Starbuck -

Starbuck was an American pop/exotica band from Atlanta that released the 1976/77 Private Stock albums Moonlight Feels Right and Rock ‘n Roll Rocket, followed by the 1978 UA release Searching for a Thrill.

Members: Bruce Blackman (vocals, keyboards), Ron Norris (guitar, vocals, 1974-76), Tommy Strain (lead guitar, 1974-76), Jimmy Cobb (bass, vocals), Sloan Hayes (keyboards, vocals, 1974-78), Bo Wagner (percussion), David Snavely (drums, 1974-76), David Shaver (keyboards, 1976), Ken Crysler (drums, 1976), Darryl Kutz (guitar, harmonica, vocals, 1976-77), John Fristoe (guitar, 1978), John Walker (guitar, 1978), John Furland (1980)

Background

Starbuck formed in Atlanta in 1974 when keyboardist/songwriter Bruce Blackman teamed with percussionist Bob Wagner, both former members of the Sixties sunshine pop band Eternity’s Children.

They first interacted in The Phantoms, a Cleveland, Mississippi, folk act with bassist Charlie Ross, a future country singer and radio DJ. The Phantoms cut a 1966 local single, “Workin’ Tired” (b/w “Gonna Be Nice Tonight”), and morphed into Eternity’s Children with singer Linda Lawley. Noted for their layered harmonies, they signed with A&M for the 1967 single “Wait and See” and toured with Blues Magoos and Strawberry Alarm Clock. They switched to Capitol and linked with Sagittarius producer Curt Boettcher for the 1968 single “Mrs. Bluebird” (b/w “Little Boy”), which reached the Billboard Hot 100. However, Blackman quit over management issues before the group’s two albums.

In 1972, Blackman played in an Altanta-area group named Mississippi (not the Australian trio with future Little River Band members). He re-linked with Wagner after the percussionist’s early Seventies stints behind classical pianist Liberace and bandleader Lawrence Welk. They formed Extravaganza, which morphed into Starbuck with bassist James Cobb, drummer David Snavely, keyboardist Sloan Hayes, and guitarists Ron Norris (rhythm) and Tommy Strain (lead). Norris recorded beforehand with Chakra, an Atlanta funk-rock quintet that cut the 1970 single “Little Wheel Spin and Spin” (b/w “Clover Hill”) for the Hollywood Mediarts label.

In February 1975, Starbuck signed with Private Stock, a year-old New York label behind the recent career resurgence of Four Seasons frontman Frankie Valli.

In late December, Starbuck released their first single, “Moonlight Feels Right,” inspired by a woman who twice refused Blackman’s date invitations but accepted on the third ask. When the single flatlined, Blackman and Wagner purchased five hundred copies and personally delivered them to radio DJs up and down the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. By April 1976, they had a national hit.

Moonlight Feels Right

Starbuck released their debut album, Moonlight Feels Right, in July 1976 on Private Stock.

The album contains nine Bruce Blackman originals, including “I Got to Know,” “I’m Crazy,” “Lash LaRue,” and the hit title-track. James Cobb wrote the album’s instrumental closeout, “Bordello Bordeaux.”

Musically, the album conjures tropical and space-age vibes with Bo Wagner’s marimba and vibraphone mixed with Blackman’s electric piano and Sloan Hayes’ Moog synthesizers.

A1. “I Got to Know” (3:08)
A2. “Drop a Little Rock” (2:46)
A3. “Lash LaRue” (2:42)
A4. “The Slower You Go (the Longer It Lasts)” (2:44)
A5. “Moonlight Feels Right” (3:38)

B1. “I’m Crazy” (3:12)
B2. “So the Night Goes” (3:00)
B3. “Working My Heart to the Bone” (2:24)
B4. “Lucky Man” (3:30)
B5. “Bordello Bordeaux” (4:30)

Sessions occurred at Studio One in Doraville, Georgia, where Blackman co-produced the album with Tams soundman Mike Clark. Sixties pop A&R Steve Clark (Tommy Rowe, Sandy Salisbury) engineered Moonlight Feels Right ahead of albums by Beaverteeth and Tryangle.

Moonlight Feels Right features string arrangements by Ted Stovall, who also orchestrated 1975/76 albums by Bottom & Co., Clarence Carter, Tamiko Jones, The Temptations, and Thelma Houston.

Mike McCarty illustrated the Moonlight Feels Right cover, inspired by Twenties imagery recently re-popularized in film (The Boy Friend, The Great Gatsby).

