Flight-Flight (1975)

Another interesting American progressive jazz-rock band was Flight, who released three acclaimed albums in the mid-1970s within the more avant-garde genre of jazz. Led by trumpeter and vocalist Pat Vidas, their origins date back to the early 1970s in Florida, where they were based. Besides Vidas, the band consisted of bassist John Ray, guitarist Ted Karczewski, drummer Russell Dawber, and keyboardist Jim Michael Yaeger. In 1975, they secured funding from Capitol Records for their first full-length album, which showcased everything from jazz-rock-oriented efforts with complex and fast-paced compositions to extensive instrumental interplay among all its members, with a strong emphasis on the Mellotron and synthesizers, rock guitars, and jazz improvisations. The exhilarating jazz-rock track "In Flight", the exotic "Latin Dippy Doo", the catchy and melodic "Falling In Love", the captivating "Ease Of Confusion", and the progressive "Rhapsody To You" and "Theme to The Stratosphere" constitute an excellent work of progressive jazz at its finest. A year later, they returned with "Incredible Journey", in which they continued their exquisite musical approach, delivering an even more diverse and dynamic work of energetic, avant-garde jazz-rock.

Santana-Marathon (1979)

Following the commercial success of their previous album, "Inner Secrets", Carlos Santana reformed his band once again, bringing in vocalist Alex Ligertwood to replace Greg Walker, while Alan Pasqua replaced keyboardist Chris Rhyne. The rest of the lineup remained the same: Carlos Santana (guitar and vocals), Chris Solberg (rhythm guitar), David Margen (bass), Graham Lear (drums), Armando Peraza (percussion), and Raul Rekow (percussion). Continuing in the vein of the conventional and melodic rock of "Inner Secrets", Santana released his next album, his tenth, "Marathon", which featured the magnificent, dreamlike instrumental "Aqua Marine", followed by the addictive AOR tracks "Lightning in the Sky", "Stand Up", and "You Know That I Love You", as well as the brief instrumental title track. The sensual "Summer Lady" and "Stay (Beside Me)" or the powerful rock "All I Ever Wanted" also contribute to the album's high quality, an album where Carlos Santana once again displays superb guitar work in terms of sound and the creative atmosphere that only this guitarist knows how to imprint on all his songs.

Hot Flash-First Attack! They´ll Never Take Us Alive (1977)

Another band that came and went almost overnight was Boston's Hot Flash, who released only one album near the end of the seventies, right at the height of the AOR and melodic progressive rock movement, with albums like Boston's impressive debut, Meat Loaf's "Bat Out of Hell", and Kansas "Point of Know Return," among many others. Their sole recording, "They'll Never Take Us Alive", was released in a limited run of only a few hundred copies, which is why it's now one of those highly sought-after LPs among fans of seventies American rock. The lineup consisted of keyboardists Joe Prima and Thom Stolar, guitarist Frederic Schwenk, drummer Steve Balsavage, and bassist John Ferrara. One of the band's great strengths was that virtually all the members were lead vocalists, a fact that broadened the group's musical range. Great melodic lines very close to art rock with progressive approaches are present in a brilliant repertoire composed of outstanding songs such as "King Kool", "Take Me", "Is Anybody Out There", "Uriah", "Star Warped" or "Diamond Wings".

Clover-Clover (1970)

Clover was an American country rock band with a respectable eleven-year career (1967-1978), who rose to fame towards the end of their run as Elvis Costello's backing band on his album "My Aim Is True" (1977). Originally from Mill Valley, California, the band moved within the San Francisco psychedelic scene of the late 1960s, sharing the burgeoning folk and country rock scene of the era with contemporaries like The Byrds, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Flying Burrito Brothers, and Crosby, Stills & Nash. Their lineup consisted of Alex Call (vocals and guitar), John McFee (guitar and pedal steel), John Ciambotti (bass), and Mitch Howie (drums). In 1970, under the Fantasy Records label, they recorded their debut album, which features a rich and varied repertoire of excellent tracks that blend pure country, rock, and blues. Among them, the standout track is Junior Walker & The All Stars' version of "Shotgun", performed here with a distinct Southern funk flavor. The bluesy country number "Southbound Train" adds a distinctive touch to the album's dusty feel, and following a similar path are the superb country-rock tracks "Stealin' ", "Going to the Country", and "No Vacancy". After a second album released a year later, "Fourty Niner", Clover moved to the UK, where they underwent several lineup changes, including the addition of drummer Micky Shine and singer Huey Louis. Following another excellent album produced by Robert "Mutt" Lange, titled "Unavailable" (1977), they collaborated with Elvis Costello and toured extensively throughout England, opening for Thin Lizzy, Graham Parker, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Some time later, and with the definitive end of Clover, some of its members went on to join other legendary groups such as Huey Lewis and The News (founded by Huey Louis), Southern Pacific, or The Doobie Brothers.

Be-Bop Deluxe-Sunburst Finish (1976)

Be-Bop Deluxe was one of those unclassifiable bands that navigated between the sounds of glam rock, art rock, new wave, and the avant-garde of the seventies, with sarcastic and ironic messages in their lyrics. Their core revolved around guitarist Bill Nelson, the only permanent member of the band. Their first two albums leaned towards the glam rock style of "Axe Victim" (1974) and the art rock of the following one, "Futurama" (1975). On both albums, Nelson's outstanding lead guitar work stands out, along with the complex instrumental performances, featuring melodic and accessible rhythms. In 1976 came their third album, "Sunburst Finish", which represented the creative peak for both Be-Bop Deluxe and Nelson, resulting in a more pop-rock-oriented album of excellent quality. Tracks related to the new wave sounds of the time, such as "Fair Exchange", the carefree "Ships in the Night", the addictive mid-tempo "Crying to the Sky", the dynamic "Sleep That Burns", the somber "Life in the Air Age" or the rock "Blazing Apostles", make up the best work of this iconic British band.