VINYL CLASSICS

IRON BUTTERFLY - Sun & Steel (1975 MCA)

Nevermind the late '60s psychedelic stuff that's often dogged this band as some stoneage one-hit wonder - this album from the mid '70s is classic Hard-prog rock stuff! The title track opens the album - a true dramatic '70s classic with hammond, piano, heavy guitar, cool vocals from Erik Braunn, powerful drums from Ron Bushy. From there the album is a true masterpiece from track to track, with rockers like "I'm Right, I'm Wrong" (which features one eerie keyboard intro!), "Scion", and ballads - "Beyond The Milky Way",

"Watch The World Go By", and the heavy-guitar and haunting closing cut "Scorching Beauty". The latter would be the title of the band's follow up and final album, which just didn't measure up to Sun & Steel, which sits comfortably among the best '70s albums from 'Purple, Heep, and others of the genre.
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AMISH - Amish (1972 Sussex)

A little known Canadian band who released this lone Lp in '72. Features great hammond, vocals, and guitar solos to boot. Also includes a cover of "Dear Mr Fantasy". Often mistaken as some European prog band from the era, but nope - they were Canadian, and this one's highly recommended to fans of the heavy prog era.

ROUGH DIAMOND - Rough Diamond (1977 Island)

Something of a "supergroup" at the time that flopped fast. This being the lone album that featured Heep's David Byron. This album needs to grow on listeners, with great musical moments on this jazz/prog influenced project, such as "Lock & Key", "Scared", "End Of The Line", and classic ballad "Seasong" - all of which feature Byron in his best vocal form! (Not to mention guitarist Clem Clempson as well!). Another reminder of why Byron was THE greatest singer of the '70s!

APRIL WINE - Electric Jewels & Stand Back (1973 & '74)

The 2 most essential April Wine albums of the '70s! Back before all the arena rock anthems and formulated AOR/HR kicked in (ala 1980 - '85). Electric Jewels featured the hit "Weeping Widow", and a number of cool heavier tunes and ballads that saw Myles Goodwyn and Jim Clench share songwriting and vocals. The title track being the band's best epic moment on record, and the environmentally cautious "Lady Run, Lady Hide" - another minor masterpiece. Stand Back was a bit less raw, and more commercial in it's songcraft, but included tons of cool tunes like the hit "Oowatanite", the rebellious teen anthem "Don't Push Me Around", and cool rocker "Victim Of Your Love".