Dynamite

Humble Pie

2008-03-12T18:06:00.001-04:00

"I've been kicked, I've been hit. But it didn't hurt a little bit."

H umble Pie were a rock, rhythm and blues band from England and were one of the first supergroups of the 1970s.

The original band line-up featured Steve Marriott (former lead singer, songwriter and lead guitarist of Small Faces), Peter Frampton (former lead singer and guitarist of The Herd), Greg Ridley (former bass guitarist of Spooky Tooth) and seventeen-year-old drummer Jerry Shirley.

Although successful in America, as a band, they remained much loved in Britain, They are best remembered for their dynamic live concert performances in the early 1970s and songs such as "30 Days in the Hole" and "I Don't Need No Doctor".

Because the members had all previously played in high-profile groups, many viewed Humble Pie as a "supergroup," although the band loathed the term and the expectations that came with it.

"Fool For A Pretty Face"

Blue Oyster Cult

2008-03-07T19:03:00.002-05:00

"So if you really wanna do it, you better do it hot."

B lue Öyster Cult is an American rock band formed in New York in 1967 and still active in 2008. The group is probably best known for three songs: The 1976 single "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" from the album Agents of Fortune, the 1981 single "Burnin' for You" from the album Fire of Unknown Origin, and "Godzilla" (1977) from Spectres.

The band is a pioneer in heavy metal music both for its hard-edged musical assault and its use of sci-fi and occult imagery.

"Dr. Music"

Walter Egan

2008-02-27T15:15:00.001-05:00

"With you I'm not shy, to show the way I feel."

W alter is a musician, singer, composer, writer, artist, sculptor and general Renaissance man who is most widely known for his 1978 million-selling single record, "Magnet and Steel," featured on his album Not Shy (Columbia).

Almost three decades later, Walter's signature song is a staple on the radio, and can also be heard in feature films and on television. Meanwhile, he has continued to make original music as both a prolific individual artist, with a total of eight solo CDs to his credit, and as a member of performing and recording bands including the Malibooz and the Brooklyn Cowboys.

"Magnet & Steel"

LeRoux

2008-02-23T11:07:00.000-05:00

"Wake up, you're still asleep..ahh you're dreaming too much. Imaginary lovers can't be touched."

LeRoux was a pop band founded in Baton Rouge, Louisiana that saw its heyday from 1978-1983. Their biggest hits were "Take A Ride On A Riverboat" with its 4-part a capella intro, the 1978 hit song "New Orleans Ladies", the 1982 hits "Nobody Said It Was Easy" and "Addicted", and the 1983 hit "Carrie's Gone". Their music, though pop-oriented, combined many elements such as funk, R&B, Dixieland jazz, rock, and some Cajun-flavoring, thus defying a pigeonhole into one definable category like many other diverse Louisiana artists, common to an area known for its many musical influences and tastes.

In 1981 they signed with RCA, and issued their 5th LP, Last Safe Place which was their highest charting album and included their only Top 20 charting single, "Nobody Said It Was Easy."

I've decided to post the only that truly rocked, though!

"Let me be your Fantasy"

Carolyn Mas

2008-02-19T20:22:00.001-05:00

"He's got the girls in the neighborhood, in the backseat of his car."

Released in 1980, Carolyn shows future chick-rockers, like Joan Jett, how it's done!

Due to the record label moving from Chicago to New York, they spent little to no money on promoting this single, which was unfortunate.

"He's So Cool"

Touch

2008-02-18T20:05:00.001-05:00

"Papa says it's a bitch to recognize it."

Touch were a rock band from New York City formed in 1978. Members included Mark Mangold (songwriter and keyboards) and Glen Kithcart (drums), both who had previously been in the band American Tears (releasing three albums on Columbia Records).

Their single, "Don't You Know What Love Is" only reached #69 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, the song was played heavily on AOR radio stations in the USA at the end of the 1970s, and reached the #1 spot on the Melody Maker chart in Great Britain.

Touch were the first band to play at the inaugural Monsters of Rock festival at Castle Donington racetrack in 1980. Rumour has it that a member of Touch swallowed a bee while performing onstage. A live version of "Don't You Know What Love Is" appeared on a compilation LP simply called Monsters of Rock, documenting performances at the festival.

"Don't You Know What Love Is"

The Knack

2008-02-16T16:37:00.000-05:00

"but the flesh is on the bone and she ain't giving you a bite."

The Knack are a Los Angeles-based rock band that rose to fame with their first single, "My Sharona", an international hit in 1979 . The power pop of "My Sharona", coupled with the band's "retro" 1970s new wave look, earned the band comparisons to the early Beatles. Many music critics of the era disliked disco, which dominated the music industry at the time, and were, at best, coolly receptive to other developing genres like punk rock, hip hop and heavy metal music. The Knack's power pop and hard rock influences earned them some critical credibility. They were also vilified by some critics for their misogynistic lyrics.

