Bronco (UK)
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1969-72) - Robbie Blunt -- guitar - Kevyn Gammond -- guitar - Johnny Pasternak (RIP 1986) -- bass - Pete Robinson -- drums, percussion, harmonica - Jess Roden -- vocals
supporting musicians: (1969) - Jeff Bannister -- piano - Clifford T. Ward --
supporting musicians: (1971) - Terry Allen - organ - Paul Bennett -- backing vocals - Paul Davenport -- keyboards - Ian Hunter -- backing vocals, keyboards - Trevor Lucas -- backing vocals - Mick Ralphs -- organ
line up 2 (1972-73) NEW - Dan Fone -- vocals, guitar, keyboards (replaced Bobby Blunt) - Kevyn Gammond -- guitar NEW - Paul Lockey -- vocals, lead guitar (replaced Jess Roden) - Johnny Pasternak (RIP 1986) -- bass - Pete Robinson -- drums, percussion, harmonica
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- The Alan Bown (Jess Roden) - Band of Joy (Robbie Blunt, Kevyn Gammon,, and Pete Robinson) - Broken Glass (Robbie Blunt) - The Butts Band (Jess Roden) - Chicken Shack (Robbie Blunt) - The Rivets (Jess Roden) - Jess Roden (solo efforts) - Seven Windows (Jess Roden) - Shakedown Sound (Kevyn Gammond, Johnny Pasternak, and Jess Roden) - Silverhead (Robbie Blunt)
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Genre: country-rock Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Country Home Company: Island Catalog: SMAS
9300 Country/State: UK Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: gatefold sleeve Available: 1 Catalog ID: 1519 Price: $35.00
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It's amazing how many talented English groups never really got a chance to breakout to a larger audience. Add the short-lived Bronco to that extensive list.
With his departure from The Alan Bown Set, in 1969 singer Jess Roden decided to pull together another band. Recruited for the new outfit were ex-Band of Joy guitarist Robbie Blunt and drummer Peter Robinson, guitarist Kevyn Gammond, and bassist John Pasternak (the latter two had previously played with Roden in Shakedown Street). As Bronco, Roden's past successes helped the band quickly sign with Island Records. The group quickly recording some initial material with producer Guy Stevens., but unhappy with the results they returned to the studio, debuting with a 1969 non-LP single:
- 1970's 'Lazy Now' b/w 'A Matter Of Perspective' (Island catalog number WIP-6096)
Following the single the band made their album debut with 1970's Roden-produced "Country Home". With all five members contributing to the writing chores (Roden serving as chief writer), the results were pleasant, rural rockers that seemed to highlight the band's interest in pursuing the archetype hippy lifestyle - did they seriously spend time living in the ramshackle structure shown on the cover and inner sleeve ?
inner sleeve
Roden certainly had a nice enough voice and the rest of the band were more than proficient players, with guitarist Gammond and bassist Pasternak proving the standout performers. Unfortunately, at least for me the album's biggest shortcoming came in terms of energy and enthusiasm. Clearly enamored with The Band-styled Americana, tracks like 'Bumpers West' (with some nice CSN&Y-styled harmonies), the jazzy 'Love' and 'Home' were individually quite nice, but packaged together the album simply never generated a great deal on energy. Over the years I've listened to this one dozens on times and in most cases about two, or three songs in it all starts to blend together, becoming background music. The one exception has always been the closer 'Time' which has always reminded me of a mix of Buffalo Springfield and Free. Killer tune and the album highlight.
"Country
Home" track listing: 1.) Civil Of You Stranger (Robbie Blunt) - 3:55 rating: *** stars Breezy,
country-tinged number seemingly about the joys of hitchhiking ...
