line up 1 (1977-78)

- Chuck Chandler (aka John Chandler -- vocals, keyboards,

   synthesizers

- Vito Fiory (RIP 2009) -- drums, percussion

- Gerald Hardy -- vocals, sax, flute

- Ronny Jones -- vocals, guitar

- Nicky Prigeno -- vocals, bass

- none known

Genre: pop

Rating: ** (2 stars)

Title:  Lavender Hill Mob

Company: United Artists

Catalog: UA-LA818-G

Year: 1978

Country/State: Montreal, Canada

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: cut corner top right

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 4721

Price: $10.00

Cost: $66.00

I don't know why, but more and more stuff I listen to these days strikes me as being unremarkable.  That also happens to be the perfect adjective for this 1978 release.  

Unfortunately there's next to nothing to be found about this Montreal-base outfit on the web so the few facts I can come up with are pulled from the liner notes on their debut.  Apparently Canadian (the album was recorded in Quebec), the line up consisted of  keyboard player Chuck Chandler, drummer Vito Fiory, sax player Gerald Hardy, guitarist Ronny Jones and singer/bassist Nicky Prigeno.

Signed by United Artists the band made their recording debut with one of 1977's more irritating 45:

- 1977's 'The Party Song' b/w 'Nazz Are Blue' (United Artists catalog number UA-XW925-Y)

While the single didn't do much commercially, United Artists agreed to finance a follow-up album., 1977's "" (which I've never heard). Featuring largely original material, 1978's "Lavender Hill Mob"  found the band teamed with producer Rob Stevens.  Musically much of the collection sounded like something out of the mid-1970s Chinn-Chapman catalog.  That wasn't necessarily bad since the results were quite commercial.  Material such as the title track 'The Ballad of Molly McGuire' and 'Please Tell Me Why' boasted pretty melodies and lots of vocal harmonies that reminded me of groups like Badfinger and Pilot.  Unfortunately there wasn't anything original to be found on the album.  Simply because it's a little different from the rest of the album, the standout track was the Merseybeat sounding 'Make Up Your Mind'.  Okay, okay. I'll admit it.  'It's not the Spotlight' is irritatingly catchy and should have been a massive top-40 hit.

"Lavender Hill Mob" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Dream Away   (Nicky Prigeno - Chuck Chandler) - 2:50

A sweet keyboard-powered slice of melodic, harmony-rich top-40 pop, 'Dream Away' had the same kind of sound bands like Pilot were pushing.  I should have hated it, but this one was so breezy and easy going it was hard to not like it.   The song was tapped as the leadoff single:

- 1977 'Dream Away' b/w 'No One Compares' (United Artists catalog number UAXW 1109)

2.) The Ballad of Molly McGuire   (Nicky Prigeno - Chuck Chandler - Ronny Jones) - 3:27

3,) She's So Good, She's So Fine   (Nicky Prigeno - Chuck Chandler) - 3:06

4.) Make Up Your Mind   (Nicky Prigeno - Chuck Chandler) - 2:05

5.) Please Tell Me Why   (Nicky Prigeno - Chuck Chandler - Ronny Jones) - 4:35

(side 2)
1.) Good Lovin'   (Nicky Prigeno - Chuck Chandler) - 3:00

2.) It's not the Spotlight   (B. Goldberg - Gerry Goffin) - 3:49

3.) Roll 'n Ride   (Ronny James) - 3:40

'4.) Rock 'n Roll Holiday   (Nicky Prigeno - Chuck Chandler - Ronny Jones) - 4:29