Polyphony-Without Introduction (1971)

Polyphony is a little-known American band that released only one album, "Without Introduction", now considered one of the gems of 1970s progressive rock. Polyphony was formed in 1971 in Virginia, and their artistic career was short-lived. Comprised of Glen Howard (lead vocals and guitar), Craig Massey (organ and synthesizers), Martin Ruddy (bass and vocals), Christopher Spong (drums), and Chatty Cooper (percussion), they created a solid and flawless work in which the sounds of the Hammond organ fused with guitar in the purest Jimi Hendrix style. That abrasive organ, along with the tremendous feeling of the guitar, and driven by the intense rhythms of the bass and drums, are present in the odyssey that is the dazzling instrumental "Juggernaut", the progressive "Arie's Flight", and the psychedelic "Crimson Dagger", all pieces where we hear echoes of the most symphonic and pretentious Emerson, Lake & Palmer or the most resounding King Crimson. Shortly after its release, the band dissolved without a trace, and their album became one of the most sought-after rarities for collectors. 

Bakerloo-Bakerloo (1969)

Another short-lived, one-album band was Bakerloo, hailing from the British town of Tamworth. Their lineup included guitarist Dave "Clem" Clempson, bassist Terry Pole, and drummer John Hinch. Initially, this power trio was called Bakerloo Blues Line and, as the name suggests, based their style on the blues. However, as time went on, they became more experimental, moving towards progressive blues rock. Thanks to a considerable following and the sponsorship of future Black Sabbath manager Jim Simpson, they gained enough recognition to perform on John Peel's famous BBC Radio 1 show, "Top Gear." Shortly after, John Hinch was replaced by drummer Keith Baker, with whom they recorded their self-titled debut album, released by the prestigious Harvest label in 1969. Although the album received very enthusiastic reviews, it unfortunately had little commercial impact, despite containing genuinely progressive music with blues, jazz, and heavy hard rock sounds. Tracks like the powerful "Big Bear Ffolly," the psychedelic "Last Blues," the epic boogie-rock "Son of Moonshine," the folk-blues foray into Johann Sebastian Bach's classic "Drivin' Bachwards," and the hypnotic blues of the majestic "This Worried Feeling" make it a truly underrated classic of the progressive genre. Shortly after the release of this album, the band would break up when Clempson left to join the jazz rock band Colosseum and later Humble Pie, while Keith Baker would do the same, joining Uriah Heep and Terry Poole the Graham Bond Organisation.

Jim Diamond-Double Crossed (1984)

Jim Diamond became a dazzling star thanks to several of his songs that achieved great commercial and media success in the 1980s. This Scottish singer-songwriter began his career at a young age, leading several local bands in the Glasgow area, such as The Method and Jade, in the 1960s. Jade gained attention after performing in London in 1969. It was then that the legendary bluesman Alexis Korner saw him perform and was pleasantly surprised by his talented voice with its soulful and bluesy undertones. Shortly after, Diamond joined Korner's band, providing backing vocals and recording the album "The Lost Album." After his time with Korner, he formed the group Bandit, which also included future AC/DC bassist Cliff Williams. After releasing the album "Bandit," Diamond disbanded the group and became the vocalist for BACCO, a short-lived Japanese band. The lack of success and limited media attention led him to move to Los Angeles and form a new band called Slick Diamond with guitarist Earl Slick, though they never officially released any material. Finally, in 1981, he achieved success with the trio PhD, comprised of Diamond, drummer Simon Phillips, and keyboardist Tony Hymas, two seasoned musicians with extensive experience playing alongside Jeff Beck, Jack Bruce, Gary Moore, Judas Priest, and Duncan Browne. Diamond's composition "I Won't Let You Down" became one of his most iconic songs and a top-selling single of 1982. However, the band's run was short-lived; shortly after disbanding, Diamond decided to launch his solo career and signed with A&M Records. In 1984, he achieved worldwide success with the acclaimed "I Should Have Known Better," an intense ballad from his debut album, "Double Crossed," which also featured other notable tracks such as "Remember I Love You" and "I Sleep Alone at Night." Several minor hits, like "Hi Ho Silver," and collaborations with musicians such as Tony Banks and Steve Hackett of Genesis, became his most significant contributions. In the following years, Jim Diamond remained largely outside the mainstream charts, despite sporadically releasing a series of albums that went largely unnoticed by the public.

