line up 1 (1977)

- Chris Haines -- bass 

- Dave Gray -- lead guitar 

- John Jones -- vocals, rhythm guitar 

- Steven Laurie -- drums, percussion

- none known

Genre: rock

Rating: 2 stars **

Title:  Fringe Benefit

Company: Capricorn

Catalog: CPN-0183

Year: 1977

Country/State: UK

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: promo sticker on cover

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 5220

Price: $9.00

I bought this one based completely out of curiosity - these guys didn't look like the typical southern rockers you normally associated with Phil Walden's Capricorn label.

Produced by Clive Crawley, 1977's "Fringe Benefit" featured the talents of bassist Chris Haines, lead guitarist Dave Gray, singer/rhythm guitarist John Jones, and drummer Steven Laurie and though not a band member Mike Moran was credited with keyboards.  Judging by their sound and the fact the album was recorded at London's Morgan Studios I'm guessing these guys were English.  They certainly weren't members of The Allman Brothers/Marshall Tucker Band fraternity.  Largely written by Jones much of the album featured distinctive Chinn-Chapman commercial feel. Material like 'Wanna Be with You' and 'Patterns' almost bubblegum in it's top-40 orientation. The album also sported two of the year's odder covers - their rendition of Leonard Cohen's 'Suzanne' managed to turn it into a potential top-40 hit that sounded like something the English band Smokey might have recorded.  Even weirder was their take on Elvis' 'All Shook Up'.   Every time I hear it I flashback to Loggins and Messina.  Sported a modest Bowie/Mott the Hoople feel the most interesting effort was ''Was God an Astronaut'.  All told, pleasant and fun, but not likely to change you life in any fashion ...

"Fringe Benefit" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) All In Vain   (John Jones) - 3:15

2.) Darling   (John Jones) - 3:28

3.) Was God an Astronaut   (John Jones) - 4:17

4.) Wanna Be with You   (John Jones) - 3:35

5.) Suzanne   (Leonard Cohen) - 4:43

(side 2)
1.) Patterns   (John Jones) - 4:53

2.) All Shook Up   (Elvis Presley - Otis Blackwell) - 2:33

3.) When She's Next Free   (Dave Gray) - 3:50

4.) The Ballad of Phylis Prewitt   (John Jones) - 2:56

5.) Let a Light Shine   (John Jones) - 4:19