Billboard Chart Scrapers: Jan Akkerman (1977)

Fourth in a series.  To be considered a "chart scraper" album, an artist must have had only one album make the Billboard 200 album chart during the years 1976-85.  Said album spent no more than two weeks on the chart, placing no higher than 196.  They're all new to me.

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Jan Akkerman

Released: 1977 (Atlantic) Produced by: Richard DeBois

Side One	Side Two
Crackers Angel Watch Pavane	Streetwalker Skydancer Floatin' Gate to Europe

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Week	Position
April 8, 1978	199
April 15, 1978	198

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click photos to enlarge

Jan Akkerman, Guitars
Joachim Kühn, Keyboards
Cees van der Laarse, Bass
Bruno Castelucci, Drums
Pierre van der Linden, Drums on "Floatin"
Neppie Noya, Percussion

Recorded at the Soundpush Studios - Blaricum - Holland
Recording Engineer : Jan Schuurman
Strings Recorded at the Morgan Studios - London
Strings Conducted by Roger Webb
Mixed by Richard DeBois, Jan Schuurman ("Angel Watch", "Pavane" and "Gate to Europe") and Jay Denson
Mastered at the EMI Studios - Heemstede - Holland
Mastered by Henk Horden and André Leenders
Cover Design : Rens Benerink
Photography : Joost Noordhoek
Retouch : Four Colors - Amsterdam
Jan Akkerman logo : Wim Ballendux
Art-Direction : Rens Benerink & Hans Tonino
Guitars customised by Anno Galema
Executive producer : Hans Tonino

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Billboard, February 11, 1978, p. 62

Rolling Stone, May 18, 1978, p. 95

RateYourMusic.com
Get Ready to Rock

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Akkerman's roots are in the prog-rock band Focus, and here he switches from prog-rock to jazz fusion. And, given that turnaround, this album is better than it deserves to be. It's no Jeff Beck from the same time period, but good nonetheless. The weaknesses are listed in the above Rolling Stone review: no hooks and no structure. In other words, the focus (see what I did there?) is dazzling artistry and technical skills, not writing. I enjoy this music while listening, but immediately forget it afterwards. For my money, the best cut here is the gentle closer, "Gate to Europe." Bonus points for a sweet album cover.

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Allmusic
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Billboard Chart Scrapers: Spiders From Mars (1976)

Third in a series.  To be considered a "chart scraper" album, an artist must have had only one album make the Billboard 200 album chart during the years 1976-85.  Said album spent no more than two weeks on the chart, placing no higher than 196.  They're all new to me.

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Spiders from Mars

Released: 1976 (Pye) Produced by: Dennis McKay and Spiders from Mars

Side One	Side Two
Red Eyes Shine a Light White Man Black Man Fallen Star Summers of Gold Prisoner	(I Don't Wanna Do No) Limbo Stranger to My Door Good Day America Rainbow Can It Be Far/Interpolating/ Running Round in Circles

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Week	Position
April 3, 1976	200
April 10, 1976	197

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click photos to enlarge

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Review links:

Amazon
RateYourMusic.com

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No Bowie, no Ronson, no interest.

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Wikipedia
Allmusic
Discogs
The Ziggy Stardust Companion

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Billboard Chart Scrapers: Albert Finney's Album (1977)

Second in a series. To be considered a "chart scraper" album, an artist must have had only one album make the Billboard 200 album chart during the years 1976-85. Said album spent no more than two weeks on the chart, placing no higher than 196. They're all new to me.

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Albert Finney's Album

Released: 1977 (Motown) Produced by: Denis King

Side One	Side Two
But I Was a Child I'd Like It to Be Me Crazy Song When It's Gone We'll Be Okay How Do You Know?	Those Other Men They Say What Have They Done (To My Home Town?) The Bird of Paradise The Stream of Life A State of Grace

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Week	Position
September 3, 1977	199

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click photos to enlarge

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Review links:

Washington Post
Amazon
RateYourMusic.com

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Psuedo-Broadway musical music written by Denis King with lyrics by Finney himself, who writes lyrics like a high school loner writes poetry, e.g.: "How do you know when it's there? Is there a hush in the air?" Even though it's on the Motown label, don't expect any soul to be found on this album. If you like Richard Harris's take on MacArthur Park, this may be just the album you're looking for.

For thoughts on the album from producer/composer/arranger Denis King, click here.

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Wikipedia
Allmusic
Discogs

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Billboard Chart Scrapers: The Armada Orchestra (1975)

First in a series.  To be considered a "chart scraper" album, an artist must have had only one album make the Billboard 200 album chart during the years 1976-85.  Said album spent no more than two weeks on the chart, placing no higher than 196.  They're all new to me.

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The Armada Orchestra

Released: 1975 (Scepter) Produced by: The Contempo Family

Side One	Side Two
Band of Gold The Hustle Tell Me What You Want Cochise	You Want It, You Got It Same Old Song Feel the Need in Me The Drifter Do Me Right

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Week	Position
January 17, 1976	196
January 24, 1976	196

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RateYourMusic.com

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Two things tell you pretty much all you need to know about this group and album:

&

So it's a generic, orchestral disco album, but the playing and mix are of high quality. If you need to license background music for your next roller-disco film/party, this will do nicely. Who knows? Maybe these guys recorded this one day and the soundtrack to Star Wars the next.

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Discogs

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