Starcastle |
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Lord Jagged
Forum Groupie Joined: June 19 2010 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 69 |
Topic: Starcastle Posted: August 17 2013 at 09:40 |
Yes influenced they were - but very enjoyable nonetheless. I look forward to more archival releases.
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Dead Souls In The Rear View Mirror Hitch A Ride For A While..
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rodak
Forum Newbie Joined: July 23 2013 Location: Georgia Status: Offline Points: 2 |
Posted: July 23 2013 at 13:40 |
Has anyone ever noticed that both "ELP" and "Yes" have three letters, while both "Triumvirat" and "Starcastle" have 10 letters? Coincidence? nahhhhhh.
I like all four, and have recently re-discovered Starcastle. I was previously only familiar with "Fountains of Light", but just bought the first album, and have been enjoying it, though I agree with most, that "Fountains" is much better. I've not heard "Citadel", except for "Shine on Brightly", which I like a lot. I have noted, however, that while their musicianship is excellent, I don't think the songwriting is comparable to Yes. They have their moments, but overall, Yes is more consistently listenable and memorable, imho. Still, for diehard prog rock and Yes fans, Starcastle is a worthy addition to the collection. I saw them perform in 1976, opening for Boston, at "The Warehouse" in New Orleans, where the acoustics are way better than most large arenas. A most excellent concert, indeed! I don't remember a lot about Triumvirat, except that I liked them almost as much as ELP. I need to go ahead and get "Illusions" or "Spartacus" and re-discover them as well.
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AEProgman
Forum Senior Member Joined: August 11 2012 Location: Toadstool Status: Offline Points: 1787 |
Posted: July 13 2013 at 20:59 |
Having saw this thread pop up a few days ago and knowing that I had I have been putting off getting one of their albums for over, well many years, and also never listened to them before. I got the album "Fountains of Light" today and listened to it a couple of times. I am quite delighted and really like it!
It is pretty darn good and I really don't care about the comparisons.
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verslibre
Forum Senior Member Joined: July 01 2004 Location: CA Status: Offline Points: 15058 |
Posted: June 30 2013 at 02:50 |
I see where you're coming from, but Yes did issue two original albums in that time period: Relayer (1974) and Going For The One (1977). I concur there was a four-year-long wait for new music from ELP and then fans got the hit-and-miss affair of the Works volumes and a banana peel called Love Beach. |
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cstack3
Forum Senior Member VIP Member Joined: July 20 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ USA Status: Offline Points: 6764 |
Posted: June 29 2013 at 10:59 |
I knew the band, as I went to college in the town where Starcastle formed and evolved (Champaign, IL). They were trying to develop an American twist to the Yes/ELP symphonic sound, and they succeeded more often than not. If you listen to "Lady of the Lake," you hear them "swing" at the end. The song was huge on the University of Illinois radio, I remember them playing it several times a day back then. Keyboardist Herb Schildt was a master on the Hammond organ, and his characterizations were more along the line of Emerson than Wakeman. They were also a fantastic cover band (as were Yes), playing covers by Elton John, the Rolling Stones etc. Like many bands, their history was impacted by tragedy (equipment truck crashed before first LP was issued, and guitarist Steve Hagler suffered a broken back).
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AreYouHuman
Forum Senior Member Joined: April 12 2013 Location: Michigan Status: Offline Points: 470 |
Posted: June 28 2013 at 23:55 |
^ I never said Yes was inactive during that period. They continued touring and recording solo albums. My point was that, since there was no new product from either Yes or ELP during almost the same period (1974 to 1977), fans gravitated toward bands that had a similar feel. Otherwise Starcastle and Triumvirat may not have sold as many albums as they did. Obviously they filled the aforementioned void better for some than others.
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verslibre
Forum Senior Member Joined: July 01 2004 Location: CA Status: Offline Points: 15058 |
Posted: June 28 2013 at 15:19 |
Yes was not inactive during that time. Starcastle's first album, while competent, had too much of a "wannabe" flavor that prevents me from liking it. Jurgen Fritz's synth playing in Triumvirat distanced itself admirably from Keith Emerson's and they recorded some stuff that was quite unique. |
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cstack3
Forum Senior Member VIP Member Joined: July 20 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ USA Status: Offline Points: 6764 |
Posted: June 27 2013 at 13:56 |
It's nice to have you contribute, Bruce! Gary Strater was one of the masters of the Rickenbacker bass....up there with Chris Squire and Ray Bennett! We are looking forward to hearing any archived Starcastle material you can release, we'll watch for more comments. Cheers, Chuck (friend of the band Starcastle, RIP Gary)
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The.Crimson.King
Forum Senior Member Joined: March 29 2013 Location: WA Status: Offline Points: 4591 |
Posted: June 27 2013 at 13:39 |
Back in the 70's me and my Yes friends went gonzo over the 1st Starcastle album. Definitely worth having in the collection, "Lady of the Lake" is a great opener.
