Road Games (EP)
Road Games is an EP by guitarist Allan Holdsworth, released in 1983 through Warner Bros. Records originally on vinyl only; a CD edition was reissued through Gnarly Geezer Records in 2001.
Holdsworth is joined on the album by former Cream vocalist Jack Bruce, his former Bruford bandmate, bassist Jeff Berlin, and then current Frank Zappa drummer Chad Wackerman. Former Juicy Lucy and Tempest frontman Paul Williams sings the title track.
Holdsworth claimed to have received no royalties from either release, naming it as one of his least favourite recordings due to numerous creative differences with executive producer Ted Templeman. Road Games nonetheless received a nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance at the 1984 Grammy Awards.
Critical reception
John W. Patterson at AllMusic awarded Road Games four stars out of five, describing it as "fusion-rock bliss" and Holdsworth's guitar work as "amazing". He also praised Chad Wackerman's "tastefully poised" drumming and Jeff Berlin's "killer" bass work.Personnel
- Allan Holdsworth – guitar, production
- Paul Williams – vocals
- Jack Bruce – vocals
- Chad Wackerman – drums
- Jeff Berlin – bass
- Joe Turano – backing vocals
- Paul Korda – backing vocals
- Jeremy Smith – engineering
- Jeff Silver – engineering
- Gary Skardina – engineering
- Robert Feist – engineering, mixing
- Mark Linett – mixing
- John Matousek – mastering
- Joan Parker – production coordination
- Ted Templeman – executive production
- Tom Voli – executive production
- Eddie Jobson – executive production