The bottom fell out of Klaatu by this time. Forced by Capitol into moving to Los Angeles and working with a unknown producer, the three Canadians actually wrote a song called "Sell Out, Sell Out" that summed up their experience. Even the album title is a pun on how they felt about themselves and their music. They actually came out of the closet this time, splashing their photos and names on the album insert and advertising a Klaatu fan club, but it didn't help. Most of the tunes are pretty dismal. Exceptions are "Hot Box City," a bouncy cameo of L.A. life, and the coda "All Good Things," which has a sweet, albeit derivative, melody line. The only song that fully succeeds is a Bread-influenced track called "Knee Deep in Love." Fortunately, the group resurrected themselves for their final effort, Magentalane. It's no coincidence that they left L.A. for Canada to do it. ~ Peter Kurtz, All Music Guide
Klaatu (Executive Producer), Christopher Bond (Arranger), Jamie Vernon (Executive Producer), Dave Bradley (Executive Producer), Terry Draper (Drums), Terry Draper (Group Member), Teddy Bear Jones (Cover Design), Christopher Bond (Producer), Joe Lambert (Remastering), John Woloschuk (Bass), John Woloschuk (Guitar), John Woloschuk (Keyboards), Jamie Vernon (Repackaging), Jim Hoeck (Executive Producer), John Woloschuk (Liner Notes), John Woloschuk (Group Member), Christopher Bond (Liner Notes), Terry Draper (Liner Notes)
Endangered Species is the fourth album by the Canadianprogressive rock band Klaatu, released in mid-1980. At this time, the band had virtually no artistic control over the music; the album was a project of Capitol Records. To quote the Official Klaatu Website's FAQ (by Dave Bradley):
"An outside producer was brought in, most of the instruments were played by Los Angeles based session musicians, and the band members were asked to add their voices and (usually) one lead instrument per song. The band was sent home before the album was even mixed."
The difference between this album and the rest of Klaatu's work was immediately apparent. The band evidently resented this, as one track on the album ("Sell Out, Sell Out") was a searing attack on Capitol's attempts to "jump on the bandwagon." As it turned out, Capitol's attempts to turn the band into a more conventional and radio-friendly pop/rock band were completely in vain since the album was a commercial and critical bomb. As a result, the band was dropped shortly afterwards by Capitol, though Capitol's Canadian division picked up the band and released their final album Magentalane in Canada only.
Regular Klaatu artist Ted Jones - who had not painted the cover for the group's previous album, Sir Army Suit - returned to paint the album cover.
Track listing
"I Can't Help It" (Long)
"Knee Deep in Love" (Woloschuk/Tome)
"Paranoia" (Woloschuk)
"Howl at the Moon" (Woloschuk/Tome)
"Set the World on Fire" (Woloschuk)
"Hot Box City" (Long)
"Dog Star" (Long)
"Sell Out, Sell Out" (Woloschuk)
"All Good Things" (Woloschuk)
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
