Weighin’ Heavy
This MP3 version of their first single, “Ten Pound Note” (J. Telfer) was the perfect song to record for STEEL RIVER (originally named ‘Toronto Shotgun’); an R&B oriented band managed by a Toronto school teacher Bob Beames and Cleveland’s Mike Belkin & Carl Maduri. It became an instant smash on Greg’s Tuesday Records label and, together with Stereo Dimension Records in the States, quickly followed up with Steel River’s first album WEIGHIN’ HEAVY and their 2nd single “Walk By The River”.
Still living in Scarborough, Ontario, band members Bob Forrester (keyboards), Rob Cockell (bass), Tony Dunning (lead Guitar) Ray Angrove (drums) and with lead singer John Dudgeon wrote most of the material on their first and second album: A Better Road.
For over 40 years, it was assumed that the original tapes were lost until a recent inventory of Greg’s multi-track analog master tapes rescued them from basement storage. They were transferred to digital and re-mixed to their full sound quality.
Booked through the William Morris Agency, STEEL RIVER became an international touring success and performed on three major American tours with Humble Pie, Black Sabbath, The James Gang, Melanie, Steppenwolf, Three Dog Night, Edgar Winters, Mountain, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, etc. In the 70’s, STEEL RIVER appeared on Beggar’s Banquet and Winter Pop Concerts at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens and played the Capitol Theatre, NY; Cincinnati Gardens; Toledo Horse Palace; Memphis Amphitheatre; Unganos, NY; Pacific National Exhibition, etc.
Drums: Ray Angrove
Bass: Rob Cockell
Lead Vocals: John Dudgeon
Lead Guitar: Tony Dunning
Organ & Piano: Robert Forrester
Cover Photography: Graham Purvis
All songs published by Belsize Park Music
Production & Sound: Greg Hambleton
Recorded in 1970 at Sound Canada Remix: 2014
ⓟ & © 2014 Greg Hambleton
Axe Records DL-A536
CD and more info: Weighin’ Heavy