Wally - To The Urban Man – New Double Live Album of 2010 Concert
1970’s progrock legends WALLY, protégés of Rick Wakeman and Bob Harris, previously signed to Atlantic records, reformed after a gap of 36 years in 2009 and are releasing their 4rd album titled ‘To The Urban Man’ a live double album of their 2010 concert recorded before a capacity audience of a thousand loyal fans in their home town at Harrogate Royal Hall.
WALLY had two successful albums on Atlantic records titled ‘Wally (1974)’ and ‘Valley Gardens (1975)’ both produced by Bob Harris and Rick Wakeman and with a string of singles including ‘The Martyr’, ‘I Just Wanna Be A Cowboy’ and the amazing ‘Nez Perce’ with guest Madeline Bell on backing vocals, which was a Johnnie Walker record of the week on Radio One, along with appearances on The Old Grey Whistle Test. They released a stunning and highly successful new studio album Montpellier in 2009, produced by Will Jackson (Kaiser Chiefs, Pigeon Detectives).
The Montpellier album was recorded in Leeds at the Soundworks Studio, home studio of Leeds bands The Pigeon Detectives and the Kaiser Chiefs, and introduces new tracks written by Wally, who are Paul Middleton (Pedal Steel and Bass), Pete Sage (Violin), Roger Narraway (Drums), NickGlennie-Smith (Keyboards), Roy Webber (Lead Vocals) and new members Will Jackson (Guitar) and Frank Mizen (Pedal Steel and Bass).
The band reformed in the spring of 2009 for a one off concert, tragically the original guitarist Pete Cosker died in 1991 from illnesses linked to a combination of drink and drugs and just as the band were preparing to come together the original keyboard player Paul Gerrett died in his sleep on a beach in Thailand where he owned a popular bar. His popularity as a person had not waned over the years and he was given a traditional Buddhist funeral by his close friends and family.
With the remaining five members comes a new member Frank Mizen who plays a multitude of instruments including pedal steel, banjo and bass along with another new member Will Jackson on lead guitar.
Over the years the band members have been involved in many projects the most notable being keyboard player Nick Glennie-Smith who has seen great success as a film score writer in Hollywood writing the scores for films such as Man in the Iron Mask and The Rock and is currently writing the score for a new Disney movie for release in 2011.
WALLY are holding the 2011 concerts at Harrogate Theatre, hosted by Radio 2 DJ, and host of the Old Grey Whistle Test, Bob Harris, who was also co producer of their original albums titled, WALLY and Valley Gardens, along with co -producer Rick Wakeman.
The double live album To The Urban Man captures Wally at their best, live on stage and performing their classics Nez Perce, The Martyr and Your Own Way along with the epic title track To The Urban Man.
It is hoped the album will be released in October in the meantime you can find more information about Wally at the bands website here :
http://www.wallymusic.co.uk/
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