Okay, read this a paragraph at a time for maximum effect.
I was thumbing through bins at a record store recently and noticed a familiar face staring down at me from an album posted on the wall. The LP was a legendary “lost” album by a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer who had an enviable career…but not with this group. The band’s name was Wind in the Willows, with a sound that might be described as a type of folkie psychedelia. Check them out and see if you recognize the lead singer.
Yeah, Debby Harry before she was a “blondie” and punk took over New York making her one of the top draws at that city’s club scene, and soon an international hit. What prompted Harry to take the cliched “new direction” would seem obvious with changes in the industry, but still a fun artifact if you can find it.
Want more? Ever hear of Blue Angel? Listen to those lead vocals and chances are you’ll guess this one pretty quick.
That sure is Cyndi Lauper. They were actually a popular draw in New York clubs and reformed as Boppin’ the Blues after Cyndi went solo. Now it gets a little weird. Attila was sort of a mix of metal and psychedelia back in 1970. They were a duo that split from a band called The Hassles and issued one album and the lead singer reassessed his options.
Take a close look. That’s Billy Joel, who called the LP “psychedelic bullshit” and if you have a copy you’re sitting on a pile of cash. He wasn’t the only metal head that veered off to the middle of the road. The lead singer had a big voice, but this obviously was not the right fit
He had a different name back then, Michael Bolotin, and after two LPs the band disintegrated with the newly renamed Michael Bolton going on to fame and fortune. This band had a Cleveland connection with Bruce Kulick leaving Meat Loaf after the Bat Out of Hell album to form Blackjack.
Finally they were together for about seven years but it just wasn’t happening for this San Francisco based group so the lead singer took off for greener grass…or Clover
Catch Huey rocking the harmonica in the back!
Finally, a one LP group called The City that was limited by the lead singer / songwriter’s reluctance to tour to promote the album. Give it a listen.
Who else? Carole King. She already had a huge career as a songwriter at the Brill Building and after just a short time with The City she left to take in all the inspiration from her Laurel Canyon friends and released Tapestry.
Sometimes you just know when it’s time to leave.
