The Band Plays On


The Band Plays On is the debut album from Back Street Crawler, fronted by ex-Free guitarist Paul Kossoff. Keyboard player Mike Montgomery composed six songs and co-wrote two others on the album, in addition to singing lead vocals on "All the Girls Are Crazy" and "Survivor". He dueted with Terry Wilson-Slesser on "New York, New York". Montgomery subsequently left the band and was replaced by John "Rabbit" Bundrick.
The Mike Montgomery songs, "Jason Blue" and "It's a Long Way Down to the Top", had previously appeared on a self-titled 1973 album by Bloontz, in which Terry Wilson, Mike Montgomery and Tony Braunagel had played together prior to the formation of Back Street Crawler.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Mike Montgomery; except where indicated
  1. "Hoo Doo Woman" - 4:17
  2. "New York, New York" - 4:40
  3. "Stealing My Way" - 4:21
  4. "Survivor" - 3:35
  5. "It's a Long Way Down to the Top" - 5:58
  6. "All The Girls Are Crazy" - 3:33
  7. "Jason Blue" - 4:57
  8. "Train Song" - 4:36
  9. "Rock & Roll Junkie" - 3:17
  10. "The Band Plays On" - 5:02

Personnel

;Back Street Crawler
with:
  • Pete Van - baritone saxophone on "Jason Blue" & "Rock & Roll Junkie"
  • Eddie Quansah - trumpet, flugelhorn on "Jason Blue" & "Rock & Roll Junkie"
  • George Lee - flutes, tenor & soprano saxophones on "Jason Blue" & "Rock & Roll Junkie"

Production