{{Short description|Australian soul and R&B group}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{Use Australian English|date=September 2019}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Railroad Gin | image = | image_size = | image_upright = | landscape = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank --> | alt = | caption = | origin = Brisbane, Queensland, Australia | genre = {{hlist|Soul|R&B}} | years_active = 1968–1977 | label = [[Polydor Records|Polydor]] | website = <!-- {{URL|www.example.com}} or {{Official URL}} --> | current_members = | past_members = {{bulleted list|Phil Shields|Glen Rickwood|Dimitri Jansons|Danny Murphy|Geoffrey Fitzgibbon|John Hunter|Selwyn Wright|Trevor Fielding|Bob Brown|Peter Evans|Gary Evans|[[Carol Lloyd (Australian singer)|Carol Lloyd]]|Laurie Stone<!-- not the American writer -->|Judee Ford|Jim Dickson}} }}
'''Railroad Gin''' were an Australian soul and R&B group from [[Brisbane]], formed in 1968. In 1970 they were joined by Laurie Stone<!-- not the American writer --> on keyboards, vocals, saxophone and [[trombone]]. [[Carol Lloyd (Australian singer)|Carol Lloyd]] joined in 1970, becoming lead vocalist in September 1971.They released two albums on Polydor, ''A Matter of Time'' (1974) and ''Journey's End'' (1976), before disbanding in 1977. Australian musicologist, [[Ian McFarlane]], observed, "[they] made an impact with its sweaty, full-tilt gigs and a commercial blend of soul, brassy R&B; and percussion-driven hard rock." Founding member Shields died in May 2006. Lloyd died in February 2017 of [[Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis|interstitial pulmonary fibrosis]] and [[chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]], aged 68.
== History == ===1968–1971: early years=== {{More citations needed|section|date=May 2024}} Railroad Gin were formed in [[Brisbane]] in 1968 as a soul and R&B band.<ref name="McFarlane" /> The initial line up was Phil Shields and Glen Rickwood on guitars, Dimitri Jansons on bass, Geoff Fitzgibbon on vocals and flute and Danny Murphy on drums. Fitzgibbon was their original vocalist.<ref name="Kirby">{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2013/12/13/3911243.htm |title=RareCollections: Railroad Gin |first1=Jordie |last1=Kirby |first2=David |last2=Kilby |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] (ABC) |date=13 December 2013 |via=[[National Library of Australia]] |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20150724165557/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/145947/20150725-0002/www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2013/12/13/3911243.htm |archive-date=25 July 2015 |access-date=2 May 2024 }} '''n.b.''' This source has band forming in 1969</ref>
Railroad Gin started out as a self styled soul and blues covers band noted for their energetic, entertaining performances. Early material contained a range of RnB material (Otis Redding, [[Wilson Pickett]], Butterfield Blues Band, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, and later: Jethro Tull, Joe Cocker, Rare Earth, The Band, [[Savoy Brown]]). The band encouraged interaction with their audiences and sought to entertain, eschewing the trend at the time for tedious, extended soloing. A feature of their act was their finale for every gig - an explosive rendition of Try a Little Tenderness in the spirit of Otis Redding.
Co-founders were cousins Phil Shields and Glen Rickwood. The school age Shields and Rickwood got together musically in 1964 but it wasn't until 1968, post school, that they resolved to form their own soul and blues band. Bass player and high school friend of Rickwood, Dimitri Jansons was immediately added - his inclusion a given. Next came Danny Murphy on drums followed by vocalist Geoffrey Fitzgibbon, the first and only singer tried. Fitzgibbon suggested the name Railroad Gin. A period of woodshedding followed.
Railroad Gin's first public performance was in early 1969 at The Open Door, Turbot Street, Brisbane, a warehouse space reinvented as a "drop in" centre where the principal entertainment was live music and new bands were welcomed. A number of Friday night and Saturday morning gigs followed, improving the band, and giving them confidence to approach the new owners of Quentins (Harry Guerin and Dick Greenup)''.'' Quentins (Wickham Street opp Centenary Park), formerly the Red Orb, was the mecca of RnB in Brisbane and had spawned such bands as Thursday's Children, the Coloured Balls and Light. Harry and Dick offered the Gin a spot at an upcoming all nighter at which their set was well received. They went on to become regulars and Orb favourites, as well as carving a niche on the wider Brisbane scene.
Drummers came and went. Danny Murphy was replaced by John Hunter, who was replaced by Selwyn Wright (ex Parade), who was replaced by Trevor Fielding (ex Einstein's Theory). Laurie Stone (ex The Touch) who worked with Rickwood joined in 1970 adding keyboards, sax, trombone and vocals, heralding a period of expansion. Shields took up trumpet, Fitzgibbon flute, Peter Evans joined adding vocals, harmonica, flute and sax, Bob Brown joined as percussionist. Carol Lloyd who worked with Fitzgibbon was invited to add vocals, former drummer Selwyn Wright would sit in on bongos and congas and Paul Murphy (ex Thursday's Children, Light) would guest on vocals and harmonica. Numbers on stage could swell to a dozen and gigs took on the nature of musical "events".
Continuing in this fashion Railroad Gin grew in reputation around Brisbane and its regions, playing most major venues, but in 1971 departures would necessitate a rethink. Rickwood left in mid 1971 followed shortly afterwards by Fitzgibbon. Carol Lloyd stepped up to become the primary vocalist, and the band moved on to a new era and a revised musical direction, with Carol front and centre.
