| Trapeze albums’s “Medusa” and “You Are The Music…We’re Just The Band” are now available for pre-order on Limited Edition Vinyl (250 copies of each) for the first time in over 40 years! Also Limited Bundles (100 copies of each) with a signed flat by Glenn Hughes. |
for mor info & to order: https://www.dekoentertainment.com/reissues/trapeze
TRAPEZE, the classic 70s British rock band from Wolverhampton have a new single out from the forthcoming Lost Tapes Vol. 1, CD, to be released November 24. The song “Breakdown”, featuring Glenn Hughes, Mel Galley and Dave Holland was recorded in the 90s. Check out the video clip below. *For more info check out : https://ramzine.co.uk/news/trapezes-breakdown-available-now/
To be released on November 24 through Cherry Red is the long-lost collaboration by Glenn Hughes and Robin George. Originally recorded in 1989, this 13 track CD comes from the original tapes, and also features other former members of Trapeze.
A chance meeting between Glenn Hughes and Robin George eventually resulted in an invitation for Glenn to sing backing vocals for Robin and Sean Harris’ Notorious album, which lead to a full collaboration between Robin and Glenn. The album started life as a solo Robin George record and developed into ‘Overcome’, complete with four songs co-written by the pair; ‘Number One’, ‘Sweet Revenge’, ‘Don’t Come Crying’, and the title track.
Such was the faith and strength in the new recordings, that a major label deal was struck but fell through, leaving these recordings to languish in the vaults. Glenn is on fine form on the album, and among the 13 tracks of melodic, and occasionally funky, hard rock, one special treat is the track ‘Haunted’, essentially recorded by a reformed Trapeze, featuring Dave Holland, Mel Galley and Terry Rowley.
Glenn Hughes has quite rightly been hailed “The Voice Of Rock”, and for good reason. With a career that kicked off with Mel Galley and Dave Holland in Trapeze in 1970, followed by Deep Purple between 1973 and 1976, Glenn would also form Hughes / Thrall, join Black Sabbath, enjoy a successful solo career, collaborate with artists as varied as Gary Moore, Joe Lynn Turner and the KLF, founding Black Country Communion and California Breed, and fronting The Dead Daisies.
Over the years, Robin George has collaborated with many musical legends, from Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant, Thin Lizzy’s Philip Lynott, Uriah Heep’s David Byron, UFO’s Pete Way, John Wetton & Asia, Daniel Boone, Raymond Froggatt and the Quireboys’ Spike.
As a native of Wolverhampton, it’s no surprise that a musician of Robin George’s caliber would cross paths with local heroes Trapeze.
TRACK LISTING:
1 Flying
2 Overcome
3 I Want
4 Haunted (featuring Trapeze’s Dave Holland, Mel Galley & Terry Rowley)
5 Number One
6 Sweet Revenge
7 The American Way
8 Machine
9 Steal My Heart
10 Things Have Gotta Change
11 Don’t Come Crying
12 Loving You
13 War Dance
LINKS:
https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/glenn-hughes-and-robin-george-overcome-cd/
British band TRAPEZE were perhaps best known as the band that featured musicians who went on to big bands, notably Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple), Mel Galley (the band’s leader & mainstay – Whitesnake), Dave Holland (Judas Priest), and (later) Peter Goalby (Uriah Heep). Throughout the ’70s TRAPEZE released 6 studio albums, with various line-ups, but the band has seen a resurgence over the last decade or so with the release of archive live releases, CD box sets and compilations. But now we await the release of previously unreleased material from the ’70s on ‘Lost Tapes Vol 1’. 14 tracks from various line-ups of Trapeze later next month, on various formats. *For more info, check out the press release below….
When rock band Trapeze called it a day, they left behind them a series of now classic albums. Their influence on other groups has been immense; individual members themselves going on to join heavy weight rock acts such as Deep Purple, Whitesnake, Judas Priest & Uriah Heep. But their story’s not over, as TRAPEZE – LOST TAPES VOL. 1 will soon reveal!
