JIM
CREGAN
Magnificent and classy guitarist. I saw him live
with Rod Stewart around 1981, and I still remember that fantastic gig.
Since then, I knew I had to pay a tribute to him someday. So, here I am...
Jim Cregan was born on March 9th, 1946 in Yeovil,
Sommerset.
JULIAN COVEY & THE MACHINE
Julian Covey is pseudonym for drummer Phil Kinorra
(from Brian Auger band). Then he formed his own band, Julian Covey &
The Machine, probaby around 1965. Many famous musicians played in this
band: John Moorshead (guitar, later to join Aynsley Dunbar in Aynsley Dunbar
Retaliation), Pete Bardens (keyboards, later in Them and Camel), Pete Solley
(keyboards), or Dave Mason (guitar, later in Traffic). Sorry, I don't have
more info about the lineups, so any help would be very appreciated!!
The band released a single, 'A little bit hurt
/ Sweet bacon (1967, Island), that was a sort of a hit, but I don't
know if Jim is featured here. Does anybody know?
Click
for short, additional info on bandmates:
Julian
Covey
Someday,
these musicians will be fully covered here:
John
Morshead
Peter
Bardens
Dave
Mason
Pete
Solley
THE INGOES
This was a band formed by Brian Godding and
Brian Belshaw. After some different lineups, Jim Cregan joined them:
They released some singles and EPs before changing
their drummer for Kevin Westlake. That's when the band changed its name
to Blossom Toes.
Click
for short, additional info on bandmates:
Brian
Godding
Brian
Belshaw
Colin
Martin
BLOSSOM TOES
With their new drummer, Kevin Westlake, The
Ingoes turned into Blossom Toes:
They recorded their first album, We are ever
so clean, with an orchestra.
Still in 1967, Westlake left, being replaced by
a superb musician, Poli Palmer.
They released several singles with this lineup, but
Palmer soon left. He was replaced by Barry Reeves (from Ferris Wheel, band
fronted by Linda Lewis, who turned out to be Jim Cregan's wife some time
later).
A 2nd album is released, If only for a moment,
with contribution by the great Shawn Phillips, and also appearing Poli
Palmer.
The band appeared in a movie from 1968, Pop
down, along with Zoot Money, Brenton Wood, Don Partridge, Julie
Driscoll - Brian Auger & The Trinity, and Luis Bonfa. It would be great
watching that movie now! :) They still suffered some other changes. One
of the last members was powerful drummer Nicko McBrain:
They finally split in 1969.
There's a 2LP compilation called Blossom
Toes Collection. There's also another album credited to Blossom
Toes, New day, but it was really recorded by the band B.B.
Blunder (featuring Godding, Belshaw and Westlake, but not Cregan) (in fact,
it's a reissue of B.B. Blunder's Worker's playtime).
Click
for short, additional info on bandmates:
Brian
Godding
Brian
Belshaw
Kevin
Westlake
Barry
Reeves
Someday,
these musicians will be fully covered here:
Poli
Palmer
Nicko
McBrain
OBJECTIVO
This was a Portuguese band, but they usually
had British (or American) players in their different lineups. After a while,
Jim Cregan joined them, probably around 1971.
They released a single with Jim, 'Gloria / Keep
your love alive'. But, a few months later, Cregan left the band (he
was replaced by Terry Thomas).
Click
for short, additional info on bandmates:
Kevin
Hoidale
Ze
Nabo
Ze
da Cadela
STUD
A great band with fantastic musicians. They
started as a trio:
They released a first album, Stud. After
that, they were joined in June 1971 by the great John Weider (who came
from the band Family):
After very succesful German tours, they sign for BASF
label. They release a 2nd album, September, only released
in that country. Same happened with the 3rd one, Goodbye live at
command. But Jim Cregan left them in August 1972 (to join Family).
Weider and McCracken also left.
