Getting loose from the stool

The first volume, in the Born in Birmingham in 1941 Steve Gibbons was a member, was remarkable for the middle sixties names Balls. With thirty years already, he published in 1971 his first solo album SHORT STORIES, only to start some time the Steve Gibbons band later. This celebrated in 1977 with Chuck Berry's late work "Tulane" a surprising hit in England (number 12 in the singles chart), and the live album Caught in the Act ended the same year at No. 22 for Roger Daltrey of The Who wrote Gibbons the song "One of the Boys "for its eponymous solo album.

Now it could at last go right to the career of the now tight headed towards Forty singer and guitarist! The prerequisites were certainly pretty good, provided the band with their third studio album published in 1978 DOWN IN THE BUNKER, excellently produced by the legendary even then Tony Visconti (T. Rex, David Bowie, Strawbs, Gentle Giant, Carmen, Thin Lizzy etc. eleven partially outrageously catchy songs.), but from.

The music clearly from Bo Diddley and Buddy Holly classic "Not Fade Away" inspired opener "No Spitting on the Bus" not only told a funny story everyday, but buried itself in his ear so that you can literally for days has been going on him again. The question was: Why the record company did not publish this number as a single ??

Instead of to "Tulane" reminiscent Rock'n'Roller "Eddy Vortex" has been decoupled, but managed only 56 place in the UK charts. And as the second single was decided to again for the wrong song, because although this a little Dire Straits anticipatory (or copy?) Title song "Down in the Bunker" was great, but it is not a typical radio fodder. And we gave away recklessly great opportunity to bring the Steve Gibbons band right forward.

The group was assigned to the then rampant on the island pub rock movement, emerged from the around the same time successful acts such as the Dire Straits, Tears Sniff'n'the, Dr. Feelgood or Chris Spedding. Their musical influences came from rock'n'roll, rhythm and blues, folk rock, spiced with a pinch of reggae. Motto: Always loose socks off.

They drew inspiration from, among many others, especially songwriter Bob Dylan and the casual Laidback legend JJ Cale. Dylan's handwriting was here particularly evident in songs like "Big JC" and the catchy "Chelita" JJ Cale peered the guys at "Any Road Up" and "Mary Is not Goin 'Home" over his shoulder. "Any Road Up" was Mark Knopfler as a template for many a later Dire Straits song. And the final track "Grace" brought with mild east Asian influences a nice album to create a harmonious finale.

If it were then approached with the right things, the Steve Gibbons band DOWN IN THE BUNKER would have had at least one top twenty album in the quiver, and "No Spitting on the Bus" would be released as a single, perhaps around the world topping the charts gone. But it was just not to be. Nevertheless, one can hear the wonderfully by plate today.

PS: The downloadable version contains the same eight, partially rewarding bonus tracks, including the aforementioned hit "Tulane".