These are tracks recorded on tour, and either side of album releases; great songs that were stockpiled just never released as the various line-ups hit the ground running, playing live relentlessly; honing their craft while rarely seeing home.
However, guitarist Mel Galley did take those tapes to his elder brother Tom’s house. There, they – as co-writers of many of the band’s best-known songs – would review them, making various decisions that felt right at the time. Mel also had the foresight, to leave them with Tom for safekeeping, so they didn’t get lost.
“One of Mel’s last wishes, before he passed away, was that I’d get together with Trapeze manager Tony Perry and put all these things together,” said Tom Galley, who went onto produce the celebrated Phenomena album series, “And that’s what we’ve done!”
LOST TAPES VOL. 1 is an opportunity to hear Trapeze with all the primal energy of young men stretching out; demonstrating there was even more untapped potential between the musicians involved than had hitherto been imagined.
Smashing the doors open across America by pioneering a heavy funk rock sound that would later be taken up by The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Extreme and others, back in the 70s Glenn Hughes (Vocals, bass), Mel Galley (Guitar, vocals) & Dave Holland (Drums) barely had time to catch their breath while stepping into studios to lay down several unique songs that you’ll find on this collection, as well as tracks later recorded at Garage Studios in the UK during their 90s reformation.
Strident hard rocker ‘Breakdown’ comes from that latter period. “This features Glenn singing – His voice is one of the wonders of the world!” Tom remarked, and it truly is, the song sounding immensely fresh and contemporary even today. From the same period, with ‘Don’t Let Them Push You’, it’s a case of “More cowbell!” and Mel’s guitar weaving tirelessly with him also taking lead vocals.
On the trio’s older tracks, with songs like ‘Bad Kid From School’ and ‘Enough Is Enough’, it’s their classic sound you’ll relish hearing afresh. “I was able to get that funky heavy rock sound out of those old tapes – And that’s what I call the Trapeze style!” With various co-writing tracks from that period recovered, Tom also noted how ‘Catching Up On You’ had ”started off as an instrumental but they decided to add vocals.”
These tracks embrace both powder-kegged bravado performances as well as the band’s more nuanced emotional side – With nothing off limits as the musicians involved can be heard exploring their potential both collectively and as individuals. Powerful with deft time changes, tinged with subtly or bleeding out ferociously; belting rockers find them surging forward as one only for a propulsive rhythmic heartbeat to take hold over which solos soar.
Initially a five-piece patronized by The Moody Blues, even as that line-up fractured, Galley, Holland and original keyboard player Terry Rowley went into 10cc’s recording studios and some of those songs will also see the light of day for the very first time on this record. “Destiny’ and ‘Lights Of Tokyo’ were songs that were overlooked and never ended up on an album,” recalled Tom. Important pathfinders on the band’s journey they pre-empt the heavier rock & progressive sounds that the band would find acclaim with, beginning with 1970’s Medusa album.
Following Hughes’ joining Deep Purple, Mel Galley took the helm; both singing and playing guitar, while bringing in bass player Pete Wright and second guitarist Rob Kendrick. This was their 1974 Billboard charting Hot Wire era, finding them particularly prolific laying down tracks in studios like Island in the years either side. ‘Going Home’ is a fiery arena-ready alternative rendition of that album’s classic pinpointing exactly why The Rolling Stones had Trapeze open for them back then.
From a little later we get ‘So In Love’. ”If you listen to ‘Chances’ on the second self-titled Trapeze album; it’s So In Love with different lyrics, sung by Glenn, and Mel sings this, ”we’re told of a more melodic number. Likewise, ‘Lover finds the guitarist in particularly good form on vocals. Blending funk rock with a little soul, this so should have been a single, back in those days when music crossed the airwaves without fear of genre-boundaries, and only good taste mattered.
