Artist: Natural Gas
Title: Natural Gas
Release Date: Available Now
Label: It's About Music
Format(s): CD

The only album released by Natural Gas, their self titled LP from 1975, has been completely remastered and recently issued on It's About Time Music. Members of the group at the time were Joey Molland (Badfinger), Jerry Shirley (Humble Pie), Peter Wood (Quiver) and Mark Clarke (Uriah Heep and Colosseum).

Joe Molland talked about the group's history in a press release for the album:

"I went to this place called Blakes in London, which was a hangout for rockers," recalls Joey Molland. "It was a cool little place. One night I saw a friend of mine there named Mark Clarke; a bass player from Liverpool who'd played with Uriah Heep and Colosseum. We were just talking and having a laugh and I asked him, 'What are you doing?' He said, 'I'm going up to Jerry Shirley's this weekend. I'm going to stay there and we'll probably have a jam - why don't you come with us.' I didn't really know Jerry, but I thought it would be cool. So Mark calls him and Jerry says. 'Come on up.' We go on up to Jerry Shirley's house - he had a lovely little farmhouse outside of London. We found out that day that he had just left Humble Pie. Later on that night we had a jam; I think it was Clem Clemson, Jerry, Mark, myself and there may have been one or two others.

We had a lot of fun, just playing rock 'n' roll songs and blues songs. The next morning Mark, Jerry and myself decided to put a band together. We thought, 'Why not. But do we have any songs?' I had a couple of songs, which I played to them. One was called Once Again A Love Song and the other was called Dark Cloud. Likewise, Mike had a couple songs. We also got a keyboardist, a guy named Dave Kafinetti from the band Rare Bird. He went on to be the keyboard player in 'Spinal Tap'. What a knockout guy!" Kafinetti was replaced before the recording of the album by Peter Wood who co-wrote Year of the Cat with Al Stewart.

The Natural Gas album was recorded at Crystal Studios in Los Angeles and produced by legendary Mountain member Felix Papalardi. "Felix was really nice," says Joey, "a real sociable guy and talented fellow. As far as a producer went, we really wanted Mal Evans to do it. But the label wanted Felix Papalardi, the bass player from Mountain who'd done Cream and all that - the label wanted him to do it. Apparently Felix wanted to do the project as well, so that was that. I think Mal was pretty disappointed actually."

And what about a name for the new super group? "I think Jerry Shirley came up with the name 'Natural Gas' - he was very into it. I never really suggested names for bands - I'm not really good at it. At the time in 1975 natural gas was very much in favor; it was the new clean burning fuel being more and more used. So it seemed like a good idea, and I guess it's a cool name. It did suggest energy, which was what we were all about. The philosophy of the band was to rock out, you know what I mean…just have a really good time doing it."

The LP was released to critical praise from the music press worldwide. Natural Gas would support the album release with a major tour opening for Peter Frampton on his 'Frampton Comes Alive' world tour. "Jerry Shirley had played with Peter Frampton in Humble Pie and so they were obviously close," Joey recalls. "I'd known Peter myself kind of at arms length since he was with the Herd all those years before. So on and off we'd cross each other's paths. I think Jerry had been working with an agent who'd worked with Humble Pie - Frank Barcelona of Premier talent. He got in touch with them to see if they'd be interested in booking Natural Gas. They were at that time putting the 'Frampton Comes Alive' tour together. They were able to get us opening slots on a lot of the shows - they did us that great favor!"

Unfortunately, Natural Gas's debut album would became the band's only release. Joey Molland would soon return to the Badfinger fold, while Jerry Shirley would go on to work with Fastway and eventually return to Humble Pie. Mark Clarke would find work with Rainbow, Billy Squier and Leslie West, while Peter Wood, who passed away in 1993, would later work with Roger Waters and Bob Dylan. The 'Natural Gas' album sadly drifted into obscurity and eventually would become a much sought after collector's item. Now fans of Natural Gas can rejoice with the new re-mastered version of the album.

Track List:

• Little Darlin'
• Once Again, A Love Song
• You Can Do It
• I've Been Waitin'
• I Believe It's Love
• The Right Time
• Christmas Song
• Miracle Mile
• Dark Cloud
• St. Louis Blues