|
Natural
Gas Library |
compiled
by Tom Brennan
last
updated: June 01, 2025
Chronology of Natural Gas events:
May, 1975: Joey joins with Mark Clarke and Jerry Shirley in London.
August, 1975: The name of the group is set ("a natural gas"); rehearsals at Headley Grange, Hampshire; added keyboardist David Kaffinetti (Rare Bird); 4 demos are recorded in London which are rejected by A&M Records and others.
September, 1975: Peter Wood replaces David Kaffinetti.
Fall, 1975: Group relocates to the U.S.A.
November 28, 1975: Joey signs his release from Badfinger in order to sign with Natural Gas.
Early December, 1975: Mal Evans produces a few demos for Natural Gas.
Mid-Late December, 1975: Mal Evans asks for too much money and is rejected as producer for Natural Gas' first LP.
January 4, 1976: Mal Evans is killed by police at his girlfriend's apartment in L.A.
January, 1976: Natural Gas signs with Private Stock Records; Felix Pappalardi is hired as record producer by the suggestion of Private Stock's president.
February, 1976: Natural Gas' first LP is recorded in 17 days at Crystal Sound Recording in L.A. The group is not allowed to be present during mixing and complains about how the final mixes turn out.
Private Stock Has Natural Gas (photo with caption), Record World: April 10
May 29, 1976: Natural Gas' first LP is released on Private Stock Records; Jerry Shirley is asked by Peter Frampton if the band want to support him on his "Frampton Comes Alive" tour of the U.S.A.
June-August, 1976: Various reviews appear of Natural Gas' first LP.
Natural Gas - Light, Appealing by Robert Hilburn, LA Times: June 15
Natural Gas -- Old Pros Out to Get Known, Star News, Pasadena, CA: June 18
Van Nuys Valley News and Green Sheet: July 23
July-September, 1976: Natural Gas' tours the U.S.A. as an opening act playing a set that's typically 35 minutes long, with the occasional encore of the Beatles' "Birthday" for the Bicentennial of America. In August, they support "Yes' in the mid-west U.S.A.
"Natural Gas: A mixture of creative and fun music" by Lee Whitney from Los Angeles Daily Sundial, Oct. 08
November, 1976: Joey Molland records some demos in Los Angeles for a potential solo album which never happens. Because of various personal problems and after Mark, Jerry and Peter decide to base themselves in the New York area and Joey wants to stay in Los Angeles with manager Bill Cameron, the group decides to breakup.
"Badfinger has folded; Natural Gas has formed" from Salina Journal, Kansas, Nov. 14
January, 1977: At the end of the U.S. tour in September, tentative plans were made for a 2nd U.S. tour to take place during this month.
research by Dan Matovina and Ralph Chapman
Natural Gas is:
Mark Clarke (Colosseum, Uriah Heep): bass and vocals
Joey Molland (Gary Walker & The Rain, Badfinger): guitar and vocals
Jerry Shirley (Humble Pie): drums
Peter Wood (The Spectrum, Sutherland Brothers and Quiver a.k.a. SBQ): keyboards.
Natural Gas demo recordings (Headley Grange, Summer 1975) :
Once Again (A Love Song) [demo] (Joey Molland)
Dark Cloud [demo] (Joey Molland)
The Right Time [demo] (Mark Clarke)
St. Louis Blues [demo] (Mark Clarke)
Natural Gas demo recordings (Los Angeles with Mal Evans, Fall 1975) :
Little Darlin' [demo] (Joey & Kathie Molland) [2:59]
The Right Time [demo] (Mark Clarke) [3:09]
Christmas Song [demo] (Joey Molland) [4:37]
Catalog #: Private Stock Records PS 2011, released: May 29, 1976 (U.S.)
Catalog #: Private Stock Records PVLP 1007, released: 1976 (U.K.)
Catalog #: Private Stock Records 062-97884, released: 1976 (Germany)
Catalog #: Private Stock Records EMS-80545, released: 1976 (Japan)
press kit | promo photo | group bio page 1
Little Darlin' (Joey & Kathie Molland) [3:09]; vocals: Joey & Mark
Once Again (A Love Song) (Joey Molland) [3:58]; vocals: Joey & Mark
You Can Do It (Peter Wood & Mark Clarke) [2:56]; vocals: Mark & Felix
I've Been Waitin' (Joey Molland) [3:18]; vocals: Joey & Mark
I Believe It's Love (Jerry Shirley & Joey Molland) [4:06]; vocal: Mark
The Right Time (Mark Clarke) [3:49]; vocals: Mark & Joey
Christmas Song (Joey Molland) [5:01]; vocals: Joey & Mark
Miracle Mile (Mark Clarke) [2:43]; vocals: Joey & Mark
Dark Cloud (Joey Molland) [3:02]; vocals: Joey & Mark
St. Louis Blues (Mark Clarke) [3:32]; vocal: Mark
produced by:
Felix Pappalardi (Mountain & Cream)
photography by:
David Alexander
dedicated to:
Mal Evans
Catalog #: Private Stock Records PSS 1 (promo EP), released 13 August 1976 (U.K.) [ PS back | Side 1 label | Side 2 label ]
SIDE A: The Right Time / I Believe It's Love
SIDE B: You Can Do It / I've Been Waitin'
Catalog #: Private Stock Records PVT 71 (promo), released 27 August 1976 (U.K.) [ sleeve | Side 1 label | Side 2 label ]
Catalog #: Private Stock Records PVT 71, released 27 August 1976 (U.K.)
