Starcastle

[Sansui Louie]

Anyone remember these guys? Sort of a Midwest U.S. version of "Yes". Their recordings are semi-obscure. Have always liked these guys...I think overall, their material was stronger and more consistent than "Yes".

Their singer, Terry Luttrell, was the original vocalist for REO Speedwagon. Ok, don't hold that against him. :D

[needledrop]

They were from the St. Louis area, almost all of their catalog including their self-titled debut, is available on CD, just have to search for it. However, IMHO, Starcastle was nothing more than a pale shadow of Yes. Check out AMG's take on Starcastle for a more sympathetic overview.

[mhardy6647]

yup, I have their first album (purchased new, on vinyl). It was all the rage in certain circles at a certain long-ago time in history.

no doubt they were Yes imitators, but if nothing else, they're very technically adept and almost scarily precise. I think that some incarnation of the band they still performs.

EDIT: at least I'm consistent! :-)
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showpost.php?p=421514&postcount=14

[Sansui Louie]

I love old Yes on vinyl, but they had some spotty releases. The first 3 albums were fantastic, and Yessongs is a must on vinyl. Tales of Topographic Oceans, Going For The One and Relayer...well, you have to be a fan to like those, me thinks. Tormato, much as I disliked it when it was new, actually stands the test of time better than those three.

Starcastle's releases are consistently good. And scarily precise is a good way of putting it. I saw them open for somebody back in the day...can't remember whom. They were just as precise and amazing then also.

And, I saw Yes in the round in 78. I think I was 14 or 15. :D

Starcastle may be considered a pale shadow of Yes, but even Yes became a pale...probably pale-R...shadow of Yes by the mid 70's.

[RichPA]

Used to hear them from time to time when they visited Champaign, IL, while I was in grad school. Used to have an album or two, not sure if I still do.

[mhardy6647]

I saw Yes live once, ca. 1980 (with Rick Wakeman) and I was very disappointed. They sounded surprisingly ordinary live.

BTW and FWIW, I pretty much lost interest in Yes after "Close to the Edge".

[ml69]

I heard them too back in the 70's - hungry at that time for anything new that was progressive rock. Their output at that time was alright and sometimes pretty good. I held onto my lps anyway...
Do a google of them and you'll find out their back together in the original line up, I think. The bass player (who was very good), died recently of cancer, but before he died they completed a new album. I checked out a couple songs from the new album and I liked it better than their earlier work, so I paid for a download from Itunes and am impressed. I like the newer songwriting and they are very good players. It's very progressive rock with longer songs and all that goes with that genre, very listenable - glad I purchased it. Also their website contains interesting history of the band and their dealings with a major label.
Mike

[shocley]

Their song "Lady of the Lake" got a lot of play on FM radio, as I remember. They really were a Yes knockoff - an attempt at an exact replica of the original. They were pretty good at what they did, though.

But I wish someone would have taken that distinctive Yes bass sound, subverted it and turned it to other avenues of rock n roll. Punk rockers, for example, doing, say, a version of the Sex Pistols' "God Save the Queen"...it'd be totally daft, which is exactly what is required for something really new and startling.

[soundweasel]

Yes, I do remember them. Like others here have said, I listened to them because I was deep into progressive and couldn't wait passively for the next Yes album to be released. :D

BTW -- I saw Yes for the first time in 1976 which I believe was the last year they performed "Tales from Topographic Oceans" so it was a treat to see/hear them. From 1976 and into the mid-eighties I saw them a total of 12 - 14 times in outdoor and indoor venues. I still prefer their earlier work, and (much of) the stuff they did in the 80s was pretty horrible, they usually sounded on top of their game (except in the 80s), and I'm still a fan. :D

They are now touring with Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Alan White, and Rick Wakeman's son on keyboards. They'll be in my area in July on my wife's birthday, so I won't be going to see them. :no:

[MitsuMan]

They played at my high school in 1978. :banana: And while their only real hit was very Yes-like, if you delve into their music a bit deeper, they really did have their own style. It was the era of synthesizers, high-pitched male vocalists, etc. There were plenty of other bands that existed around that time that could have been described as Yes-like. Haters. :nono:

And they recorded at Golden Voice Studios in Pekin, IL along with Styx, Heartsfield, Head East, REO and a few others. :smoke:

[Sansui Louie]

Ironically, Wakeman's son tours with both Yes and Starcastle.

[Rat44]

Thought that name sounded familiar.Just took a look and found a copy of Fountain Of Light.Was given in a pile of records,will have to give it a listen.

[soundweasel]

Ironically, Wakeman's son tours with both Yes and Starcastle.

Seriously?! I did not know that!! :scratch2:

[Sansui Louie]

Yep!

http://www.yesworld.com/

http://www.starcastlemusic.com/news.html

Wacky stuff, huh. Wonder what *Rick* Wakeman is up to these days...

[mhardy6647]

Dang you guys, anyway!
Guess what I am listening to as I type this (see attached picture)...?

I was humming/whistling/thinking "Lady of the Lake" all day at work...

gee, thanks... :-P

[Squonk07]

They were from the St. Louis area, almost all of their catalog including their self-titled debut, is available on CD, just have to search for it. However, IMHO, Starcastle was nothing more than a pale shadow of Yes. Check out AMG's take on Starcastle for a more sympathetic overview.

As much as I wanted to think differently when I tried them, I have to agree. The debut album has its moments, but IMO they're few and far in between. Like I said, I was really excited about the concept of an American prog group (aside from Kansas), but I wasn't impressed. YMMV.

Wonder what *Rick* Wakeman is up to these days...

I have no clue, though I hope he's not burning anymore Mellotrons. I nearly cried (http://planetmellotron.com/revwakeman.htm).

[Ashfan]

Just went downstairs to check and found that I have copies of their first 4 LP's. Been a long, long time between plays, so pulled all 4 from the stacks and brought them upstairs. Lady of the Lake is playing now.