Week of December 2, 2001
A supergroup in the true sense of the word, except it was comprised of
noteworthy musicians with not just past but also future successful careers (see below). This formation's sole album,
"Stop Off", was released on Polydor in 1972, PD5507. This, in a way, could be viewed as a half-solo outing by Aliki Ashman, singer of
Ginger Baker's Airforce and
Graham Bond
Organisation, but is also notable for featuring guest vocalists (on two
tracks) Madeline Bell (Blue
Mink) and Liza Strike, who've done a lot of session work contributing background vocals to many a "heavyweight" project.
The music is a mixture of ballzy early 70s rock in the Faces/Stones mould, interspersed with laid-back yet powerful country-rock ballads and slow-paced rockers, West Coast style. Heartily recommended.
Line-up:
Aliki Ashman - Vocals (Ginger
Baker, Graham
Bond)
Keith Boyce - Drums (Heavy Metal
Kids, Savoy
Brown)
Tony Clarke - Percussion
Rod Edwards - Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals (Piccadilly Line, Gordon
Giltrap)
Mickey Keene - Guitar (Alex
Harvey, Hair musical)
Ladbroke Horns
Harry Reynolds - Bass, Guitar, Vocals
Madeline Bell - Guest Vocals (Blue
Mink)
Liza Strike - Guest Vocals (backing vocals on everyone's records, from Leo Sayer and
Carly Simon to Pink
Floyd, Nazareth and
Whitesnake)
Bob Weston - Guitar (Murray
Head, Fleetwood
Mac, Long John
Baldry)
Thanks to my friend Miguel for alerting me to this gem.
Alex Gitlin
November 2001