Classic Rock Bottom

This week it's just a straight 11 in the current series. No subset here since that seems to confuse some people, but those not suffering from that confusion have no need to worry since I'm quite sure the series on a series about a series on top of a series will pop up eventually. And for that, you're quite welcome.

Our latest is the debut from Trillion, released in 1978. Let's call is prog rock, or you can type in "trillion band" in that google box and they'll tell you that they fall under the genre of "rock, hip-hop/rap". Uhhhh......no, google. NO. You've lost some of my respect. There ain't no rock here!

Really no impact on the charts with this one which is surprising since there's a three-headed snow leopard on the cover. How can you NOT want to buy an album with a three-headed snow leopard, especially when it's chock full of glorious hip-hop/rap?

On lead vocals is Fergie Frederiksen who went on to front another group or two that you might have heard of. This was his only album with Trillion, but that's a story for another day. Maybe.  

Let's check out what allmusic.com has to say about this:

Trillion's eponymous debut may have vanished rather ignominiously into obscurity not long after its 1978 release, but there was no shortage of faith, money, or high expectation leading into its recording. Not only had the Chicago band recently signed with New York's powerful Epic Records, but they were given the luxury of recording at Colorado's Caribou Ranch (site of Elton John's Caribou album sessions) with the help of respected producer/engineer Gary Lyons, who had recently worked on Queen's A Night at the Opera and Foreigner's first album. God only knows why this apparent marriage made in studio heaven didn't guarantee platinum success for Trillion, but the sonic hallmarks were certainly all there, from the impeccable production sheen and mega-hooks worthy of Boston's landmark debut ("Hold Out," "Hand it to the Wind"), to the extravagant, borderline operatic lunacy of Queen or Styx ("Big Boy," "Child Upon the Earth"). Trillion also had it in them to deliver a compelling, mildly country-ish single candidate for AM radio in "Give Me Your Money, Honey," but some evidence of the band's commercial impotence was exposed by confused cuts like "Never Had it so Good" (imagine Steely Dan tangoing with Head East, of Flat as a Pancake fame!) and "Fancy Action" (a horrid disco-funk fiasco) that touched on innumerable influences but seemingly couldn't decide what they want to be. Not to be overlooked, either, was Trillion's rather tepid lyric writing talents, which, when competing within a genre defined by sharp and powerful messages (silly oftentimes, sure, but powerful nonetheless), left much to be desired. Nevertheless, for fans of accessible progressive rock, Trillion's debut still has much to offer...

Trillion

1. Hold Out
2. Big Boy
3. Give Me Your Money, Honey
4. Never Had It So Good
5. May As Well Go
6. Fancy Action
7. Hand It To The Wind
8. Bright Night Lights
9. Child Upon The Earth

Availability: Around $13 new or $12 used.

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Sigh.  I'm so far behind, but I hope to get caught up this weekend.

I got two new Rock Candy releases that showed up in the mail today!  The remasters of Gary Wrights masterpiece - Dreamweaver and the follow up - The Light of Smiles - very excited to have these remastered!!!  Of course, each has made appearances in SHT, but that aside... Maybe one could make an appearance here?


This one I have scrolled by several times and admired the cover art.  Had this been in the LP bins of my favorite Record Store back in the day it may have warranted an impulse buy based on the album cover alone.  I used to buy stuff using cover art as my only criteria every now and again.  Let’s see if it would have been a good deal!!!


Two tracks in and I'm liking this... I love this, it’s got that early Louisiana LeRoux mixed with Ambrosia mixed with Starcastle mixed with early Toto (think their debut and Turn Back) influence going on.  I can see what attracted Toto to Fergie when they needed a replacement.  Give Me Your Money, Honey is a bit of a detour, maybe treading on filler, but I still want to hear more...


The guitar work is interesting for sure.  I like the looseness in the production it sounds exactly like a band on a budget in the early 80s.  That should’ve been a whole genre IMO!  Fun bands in the mix like this, I would add Touch to the list of bands I’ve already mentioned above...


Fancy Action is funky-cool, we're nearing the Cherry pick with this one I think.  Side 2 flirts more with prog and that’s cool.  Hate to do this but I have to agree with your RED track this week.  Followed closely by Fancy Action and Never Had It So Good


Looks like it’s no longer available directly from Rock Candy...  :-( good thing there’s 3 left on Amazon I may go for one of those...

Check out ebay for Import CD or Deep Discount. Usually one of them has dealios going on.

I checked on both those GW albums and they were both back ordered so they'll wait.

I think I have plenty of RC releases to hold you over........

Hanging out in the back with the wife and a couple friends, Light Of Smiles on in the background.  How did this get missed?  So good!

Wait......you have friends?

well...  I thought they looked familiar, but I cant be sure.  Maybe they were just hungry and thirsty.  Come to think of it they didn't drive up or leave in a car either... weird.

I have this one.

And would you believe it, it's the Rock Candy edition. It still has the huge, blue sticker on front of the jewel case (with some propaganda, I'm sure) that almost covers up the head of that awesome snow leopard looking left and right, on the cover.

The CD is on my Later pile, so eventually I would have posted it, but there are 2 reasons why it's better that Jon did what he did, rather than I do what I would have done. 

  • It's one thing less to worry about, for me
  • And the CD got a mildly positive commentary from the one who always trashes all my entries. (Like he's on a mission, or something)

The time is good as any to give it a swirl and my verdict is; If I haven't had this CD in my collection, I would definitely go out now and buy it. Never Had It So Good is a hit and miss for me, but not a bad track, either. Pats of it I like and parts of it I don't. The rest is in high regards. Child Upon The Earth might be the red track, (I especially like the instrumental parts) but the green track is Big Boy for it's big sound. On the first listen, anyway.

The ulterior motive for buying this CD wasn't really the snow leopard, (as awesome as it is) but the hope this CD will be rare one day and worth Trillion dollars. So much for that. If Jon has it, can't be that rare. But Scott's investigation gives me a hope. Perhaps in a year or two I could cash in my investment. 

I know, I know, I just said, I like the CD and I do, but everything is for sale if the price is right. And a Trillion dollar sounds like a good starting point at any negotiation. At least to me it does.

But, but, I'm the nice one on here!!

Well, no sense in me reviewing all of the songs here.  The original post has the review all covered.  But maybe a question or two...

Did you know Trillion back in the late 70's?  Did you have this at some point back then and just upgrade your copy with the RC remaster?  

Or is this one that you read about recently and just decided to pick it up when you saw it on RC?

These are important questions Jon, I really need a straight answer.

Vocally, this is good.  Occasionally it reminds me vocally of Geddy Lee.  I also seem to get a whiff of Yes.  It's all good. I'm not a die hard fan of either of those bands, though Rush has been more interesting in the last few years for me and I'm interested in checking out some Yes as well.

The only song that wasn't particularly good is Never Had It So Good.  It was cheeeeesy!  But I think you got the best track right!

Guitar work is very good.  Pleasant listen.  Glad you picked it!

Heard of them a long time ago and also remember the album cover. Then, just to beat Scott, I've been on a run of RC releases and can guarantee that Scott doesn't even come close to my collection.

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