Click
for short, additional info on bandmates:
Charlie
McCracken
John
Wilson
Someday,
these musicians will be fully covered here:
John
Weider
FAMILY
A superb band that has seen many great musicians
in their lineups. Jim Cregan joined them as bassist in September 1972:
In November 1972, Poli Palmer leaves, being replaced
next month by a great guy, Tony Ashton:
They released their last album, It's only a
movie, with guest appearance by Peter Hope Evans on harmonica,
and Jim's mate Charlie McCracken, as well as drummer Roy Dyke (Ashton's
old mate too), but it was the beginning of the end. The band disbanded
after a farewell gig on October 13th, 1973 at Leicester.
Many years later, some live albums have appeared.
The Peel sessions was released in 1988, and itfeatures a
BBC session from May 8th, 1973, but sadly it only includes three tracks
(less than 15 minutes). And BBC Radio One Live in Concert
also features the same lineup, with Cregan and Ashton.
Click
for short, additional info on bandmates:
Roger
Chapman
Charlie
Whitney
Tony
Ashton
Someday,
these musicians will be fully covered here:
Poli
Palmer
Rob
Townsend
LINDA LEWIS BAND
In 1974, Jim Cregan toured with Linda Lewis.
Linda Lewis was acting as supporting act for Cat Stevens.
Cat was so interested in Jim that he also asked them to play with Cat's
band.
Click
for short, additional info on bandmates:
Linda
Lewis
Someday,
these musicians will be fully covered here:
Robert
Ahwai
Max
Middleton
CAT STEVENS BAND
As I've told, Linda Lewis and Jim Cregan toured
with Cat Stevens during 1974. This was the live lineup:
There's a live album recorded from that tour, Saturnight
(Live in Tokyo), recorded in June 1974. It was only released in
Japan, as a benefit album in behalf of UNICEF. But the great news is that
in 2001, this album will see a worldwide reissue on CD. It was about time!
Click
for short, additional info on bandmates:
Cat
Stevens
Alun
Davies
Larry
Steele
Bruce
Lynch
Anna
Peacock
Sue
Lynch
Someday,
these musicians will be fully covered here:
Jean
Roussel
Gerry
Conway
LINDA LEWIS BAND
(again)
This was the new lineup for Linda Lewis Band
in October 1975:
Click
for short, additional info on bandmates:
Linda
Lewis
Derek
Austin
Jeff
Seopardie
Darryl
Lee Que
Domino
Someday,
these musicians will be fully covered here:
Phil
Chen
Steve
Gregory
ASHTON & LORD
(& FRIENDS)
After leaving Family, Tony Ashton teamed with
his mate Jon Lord. They recorded an album with lots of friends and guests,
First of the big bands. As Jim and Tony had been playing
together in Family, that's why Jim appears. Some guests in the album are:
Jim Cregan (guitar), Jerry Donahue (guitar), Peter Frampton (guitar), Pat
Donaldson (bass), Dick Parry (sax), Howie Casey (horns), Dave Caswell (trumpet),
Mike Davies (trumpet), John Mumford (trombone), Frank Ricotti (percussion),
Carmine Appice (drums), Terry Cox (drums), Ian Paice (drums), and backing
vocals by Madeline Bell, Tony Ferguson, Jimmy Helms, Kenny Rowe, Graham
White, Joanne Williams, Roger Willis. The album was released in March 1974,
but some months later, Ashton & Lord wanted to play a live concert
to promote it. That's when they assemble an all-star lineup, again with
Jim Cregan:
The concert was held on September 15th, 1974. A live
album from those concerts was released almost 20 years later. It's BBC
Radio One Live in concert.
Click
for short, additional info on bandmates:
Tony
Ashton
Pat
Donaldson
Dave
Caswell
Mike
Davis
Dick
Parry
John
Mumford
Someday,
these musicians will be fully covered here:
Ray
Fenwick
Howie
Casey
Carmine
Appice
Someday,
these musicians will have a short tribute here:
Jon
Lord
Ian
Paice
STEVE HARLEY &
COCKNEY REBEL
Steve Harley was a succesful singer when Jim
Cregan joined him around October 1974:
Best years of our lives features the
band plus very good backing vocalists: Linda Lewis, Liza Strike, Tina Charles,
Martin Jay and Yvonne Keely. It was produced by Alan Parsons.
For a while, they had a 2nd guitarist, a young
Snowy White:
But Snowy soon left, and they reverted to a quintet.
