1st Album-1st Song-Great Debut

[Needs More Cowbell]

Billy Cobham- Quadrant 4 (1973)

My favorite jazz/fusion drummer among many greats. Born in Panama but raised in Brooklyn since the age of 3. He became a session musician for various labels in the late 1960s culminating with hooking up with Miles Davis for the iconic album Bitches Brew. Cobham and guitarist John McLaughlin departed the Miles Davis group to form The Mahavishnu Orchestra. After 2 studio albums for that combo, Billy was ready for his first solo LP.

Titled Spectrum, it's another landmark in jazz fusion that Cobham participated. Guitarist Tommy Bolan and keyboardist Jan Hammer lent support. Spectrum shot to #1 on the jazz charts and even cracked the top 25 Billboard album list. Cobham has continued to release great albums, employing funk as well as rock into the jazz mix

The lead track to the debut, Quadrant 4 also features Lee Sklarr on bass

Another highlight on the album is Stratus.Grand Theft Auto 4 video game lifted this track as well as it being sampled by the Massive Attack hit Safe From Harm

 

[Needs More Cowbell]

Blodwyn Pig- It's Only Love (1969)

Guitarist Mick Abrahams had a falling out with Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull after recording their first album. He departed the band, replaced by Martin Barre. Abrahams was not going to accept Anderson as the front man of the band and wanted the group to remain blues-based. So he formed his own group, Blodwyn Pig.

Their first album did well, charting in the British top 10. However Mick Abrahams became disillusioned with the music industry and broke up the group after their 2nd LP

That first album, Ahead Rings Out, had a jazzy blues feel with Jack Lancaster adding horns. The album sold as well as Jethro Tull's 2nd LP, Stand Up.

 

[Needs More Cowbell]

Bloodrock- Gotta Find A Way (1970)

I think I posted their first song previously without much comment but now I have had an opportunity to listen to their entire discography and appreciate the band more so than before. Hailing from Fort Worth, Texas Bloodrock in the early 1970s seemed poised to break out big but never quite accomplished it. A hard rock band that could remind you of Grand Funk Railroad (in fact GF's manager/producer Terry Knight produced their first LP).

Their first LP, Bloodrock , sold quite well. They peaked with their 2nd album, Bloodrock 2 which almost cracked the Top 20 Album charts. That album contained their most famous song D.O.A. a real dark opus about the aftermath of a plane crash and a passanger trying to figure what happened as the ambulance arrives. Or is the passanger already dead?

Bloodrock released 4 studio albums and a live disc between 1970-1971 (Good Grief!!). By that time, probably due to exhaustion and burnout, a few members left and were replaced. 1972's album Passage saw the band change their sound to progressive rock. It was decent enough but nothing special. They tried one more time in 1976 in the same progressive vein and called it quits until a 2005 reunion.

Back to the first album with an excellent crowd-pleasing kick off. The song even has a hidden message when played backwards "Anyone who is stupid enough to play this record backwards deserves what he is about to hear," followed by an excerpt from the poem "Jabberwocky".

And as a bonus, their cult hit D.O.A. Scared the crap out of the hippie flower power generation

 

[Needs More Cowbell]

Blue Angel-Maybe He'll Know (1980)

Cyndi Lauper fronted for this group before achieving her own superstardom. The band only released one album which never got much in the way of airplay or sales. Lauper did the bulk of the songwriting and while they played some new wave styles that were popular at this time, the musicians seemed more comfortable with rockabilly. Watching these video clips of their live performances on TV it's easy to see how she was persuaded to go solo. Her animated style on stage was mesmerizing and her fantastic voice and songwriting ability needn't be tied down to a mere competent band with a narrow approach.

The first album cut, Maybe He'll Know, was redone by Cyndi on her 2nd album, True Colors. Forgive the sound quality scratches but the video itself is high quality

Another TV appearance that same year from Cyndi and the band

 

[Needs More Cowbell]

The Blues Project-Goin' Down Louisiana (1965)

In the early 60s, Greenwich Village in NYC was known for it's bohemian coffeehouses where young white musicians played acoustic folk and blues. Guitarist Danny Kalb was one of that group. The British invasion came along and electric Blues was the cool way to go. So Kalb plugged in and gathered a group around him including 2nd guitarist Steve Katz, drummer Roy Blumenfeld, bassist Andy Kulberg and singer Tommy Flanders. Late 1965, the group auditioned for Columbia Records and session musician/ keyboardist Al Kooper joined.

They didn't get the contract but instead Verve Records signed them. The band began recording their first album live at the Cafe Au Go Go in Greenwich Village over the course of a week in November 1965.

That 1st live album sold decently well and critically praised. A 2nd studio album was released in 1966. However the band began unraveling in 1967 as Al Kooper departed. A third album, again live came out in 1967 and the bands last hurrah was in performing at the Monterrey Festival.Katz and Kalb right after that show and though some other albums came out using the group name, it wasn't the same

The Blues Project were significant with influencing American rock bands to incorporate blues in their repertoire. Here is the first track from Live At The Cafe Au Go Go, a Muddy Waters tune

As a bonus, a personal favorite from The Blues Project 2nd album, Projections. Al Kooper's Flute Thing

 

[Needs More Cowbell]

Bodacious DF-Drifting (1973)

The Jefferson Airplane were the kings of the San Francisco scene from 1966-1969. They achieved the greatest commercial success, drew the biggest crowds and their home was the gathering spot for that area's musicians. Marty Balin was the one who formed the group and was one of their singer/songwriters. He gradually relinquished leadership to the other members through the years and finally decided to depart in 1971. Writer of beautiful ballads and exquisite voice, I was quite interested in what his next project would be

In October 1973, his new band and first (and only) album arrived. Why so short a run? Seems Paul Kantner asked Marty Balin to write a song for the revised band Jefferson Starship in 1974 for the Dragonfly album.The results was the early power-ballad Caroline and Marty Balin soon rejoined the group.

