Current Traffic

Sunday 22 April 2018

Post 707 - Doug Ashdown - Winter In America

Doug Ashdown was unable to crack the US market, so Jimmy Stewart and Doug returned to Australia where they set up a new label, “Billingsgate”. Stewart produced Doug's next album entitled “Leave Love Enough Alone” (D19087)in 1974. The album produced two Singles, "They Always Seem To Look Like Marianne", and the album's evocative title track, co-written by Doug and Jimmy during a bitter winter in Nashville. "Leave Love Enough Alone" was released in September 1974 and received some airplay, but neither it nor its predecessor made the charts at the time. "Leave Love Enough Alone", however, proved to be a classic 'sleeper' and the breakthrough finally came more than a year later when it was retitled and reissued as "Winter In America". The song was picked up by stations around the country and this time around it became a major hit through late 1976 and early 1977, reaching #14 in Melbourne and #30 in Sydney. It remains one of the most popular and enduring Australian songs of the '70s; it has been covered by artists around the world including Margret RoadKnight. In 1988, Dutch singing star Rene Froger's version was a top five top hit in Holland, and Froger's live version topped the charts there again in recent years. Players on this LP were Acoustic Guitar – Troy Seals, Backing Vocals – Norma Stoneman, Bass – Joe Allan, Tim Partridge, Cello – Nathan Waks, Drums – Laurie London, Russell Dunlop, Electric Guitar – Mark Punch, Mellotron – Roy Ritchie. Music Director, Arranged By, Conductor, Piano, Mellotron, Synthesizer, Organ – Wayne Findlay, Percussion – Ian Bloxsom, Piano – David Briggs, Steel Guitar – Pee Wee Clark, Stu Baseore, Strings – Bob Ingram. Flac