The Roadrunners - Nightcrawlin'

The Roadrunners Biography

 

by AllMusic

In 1962 George Harrison, returning to Liverpool after a few days in London, told fellow musicians, ‘I’ve heard this great group in London, the Rolling Stones. They’re almost as good as the Roadrunners.’ The regional pride was justified. Inspired by Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf and taking their name from a Bo Diddley record, the Roadrunners was one of the few Merseyside groups to feature the blues. Their lead singer, Mike Hart, could hardly be bettered. The group also featured Dave Percy (guitar), John Peacock (keyboards), Pete Mackay (bass) and Dave Boyce (drums). They supported the Beatles on their last appearance at the Cavern in 1963. They recorded an album at the Star-Club in Hamburg and ‘Beautiful Delilah’ was a German hit single. Some recordings were made at a Rhythm & Blues Festival in Birmingham, but otherwise they missed out on success. The most collectable record is one they made in 1965 for University of Liverpool’s rag week, Pantomania. After Hart left and Mike Byrne joined, the group moved more towards Tamla- Motown music. Hart became part of the experimental Liverpool Scene and then wrote and recorded for John Peel’s Dandelion Records. He became a barman in Edinburgh and then worked in mental health. Dave Boyce has featured as an actor and musician in numerous plays and films.

The Roadrunners Nightcrawlin'

0:00 Big Ten Inch Record 3:04 Your Last Boogie 6:00 Good Rockin' Tonight 11:50 Up Jumped The Devil 16:40 Old Maid 20:13 Nightcrawler 24:18 It's Love Baby 28:31 One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer 34:05 Bingo 37:04 Every Day I Have The Blues 45:28 Pink Champagne

Vocals and percussion - Mello Mel Owens Guitar - Gary Bohannon Acoustic and electric bass - Bob Kommersmtith Drums - Andy Arrow Piano - Gino Hefner Saxophone - Dennis Taylor

Label: Appaloosa - AP139-2 Year: 1997