When Kendrick joined Budgie, Pete Goalby came forward and stepped up to the mic; oozing impressive vocal charisma and allowing Galley a chance to ease his voice. From that late ’70s golden patch we get the mainstream appeal of ‘You’ve Got It’ and ‘Who Do You Run To’ while on ‘Cool Water’ it’s slick, funky with a blues rock edge that’s sat somewhere in between The James Gang and Little Feat in their prime. “Mel wrote and sang on an original version, but this is a version with him and Pete both singing. It also had Terry Rowley on keyboards,” recalled Tom, noting the ongoing bonds between former members, before astutely noting in conclusion:
“This collection of recordings show not only how good the various line-ups were, but capture the passion and excitement of the creation of the songs themselves.”
Never a band who stood still. These recordings are often paths less taken. Had time, circumstances and other opportunities not proved otherwise we can only imagine what heights Trapeze would have reached… As listeners will discover, LOST TAPES VOL. 1, features Trapeze songs as classy as any on their previous rock album releases, with some likely to become classics still!
TRACK LISTING:
Cool Water
Lover
Breakdown
Don’t Let Them Push You
Destiny
Lights Of Tokyo
So In Love
Bad Kid From School
Catching Up On You
Do You Understand
Enough Is Enough
You’ve Got It
Who Do You Run To
Going Home
A Peter Goalby solo ‘Anthology’ will be released in September on Cherry Red Records. It pulls tracks from the 2 solo albums of long lost songs released in November of last year and May of this year. As well is adds 3 previously vinyl only released recordings Peter had done in the late ’80s and issued as singles under the names ‘Soho’ and ‘Perfect Stranger’.
“I Don’t Wanna Fight” & “It’s All Over Your Face (It’s All Over)” were produced by Mickie Most and released in released on RAK Records in 1988 under the Perfect Stranger name, while “Mona Lisa Smile” (also backed with “It’s All Over Your Face (It’s All Over)”) was also produced by Most, and released on RAK in ’88. The A-side was also co-written by Robin George, who is credited with arranging them on that single single release.
The past year of putting together his past solo recordings and seeing how great the response was to his CD releases was an eye opener for Peter Goalby, who had retired from the music business 30 years ago, and has been doing interviews and seeing positive reviews to Easy With The Heartaches & I Will Come Runnin’. Me hopes, but not very likely that someone, somewhere – will dig out more recordings from Peter’s past and get them properly released [ie Fable].
Tracklisting:
1 Hold The Dream
2 Waiting For An Angel To Call
3 Easy With The Heartaches
4 It Was There All The Time
5 They’ll Never Find Us (Running For Our Lives)
6 I Will Come Runnin’
7 The Last Time
8 Dancing on Water
9 Mona Lisa Smile*
10 It’s All Over Your Face (It’s All Over)*
11 I Don’t Wanna Fight*
The CD is available for pre-order at > https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/peter-goalby-the-solo-anthology-cd/
A mere 6 months following the Peter Goalby’s debut solo release (of archived recordings), Cherry Red Records will release a follow up titled I Will Come Runnin’, also recorded during the same period.
Fans who waited 30+ years to hear something new from Peter following his departure from Uriah Heep, and a solo single, can add another album consisting of 10 songs, along with the aid of Paul Hodson, Robin George, and Eddy Morton.
Peter Goalby has been extremely surprised and happy with the response & reviews to the first album. I Will Come Runnin’ will be released May 6, 2022, and can be pre-ordered at Cherry Red Records, as well as Amazon.
*A 10-track album personally overseen (from tape transfer, mastering and artwork) by the former Uriah Heep and Trapeze vocalist .
1 I Will Come Runnin’
2 Rock ‘N’ Roll Crazy
3 A Brand New Love
4 Dancing on Water
5 Somebody’s Fool
6 It Was There All The Time
7 Waitin’ For An Angel To Call
8 There’s Always A Place In My Heart
9 Perfect Strangers
10 A Little Piece Of Heaven
https://www.facebook.com/groups/petergoalby
KJ, 02/’22
Prior to Fable you were in a few local bands. Did you write or record anything then or did none of that happen til Fable?
My first band was the System, I think I must still have been at school. We practiced in a youth club twice a week. When I left school we were offered a gig in Hamburg Germany. I had to pretend to be a roadie as I was under age to work in Germany. So I was there illegally.
