#buddyrock

Andwella

     Свою короткую, но яркую карьеру музыканты начали как обычное трио из Белфаста конца 60-х годов. О том начальном периоде их творчества, к сожалению, не знает практически никто. А может это и к лучшему. Музыканты только начинали формироваться, экспериментировали с инструментами, звучанием, искали свой самобытный стиль. Свой первый альбом "Love & Poetry" группа выпустила уже в 1969 году на лейбле CBS, переехав в более перспективный Лондон, и сменив название на Andwella's Dream.

     В то время уже четко определился лидер коллектива. Им стал гитарист, пианист и певец Дэйв Льюис (Dave Lewis), написавший весь материал к первому альбому группы. Кстати, чуть позже, в 1970 году, вышел его сольник с непретенциозным названием "Songs of David Lewis". Сейчас эта работа считается ультрараритетной, ведь ее тираж был всего 50 экземпляров. Но музыка на альбоме не идет ни в какое сравнение с творениями Andwella. 11 композиций, в большинстве своем записанных под фортепиано и гитару, представляют собой тихие баллады, и могут заинтересовать только тех, кто решил досконально изучить творчество группы.

     Первый альбом Andwella's Dream, выполненный в более психоделическом, чем прогрессивном ключе, был очень высоко оценен критиками. Да и сейчас, по прошествии более 40 лет, эта работа звучит очень достойно и свежо. После такого удачного дебюта, группа укоротила свое название до Andwella, и на фирме Reflection музыканты выпустили последующие два альбома, но такого успеха, как после "Love & Poetry", уже не было. Второй альбом "World's End", вышедший в 1970 году, также полностью состоял из композиций написанных лидером группы Дэйвом Льюисом. В его звучании уже не было психоделии навсегда ушедшей эпохи 60-х, но появились отчетливые прогрессивные нотки 70-х годов, а стиль музыки, благодаря приглашенному для записи альбома флейтисту и саксофонисту Бобу Даунесу (Bob Downes), местами стал отдаленно напоминать Traffic.

     Третья, заключительная работа группы "People's People", вышедшая в 1971 году, представляет собой зрелую, интеллигентную музыку, достойную уважения и внимания. Альбом можно отнести к категории «прогрессивного рока» только отчасти. Скорее, это просто красивый мелодичный рок начала 70-х в духе The Moody Blues, Barclay James Harvest и Amazing Blondel, но также высоко оцененный критиками.

VIE KOBZA

     The vocal and instrumental ensemble "Kobza" was created in 1971 in Kiev, consisting of Alexander Zuev (musical director, keyboards), Konstantin Novitsky, Vladimir Kushpet, Alexander Rogoza (bandura players), Georgy Garbar (flute, pipe), Valery Viter ( vocals) and Anatoly Lyutyuk (percussion instruments).        In September 1971, the company "Melody" ordered from the leading Ukrainian singer Valentina Kuprina to record a small disc, VIE "Kobza" was invited to accompany him when recording. The three songs recorded with Kobza were so liked by the editors of Melody record company that it was decided to record a solo record of the ensemble ... This record gained phenomenal popularity not only among listeners in the Soviet Union, but also throughout the world.

       And in 1973, the first official recognition came to VIA Kobza - at the “All-Union Competition of Vocal Instrumental Ensembles” in Minsk, she shared the third place with the Muscow ensemble. The first time received the "Pesnyary", the second was not awarded to anyone. Such a successful performance opens up great opportunities for the ensemble to tour not only in Ukraine, but throughout the Soviet Union.

     Since 1979, the most striking rise in popularity has begun at VIE Kobza. The ensemble prepares new programs, updates stage costumes, gives solo concerts several times a year on the main stage of the country - the Ukrainian Palace. "State Concert", which at that time was engaged in foreign tours, puts the ensemble on a regular schedule, where trips are scheduled for 5 years in advance. And, in general, in the 80s of the 20th century the ensemble becomes one of the most touring groups of the “Ukr-contsert”, giving more than 200 concerts in a year. The travel geography covered the entire former Soviet Union, European countries, Canada, Japan, etc.

       The basis of VIE Kobza’s repertoire was composed of Ukrainian folk songs, to a lesser extent songs by Soviet composers. Several records and music videos of the songs performed by the ensemble have been published.

Sunrise movement 

     Lenny Myers attended Pershing High School, where he performed in many talent shows. He began his professional career with the Casanovas in 1965, leaving his job with the Ford Motor Company.   

     He later joined another group in 1968, called the Sunrise Movement.  In 1973, Lenny joined the Dramatics, and sang on his first album "A Dramatics Experience." 

     To find this groove in the marketplace you can go here.

BlacLove

     The sound of popular black music was changing in the mid-seventies, and during this time Blacklove was one of the prominent black groups in Pittsburgh. According to their manager and producer, Walt Maddox “That group was very successful. They were probably one of the most successful local bands, black bands, to come out of this area.” In 1975 James Brown released an album titled Sex Machine Today. The cover reads “Disco Soul – Dance, Dance, Dance.” 

     Even the Minister of the New New Super Heavy Funk was high-stepping into the disco era. It just so happens that Alan Leeds, who worked with both Blacklove and James Brown, moved to Pittsburgh prior to becoming Brown’s road manager. 

“In ’69 I quit school to go on the road with Brown. And then I ended up coming back. I married a girl from Pittsburgh. I wanted to go to New York, but she wanted to go back home with her family. I moved back in ’73 or ’74. Walt was kind of managing and producing Blacklove. They were actually pretty hot for a couple of years. We’re kind of getting into the disco era here. It was around ’75. They became the hottest band in that region. You know … West Virginia, Eastern Ohio, Western Pennsylvania, the whole tri-state area.”

     The core of the Blacklove originated west of the city in Beaver County. They were a spin off of the Notation Rock Band. According to drummer, Bobby Short “Those guys were older. They fell by the wayside and we picked things up. Rusty Carter, Francis Barnes (Jet) and me …we picked up a couple of other guys and kept going.”

      The first Blacklove recordings feature Short (drums), Barnes (keys) and Carter (bass) along with Lain and Lina Lee (vocals), John "Doc" Eberhardt (guitar) and Robert “Mousey” Thomas (conga). Barnes, originally from New Jersey, attended Slippery Rock University. Short explains that things came together after Barnes graduated and moved to Homewood to teach at Westinghouse High School.

 “Laine and Lina Lee were picked up when Jet moved to Pittsburgh. John Eberhardt was from McKees Rocks. We were at the Crazy Quilt and that’s where Jet met Walt Maddox.” 

Jonesy

     Formed by brothers John and Trevor Jones, this prog rock band had three albums out on the Dawn label in the early 1970s. Always racked by internal tensions, there were various musician changes along the way. 

     With their three early-'70s Dawn albums fetching high prices in the collector shops, it was a good thing El took up the cause in 2007 and released a collection of Jonesy's material, titled Ricochet: Pioneering in 1972-1973, that the rest of us could afford. 

     Culling tracks from their scant three LPs (1972's No Alternative, as well as 1973's Growing and Keeping Up), El put together a pretty representational spread of tunes. The band had two major facets -- thundering, King Crimson-esque prog and drug-addled psychedelia -- and both get equal billing on Ricochet.