Steel River
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1965-69) as The Toronto Shotgun - Ray Angrove -- drums, percussion - Rob Cockrell -- bass - John Dudgeon -- vocals - Tony Dunning -- lead guitar - Bob Forrester -- keyboards
line up 2 (1969-704) as Steel River - Ray Angrove -- drums, percussion - Rob Cockrell -- bass - John Dudgeon -- vocals - Tony Dunning -- lead guitar - Bob Forrester -- keyboards
line up 3 (1980) - Rob Cockrell -- bass - John Dudgeon -- vocals - Tony Dunning -- lead guitar - Bob Forrester -- keyboards NEW - Dennis Watson -- drums, percussion (replaced Ray Angrove)
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- John Dudgeon (solo efforts) - Mojo Grande (John Dudgeon) - The Toronto Shotgun
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Genre: rock Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Weighin' Heavy Company: Evolution Catalog: 2018 Country/State: Ontario, Canada Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: textured cover Available: 1 Catalog ID: 1690 Price: $25.00
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Formed in 1965, The Toronto Shotgun featured the talents of drummer Ray Angrove, bassist Rob Cockrell , singer John Dudgeon, lead guitarist Tony Dunning, and keyboard player Bob Forrester. On a part time basis, the band spent four years playing covers and an occasional original at dances and small bars throughout Ontario. In 1969 they decided to turn full time professionals, recording a series of demos with producer Greg Hambleton.
Hambleton was impressed with the results and promptly signed the band to his small Tuesday Record label. The band subsequently made their debut with a1969 single which was also released in the States as a promo 45:
- 'Ten Pound Note' b/w 'Momma Pie Blues' (Tuesday catalog number GH 101X)
With the single hitting the Canadian top-10 charts, Hambleton decided to finance a supporting album. Produced by Hambleton, 1970's "Weighin' Heavy" featured a largely original collection of material with all five members contributing to the writing chores. Exemplified by tracks like 'Dream Is Country' and 'What Have I To Lose?' the album had a distinctive early-'70 rock feel, but didn't reflect a great deal of originality. In fact, to my ears, 'What It Feels Like (To Sing a Song)' sounded like warmed over Steppenwolf while the percussion heavy 'Seems They're Out To Get You' added a touch of Santana to the mix. That said, Dudgeon had a nice rock-and-roll voice and there was plenty of Dunning's tasty lead guitar and Forrester's stabbing keyboards scattered throughout the grooves. The guys also had a nice ensemble feel (you could tell they'd been playing together for awhile). Just my opinion, but I'd argue these guys were at their best on the atypical numbers - in this case the progressive-tinged 'When You're Down and Out In (She's a Friend)' and the psych-flavored ballad 'Song with a Chorus (For Mary)'.
The band toured extensively in support of the album, including numerous dates in the US, but the album simply failed to catch on in the States.
"Weighin'
Heavy" track listing: 1.) Dream Is Country (Bob Forrester - John Dudgeon - Tony Dunning) - 5:08 rating: **** stars Well, the dream may have been country, but the song was a guitar-and keyboard powered slice of hard rock. To my ears Dudgeon's voice gave the song a distinctive Canadian sound (kind of a Steppenwolf feel). Excellent rocker. 2.) Walk By the River (Bob Forrester) - 3:36 rating: **** stars Showcasing Forrester's church organ, 'Walk By the River' was a pretty Gospel-tinged ballad. The song was tapped as their second single, but stalled in the lower reaches of the Canadian top-40 charts. - 1970's 'Walk By the River' b/w 'If You Let her Know' (Tuesday catalog number GH 105X) - 1970's 'Walk By the River' b/w 'If You Let her Know' (Evolution catalog number 1037) 3.) What Have I To Lose? (Ray Angrove - Rob Cockrell - John Dudgeon - Tony Dunning - Bob Forrester) - 3:37 rating: **** stars 'What Have I To Lose' has always struck me as sounding like a Three Dog Night tune - one of those tracks were they tried to showcase their rock and roll credentials, as opposed to being a pop band. This one had nice solos from Tony Dunning and Bob Forrester. 4.) Losing Friends (John Dudgeon - Tony Dunning) - 2:19 rating: *** stars 'Losing Friends' captured the band at their heaviest. The instrumental first half of the the tune was far better than the second half were Dudgeon's whiny voice kicked in. 5.) What It Feels Like (To Sing a Song) (Ray Angrove - Rob Cockrell - John Dudgeon - Tony Dunning - Bob Forrester) - 5:14 rating: **** stars Kicked along by Dunning's fuzz heavy guitar, 'What It Feels Like (To Sing a Song)' was another heavy rocker that sounded like it had been borrowed from the Steppenwolf catalog.
(side
2) Written by A Passing fancy member Jay Telfer, 'Ten Pound Note' had previously been released as their debut single. Decent enough mid-tempo rocker with a more pronounced Americana feel than most of the LP and a nice refrain upping the song's commercial potential. 2.) When You're Down and Out In (She's a Friend) (John Dudgeon - Ray Angrove) - 5:49 rating: *** stars Forrester's opening organ work gave 'When You're Down and Out In (She's a Friend)' an unexpected progressive feel. 3.) Seems They're Out To Get You (Ray Angrove - Rob Cockrell - John Dudgeon - Tony Dunning - Bob Forrester) - 4:35 rating: *** stars Another group-penned track, 'Seems They're Out To Get You' added a bit of percussion to the mix giving the tune a mild Latin-esque Santana feel. 4.) Song with a Chorus (For Mary) (Bob Forrester) - 7:03 rating: **** stars Another atypical tune, 'Song with a Chorus (For Mary)' found the band adding a touch of psych to the mix. Unexpected, but quite enjoyable. 5.) If You Let Her Know (Bob Forrester) - 3:36 rating: *** stars Strange Badfinger-flavored ballad.
