Keep - DG-581. 1981 Japan

At one point 20 years ago, I possessed both the Keep albums on LP, and thought the second was far better and edgier. And sold this one. Now I have this one rated higher after a revisit. And while I do agree still that the second album is more rock influenced, I appreciate the songwriting on DG-581 more. The slick sounds can be initially off putting, but to genre fans it's part of the package. But there's a lot of depth to these compositions, and the melodies can put a smile on your face. The usual suspects like Weather Report and Return to Forever can be called out as influences, along with a host of indigenous bands doing the same (not the least, related band Prism).

Personal collection
CD: 2011 Clinck

To the best of my knowledge the Japanese mini-LP on Clinck was not released separately with an obi, but rather it is part of a 5 CD package called J-Fusion Masterpiece Collectors' Box.