This is part of my Series "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters 1970s Rock And Pop" Download Book available to buy on Amazon to either your PC or Mac (it will download the Kindle software to read the book for free to your toolbar). Click on the link below to go my Author's Page for this and other related publications:
Just to clarify. Some sites have suggested that's there's nearly 40 songs on this 2CD set - there isn't - there's 28 across the 2 discs. Here's the breakdown:
CD 1 contains the full album "Any Road Up" originally released on Polydor in 1976 (Tracks 1-9)
10 and 11 are bonus tracks: "Back Street Cat" and "Dick Malone"
CD 2 contains the full album "Rollin' On" originally released on Polydor in 1977 (Tracks 1-14)
(Note that tracks 10 and 14 are 57 and 20 second long acapella songs - snippets really)
15, 16 and 17 are bonus tracks; "Gave His Life To Rock'n'Roll", "Make Things Last" and "Dick Leaps In"
All are remastered to superlative quality by re-issue label Road Goes On Forever and the whole project clearly had Gibbons involvement. The booklet has all the lyrics and a biog on him and full production credits - an exemplary issue.
"Rollin' On" contains their lone chart hit [A & B], a great cover version of Chuck Berry's "Tulane" issued as a 7" in August 1977 (backed up by the gorgeous "Now You Know Me"). As another reviewer has quite rightly pointed out, many tracks like "Light Up Your Face", "Speed Kills", "Rollin'" and "Tulane" of course turn up on the superb live set "Caught In The Act" from late 1977 also on Polydor Records - an album I had on my turntable for years! That set along with his other live album "On The Loose" (1986) are available on a separate Road Goes On Forever release - again each album bolstered up with bonus tracks (Road Goes On Forever RBF/SGDCD 050).
The Road Goes On Forever sets have gained something of a cult status - they're not cheap nor easy to find like major label stuff, but in these instances, they are the business. I'd admit that not every song on these two studio albums is a balls-to-the-wall classic, but if you're a fan, you've got to have them - especially given their sound and presentation.
Fans of the man should also check out his "Bob Dylan Project" covers album from 1998 - Gibbons and his fab set of lungs pumping out tasty interpretations of old and new Dylan songs - all of them filled with the grace and power his vocals can deliver. Gibbons is like Frankie Miller and Dan McCafferty [of Nazareth] - surely one of the most underrated and overlooked treasures British Rock'n'Roll has.
Buy with confidence.