Always loved the acoustic guitar riff. The song has always reminded me
a bit of a British version of The Band. Pretty,
almost jazzy ballad with Roden showing off a fragile aspect to his normally
rough and tumble voice. Nice
Pasternak bass line and barrelhouse piano, but the strange mixture of
country, jug band, and English music hall ultimately didn't do a lot for
me. Probably
the album's prettiest tune, 'Bumpers West' sounded like a cross between The
Band-styled Americana and CSN&Y-styled West Coast rock. Beautiful
melody and the harmony vocals were gorgeous - CS&N would have been
envious. Always wondered what the tune was actually about.
(side 2) 1.) Home (Jess Roden) - 4:08 rating: *** stars Pretty
Band--styled Americana ballad. Nice harmonies. The
album's lone group composition, the blues-rocker 'Well Anyhow' was one of
the collection highlights. Opening up with a great
Pasternak bass line, the song slowly, but steadily picked up speed and
energy, showcasing blistering Blunt and Gammond solos about three
minutes in. Again, blame it on my old and beat ears, but every time I listen to the rocker 'Time' it reminds me of a mash-up of a top-notch Buffalo Springfield tune and something out of the Free catalog. Mesmerizing tune that makes you wish they had done more in this vein.
The band toured the UK ad the US in support of the album, but it did little commercially.
For anyone interested, Roden has quite a bit of Bronco stuff on this website: http://jessroden.com/bronco.html
© 06/2024 Scott R. Blackerby
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Genre: country-rock Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Ace of Sunlight Company: Island Catalog: SMAS
9309 Country/State: UK Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -- Available: 1 Catalog ID: 5577 Price: $25.00
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Yeah, these guys
are totally unknown in the States; not that they were ever a name brand in
their native UK. Singer Jess Roden was probably the most recognizable
member having been a member of The Alan Bown Set, though the other members
had played with an impressive collection of UK bands. Bronco
fans fawn over Jesse Roden's voice. I'm on the fence over it.
Exhibited by the ballad 'Amber Moon' there's something irritating in his
feel-my-pain performances. Yeah, the song is pretty enough, but it's
like he's trying a touch too hard? Well
'Time Slips Away' was a country-rock that I actually found attractive.
Blessed with a beautiful melody and Blunt and Roden trading off vocals
(Paul Brennen and Trevor Lucas on backing vocals), this could have been a
Gram Parson-era Byrds tune. Love the refrain. Kudos Opening
up with a jaunty, '30s-influenced melody, the keyboard powered ballad 'Some
Uncertainty' was simply irritating. Roden and company trotting out their best Robert Plant impression. Makes me smile every time I hear it. Note to band: don't. Naturally this was the track Island picked as a UK single:
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1971's 'Woman' b/w 'Civil On Your Stranger' (Island catalog number 1200)
(side 2) 'New
Day Avenue' started out as another pretty country-rock ballad. And
yes, I'll admit Roden sounded great on this one. Unexpectedly around
the four minute mark the song morphed into what sounded like a Grateful Dead
styled jam, complete with extended Blunt and Gammond
guitar soloing and Robinson's
tribal percussion. Robinson turned in a great
performance. Yes,
big shocker, but with Roden on lead vocals 'Discernible'
offered up another pretty, but forgettable country-rock ballad. Acoustic
ballad - Roden at his best, or perhaps not ... The
star ballad 'Joys and Fears' was a Roden solo effort - Roden on vocals,
piano and guitar. Certainly a precursor of his solo
career. Yeah the song had a certain spare majesty and he could sure
could sing, but once again Roden struck me as trying too hard ...
Unfortunately the band's career subsequently took several big hits. Driving to a concert the band was involved in a nasty car accident which seriously injured Pasternack, Robinson, and several members of the band's touring crew.
Having recuperated, Bronco undertook a US tour which was met by indifference. After a quick UK tour, in early 1972 Roden tendered his notice in order to join The Butts Band, followed by a solo career.
With Blunt next to leave, the remaining members decided to continue on. Recruiting guitarist Dan Fone and former Band of Joy singer/guitarist Paul Lockey, the revamped band signed a contract with Polydor, releasing a third album - 1973's "Smoking Mixture".
© 06/2024 Scott R. Blackerby
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