line up 1 (1977)

- Bill Hahn -- vocals, drums, guitar

- Harold McKee -- bass

- Mike Yates -- vocals, guitar, banjo

- Susan Yates -- vocals, guitar

  supporting musicians:

- David Crandall -- harp

- Raymond McLain -- banjo, fiddle

- Rex Thomas -- pedal steel guitar

- none known

Genre: pop

Rating: 2 stars **

Title:  Bronco

Company: Earthwood

Catalog: EW 131
Year: 1977

Country/State: --

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: textured cover

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 211

Price: $70.00

I bought this one at a yard sale simply because I recognized it as being a release on Moe Whittmore's  collectable 700 West label.  Hardly the best reason to buy an album; particularly one that looked like it might be a throwaway set of country and western moves.  On the other hand, the price was right.

My only insight on the band Bronco comes from the liner notes.  The band featured drummer Bill Hahn, bassist Harold McKee and the husband and wife team of Mike and Susan Yates on vocals and guitar.   The four were seemingly long time friends who played dances, parties, and clubs before recording this 1977 album for Whitmore's 700 West label.  And yes, the album has a distinctive country feel.  That's not meant as a criticism, but I'm just not a big country fan.  As a result, I'm not going to really review this one, other than to say Mike and Susan Yates had very nice voices (Mike occasionally sounded a bit like John Denver - 'Peaceful Life'), and the band generated some beautiful harmonies across the album.   Rather than a song-by-song commentary, I'll simply quote the liner notes for each song:

"Bronco" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Sweet Sunny South  (traditional) - 2:49

"Sweet Sunny South is an old traditional hymn tune, done bluegrass-country-swing (and boy, what that does to it!) This band's arrangement, with Raymond and Rex helping out on fiddle and pedal-steel, respectively, makes this a real foot-stomper."

2.) Peaceful Life   (Mike Yates - Bob Hahn) - 2:49

"Peaceful Life was written once (long ago) when Sally's dad was threatening to retire from the Post Office. He hasn't yet, but every six months or so, he gets to talking about retiring and moving to Kentucky. Mike and Bill wrote this song for him, just in case he ever does."

3.) Tellin' Me I'm the One   (Bob Hahn) - 2:33

"This song, written by Bill Hahn, sounds a little like it might have been written by Paul Mcartney except for the banjo, which gives it a more country flavor."

4.) Make It Simple   (Mike Yates) - 3:30

"Make It Simple is a song about how a song should be made - simple and clean and not cluttered by a lot of gimmicks or fancy foolin' around. Bill and Mike worked together on this one."

5.) Copper Kettle   (Frank Beddie) - 

"Copper Kettle is the first song that Sally ever sang in public, and it's included on this album as a special tribute to her dad. He encouraged her to perform it in a high school talent contest. As she tells it, she was plenty scared and nervous, especially when her beat-up old guitar wouldn't stay in tune. Finally, after watching her struggle with it for awhile, one of the other contestants offered to loan her his guitar. Guess who? She beat 'em, too. Mike's group came in second. Mike ended up winning Sally, though, a couple of years after that first meeting. (That sounds so romantic I bet you think I made that all up - well it's the Gothic novel truth!)

6.) Homeland (Mike Yates - Susan Yates) - 2:43

"This song is about the Ritchie family home in Viper, Kentucky, where Sally's mom was raised. Mike saw it for the first time on a winter evening and started working on this song. Sally helped. It captures some of the feeling that all of the Ritchie clan have for their homeplace in the mountains."

(side 2)
1.) If Today was a Fish (I'd Throw It Back   (Mike yates( - 3:04

Have you ever felt like that? Well, Mike did one day, and wrote this song. It's about your typical bad day.

2.) Tellin' Lies   (Bill Hahn) - 3:04

The hardest person to fool is yourself, but some people try anyhow. Bill fashioned this tune from a conversation he and Harold had with a guy in a bar. Dave Crandall provides some funky harmonica work."

3.) Too Many Shadows   (Jean ritchei) - 3:03

Too Many Shadows, written by Jean Ritchie, is one of those lonesomey country love songs. Sally wanted to have one of Aunt Jean's songs on the album, but it was not an easy choice. This one finally won out."

4.) Works   (Tom Yates - Mike Yates) - 3:44

"Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me." How many times have you heard that old saying? Well, I never believed it. Words can hurt. This lyric was witten by Tom Yates, Mike's dad, and Mike provided the music."

5.) North Dakota Morning   (Jim Dicks - Norman Knight - Dan Vincent) - 2:33

"North Dakota Morning was written by Jim Dicks, Norman Knight, and Dan Vincent, in the back of a van full of equipment as they were on their way to a job in North Dakota. Jim, Dan, and Norman are friends of BRONCO, and the band liked this song so much they thought they should include it on their first album."

Between 1972 and 1983 dozens of singles an