SIDE A: The Right Time (3:47)
SIDE B: Miracle Mile (2:43)
Catalog #: Private Stock Records PS 45,100 (promo), released September 1976 (U.S.) [ sleeve | mono label | stereo label ]
The Right Time [mono] (3:47)
The Right Time [stereo] (3:47)
Catalog #: Private Stock Records PS 45,100, released September 1976 (U.S.) [ sleeve | Side 1 label | Side 2 label ]
Catalog #: Private Stock Records PSR 45100X, released September 1976 (Canada) [ Side 1 label | Side 2 label ]
Catalog #: Private Stock Records PVT-11235 (promo), released 13 September 1976 (Australia) [ Side 1 label | Side 2 label ]
Catalog #: Private Stock Records EMR-20084 (promo), released 20 September 1976 (Japan) [ PS front | Side 1 label | Side 2 label ]
SIDE A: The Right Time (3:47)
SIDE B: Dark Cloud (2:59)
Catalog #: Private Stock Records PSR 45,116 (promo), released October 1976 (U.S.) [ sleeve | mono label | stereo label ]
Once Again, A Love Song [mono] (3:55)
Once Again, A Love Song [stereo] (3:55)
Catalog #: Private Stock Records PSR 45,116, released October 1976 (U.S.) [ Side 1 label | Side 2 label ]
Catalog #: Private Stock Records 8E 006 98582 G, released October 1976 (Portugal)
SIDE A: Once Again, A Love Song (3:55)
SIDE B: You Can Do It (2:55)
Natural Gas CD released: June 16, 2009 [Renaissance press release]
Label: Renaissance Records (USA)
Item Number: RNS801732
CD Track listing:
1. Little Darlin'
2. Once Again, A Love Song
3. You Can Do It
4. I've Been Waitin'
5. I Believe It's Love
6. The Right Time
7. Christmas Song
8. Miracle Mile
9. Dark Cloud
10. St. Louis Blues
Bonus Tracks
11. Christmas Song [rehearsal]
12. Little Darlin' [demo]
13. Christmas Song [demo]
CD Review by Tom Brennan (11/14/2009):
This CD release is way overdue, but is unfortunately a major disappointment. The sound on the original LP had a lot of depth but the sound on this CD release is compressed, flat, tinny and lifeless. Whoever remastered this made a very big mistake and ruined what is a very enjoyable album by making it unlistenable. After hearing this CD for the first time, I immediately went running for the CD rip I made of the original LP. The addition of the demos was a nice gesture, but it would have been nice to have all of them or at least more of them. I don't understand the decision to include a 3rd version of "The Christmas Song" (the rehearsal/soundcheck version) rather than including the demo of "The Right Time". Who wants to listen to the same song 3 times on the same disc every time you play the CD? The packaging is as equally disappointing as the sound quality of the music. The original LP cover had a shiny, silver colored logo on the front, but for the CD, it looks like someone tried to scan it and it came out so dark that you can hardly read it. The back cover is too dark also. The overall impression I get from looking at this CD is that very little money and effort was put into its production. The artwork looks like all of it was scanned from the original LP cover and scaled down to CD size, rendering most of the lyrics and back cover listings on the booklet virtually unreadable without a microscope! Bottom line for this CD reissue is avoid it all costs and seek out a copy of the original LP if you want to hear this music with any bass... and hope the album gets remastered the right way sometime in the near future.
CD remaster (11/16/2010):
The remastering of the CD has been corrected and sounds much better, however, the bonus tracks have been dropped from the 2010 remastered edition of the CD. Also, this is still a cleaned-up needledrop.
Catalog #: AIRAC-1602, Natural Gas mini-LP CD, released 18 November 2010 (Japan) [ front cover ]
Catalog #: Gonzo Multimedia HST465CD, released 27 April 2018 (U.K.)
