Genre: rock
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: Constellation
Company: Pyramid
Catalog: 1590
Year: 1985
Country/State: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Grade (cover/record): NM/NM
Comments: still in shrink wrap, only opened to tape to CD-R
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4270
Price: $150.00
Cost: $45.00
Constellation is one of those sad, what-if stories that are far too common in rock and roll.
Originally from Chattanooga, Tennessee, the band featured a potential superstar in the form of 14 year old singer/guitarist Punkin Crye and brothers Buster and Mike Visage (bass and drums respectively). The trio attracted a loyal following on the local club scene, eventually capturing the attention of the small Tennessee-based Pyramid label, which signed them to a recording contract and financed their self-titled 1978 debut. Co-produced by Jack Bryson, Cathy Dover, Jim Stabile and the band, "Constellation" is a pretty amazing effort; even more so given creative mainstay Crye wasn't even old enough to legally play in a nightclub. In addition to handling lead vocals (he sure didn't sound like a 14 year old) and lead guitar, Crye wrote or co-wrote all nine tracks. Exemplified by tracks such as the blazing opener '8'Oclock Monday', 'There's Talk' and 'Sell Out' the trio's take-no-prisoners brand of hard rock certainly won't appeal to everyone, but at least to out ears the LP's got more hooks and heart than a truck load of Slayer releases. Among the highlights were the sweet and atypical ballad 'Little Things' and the chugging rocker 'Always Be the Same'.
Unfortunately, the album did little commercially and the band promptly called it quits. Crye relocated to L.A. where he enjoyed minor success playing in a number of local metal bands. Unfortunately, Crye also picked up a nasty drug habit. By the time he was in his early 20s he'd returned to Tennessee where he ended up homeless, living on the streets of Chattanooga.
"Constellation" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) 8'Oclock Monday (Punkin Crye) -
2.) There's Talk (Punkin Crye - Buster Visage - Jack Bryson - Cathy Dover) -
3.) Little Things (Punkin Crye - Buster Visage) -
4.) Always Be the Same (Punkin Crye) -
5.) Sell Out (Punkin Crye - Mike Visage) -
(side 2)
1.) Walk with Me (Punkin Crye - Buster Visage - Mike Visage) -
2.) Couldn't Have It (Punkin Crye) -
3.) What Some Need Some (Punkin Crye) -
4.) You Don't
Know (Punkin Crye) -