[2018-04-06] Morningstar "Morningstar (Expanded)" and "Venus" remasters (Rock Candy UK)

Linda · **Posted:** Wed Feb 14, 2018 5:37 am

Morningstar

Description
Special Deluxe Collector's Edition / Fully Remastered Audio / A Pomp Rock Classic / 2 Bonus Tracks / 12-page full colour booklet 4,000 word essay, enhanced artwork, photos and new Interview. You may never have heard of Morningstar, but that's no reason not to make a space in your life for them now. You see, there was a time during the late 1970s when the American music business was releasing an incredible volume of classy rock bands; a seemingly never-ending succession of groups that drank from the same golden goblet as Boston, Styx and Journey. And that style wasn't the only touchstone, as British progressive rock also played a major part in many a US band's sound. Morningstar were no exception to that rule. Formed in Kansas during the early 70s, the band became a formidable live draw and soon attracted the attention of Columbia Records who happily signed them. Recorded in Nashville, their debut album is a fitting period piece, eliciting comparisons to similar sounding mid-west champions such as Roadmaster, Trillion and Starcastle; all groups with a penchant for melody who displayed respect for classy arrangements and impressive musicianship. Morningstar also imbibed heavily from the progressive rock world occupied by the likes of Yes, ELP and Procol Harum. Issued in 1978, the album made little commercial headway but they became regarded as a band to watch. With their hard driving edge and progressive flourishes several tracks standout, such as the pounding 'Turn Out All The Lights', the epic six minute 'Through The Night', which is a veritable stylistic cornucopia of heavy but melodious rock and 'Sad Lady', a classy pomp rock prima donna blessed with layers of soaring vocals and impressive keyboards; all qualities that continue to impress.

Tracklist
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
Bonus Tracks:
10. Gentlemen Of Fortune
11. Remember When

Amazon USA
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079P978LM/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B079P978LM/?tag=imwan-21

Venus

Description
Special Deluxe Collector's Edition / Fully Remastered Audio / 2nd Album from these Kansas City pomp rockers / 12-page full colour booklet 4,000 word essay, enhanced artwork, photos and new Interview. As far as major label obscurities go Kansas City five piece Morningstar must surely rank as one of the most underground of them all. Having issued two albums of period pomp rock, the band barely registered a blip on the radar, but in the UK and Europe some fans of this type of music started to take notice of their records, because a number of import shops were stocking them. It was also helpful to their discovery that the album sleeves seemed to indicate that this was a band that followed in the footsteps of other late seventies musical champions such as Styx, Kansas and REO Speedwagon. Venus was the band's second album, issued in 1979, on the Columbia label and like their debut, it failed, spectacularly, to bother the charts despite the quality of their music. However, to a select few, the band's penchant for playing in a style later labelled as pomp rock (think Trillion, Roadmaster, Starcastle) gave them an undeniable edge, creating the small but dedicated following; one that would grow in later years with the Internet helping to tap into a scene ripe for reappraisal. Recorded in Louisiana, the album built on their debut but it has a slightly more mainstream approach, best exemplified by the epic, Foreigner-esque vibe of 'Never Meant To Be', the poptastic vibe of 'Rosie' and the classical pomp rock of 'Let Me Dream', with its majestic finale. If it's a rock power ballad you seek, look no further than 'Angel', one of the earliest examples of that style.

Tracklist
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

Amazon USA
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079PDJSLW/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B079PDJSLW/?tag=imwan-21

Linda · **Posted:** Fri Mar 16, 2018 5:51 pm

Bump: These have been pushed back to April 6th.

[2018-04-06] Morningstar "Morningstar (Expanded)" and "Venus" remasters (Rock Candy UK)

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