This six piece band look as if they’ve come straight off the prairie land. But no, Spy originate from New York City and are symphonic rock exponents in the vein of Kansas.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Spy
ALBUM: Spy
LABEL: Kirshner
SERIAL: NJZ 36378
YEAR: 1980
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: John Vislocky – vocals * David Nelson – vocals, guitars * Dave LeBolt – keyboards * Danny Seidenberg – violins * Michael Visceglia – bass * Rob Goldman – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Crimson Queen * 02 Easy Street * 03 Best That We Can Do * 04 Can’t Complain * 05 Ruby Twilight * 06 Love’s There * 07 Feelin’ Shining Through * 08 Anytime Anyplace * 09 When I Find Love
Background
Man.. are these guys retro or what? On the back cover all of them (bar one) have moustaches, and look as if they’ve come straight off the prairie land. But no, Spy originate from New York City, with former Nektar guitarist Dave Nelson the catalyst for the band coming together in 1979.
One suspects that this album is a result of an experiment. What experiment was that I hear you ask? How close you could come to emulating Kansas‘ ‘Leftoverture’ album give or take the odd scratch or two on the vinyl. It’s close alright, the arrangements a deadringer at times, as well as the ever present electric violin expertise of Danny Seidenberg, A teen prodigy by all accounts.
The record label even has a significant connection with Kansas, being on Kirshner, who were their mentors. Don Kirshner however was losing ground with Topeka’s finest who at the time were on the verge of imploding and he saw Spy as a continuation of his symphonic rock gravy train.
In some places the symphonic pieces also zero in on Styx (circa ‘The Grand Illusion’) while on their quieter moments, a band like Sneaker literally does sneak in..
The Songs
For all that though, there are some useful moments on here. The opener ‘Crimson Queen’ starts up in a surprisingly rocky way. The keyboards flow on ‘Easy Street’ and here we see the violins coming through with more distinction.
Their most commercial moment would be ‘Best That We Can Do’ while it’s followed by their heaviest and pompiest moment ‘Can’t Complain’. ‘Ruby Twilight’ perhaps one of their better known tracks has a very laid back theme through it. The tracks on Side Two are again, surprisingly strong, with ‘Anytime, Anyplace’ and ‘When I Find Love’ appealing the most.
In Summary
From the annals of history this album has been a much talked about piece of vinyl, commanding awe and a lot of ‘oohs and aahs’ among the melodic rock fraternity. The Spy album is definitely an OK affair, and was good for it’s time, but you know the games up when people try to start fobbing off their used vinyl copies for $100 or more. Who are they trying to kid?
Due to a lack of commercial success, Spy were dropped in 1981, despite having material in the can for a second attempt. However it was not to be. In the years after, Dave LeBolt moved into film and score work and moved out to San Francisco, Danny Seidenberg was much sought after in classical circles while Mike Visceglia was Suzanne Vega‘s go-to bassist for many years.
Spy on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
