Also Check This Out........
This is an extra album from the same year that I've chosen, that either just missed the final cut, I think could be of interest, or even from a different genre that could be of interest or influence on the hard rock/heavy metal genre.
Quartz Quartz 1977 (Jet)
Heavy Metal
Quartz were a Birmingham based band (so their metal credentials were fully intact from the word go) They had originally been known as Bandy Legs, but they soon changed their name to the more suitable metal sounding Quartz in 1977 and issued their debut album that same year. The band also had strong links to some of the biggest bands of the day such as Black Sabbath and Queen who they had toured with, as well supporting new breakthrough stars AC/DC at the time of their debut. But it was their links to Black Sabbath that were the strongest and most inspirational, and Tony Iommi who had long championed a number of lesser metal acts already, was soon on hand to produce the album. The Quartz debut has a steady uncompromising feel on its heavier tracks like the epic Sabbath inspired opener “Mainline Riders” the rocking “Street Fighting Lady” the dexterous “Devil’s Brew” both the thumping “Around and Around” and “Pleasure Seekers” all songs that were NWOBHM before the label was even coined. But the overall album feel is let down by its attempts to fuse the heavy aspects of their sound with more lighter musical elements, as can be heard on tracks like “Sugar Rain” which sounds like the band trying to blend metal with the lighter elements of Yes. The rambling “Hustler” which sounds like an attempt at Grand Funk Railroad, the pointless “Smokie” and ummm “Little Old Lady”. While these songs are far from bad and in some cases as on "Sugar Rain" the band display some real songwriting talent, they still don’t really belong on the same album as the more straight-up focused heavier material that also inhabits the album. The Quartz debut is a somewhat tarnished gem of an album and well worth several listens to fully divulge what's on offer here and will probably appeal to any Stray fans. The vocal display of Mike Taylor is an up-tempo one and guitarist/keyboardist Geoff Nicholls would go onto become a vital additional member of Black Sabbath just a few years later. The album was pulled before its release due to problems with the label and was held back till 1980 where it was re-issued as
Deleted, when the NWOBHM had reared its head in the UK and a commercial opening was seen for the band. But much like the Diamond Head debut, it was issued in a plain bland album sleeve, which literally meant a commercial disaster around this time! Also in 1980 they would release their second album
Stand Up and Fight and would go onto to support some of the leading lights of the NWOBHM such as Iron Maiden and Saxon, but surely had things gone differently back in 1977, these two bands could’ve been supporting them!