Sunday, March 29, 2015

MORNINGSTAR: Morningstar + Venus [Japanese remasters]

MORNINGSTAR[Japanese remaster] front
Requested in "REQUEST & FILL CORNER" section...

MORNINGSTAR is one of those bands that acquired cult status over the years.
Hailing from the US MidWest, Morningstar was founded in the Seventies and seems the group amassed quite a following in the Kansas City area, which attracted CBS Records offering a recording contract.
The self-titled "Morningstar" debut appeared in 1978, and surprised with its blend of pomp AOR and meaty hard rock.

Morningstar's sound can be compared with another iconic band from the same area; Shooting Star, but also Roadmaster, some Styx / Angel and alike, yet much more rocking. Indeed, although the songs feature really melodic vocals and lots of pompy keyboards / analog synths, the guitars are pretty prominent.
On this debut all songs are strong, but my favorite should be "Through The Night", a proto '80s AOR tune full of magic.

MORNINGSTAR Venus [Japanese remaster] front obi

Second LP "Venus" appeared the following year (1979) delivering a more polished sound, still mixing rockers with pompy numbers. One of Morningstar's strengths were the excellent multi-part vocal harmonies reminiscent of another MidWest favourite; Starcastle.
Just listen the great "Let Me Dream".

Both Morningstar LP's sold well, but CBS wanted a more commercial sound for their signed artists as many bands in the same style started to develop (read Journey, REO Speedwagon). Morningstar didn't fit in the upcoming rock&pop AOR sound, and the label drop the band. The group disbanded soon after.
But this talented act delivered 2 very good records which are great examples to understand what the rocking 'pomp' movement was all about.

MORNINGSTAR Venus [Japanese remaster] back cover

"Morningstar" and "Venus" only were released on CD in Japan in 1998, and sadly, now out of print.
These are not the best remasters I've heard, and the CDrips here are not at maximum quality, but believe me, both are almost impossible to find albums and really deserve a place into any collection.
Rare.


Morningstar:
1 - Shotgun Romance
2 - Premeditated Rendezvous
3 - Sunshine (Changin' Of The Season)
4 - Through The Night
5 - Sweet Georgia Peach
6 - Sad Lady
7 - Another Rock And Roll Show
8 - Turn Out All The Lights
9 - Too Much To Lose

Venus:
1 - Angel
2 - Everybody I Love You
3 - Lady Love
4 - Rock And Roll Rodeo
5 - Never Meant To Be
6 - Rosie
7 - Gimme Some Lovin'
8 - Hard Bargain Driver
9 - Let Me Dream

Rick Bacus - vocals, guitars, keyboards
Jerry Chambers - guitars, vocals
Michael Edmunds - guitars, vocals
Greg Leech - bass
Greg Harris - drums, percussion




MORNINGSTAR: Morningstar + Venus
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8 Comments:

Dixon House said...

Great! thanks a lot Camel

T.P said...

Once upon a time, while surfin' the net in the hunt for some good AOR/Melodic Rock stuff, I suddenly came across a certain forum post whose creator supported an at first sight vague hypothesis that acually there ain't one song out there with the term of night in its title whose composition doesn't sound good in one way or the other.

Well, the more I think about this little theory, the more it seems to me that user was on the right track with his opinion; eventually, Morningstar's Through The Night makes no exception here and is worth to get your hands on that band just for this single song all alone. But yeah, that is just the tip of the iceberg! :-)

Thanks, Camelblue, for a cool late 1970s sound trip which prepared the early ground for AOR in the not so far future back then.

Bye for now,
Thomas

Nit said...

Hey my friend, great records!!!
I owe the two on original CD, stunning re issues from sony japan, thanks for all your job on the blog, cheers from Spain!!!

Camelblue said...

Nice to see you around Nit.
Hugs!

Powerline said...

Hello,

sounds promising, yet it seems my anti virus rejects the file...
Can you help please?
Thanks

Camelblue said...

You must be using Chrome browser. Its new 'security' auto-settings are crap. It happens to me too and all users with some random files by no reason.
Anyway, the download starts and continue, just click 'Show all downloads' at the right (or type Ctrl+J), then 'Recover malicious file', and then click 'Hurt me plenty" (moronic isn't it?) and the .rar it is un-blocked.
Let me know if worked or it's a different issue.

Anonymous said...

All my systems block the file in all my browsers with an anti-virus error. Different systems run different anti-virus software but they all dislike the file.

Anonymous said...

Here's two working links

MORNINGSTAR - MORNINGSTAR 1978

https://disk.yandex.com/public/?hash=5luu0OEcjWIsq/J4g8QhBvMKYsqB7g2m7/XqeRlQDgw%3D

MORNINGSTAR - VENUS 1979

https://disk.yandex.com/public/?hash=bs/KxAknIJK/e88IUdb2Xo0BqNlWAWG1KZgATwD6h2A%3D