Gone Digital: ARS Nova, Browning Bryant, ADC Band, Gardner Cole, and Matchbox

If it’s Tuesday, then it must be time for Gone Digital, our weekly look at five recent additions to Rhino’s digital catalog. As ever, the types of music we’ll be covering will be all over the place, but that’s Rhino for you: we’re all about variety!

•    ARS Nova, SUNSHINE AND SHADOWS (1969): This classically-inspired American prog-rock band release two albums during their existence, and this one was the second. To avoid any sort of false advertising, we should note that the first album was released by the original lineup of the band, which fell apart after opening for The Doors in 1968, which was really poor timing, as it was also right around when they’d been profiled in LIFE Magazine. Members Wyatt Day and Jon Pierson decided to soldier onward, however, releasing this album 

•    Browning Bryant, LIVERPOOL FOOL (1974): Bryant’s career was an interesting one, having found the majority of his commercial success when he was still a pre-teen. This particular album  is arguably the most interesting of his career, however, despite the fact that it wasn’t tremendously successful sales-wise. Produced by  Allen Toussaint and featuring mostly Toussaint-penned tunes, along with a few Bryant-written originals, the album has gained cult fame over the years, as well it should have: you’d never guess that this kid was in his mid-teens.

•    ADC Band, LONG STROKE (1978): Kaiya Matthews and Michael Judkins led this funk band for several years, but this was their debut album, and if it doesn’t inspire you to get up and groove, you should see a physician immediately.

•    Gardner Cole, CIRCLES (1988): This is one of those albums that within only a few seconds will have you saying, “Oh, yeah, this is absolutely a 1988 album.” Everything about the music screams out its year of release, but there’s nothing wrong with being an artifact of the time in which you were made, particularly when the soulful dance-pop is this good.

•    Matchbox, ROCKABILLY REBEL (1979-1983): This digital compilation offers a look into the late ‘70s and early ‘80s output of the British rockabilly band known as Matchbox. It’s a bouncy, fun-loving listen, but we’d argue that the best song is the one the band did with the late, great Kirsty MacColl, so give “I Want Out” a spin today or you’ll be kicking yourself tomorrow.