Welsh band Lone Star had it all, talent, songs, charisma, you name it, yet they couldn’t keep a solid line-up together which probably had something to do with their untimely demise, but damn if they didn’t create some kick ass hard rock!
Written by: Eric
ARTIST: Lone Star
ALBUM: Lone Star
LABEL: CBS
SERIAL: PC 34475
YEAR: 1976
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Wales
LINEUP: Kenny Driscoll – vocals * Paul Chapman – lead guitar * Tony Smith – lead guitar, backing vocals * Rick Worsnop – keyboards, backing vocals * Peter Hurley – bass * Dixie Lee – drums, backing vocals
TRACK LISTING: 01 She Said, She Said * 02 Lonely Soldier * 03 Flying In The Reel * 04 Spaceships * 05 A New Day * 06 A Million Stars * 07 Illusions
Background
Here it is kiddies, one of the best British (Wales to be exact) hard rock bands to land on my turntable back in days of old. Lone Star had it all, talent, songs, charisma, you name it, yet they couldn’t keep a solid line-up together which probably had something to do with their untimely demise, but damn if they didn’t create some kick ass hard rock!
Yes, Lone Star included six-string slinger Paul Chapman who ultimately ended up in UFO for a second time while drummer Dixie Lee went on to Wild Horses but this was all after the second album ‘Firing On All Six’ and while that was an excellent record it’s Lone Star’s debut that gets my vote ever so slightly as their best.
The Songs
Produced by Roy Thomas Baker fresh from his marathon work with Queen‘s ‘A Night at The Opera’, Lone Star’s sound was more Led Zeppelin and Bad Company, pre- NWOBHM blue jean heavy rock with a progressive rock twist. Vocalist Kenny Driscoll obviously worshipped at the platform shoes of Robert Plant but there’s nothing wrong with that is there?
Chapman’s guitar work is definitely the star here with dazzling and inventive playing throughout although the standout track has to be Lone Star’s unusual and innovative cover of The Beatles ‘She Said She Said’ which opens the album. It bares very little resemblance to the Lennon-McCartney original, verging heavy hard rock and progressive styles with aplomb.
Lone Star move further into the Led Zeppelin shadow with ‘Lonely Soldier’ and ‘Spaceships’ but offer up a more commercial sound with the Queen influenced ‘A Million Stars’, closing the album with the haunting and yet again Zep styled ‘Illusions’.
In Summary
Lone Star wore their influences on their sleeves and still pulled off a sound of their own. Touring the UK with both Mott and later Ted Nugent, Lone Star’s live show was supposedly an impressive affair.
So much so that they moved to full blown headliner with Pat Travers as support for their second and final official album featuring future Uriah Heep and Badlands front man John Sloman.
A third LP ‘Riding High’ was recorded but never released until quite recently along with a BBC live disc. I haven’t heard either one to be honest, but if they are anything like the first two albums, sign me up!
Lone Star on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