Timeless flight features vocal appearances
by Barry St. John, Madeline Bell, Pete Clarke, Yvonne Keely, Patricia Paay,
Larry Steele, Liza Strike, Leroy Wiggins and Joy Yates, plus Lindsay Elliott
on percussion.
A closer look was a compilation assembled
for the American market, released to coincide with the band 1st American
tour. Most of the tracks were from earlier lineups of the band, but some
tracks already featuring Jim Cregan.
Love's a prima donna features guest
appearances by Jo Partridge (guitar), Lindsey Elliott (percussion), and
vocals by John G. Perry, Tony Rivers and Yvonne Keely.
Face to face is a 2LP live album,
featuring a extended lineup:
But when the album was released, Steve Harley had
already announced that Cockney Rebel was no more. He dissolved the band
to go solo.
Click
for short, additional info on bandmates:
Steve
Harley
George
Ford
Lindsay
Elliott
Stuart
Calver
Tony
Rivers
Someday,
these musicians will be fully covered here:
Duncan
Mackay
Stuart
Elliott
Snowy
White
John
G. Perry
HINKLEY'S HEROES
In July 1976 Tim Hinkley forms Hinkley's Heroes
comprising friends and band mates. As we'll be able to read in my forthcoming
pages about Tim Hinkley, lots of famous musicians played with the band.
Jim Cregan was one of them. Can anybody help me to trace a lineup with
Cregan, please?
Click
for short, additional info on bandmates:
x
Someday,
these musicians will be fully covered here:
ROD STEWART BAND
Rod Stewart, after leaving The Faces, recorded
a new album, and after a while, he started looking for musicians in order
to form his own stable band. After a month rehearsing in secret in LA,
September 1976 sees how the lineup is finally unveiled:
Three lead guitarists, something it didn't happen
since the times of Peter Green and Fleetwood Mac. It was a superb, rocking
band. Jim Cregan soon adopted the role of musical director for the band.
Their first gig was on November 1, 1976, in Norway; the start of an European
tour for 3 weeks. A concert in London on December 1976 was broadcasted
by the BBC.
Foot loose and fancy free is the
first album where Jim Cregan and the new band appear. Sessions started
in April 1977. With Steve Cropper (guitar), Fred Tackett (guitar), David
Foster (keyboards), Nicky Hopkins (keyboards), John Mayall (harp), Paulinho
Da Costa (percussion), Tommy Vig (percussion), Mark Stein (vocals, from
Vanilla Fudge), Richard Greene (violin). The album was produced by Tom
Dowd. It's a superb album; it's difficult for me saying my favourite songs,
but I think it's interesting noting the Supremes cover, 'You keep me
hangin' on' that was already covered by drummer Carmine Appice in his
legendary band Vanilla Fudge many years ago.
John Jarvis leaves the band sometime during 1978:
Sessions for a new album took longer than expected,
and a European tour (a Spanish concert was scheduled for November 2, 1978)
was postponed. The working title for the album was Boys will be boys.
The album is finally released in December 1978, with a new title: Blondes
have more fun. It features Rod's band, plus Fred Tackett (guitar),
Gary Herbig (flute), Tom Scott (horns), Phil Kenzie (sax), Steve Madaio
(trumpet), Duane Hitchings (keyboards), Nicky Hopkins (keyboards), Mike
Finnigan (keyboards), Roger Bethelmy (drums), Paulinho Da Costa (percussion),
Max Gronenthal (backing vocals).
The band is augmented by two more members in November
1978:
Rod and his band played in a UNICEF benefit gala in
January 1979. I remember watching it, and feeling amazed by them (especially
by mighty Carmine Appice). Other acts appearing there were Bee Gees, Olivia
Newton John, Earth Wind & Fire, Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge
(Jim worked with Rita many years later, as we can read in the sessions
page).
Foolish behaviour features Tim Bogert
(bass, from Vanilla Fudge), Jimmy Haslip (bass), Roger Bethelmy (drums),
Colin Allen (drums), Tony Brock (drums), Jackie Lomax (vocals), Bill Lamb
(trombone), Jim Price (trombone), Earl Lon Price (sax), Lee Thornburg (trumpet),
Sid Page (violin), Paulinho Da Costa (percussion) and Susan Grindell (vocals).
