Orphann Dan't Say No Omi Records 1980

Orphann Dan't Say No Omi Records 1980 CAT# OMI M 00032

Orphann was a Kansas City area hard rock group in the late-70's into the early 80's. Their first LP, Up For Adoption, is a bit more desirable, as it's bit heavier and possibly a bit more obscure than this.

Don't Say No is a potpourri of late-70's rock posturing. Easy categorization for the band is AOR. They're heavy on big guitars and solos, so big on the pomp rock. They do try to get creative from time to time, keyboards show up here and they try to sound a little less good time rock n' roll and more robotic, so there is also a slight prog influence, especially evident on the last two tracks of the LP, "Late Night Neighbors" and "In A Dream". Looking at this LP, it's looks like it should be an attempt at capturing the Tom Scholz's Boston sound and be an awful in the process. (Up For Adoption just looks like it should be amazing prog, tho). To an extent, Orphann was trying to capture some of that big time arena rock feel, but it doesn't turn out bad. Outside of dopey lyrical content, it's a pretty solid LP in terms of early 80's hard rock.

What is confusing is that the band recorded and played in KC. Yet, for this release, Omi is located in Los Angeles. The first LP shows Omi Records as a Kansas City based operation. Assuming then that this was Orphann's private label they must have packed up for California at some point after going as far as they could in KC.

Don't Say No

Granmax A Ninth Alive Pacific Records 1976

Granmax A Ninth Alive Pacific Records 1976 NO CAT#

First, a couple of interesting things on this band. It's generally held, especially here, that Granmax formed in Kansas City. Their manager and producer for this album is long time Kansas City concert promoter, Chris Fritz. He and Granmax recorded the album at Liberty Sound. However, there is some information on the web that cites the band is from Omaha, Nebraska. Maybe there are some roots there, but I think it's safe to say Granmax was a KC band.

Another interesting nugget, there is possibly two pressings of this LP or at least multiple covers.. Chris Fritz produced this LP in 1976 and released it under the label name, Pacific Records. Later, Chris Fritz would start the label, Panama Records (the same that scored a somewhat national success with the band Missouri). There appears to be some copies of this LP that get tagged a Panama Records release with the catalog number, PRS 1001. That number does not appear on this copy and it's not a super common record floating around, so it's unlikely that I'll uncover anymore info in that regard. Both the issues listed as Pacific Records and Panama Records appear the same, both white vinyl, both with the same black label on the vinyl. I assume it's two separate covers or possibly just a sticker placed on some copies Chris Fritz had lying around after Panama Records was created.

As far as the music, can't knock Chris Fritz as a talent scout, he was onto something here. A Ninth Alive is adept and intelligent hard rock. For about $20, this LP can be had and if you're a 70's metal fan, I can't imagine this would disappoint. It's not juvenile like your Aerosmiths and AC/DCs, it's got progressive rock tendencies and tries to sound important. But, it's loud power trio (although, tons keyboards sprinkled throughout with no credit given). There is tons of Jimmy Page worship and riffing, they can't get as technical as 70's prog. rock, but they're just as heavy if not more so. They released a second LP for Panama Records entitled Kiss Heaven Goodbye which is worth an absurd amount. If it's better than this LP, it's probably worth every bit of the $200 price tag it fetches.

Three Songs from the LP, A Ninth Alive

Kansas Drastic Measures CBS 1983

Kansas Drastic Measures CBS 1983 CAT# QZ 38733

There are worse albums than this, but, there are now albums worse than this by the band Kansas.  This is the bottom of the barrel for the band.  So long prog. rock and hello desperate attempt at over produced 80's hard rock.

The album was so lost with itself that it marks a break-up for the band.  After this, they called it quits for a brief time.  Just listen to the song, "Mainstream," you can tell the band was having trouble keeping it fresh as the lyrics describe the pressure of staying true to the band's sound, but trying to stay in touch with the pop rock trends of the day.

The band would later re-form and do a little more than just reunions.  But, they turned back to their days of 70's progressive rock.  The ideas on this album were left alone and died in 1983.  I could be a douche-y tool and make a bunch of puns with the word "drastic" or I could make snarky remarks about how awful this album is...but, it's not really worth it.  Everyone is well aware this isn't any good.

Mainstream

Cole Hunter Capone B/W New Frontier Read Badge Music 2009

Cole Hunter Capone B/W New Frontier Read Badge Music 2009 NO CAT#

Don't know who this guy is, what he represents, or even who his friends are.  I do know you can buy his 7" for $3.00 at an Olathe antique mall and there's a sign indicating he's local.

When I got it home, I looked all over and only found the dudes self-produced rock video.  He plays a Flying V, pretty hard rock right there, if not metal.  The website for Real Badge Music is pretty awful.  I mean, 1992 AOL Welcomes You to the Internet- bad.  There's pages, with no actual information, just a bunch of cryptic filler. It's strange.

After listening to Cole Hunter's 7", one thing is clear, Cole Hunter loves him some guitar.  The first side, "Capone", is surprisingly adept and kind of enjoyable.  Albeit a bunch of guitar masturbation and it's trapped in 60's and 70's hard rock.  But, considering the website and the lack of any information, I braced myself for the worse but, found it to be a pleasant surprise.  "New Frontier" is the B-Side, it's acoustic and obvious...gotta have a panty-dropper if you rock a Flying-V.

Capone
Website (or lack thereof)

Kill Whitey Dig B/W Tired Shrinking Violet 1989

Kill Whitey Dig B/W Tired Shrinking Violet 1989 NO CAT #

Kill Whitey was kind of a local legend in Lawrence, KS by the time I got there.  I remember asking the host of KJHK's metal show, Mean Dean, about them.  He gloated and seemed to associate them with the small metal scene in Lawrence and Kansas City.

Further, I found what was once a fairly valuable compilation CD of the band that covered their entire output.  I remember listening to it and thinking "heavy metal."  They stood apart from other bands because they had a female singer who could wail in Kim Czarnopys.  They were also well remembered for founder, Mark Smirl, who later formed one of the many 90's local major label bands, Stick.

Regardless of what I remember and heard about the band's metal tendencies (I don't have the CD any longer to reference) I wouldn't typify this 7" as "metal."  It was 1989 when it came out, though.  There is definitely aspects, heavy riffing and Czarnopys wails out the tunes.  But, it's hard rock metal kids could enjoy, kind of in the vein of a bands like the Cult or Guns & Roses.  Huge guitar riffs and nods to 70's stoner rock which was once called metal, but by the 1980's those bands sounded tame.

This came out early in the band's career and I got to think as they continued their sound got heavier and heavier.  I just can't verify it because I don't have that CD anymore.