Kyrie Eleison-The Fountain Beyond The Sunrise (1976)

We are dealing with one of those little-known gems of symphonic rock, highly valued by progheads despite being criticized by some for being mere clones of early Genesis. However, this Austrian band never aspired to that status, although it is more than evident that their influences were the forces led by Peter Gabriel. Founded in 1974, their core was keyboardist Gerald Krampl, who, along with drummer Karl Novotny, managed to weave together symphonic music and rock at their finest, with thick layers of synthesizers and mellotron, atmospheric passages, and moments of great instrumental vigor. In 1976, under the local label Merlin Records, they released their first album, "The Fountain Beyond The Sunrise", which also featured vocalist Michael Schubert, guitarists Manfred Drapela and Gerhard Eder, bassist Norbert Morin, and drummer Otto Singer. The magnificent intro "Out Of Dimension" is filled with nostalgic soundscapes, which contrast sharply with the Genesis-esque title track, a highly elaborate and complex progressive mini-suite. Meanwhile, the expansive "Lenny" becomes the high point of this magnificent work, showcasing an energetic symphony in continuous progression. Undoubtedly one of the best works of progressive rock, were it not for its mediocre production, it would rank among the best albums of the 1970s.

The Kentucky Headhunters-Pickin' on Nashville (1989)

Originally formed in the late 1960s as The Itchy Brothers, the Southern country rock band The Kentucky Headhunters is one of the best examples of American roots music from the 1980s. Founded by Doug Phelps (bass and vocals), Greg Martin (lead guitar and vocals), Richard Young (rhythm guitar and vocals), and Fred Young (drums and vocals), they gained some recognition during the 1970s thanks to minor hits like "Shotgun Effie", and the considerable interest shown by Led Zeppelin's label, Swan Song Records, in this band from Glasgow, Kentucky. In 1986, the group adopted the definitive name The Kentucky Headhunters, in homage to one of the animated characters from the popular 1980s TV series "King Leonardo and His Short Subjects." After presenting a demo to Mercury Records, the group secured a multi-album contract, beginning with "Pickin' On Nashville", an album recorded in Nashville, the quintessential country music city. This debut album became one of the best records by a new band in history, achieving not only an incredible number two on the Billboard charts, but also a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance of the Year. While it's true that The Kentucky Headhunters hadn't invented anything groundbreaking, their country rock, with its honky-tonk rhythms and elements of Southern rock, was incredibly carefree, upbeat, and rhythmic. Their covers of country classics like Bill Monroe's "Walk Softly on This Heart of Mine", Don Gibson's "Oh Lonesome Me", and Henson Cargill's "Skip a Rope" are magnificent demonstrations of the Headhunters' stimulating and captivating style. However, it was their own compositions, such as "Dumas Walker", "My Daddy Was a Milkman", and "Some Folks Like to Steal", that established them as one of the most promising country rock bands of the 1980s and 90s.

Blues Creation-Demon & Eleven Children (1971)

Another interesting project to emerge from Japan was Blues Creation, a band led by guitarist Kazuo Takeda, who secured the valuable collaboration of Cream producer Felix Pappalardi. This band followed the typical evolution of the British blues-rock sound of the late 1960s. Besides Takeda, Blues Creation consisted of vocalist Hirami Ohsawa, bassist Masashi Saeki, and drummer Masayuki Higuchi. Much of the band's power stemmed from the guitarist's virtuosity; he came to be revered as a major influence on the development of Japanese rock and enjoyed a long career as a session musician in both Japan and the United States. In 1971, under the Denon label, a subsidiary of Columbia Nippon at the time, they released their second album, "Demon & Eleven Children", showcasing a powerful, heavy hard rock sound with hints of psychedelia, heavy rock, and blues. They had previously released a self-titled debut album composed entirely of rock covers. Not as eccentric as their compatriots Flower Travellin' Band and less heavy prog than Murasaki, Blues Creation focused on heavy sounds very close to what their British contemporaries like Black Sabbath or the American band Blue Cheer were doing at the time. This second album features incendiary hard rock tracks like the opening and powerful "Atomic Bombs Away", psychedelic boogie-rock cuts like "Mississippi Mountain Blues", progressive blues like "Sorrow", and the guitar tour de force of "Demon & Eleven Children".

Various Artists-Narada The Wilderness Collection (1990)

Narada Productions is one of the most important and influential record labels specializing in new age, jazz, Celtic, and world music. Its origins date back to the early 1980s in New York, and it was founded as a subsidiary of Universal, distributed by MCA Records. Over time, Narada Productions itself established several subsidiary labels to diversify its artists across various musical styles. These included Narada Equinox, Narada Jazz, Narada Mystique, and Narada World, among many others. The extensive roster of musicians who have recorded and released music with Narada includes artists such as David Arkenstone, Jeff Lorber, Paul Speer, David Lanz, Bernardo Rubaja, Peter Buffett, Hans Zimmer, and Charlie Musselwhite. "The Wilderness Collection" is one of Narada's most famous recordings, featuring a carefully curated selection of artists who, according to its promotional material, "praise untouched nature as a source of artistic inspiration and a refuge from everyday urban life." The Narada artists featured here created this recording as a tribute to ecologically important natural areas, hoping that future generations will continue to enjoy them. Highlights of the repertoire include "Fragile Majesty" by Eric Tingstad and Nancy Rumbel, a piece that evokes the grandeur of natural landscapes; the epic and dreamlike "Yosemite" by David Arkenstone; the timeless melody of "Sahara Sunrise" by Ralf Illenberger; and the ambient, Latin-influenced "Break of Day" by Bernardo Rubaja. Among the rest there are everything from haunting canvases that oscillate between atmospheric music, to the fusion of a wide variety of styles, mixing jazz sounds and the most traditional elements under excellent elegance and the good taste of a simply magical music.