Natural Gas CD released: June 6, 2025
Label: Iconoclassic (USA)
Item Number: ICON 1085
CD Track listing:
1. Little Darlin'
2. Once Again, A Love Song
3. You Can Do It
4. I've Been Waitin'
5. I Believe It's Love
6. The Right Time
7. Christmas Song
8. Miracle Mile
9. Dark Cloud
10. St. Louis Blues
Bonus Tracks
11. Little Darlin' [demo]
12. Christmas Song [demo]
Soundboard concert recording - Live at the Dome in Grand Rapids, MI, August 14:
13. Little Darlin' [Live]
14. Dark Cloud [Live]
15. You Can Do It [Live]
16. Christmas Song [Live]
17. Miracle Mile [Live]
18. St. Louis Blues [Live]
19. The Right Time/group member introductions [Live]
20. Birthday [Live]
CD Review by Tom Brennan (5/25/2025):
This CD release is way overdue, and is the ultimate release of this album. This is the first reissue that uses the original master tapes, thanks to the persistent efforts of Jeremy Holiday, and the sound is excellent throughout. The demos and the live soundboard recording (thanks to a cassette from the collection of superfan Drew Caldwell, digitally transferred by Tom Brennan) has also been meticulously cleaned up. The only disappointment is that the demo of the "The Right TIme" couldn't fit on the CD. The packaging is also top notch with loads of photos, lyrics, memorabilia and a superb history of the group written by Ralph Chapman, using new interviews with original members Mark Clarke and Jerry Shirley.
Live recordings:
The Christmas Song [unknown soundcheck (Grand Rapids?)] (4:49)
Colt Park, Hartford, CT, July 1, 1976
Wolman Rink, New York City, NY, July 2, 1976
Municipal Auditorium, Mobile, AL, July 3, 1976
Speedway, Nashville, TN, July 4, 1976
Ford Auditorium, Detroit, MI, July 8, 1976
Rich Stadium, Buffalo, NY, July 10, 1976
Luis Trotto: "They played the songs off their LP with the
exception of 'Christmas Song' and 'Once Again (A Love Song)' (the two slow songs).
I remember Joey jumping and running around as he played, quite different
than Badfinger. As an encore for the Bicentennial, they played the
Beatles' 'Birthday' and messed it up a little."
Electric Ballroom, Atlanta, GA, July 16, 1976
Electric Ballroom, Atlanta, GA, July 17, 1976
Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, MO, July 23, 1976
Royal Stadium, Kansas City, MO, July 24, 1976
Fairgrounds, Tulsa, OK, July 25, 1976
Colisseum, Jackson, MS, July 27, 1976
Civic Center, Dawson, AL, July 29, 1976
Warehouse, New Orleans, LA, July 31, 1976
Springfield, MA, August 6, 1976
Cape Cod, MA, August 7, 1976
Cape Cod, MA, August 8, 1976 [encore of Birthday in at least one performance]
Gardens, Louisville, KY, August 12, 1976
Grand Valley State College, Grand Rapids, MI, August 14, 1976 (opening for Peter Frampton)
I've Been Waitin' (incomplete) {Joey Molland} [1:09]
Little Darlin' {Joey & Kathie Molland} [3:32]
Dark Cloud {Joey Molland) [2:59]
You Can Do It {Peter Wood & Mark Clarke} [4:30]
Christmas Song {Joey Molland) [5:08]
Miracle Mile {Mark Clarke) [3:19]
St. Louis Blues {Mark Clarke) [4:51]
The Right Time {Mark Clarke) [6:57]
band introductions [0:55]
encore:
Birthday {John Lennon & Paul McCartney} [3:46]
Sportsman Park, Stickney, IL, August 15, 1976
Arena, Milwaukee, WI, August 16, 1976 (opening for Yes)
Cobo Hall, Detroit, MI, August 17, 1976 (opening for Yes)
Cobo Hall, Detroit, MI, August 18, 1976 (opening for Yes)
Cobo Hall, Detroit, MI, August 19, 1976 (opening for Yes)
Live From The Vault (Gonzo HST467CD, released 14 September 2018 (U.S.)/20 September 2018 (U.K.):
I've Been Waitin'
Little Darlin'
Dark Cloud
You Can Do It
Miracle Mile
St. Louis Blues
The Right Time
Sports Arena, Toledo, OH, August 20, 1976 (opening for Yes)
Coliseum, Richfield, OH, August 21, 1976 (opening for Yes)
Little Darlin' {Joey & Kathie Molland} [3:09]
encore:
Birthday {John Lennon & Paul McCartney} [2:37]
interviews in dressing room conducted during the beginning of the Yes concert [34:22]
Coliseum, Fort Wayne, IN, August 22, 1976 (opening for Yes)
Wichita, KS, August 27, 1976
Civic Auditorium, Omaha, NE, August 28, 1976
_________ Stadium, Denver, CO, August 29, 1976
Palace, Salt Lake City, UT, August 30, 1976
I've Been Waitin' (incomplete) {Joey Molland} [2:36]
Little Darlin' {Joey & Kathie Molland} [3:25]
Dark Cloud {Joey Molland) [3:09]
You Can Do It {Peter Wood & Mark Clarke} [4:54]
Miracle Mile {Mark Clarke) [2:59]
The Right Time {Mark Clarke) [6:45]
outro [0:40]
UT, September 6, 1976
portraits by:
Kosh
Joey Molland Library
other solo Badfinger pages:
Pete Ham Tom Evans Mike Gibbins Bob Jackson Ron Griffiths The Dodgers
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