Giants (7)

In spite of the fact the band included former Beau Brummels guitarist Ron Elliott and Bang (and futureThe Knack) drummer Bruce Gary, there's virtually nothing to be found online with respect to this outfit. The one review I found was twelve words long (and not a complete sentence).

The line-up featured singer Laurie Kaye Cohen (who had recorded an obscure solo album for Playboys' brief foray into the music business (1973's "Under the Skunk" catalog number PB 111), rhythm guitarist Ron Elliott, drummer Bruce Gary, lead guitarist John Platania and bassist Karl "Slick" Rucker. They were signed to Neil Bogart's disco-oriented Casablanca Records and their 1976 album "Thanks for the Music" teamed them with producer/engineer (and former Earth Opera bassist) John Nagy. The eleven songs were all original compositions with Cohen, Elliott and Paltania each contributing material. Tracks like 'Lousy Day', 'Rock Roadie Road' and 'Get Off My Back (Bitch)' offered up a decent collection of '70s bar band rockers. The material was all quite commercial with radio potential, but it was also quite anonymous. Most Gen Xers will have heard similar "corporate" rock all over the place. Arguably the band's most unique features came in the form of Plantania's guitar work. On tracks like 'Unemployed' his slide guitar reminded me of Ry Cooder. He was also an amazing fast player. The other feature was Cohen's voice. He may have been the smallest member of the band, but Cohen had a great rock and roll voice. Deep and rugged, comparisons to Tony Joe White and the late Joe Cocker (without his twitchy English eccentricities and excesses) were not out of place. I actually thought a couple of these tracks were really good. Perhaps because it had kind of an early Doobie Brothers vibe 'Rock Roadie Road' would have made a great FM single. Powered by Platania's slide guitar and Rucker's thumb popping bass, the funky 'Unemployed' was equally impressive. Far from a great album, but not the throwaway some folks would have you beieve.

Busy making millions off their disco acts, Casablanca Records had no interest in the band and the album quickly vanished into oblivion.