"Country Home/Ace Of Sunlight" by BRONCO – November 1970 and July 1971 Debut and Second Studio Albums on Island Records (UK) featuring Jess Roden and Robbie Blunt with guests Mick Ralphs and Ian Hunter of Mott The Hoople, Trevor Lucas of Fairport Convention and Songwriting Credits with Clifford T. Ward all on the Second Album (October 2010 UK Beat Goes On Records (BGO) Compilation – 2LPs onto 1CD – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

 

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"...Turn Your Bumpers West..."

 

Despite their stellar line-ups and some quality songs - England's BRONCO came and went without too many people noticing. So it's nice to see this superb sounding remaster on BGO Records (Beat Goes On) celebrate the short but illustrious career of this unfairly forgotten and deeply melodic Rock group that featured two underground heroes in Jess Roden and Robbie Blunt.

 

Soon to be Bad Company main guitarist Mick Ralphs appears with Ian Hunter (both in Mott The Hoople at the time) on the second LP "Ace Of Sunlight" as does Trevor Lucas of Fairport Convention (one track each) – while some tracks on the second were also co-written with Clifford T. Ward - a very musical and rum crew indeed. Here are the shards of sunlight...

 

UK released October 2010 - "Country Home/Ace Of Sunlight" by BRONCO Beat Goes On Records BGOCD 946 (Barcode 5017261209467) is a compilation that Remasters 2LPs onto 1CD and breaks down as follows (72:57 minutes):

 

1. Civil Of You Stranger [Side 1]

2. Love

3. Misfit On Your Stair

4. Bumpers West

5. Home [Side 2]

6. Well Anyhow

7. Tim (So Long Between)

Tracks 1 to 7 are their debut album "Country Home" released November 1970 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9124. The famous double-album label sampler compilation "Bumpers" on Island Records in late 1970 took its name partially from Track 4 and the version of "Love" featuring on that August 1970 2LP Sampler is different to what appeared in November 1970.

 

8. Amber Moon [Side 1]

9. Time Slips Away

10. Some Uncertainty

11. Woman

12. New Day Avenue [Side 2]

13. Discernable

14. Sudden Street

15. Joys And Fears

Tracks 8 to 15 are their 2nd LP "Ace Of Sunlight" - released July 1971 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9161. Mick Ralphs (later with Bad Company) and Ian Hunter both of Mott The Hoople guest on one song - "Amber Moon". Trevor Lucas of Fairport Convention lends Vocals to "Time Slips Away".

 

The outer card-wrap slipcase pictures both albums while the 12-page booklet has excellent liner notes by MICHAEL HEATLEY that includes rare photos of the band, a history and interviews. The remaster is fabulous - great clear sound by ANDREW THOMPSON - lovely detail and power where it's needed - a top job done.

 

Sounding not unlike a more rocky version of Matthews Southern Comfort - the group featuring guitar hero and lead vocalist JESS RODEN alongside fellow guitar muckers ROBBIE BLUNT and KEVYN GAMMOND (Blunt went on to be Robert Plant's principal sideman) with JOHN PASTERNAK on Bass and PETE ROBINSON on Drums. Robinson was the original drummer with Band Of Joy way back in 1966 while Mick Ralphs (who joined the group for the 2nd LP) would of course became the main man on the sticks with BAD COMPANY.

 

In fact when you listen to the rambling and hard-riffing "Well Anyhow" it's hard not to hear those Free and Bad Company comparisons. But the songs were often softer than that - least not of all "Bumpers West" who lyrics titled that beloved 2LP sampler set "Bumpers" at the end of 1970 (lyrics from it title this review). Roden often wrote the softer songs like "Love" and "Home" while "Time (So Long Between)" which ends the 1st album is a neither here nor there hybrid of Rock and Folk.

 

So why didn't they click with the public? What's clearly missing is that killer single - that one song that would get them noticed. There was a moment perhaps when it might have happened in the fabulous builder "Time Slips Away" on "Ace Of Sunlight" (written by Robbie Blunt). The track turned up on the "Meet On The Ledge - Island Folk/Rock" 3CD Box Set in 2009 and I've raved about it before (see separate review). With an edit maybe it might have gotten them radio play. The album opens with the lovely "Amber Moon" co-written by Roden with Suzy Worth while "Some Uncertainty", "Woman" and "Discernible" all feature Clifford T. Ward in the song-writing credits but in truth are disappointingly slight.

 

"New Day Avenue" is lovely too. The only real downer about this re-issue is that a very rare single "Lazy Now" b/w "A Matter Of Perspective" on Island WIP 6096 (issued in 1970) is not included - shame that. There is the very definite feeling of a band progressing leaps and bounds by the time they hit that 2nd album (they even supported Zeppelin at The Wembley Empire in 1971). With Roden departed, the others re-grouped and made one more album "Smoking Mixture" on Polydor in 1972 before finally disbanding.

 

You would not under any circumstances call either Bronco album on Island Records in 1970 and 1971 some sort of lost masterpiece (you would have to go to Nick Drake and Cat Stevens for that) and there is a frustrating ordinariness about both records despite their rarity on original vinyl. But if you like your US melodies via British Rock bands like say Matthews Southern Comfort, Cochise, Brinsley Schwarz or Help Yourself – then there's a lot on here to like - and given the classy presentation - time to not let this rare one slip away...