The album appeared just as “Moonlight Feels Right” (b/w “Lash LaRue”) completed its fifteen-week climb into the Billboard Top 5, where it peaked at No. 3 for the week of July 31, 1976, under “Kiss and Say Goodbye” by The Manhattans and “Love Is Alive” by Gary Wright.

“Moonlight Feels Right” also reached No. 3 in Canada, where Starbuck’s October 1976 second single, “I Got to Know” (b/w “The Slower You Go (the Longer It Lasts)”) peaked within the Top 40. In December, Private Stock lifted “Lucky Man” (b/w “So the Night Goes”).

Between the first and second album, David Snavely and Ron Norris cleared (respectively) for drummer Ken Crysler and guitarist Darryl Kutz. With Tommy Strain’s departure, Starbuck absconded the two-guitar format for a three-keyboard arrangement with David Shaver.

Rock ‘n Roll Rocket

Starbuck released their second album, Rock ‘n Roll Rocket, in May 1977 on Private Stock.

The album contains nine Bruce Blackman originals, including “Everbody be Dancin’,” “Little Bird,” “Sunset Eyes,” and “Benny Bought the Big One.” Third keyboardist David Shaver co-wrote “Call Me.” Bassist Jimmy Cobb submitted “City of the Future.”

Despite the band’s lineup overall, Rocket retains the space/exotica character of its predecessor with newfound grand ambitions on the two-part title track.

A1. “Everybody Be Dancin'” (3:45)
A2. “Call Me” (3:14)
A3. “City of the Future” (3:24)
A4. “Fat Boy” (3:12)
A5. “Little Bird” (5:15)

B1. “Sunset Eyes” (4:06)
B2. “A Fool In Line” (3:26)
B3. “Don’t You Know How to Love a Lady” (3:39)
B4. “Benny Bought the Big One” (3:25)
B5. “Rock ‘N Roll Rocket / Little Bird Reprise” (5:10)

Sessions occurred in Doraville (Studio One) and Atlanta (Kin-tel, Mastersound) with five engineers, including Studio One co-founder Rodney Mills, a prior Elf and Meters soundman who handled Rock ‘n Roll Rocket in succession with albums by the Atlanta Rhythm Section, Glenn Phillips, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Paul Davis.

Blackman and Mike Clark co-produced Rock ‘n Roll Rocket, which features string arrangements by Rod Kinder, a prior orchestrator for soul singers G.O. Smith, Moses Dillard and Martha Starr. The album’s backside depicts a rocket launch.

Private Stock issued “Everybody Be Dancin'” as an April 1977 single, backed with “Gimme a Break,” a non-album Blackman original. In October, “Benny Bought the Big One” appeared on back of “One of These Mornings,” a non-album Blackman a-side.

Before their next album, Darryl Kutz left along with co-founders Bo Wagner and Sloan Hayes. Starbuck reconfigured as a six-piece with two co-founders (Blackman, Cobb, two Rocket recruits (Shaver, Ken Crysler) and two new guitarists: John Fristoe and John “Dog-Bag” Walker, who played on the two Eternity’s Children albums (post-Blackman/Wagner).

Searching for a Thrill

Starbuck released their third album, Searching for a Thrill, in September 1978 on United Artists.

The album contains seven Bruce Blackman originals, including “Screw You,” “It Feels Good,” “Nothing to It,” and “A Piece of My Life.” He co-wrote the title track with Jimmy Cobb, who contributed “Y’all Come Here and Rock and Roll.” New guitarist John Fristoe wrote “Take My Hand.”

Blackman retains his comedic lyrical style while Starbuck de-emphasize space-age exotica on Searching for a Thrill, which features summery pop-rock from the now dual-guitar/dual-keyboard band.

A1. “It Feels Good” (3:45)
A2. “The Coldest Night of the Year” (2:56)
A3. “Y’all Come Here and Rock and Roll” (3:38)
A4. “Take My Hand” (3:27)
A5. “Easing Back” (2:45)

B1. “Searching for a Thrill” (5:00)
B2. “Nothing to It” (3:38)
B3. “Screw You” (3:18)
B4. “Go Wild” (2:30)
B5. “A Piece of My Life” (4:30)

Sessions occurred at Studio One, Doraville, where Rodney Mills engineered the Blackman/Clark-produced album, which features string arrangements by Wayne Moseley, a subsequent orchestrator for Alicia Bridges.

Mike McCarty designed the Searching for a Thrill cover: a green-framed portal to a tropical beach with an orange/yellow Starbuck logo reminiscent of the letter style of Yes illustrator Roger Dean.

Discography: