A Better Road (re-issue)

Producer and engineer Greg Hambleton signed STEEL RIVER in 1970 and recorded their first single "Ten Pound Note" (J. Telfer) at Toronto's Sound Canada Recording Studios. It was the perfect song to record for Steel River (originally named 'Toronto Shotgun'), an R&B oriented band managed by a Toronto school teacher Bob Beames. Greg played the tapes for George Struth at Quality Records, a major record manufacturer and distributor in Canada at the time, who immediately released the single on Greg's newly formed Tuesday Records label (GH 101). It became an instant smash and Quality and Stereo Dimension's Evolution label in the States quickly followed its release in 1970 with Steel River's first album 'Weighin' Heavy'. When the William Morris Agency signed STEEL RIVER, they became an international touring success and performed on three major American tours with The James Gang, Melanie, Steppenwolf, Black Sabbath, Three Dog Night, Edgar Winters, etc. Band members Bob Forrester (keyboards), Rob Cockell (bass), Tony Dunning (lead Guitar) Ray Angrove (drums) and with lead singer John Dudgeon wrote most of the material on their first and second album 'A Better Road' including "Southbound Train" and "Mexican Lady". Licensed by Polygram for release outside North America, all three singles charted in Canada and the States. Tony Dunning: lead guitar and acoustic guitar John Dudgeon: lead vocals and acoustic guitar Rob Cockell: fender bass Ray Angrove: drums Robert Forrester: keyboards Produced by Greg Hambleton Engineered by Terry Brown at Toronto Sound Studios Mix Engineering by Bob Liftin at Regent Sound Colour photography: Murray Wilson Inside photography: Graham Purvis CD Design: Backyard Design All songs published by Belsize Park Music Special thanks to Kalua Music and our ol' buddy Glen McLaren buy the album here: http://www.axerecords.ca/SteelRiver.html