===1972–1977: later years=== By 1973 the line-up consisted of Gary Evans, Peter Evans, Jansons, Lloyd, Shields, Stone and Bob Brown. They were signed to Polydor Records and recorded their debut album, ''A Matter of Time'' (1974).<ref name="McFarlane">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop]]|last1=McFarlane|first1=Ian|publisher=[[Allen & Unwin]]|year=1999|isbn=1-86508-072-1|location=[[St Leonards, New South Wales|St Leonards, NSW]]|chapter=Encyclopedia entry for 'Railroad Gin'|author-link1=Ian McFarlane|chapter-url=http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=669|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040803170403/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=669|archive-date=3 August 2004}}</ref> Australian musicologist, [[Ian McFarlane]], described how it, "featured a mixture of Shocking Blue, Jethro Tull and Steely Dan elements with its hard guitar/flute-driven sound."<ref name="McFarlane" /> Its title track was issued as a single in June 1974, and reached No.1 on the local Brisbane charts.<ref name="McFarlane" /> It was co-written by Lloyd and Stone.<ref name="APRA Matter">{{cite web | publisher = [[Australasian Performing Right Association]] (APRA) | [[Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society]] (AMCOS) | title = 'Matter of Time' at APRA search engine | url = http://apraamcos.com.au/search?searchtype=works&keywords=matter+of+time | access-date = 8 September 2019 }} Note: For additional work user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' &/or 'Performer:'</ref> For the album, seven of nine tracks were written or co-written by Stone.<ref name="NLA Matter">{{citation | author1 = Railroad Gin | title = A Matter of Time | date = 1974 | publisher = Polydor | url = https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/228944848 | access-date = 8 September 2019 }}</ref> Gary Evans (no relation to Peter) replaced Trevor Fielding on drums.
Two highlights from this period were their concerts in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens which drew record crowds and a Rock Mass performed at Brisbane's St John's Cathedral with the Queensland Youth Orchestra.
In May 1974 they supported [[Suzi Quatro]]'s performance at Brisbane's [[Brisbane Festival Hall|Festival Hall]].<ref name="Pritchard">{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44798745 |title=Tough outside but soft too, that's Suzi Q | last = Pritchard | first = Jeune | newspaper = [[The Australian Women's Weekly]] | volume = 41 | issue =4 9 |date = 8 May 1974 | access-date = 8 September 2019 | page = 2 | via = [[National Library of Australia]]}}</ref> In August of the following year Lloyd left to pursue her solo career and was replaced on lead vocals by Judee Ford (ex-Tramway).<ref name="McFarlane" /> The group undertook a tour of eastern capital cities and Adelaide.<ref name="McFarlane" /> In December 1975 Jansons left and was replaced on bass guitar by Jim Dickson.<ref name="McFarlane" /> The group's second album, ''Journey's End'', appeared in October 1976, which McFarlane felt, "followed the formula set by the debut, but with a lighter, more polished Adult Oriented Rock (AOR) sound (somewhere between Chicago, Styx and Fleetwood Mac)."<ref name="McFarlane" />
Late in 1976 Roger Murray was on bass guitar and Col Wilson was on drums. Stone left the band early in the next year and they disbanded shortly after.<ref name="McFarlane" /> McFarlane observed, "[they] made an impact with its sweaty, full-tilt gigs and a commercial blend of soul, brassy R&B; and percussion-driven hard rock."<ref name="McFarlane" /> Stone formed a duo, Moscos and Stone, with Peter Moscos, which released a self-titled album in 1979.<ref name="McFarlane" /> Stone later turned to soundtrack music for TV and films, including ''[[The Flying Doctors]]'' (from 1986).<ref name="McFarlane" /> In the 1990s he relocated to Los Angeles.<ref name="McFarlane" /> Founding member Phil Shields died in May 2006. Carol Lloyd died in February 2017 of [[Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis|interstitial pulmonary fibrosis]] and [[chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]], aged 68.<ref name="themusic">{{cite news | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170422160306/http://themusic.com.au/news/all/2017/02/13/qld-rock-icon-carol-lloyd-passes-away-after-lengthy-illness/ | website = themusic.com.au | url = http://themusic.com.au/news/all/2017/02/13/qld-rock-icon-carol-lloyd-passes-away-after-lengthy-illness/ | title = Qld Rock Icon Carol Lloyd Passes Away After Lengthy Illness | last = staff writer | archive-date = 22 April 2017 | date = 13 February 2017 | access-date = 8 September 2019 }}</ref>
==Discography== ===Studio albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ List of albums, with selected details and chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album details ! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:90%"| [[Kent Music Report|AUS]]<br /><ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=245}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | ''A Matter of Time'' | * Released: February 1975 * Format: [[LP record|LP]], [[Compact cassette|cassette]] * Label: Polydor (2907 014) | 35 |- ! scope="row" | ''Journey's End'' | * Released: October 1976 * Format: LP, cassette * Label: Polydor (2907 025) | — |}
===Singles=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ List of singles, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year ! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:90%"| [[Kent Music Report|AUS]]<br /><ref name=aus/> |- ! scope="row" | "Matter of Time" | rowspan="2" | 1974 | 47 | ''A Matter of Time'' |- ! scope="row" | "Do Ya' Love Me" / "The Academy Rock" | 59 | rowspan="3" {{Non-album singles}} |- ! scope="row" | "You Told the World" | rowspan="2" | 1975 | 53 |- ! scope="row" | "The Keeper and the Lord" | — |- ! scope="row" | "Journeys End" | 1976 | 53 | ''Journey's End'' |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1968]] [[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1977]] [[Category:Musical groups from Brisbane]]