01. Mandingo - Fever Pitch
From "Sacrifice" in 1973. Mandingo were actually the Geoff Love Orchestra, from the UK. They released about five albums, mostly on EMI's MFP (Music For Pleasure) label. Many of their tracks were big in the clubs at the time, and they also had one or two minor radio hits. The featured track, which was one of the best known hits, together with "Medicine Man", "Black Rite" and "Cheater", was actually used as a theme number track by a DJ in SA (maybe David Gresham?). Information on Mandingo is fairly difficult to find.
02. Sapo - Sapo's Montuno
Sapo were one of the lesser known of the US Latin Rock outfits. They were formed by Richard Bean, guest percussionist and vocalist on Malo's debut album in the early seventies, together with keyboard player Kincaird Miller (later to work with Jorge Santana), percussionist Raul Rekow (ex-Malo, later to work with Carlos Santana, Tom Coster and others), drummer Bobby Gaviola, guitarist Oscar Estrella and bassist Jose Simon. Sapo recorded one excellent self-titled album in 1974, but the album failed commercially and the band unfortunately split the same year. They reformed in the late 90's, but no known recordings have surfaced to date. A great double CD, called ''Chicano Power", which features El Chicano, Malo, Tierra, Chango and Sapo, amongst others, was released in 1998.
03). Chango - Walk On Hell
From "Chango", their debut album, released in 1975. Chango were a very classy US Latin Rock outfit who released two albums between 1975 and 1976, the second album being called "Honey Is Sweeter Than Blood". The members who made up this little known sextet were Thomas Alletto on keyboards and vocals, Pepe Gomez on lead vocals, drums & percussion, George Tactikos on guitar and vocals, Reinol Andino on timbales, congas and vocals, Burlin Speakes on bass and Mike Britton on percussion. By the time the second album was released, only Speakes and Gomez remained of the original line-up. The band split in 1976. The Italian Akarma label released the debut album on CD, in a fantastic cardboard replica sleeve, a few years ago.
04). Lana Lane - The Vision
Lana Lane was featured on the RockIt Scientist about 2 months ago, and we've had a few requests to hear more from her, although this time, we chose an instrumental track, written by her husband, Eric Norlander. She's known as the Queen of Symphonic Rock, and she's released a number of great albums. The track was taken from "Lady Macbeth", released earlier this year. Neil Citron is on guitar, together with Ernst Van Ee on drums, Don Schiff on bass and Eric Norlander on keyboards.
05). Pink Floyd - Dogs
The Pink Floyd story is quite lengthy and extensive, and as a result, their band's history will be covered in a future write up on The RockIt Scientist. The featured track was taken from "Animals" in 1977, arguably one of their best albums, and featuring guitarist Dave Gilmour at his best. The cover photo, of an inflatable pig floating over Battersea Power station, has since passed into Floyd folklore. It was on and with this album, however, that tensions between the band leaked into the public arena. Roger Waters would leave the band after "The Final Cut" in 1983. The band recently reformed and performed four tracks for the Live 8 concert.
06). Demon - Expressing The Heart
A track from the latest Demon album was featured a while back, and we've had a few requests to hear something from the band's earlier albums. Demon were, and still are, a socially and politically aware band, and this track with it's anti-apartheid message was taken from their 1985 album, ''Heart Of Our Time". If there was ever any question why Dave Hill is considered to be one rock's finest vocalists, this track will leave no doubt. When original guitarist Mal Spooner died of a respiratory condition in 1984, he was replaced by John Waterhouse, and "Heart Of Our Time" was the first complete album to feature Waterhouse, together with Gavin Sutherland on bass, Steve Watts on keyboards, and John Wright on drums. Demon, who were formed in the second part of 1980, were, and still are, one of the best bands to emerge from the NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) scene.
07). Mel Botes - Blue
A first for The RockIt Scientist, in that we featured four tracks from one artist on the same show! Vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Mel Botes's new album, called "Flight Of Bird", has just been released. It's a conceptual album, and it's on a par with his work with David's Confession, which was featured on The RockIt Scientist a while back. Read up more on this extremely talented songwriter and musician on the "New Releases" section of the RockIt Scientist newsletter (18 November 2005). The album, which took nearly three years to be released, is available via his website (www.melbotes.co.za) or through Seedy's Compact Discs in Hatfield in Pretoria (012)362-5841.
The other tracks featured were:
08). The Coming Of The Crow
09). Birdsong 2
10). Fallen Angel
Hera Stavrinos of Monument Park and Terry Meiring of Stellenbosch both win copies of "Flight Of Bird".