After the system I was in a band that became Aarons Rod, We did some quite obscure stuff. Kevin Bray Lead guitar introduced us to some great music . I sang “All Along The Watchtower” and stuff from the band Mountain, a lot of American bands from that time.
Dave Millington was on Bass – another very good player, and my school friend who had been in the System with me – John Waterfall. John was a very loud drummer, which I loved.
I think I started writing around that time with Aarons Rod. We did not get many gigs as some of the material was a bit off the wall but we all loved it and it was all part of the school of rock I suppose LOL
Was your family always supportive of your music career? Did you get help or advice from anyone at home?
I was brought up by my grandparents. I did not get any support. Really, I think they thought it was a fad.
Do you recall the first song you ever wrote?
I can not remember . I can remember I wrote some pretty bad ones though, folky type songs .
In those earlier bands do you recall what types of songs you played ?
Anything that was around at that time. I have sung everything from “My Way” to “Blowing In The Wind”
Fable was already going with a female singer, before you joined, Do you recall how you joined the band and how the band changed then as far as what you played or your goals were?
Yes, I actually said No at first but Lynne, my then girlfriend – now my wife, said I was mad to say no as they were very good musicians. So I changed my mind. It was a great band. We played all sorts of covers of the day, ’70s songs . Great times, lots of harmonies . I was into all that.
Can you tell me about recording the Fable album – how songs were chosen, put together, recorded..? How long did recording the album take and who all was around?
I started the writing. It is funny looking back. We would be playing a gig and I would spot people in the audience. People from record companies, they were looking with a view to signing us . A guy called Peter Shelley came a good few times and would come back stage after the gig. He was very interested . I got on great with Peter . A few other record company A and R men were also looking at us . We decided to sign with Peter at Magnet Records. I think we did the album at Trident studio although I might be wrong . I do remember the engineer Mike Stone. He was doing another band in the night time sessions, He used to play us what they were recording. It was a new band called QUEEN. Freddy and the boys no less.
I think we took about 4 weeks to do our album.
While recording Fable did you ever bump in to or meet the members of Queen then?
No not at that stage but I did meet Brian May at the L A Forum when I played there with Heep. I walked into Joe Elliott’s dressing room and there was Brian sitting on a couch with Phil playing his Red Devil guitar.
What sort of gigs did Fable play – mostly local or travel much around the UK or outside?
We were very much in demand . Doing maybe 35 gigs a month. Some nights 2 gigs. Lots of clubs, universities all sorts really, all over the UK We also did the German clubs – The Star club and the top Ten club
Any stories from live shows back then?
One night Fable were playing a gig and the audience were all sitting down, it was a working men’s club . No one was dancing at all , not the best atmosphere. We used to do 2x 45minute spots. When we came on for the second spot Mac Bailey, lead guitarist, had stuck a piece of wood down the front of his leather trousers. I could not sing for laughing . The dance floor was quickly packed with girls dancing .
Any ‘big name’ bands that you shared a bill with?
We played with everyone who was big at that time. ELO, Hot Chocolate Suzie Quatro. Sweet, Mud. Manfred Mann.
When we played with Manfred they had a hit single out called “Joybringer”. As we were on first we played that song . Our version sounded better than the Manfreds , as was the case when we opened for all the chart bands of the day
Do you have any favorite songs from that album or stories pertaining to any of your lyrics on it?
I have not played the album in years. We were just learning. I had no real direction . It was a real mixture of styles musically. I was just happy to come up with any idea at that time. We all were .
What do you recall of that album cover and, in particular the band photo by that tree on the inside?
It was a great tree in Kew gardens in London . Great picture but can not really see who is in the band.
You wrote for other acts in the ’70s, in particular The Bump by Alvin Stardust. Can you tell me a bit about how that song came about, what sort of inspired it?
