Missionaria Protectiva

  BLACKWATER PARK  Dirt Box  (BASF,1972) - Hard/Prog rock       Most well known for inspiring an Opeth album title, this German band's only album is well worth tracking down for it's own merits. It's hard to believe these guys are German - there's not a trace of Krautrock, it sounds more typical of early seventies U.K hard rock. Lots of very solid rock on standouts Rock Song, Mental Block and Roundabout, but they also show a surprising degree of subtlety on an inspired reinterpretation of the Beatle's For No One. TRACKLIST : Mental Block                          Roundabout                          One's Life                          Indian Summer                          Dirty Face      ...

  STILL LIFE  Still Life  (Vertigo,1971) - Prog/Hard rock       This one's got a bit of a poor reputation, but is pretty great if approached with the right expectations.  A Hammond organ led 3 piece, these guys come across like a less complicated and much darker version of the more highly rated Vertigo outfit Cressida. Simplistic, hard rocking prog with mysterious occult lyrics, which would probably appeal more to a hard rock audience than a prog one, which may explain it's reputation. Aside from some wonderful Hammond work, there's also some great flute and the choruses on tracks like standouts October Witches and Love Song No. 6 are as good as anything from the Uriah Heep songbook. TRACKLIST : People In Black                          Don't Go                          October Witches           ...

  MONTAGE  Montage  (Laurie,1969) - Psychedelic pop       After leaving the Left Banke, Michael Brown -- who had been the group's chief artistic force as principal songwriter, arranger, and keyboardist -- worked with Montage to continue in the splendid Baroque pop/rock vein of his early recordings with the Left Banke.        Montage sounds far more like the real follow-up to the Left Banke's first LP, Walk Away Renee/Pretty Ballerina, than the actual one, The Left Banke, Too. This is because after the first LP the band's three singers had sadly parted ways with keyboardist and prime songwriter Michael Brown, who instead became Montage's mentor/mastermind. (It's a long story: Brown's dad was managing the band to the distrust of the other members and Brown, like Brian Wilson, similarly disdained touring in favor of staying home to write and record.)         And though Brown was not technically a Montage member, he ...

  FORTUNE  Fortune  (WB,1978) - AOR       This was the first incarnation of the band, which would end of morphing into a melodic rock AOR outfit in the early 1980’s and releasing another self-titled album in 1985 full of AOR hits. This release isn’t bad and has some decent period rock with a soulful vibe courtesy of a female lead vocalist. Side One is strong with 3 out of 4 chugging rockers. Side Two moves more into a softer pop rock style however still in a catchy mode, like the strong soulful vocals in “Heavy Love” and closer “Rainy Day Woman”. TRACKLIST : Saddle The Wind                     Squeeze Me, Tease Me                     Certain Kind Of Feeling                     Bein' Real With The Feelin'                     Forget About Tomorrow     ...

        Jason Eli Becker  is an American composer and former guitarist. At the age of 16, he became part of the  Shrapnel Records -produced duo  Cacophony  with his friend  Marty Friedman , and they released two albums,  1987 and  1988. Since the dissolution of Cacophony in 1989, Becker has undertaken a solo career, releasing seven albums since his 1988 debut  Perpetual Burn . He later joined  David Lee Roth 's solo band and recorded one album with him .       Becker's performing career was cut short by  ALS, which he was diagnosed with in 1989.       Often incorporating advanced techniques such as sweep picking, alternate picking, artificial harmonic accenting, tapping and hybrid picking; he was among the leaders of the field during the technical shred guitar and  neoclassical metal  trend of the mid to late 1980s and is still respected and honored by his musician peers t...

  HOT CHOCOLATE  Hot Chocolate  (RAK,1975) - Pop,Funk       Not quite as substantial as  Cicero Park , but more startling, thanks to "You Sexy Thing," the eccentrically wild-and-proper English-soul supersmash included hereupon. TRACKLIST : Hello America                          The Street                          Call The Police                          Dollar Sign                          You Sexy Thing                          A Child's Prayer                          A Warm Smile                         ...

