Tantrum - Rather Be Rockin' (1979)

Tantrum was a seven-member rock group that released two albums on Chicago's Ovation Records label. The group comprised three female singers: Pam Bradley, Sandy Caulfield, and Barb Erber, as well as guitarist Ray Sapko, keyboardist Phil Balsano, bass guitarist Bill Syniar, and drummer Vern Wennerstrom.

Their first album, entitled simply Tantrum, was released in 1978, and their second, Rather Be Rockin', was released the following year. Rather Be Rockin' entered the Billboard Magazine Top LPs and Tapes charts (at #200) on December 19, 1980. The record was also listed in the magazine that month as a "National Breakout" in terms of radio play.[4] Tantrum recorded a third and final album, entitled Breaking Away, which was to be released in 1980. The group disbanded first, however, leaving the album unreleased until August 8, 2005, when the English music company "Escape Music" released this album, along with the first two, all on a two-CD set.

In a review of a Park West Chicago performance from December 23, 1978, Billboard Magazine wrote that "Tantrum brought its unusual, exhilarating blend of Motown harmonies and razor-sharp rock here in November 28. The Windy-City Septet, which fuses the gospel vocals of the Sweet Inspirations with the driving rock of Heart, filled its 75-minute show-case with songs from a newly released Ovation LP....Keyboardist Phil Basano, guitarist Ray Sapko, and drummer Vern Wennerstrom received rousing applause for their solos.... ".

In an article titled "Tantrum Eyes Road" from March 3, 1979, Billboard Magazine noted that "Ovation Records has launched a tour of its pop/rock act Tantrum with co-sponsorship from radio in several Midwest Markets. Presenters of the act include WMMS-FM Cleveland, WDEK-FM Dekalb, February 14, and WBYG-FM Kankakee, Illinois, February 15. "