SickthingsUK

After MOL it was reported that the band members and Alice were going to record solo albums. We got nothing from Glen ( understandably health wise etc ) nothing from Dennis and Michael's album didn't see the light of day til the early 80's and Neal's til the 2000's.

My question is this, who funded Neal's album ( which was pretty much abandoned til years later and who funded Mike's pretty much shelved project?

Mike's album was released in Germany and Japan in '75 on Polydor. I would assume he got an advance from the record company as that would surely be normal back then?

No idea about Neal although obviously he paid any costs to finish it himself years later. Maybe he also had some sort of deal that fell through for some reason. I don't know.

In 75 I would have bought Mike's album in a heartbeat. Never heard a word about it. Do you know anyone who has a copy? I'd like to actually see a picture of the label. I'm guessing it got buried because it was pretty poor and probably not what people would have been expecting.

Neal's is more of a puzzle. I think he had Jack Douglas producing, he is on the credits, and has the New York Philamonic Orchestra! Some songs certainly sound like they had money spent on them.

I've not read Dennis's book. Does he talk about the solo albums or his lack of?

Also odd for Polydor to pick up Billion Dollar Babies after Mikes first offering.

I knew Mike credits Alice for vocals on As Rock Rolls On Dee ( backing probably ) though I can't hear him, I also see he credits Alice on Someone Like Me on the expanded. Obviously done to get extra sales from completists but is Alice actually on these tracks? I'm guessing they were done at Mike's studio in Tahoe but is there any record of Alice going there and if so when?

pitkin88 wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 20, 2020 5:31 pm

In 75 I would have bought Mike's album in a heartbeat. Never heard a word about it. Do you know anyone who has a copy? I'd like to actually see a picture of the label. I'm guessing it got buried because it was pretty poor and probably not what people would have been expecting.

https://www.discogs.com/Michael-Bruce-I ... ter/368539

pitkin88 wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 20, 2020 5:47 pm

I knew Mike credits Alice for vocals on As Rock Rolls On Dee ( backing probably ) though I can't hear him,

You can hear him clear as day on the pre-chorus, singing with Mike.
There are at least three versions of the song though and Alice is only on one, the original version on 'In My Own Way'. He is NOT on the version on 'Rock Rolls On' or on the alt version on the IMOW reissue.
As I'm feeling generous Alice 45 seconds in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIPlxIgmL5g

pitkin88 wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 20, 2020 5:47 pm

I also see he credits Alice on Someone Like Me on the expanded. Obviously done to get extra sales from completists but is Alice actually on these tracks? I'm guessing they were done at Mike's studio in Tahoe but is there any record of Alice going there and if so when?

"Someone Like You'? Not that I know of. Never seen that suggested that I recall.

It's listed under the tracks on the discography here. Just happened to notice.

It's listed under the tracks on the discography here. Just happened to notice.

Thanks for link but it says not available. I was going by memory from Rock Rolls On. Makes sense now.

pitkin88 wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 20, 2020 7:19 pm

Thanks for link but it says not available. I was going by memory from Rock Rolls On. Makes sense now.

Weird. Just clicked it and it works for me.
Could just search YouTube for it. If you can hear Alice, it's the right version

pitkin88 wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 20, 2020 7:16 pm

It's listed under the tracks on the discography here. Just happened to notice.

Ah, it's a mistake from me copy/pasting code when I re-did the site. Note its the 5th track on disc two and Rock Rolls On is the 5th on disc one. I'll fix it.

I just did some digging. Neals album was recorded at The Record Plant in NYC and Sunset Sounds Studio in VS with Jack Douglas producing. Someone obviously stumped up some cash.

A few observations,

1) why pay for all that studio time along with a successful producer and the NY Phil when, as Neal said, he didn't have enough songs for a finished album.

2) if Schwartzberg is to be believed about replacing Neals drums on MOL then why would Douglas then produce an album for a drummer who he felt couldn't cut it?

In VS should be CA stupid auto correct!

pitkin88 wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 20, 2020 8:10 pm

1) why pay for all that studio time along with a successful producer and the NY Phil when, as Neal said, he didn't have enough songs for a finished album.

No idea. He had the cash so maybe just did it.

pitkin88 wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 20, 2020 8:10 pm

2) if Schwartzberg is to be believed about replacing Neals drums on MOL then why would Douglas then produce an album for a drummer who he felt couldn't cut it?

Neal swears that nobody played drums on an ACG album but him. Maybe you've answered the Schwartzberg question yourself. Why WOULD Douglas work with him. and why on earth would Neal ask him, if he'd been replaced on MOL?

There 's now a link on Wiki MOL to a AS interview where he talks about it. I would be pissed if I was Neal.

pitkin88 wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 20, 2020 9:20 pm

There 's now a link on Wiki MOL to a AS interview where he talks about it. I would be pissed if I was Neal.

I reckon AS has his albums mixed up , at one point he says he first met Ezrin recording GTH then later he says he worked on MOL which Ezrin co-produced ( which he didn’t Obviously )

nurserozetta wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 22, 2020 9:41 am

pitkin88 wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 20, 2020 9:20 pm

There 's now a link on Wiki MOL to a AS interview where he talks about it. I would be pissed if I was Neal.

I reckon AS has his albums mixed up , at one point he says he first met Ezrin recording GTH then later he says he worked on MOL which Ezrin co-produced ( which he didn’t Obviously )

I did see that. Maybe the blonde drummer was Whitey Glan! Lol

i could make a joke about Snowy Shaw, but might be the wrong audience