The Phoenix Tapes
The album features tracks recorded at various times in the last 10 years. Pete Townshend makes a magical appearance on Travellers’ Joy, which was written by Billy Nicholls shortly after Ronnie had left the Faces and they toured round Ireland together. The Phoenix Tapes also features fine contributions from ex-Slim Chancers Alun Davies and Des Horsfall, drummers Colin Davey, John Lingwood and Jim Russell as well as from the band as it is now. We're very grateful to all involved. The tracks were originally posted on Youtube in 2020 to raise spirits and relieve lockdown boredom. Besides vibrant versions of four classic Ronnie Lane songs and three originals, the material reflects the band’s musical roots ranging from Dylan to Leadbelly, Yusuf Cat Stevens to Jagger/Richards.
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TRACKLISTING
- Anniversary (Lane) July 2011
- When I Paint My Masterpiece (Dylan) January 2015
- Hard Times (Foster) July 2014
- You're So Right (Lane) October 2017
- All Too Soon (Chapman) August 2017
- Connection (Jagger/Richards) August 2014
- Roll On Babe (Adams) April 2015
- Zabrina (Bingham) September 2017
- Black Betty (Leadbetter) March 2015
- Jivin' Jivin' (Simpson) January 2015
- Traveller's Joy (Nicholls) October 2017
- On The Road To Findout (Yusuf /Cat Stevens) July 2014
- Stone (Lane) March 2013
- Buona Sera Signorina (Sigman,de Rose) June 2016
Musicians
Steve Bingham, Colin Davey, Alun Davies, Charlie Hart, Des Horsfall, John Lingwood, Billy Nicholls, Brendan O'Neill, Jim Russell, Steve Simpson, Pete Townshend, Geraint Watkins.
Press
"Slim Chance have beautifully honored their late leader’s legacy while emerging as a magical band in their own right......Pandemic resistant whoopee!"
Kris Needs, Record Collector
"Slim Chance has laid such a wicked groove that in New Orleans they would literally kill for it"
Uli Twelker, Good Times
"The Phoenix Tapes (Fishpool Records FSHACD004) compiles assorted previously unreleased tracks by various line-ups of the reformed band – and it’s a charming, vibey, good-humoured delight."
Trevor Hodgett, Blues in Britain
"Steve Simpson’s remarkable take on Stone with its bluesy picking and the show stopper Anniversary, which never fails to bring the house down with the Fishpool Philarmonic’s duelling fiddles, being two prime examples.....A fine compilation that shows the band’s musical versatility."
Craig Challine, Louder than War
"A beautiful album that truly encapsulates the essence of Slim Chance and its many talented members both past and present. This wonderfully eclectic collection of songs, some familiar, some not so much, has the indelible charm and warmth of Slim Chance stamped right through it"
Brian Finlay, journalist
"A kindred spirit to Bob Dylan’s legendary Basement Tapes (Columbia / 1975), Slim Chance unearths gems aplenty from their archives. How come (to quote Ronnie Lane) these tracks never made it on to the original releases?"
Tom Semioli, Cygnus Radio, USA
"Around a dozen players grace this collection with Steve Simpson and Charlie Hart at its warm centre, ably assisted by Geraint Watkins…... There’s a fine take of ‘Roll on Babe’ with exquIsite mandolin from Simpson and a lovely vocal from Des Horsfall."
Nick West, RNR 88
Recordings
