Metamorfosis-Papallones I Elefants (1982)

This Spanish band was founded in Tarragona in 1979, though they were originally called Companyia Oliva Negra, later changing their name to Metamorfosis (there are two other bands with the same name, one Czech and one Swiss). The lineup consisted of keyboardist and main composer Jaume Montcusi, guitarist Luis García, guitarist and percussionist Joan Ramos, bassist Jordi Papaseit, and drummer Joan Grimau. Metamorfosis released only one album in 1982, titled “Papallones i Elefants” (Butterflies and Elephants), which was entirely instrumental. Their style was an interesting hybrid of jazz-rock and jazz fusion with progressive elements, featuring competent and well-executed instrumentation, with Montcusi's keyboard work being particularly noteworthy. After this album the band broke up and Montcusi himself would dedicate himself to producing other bands throughout Catalonia, participating in albums by regional groups, while guitarist Joan Ramos would go on to join the band UCCAT.

Osiris-Osiris (1981)

There are things that, if someone had told me 40 years ago, I would have dismissed the person telling them as fanciful or a liar. This brings me to one of the bands that emerged in the Middle East (there are quite a few more, however strange that may seem to us today) in the 1970s. Well, one of them is Osiris, formed in Bahrain in the late 70s and composed of a group of young people open to Western musical culture, mainly British and European. Their initial lineup consisted of Mohamed Al-Sadequi on guitar and vocals, Mohamed Abdul Razak-Aryan on keyboards, Nabil Alsedeqi on drums, Sabah Alsedqi as lead vocalist, Abdul Razzak Arian on keyboards, Nader Sharif on keyboards, and Ali Knonji on bass. It's striking that this band had three keyboardists in its lineup, something that, on the other hand, somehow gave their progressive style a solid sound. Their output isn't exactly top-notch, but we can't expect much more considering their origins. Musically, it's clear that Camel records were readily available in their country, given that their influences were largely from the legendary British band. Their debut album was released in 1981, and on it, the group alternates excellent guitar solos and fast, exciting keyboards with complex and striking organ and synthesizer arrangements. It's remarkable how a band from that remote part of the world at that time could create such incredible and superbly composed music.

America-Hearts (1975)

The first half of the 1970s was the most fruitful period for the Anglo-American band America. However, with three albums released and a number one hit with "A Horse With No Name" (1971), the single from their debut album, they decided to make a complete about-face in 1974. They chose the legendary George Martin, famous for his work with the Beatles, as their producer, and he would go on to produce their next seven albums. By that time, the band had positioned themselves at the forefront of folk rock alongside contemporaries like CSN&Y, Bob Dylan, The Byrds, and Simon and Garfunkel. The second album produced by Martin was "Hearts" (the first being "Hat Trick" in 1974), recorded in Sausalito, California, and released in 1975. These were times when bands released an album every year, something unthinkable today. It included the band's second number one hit, "Sister Golden Hair", which has since become one of their most iconic and famous songs of all time, and was written by Beckley. In addition to "Sister Golden Hair", the singles "Daisy Jane" and "Woman Tonight" propelled the album to number four on the Billboard charts and earned it a gold record for sales in the United States.

Grand Funk-Shinin' On (1974)

By the time Grand Funk released "Shinin' On", their creative and commercial decline was more than evident, despite continuing to produce quality albums that nevertheless lacked the musical excitement and energy they had displayed on their first seven records. With production by the iconic Todd Rundgren, the band led by Mark Farmer ended up getting lost in more commercial musical meanderings, without the risk or energy of their initial output. Even so, the instrumentation remained impeccable, as is evident in tracks like the title track, the hypnotic "Carry Me Through", the exhilarating "Please Me" and "Gettin' Over You", and the hard blues rock "Little Johnny Hooker". However, songs like the less successful "To Get Back In", the mediocre pop-rock version of the classic "The Loco Motion", and the predictable bluesy "Mr. Pretty Boy" show that, in a way, the group was beginning to rest on its laurels.

Canamii-Concept (1980)

This project was inspired by the musical "theme" of The Alan Parsons Project, where, together with session musicians, they created an album of exceptional musicianship. Canamii was founded in South Africa by British descendants Phil Nel (keyboards) and Claire Whitaker (vocals), who, along with guitarist Paul Woodley, created their first and only album. Released in 1980, while the overall concept is symphonic progressive rock, they are actually better suited to a crossover sound. The music could be categorized as a hybrid of baroque and symphonic sounds, with a strong classical influence. The power of this group lies in Whittaker's voice (with a timbre very similar to Annie Haslam's of Renaissance), featuring pleasing and excellent vocal layering, as can be heard in the track "The Jester". Other tracks like "Spiral" evoke a prog jazz feel, "Afrok" is the epitome of the group's sound, while the melancholic and hypnotic "Rain" and "Feelings" showcase the rich keyboard sound and the singer's melodious voice. Their more progressive side is evident in the tracks "And The Moon Be As Bright", "Children" and "Tri".