Anthology- 1970-1971

Rock Workshop’s self-titled 1970 debut album and 1971 follow up The Very Last Time re-issued. Audio from the album master tapes for the first time ever. Includes the first re-issue of the single versions of ‘You To Lose’ and ‘Born In The City’, also taken from the master tapes.

Rock Workshop’s debut album features legendary singer Alex Harvey as one’s of the band’s two lead vocalists alongside Alan Greed. Harvey sings lead on ‘Wade In The Water’ and ‘Hole In Her Stocking’ and also on alternate takes of album tracks ‘You To Lose’ and ‘Ice Cold’, single B side ‘Born In The City’ and originally unreleased track ‘Let My Bluebird Sing’.

This box includes several previously unreleased tracks including the instrumentals ‘People That’s Why’ and ‘Tokyo Drift’ and the excellent pre-first album demo taken from Ray Russell’s archive – ‘When Life Was Simple’ that along with ‘Soul Sisters’ and ‘Watch Your Step’ got the group signed to CBS.

Rock Workshop were formed by guitarist Ray Russell who’d replaced Vic Flick in The John Barry Seven, toured with Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames and led his own jazz group The Ray Russell Quartet.

Bringing jazz style improvisation to rock music, Rock Workshop pioneered an innovative and exciting jazz / funk / rock fusion. Band members include celebrated British Jazz musicians Harry Beckett (trumpet / flugelhorn), Bob Downes (tenor sax / flute), Tony Roberts (tenor sax / flute), Derek Wadsworth (trombone), Daryl Runswick (bass), Alan Rushton (drums) and Robin Jones (congas).

Notes by Mojo magazine’s Lois Wilson include a new interview with band leader and guitarist Ray Russell.