Slim Chance - New Cross Road

Slim Chance - New Cross Road - 2018

Slim Chance, the band formed by the late great Ronnie Lane soon after he quit the Faces is releasing an outstanding new album ‘New Cross Road’ on their own label, Fishpool Records distributed by Cargo Records in November 2018. 

The band has been active for 7 years championing and adding to Ronnie’s legendary musical legacy and this is their third album since then. Over that time their work has received widespread critical acclaim and delighted Slim Chance fans throughout the country. 

Original members, Steve Bingham, Charlie Hart and Steve Simpson are joined by three top class musicians: Brendan O’Neill on drums, Billy Nicholls (ex Who) acoustic guitar and vocals, and Bob Dylan’s favourite, the phenomenal Geraint Watkins, on keys and vocals. 

The new album features four songs of Ronnie’s including a classic version of ‘Debris’, a Pete Townshend approved version of ‘Squeezebox’, and some fine originals from the band one of which, ‘Flossie Lane’, was written in honour of Ronnie’s namesake the notorious Shropshire publican. 

01. Let’s Go Home
02. Flossie Lane
03. Chicken Wired
04. Annie
05. Squeezebox
06. Debris
07. Kew
08. Mr. Jones
09. Spiritual Babe
10. Roll The Dice

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Charlie Hart - Grooves Roots

  
Charlie Hart - Grooves Roots - 2008

In 2008 the Austrian label, FRW released Charlie's first-ever solo album. The album features Charlie's writing and playing over the years, as well as performances by numerous musicians, listed below.

Grooves and Roots starts with some recently recorded 'zydo-funk' tracks (a type of drum 'n bass) and progresses on to songs and instrumentals written in the seventies and eighties, notably OK Roland (written with Ian Dury) and the instrumental Software Breakdown (recorded by Juice on the Loose).

The album finishes off with some infectious African grooves and Walter Wagenleithner's remix of 'Don't fix it', which also features Ulrike Kuehlwein (Mama Oliver) on vocals.

FRW are a strong independent Austrian label, who also organize the Undisputed Peace Festivals across Europe. These festivals provide a platform for a wide spread of musical genres and bring together local and Austrian bands.

The album was launched at the Reigen Club Vienna on March 1st 2008, during tenth Undisputed Peace Festival. As special guest Charlie enjoyed performing live on stage with Original Suntouchers and also performed Don't Fix it! live with the Loop Doctors and Mama Oliver (vocals).

Grooves & Roots is described by Roland Schmitt as 'a really exciting cross-section of Charlie's work as musician and composer'.

01. Don’t Fix it
02. Takes Two
03. Stretching Time
04. Barumbabarumba
05. Stitch One
06. OK Roland
07. Software Breakdown
08. Time is The Healer
09. Big Top
10. C’est Ca
11. Snatch it
12. Don’t Go
13. Aftermath
14. Spirit World
15. Don’t Fix it

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Slim Chance - On The Move

Slim Chance - On The Move - 2015

Reminiscent in ways of Ronnie's own second album (appropriately named 'Ronnie Lane's Slim Chance') with its many wide and varied musical styles, it's a wonderful mix of band originals, Ronnie's own numbers plus a surprise or two along the way.

Original band members Steve Bingham, Charlie Hart and Steve Simpson, ably assisted by Geraint Watkins, Des Horsfall and two fine drummers, Jim Russell and John Lingwood, not only prove themselves to be strong songwriters in their own right, but also damned fine vocalists.

From the 'The Poacher'-esque 'Fishing Line' and the Joplin-esque 'Ragtime', to the swooping Afro-Caribbean feel of 'Line In The Sand' and the rock 'n' roll influenced 'Two Steps Away From Love', the band are at ease across various musical genres. Still very much a Slim Chance record, there's also new workings of 'The Poacher', 'Ain't No Lady' and 'Done This One Before', all Ronnie penned songs along with covers of Lead Belly's 'Duncan & Brady' and the Balham Alligators 'Hey Hey, Ho Ho'.