Diana Krall-Wallflower (2015)

For her twelfth studio album, jazz pianist and singer Diana Krall presented a repertoire comprised of pop and rock standards from the last four decades, all contemporary classics that inspired her early career. Produced by David Foster, a born winner with more than 15 Grammy Awards to his name, the album also features collaborations with folk, rock, and jazz legends such as Graham Nash, Stephen Stills, Christian McBride, Michael Thompson, Nathan East, Michael Bublé, Timothy B. Schmit, Georgie Fame, Bryan Adams, Steve Jordan, and Jim Keltner, among many others. For the album, Diana Krall meticulously selected each song, including true classics such as "California Dreamin'" by The Mamas and The Papas, "Desperado" and "I Can't Tell You Why" by The Eagles, "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" by Elton John, "Alone Again (Naturally)" by Gilbert O'Sullivan, "Wallflower" by Bob Dylan, and "I'm Not In Love" by 10cc. In all of them, Diana Krall showcases her tremendous vocal talent, singing expressively and with great beauty. With this album, Diana Krall has definitively established that her artistic talent transcends any musical style, making her one of the most important and influential artists of recent decades.

The Walker Brothers-No Regrets (1975)

Despite being American, the Walker Brothers' fame began in England in the mid-1960s. It all started in 1965 with the success of their first single, "Make It Easy On Yourself," a song composed by Burt Bacharach a few years earlier. The Walker Brothers' voices became classics of 1960s pop during those years, with a style based on the perfect quality and vocal harmonies of the three members of the group: Scott Engel (Scott Walker), vocals and bass; John Maus (John Walker), vocals and guitar; and Gary Leeds (Gary Walker), drums and vocals. Their beginnings date back several years earlier when, after various experiences, they decided to move from California to England. There, in addition to the single "Make It Easy On Yourself," they achieved success with other songs like "My Ship Is Coming In." Their first album, "Take It Easy," also propelled them to triumph, leading to a true Walker Brothers boom. Their most iconic song, "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore," and subsequent singles propelled them to the same commercial heights as The Beatles for several years. These singles included "Baby You Don't Have to Tell Me," "Another Tear Falls," "Deadlier Than the Male," "Stay with Me Baby," and "Walking in the Rain." However, this whirlwind of success didn't prevent the group from disbanding after their third album, "Images," released in 1967. Subsequently, none of the three members would achieve the same level of individual success they had enjoyed while together. In 1975, they reunited to record the brilliant "No Regrets," but after that, they never reunited again, remaining immortalized as a fundamental group of the 1960s thanks to their immense talent and perfect vocal harmonies.

City Boy-The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1979)

City Boy are one of the emblematic bands of the so-called art rock movement. Formed in 1974 in the British city of Birmingham by keyboardist Max Thomas, who, along with Steve Broughton (guitar and vocals), Chris Dunn (bass and acoustic guitar), Roger Kent (drums), Lol Mason (vocals), and Mike Slammer (guitar), left behind seven excellent albums between 1976 and 1981. "The Day the Earth Caught Fire", their fifth release, is one of their best, showcasing their great elegance and musical refinement by blending different styles ranging from pop to rock, including the complexity of progressive sounds, all replete with great melodies, powerful riffs, soaring keyboards, and rich vocal harmonies. Linking all the songs together as if they were a concept album about human folly, this release reflects a heavier and more organic sound than their previous works. The title track is a magnificent piece of energetic, heavy rock with progressive undertones, followed by other excellent songs such as the energetic "The Day The Earth Caught Fire" and "Interrupted Melody", where, in addition to their brilliant instrumentation, the irresistible vocal melodies stand out. The fast pace slows with the mid-tempo "New York Time", a beautiful song with AOR influences, while the catchy "Up in the Eights" provides a commercial moment with an accessible pop-rock melody. This outstanding work concludes with the complex and progressive mini-suite "Ambition".

Jon And Vangelis-The Friends Of Mr. Cairo (1981)

The second collaboration between British singer Jon Anderson and keyboardist and composer Vangelis resulted in "The Friends of Mr. Cairo", released in 1981, which achieved its greatest commercial success with a number one single and a top ten hit in the UK charts. In this second release, the duo largely moved away from the experimental style of their first album, "Short Stories", crafting a more accessible work without sacrificing the quality or the immense creativity that this masterpiece possesses. Based on the concept of cinema from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, both musicians incorporated numerous fragments of contemporary film classics into the main theme, an unforgettable 12-minute piece divided into different sections, ranging from poignant passages to atmospheric and subtly romantic interludes. "I'll Find My Way Home" is another memorable composition where the dynamic progressive duo simply shines with a simple yet highly effective melody. Meanwhile, "Outside of This", despite sharing many similarities with the final section of the main theme, boasts a more sophisticated and complex treatment. The magnificent rhythms of the keyboards, percussion, and wind instruments, under Anderson's sensational vocals, lead "State of Independence" to another sublime moment, unfairly overshadowing the crescendoing symphonic "Beside", framed by a breathtaking and unforgettable melody. Finally, the ethereal "The Mayflower" arrives, a perfect blend of Anderson's voice and Vangelis's subtle synthesizers a majestic, intense, and moving piece that concludes yet another stellar work from this iconic duo.