This release is a 2 CD reissue of the 2 first albums released by The Steve Gibbons Band. Of the included 5 bonus tracks the 2 on the Any Road Up CD apparently never has been released elsewhere. The name of the band was a pure coincidence as the band is a direct continuation of Idle Race, the late 60’s band most famous of including Jeff Lynne before he joined The Move and later formed Electric Light Orchestra. This his only a minor detail in the many examples of coincidences that prevented Steve Gibbons to become known by a wider audience.
Steve Gibbons was born in Harborne, Birmingham, UK and he most of his life has stayed in Birmingham where he still lives. He started his musical career in 1959 joining the Dominettes working semi-pro the first 4 years and turning pro in 1963. The band changed the name to The Ugly’s and during the following years went through a lot of changes in the line-up thus Steve Gibbons was the only original member in 1968 when future ELO member Richard Tandy joined on keyboards. The band went through more changes including a new name “Balls” but finally broke up in 1971.
When Jeff Lynne left Idle Race to join The Move in 1971, Steve Gibbons went back to Birmingham from London to join Idle Race as his replacement. At this time only Greg Masters remained of the original Idle Race. In 1972 at a gig supporting Colin Blunstone they found that their name had been changed to The Steve Gibbons Band on the posters.
On a gig on “Hope & Anchor” in London they were spotted by Pete Meaden. The following week he drove up to Birmingham for a chat and a few days later he returned with Pete Townshend who was so impressed that he introduced to band to The Who’s manager Bill Curbishley. Soon after they signed with Roger Daltrey’s Goldhawke label and in 1976 they recorded their debut “Any Road Up” with John Entwistle mixing and playing bass on some of the recordings. They then went on tour as opening act for The Who in UK, Europe and America and soon they were back in the studio to record their second album “Rollin’ On”. After finishing the recordings they went back on tour in America and while they were away punk took over.
Despite all the misfortune The Steve Gibbons Band stayed active and released their latest album in 2008.
Artist: The Steve Gibbons Band
Album: Any Road Up & Rollin’ On
Year: 1997
Label: The Road Goes On Forever
Style: Classic Rock, Blues Rock, Pub Rock
Format: mp3/320
Tracklist
CD1: Any Road Up (1976)
01 Take Me Home 4:04
02 Johnny Cool 3:55
03 Rollin’ 5:53
04 Spark Of Love 4:14
05 Standing On The Bridge 3:13
06 Natural Thing 4:21
07 Speed Kills 3:33
08 Strange World 5:17
09 Sweetheart 4:20
10 Back Street Cat (Bonus Track) 3:22
11 Dick Malone (Bonus Track) 4:01
CD2: Rollin’ On (1977)
01 Wild Flowers 4:10
02 Light Up Your Face 3:07
03 Now You Know Me 3:39
04 Mr.Jones 4:34
05 Till The Well Runs Dry 4:14
06 Tulane 2:57
07 Cross Me Over The Road 3:17
08 Till The Fire Burns Out 3:05
09 Low Down Man 3:10
10 Right Side Of Heaven 0:57
11 Rollin’ On 3:53
12 Please Don’t Say Goodbye 3:09
13 Tupelo Mississippi Flash 4:42
14 Rounden 0:20
15 Gave His Life To Rock’n’Roll (Bonus Track) 3:23
16 Make The Good Times Last (Bonus Track) 2:39
17 Dick Leaps In (Bonus Track) 3:03