11). Zazu - Upon The Island Unisphere
This little known US prog quartet outfit released just the one self-titled album on the Wooden Nickel label in 1975 and they faded into obscurity. Musically brilliant, their keyboard and guitar dominated-hard rock tracks were similar in style to stablemates Styx. The members were John Melnick on keyboards and vocals, Randy Curlee on bass and vocals, Paul Ricupero on guitars and vocals and Micky Lehocky on drums. The album is quite rare and collectible, and is highly recommended.
12). Glencoe - Airport
Glencoe were a short-lived UK outfit who's line-up included ex-Greatest Show on Earth bassist and vocalist Norman Watt-Roy. The band also featured ex-member of UK outfit Forever More, Stewart Francis, on drums, ex Bell and Arc guitarist/vocalist John Turnbull, together with keyboard player Graham Maitland (who played keyboards on Wishbone Ash's "Wishbone Four" album).They were formed in 1971 and folded in 1974, having released two albums, "Glencoe", from which the featured track was taken in 1972, and "The Spirit Of Glencoe" in 1973. The group then evolved into Loving Awareness, which in turn became The Blockheads, backing group to Ian Dury. Both Glencoe albums are highly recommended.
13). Faith - Such a Lady, Such a Lover
Faith were an excellent US outfit who were formed in the early 70's. They released their debut self-titled album, from which the featured track was taken, in 1973, on the fairly rare Brown Bag Record label. There was a four year hiatus before they released their second album, by which time they'd changed their name to The Faith Band. They released four albums as The Faith Band and split in the late 70's. Information on the band is almost impossible to find, although keyboard player John Cascella was later in a band called Peddler in 1976. The other members of (The) Faith (Band) were drummer David Barnes, bassist Mark Cawley, guitarist Dave Bennett and vocalist Carl Storie.
14). Deep Purple - Wrong Man
Taken from their brand new album, ''Rapture Of The Deep", featuring Ian Gillan (vocals), Steve Morse (guitar), Roger Glover (bass), Ian Paice (drums) and Don Airey (keyboards). One of their best albums to date. A short review/note of praise(!) of/on the album appears on the latest newsletter. Words are superfluous - just get this album!
Rapture Of The Deep (including bonus track 'MTV', not released on the South African pressing) is available to download as legal mp3s at subscription website, eMusic.com.
15). Cream - Outside Woman Blues
From their new double album, "Royal Albert Hall", recorded during their concerts in May this year. The revived Cream of Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker are sounding fantastic! A dvd of the concert has also been released. As above - three masters show how it's done.
16). Pat Travers & Carmine Appice - Taken
Recorded live at The House Of Blues in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina earlier this year. Drummer Carmine Appice had featured with bands such as Cactus and Beck, Bogart & Appice in the past, and guitarist Pat Travers is one of the most acclaimed and respected guitarists in rock. They're joined by bassist T.M.Stevens on this fantastic single live album.
This is a follow-up to their studio album, "It Tales A Lot Of Balls", which was released earlier this year.
17). Goliath - Maajun (A Taste of Tangier)
Goliath were a short-lived but very promising UK band who were fronted by a lady singer called Linda Rothwell. The other members were Eric Eastman on drums & percussion, Joe Rosbotham on tenor sax & flute, Malcolm Grundy on guitar and John Williamson on bass. Their music had elements of rock, folk and blues, as well as an Eastern touch. The track was taken from their eponymous album, released in 1970 on the CBS label. A band with fantastic potential, they faded into obscurity, probably around the early 70's
18). Gamma - Darts
Not to be confused with the US hard rock outfit formed by Ronnie Montrose and Davey Pattison, this Gamma were a Dutch jazz-rock outfit who were formed by keyboard player Paulus Poulissen, who was the only common musician on their albums, in the early seventies. They released two albums, and the featured track was taken off their second album, ''Darts", in 1974. The debut album, "Alpha", released in 1973, was a powerful effort with progressive rock elements, similar in style to Focus, whereas "Darts" had a more jazz/fusion feel. Both albums demonstrated great musicianship and songwriting.
19). Solution - Whirligig
From "Cordon Bleu", in 1975, their 3rd album. Solution, who were formed by bassist Peter Van Der Sande (later replaced by Guus Willemse), drummer Hans Waterman, flautist/sax player Tom Barlage and keyboard player Willem Ennes, were one of Holland's best and best known jazz/rock outfits. Similar in style to Germany's Kraan, they went on to release about five further albums before folding in the early 80's. Their second album, ''Divergence", is also recommended. Unfortunately, towards the end of their career, the band adopted a very commercial direction, and this may have signaled their demise.
