- Bill Jerome (?) -- vocals 

- Steve Jerome (?) -- vocals 

- Hot Ice

- Steve Jerome

Genre: rock

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  Lady Luck

Company: Guinness

Catalog: GNS 36060
Year: 1977

Country/State: US

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: cut top right corner

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 3265

Price: $50.00

I've always been fascinated by stuff released on tax dodge labels like Guinness and Dellwood.  For throwaway 'product' lots of it is quite good.  This is one that took me awhile to score, but turned out to be worth the search.  Like everything on the label, there's precious little bibliographical info available on this act ...  By the way, good luck finding another review on this one.

Released in 1977 and credited to 'Northern', the Lou Guarino produced "Lady Luck" appears to have been an outlet for brothers Bill and Steve Jerome.  That's little more than speculation on my part since, like most Guinness label releases, there are no performance credits and the liner notes are skimpy at best.  Can't say I know a great deal about the Jerome brothers.  I know they've worked in the business for decades, starting out with a Brooklyn record store/recording studio and produced acts as diverse and The Fifth Estate, The Left Banke, and Reparata & the Delrons.  They've written music, engineered, produced, worked as studio musicians, A&R men and were even members of the studio group Hot Ice.  All-in-all careers most folks would love to have enjoyed !  So what's this one sound like?  Well it sounded like a demo intended to showcase the brothers' ability to write and perform material in a wide array of genres - it was one of those albums with a true chameleon-like feel.   

"Lady Luck" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Put the Blame On Easy   (Steve Jerome - Bill Jerome) - 

The opener 'Put the Blame On Easy' sounded like a piece of late-1960s bubblegum pop that would have been right at home on an Archies album.  Complete with a cheesy keyboard solo and insidiously catchy hook, it was pretty darned impressive.

2.) Lady Luck   (Steve Jerome - Bill Jerome) - The title track was equally commercial but showcased a more updated sound that would have fit well on mid-1970s AM radio play lists.  Only drawback was the brothers' falsettos ...

3.) Happy   (Steve Jerome - Bill Jerome) - 

A smooth and sugary slice of MOR pop 'Happy' sounded like something The Association might have recorded on one of their earlier albums.  Nice harmonies from the brothers.

4.) Your Life Is Gone   (Steve Jerome - Bill Jerome) - 

A classic teen death drama 'Your Life Is Gone' sounded like it had been penned for an early-1960s girl group.  Complete with ambulance sound effects, pleading vocals and what sounded like a Coral sitar it was great.

5.) Stand By the One   (Steve Jerome - Bill Jerome) - 

The first time I heard 'Stand By the One' it sounded like a Lobo outtake - same big melody that he use to craft (with another hook that clawed its way into your head), same lost love theme ...  even the vocal delivery recalled Lobo.  

(side 2)
1.) The Wind Is Gonna Blow   (Steve Jerome - Bill Jerome) - 

Side two opened with what was probably the most commercial track. Employing a rougher vocal, 'The Wind Is Gonna Blow' sounded a bit like something Badfinger might have recorded.  It also sported another highly commercial melody that could have been a hit with a bit of promotion.

2.) Angel   (Steve Jerome - Bill Jerome) - 

Ah, and now for the tearjerker big ballad ... 'Angel' started out with one of the Jerome bothers (not sure which) accompanied by a piano, before evolving into a Phil Spector-styled number complete with backing chorus and extensive orchestration.  

3.) Lady   (Steve Jerome - Bill Jerome) - 

The 'heaviest' song on the album, 'Lady' found the brothers taking a stab at mid-1960s blue-eyed soul.  Again, I'm not sure which was handling lead vocals, but this time out he seemed to be taking a stab at turning in his best David Clayton-Thomas impression.  Quite good to boot !

4.) Color All of the World   (Steve Jerome - Bill Jerome) - 

Opening up with a nice guitar and keyboard figure, 'Color All of the World' found the brothers returning to bubblegum pop.  Complete with uplifting lyric (would have made a great soundtrack for a soda commercial), If anything this one was even better than 'Put the Blame On Easy'.  It gets my vote for standout track.

5.) Sign On the Dotted Line   (Steve Jerome - Bill Jerome) - 

Why not close with one of those autobiographical band story/songs?  Dr. Hook or one of those UK Chinn-Chapman bands could have enjoyed a hit 'Sign On the Dotted Line'.  

For an album that was probably recorded in a matter of days, you had to admire the overall quality here.  Gawd only knows how many name bands have spent as much time and effort recording a single song ...  

Bill Jerome is still active in music as the owner of Jerome Promotions and Marketing:

http://www.jeromepromotions.com/home.html