Rock And Roll Dance Party With...Solid Smoke / War Bride 9006 1982
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Also released with same tracks on Line Records West Germany (6.25172-AP) and on Rockhouse Records Holland (LPL-8203), 1982
The three best songs were released on 7” 45 rpm: A) Magdalena, B) Lana Lee, Goodnight Alcatraz
Roy Loney: Lead Vocals, Guitar
DANCE PARTY CREW
Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Larry Lea (lead 1, 4-7, 9, 10, 12), James Ferrell (lead 2, 3), John Kaldor (lead 13)
Bass: Michael Weinstein, Maurice Tani (7, 8)
Drums: Kenny Johnson, Johnny Surrell (7, 8)
Keyboards: Stu Blank (1, 3, 5, 10,12), Nick Buck (7, 8). Andy Lea (11)
Saxophores: Rick Martin
Harmonica: Rick Estrin
Percussion: Danny Mihm
Backing Vocals: Larry, Kenny, Michael, Maurice (7, 8)
PRODUCED BY ROY LONEY FOR WAR BRIDE AND ROCKHOUSE RECORDS
7 & 8 Produced by John Rewind & Roy Loney
Recorded at John Altmann Recording San Francisco
Arrangements: Roy Loney & Larry Lea
Engineers: John Altmann and Mikae Shamus
Album Supervision: Marty Arbunich and Rico Tee
Cover Design/Ellie Byrom
Illustration: Thelma Hansen
After the failure of making a hit-record, Roy went back to basic with a couple of friends. It’s the first Roy Loney solo album as the Phantom Movers had broke up. Many people consider this album as a big improvement compared to the previous album. I don’t agree. There are three different recording sessions here at least. Category A is some kind of live recordings in the studio. Category B is new studio recordings and category C is left-over’s from the previous album (I think) where there are that sound with synthesizers. That makes this album sounds a bit like bits and pieces thrown together. But, I must say, there are some very good songs on this album.
Side A
1) Ain't Got A Thing (Clement - Burgess) is a dirty rock song with great ”Duane Eddy” guitar from Larry Lea. This one I beleive is a studio recording.
2) My Baby Comes To Me (Leiber - Stoller), This is one of the "live" tracks and it sounds a bit lame. The only drum to be heard is the snare and even if it’s a good rock song it doesn’t take off.
3) Gonna Rock Tonight (Roy A. Loney). One more live track and a very lame version of the old Groovies number.
4) Magdalena (Roy A. Loney). Now, this is something complete different, one of Roy’s best songs ever with a very fine twang guitar from Larry lea and hevay tom-tom drums, tambourine and castanets!. A bit like Ghost Riders In The Sky but more heavy.
5) Slip Slide & Stomp (Roy A. Loney). A fine rocker again from Roy and the band. Larry Lea shines again in this studio recording.
6) Doctor Boogie (Roy A. Loney) is a lame meaningless live in the studio version of the Teenage Head number.
Side B
1) Panic To a Manic Degree (Roy A. Loney). A fine rocker again. This must be a leftover from the previous album.
2) Oh Pretty Woman (Roy Orbinson - Bill Dees). This must also be a leftover from the previous album. I don’t think Pretty Woman need synthesizers.
3) Double Dare (Roy A. Loney) is a dirty rocker with a Bo Diddley beat and a nice harmonica. A real studio cut I beleive.
4) Lovin' Machine (Mann/Merritt/Lambert) is a cover. I like this one. It has some very nice guitar, saxophone and piano.
5) Lana Lee (Roy A. Loney). This song is Roy at his best again. A very good rock’n roll song in 50’s style with a wild piano solo and nice saxophones.
6) Don't Start Cryin' Now (James Moore / Jerry West) is one of the live recordings again with the snare drum. This song really rocks and the piano solo is amazing!
7) Goodnight Alcatraz (Larry Lea - Roy A. Loney) is a perfect ending on this uneven album. It’s an instrumental with Roy just saying a few words at the beginning. Nice guitars from Larry Lea and John Kaldor.
I’m sorry, but I don't think this is better than the previous album. It has some very good songs (Magdalena and Lana Lee are among my favourite Loney songs). But the record also have some unnecessary re-recordings of Groovies songs and this synthesizer version of Oh Pretty Woman. I’ll give this 6/10
Comments from Marty Arbunich (former co-owner of Solid Smoke Records):