.rar.html

A couple of nice NWOBHM pieces finish off tonight's post now, starting with "Freeway Rock", the 1980 45 by Canis Major. Featuring the vocal talents of the gorgeous Jackie Bodimead, later of SHE, GIRLSCHOOL & IF ONLY, this is a catchy piece of Hard Rock, slightly marred by the dated sounding new wavish synth sounds which didn't really have to be on there. If you can overlook the dated keys, there's a couple of quality songs here, and their sole album "Butterfly Queen", is rated by those who know about such things to the point where it's become quite a collectors piece. That chorus will stick in your head for days too, you have been warned.

CANIS MAJOR - Freeway Rock 7" (1980) UK

http://rapidshare.com/files/104155460/CANIS_MAJOR_-_Freeway_Rock_7____UK-1980_.rar

Finally tonight, another rare 7" by the much overlooked Barnsley band Seventh Son. This one is from 1982, it's their debut 45 "Man On The Street" and was originally released on the Rising Son label. Despite many personnel changes over the years, they've proved to be an extremely durable outfit, releasing demos, singles, EPs and albums apace since this '82 debut, and are due to release a new full length album, their third overall, this year on the Iron Pages label. Have a listen to where they started, and if you like what you hear, go take a punt on the new album, to see where they're going.

SEVENTH SON - Man On The Street 7" (1982) UK

http://rapidshare.com/files/104156727/SEVENTH_SON_-_Man_In_The_Street_7____UK-1982_.rar

Hope you enjoy tonight's treats, more to come soon folks.
Ten four good buddies!