  GEORGE HARRISON  Extra Texture  (Apple,1975) - Rock, Soul        Among the most underrated albums in his discography, ‘Extra Texture’ is George Harrison’s ‘soul record.’        If you’ve overlooked this album in the past, then you will not be disappointed when you give it a listen… and remember, once is never enough. TRACKLIST : You                        The Answer's At The Edge                        This Guitar (Can't Keep From Crying)                        Ooh Baby (You Know That I Love You)                        World Of Stone                        A Bit More Of You                   ...

  AVERAGE WHITE BAND  Cut The Cake  (Atlantic,1975) - Funk,Soul      'Cut The Cake' by Average White Band is generally well-regarded, with many praising its funky, soulful sound and strong musicianship. The album is considered a great example of '70s R&B and funk. Some specific tracks like 'Cut The Cake' and 'Schoolboy Crush' are highlighted for their infectious rhythms and memorable melodies. TRACKLIST : Cut The Cake                          Schoolboy Crush                          It's A Mystery                          Groovin' The Night Away                          If I Ever Lose This Heaven                          Why   ...

  LAURA NYRO  Smile  (Columbia,1976) - Soft rock, soul       Laura Nyro's first album in four years fails to live up to the promise of her lovely early records. While  Smile  has a certain charm to it, which grows with repeated listenings, there is a striking absence of the classic pop melodies that characterize the songs on  Eli & the Thirteenth Confession, The First Songs  and  New York Tendaberry , many of which (in versions by other artists) became big hits. Instead, Nyro goes for a more exotic, jazz-tinged approach which, while occasionally interesting, ignores the basis of her initial appeal. TRACKLIST : Sexy Mama                    Children Of The Junks                    Money                    I Am The Blues                   ...

  ERIC CLAPTON  Eric Clapton  (Polydor,1970) - Rock, Blues       Eric Clapton's self-titled 1970 album, often called "The 1970 Album," is generally considered a transitional and often overlooked but solid entry in his discography.  Reviews describe it as  a relaxed, blues-tinged album with a blend of blues, rock and roll, country, and pop influences, showcasing a more laid-back Clapton .  While some reviewers found it lacking the intense guitar solos of his previous work, others appreciated the album's cohesion and listenability.  It marked a shift towards a more mellow and pop-oriented sound for Clapton.   TRACKLIST : Slunky                        Bad Boy                        Lonesome And A Long Way From Home                        After Midnight  ...

  MELISSA MANCHESTER Don't Cry Out Loud  (Arista,1978) - Pop      Most of the album’s tracks were recorded with Leon Ware producing; Ware had expressed an interest in recording Manchester based on the singer’s version of the Ware composition “I Wanna Be Where You Are” featured on the 1977 album release  Singin’… . The tracks Manchester recorded with Ware intended as the singer’s 1978 album release – which Manchester planned to name  Caravan  – were all original material except “Bad Weather”, a Stevie Wonder composition which had been a single for the Supremes in 1974. When Manchester submitted the  Caravan  tracks to Arista, label owner Clive Davis felt none of the tracks would afford Manchester the Top 40 hit required to revive her career and at Davis’ strong suggestion Manchester recorded the Peter Allen and Carole Bayer Sager composition “Don’t Cry Out Loud” with Harry Maslin producing. With the addition of the “Don’t Cry Out Loud” tr...

        Keyboardist Brent Mydland's arrival allowed the  Grateful Dead  to pack the entire dictionary of rock 'n' roll into their repertoire – if ever so briefly.       Mydland, who joined in 1979 only to die suddenly on July 26, 1990, brought a classic soul and R&B sound that shook away the cobwebs, courtesy of a Hammond B3 organ with spinning Leslie speaker.       Before Brent Mydland joined the Grateful Dead in April 1979, he had been playing in a band called Silver, formed with John Batforf. Silver released one record for Arista in 1976, featuring the minor hit “Wham Bam.” Silver disbanded soon after, and Mydland joined Bob Weir’s solo band. That led directly to a spot in the Grateful Dead, after Keith and Donna Godchaux's departures. GRATEFUL DEAD Reckoning Arista, 1981 https://www.sendspace.com/file/qb5dof

