THE NORWEGIAN FORDS-THE NORWEGIAN FORDS

The Norwegian Fords-The Norwegian Fords (2008)

1. Smile Like Sammy Davis
2. Not Even Onions Make Her Cry
3. Hop Up Pop
4. I Can't Say I Love You
5. Billy Ocean
6. Twice
7. Sophisticated Sister
8. Still Better Than Chocolate
9. Monique's Unique Technique
10. Let Me Stalk You Home

Not many current albums can capture the West Coast sound and still sound as fresh as this duo from Norway. Erik Enzo & Paul Call released their debut in 2008. Mixed by Bill Schnee, who has produced or engineered many albums, such as Boz Scaggs' Middle Man as well as Steely Dan, Pablo Cruise & Leo Sayer to name a few. They will be released their followup later this year, so start off with this.

EVIE SANDS-ESTATE OF MIND

Evie Sands-Estate Of Mind (1975)

1. A Woman's Work Is Never Done
2. Love In The Afternoon
3. You Brought The Woman Out Of Me
4. Take It Or Leave It
5. Call Me Home Again
6. One Ting On My Mind
7. Yesterday Can't Hurt Me
8. I Love Makin' Love To You
9. Early Morning Sunshine
10. (Am I) Crazy Cause I Believe
11. Music Man
12. Signed Sealed Delivered (I'm Yours)
13. You Can Do It
    
14. The Way You Do The Things You Do
    

Produced by Dennis Lambert & Brian Potter on Haven Records, this 1975 album should have taken singer/songwriter Evie Sands to new heights. How was this overlooked? It's a great mix of pop, rock & R&B, sultrier than Helen Reddy on a tune like I Love Makin' Love To You[#50] and tougher than Linda Ronstadt on a tune like A Woman's Work Is Never Done [#50], both of whom were enjoying a lot more success at the time than Evie. The album featured keys by Michael Omartian, bass by David Hundgate, guitars by Dean Parks and drums by Ed Greene. Her tunes, from this album alone, have been covered by Dusty Springfield, Jose Feliciano, Cher, Barbra Streisand, Frankie Valli & the Manhattans to name a few. But Evie has the definitive versions here on this LP.

Stay tuned!

There will be new music coming soon

ORLEANS-ONE OF A KIND

Orleans-One Of A Kind (1982)

1. One Of A Kind

2. I Found Someone

3. Let It Be Me

4. Beatin' Around The Bush

5. Save The Planet

6. Keep On Singing

7. Gotta Lotta Money (Big Deal)

8. Give In To It

9. Circles

10. Move On

This forgotten Orleans LP spawned the minor hit, Let It Be Me.

HELEN REDDY-REDDY

Helen Reddy-Reddy (1979)

1. Trying To Get To You
2. Perfect Love Affair
3. The Magic Is Still There
4. Make Love To Me
5. Minute By Minute
6. Let Me Be Your Woman
7. You're So Good
8. Words Are Not Enough
9. Sing My Heart Out

Helen Reddy always had some West Coast flavor in her music. But on this LP she also added some disco to the mix. She had members of Chicago & Tower Of Power help her out on the Doobies' Minute By Minute and Valerie Carter's Tryin To GetTo You. Make Love To Me was a minor hit, reaching #60.

CLIMIE FISHER-EVERYTHING

Climie Fisher-Everything (1988)

1. Love Changes (Everything)
2. Rise to the Occasion
3. I Won't Bleed For You
4. Room to Move
5. Precious Moments
6. This Is Me
7. Never Let A Chance Go By
8. Bite the Hand That Feeds
9. Break the Silence
10. Keeping the Mystery Alive

This duo formed when another duo broke up. Former Naked Eyes member Rob Fisher with singer Simon Climie put out this pop gem in 1988 and had a hit with Love (Changes Everything) which reached #23. It also spawned UK hits, Rise To The Occasion & This Is Me.

NITEFLYTE-NITEFLYTE

Niteflyte-Niteflyte (1979)

1. All About Love
2. If You Want It
3. Sunshine
4. Make It Right
5. Get On The Fun
6. Tryin' To Find
7. I Wonder
8. Easy Come
9. No Two Alike

Niteflyte was formed & led by singers, Sandy Torano & Howard Johnson (not the restaurant). Their 1979 debut yielded a Top 40 hit in If You Want It. The album also featured such notable players as, the Brecker Brothers, David Sanborn & Hamish Stuart.

