Finally getting a write-up is the debut Henry Paul Band LP ‘Grey Ghost’. This was recorded in 1979, a year and a few months after Henry Paul left his lucrative gig with southern rock legends The Outlaws.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Henry Paul Band
ALBUM: Grey Ghost
LABEL: Atlantic
SERIAL: SD-19232
YEAR: 1979
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Henry Paul – lead vocals, guitar * Billy Crain – lead guitar * Jim Fish – lead guitar, backing vocals * Wally Dentz – bass, harmonica, backing vocals * Barry Rapp – keyboards, backing vocals * Joe Lala – percussion * Bill Hoffman – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 So Long * 02 Crossfire * 03 Foolin’ * 04 Wood Wind * 05 Grey Ghost * 06 I Don’t Need You No More * 07 Lonely Dreamer * 08 One-Night Stands * 09 You Really Know (What I Mean) * 10 All I Need
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Henry Paul Band Background
Finally getting a write-up is the debut Henry Paul Band LP ‘Grey Ghost’. This was recorded in 1979. A year and a few months after Henry Paul left his lucrative gig with southern rock legends The Outlaws.
Atlantic Records were up for the challenge, signing Paul up for this record. And in so doing, releasing all of the Henry Paul Band albums right up to 1983. We’ve reviewed all the albums bar this one, until now.
The Songs
Much of the personnel here appear right across the Henry Paul Band tenure, including the twin guitars of Billy Crain and Jim Fish. Tthough Fish would later be replaced by Dave Feinster. This is some of the crankiest style of southern rock this side of Molly Hatchet.
The stand-out track is the extended title-track ‘Grey Ghost’ which is dedicated to the late Ronnie Van Zant. He of course died in the 1977 plane crash which impacted on fellow southern rockers Lynyrd Skynrd. ‘Grey Ghost’ has the same vibe as other long-winded southern classics such as ‘Freebird’, ‘Boogie No More’ and ‘Hurry Sundown’.
‘Lonely Dreamer’ which was another popular HPB tune was a typical cow-poke affair straight out of the Confederate South! ‘Crossfire’ was a mild and smooth effort probably closer to the Atlanta Rhythm Section‘s material. A nice track geared for radio. ‘So Long’ and ‘Foolin’ demonstrate HPB’s ability at playing a pastoral style of southern rock, which went down well in the late 70’s.
In Summary
There are some bootleg live recordings from the 1979-1980 period including ‘Live At The Bayou’ and ‘Live At The Agora’. Of the Henry Paul Band discography, this is the one that sounds wholly like a traditional southern rock record.
But really all of their LP’s sound great to these ears. In 2016, the album got a CD reissue from Rock Candy Records, though there is still the 2002 Wounded Bird reissue still hanging around. Go to it!
Henry Paul Band on Video
So Long
Grey Ghost
