Lane, Ronnie

Band members               Related acts

- Brian Belchau - bass (1975)
- Jim Frank - drums (1975)
- Gary Hart - keyboards, accordion, violin
- Ronnie Lane (RIP 1997) - vocals, guitar, mandolin
- Glyn La Fleur - drums (1975)
- Laney - guitar (1975)
- Ruan O'Lochlainn - keyboards, sax (1975)
- Steve Simpson - guitar, mandolin, violin (1975) 

 

 - Bees Make Honey (Ruan O'Lochlainn)
- The Blossom Toes (Brian Belchau)
- The Faces
- Gallagher and Lyle
- The Kilburns (Gary Hart)
- McGuiness Flint (Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle)
- Pete Townshend and Ronnie Lane
- The Small Faces
- The Tumbleweeds (Steve Simpson)

 

 

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Ronnie Lane's Slim Chance

Company: A&M

Catalog: SP 3638

Year: 1975

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: minor corner wear

Available: 1

Price: $25.00

 

 Following his 1973 decision to quit The Faces (see separate entry), singer/bassist Ronnie Lane settled into a leisurely and moderately successful solo career. Apparently unconcerned with commercial success, Lane promptly purchased a mobile recording studio, hitting the road as a modern troubadour, living in a caravan, literally recording whenever and whatever captured his fancy. 

Lane quickly recruited a new line up featuring former Blossom Toes bassist Brian Belchau, ex-The Kilburns keyboardist Gary Hart, drummer Glyn La Fleur, Bees Make Honey sax player Ruan O'Lochlainn and ex-Tumbleweeds guitarist Steve Simpson (see separate entries). Reunited with former Faces producer Glyn Johns, "Ronnie Lane's Slim Chance" stuck with the same eccentric combination of English folk, country and western and conventional rock ("I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter" thrown in as a swing number). Lane wasn't a great singer (easy to understand why Rod Stewart handled most of Faces' catalog), but those vocal limitations gave the tracks such as "Anniversary" and a cover of Chuck Berry's "You Can Never Tell" a great deal of its charm. Elsewhere original material such as "Stone" and "Ain't No Lady" was well worth a listen. A carryover from the earlier line up, the lead off track "The Poacher" featured Gallagher and Lyle and provided Lane with a top-40 English hit. Like all of his catalog, the set failed to chart in the States, but is well worth checking out (if you can find it). 

"Ronnie Lane's Slim Chance" track listing:
1.) The Poacher (Ronnie Lane) - 3:40
2.) Stone (Ronnie Lane) - 4:07
3.) Bottle of Brandy (Isaac Family) - 2:47
4.) Street Gang (instrumental) (Ronnie Lane - Ruan O'Lochlainn - Steve Simpson) - 4:04
5.) Anniversary (Ronnie Lane) - 2:57
6.) I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter (Fred Ahlert - J. Young) - 2:54
7.) Little Piece of Nothing (Ronnie Lane) - 2:22
8.) Brother Can You Spare a Dime (J. Gorney - E. Y. Harberg) - 2:06
9.) Ain't No Lady (Ronnie Lane - Lambert - Ruan O'Lochlainn) - 4:25
10.) Blue Monday (D. Bartholomew - A. Domino) - 4:18
11.) Give Me a Penny (Ronnie Lane) - 3:00
12.) You Can Never Tell (Chuck Berry) - 4:31
13.) Tin and Tambourine (Ronnie Lane - Lambert) - 4:11

 

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Mahoney's Last Stand

Company: Atlantic

Catalog: 

Year: 1976

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: minor ring, edge and corner wear

Available: 1

Price: $25.00

 

 

 A brief reunion with Faces alumnus Ron Wood, "Mahoney's Last Stand" was recorded for a quickly forgotten 1976 film (which never saw an American release). Backed by an all-star cast, including Benny Gallagher, Rick Grech, Pete Townsend and former Faces Kenny Jones and Ian MacLagen, the collection was evenly divided between up tempo rockers and Lane's country-influenced efforts. Co-written by the pair, material such as "Tonight's Number", "Title One" and "Chicken Wire" bore more than a passing resemblance to The Faces' happy-go-lucky catalog. Neither principal was much of a singer and the material was frequently haphazard, but the pair sounded like they were having a great time, making for a surprisingly enjoyable vamp. Personal favorite; the reworked traditional "I'll Fly Away". In spite of sterling critical reviews, the set failed to chart in the States.

"Mahoney's Last Stand" track listing:
1.) Tonight's Number (Ronnie Wood - Ronnie Lane) (instrumental) -3:10
2.) From The Late To The Early (Ronnie Wood - Ronnie Lane) - 3:36
3.) Chicken Wire (instrumental) (Ronnie Wood - Ronnie Lane) - 2:00
4.) Chicken Wired (Ronnie Wood - Ronnie Lane) - 3:45
5.) I'll Fly Away (traditional arranged by Ronnie Wood - Ronnie Lane) - :31
6.) Title One (instrumental) (Ronnie Wood - Ronnie Lane) - 3:42
7.) Just For A Moment (instrumental) (Ronnie Wood - Ronnie Lane) - 2:55
8.) "Mona" The Blues (Ronnie Wood - Ronnie Lane) - 4:27
9.) Car Radio (Ronnie Wood - Ronnie Lane) - 4:50
10.) Hay Tumble (Ronnie Wood - Ronnie Lane)- 2:55
11.) Woody's Thing (Ronnie Wood - Ronnie Lane) - 1:45
12.) Rooster Funeral (Ronnie Wood - Ronnie Lane) - 3:55
13.) Just For A Moment (Ronnie Wood - Ronnie Lane) - 2:55

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