Yes , We used to play in Scotland a lot and at the time the kids started doing this new dance , they were Bumpin’. I had an idea to write a song called ‘The Bump’. I called Peter Shelley and told him . He said great idea . Magnet got a dance group to record it . I had to rehearse them into the song, they were loving it. It was on TV a few times. Then when Alvin did his album Peter produced it and got Alvin to do ‘The Bump’. I have a Gold disc on my wall for that song .
Do you recall any other songs you wrote that other artists recorded back then?
Yes , I wrote a song called ‘Falling Apart’. This was recorded by Smokie on one of their albums. I also got a Diamond Disc for this song . It was a huge hit in Norway , so that’s on my wall also.
You also recorded a few singles as a solo artist. Do you recall much about writing or recording these and if any received any radio play or local interest?
When I left Fable I had a solo deal still with Magnet. We did 2 singles , ‘Ain’t It Funny’ and ‘You Are Day You Are Night’. I did not write the latter, although I did really like the song. It was very much like a Walker Brothers tune.
You obviously were familiar with Trapeze. How did the offer to join the band come about? Or did you audition?
Yes I knew Glen. We used to play golf together. When he got the job with Purple Mel took over lead vocals for a while but kept losing his voice. So I was asked to audition. It was really great stuff from the off. I had 3 new songs – ‘Livin on Love, ‘Don’t Ask Me How I Know’ and ‘When You Get To Heaven’. We rehearsed them and – Wow, it was great!
What do you recall of recording the studio album with Trapeze? Any recall on putting together songs, working with Jimmy Miller, etc…?
All 3 made side one on the Hold On album, I was so chuffed . Jimmy Miller was great. He did not add a lot he just let us play and he recorded it. He did have great feel, nice man. There were no co-writes, I had my songs and Mel had his which he wrote with his brother Tom Galley. Tom did the lyrics for Mel.
What do you recall of the tours and shows you did with Trapeze– as far as who you toured with, biggest venues and crowds, countries you played….?
America was the place for Trapeze, in fact Texas. They were huge in Texas. I could not believe it. They loved Trapeze. I remember doing the Texas Jam . One night in Dallas one night in Houston. Both stadiums. A year later I did the very same 2 gigs with Uriah Heep.
How was response from radio or press to the Hold On album? And what were your favorites on it?
My songs of course but I loved ‘Don’t Break My Heart’ . I sang it really well I hope . I Love that song
Not much radio, really . I had to fill the boots belonging to Glen which was quite a task.
Was a 2nd Trapeze album planned or started? And was there a break prior the band playing that final tour?
Mel was being chased by Coverdale. Dave Holland was offered the Judas Priest job Pete Wright wanted to go and live in America. We were hanging on for another record deal.as long as we could. We went to America but before we went I was offered the Heep job . The rest is well written.
Regarding Live In Texas – was there more tracks played and recorded that didn’t make the album?
I think that was the whole show, I think so
Any tales from your very early days or a road tale from Trapeze. . (Re Glenn — did you ever read his book? )
I remember coming back from Hamburg before Trapeze days I was friends with Glenn even then. I had bought a suede coat with tassels like Wild Bill Hickock style. Glenn went crazy over that coat, he loved it. I think he would have killed to own it. I did sell it to him so he let me live. He later wore it on stage with moccasins to match. He looked great.. He looked like an apache Indian with his long hair.
I did not know he wrote a book. Am I in it? I should be. Even when he joined Purple he never changed, not with me anyway. He picked me up to play golf one day. I heard this loud music coming around the corner, yes it was him driving a Bentley open top!
Aside from the Texas Jam gigs with Trapeze, do you have any particular favorite memory of that band [and members] ?
A guy that does not get much of a mention is my dear friend Pete Wright, great player to work with. He is nearly as funny as John Sinclair. Pete was always reliable, great bass player, great person to be in a band with. If we were down Pete would cheer everyone up. Very happy all the time. Nothing seemed to upset him apart from when Mel kept changing the radio station in the car. It drove us all mad. For Christ sake Mel!
Prior to joining Heep, what did you know about the band, (aside from all the line up changes)?
I knew of them of course they were a huge band worldwide. I do remember Mel saying to me that my musical career was going backwards by joining Heep . I did prove him very wrong on that one.
