I really can’t recommend this album to anyone other than die hard Peter Beckett fans, Skyband were a curio at best and from an AOR history perspective only of minor importance.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Skyband
ALBUM: Skyband
LABEL: RCA
SERIAL: APL1-0839
YEAR: 1975
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Peter Beckett * Steve Kipner * Lane Caudell
TRACK LISTING: 01 Bang! Ooh! You Got Me * 02 Me And The Raver * 03 Pie In The Sky * 04 Hollywood * 05 Dream Machine * 06 Spotlight On The Dancer * 07 Cold Light Of Day * 08 Small Talk * 09 Can’t Keep My Love Undercover * 10 Roll It Over * 11 Easier Than Saying Goodbye
Background
Hard to imagine why this album failed to make an impact on the record buying public. Do you think it might have been the cover photo? Not a clue what the concept was behind the band’s disco/ bondage/ tribal head gear, but it’s bizarre to say the least. So, just exactly who were Skyband?
Peter Beckett formerly of ‘toy town-psych’ favourites World of Oz, British prog band Paladin and future Player/ Little River Band alumni. Steve Kipner who went on to dabble in all things west coast and released a nice solo in 1979, and Lane Caudell who’s later acting and country music career was short-lived and has since disappeared. The band toured the UK with the Sensational Alex Harvey Band and did some US dates before going their separate ways.
The Songs
Nothing about the Skyband’s image would indicate the music found inside the shrink wrap. ‘Bang! Ooh! You Got Me!’ comes on like Sweet crossed with Jefferson Starship circa ‘Red Octopus’, with some Papa John Creach styled fiddle work. It’s a strange song that could have benefited from a better guitar solo.
‘Pie In The Sky’ sounds like prime time Pilot, but the rest of side one is nothing to write home about and side two only continues the same pattern with only ‘Can’t Keep My Love Undercover’ coming close to anything memorable with it’s bubblegum chorus similar to Andy Kim or David Cassidy.
In Summary
I really can’t recommend this album to anyone other than die hard Peter Beckett fans. Skyband were a curio at best and from an AOR history perspective only of minor importance and will probably be only remembered for its cover as time marches on.
Skyband on Video
Pie In The Sky
