Aviator-Turbulence (1980) (UK)

Aviator was a short-lived British band (not to be confused with the American band of the same name) formed by three legendary musicians from iconic groups such as Manfred Mann, Jethro Tull, and Blodwyn Pig. These were saxophonist Jack Lancaster, drummer Clive Bunker, and guitarist and singer Mick Rogers, who, along with bassist John G. Perry, released two interesting albums in the late 1970s. In 1978, under the production of Brand X keyboardist Robin Lumley, they released their debut album, showcasing an eclectic style that ranged from art rock to late progressive rock. Highlights from this first release include the hypnotic "Keep Your Heart Right", the rock melodies of "Evil Eye", and the progressive hard rock track "Morning Journey". A year later, Lancaster left the band, leaving Aviator as a trio and releasing their epitaph, "Turbulence", a work more in line with the sounds of the eighties and produced by Wil Malone, a producer who would go on to work with Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Depeche Mode, and The Verve. Without completely abandoning their progressive side, the album features everything from refined pop-rock tracks like "The American" to progressive blues-rock songs like "Fallen Star" and "Strange Worlds", as well as the predictable pop sounds of the newly begun decade, such as "All Your Love Is Gone" and the appealing country-rock track "Wood Wharf Gumbo". After this second and final album, the band ended their short recording career. A few years later, another American band with the same name emerged, playing melodic rock and AOR.

Brian Auger´s Oblivion Express-Straight Ahead (1974)

Brian Auger's fifth album with his band Oblivion Express features a new lineup, with Godfrey MacLean no longer on drums, replaced by the more experienced Steve Ferrone, and the addition of percussionist Mirza Al Sharif. However, what remains largely unchanged is the frenetic jazz-rock style driven by Auger's Hammond organ, even more powerful this time around thanks to the prodigious percussion work of Lennox Laington, Steve Ferrone, and Al Sharif. This vigorous rhythm section is evident in the opening track, "Beginning Again", which, based on simple jazz-rock chords, showcases the excellence of both Auger and guitarist Jack Miles. The solid jazz fusion/rock track "Bumpin' On Sunset" represents another of the highlights, which contrasts with the funk jazz "Straight Ahead" and the long and catchy "Changes", to end with the melodic "You'll Stay In My Heart", a clear cut oriented towards radio formulas due to its attractive sound.

Kansas-Song For America (1975)

Kansas was a band that, in its early years, didn't receive much favor from rock critics. Some accused them of being mere hicks playing progressive rock (it's true they were from a remote town in Kansas called Topeka, hence the "hick" label), while others (the purists) accused them of leaning too heavily towards the commercial sounds of AOR, and the list of unfavorable reviews went on. However, they possessed a gift few could deny them: their remarkable ability to evolve from a simple club band in their small town into one of the greatest bands to ever emerge from North America. "Song For America" ​​was the album that finally gave them the credibility they needed to be considered on a global scale, an album brimming with complex melodies, unique time signatures, and daring harmonic counterpoints, all rooted in American rock with influences like blues and country. The energetic guitar riffs of Kerry Livgren and Rich Williams are masterfully combined with Robbie Steinhardt's extraordinary violin work, while Steve Walsh's warm vocals provide a counterpoint to this whirlwind of dazzling sounds. The album features everything from American rock classics like "Down The Road" and "The Devil Game" to the astonishing progressive piece "Lamplight Symphony", the marathon-like "Song for America", and the epic "Incomudro/Hymn To The Atman". With this second release, Kansas not only created a unique work of art, but also an album that is as essential as it is indispensable in American rock and progressive rock in general.

Rubicon-Rubicon (1978)

Composed primarily of white musicians, Rubicon was one of the most renowned bands of a distinctly Black sound and style: funk rock. Formed in late 1970s California, the band was spearheaded by Jerry Martini, formerly of the legendary Sly & The Family Stone, who recruited Brad Gillis (guitar), Dennis Marcello (saxophone), Jack Blades (bass), Greg Eckler (drums), Johnny Colla (saxophone), and Jim Pugh (keyboards). Their self-titled debut album, "Rubicon", was released in 1978 and garnered significant chart success thanks to tracks like the ballad "I'm Gonna Take Care of Everything" and the powerful funk rock anthem "Vanilla Gorilla". This first release also featured other high-caliber tracks such as the powerful and exhilarating funk numbers "That's The Way Things Are", "And The Moon's Out Tonight" and "Cheatin' ", as well as the melodic rock song "Closely". The album's positive reception opened doors for them to participate in the second edition of the legendary "California Jam" festival, held in Ontario in mid-1978. A year later, with the addition of a new drummer (Kelly Keagy), they released their second and final album, "America Dreams", which continued their funk sound but with subtle melodic rock influences. Shortly after the release of "America Dreams", the band definitively dissolved, with some members (Blades, Gillis, and Keagy) joining the AOR band Night Ranger, while saxophonist Colla joined Huey Lewis and The News.