Steve Bingham - Vocals, Bass
Charlei Hart - Vocals, Accordion, Fiddle, Organ, Spanish Guitar
Jim RusselL- Drums, Percussion
Steve Simpson - Vocals, Guitars, Mandolin, Fiddle
Geraint Watkins - Vocals, Piano, Accordion
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Alun Davis - Acoustic Guitar, Vocal
Des Horsfall - Vocal, Acoustic Guitar
John Lingwood- Drums, Percussion





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One For The Road - Memorial Concert Ronnie Lane

VA - One For The Road - Memorial Concert Ronnie Lane - 2014

from music-new.com

Yours truly feels both elated and saddened, but which emotion should take precedence is another matter… This concert at the Royal Albert Hall was held in memory of Ronnie Lane, founding member of the Small Faces and the Faces. Lane tragically died in 1997, aged only 51 of pneumonia, in the final stages of his multiple sclerosis.

Thanks to Angel Air Records, the Memorial Concert, held at the Royal Albert Hall on 5th April 2004, is now available on DVD, offering a whopping three-and-a-half hours of superb entertainment delivered by artists such as Slim Chance (Lane’s band after The Faces split), Jones Gang, Steve Ellis, Mick Jones, Glen Matlock, Sam Brown (daughter of rock ‘n’ roller Joe Brown), Ronnie Wood, Paul Weller, Pete Townshend, Ocean Colour Scene, Steve Ellis, Steve Diggle, Midge Ure, Dennis Greaves, Deborah Bonham Band, Joe Marriott and Chris Farlowe.

Compere of the night was John Hellier, original Mod around town, and ‘Whapping Wharf Launderette Darling’, who greeted the many fans who had come from all over to assemble in the RAH. Hellier read out written tributes and apologies from Sir Paul McCartney and Eric Clapton, who were unable to participate due to conflicting schedules.

The evening covered the three main phases of Ronnie Lane’s career (Small Faces, Faces, and his solo work with Slim Chance and other artists), and each ‘phase’ was represented by various artists and bands who performed songs specific to each phase.

The CDs captures this and the general atmosphere brilliantly, while the sound quality is equally superb. Highlights – and there are many – include ‘Stone’, a Lane song about the evolution of conscience, performed by Pete Townshend and Slim Chance, and scorching guitar solos by Ronnie Wood. Sam Brown, a captivating singer by the way, missed her cue at one point as she “needed a wee” (obviously she thought of it as groovy), and ‘You’re So Rude’ cheekily delivered by Mick Jones and Glen Matlock. Midge Ure and Paul Weller also threw bona fide performances.

The concert featuring countless renditions of favourites such as ‘Itchycoo Park’, ‘Lazy Sunday’, ‘Cats Melody’, ‘Kuschty Rye’, ‘Maggie May’ and many more, also coughs up some surprises. Ronnie Lane’s brother Stan Lane was guest of honour at the concert, another guest was John Unwin, son of Professor Stanley Unwin, whose gobbledygook language had struck a big chord with Lane.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night was an appearance by soulful blues-rocker Chris Farlowe, who belted out ‘All Or Nothing’ together with the Jones Gang as the final number of the night.

