Dealers Choice (1998)

 

1. Steppenwolf Alan Hull 5:28
2. No time to lose Alan Hull 3:58
3. North Country Boy Tommy Duffy 3:42
4. Roll On, River Craddock/Gibson 5:21
5. Taking Care of Business Alan Hull 3:11
6. Lady Eleanor Alan Hull 4:43
7. Moonshine Tommy Duffy 4:32
8. Tow the Line Craddock/Gibson 2:40
9. When the war is over Alan Hull 3:50
10. Dealers Choice Alan Hull 2:55
11. Tonight Tommy Duffy 3:06
12. You put the laff on me Tommy Duffy 4:13
13. In your head Craddock 3:18

Album Cover Info

During the early part of 1973, although they had created a string of hit singles and achieved considerable success in the album charts, Lindisfarne were descending into a critical state that affects many bands whose greatest strengths are most prominent in their live performances on the college and concert circuit. The band had been forced to move from their native roots in the North East and relocate in London, This fact, coupled with the constant touring and pressure to produce new material had left the band's leader and principal songwriter, Alan Hull, exhausted and unhappy. The record label, Charisma, suggested that he should stay off the road and concentrate on writing, whilst fellow 'Geordie', Billy Mitchell, would fill his place in the Lindisfarne camp.

This was not to be, as following a poor critical response to the band's third album, Dingly Dell, a split occured within the group, whereby founder members Ray Laidlaw, Rod Clements and Simon Cowe decided to leave and formed a new band, Jack The Lad, with the aforementioned Billy Mitchell.

A new line-up of Lindisfarne was hastily put together around the core of Alan Hull and Ray Jackson.. The 'Mark II' band featured on this album, had drafted in the skills of Ray Jackson, Charlie Harcourt and Kenny Craddock on guitars and vocals, with Tommy Duffy on bass guitar and Paul Nichols filling the vacant drum seat.

Alan Hull, was soon to release his successful solo work, Pipedream, a coolection of songs that carried an overall reflection of his earlier Lindisfarne material and featured memebers of the new Lindisfarne line-up.

What you hear on this disc, is the energy and creative drive of a band in transition !

    Dave Possit 1998