Had you ever seen Heep live in the ’70s with David Byron? or know any of the actual songs that you would later sing?
Never saw Heep before I joined . I had heard ‘Easy Livin’ , ‘Gypsy’. ‘The Wizard’. That’s all I think.
Ashley Howe was key to you joining Heep and was great for you and the band as producer. Can you talk a bit about your connection to Ashley and how he got the best out of you and his importance to the band at the time (81-83)?
Ashley I love you . Ashley found my big voice. He was the greatest. Abominog would not have happened without him. Simple. He brings out the best in everyone he works with. I learnt so much from him on that record. Why we did not use him on Equator – God only knows. History may well have been re-written had he produced Equator
Were you happy with Heep’s take on ‘Blood Red Roses’, and do you think (or how) you would’ve done it any differently?
I wrote that song for Mick Box ’cause he asked me for a song for Raging Silence. I think they did a great job and I am glad it was a success for them. They got it nearly spot on . I would have been more laid back and moody in the verses. But I might have been wrong . Bernie did a great job, thank you Bernie.
Obviously you are happy with the response to Easy With The Heartaches. Has the experience (so far), inspired you to want to clean out your vaults of more recordings from your past?
I have been asked for another record , we will have to wait and see.
AND – has it inspired you (at all) to want to pick up a guitar and play – even if for yourself or family members?
No
*You can order Pete’s debut solo album Easy With The Heartaches, as well as Leavin’ The Hard Times Behind : The Best Of Trapeze – check out http://www.cherryred.co.uk
*If anyone out there happens to have any photos or stories of the band Fable, please let me know. Would like to revisit this album in the future.
*For more on Peter and Trapeze – visit these groups of Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/groups/petergoalby & https://www.facebook.com/groups/melgalleytrapeze , & http://www.uriah-heep.com
*thanks to Lynn Everett for the photos [including the top pic]
KJ, 02/’22
Peter Goalby left Uriah Heep following 1985’s Equator album and world tour. His first move was to release a single under the name Perfect Stranger in 1988. The singer, who also was a major songwriter during his time in Heep would resurface on the band’s 1989 album Raging Silence, as he wrote the single “Blood Red Roses”. As well he wrote “Falling Apart”, for Smokie on their 1989 album Boulevard Of Broken Dreams. He would also record a number of tracks for a solo project in 1990. A few of these tracks would see the light of day on official releases – “Mona Lisa Smile” was issued as a single in 1988, co-written & arranged by guitarist Robin George [ex Byron Band], and produced by Mickie Most. That track, as well as “Chance Of A Lifetime” [also on Easy With The Heartaches] were also recorded by UK band Estrella for their 2012 album Come Out To Play [an album produced by former Heep keyboardist John Sinclair]. Peter also wrote for a few other artists [notably John Parr], as well as guested on stage with Uli Roth, but would retire from the business, and taking on a job for a guitar company. But these recordings would later find their way out on the internet – bootlegged to download or on Youtube. His 1990 unreleased solo album was no secret amongst Goalby’s fans. Recently retired, and knowing these are the last things he wrote and recorded, and was proud of, the singer finally decided it might be a good idea to get his lost solo album out as an official release. Easy With The Heartaches features 11 tracks personally overseen (from tape transfer, mastering and artwork) by Peter Goalby. And here’s hoping that fans enjoy it, it’s not the last we hear from him!
Track Listing:
1 Easy With The Heartaches
2 Hold The Dreams
3 I Found Real Love
4 Chance Of A Lifetime
5 Mona Lisa Smile
6 They’ll Never Find Us (Running For Our Lives)
7 I Used To Be Your Lover
8 Take Another Look
9 Perfection
10 I Built This House
11 The Last Time
*Also released on the same label in 2019 was a 2 CD Trapeze compilation , which includes a previously unreleased live show featuring Peter Goalby [his debut with the band] from 1977. https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/trapeze-leavin-the-bad-times-behind-the-best-of-trapeze-2cd/
Outsider Rock 