TONY ASHTON & JON LORD
''FIRST OF THE BIG BANDS''
APRIL 1974
36:55
1 We're Gonna Make It 03:55
2 Downside Upside Down 03:58
3 Band Of The Salvation Army Band 03:54
4 Silly Boy 03:23
5 Surrender Me/Tony Ashton 03:48
6 Celebration 04:24
7 I Been Lonely/Tony Ashton 03:49
8 Shut Up 03:34
9 Ballad Of Mr. Giver 06:07
Tracks By Tony Ashton, Jon Lord, Except As Indicated
Tony Ashton - Hammond organ, piano, vocals
Jon Lord - Hammond organ, piano
Carmine Appice - Drums
Terry Cox - Drums
Ian Paice - Drums
Frank Ricotti - Percussion, vibraphone
Jim Cregan - Guitar
Jerry Donahue - Guitar
Peter Frampton - Guitar
Pat Donaldson - Bass guitar
Dave Caswell - Trumpet
Mike Davis - Trumpet
John Mumford - Trombone
Dick Parry - Saxophone
Howie Casey - Saxophone
Madeline Bell - Backup vocals
Tony Ferguson - Backup vocals
Jimmy Helms - Backup vocals
Kenny Rowe - Backup vocals
Graham White - Backup vocals
Jo Ann Williams - Backup vocals
Roger Willis - Backup vocals
ABOUT THE ALBUM
By Wikipedia
First of the Big Bands is a studio album by Tony Ashton of Ashton, Gardner and Dyke and Jon Lord of Deep Purple, released in April 1974 by Purple Records in the UK and Europe and Warner Bros. Records in the US. The project was Ashton's and Lord's brainchild and continuation of their working relationship after Ashton Gardner & Dyke helped out on Jon Lord's soundtrack album The Last Rebel from 1971. Stylistically, First of the Big Bands was the precursor to Paice Ashton Lord's Malice in Wonderland album from 1977.
First of the Big Bands resulted in just two live performances, one of which was for the BBC. This was issued in 1993 as First of the Big Bands - BBC Live in Concert 1974.
In November 2010 a remastered edition of the album was released by Purple Records. It contains two bonus tracks – the single b-side "Sloeback" and an alternative version of "Down Side Upside Down".
ABOUT TONY ASHTON
1946 - 2001
Tony Ashton passed away peacefully on Monday, 28th May, 2001 at his home. His wife Sandra and daughter Indira were at his side.
Shortly before passing away Tony sent this message:
''Dear everyone,
Thanks for all the messages and enquiries - recent tests show the cancer has spread and I've decided to refuse further treatment and come home. So - thanks to all, have a drink for me - cheers and bollox
- Tony Ashton.''
This special commemorates Tony Ashton's unique talents, with particular focus on his connections to Deep Purple. Walid Itayim runs an excellent Tony Ashton web site with more details on the man in general. May his memory live with us forever.
Tony Ashton first entered Deep Purple history when his band Ashton, Gardener & Dyke supported Deep Purple in the early 1970s. He became friends with Jon Lord and they teamed up for the "First Of The Big Bands" album from 1974. This project was launched with a gig at London's Paladium the same year and the BBC taped a special live appearance at Golders Green Hippodrome in London. The album of this show, titled "First Of The Big Bands, BBC Live In Concert 1974", is a tour-de-force groovy, rhythm & blues, boogie piano and Hammond organ, big band fest. Nothing less!
Tony Ashton appeared on several of Jon Lord's solo albums - "Gemini Suite", "Windows" and "Before I Forget". Together they also composed the soundtrack for "The Last Rebel" movie in 1971. Tony also contributed to Roger Glover's "Butterfly Ball" project and Eddie Hardin's "Wizards Convention" album. Please visit the Tony Ashton website for a comprehensive discography of his work.
Tony Ashton's most prominent role in the history of Deep Purple came when he got together with Jon Lord and Ian Paice in 1976 for the excellent but short-lived Paice Ashton Lord project.
Their only album "Malice In Wonderland" is a classic in its own right, showing off not just Jon Lord and Ian Paice at their very best, but in particular Tony Ashton and his peculiar and unique style of singing. The album is a powerful and diverse showcase of the band's special and elaborate twin-keyboard musical style. Sadly, touring activities were confined to a few shows in the UK and efforts to put together a second album were aborted. A few surviving tracks have finally seen the light of day as bonus tracks on a recent re-issue of "Malice In Wonderland" on Purple Records.
This special is best enjoyed with a pint and a loud Tony Ashton CD. He would have loved it that way.
WEBSITE