BRENT BOURGEOIS-BRENT BOURGEOIS

Brent Bourgeois-Brent Bourgeois (1990)

1. Real Things
2. Compromise
3. Dare To Fall In Love
4. Can't Feel The Pain
5. Scene Of The Crime
6. Wild Child
7. Evil Run Riot
8. My Little Island
9. Time Of The Season
10. Shit Out Of Luck
11. Long Way From Home

This was the first solo album from Bourgeois Tagg member, Brent Bourgeois. Produced by Danny Kortchmar, the song, Dare To Fall In Love, reached #32 on the Pop Charts & #11 on the AC charts. Also features a great cover of the Zombies' Time Of The Season and has Chrstine McVie sing back up on Can't Feel The Pain.

FANNY-MOTHERS PRIDE

Fanny-Mothers Pride (1973)

1. Last Night I Had A Dream
2. Long Road Home
3. Old Hat
4. Solid Gold
5. Is It Really You?
6. All Mine
7. Summer Song
8. Polecat Blues
9. Beside Myself
10. Regular Guy
11. I Need You Need Me
12. Feelings
13. I'm Satisfied

The first all female rock group to have a Top 40 hit recorded Mothers Pride, their fourth album with Todd Rundgren at the production helm. Click here for more info on Fanny.

THE CARPENTERS-MADE IN AMERICA

The Carpenters-Made In America (1981)

1. Those Good Old Dreams
2. Strength Of A Woman
3. (Want You) Back In My Life Again
4. When You Got What It Takes
5. Somebody's Been Lyin'
6. I Believe You
7. Touch Me When We're Dancing
8. When It's Gone
9. Beachwood 4-5789
10. Because We Are In Love (The Wedding Song)

This was the last album that the Carpenters released before Karen's death in 1983. It features their last Top 40 hit, Touch Me When We're Dancing which hit #16 as well as #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

ALAN O'DAY-APPETIZERS

Alan O'Day-Appetizers (1977)

1. Soldier Of Fortune
2. Satisfied
3. Started Out Dancing, Ended Up Making Love
4. Gifts
5. Slot Machine
6. Undercover Angel
7. Do Me Wrong, But Do Me
8. Catch My Breath
9. Angie Baby
10. Caress Me Pretty Music

The author of Rock & Roll Heaven by the Righteous Brothers & Angie Baby by Helen Reddy (his version included here) released his 2nd LP and had a big #1 smash with Undercover Angel. Produced by Steve Barri with Michael Omatian, it reached #109 on the album charts and features many West Coast musicians such as Jeff Porcaro, Dean Parks and Jay Graydon.
O'Day himself is working on a possible digital release of all of his music.

NILSSON-KNNILLSSONN

Nilsson-Knnillssonn (1977)

1. All I Think About Is You
2. I Never Thought I'd Get This Lonely
3. Who Done It?
4. Lean On Me
5. Goin'Down
6. Old Bones
7. Sweet Surrender
8. Blanket For A Sail
9. Laughin' Man
10. Perfect Day
11. Ain't It Kinda Wonderful?

Not counting his work on the Popeye soundtrack, this was the last album of original Nilsson material released in the U.S. and also some of his best.

AVERAGE WHITE BAND-CUPID'S IN FASHION

Average White Band-Cupid's In Fashion (1982)

1. Easier Said Than Done
2. You're My Number One
3. You Wanna Belong
4. Cupid's In Fashion
5. Theatre Of Excess
6. I Believe
7. Is It Love That You're Running From
8. Reach Out (I'll Be There)
9. Isn't It Strange
10. Love's A Heartache

Happy Valentine's Day!
For all you West Coast lovers, enjoy the long out of print final AWB album (before they got back together in the early 90's), released on Arista Records in 1982.

BOB WELCH-THREE HEARTS

Bob Welch-Three Hearts (1979)

1. Three Hearts
2. Oh Jenny
3. I Saw Her Standing There
4. Here Comes The Night
5. China
6. The Ghost Of Flight 401
7. Precious Love
8. Church
9. Come Softly To Me
10. Devil Wind
11. Don't Wait Too Long
12. Little Star

This was Welch's follow-up to very successful debut, French Kiss. It hit #20 on the Top Album Charts, spawning the Top 20 hit, Precious Love and the minor hit, Church. Along with a Beatles cover and some help from Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood & Christine McVie, Welch writes some good pop rockers as well as the spooky The Ghost of Flight 401. This album should have received more play than it did.

