(Hard Rock) Alpha Centauri - Alpha Centauri - 1977, MP3, 192 kbps

Единственный альбом канадской рок группы. Трек "You Shot Me Down" цепляет и сражает наповал. Хочется слушать его снова и снова.

Рип с диска, выпущенного на лэйбле Pacemaker Entertainment Limited (PACE005), Canada, 1995. Хочется найти этот замечательный альбом в лосслесс.

Randy Thompson - keyboard, lead vocals
Jess Redmon - guitars, vocals
Garth Hannum - bass, vocals
Kurt Smith - drums

The hard rock group Alpha Centauri came together in 1971, in the unlikely place of Greeley, CO. It was a three-piece band in those first years, consisting of drummer Kurt Smith, keyboardist and singer Randy Thompson, and singer and guitarist Jess Redmon. In 1975, Garth Hannum joined, bringing his skills as both a singer and bassist. Alpha Centauri toured across the United States the next couple of years, opening for numerous big rock acts. By 1977, Alpha Centauri turned its attention toward Canada. That same year, the band finally released a debut album. The self-titled offering was recorded under the Salt Records label. The next year there was a television special and a number of live performances, but no sophomore album was completed for waiting fans. After those peak years of 1977 and 1978, things just never took off again for Alpha Centauri. By 1983 the guys cut out the lights and went home. The band's one and only album was re-released in 1996. (Charlotte Dillon) ~ Allmusic
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Alpha Centauri were hatched in Greely, Colorado in 1971. The trio consisted of Randy Thompson (vocals, keyboards), Jess Redmon (vocals, guitar) and Kurt Smith (drums) and for four years, the band labored the Colorado club circuit to great local success. In 1975, Garth Hannum (vocals, bass) was brought into the fold, fleshing out the band's sound. Shortly after expanding the lineup, the band packed up and moved to Canada in hopes of reaching a more diverse audience, which ultimately landed them a contract with Salt Records in 1976. Over the next few months, the band worked meticulously in the studio until their self-titled debut hit the streets in early 1977. Canadian audiences took notice of the quartet and soon the band were the subject of a CBC television special.
For the next two years, the band enjoyed success in their new home and anticipated their next album. Sadly, by 1979 things were changing in the music scene at large. Punk and New Wave were stirring things up and Alpha Centauri struggled to keep and expand their core audience. It wasn't until 1983 that the band finally concluded that their time had come and gone, prompting them to split that summer. Redmon went on to work with Chad Allen as well as working in production, eventually forming a band bearing his namesake. He continues performing with them in Greely to this day. Thompson and Smith also returned home, gigging with local band, Eyez. Hannum's post breakup activities are unknown.
Alpha Centauri have often been referred to as the 'World's Best Undiscovered Pomp Band', prompting collector's to doggedly serach for copies of this unsung gem. So is the claim accurate? Well, maybe not completely, but there's no denying the band's talent or the quality of their sole release. With a tip of the hat to Uriah Heep, the band plays with conviction throughout, but points must be docked for their somewhat derivative sound. Complete with Byronesque vocals and slide guitars that evoke Mick Box, it's impossible not to notice the Uriah Heep similarities. "Love Is a Curse" is perhaps the most obvious reference point, with riffing and rhythms that come straight from "Wonderworld" era Heep. In spite of the lack of originality, the album pulses with precision from start to finish and is worthy of review. Subsequent listens may only be optional to those who don't mind hearing something derivative.
Whatever your tastes, a legendary album like this deserves to be heard and since the reissue has long gone out of print, I'm posting it here for your approval. Listen and learn about this often discussed act from Colorado! (Posted by J. http://robotsforronnie.blogspot.com/2007/08/alpha-centauri-alpha-centauri-1977.html)
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Alpha Centauri Biography
Origin: Greeley, Colorado, USA - Winnipeg, Manitoba - Colorado, USA

Randy Thompson
Born in Denver Colorado, Randy was one of the founding members of Alpha Centauri, and remained in the band for their entire 12 year run. Keyboard player, lead vocalist, songwriter, Randy’s talent always came through even though he was surrounded by a mountain of keyboards. After the breakup in 1983, Randy continued performing with drummer Kurt Smith in another Colorado band called “Eyez” After the breakup of “Eyez” Randy ended his career as a full time musician, and began perusing a career in electronics. Randy still resides in Greeley, and is employed as an electrical engineer for an international electronics manufacturer.

Garth Hannum
Born in Fargo, North Dakota, Garth grew up in Wyoming, where he began playing in bands in 1969. After majoring in advertising in college, Garth worked in several photography studios in Phoenix and Minneapolis, before joining Alpha Centauri. Bass player and songwriter, Garth proved that bass players didn't have to stand in the background, and was a vital part of the energy that the band projected. He resides in Texas where he is Sr. Videographer and Photographer for a large international company.

Kurt Smith
A native son of Greeley, Kurt began playing drums at the of twelve. As one of the founding members, he played with Alpha Centauri for over 10 years, and continued to play in various bands after the break-up. Kurt laid down a “thunderous” drum beat that was another reason the band had such a hard driving rock sound. Kurt has maintained a successful business in Greeley, where he continues to live with family.

Jess Redmon
Jess was another early starter, picking up the guitar at age seven. Jess joined Alpha Centauri in 1971 and stayed with them, for the most part until the end in 1983. Jess was a quintessential Hard Rock Guitar player and a driving force that helped captivate audiences, where ever Alpha Centauri played. After the band broke up, Jess started his own recording studio and label called Blue Zephyr. In 1988 he received the “Best Songwriter of the Year” award from the C.S.W.A. The most musically active member of the Alpha alumni, Jess lives in Pierce, Colorado with his family.

Find more on official homepage http://www.alphacentauriband.com/Home.html