LIVE IN BELGIUM 1971:
1/ It's Gonna Be High Tonight, 2/ Let It Roll,
3/ Mister Freako, 4/ It's A Drag, I'm A Drag,
5/ I'm Dying For You, 6/ Resurrection Shuffle,
7/ Falling Song, 8/ Rolling Home,
9/ Billy & His Piano With.

BONUS LIVE TRACKS:
10/ Billy & His Piano With (different live version 1970), 11/ Rolling Home (diff live vsn 1970),
12/ Resurrection Shuffle (diff live vsn 1971).

Ashton, Gardner And Dyke emerged from the remnants of Liverpool group The Remo Four when their organist/vocalist Tony Ashton and drummer Roy Dyke teamed up with bassist Kim Gardner in early 1969. Their eponymous debut album was patchy, but adding a three piece brass section they relaunched themselves with 1970's "The Worst Of Ashton, Gardner & Dyke" and the accompanying 1971 single "Resurrection Shuffle", which reached no. 3 in the British charts, and brought them a legion of screaming fans and bookings on Top Of The Pops.

In 1971 they cut the music for a Western called "The Last Rebel" (now available on Purple Records) in conjunction with Deep Purple organist Jon Lord, and toured supporting Purple in the UK and Europe (Ashton also appeared on Jon Lord's first solo album "Gemini Suite", also available on Purple Records). Their music, which was all composed by Ashton, was a unique fusion of prog rock, R&B and jazz, very innovative and ahead of its time. Their last recording was the prophetically titled "What A Bloody Long Day It's Been" in 1972 after which they split up and Tony Ashton joined Family. No souvenir of Ashton, Gardner & Dyke's powerful stage act was ever issued.

A reel of tape which Ian Paice found in his loft turned out to be the only known live recording of the band's set, from a show in Belgium in 1971, and which forms the basis of this previously unissued CD (along with a couple of bonus live tracks from a radio show).

As well as a rousing version of "Resurrection Shuffle", the show highlights storming live versions of album tracks (including several lengthy improvisations) and features Ashton's unique vocals, while his humour is never far from the surface either. It's clear to see why Jon Lord and others so admired him as a musician and entertainer. Sadly Tony died on May 28th 2001 after losing his fight against cancer. Tony's wife Sandra said he'd enjoyed listening to the test copy of this collection, and asked for the release to proceed as a fitting tribute to his memory. He requested that the track I'm Dying For You be played at his memorial service. An article detailing Tony's long musical career is available.

The CD can be ordered from the dpas online store.

purple records catalogue