01. I Can’t Make It – SMALL WORLD
02. I’ve Got Mine – SMALL WORLD
03. Don’t Burst My Bubble – SMALL WORLD
04. Every Little Bit Hurts – DEBORAH BONHAM BAND
05. Maybe I’m Amazed – DEBORAH BONHAM BAND
06. Rene – 17 BLACK with Mollie Marriott and Dean Rees
07. Lazy Sunday – 17 BLACK with Mollie Marriott and Dean Rees
08. Here Come The Nice – 17 BLACK with Steve Diggle
09. Hey Girl – 17 BLACK with Dennis Greaves
10. Whatcha Gonna Do About It – 17 BLACK with Dennis Greaves
11. Mad John – Midge Ure
12. My Mind’s Eye – Midge Ure
13. Wham Bam Thank you Man – OCEAN COLOUR SCENE
14. Done This One Before – OCEAN COLOUR SCENE
15. Song Of A Baker – OCEAN COLOUR SCENE
16. Cat’s Melody – SLIM CHANCE
17. Kuschty Rye – SLIM CHANCE
18. Anymore For Anymore – SLIM CHANCE with Chris Jagger
19. How Come - SLIM CHANCE with Chris Jagger
20. Debris – SLIM CHANCE with Glen Matlock and Mick Jones
21. You’re So Rude – SLIM CHANCE with Glen Matlock and Mick Jones
22. Stone – SLIM CHANCE with Pete Townshend
23. Harvest Home – SLIM CHANCE
24. The Poacher – SLIM CHANCE with Paul Weller
25. Spiritual Babe – SLIM CHANCE with Paul Weller
26. Lad’s Got Money – SLIM CHANCE with Sam Brown
27. One For The Road – SLIM CHANCE
28. Ooh La La – SLIM CHANCE with Paul Weller and Ronnie Wood
29. Ogdens Nut Gone Flake – JONES GANG
30. Maggie May – JONES GANG
31. Gypsy Lane – JONES GANG
32. Itchycoo Park – JONES GANG
33. Afterglow – JONES GANG with Steve Ellis
34. If You Think You’re Groovy – JONES GANG with Sam Brown
35. Tim Soldier – JONES GANG with Sam Brown
36. Heart To Hang On To – JONES GANG with Pete Townshend and Sam Brown
37. Had Me A Real Good Time – JONES GANG with Ronnie Wood
38. Stay With Me – JONES GANG with Ronnie Wood
39. All Or Nothing – JONES GANG with Chris Farlowe

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Slim Chance - The Show Goes On Songs Of Ronnie Lane

Slim Chance - The Show Goes On Songs Of Ronnie Lane - 2013

Slim Chance foi a banda que Ronnie Lane formou quando ele deixou os Faces. Agora, depois de anos, diversos de seus ex-membros se juntaram, reformaram-a e estão na ativa novamente. 

The Show Goes On é um álbum com regravações das músicas da época de Lane, mas não soam como tributo e sim como versões. 

A banda é composta por uma galera que já trabalhou com um mundo de excelentes músicos (assim como Gene Simmons, viu Duga?). São eles:

STEVE SIMPSON - que trabalhou com Frankie Miller, Eric Bibb e Roger Chapman (tocou com Ronnie Lane em One for the Road).

CHARLIE HART - que trabalhou com Pete Brown, Ian Dury, Eric Clapton (participou dos álbuns One for the Road, Rough Mix, See Me e Rocket 69).

ALUN DAVIES - parceiro de longa data de Cat Stevens, além de Ralph McTell, Good Men in the Jungle (gravou o álbum See Me)

STEVE BINGHAM - tem gravações com Geno Washington, the Foundations, Colin Blunstone (trabalhou no álbum Anymore for Anymore)

COLIN DAVEY - esteve ao lado de gente como P.P. Arnold, Chris Farlowe, Ben E King, Charles Tolliver (assim como Steve Simpson, trabalhou no disco One for the Road)

Além destes, temos a participação especial de Nick Pentelow (Gary Moore, Arthur Brown, Bill Wyman) e Geraint Watkins (Paul McCartney, Mark Knopfler, Van Morrison, Carl Perkins e se juntou ao Slim Chance em 2004 durante o show tributo em homenagem a Ronnie Lane)

01. Kushty Rye

02. Flags And Banners

03. Don't You Cry For Me 

04. One For The Road 

05. Lads Got Money 

06. Anymore For Anymore 

07. Rat's Tails (Catmelody) 

08. Silly Little Man 

09. Lost (From The Late To The Early) 

10. You're So Rude

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