The Roadrunners

Tanz-Show im Star-Club 2 - second line-up

This album was shared with the Newcastle band Shorty & Them - hence the small number of tracks by us. It may still be available somewhere. Again, we have added a few comments.

Johnny Phillips has been mentioned several times on this site and, sadly, we've lost touch with him. We don't even have a half-way decent photo to record his contribution to the band.

The story goes that this young American had heard of the emerging Liverpool scene and decided to be a part of it. He took a boat across the Atlantic and, landing at Liverpool's Pier Head, asked for directions to the Cavern Club. Here he met the Roadrunners and asked to sit in on a session. We were pretty sceptical... until we heard him play. He and Nick Carver provided the horn section which gave us a new impetus when we returned to Hamburg for our second Star Club engagement. Johnny stayed on in Hamburg when the the band came home.

Click on any track to play, right-click to download as mp3.

Mary Ann

"Belting solo from Johnny Phillips" - Dave B

Have You Ever Had The Blues?

It's been suggested in certain quarters that Johnny's vocal talents didn't quite live up to his instrumental ones. We'll let history decide.

My Baby Left Me

Pete does the vocals on this one.

Hitchhike

Cry, Cry, Cry

Great flute work by Johnny (wonder if the Moody Blues heard this before they did Nights in White Satin?)

Got My Mojo Working

John Peacock lets rip on honky tonk piano while King Size Taylor appears on stage part way through and throws in a few guitar licks just for fun. "This was the number with which we always closed at Hope Hall, and Pete & I swing like shit house doors! I like the quirky way Mike anglicises the lyrics." - Dave B