US and Canadian Heavy Metal 7"-scene
is still one of the least explored niches in the domain of Old Metal Vinyl Collecting, at least in relation to its size and popularity. Hence forum member and long-time fan & collector of rare American 7"s, Kristian "Khnud" Knutsson has taken on this impossible feat of documentation, making this the 3rd and - surely in the long run - largest Singles-Special of The Corroseum to date...
A note on rarity Most of the releases reviewed herein are to be considered rare, usually released in either 500 or 1000 copies by small independent labels, or by the bands themselves. The rating is therefore an attempt at approximating how often an item shows up for sale.
= Rather common, a copy can most likely be found without too much effort
= Uncommon, still turns up a few times per year
= Rare, you'll most likely have to search a bit before you find one
= Very rare, expect to have to search several years before one turns up
= More or less impossible to find. The number of known copies can be counted with the fingers of one hand
Also, please note that rarity scores might change over time. A good example would be the Hazardous Waste 45, which was once believed to have been released in only 200 copies and was at that point a very expensive and desired item. Many years later another 300 copies were discovered in a warehouse and the item is, at the time this is written, reasonably easy to find at an affordable price.
A note on ratingReviews are subjective. What I think is great, someone else might think is crap. And the other way around. I strongly suggest using the reviews as a general guide and not as a definitive quality indicator.
= Bad. You probably don't need this unless you're a manic completist (like yours truly)
= Ok, but nothing spectacular
= Good, definitely worth checking out
= Great, buy or die!
= You need this more than oxygen...
Finally, I'd like to thank John Haupt, without him this project would never have been possible.
Tangram - Take It From The Top EP
(Margnat Records, 198?)A rather unspectacular melodic hard rock EP, but it might still be of interest to some as this is likely the first vinyl appearance of ROB ROCK, later in IMPELLITTERI, AXEL RUDI PELL, AVANTASIA, etc. The highlight has to be the b-side opener "Making Love", which has some nice URIAH HEEP influences, especially the bass and the multi layered vocals. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Teaser - Welcome To The Future / Dream On
( Music City Records, 1979)Some sort of power pop/hard rock hybrid, where the b-side has just barely enough of that early US sound that just screams "Private release!" all over, for it to be of interest to an archeologist of the obscure and the heavy. Just don't expect this single to blow your socks off though. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Thruster - Back In Time / Excellorater
(Fraternity Records, 1985)One of those singles that's really a must in everyone's collection of North American obscure seven inchers. Why? Number one: Because both songs are very accessible, classic 80's heavy metal. Excellorater is easily the better song, with a driving barbed wire riff never releasing its grip on the listener. Number two: Because it's reasonably easy to find for a modest sum. Number three - grab one of the 95 first copies of the compilation album released by Fils Du Metal and the single is included! Oh, they're all sold out, you say? Too bad, but not strange at all because this is high quality stuff. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Tora Orphan - Don't Stand In My Way / I Need Your Love
(BME Records And Tapes, 1984)One of the legendary BME Records and Tapes singles and certainly one of the best heavy metal ones ever to come out of the US. While slightly more melodic compared to label mates FAR EAST, there are several similarities between these two bands. They both deliver powerful, great classic heavy metal songs and both releases are next to impossible to find without having to spend a small fortune, being released in what seems to be only minute quantities. Not much else to say, both songs slay. Buy or die! Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Torn Orphan - D.E.A.T.H. / She Cries
(Kiderian Records Productions, 1984)If you ever feel like having mixed feelings about something, I suggest you listen to this presumably Illinois based outfit. They tell a tale on the a-side about some misspent youth turned serial killer, but it's played in a very cheerful "good rockin' felling" fashion. Confusing? You bet. At least D.E.A.T.H. is still a pretty decent hard rock song. Unfortunately things don't end well, since the b-side surely exists solely to torture us with an even sadder tale, only this time it's coupled with a pointless piano ballad. ARGH! WHY? Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Toys - Crank It Up / It Was You
(private, 1989)Loud, slightly bombastic and very commercial sounding "big hair" hard rock in the vein of TRIUMPH and the likes. Both tracks would basically fit perfectly as a late 80's or early 90's sitcom theme song, but will probably sound a lot less perfect in the ears of a grizzled Corroseum veteran. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Trapper - Hiding My Love For You / It’s All In Your Head
(Bosstown Records, 1979)Neatly performed hard rock/power pop hybrid with some nice melodic soloing, but not much else to make it stand out among the multitude of other similar releases. Still, I suppose hard rock collectors could do a lot worse than to get a copy of this. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Troupe - Play The Game / Movin' On Out
(Southern Star Records, )Very interesting mix of metal tinged hard rock and southern rock out of Shreveport, Louisiana. Oh, and there are keyboards as well. So, imagine if ZZ TOP had a piano player, toned down the boogie and blues elements and added the occasional double bass drum outburst. I guess you have to hear it to believe it. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Twin-wire - Looking For You / One Night Stand
(private, 1986)If you dig DIAMOND HEAD-esque vocals, then this is for you as the singer is a dead ringer for Sean Harris. Music wise we're served an up-tempo and slightly chaotic a-side (the drums especially are sort of all over the place), coupled with a slower number on the flip where the bands adopts a slightly softer approach while still remaining firmly rooted in heavy metal. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Ty Barc - Whisper / Borderline
(Zack Records, 1978)I'm not a very big fan of power ballads. Except when they end in all out guitar mayhem crescendoes! At exactly 3:35 minutes into the song "Whisper" some unnatural force (insert your favourite deity here) entered the guitarist of TY BARC and possessed his body, giving him the ability to become both "Buck Dharma" Roeser of BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, Allen Collins and Gary Rossington of LYNYRD SKYNYRD, as well as Don Felder and Joe Walsh of EAGLES, all at the same time! Yes, this is some really, REALLY great guitar playing here, and a solo that would have gone down in the history of the greatest guitar solos, if it weren't for the fact that this outfit was forever doomed to remain in obscurity. Until now, perhaps? And while the rest of this release is pretty standard 70's hard rock, you need it because you get "Free Bird", "Hotel California" and the live version of "Veteran Of The Psychic Wars" all rolled into one. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