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Genre: rock Rating: 3 stars *** Title: A Better Road Company: Evolution Catalog: 3006 Country/State: Ontario, Canada Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -- Available: 1 Catalog ID: 3193 Price: $25.00
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Following their debut album's success, Steel River went back into the studio with producer Greg Hambleton. 1971's "A Better Road" wasn't all that different then the first album, though it failed to generate the same enthusiasm as "Weighin' Heavy". Admittedly there wasn't anything glitzy, or trendy about this band, but for someone who abhors that kind of stuff in my personal life, exemplified by material like 'Do You Know Where You're Going' and 'What You Are', the band's no frills, straight-ahead brand of bar band rock was quite attractive and enjoyable. Featuring all original material, to my ears the album bore a modest resemblance to other '70s Mid-Western hard rock entities like Grand Funk, REO Speedwagon, or maybe Head East. The sophomore effort wasn't quite as consistent as the debut. Whereas every tune on the debut was worth hearing, this time around there were a couple of real clunkers. 'They've Been Waiting' and 'Take You Away' were both completely forgettable.
"A Better
Road" track listing: 1.) Do You Know Where You're Going? (Bob Forrester) - 4:39 rating; ***** stars In spite of the bland song title and pedestrian lyrics, 'Do You Know Where You're Going?' turned out to be a surprisingly enjoyable bar band rocker. The song sported some sweet harmony vocals, a nice, rollicking melody that showcased Rob Cockrell's solid bass and included a tasty fuzz solo from lead guitarist Tony Dunning. 2.) Take It Slowly (John Dudgeon) - 3:06 rating:*** stars 'Take It Slowly' was a pretty enough acoustic ballad, but John Dudgeon didn't sound very comfortable in the song's high range, giving the tune a grating edge. Shame since it was really a pretty melodyn with a catchy start and stop structure. 3.) What You Are (Ray Angrove - Bob Forrester) - 3:17 rating; ***** stars Built on a nice Bob Forrester organ riff 'What You Are' found the band putting on their dancing shoes ... Would have made a nice single. 4.) They've Been Waiting (John Dudgeon) - 3:42 rating; ** stars The album's first disappointment, 'They've Been Waiting' suffered from a bland melody and an equally flat vocal. Pass. 5.) Southbound Train (Rob Cockrell - Tony Dunning - Bob Forrester) - 3:55 To my ears 'Southbound Train' sounded like they've borrowed a bit of the riiff from 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' and added in a pinch of The Allman Brothers-via Ontario. That wasn't meant to take anythign away from this rocker since it was one of the best things they ever recorded. It's a little rough and the sound seems to have been slowed down a bit, but YouTube has what was apparently a promotional video for the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tew55pZ9Kxs The track was released as a in numerous countries:
- 1971's 'Southbound Train (Stand Up)' b/w 'A Lie' (Evolution catalog number 1044)
(side 2) 1.) Don't Tell Me ( Rob Cockrell - Tony Dunning) - 2:41 rating: *** stars Wow, a little big on the ragged side ... 2.) No One Will Hear You (John Dudgeon) - 3:00 rating: **** stars Another track built on a repeating riff, 'No One Will Hear You' was a good example of their barebones, straight-ahead approach to things. Surprisingly funky for a bunch of Canadians. LOL 3.) Take You Away ( Rob Cockrell - Tony Dunning - Bob Forrester) - 2:45 rating: ** stars Hum, imagine The Guess Who at their most uninspired. Everything on this one sounded borrowed, including Dunning's guitar solo. Totally forgettable slice of rock ... 4.) Joyful Judy (John Dudgeon) - 3:10 rating; *** stars Nice FM-styled rocker than sounded a little different that the rest of the album. The song also appeared as the "B" side to their 'Mexican Lady' single. YouTube has a promotion clip for the song. It starts at the 3:15 mark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tew55pZ9Kxs 5.) Love Can't Be Made of Gold (Let's Think Ahead) (John Dudgeon) - 5:12 rating: **** stars The song title was certainly a mouthful .. Like ' If You Let Her Know' off the debut album, the ballad 'Love Can't Be Made of Gold (Let's Think Ahead)' sounded like something out of the Badfinger catalog. Nice vocal harmonies. As mentioned above, YouTube has a promotional clip for the song. This song is tagged on to a performance of 'Southound Train' and starts at the 1:20 mark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tew55pZ9Kxs
I'm not sure if it was released before or after the album, but there was one final non-LP single for the Evolution and Tuesday labels:
- 1971's 'Mexican Lady' b/w 'Joyful Judy' (Evolution catalog number 1055)
The band toured extensively to support the album and then went on hiatus. By the time they were ready to resume working, producer Hambleton's Tuesday label was out of business, as was their American label. After a two year break the band were signed by Greg Hambleton's newly formed Axe label. Over the next year they released three obscure singles before calling it quits in 1974.
- 1973's 'Just Remember' b/w Lazin' Children' (Axe catalog number AXE 14) - 1974's 'Armoured Car' b/w 'Hold Me Close' (Axe catalog number AXE 60) - 1974's 'We Want You To Love Us' b/w 'Keep Movin' On' (Axe catalog number AXE 61)
There as a brief 1980 reunion with new drummer Dennis Watson. The reunion saw the band play some local dates, but no new material was recorded.
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