  STEEL MILL  Green Eyed God  (Penny Farthing,1972) - Progressive rock       A memorable hard rocking prog album by an English outfit that had some success in Germany with their first single release, but didn't stand a chance in their homeland with their record label holding back the album release for a ridiculous amount of time. It's all very English and very pastoral, although don't think of pastoral in terms of Barclay James Harvest or Spring. This taps into something much more pagan and sinister. You can definitely see why metal label Rise Above chose it for reissue. There's some haunting flute work that sounds nothing like Ian Anderson despite what a lot of other reviewers seem to say, and some excellent sax which places this up there with early Black Widow and Ginhouse as one of the better atmospheric dark prog outfits. TRACKLIST : Blood Runs Deep                          Summers Child ...

  RAGNAROK  Nooks  (Polydor,1976) - Progressive rock       This album is a real symphonic gem from the mid-70s. Ragnarok were New Zealand's premier prog group, and this record stands up with the best. It reminds me a lot of Sebastian Hardie in its lush textures and excellent guitar playing. The vocals are good, but unobtrusive and perhaps a little lacking in excitement, but I'll take on-key over exciting any day. The band had two keyboard players, who are allowed to stretch out on a number of beautiful, pastoral ballads. There's even a brief section of boogie-rock a la Status Quo, which, oddly, doesn't feel out of place. Overall, it's hard to pinpoint why this album is so appealing, but it is undoubtedly a very melodic, peaceful and engaging listening experience. TRACKLIST : Five New Years                       Waterfall / Capt. Fogg                     ...

  EAST OF EDEN  Jig-a-Jig  (Deram,1971) - Progressive rock       Jig-A-Jig is a nine-track compilation from this wonderfully enthusiastic British band, spotlighting their jovial blend of folk-rock and jazz elements. With most of the material emerging from 1970's Snafu album, East of Eden's flighty, progressive atmosphere comes to life through the mixture of flute, saxophone, and, especially, electric violin. TRACKLIST : Jig-a-Jig                        Nymphenburger                        Medley                        Northern Hemisphere                        Gum Arabic                        Isadora                  ...

  SUPERSISTER  Pudding En Gisteren  (Polydor,1972) - Progressive rock       Pudding En Gisteren is brilliant essential canterbury prog album, that makes you wish you could destroy your piano lessons for good and hoping that you could do more of this stuff forever. It is superb, wild, insane, and all-in-all mad. So if you are in the Royal Ballet training to be a ballet dancer and give the finger to your teacher, or just piss off the music majors of insanity keyboard sounds of these fine dutchmen, Go for it and once again, PLAY IT FUCKING LOUD! TRACKLIST : Radio                     Supersisterretsisrepus                     Psychopath                     Judy Goes On Holiday                     Pudding En Gisteren (Music For Ballet) https://www.sendspace.com...

  BEGGARS OPERA  Act One  (Vertigo,1970) - Progressive rock       This stuff is beautifully played, with an overall optimistic feel. Fans of the Nice, ELP, Deep Purple and roller rinks are sure to dig it. TRACKLIST : Poet And Peasant                     Passacaglia                     Memory                     Raymond's Road                     Light Cavalry https://www.sendspace.com/file/8xevoq

  PENGUIN CAFE ORCHESTRA  Broadcasting From Home  (EG,1984) - Instrumental,Avant-pop       Recorded over two years and featuring much of the same cast as the first two albums,  Broadcasting  is clearly part and parcel of   Penguin Cafe Orchestra ‘s original vision: mixing serious and non-serious instruments together into short songs that sound like sunlight in your ears. Only it’s a dappled sunlight this time, interspersed with passing clouds. A song like “Air,” featuring heavy harmonium and made of mist and lost sailors’ souls, or the stationary “White Mischief” gives the album a stilted feel suited to an E.G. artist ( Brian Eno ,  Harold Budd ). TRACKLIST : Music For A Found Harmonium                        Prelude & Yodel                        More Milk                 ...