line up 1 (1970)

- John Pearson -- drums, percussion

- Dave Richards -- guitar, bass, keyboards

- Andy Roberts -- vocals, guitar, violin

- Bob Sargeant -- vocals, keyboards, guitar, synthesizers

  supporting musicians

- John Porter -- guitar

- 3 Boxes (Andy Roberts)

- Babylon (John Pearson)

- Deadgrass (Dave Richards)

- Grimms (Andy Roberts - Dave Richards

- Junco Partners (Bob Sargeant)

- Liverpool Scene (Andy Roberts - Dave Richards)

- Plainsong (Andy Roberts - Dave Richards)

- Bob Sargeant (solo efforts)

- Uncle Dog (John Pearson)

- The Hank Wangford Band (Andy Roberts)

- Yellow Dog (Andy Roberts)

Genre: county-rock

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  Andy Roberts with Everyone

Company: Ampex

Catalog: A-10117
Year: 1971

Country/State: Hatchend, UK

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

Catalog ID: --

Price: $30.00

I was mildly familiar with singer/guitarist Andy Roberts via his work with Grimms and The Liverpool Scene.  As I wasn't a big fan of either entity, I didn't have great hopes for this release.

Released in the UK on the Beat & Commercial label ,1970's 'Everyone" was quite different from Roberts prior work.  First off it was not a solo effort, rather a group endeavor featuring Roberts along with drummer John Pearson, multi-instrumentalist Dave Richards, and former Junco Partners singer/keyboardist Bob Sargeant.   In contrast, when Ampex released the album in the States, "Andy Roberts with Everyone" was marketed as a Roberts solo album.  While the two releases featured different cover art, they shared the same track listing.  Gone was the unique British humor associated with Grimms.  Gone was the experimental work associated with The Liverpool Scene. And while I didn't miss those characteristics, the collection felt like it had been haphazardly stitched together. Roberts four contributions leaned heavily on country and folk influences. Tracks like 'Trouble At the Mill' and 'Don't Get Me Wrong' were simply too twangy for my years, while the orchestrated ballad 'Radio Lady' was simply bland.  Best of his work was the bouncy, acoustic 'Don't Get Me Wrong.'  Sargeant's three contributions were more diverse.  The organ powered rocker 'This Way Up' sounded a bit like a Uriah Heep outtake. One of the album highlights, 'Too Much a Loser' was a Junco Partners'-styled rocker.  The lone cover, 'Midnight Shift' was a conventional rockabilly tune that simply missed the mark for me. 

A performance at the 1970 Isle of Wight festival seemed to promise widespread attention, but in the wake of a traffic accident that killed one of the band's roadies and destroyed their equipment, the band called it quits.

"Andy Roberts with Everyone" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Trouble At the Mill (Andy Roberts) - 3:26   rating: *** stars

I've never really understood England's fascination with American country music.  Admittedly, kicked along by some horns, 'Trouble At the Mill' had a bouncy, mildly engaging, if somewhat ragged vibe.  The song actually wasn't half bad until the fiddles kicked in.  I totally lost interest at that point.  Always wondered why Ampex bothered tapping it as a promotional 45 in the States:

- 1971 'Trouble At the Mill' b/w 'Sad' (Ampex catalog number X-11022)

2.) Sad  (Bob Sargeant) - 7:02   rating: *** stars

Every now and then you hear a song and the melody instantly grabs you.  That was certainly the case for the ballad 'Sad.'  The downside was that Sargeant's high-pitched vocals were an acquired taste and about half wave through the tune began to meander into jazzy territory.

3.) Midnight Shift  (Lee - Ainsworth) - 2:05   rating: ** stars

'Midnight Shift' found the group diving into '50s-styled rockabilly.  Another genre I just don't have much interest in.

4.) Don't Get Me Wrong (Andy Roberts) - 4:27   rating: *** stars

'Don't Get Me Wrong' started out as a pretty, spare acoustic ballad - just Roberts on acoustic guitar.  The theme appeared to be a reflection on anti-Vietnam protests, but who knows.  The tune improved when the rest of the band kicked in with Dave Richards turning in a beautiful electric guitar solo.

(side 2)
1.) Sitting On a Rock  (Andy Roberts) - 3:04   rating: **** stars

The album's most commercial performance, 'Sitting On a Rock' featured a bouncy, acoustic guitar powered melody; nice group harmonies, and a sweet anti-war refrain.

2.) Too Much a Loser (Bob Sargeant) - 5:56    rating: **** stars

The album's most rock oriented performance, Sargeant's 'Too Much a Loser' actually recalled something from his Junco Partners' catalog.  With a strange keyboard powered rock-meets-progressive flavor, needless to say, it sounded totally out of place on this album.  Shame since it was one of the album highlights.

3.) Radio Lady (Andy Roberts)  - 3:17   rating: *** stars

Apparently a reflection on experiences associated with The Liverpool Scene's 1969 American tour, 'Radio Lady' was a sweet, but ultimately bland ballad.  Nice telecaster work.

4.) This Way Up   (Bob Sargeant)  - 5:20   rating: *** stars

Geez, did I slap on a Uriah Heep LP by mistake?

For anyone interested, Roberts has a nice website at: andyrobertsmusic.com 

© Scott R. Blackerby May, 2021