THE DAY THE EARTH CAUGHT FIRE

CITY BOY could best be described as 10CC with a hard rock fetish, or SUPERTRAMP with less distinctive vocalists, or QUEEN without the hooks, or the British KAYAK, or, you get the idea. Not a lot of identity wrapped up in this package, and literally dozens of bands were doing this as well or better, not that this style lends itself well to one-upmanship other than in the commercial department. Sadly, that is where CITY BOY was most ignominious, barely establishing more than a cult in select realms like individual floors of university dorms.

If one group track could lay claim to being well known, it would be the title cut here, a surprisingly powerful progressive song with a pleasant pop sensibility. It was the darling of the sci fi set at the time. Several other decent if overly clever short tunes are included, like "Modern Lover Affair". "New York Times" sounds like ELO right down to the Eldorado-styled ending. They also almost pull off another prog coup with "Interrupted Melody" but it seems a tad disjointed, and you can forget about the 13 minute closer other than as confirmation that CITY BOY's closest association with the progressive movement was temporal.

By all reports things went down from this not particularly lofty peak. Recommended only to those who are red hot for groups of this ilk.