"Frustrated"

"Baby Talks Dirty"

Charlie

2007-06-11T18:38:00.000-04:00

"Don't tell me you ain't noticed I'm always around I've seen you lookin', You always know just where I'll be found."

C harlie was a British rock band that formed in 1971 by Terry Thomas. After a couple of early singles, including the well-played "Johnny Hold Back", and several albums, the band finally had a hit in 1978 with "She Loves to Be In Love," which reached the Top 50 in the United States.

In 1982, Terry Slesser joined the group as lead singer. In 1983, the group had their most successful hit single, "It's Inevitable". The MTV music video featured a rousing pie fight. The album was a flop, however, and the band folded.

"It's Inevitable"

Trooper

2007-06-11T18:12:00.002-04:00

"If you don't like what you got, Why don't you change it. If your world is all screwed up Rearrange it."

It goes like this: 2 million records, a couple dozen hits, sold-out coliseums across Canada, a Juno Award (Canada's Grammy) for Band of the Year. The Vancouver Sun called them "Canadian rock heroes of the first order ... the best performing band in Canada." If you need reminding, this was Trooper 2 decades or so ago. And what made them what they were then is still there now: great performances and great pop songwriting.

Trooper - "Raise a Little Hell"

Duke and the Drivers

2007-03-28T12:26:00.000-04:00

Duke and the Drivers has achieved legendary stature as one of the greatest New England party bands of all time. From their inception, the band has been known for explosive rock and roll, funky rhythm and blues, and their outrageous stage show featuring front men Sam Deluxe, Cadillac Jack, Mad Mississippi Buffalo, Earthquake Morton and Rhinestone Mudflaps III.

"One thing's plain to see. You really got a hold on
me."

Formed in the early days of Boston Rock and Roll and as a result of the Duke’s inspirational training regimen, the DRIVERS honed their skills playing nearly every college and roadhouse throughout New England. They went on to sign with ABC records, where they recorded two albums featuring the singles “What You Got” and “Check Your Bucket”.

The DRIVERS have had the pleasure of working from coast to coast with the likes of: Aerosmith, B.B. King, Deep Purple, J. Geils, ZZ Top and the Eagles. They have garnered a devoted following of Duke fans which has continued to grow to this day.

"What You Got"

Moon Martin

2007-03-08T17:07:00.005-05:00

"Honey, crack that whip. You make me bite my lip."

John "Moon" Martin's claim to fame is writing the smash hit "Bad Case of Loving You" for Robert Palmer, but Moon Martin has offered much more to the music scene including penning his own Top 30 hit back in 1979 called "Rolene". His songs have been recorded by many other artists and his albums have received critical acclaim. Moon Martin is extremely popular in Europe where his music has charted much better than in the United States.

He was given the nickname "Moon" because many of his songs had the word "moon" in the lyrics.

"Rolene"

Martin Briley

2007-03-04T20:07:00.000-05:00

"But I won't cry for the wasted years, cause you ain't worth the salt in my tears."

B orn in London, England, Martin began playing and writing music when he was ten. When he was seventeen and still at Art school, with his band Mandrake he signed his first record deal with Parlophone/EMI, and subsequently had the honor of recording at the legendary Abbey Road Studios. He was later signed to George Martins AIR group of companies and then went on to become an important part of the London studio scene as an arranger, vocalist and one of the most sought after session guitarists around. After a brief stint with the British art rock band Greenslade, Martin moved to New York where he immediately found work as a touring and session musician for such artists as Meatloaf, Ellen Foley and Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson. He then signed as a solo artist to Mercury Records winning critical acclaim for his three self-penned albums, though he is probably best known for his top 40 and MTV hit single "Salt in My Tears". Since then Martin has become one of the most prominent writers in America, he has received orchestral commissions, and has written songs for such artists as Celine Dion, *NSYNC, Dream, Michael Bolton, Kenny Loggins, Pat Benatar, Jessica Andrews, 5-Star, Jeff Healey, Rebecca St. James, Nana Mouskouri, Willy Nile, Gregg Allman and Barry Manilow, to name a few.

As an instrumentalist he has recorded and/or performed with Julian Lennon, Bonnie Tyler, Neil Sedaka, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Engelbert Humperdinck, Lulu, Mick Jones, Donna Summer, Dan Huff, Cliff Richards, Charlie Pride, Olivia Newton-John, Johnny Mathis, Michel Legrand, the Hollies, Anton Fig, Chris Squire, Meatloaf, Tom Jones, Albert Hammond, Ian Hunter, Mick Ronson, Andy Williams, G.E.Smith, Jim Steinman, Charles Aznavour and Jimmy Webb.