PRATT & MCCLAIN

Pratt & McClain-Pratt & McClain (1976)

1. Happy Days
2. Raised On Rock
3. Summertime In The City
4. Night Ride
5. Tonight We're Gonna Fall In Love

6. Our Last Song Together
7. California Cowboy
8. Who Needs It
9. Whachersign
10. Devil With The Blue Dress

Pratt & McClain were a couple of commercial jingle singers in Hollywood. They were chosen by the ABC networks to record the new version of the Happy Days theme and the rest is history. The song was released on 45 and made it to #5. So they got the chance to record a full album. Produced by Steve Barri & Michael Omartian (Rhythm Heritage), the album is a mix of sunny California pop and 50's nostalgia. But the hidden track is the funky rare groove of Whatchersign.

PETER ALLEN-TAUGHT BY EXPERTS

Peter Allen-Taught By Experts (1976)

1. Puttin Out Roots
2. She Loves To Hear The Music
3. Back Doors Crying
4. I Go To Rio
5. Planes
6. Quiet Please, There's A Lady On Stage
7. This Time Around
8. The More I See You
9. Harbour
10. (I've Been) Taught By Experts
11. Six Thirty Sunday Morning/ New York, I Don't Know About You

Another long lost out-of-print Peter Allen album, released in 1976. This one features the original version of I Go To Rio, later a hit for Pablo Cruise. This was the last album of his to feature his more intimate songwriting before adopting a slicker West Coast sound. Back Doors Crying features Brenda Russell and Dusty Springfield on backing vocals.

WALTER EGAN-FUNDAMENTAL ROLL

Walter Egan-Fundamental Roll (1977)

1. Only The Lucky
   
2. Won't You Say You Will
   
3. Waitin'
4. Feel So Good
   
5. Yes I Guess I Am
6. When I Get My Wheels
7. Where's The Party
8. She's So Tough
9. Tunnel O' Love
   
10. I'd Rather Have Fun
11. Surfin' & Drivin'

This was Walter's debut album, produced by Richard Dashut & Lindsay Buckingham. Featuring Stevie Nicks on backing vocals on most tracks, this LP made it to #137 on the Top Albums chart and spawned the minor hit, Only The Lucky [#82], also recorded by Gene Cotton on his Save The Dancer album.

PETER ALLEN-CONTINENTAL AMERICAN

Peter Allen-Continental American (1974)

1. Just A Gigolo (Schoener Gigolo)
2. Everything Old Is New Again
3. The Natural Thing To Do
4. Pretty Pretty
5. Continental American
6. Just Ask Me I've Been There
7. I Honestly Love You
8.This Side Show's Leaving Town
9. Just A Gigolo (reprise)

Following his divorce from Liza Minnelli, Peter Allen released his most introspective solo album in 1974 and his first for A&M. It includes the original version of the Olivia Newton-John #1 hit, I Honestly Love You.

LARRY SANTOS-LARRY SANTOS

Larry Santos-Larry Santos (1975)

1. Early In The Mornin'
2. Call Me Janis
3. We Can't Hide It Anymore
4. Can't Get You Off My Mind
5. Meet Me Tonight
6. Jon Jon McAllister
7. Wanting What You Can't Have (Having What You Don't Want)
8. Long, Long Time
9. Devil-Eyed Woman
10. Lover

The man best known for appearances on the childrens show, Hot Fudge, in the 70's put this out album out on Casablanca Records in 1975. It spawned the #36 hit, We Can't Hide It Anymore. Larry's voice is very reminiscent of Gordon Lightfoot or the lead singer of Looking Glass and the LP has a mellow bluesy vibe mixed with pop folk.

SHERBET-HOWZAT

Sherbet-Howzat (1976)

1. Howzat!
2. Motor Of Love
3. The Swap (You Can Get A Lot)
4. Can't Find True Love
5. I'll Be Coming Home
6. Lady Of The Night
7. Gimme Love
8. If I Had My Way
9. Hollywood Dreaming
10. Dancer
11. Blueswalkin'

Happy Australia Day!
Here's the breakthrough album from the 5-man Australian band, Sherbet, titled Howzat. The title track reached #61 as well as reaching the Top 5 on the UK charts. The band would find success again the the early 80's as the Sherbs.