Glass Moon

Glass Moon was an American rock band from Raleigh, North Carolina. The group released three albums and charted three singles between 1980 and 1984. The group was influenced by the early symphonic work of Genesis, Yes, Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM), and Gentle Giant. Glass Moon's early work, such as "Barsoomian Kingdom", contained clear references pointing to their British Rock roots.

History

The American progressive rock group Glass Moon was formed in the early 1970s by guitarist John Wheliss, with lead vocalist Rodney Barbour on guitar and flute, and Nestor Nunez on bass and vocals. Drummer Chris Jones joined in 1972, David Adams, on vocals and keyboards, in 1974. The band toured the east coast until 1977 when they temporarily disbanded, reforming as a trio comprising Adams - now lead vocalist - , Nunez and Jones in 1978. Sideman guitarist Jamie Glaser, known for his work with Jean-Luc Ponty and Chick Corea would fill Wheliss' place as guitarist on the group's recording sessions for their first two albums and performed live with the group in 1981 while not officially being a member of Glass Moon.^[1]

In 1980 Glass Moon were the first act signed to Electric Lady Productions, the company formed by Alan Selby, owner of the Electric Lady Studios in New York City, with Glass Moon, the band's debut album, recorded at Electric Lady Studios and released by the independent label Radio Records with distribution through RCA Records. Despite the lead single "(I Like) The Way You Play" stalling in the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart in Billboard at #108, the qualified success of the Glass Moon album - which reached #148 on the Billboard album chart - was sufficient for Radio Records to have Glass Moon record a second album at Electric Lady Studios in 1981. Release of this second album, Growing in the Dark, was delayed until February 1982, after Radio Records had secured a distribution deal with Atlantic Records: by then Nunez had left the group with Jones departing soon after, with Glass Moon resultantly being in a state of suspension at the time of the band's career peak, the Growing in the Dark album yielding a Billboard Hot 100 single with a remake of the Hollies' "On a Carousel" which peaked at #50 in April 1982. Even though the single had only modest chart performance, Glass Moon frontman Dave Adams would later state: "Needless to say, I made a good living off that song for fourteen years", while praising Atlantic Records who had eventually agreed to distribute the Growing in the Dark album with "On a Carousel" as its lead single: "The stellar Atlantic promotion team certainly made all the difference in making 'On a Carousel' the hit it became." ^[1]

Dave Adams reformed Glassmoon - with the group's name adjusted to one word - in 1984 with drummer Doug Morgan formerly of 3PM, guitarist Rod Abernethy - billed while with Glassmoon as Rod Dash - , and Bob Patterson on bass:^[2] Abernethy and Patterson had appeared in the three 1982 videos prepped to promote the album Growing in the Dark filling in for departed Glass Moon members. (Abernethy had appeared in all three videos including the first which was for "On a Carousel": Patterson only appeared in the second and third videos which were for the album tracks "Simon" and "Telegram Song".) ^[3] In January and February 1984 Glassmoon recorded the album Sympathetic Vibration at the Bath _{Somerset UK} studio of producer David Lord whose credits included Tears For Fears and Echo & the Bunnymen: Adams co-produced the album which released by MCA Records - with whom Glassmoon had a two album deal - 11 June 1984, by which time Abernethy had left the group.^[2] With Dick Smith as guitarist Glassmoon toured into 1986. The Sympathetic Vibration single "Cold Kid" having stalled at #103 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, MCA cancelled the second album and the group soon afterwards disbanded permanently. Dave Adams would record the solo album Dancing in My Sleep in 1986, and would subsequently front a band named Suicide Blonde based in the Raleigh area.^[4] Dick Smith went on to tour with both Earth, Wind & Fire, and Kenny Loggins as lead guitarist.

Members

• John Wheliss (until 1977) - guitar
• Rodney Barbour (until 1977) - vocals, acoustic guitar, flute
• Nestor Nunez (until 1983) - bass, vocals
• Chris Jones (1972–1983) - drums
• Dave Adams - (1974–1986) - vocals, keyboards
• Dick Smith (1984–1986) guitar
• Bobby Patterson (1984–1986) - bass, vocals
• Doug Morgan (1984–1986) - drums
• Rod Abernethy (1984) - guitar (as "Rod Dash")

Discography

Albums

• Glass Moon (Radio Records, 1980) U.S. #148^[5]
• Growing in the Dark (Radio Records, 1982)
• Sympathetic Vibration (MCA Records, 1984)

Singles

• "(I Like) The Way You Play" (1980) U.S. #108
• "On a Carousel" (1982) U.S. #50
• "Cold Kid" (1984) U.S. #103^[6]

References