As a back-up vocalist he can be heard everywhere, from recordings by Celine Dion and Mark Anthony to the Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack.

"Salt in my Tears"

The Tubes

2007-03-03T12:09:00.000-05:00

"It's been 6 months. She hasn't shut up once. I tried to explain she's driving me insane."

T he Tubes were arch satirists of popular culture whose outrageous performance-art concepts -- which swung wildly from soft-core pornography to suit-and-tie conservatism -- frequently eclipsed their elusive musical identity. The beginnings of the group originate in Phoenix, Arizona in the late '60s, where guitarist Bill Spooner, keyboardist Vince Welnick and bassist Rick Anderson formed as the Beans (alternately billing themselves as the Radar Men from Uranus). After moving to San Francisco in 1972, the Beans recruited guitarist Roger Steen and drummer Prairie Prince (from Red, White & Blues), and later became the Tubes with the addition of Michael Cotten on keyboards and former roadie Fee Waybill on lead vocals.

"Talk to ya Later"

"She's a Beauty

Dwight Twilley

2007-02-28T16:46:00.000-05:00

"I guess I was wrong because I misunderstood about girls."

A s one of the premier innovators of the “power pop” sound, Dwight Twilley's place in rock history is assured. He fronted the Dwight Twilley Band, a legendary trio from Tulsa , which scored a deal in 1974 with Shelter Records and had a major hit with the very first record they recorded professionally, “I'm On Fire,” in the summer of 1975. The band went on to record a brilliant first album, Sincerely , which was released in 1976. Sincerely has since come to be regarded as one of the best American albums of the Seventies. A second album, Twilley Don't Mind , was recorded with a more basic live feel to it, and released on Arista in the fall of 1977. Disenchanted with their failure to sustain the commercial success they deserved, the group disbanded in 1978.

In 1984, Twilley released the hit album, Jungle , which included the smash single, “Girls” (with a cameo by long-time friend Tom Petty). With a funny, Porky's -inspired video, the song was in heavy rotation on MTV for six months. A second single, “Little Bit Of Love” also hit, and the third single “Why You Wanna Break My Heart” was included in a cover version on the platinum-selling Wayne's World soundtrack several years later.

"I'm on Fire"
"Girls"

Rick Springfield

2007-02-25T10:08:00.000-05:00

"And she was young, but she was ripe"

W hile Rick had a lot of really good songs...

"I've done everything for you"
"Don't talk to strangers,"
"Jessie's Girl"

... the following song is my favorite.

"Calling All Girls"

Diesel

2007-02-24T11:38:00.000-05:00

"The engine stomping like a disco. We ought to dump her in the bay"

D iesel, composed of Rob Vunderink (guitar/vocals), Mark Boon (guitar), Frank Papendrecht (bass) and Pim Koopman (drums/keyboards), formed in the late 1970s, and released their first single in 1979. Following their formation, they had several hits in the Netherlands, but had already disbanded by 1980.

In 1981 Watts in a Tank was released in the United States. The single Sausalito Summernight, a song that had been only a minor hit in the Netherlands, became a huge U.S. radio hit, and rose to #25 on the U.S. Top 40. It reached #1 in Canada.

"Sausalito Summernight"

Van Halen

2007-02-21T18:40:00.000-05:00

"Well, I'm a bum in the sun and I'm having fun"

W ith the latest rumor being, concerning the new Van Halen reunion tour, that it possibly may not be happening, now is a good time to feature a couple songs from them.....Roth Style!!

Even though the 1st song stands for Dead or Alive, let's pretend that it means Dead on Arrival, as it appears their reunion tour will be.

The 2nd song is my favorite Van Halen tune!

"D.O.A"

"Beautiful Girls"

Bob Welch

2007-02-20T21:45:00.000-05:00

"the way you fill those blue jeans baby, my my my"

It's so tempting for me to just post the rock side of the 70's & 80's, because that is what I enjoyed at the time. But as I have gotten older I have started to really enjoy the pop songs that I really didn't care about back then.

This is one such song.

"Precious Love"

Nazareth

2007-02-17T14:53:00.000-05:00

W elcome to my latest blog project, which will feature awesome songs from the 70's & 80's. I will lean more to the rock/pop side of it, and leave the dance music to my other blog, Digital Eargasm.

I might as well kick it off with my favorite song of all time! I went absolutely mental the first time that I heard this.

The great riff....the heavy beats.

Pure Heaven!

"Hair of the Dog"

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