This Oneness - Surprize, 1975

Another one-off progressive masterpiece, this time quite good, to finish this over-lengthy series of American prog and fusion rarities, reminding me of our old post Machines Have Landed.   There are, like with Chalis, many reviews online already.  I'll go with the customarily (but not here, in my opinion) apt apps:

This was definitely among the most uneven prog-inclined albums of the 70's, the band played basically a warm and interesting Jazz Fusion with progressive components, quite rich and at moments pretty furious, but stylistically they were pretty confused during the singing parts, when they deeped into more poppy and psychedelic territories, feauring dated choral lines and slow-tempo organ waves.The music is still good for what it is, but doesn't sit very comfortably next to the jazzier pieces, even if some good flute and sax themes are to be found.The instrumental parts are definitely more convincing, focused and inspired.They recall the Heavy Fusion parts of MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA, played with instrumental integrity and some serious depth to go along with a lighter and more ethereal approach akin to RETURN TO FOREVER minus the Latin-spiced tendencies.This material is definitely great with impressive guitar work, unexpected breaks, sax/guitar interplays and complex themes, sometimes the music even passes into the Canterbury-edged Fusion values.Especially the long farewell tracks are extremely dense and instrumentally bombastic with lots of keyboards, sax, flute and guitar, specializing in fiery solos and intercations.I wish they could stuck with this style, because they seem to have been a very accomplished group regarding the genre.

And I'm shocked to read the Olivia Newton-John reference.  Specifically,

This Oneness group also backed Olivia-Newton-John on her road tours in America from May 1974 through 1975, also appearing on the NBC Mar. 7th 1975 "Midnite Special" broadcast. The May 1974 midwestern colleges tour managed by Variety Theater International were Olivia's first American stage appearances. These very enthusiastic audience turnouts convinced everyone to go forward with her future musical endeavors in America. These early tours included one show at the 1975 Minnesota State Fair Grandstand racetrack stage to a record audience. The group played Harrah's South Shore Room at Lake Tahoe Nov. 6, 1975. While in town, William B. Harrah had the group out for a day trip on the lake in his 33 foot Chris Craft run-about outfitted with two 12 cylinder aircraft engines capable of a peak speed of 55 mph. In 1976 This Oneness desired to return their focus to writing and producing their "Surprize" album and work on promotion of the group once again. Leaving Olivia was not an easy emotional decision for the band to make. The band wrote "Song For Olivia" in parting.

I beg to differ though, there is not that much that is reminiscent of either RTF or Mahavishnu, except maybe the Lunar Sunrise:





I think in terms of American albums, the group Cathexis (their first album) is most similar, with the mix of funky fusion, instrumentals, and ordinary songs.  I posted their second two years back.
But overall I think this one is really good.  And now let's let the aliens take this one out as they Go In Peace:

With this we finally come to the end of the long stream of American albums all from the same period, roughly 1974 to 1984, in the progressive rock or fusion genres.

Oof, and it's a relief to get to other countries as I feel the US vein is getting exhausted.  And, believe it or not, there is tons of impressive music I have to share from those other countries.  Just stay tuned, and prepared to be blown away here and there.... and keep those requests comin'