In January 1981, some of Rod mates (Grainger, Peek,
Chen and Kenzie) leave the band, but in April 1981, Rod has new replacements:
They played a tour from November 1981 to February
1982. But Danny Johnson soon left, being followed by Carmine Appice, who
leaves while the new album was being finished. Tonight I'm yours
was a big success. It features Rod's old band, plus some of the new replacements.
The album also features some fantastic guests: Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter (guitar),
Duane Hitchings (keyboards), Byron Berline (violin), Paulinho Da Costa
(percussion), Tommy Vig (percussion), Linda Lewis (backing vocals). The
album was co-produced by Rod Stewart & Jim Cregan. This was the new
band:
The live lineup is augmented by Wally Stocker as additional
guitarist for the recording of a live video:
The video is Tonight he's yours - Live at the
L.A. Forum, and it was released some time later (1981, I think).
The video also features a guest appearance by Tina Turner.
Next album was a live one, called Absolutely
live. Recorded with this lineup:
Originally a 2LP, it's a pity the CD edition was abridged
to a 1CD, lacking a couple of tracks ('The great pretender' and
'Guess I'll always love you'). It features guest appearances by
Kim Carnes and Tina Turner
Body wishes was first album to be
played without guests, except for Tommy Vig on percussion.
In 1983, the additional guitarist was John Corey.
If I'm not wrong, that was the lineup I saw in my
concert. They were promoting the single 'Baby Jane' at that time.
Camouflage features Rod's usual band,
along with Jeff Beck (guitar), Michael Landau (guitar), Michael Omartian
(keyboards, also producer), Chuck Findley (horns), Gary Grant (horns),
Gary Herbig (sax, flute), Jerry Hey (horns), Kim Hutchcroft (horns), Charles
Loper (horns). The album contains a rendition of Free's classic, 'All
right now'. The album marked the reunion of Rod and Jeff Beck after
the sour separation of the original Jeff Beck Group in the late 60s. It
was a happy meeting, and plans were made for a joint tour in Summer 1984:
But after 8 concerts, Beck and Stewart started having
problems again, and Jeff Beck left. They carried on without him:
Next album, Every beat of my heart (it
was simply called Rod Stewart in America), was recorded with
Cregan, Lemesurier, Corey, Davis, Savigar, Brock, plus many guests: Steve
Cropper (guitar), the magnificent Nils Lofgren (guitar), Gene Black (guitar),
Scott Edwards (bass), Patrick O'Hearn (bass, from Missing Persons), Nicky
Hopkins (keyboards), Bob Ezrin (keyboards, also producer), Paul Fox (keyboards),
Tom Scott (horns) and others.
In 1986, Rod assembles a new band:
This was the lineup in 1987:
Out of order features Jim Cregan (guitar),
Eddie Martinez (guitar), Andy Taylor (guitar), David Lindley (guitar),
Mike Landau (guitar), Bernard Edwards (bass), Bob Glaub (bass), Kevin Savigar
(keyboards), Duane Hitchings (keyboards), Billy Payne (keyboards), William
Smith (keyboards), Lenny Pickett (sax), Jimmy Roberts (sax), David Woodford
(sax), Bobbye Hall (percussion), Tony Brock (drums), Tony Thompson (drums).
But after that, Jim Cregan (also Robin LeMesurier)
sadly parted ways with Rod Stewart. They were such a great team!!
Click
for short, additional info on bandmates:
Gary
Grainger
Billy
Peek
John
Jarvis
Kevin
Savigar
Phil
Kenzie
Jay
Davis
Jimmy
Zavala
Wally
Stocker
John
Corey
Nick
Lane
Lee
Thornburg
Charlie
Harrison
Jimmy
Roberts
Michael
Cichowicz
Andy
Taylor
Bernard
Edwards
Someday,
these musicians will be fully covered here:
Phil
Chen
Carmine
Appice
Robin
LeMesurier
Danny
Johnson
Tony
Brock
Someday,
these musicians will have a short tribute here:
Rod
Stewart
Jeff
Beck
JENNIFER RUSH BAND
In 1987, Jim Cregan embarks in a world tour
with singer Jennifer Rush, promoting her album Heart over mind
(Jim doesn't play on it; you can check my pages on Tim Renwick sessions
page for details on this album).