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Beckett54
Forum Newbie Joined: June 24 2013 Location: Cincinnati, Ohi Status: Offline Points: 2 |
Posted: June 27 2013 at 08:18 |
Regarding the cover, Gary told me the story behind that. If you look closely at the photo on the back you can see that Gary's head was superimposed (pre Photoshop days) on someone else's body. The band was already in bad shape internally and from outside pressures. Sometimes what gets released has no relation to what was written. Bad production, editing etc. can take a good song and make it better or completely ruin it.
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AreYouHuman
Forum Senior Member Joined: April 12 2013 Location: Michigan Status: Offline Points: 470 |
Posted: June 27 2013 at 00:32 |
Indeed, very much like Triumvirat filled a void during ELP's mid-70s layoff, Starcastle did the same for Yes fans during almost the same period. I was lucky to have a local station that played it regularly, esp. Lady of the Lake. The Yes comparisons were inevitable, given the Anderson-like vocals, but it still stood out distinctively. The 2nd album, not quite so much, tho it has its moments, esp. Fountains. I've never heard Citadel, but apparently I haven't missed much. Real to Reel was just *meh* though When the Sun Shines at Midnight was of some interest. And yeah, the cover was a Love Beach-style embarrassment. |
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Beckett54
Forum Newbie Joined: June 24 2013 Location: Cincinnati, Ohi Status: Offline Points: 2 |
Posted: June 24 2013 at 10:56 |
Actually, there is quite a bit of unreleased material that we recorded in California of shows, rehearsals and some studio demos. I have been compiling and working on cleaning these recordings up for this archive release as time permits but have been hugely distracted by other issues, which are currently drawing to a conclusion. A statement will be released soon explaining what has gone on for the last few years regarding Starcastle which will clarify the situation. I am also in discussions with the other members of the California version of Starcastle who wrote the bulk of the music on Song of Times, about supporting this archive release with a few "mini" tours, to include a couple of surprise guests. Stay tuned.
Bruce Botts
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cstack3
Forum Senior Member VIP Member Joined: July 20 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ USA Status: Offline Points: 6764 |
Posted: April 12 2013 at 09:59 |
I was curious about the vocalist in that clip, so I emailed Mark Rubel, engineer for Starcastle and owner/operator of a recording studio in Champaign, Illinois USA. He wrote back as follows: ***Charles Hi!
Everything is going very well here, some amazing changes on the horizon, all for the good. That’s from that last Starcastle CD we did, and it’s Al Lewis singing. He’s really great, and a truly nice person as well- he travels the world as the drum tech for Yanni and for Chris Isaak, plus he’s a really good drummer himself. It is too bad about Starcastle. There was a possibility of a reunion, but it will not happen now. I hope that everything is wonderful with you. All the best, and thank you. Cheers! -MR Mark Rubel Pogo Studio 35 Taylor St. Champaign, IL 61820 217.351.8155 |
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Slartibartfast
Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / In Memoriam Joined: April 29 2006 Location: Atlantais Status: Offline Points: 29625 |
Posted: April 12 2013 at 02:16 |
Starcastle was like a bonus Yes album.
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Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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stegor
Forum Senior Member Joined: March 23 2013 Location: Minnesota Status: Offline Points: 1990 |
Posted: April 11 2013 at 21:51 |
I have fond memories of hearing them on Beaker Street radio in the '70's - Lady of the Lake specifically. So about 10 years ago I got the CD for nostalgia's sake, and was surprised at how good it was. A lot like Yes without Jon Anderson. Kinda like now.
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Gerinski
Prog Reviewer Joined: February 10 2010 Location: Barcelona Spain Status: Offline Points: 5093 |
Posted: April 10 2013 at 01:55 |
I only have Fountains of Light which is pretty good but I can't advice on their other output.
Indeed
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Tom Ozric
Prog Reviewer Joined: September 03 2005 Location: Olympus Mons Status: Offline Points: 15916 |
Posted: April 10 2013 at 01:51 |
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cstack3
Forum Senior Member VIP Member Joined: July 20 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ USA Status: Offline Points: 6764 |
Posted: April 09 2013 at 23:08 |
I'm trying to find out if any archived Starcastle material is going to be released, so I'll post it when I find out.
Meanwhile, please watch this stunning tribute for Gary Strater, who passed away while the band was recording their final CD. I find it hard to believe that the vocalist is Terry Luttrell, he sounds just like Jon Anderson to me! Terry was good, but not that good....! |
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Norman Kiddie
Forum Groupie Joined: February 16 2009 Location: Stuttgart Status: Offline Points: 81 |
Posted: October 13 2010 at 10:41 |
If you´ll take my advice enjoy the one you´ve got because the others are not in the same class.
I had Citadel which has a great cover but is a pretty weak album. I actually sold it on.
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Dick Heath
Special Collaborator Jazz-Rock Specialist Joined: April 19 2004 Location: England Status: Offline Points: 12800 |
Posted: October 11 2010 at 05:57 |
For complicated reasons I was in correspondence with Stan Whittaker of Happy The Man, for a short while. One gem I got unsolicited, was that Stan shared a room with Steve Vai at college, and for a coursework, whilst Vai transcribed Zappa, Whittake transcribed Yes. Slart one of the things about Happy the Man was the comparative originality of their music; vague echoes of United States Of America and I think I might be pushing that....
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