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AIR RAID |
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Arthur Offen earned his recognition as a gifted tunesmith and daring lead singer on the local Georgia 1970s music scene, and it all came together for him as the front man for the rising Air Raid group based in the Atlanta region of the Peach state. For the very first Air Raid album, the four piece band had joined forces with the 20th Century Fox label, then headed up by future rock & roll hall of fame founder Neil Portnow, who wisely enlisted Jimi Hendrix producer Eddie Kramer to engineer the band’s self-titled album debut, recorded at the Colgate mansion in Connecticut, a stone’s throw from the Record Plant in New York City, where the overdubs were done. Displaying his impeccable keyboards and lead vocals, Offen, an astute rocker that was greatly influenced by legendary rock bands such as Procol Harum, Yes and Jefferson Airplane, was joined by a talented top-flight band consisting of Rick Hinkle (guitars), Rick Brown (drums), Tom ("Tommy") Walker (bass), with Arthur performing lead vocals, Grand Piano, multi-keyboards and 12 string guitar. Musically, the first Air Raid album isn’t completely indicative of the turning point year of 1980 as it was endowed with a solid early to mid 1970s era progressive rock vibe, a sound pioneered by icons like Chris Squire and Yes, Gary Brooker and lyricist Keith Reid of Procol Harum to name just a couple of the band’s progressive rock influences. Although punk-rock and new wave was a rising force at the time, the solid interplay of Air Raid offered a safe haven for serious progressive rock music fans.
The lead-off track “Nowhere Without Your Love” makes for a killer opening featuring Arthur’s straight up vocal and the pulsating guitar work of Rick Hinkle. “You’re Mine” is another stand-out track that, while having roots in prog-rock, also shines with its near punk-rock attitude. “Anything Anytime” puts together two different song parts to coalesce into another classic Air Raid moment, offering an intriguing contrast of melody, drama and smart arranging. “Love The Way You Look Tonight” is unabashed romanticism, with Arthur expressing his heartfelt sentiments, all against a hard-hitting rock arrangement. It would have made a great radio hit and deserves a second chance in the 2020’s. For prog-rock fans, the music of Arthur Offen and Air Raid is essential listening, while as of late 2023, Arthur is also readying a digital reissue of the 2003 Flag album Book Of Conquest. Arthur’s 2016 solo album Seven Wonders, his 2 albums with Air Raid and 3 albums with Flag stand as testaments to his musical expertise and devotion. Now at age 74, the still vital Arthur Offen can look back on a life of superb music-making. Prog-rock fans don’t miss the music of Arthur Offen. ArthurOffen.com
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Listeners that turned onto prog-rock hero Arthur Offen on his critically-acclaimed 2016 solo album Seven Wonders as well as the remarkable songs on the 2021 CD release of the Air Raid Freedom Ring album will want to hear this embryonic album classic by Air Raid from the early year of 1980. 1980 was a transitional year in the history of rock music as it’s also remembered as the year Beatles founder John Lennon was murdered outside his apartment building in New York City.
