Ever heard of Starz? Probably not.

Starz is a New Jersey born band. I did not know at the time (until I investigated for this posting) but Starz was formed from three members of the band Looking Glass. remember them? Most don’t, but they are the band that record Brandy (You’re of Fine Girl). That song everyone knows. I think it is actually a Trivial Pursuit question.

Starz debut album was released in February 1976. I can’t remember exactly when I bought it but it had to have been later that year after I got ahold of KISS Destroyer. I bought the album because they were on the same label as KISS and I had seen pics of them in CREEM magazine and they looked cool. The album turned out to be right in the same vein of rock that I liked. Straight ahead guitar oriented songs about being a teenager and all the things that come with that.

I have a couple of favorite songs off this album, (She’s Just a) Fallen Angel and Pull the Plug. I can remember there being some issue with the song Pull the Plug as it was about a girl on life support and her boyfriend wanted to pull the plug and let her die in peace. Nothing like a little uproar from the general population to sell records to teenagers.

I listened to this album a lot when I first bought it and I still pull out the vinyl and have a listen. It stills holds up. The band is still kinda around. They have a website and Facebook page. Occasionally you will hear that they played a bar in New Jersey. The second album, Violation, came out and I bought it too. They released two more albums after that before calling it quits in mid 1979. A three year life.

I chose Starz by Starz for Vinyl of the Month because of the memories it invokes of that time when I was in high school and life was simple.