The Bureau
Here's a reader suggestion from Skellies. The Bureau formed from the ashes of Dexy's Midnight Runners and included 5 members from the original Dexy's. They released only one album in 1981 on Atlantic Records and it was oddly only available in Australia and Canada.
From the liner notes: "All together, looking tough and taut, meaning business, working off traditions, going for the jugular, the Bureau have the power. Musically you see the connection with Dexy soul vision and the soul itself, but the way it comes out is fiery and original. Breaks on sax that have a wildness wailing back across generations of black american music - chords that build and build to suddenly BAAAAOWWWW out of the speakers like nothing you've heard outside of the movies, and Archie Brown stamping on the monitors and crying-shouting-testifying"
The album was reissued for the first time on CD earlier this year and the band reunited to play two gigs in support.
The Bureau were:
Andy Growcott: Percussion
Pete Williams: Bass/Vocals
Rob Jones: Guitar/Trumpet/Vocals
Archie Brown: Lead Vocals - (now with The Young Bucks)
Mick Talbot: Keyboards/Vocals - (played with the Style Council)
Paul Taylor: Trombone
Steve Spooner: Alto sax
J.B. Blythe: Tenor Sax - (now with Black 47)
Visit The Bureau's website
Go to the download page to get The Bureau - "Only For Sheep"
While Ellen Foley is not really a great lost artist, her album, "The Spirit of St. Louis" (Epic, 1981) is a great lost album of the 80's. Most people know Ellen from the time she spent with Meatloaf in "Paradise by the Dashboard Light", but she also spent some serious time in a two year relationship with Mick Jones of the Clash. While Ellen sang "Hitsville UK" and additional vocals on "Sandinista", "The Spirit of St. Louis" was conceived and recorded and it could just as well as been Side 1, Disc 4 of that Clash collection. The record was produced by Mick, all four members of the Clash played on the album and six songs were written by Strummer/Jones. Another Clash connection on Ellen's album was the presence of Tymon Dogg. He wrote 3 songs on "Spirit" as well as playing on the record and he also appeared on "Sandinista". 20 years later Tymon Dogg played with Strummer's Mescaleros. 
Lost Bands of the New Wave Era is one year old and I have found the past year very rewarding. Readers have introduced me to great artists I had never heard before and I know that I have returned the favor. I've conversed with artists whose music has meant a lot to me. I've made new friends and got back in touch with old ones. 
New Jersey's D. L. Byron grew up listening to the sounds of the Beatles and the Byrds. These influences can be heard on his debut album, "This Day and Age" (Arista 1980). Arista's legendary Clive Davis signed Byron looking to find an American version of Elvis Costello or Graham Parker. In 1980, "Listen to the Heartbeat." was a hit single and Byron toured the U.S. opening for Bob Seger and the Boomtown Rats. Byron also contributed a version of "You Can't Hurry Love" to the soundtrack to the film "Times Square" and recorded a cover of "Down in the Boondocks," that featured Billy Joel on backing vocals and was released as a single. After material he recorded for his second album was deemed not commercial enough by hitmeister Clive, Byron asked to be released from his contract. Byron concentrated on his songwriting and scored a hit with "Shadows of the Night' with Pat Benatar among others. He began performing and recording again in 1998. Thanks to D.L. for allowing me to post his music.
