Moxy (album)
| Moxy | ||||
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| Studio album by Moxy | ||||
| Released | 1975 1976 | |||
| Recorded | 1974 - 1975 Van Nuys, California | |||
| Genre | Hard rock/Heavy metal | |||
| Length | 36:25 | |||
| Label |
Polydor Can. (1975) Mercury Records US. (1976) | |||
| Producer | Mark Smith and Moxy | |||
| Moxy chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
Moxy,[2] also informally known as The Black Album or Moxy I, is the self-titled debut album by the Canadian hard rock and heavy metal band Moxy. Their independently produced album was originally released in 1975 by Polydor Records in Canada, then under Mercury Records label was reissued in 1976 for worldwide distribution, both labels were owned by PolyGram at the time (they are now owned by Universal Music Group).
Tommy Bolin was a guest musician on the album, who had previously been the lead guitarist for the James Gang and would go on to replace Ritchie Blackmore in Deep Purple. Tommy Bolin does all but two guitar solos; all rhythm guitar and the solos on "Sail On Sail Away", "Can't You See I'm A Star" and the ending of "Train" were performed by Earl Johnson.[3] Earl was actually supposed to have done all the guitar parts, but got into a disagreement with the producer and was consequently tossed out of the studio. Tommy Bolin, being nearby, was asked by Moxy's manager Roland Paquin to fill in for Earl Johnson. Roland Paquin knew Bolin from when he was road manager for the James Gang. The debut album originally released in 1975 by Polydor for distributing in Canada was picked up by many radio stations in the USA and was one of the most requested albums in Texas and as consequence Moxy was picked up by the larger Mercury Records label in the US and a national distribution deal was made and the album was reissued in 1976. Bolin was only in the studio for this album, contrary to popular belief that he appears on Moxy II.[4] Though Tommy’s time with Moxy was short, the album is tremendously popular with Tommy’s fans.[5] Tommy’s tone and phrasing were very similar to his classic James Gang sound. The album produced the hit songs "Can't You See I'm a Star", "Train", "Out of the Darkness" and with "Sail On Sail Away" and "Moon Rider" that are still in the 2000s (decade) on the regular rotation on several Rock radio stations in Texas. The album sold well because of heavy promotion by the label who released the album on 8 Track in large numbers. Buddy Caine, who is listed on the album cover, did not join the band until after the album was finished. Buddy was initially brought on board by the band as a rhythm guitarist to free up Earl Johnson so he could play the solos on stage that Tommy Bolin had played in the studio.
Tracks (1975)|(1976)
- Fantasy - 5:40 (Earl Johnson) (Solo by Bolin)
- Sail On Sail Away - 4:52 (Earl Johnson) (Solo by Johnson)
- Can't You See I'm a Star - 3:36 (Earl Johnson) (Solo by Johnson)
- Moon Rider (Moonrider) - 4:25 (Earl Johnson, Buzz Shearman) (Solo by Bolin)
- Time to Move On - 4:09 (Earl Johnson, Buzz Shearman) (Solo by Bolin)
- Still I Wonder - 4:16 (Earl Johnson) (Solo by Bolin)
- Train - 4:37 (Earl Johnson, Robert Bonnell) (Solo by Bolin and Johnson)
- Out of the Darkness - 4:57 (Earl Johnson, Buzz Shearman) (Solo by Bolin)
EP (1974)
Single/EP(Yorkville Records 1974)
- "Can't You See I'm a Star" (Solo by Johnson)
- "Out of the Darkness"
Album Credits (1975)
- Buzz Shearman: vocals
- Earl Johnson: Guitar
- Terry Juric: Bass
- Bill Wade: drums
- Tommy Bolin: Guitar (Solos)
- Tom Stephenson: Piano in "Fantasy" (Tommy Bolin's long time keyboardist)
- Mark Smith : Producer, Engineer
- Richard Dashut : Engineer
- Recorded and Mixed at Sound City, Van Nuys, California
- Jacket sleeve photo by Larry Nickels
- Arranged by Moxy
- Buddy Caine: guitar - Note: Buddy Caine is listed on the album cover, but did not join the band until after the album was finished.
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Moon Rider (1975)
 "Moon Rider" From 1975 Album Moxy , By Earl Johnson, Buzz Shearman Can't You See I'm A Star (1975)
"Can't You See I'm A Star " From 1975 Album Moxy , ByEarl Johnson Sail on Sail Away (1975)
"Sail on Sail Away" From 1975 Album Moxy , By Earl Johnson, Buzz Shearman |
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Reissued
Moxy’s original catalogue of albums were again available starting in 1994 when Valerie Shearman ("Buzz" widow) oversaw the release of all of Moxy's back catalogue of albums on CD through Pacemaker Records, and again in 2003 this time through Unidisc Music Inc.
References
- ↑ Allmusic review
- ↑ "Discography". canadianbands.
- ↑ "Tommy Bolin History". Tommy Bolin Fan Page. Retrieved 2006-09-22.
- ↑ "The Tommy Bolin Discobiography". thehighwaystar.com. Retrieved 2007-09-13.
- ↑ "Tommy Bolin Archives". tbolin.com.
External links
- Moxy Official Web Site
- Moxy's official MySpace Page
- CD/Album Review Review of Moxy at VistaRecords.us
- Earl Johnson interview at Tommy Bolin Fan Page on Angelfire
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