And after this tour, Jim Cregan retires from life
on the road.
Click
for short, additional info on bandmates:
Jennifer
Rush
Jimmy
Earl
Peter
Beckett
Mike
Simmonds
Bobby
Stern
Gerry
Brown
Myriam
Valle
Shirley
Lewis
Steve
Stern
And then?
Jim kept on playing on sessions, as well as
producing more and more albums. But I don't know if he formed any other
band. Help!
ROD STEWART BAND (again)
Great news! Rod Stewart is offered to play an
unplugged set for MTV in February 1993. He uses part of his current band,
but he also calls some of his old friends, such as Jim Cregan or Ronnie
Wood.
Next Rod Stewart album, Spanner in the works
also features Jim Cregan, plus Robin LeMesurier (guitar), Jeff Golub (guitar),
David Johnstone (guitar), Andy Taylor (guitar), Lol Creme (guitar), Mike
Landau (guitar), Jim Pierce (guitar), Guy Pratt (bass), Carmine Rojas (bass),
Bernard Edwards (bass), Trevor Horn (bass, backing vocals), Steve Lipson
(bass), Billy Preston (keyboards), James Newton Howard (keyboards), Anne
Dudley (keyboards, arrangements), Kevin Savigar (keyboards), Donal Lunny
(bouzouki), David Lindley (bouzouki), Roddy Lorimer (horns), Lenny Pickett
(horns), Tim Sanders (horns), Neil Sidwell (horns), Paulinho Da Costa (percussion),
Frank Ricotti (percussion), Kenny Aaronoff (drums), Paul Robinson (drums),
David Palmer (drums), etc.
There's also a 4CD boxset by Rod, called Storyteller.
Of course, Jim Cregan appears in many tracks there.
Click
for short, additional info on bandmates:
Jeff
Golub
Phil
Parlapiano
Don
Teschner
Carmine
Rojas
Kevin
Savigar
Chuck
Kentis
Fred
White
Dorian
Holley
Darryl
Phinnessee
Someday,
these musicians will have a short tribute here:
Rod
Stewart
Ronnie
Wood
FARM DOGS
And this is Jim's current project. It was formed
in January 1995 by Bernie Taupin, who called some of his friends, asking
them to form a band.
Their debut album was the beautiful Last stand
in open country. Featuring guest appearances by old friends Bob
Glaub (bass), Ray Cooper (percussion), and Tony Brock (drums).
Some time later, Dennis Tufano leaves, and Tony
Brock joins full time, as well as good bassist Tad Wadhams:
Their second album is Immigrant sons,
featuring contributions by Billy Payne on keyboards.
Click
for short, additional info on bandmates:
Bernie
Taupin
Dennis
Tufano
Tad
Wadhams
Tony
Brock
Someday,
these musicians will be fully covered here:
Robin
LeMesurier
Questions to solve:
1. I have a Spanish magazine from September 1988,
where it's said that Jim Cregan is planning to rejoin Steve Harley Band.
Was that true?
2. It's said he has worked with Pink Floyd, Gypsy
Kings and Van Morrison. CHECK
3. More productions by him: Jump in the Water (MCA,
songs on Nothing else will do), Quireboys, Rick Parker (Geffen).
4. I also need to include the albums where his
songs are featured. For example, several albums by old mate Roger Chapman
(Kiss my soul and Turn stoned?), as well as songs for Neville Brothers
(on Mitakuye Oyasin Oyasin, on All my relations) or Billy Valentine. More:
Millie Jackson (Live & Uncensored), Gary Tesca (on The Rod Stewart
story).
5. I have Steve Harley's "Live & Unleashed!",
but the sound quality is not too good. Is it maybe a bootleg? The album
doesn't have any kind of credit or date.
6. Did Jim play in Patricia Paay's 1st album, "Beam
of light"? It was produced by Steve Harley in 1975, so it's possible that
Jim would play there.
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