The Bodacious DF album was quite tasty even if it did not sell in large numbers. Drifting is the first cut,indicative of the quality on the disc

 

[Needs More Cowbell]

Continuing the alphabetical journey of under-rated, nearly forgotten personal favorites...

Bram Tchaikovsky-Robber (1979)

Not much is known about this British guitarist. First surfacing with the group The Motors in 1977, two years later found him with his own self titled group and first album named Strange Man/Changed Man. The album did fairly well.It's lead single cracked the Top 30 and critics applauded this new wave/ power pop quartet. Quickly they released 2 more albums within another year to diminished sales and Mr. Tchaikovsky disbanded the group and disappeared from the industry.

I certainly enjoyed the Strange Man/Changed Man album back in '79. Robber was the lead track, a decent song but many other cuts were superior. I'll also include the title song from the album as well as the Top 30 hit, Girl Of My Dreams

Aw what the hell.I'm feeling generous. They do a great version of the Neil Diamond-The Monkees classic I'm A Believer

 

[Needs More Cowbell]

Brian Auger's Oblivion Express-Dragon Song (1971)

British organist, Brian Auger was a key musician in the London scene of the 1960's. In 1965 he formed the group The Steampacket whose members included Long John Baldry, Julie Driscoll and some new bloke with a distinct voice named Rod Stewart. Some studio tracks were recorded, a concert saved on tape, but contract problems caused nothing to be officially released. That is until decades later when they were found and Rod being a superstar.

Brian went on to play organ for the Yardbird's For Your Love single.Auger and Driscoll formed a new band named Trinity, toured America and appeared on The Monkees 1969 TV special 331/3 Revolutions Per Monkee.

Brian made his mark in 1971 when he formed Brian Auger's Oblivion Express. An ensemble that combined Rock,Jazz and Funk they helped influence The Progressive Rock movement.7 albums plus a live disc were released until the band ceased to be in 1978.

From the start, the first LP was prime Jazz Fusion. Check it out with the opening cut

 

[Needs More Cowbell]

Bubble Puppy-Hot Smoke & Sassafrass (1969)

Interesting back-story with this group hailing from San Antonio, Texas. They came together in 1966, a four man group employing twin lead guitars. One of the earliest groups with such a configuration-long before The Allman Brothers and Wishbone Ash. They signed a contract with International Artists and played in concerts headlined by some of the biggest names in rock at that time including The Who, Grand Funk Railroad, Canned Heat Stepphenwolf, Jefferson Airplane, Bob Seger, Johnny Winter, and Janis Joplin.

In 1969 their first single and album were released. Hot Smoke & Sassafrass, which was the album's first cut, became a hit record, peaking at # 14 on the Billboard Charts. A great psychedelic song and a thread devoted to it on this forum not that long ago.

But even a hit single didn't prevent difficulties with the group and their record label. So in 1970 Bubble Puppy broke their contract, fired their manager, moved to Los Angeles, hired Steppenwolf's manager and now called themselves Demian. Supposedly the name change would offset legal difficulties with their former record label and distance them from being associated with "bubblegum" music.

The self-titled Demian album sounded great, to my ears at least, but did not sell and the band dispersed. Until 1987 when a reunion tour yielded a live album by Bubble Puppy.

So we get 2 1st albums-1st song-Great debuts from the same group under 2 names. Music Mike introduces the Bubble Puppy song:

Demian and Face The Crowd (1970)

 

[Needs More Cowbell]

Butts Band- I Won't Be Alone Anymore (1974)

The Doors tried to carry on after Jim Morrison's death in 1971. Surviving members Ray Manzarek (keyboards), Robby Krieger (guitar) and John Densmore (drums) released 2 more albums with Manarek and Kreiger sharing the vocals. Late 1971's Other Voices I thought was a fine album with the single Tightrope Ride getting good airplay and other outstanding cuts such as Ship W/Sails. But 1972's Full Circle I found was rather pedestrian.

In 1973 the trio went to London to audition singers to revitalize the band.Manzarek eventually returned to L.A. due to his wife expecting a child. He then decided to put the Doors behind him and proceeded to cut 2 solo albums in 1974 to a muted reception.

Without Manzarek, Kreiger and Densmore hired 3 other British musicians and formed the new group Butts Band.Their first LP in 1974 I found to be pretty decent. However with the former Doors members living in Los Angeles and the rest of the group living in England it was too challenging to continue as such. So for the 2nd Butts Band album, 1975's Hear And Now, the British blokes were dismissed and replaced by Americans. And then the whole thing came to a halt anyway

Well, the 1st Butts Band album still was a worthy disc and the first cut was one of it's better songs. Both albums have been released together on one CD