Back Door
The Impulse Session
For the first time on vinyl these previously unreleased sessions by the british jazz rock band. Recorded live at the Impulse studios prior to their 1972 debut album on Blackey/Warner. With liner notes by bassist Colin Hodgkinson. Colin Hodgkinson first met Ron Aspery whilst the two were playing in Eric Delaney's Showband. The two began to talk about forming their own band around 1969, and eventually Back Door came to fruition in 1971, with Tony Hicks joining on drums. Hodgkinson made an innovative use of the electric bass, making it a lead instrument. Their unique brand of jazz-rock was a hit at their regular venue: the Lion Inn on Blakey Ridge, Yorkshire. However, record labels were not keen and the band were repeatedly told "No singer, no contract". But the band's popularity increased in the end when they were asked to play a two-week stint at Ronnie Scott's club in London, opening for Chick Corea. The record companies changed their tune, and after receiving many offers, the trio decided to sign with Warner Brothers. The band even rejected an offer from Richard Branson (who was just starting up Virgin Records at the time).