Bronco (English band)

History

Formed August 1969 by Jess Roden following his split from The Alan Bown Set, Bronco were signed to Island Records by Guy Stevens and, after initially recording tracks at Olympic Studios with him, recorded their first album – Country Home – at Island's own Basing Street Studios during 1970 with the final mix being overseen by Paul Samwell-Smith. The group similarly recorded their second album Ace of Sunlight at Basing Street (1971) which was produced by the band and Richard Digby Smith.

Following a serious motorway accident between Cheltenham and Bristol (in which the group's crew – Dick Hayes and Alan Stone – and drummer Pete Robinson and bass-player John Pasternak were badly injured) and a later, ill-fated West Coast of America tour, Roden left the band after a final British tour with label-mates Mott The Hoople and John Martyn in the spring of 1972 to start a solo career. Guitarist Robbie Blunt soon followed and the remaining members drafted in Paul Lockey on vocals (who Kevyn Gammond knew from Band of Joy) and Dan Fone on guitar. This incarnation of Bronco signed to Polydor and released one album, Smoking Mixture.

Bronco's bass player John Pasternak died of a heart attack in September 1986. Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant fronted a tribute event for Pasternak in December of that year that featured Plant and The Big Town Playboys, and concluded with an ensemble band featuring Plant, Jimmy Page on guitar and Jason Bonham on drums.

Two Bronco tracks are featured on Island records compilation albums: "Love" appears on Bumpers released in 1970 and "Sudden Street" appears on El Pea (1971).

"Time Slips Away" was included on the Island Records compilation Meet On The Ledge, released as part of Island's 50th anniversary in 2009.

Singer-songwriter Clifford T. Ward guests on their début album Country Home. Trevor Lucas sings back-up vocals on Ace of Sunlight. Both Ian Hunter and Mick Ralphs from Mott The Hoople also guest on Ace of Sunlight.

Members

Country Home (1970)

Label: Island ILPS 9124

1. "Civil Of You Stranger" - (Robbie Blunt) - 3:54
2. "Love" - (Jess Roden) - 4:31
3. "Misfit On Your Stair" - (Clifford Ward, Kevyn Grammond) - 3:12
4. "Bumpers West" - (Suzy Worth) - 5:51
5. "Home" - (Jess Roden) - 4:08
6. "Well Anyhow" - (Jess Roden, Kevyn Grammond, Robbie Blunt, John Pasternak, Pete Robinson) - 7:02
7. "Time (So Long Between)" - (Jess Roden, Robbie Blunt) - 5:13

Ace Of Sunlight (1971)

Label: Island ILPS 9161

1. "Amber Moon" - (Jess Roden, Suzy Worth) - 4:02
2. Jess Roden - lead vocals, acoustic guitar
3. Kevyn Grammond - electric guitar
4. Robbie Blunt - electric guitar
5. John Pasternak - bass
6. Pete Robinson - drums
7. Ian Hunter - piano
8. Mik Ralphs - organ
9. "Time Slips Away" - (Robbie Blunt) - 6:05
10. Jess Roden - vocals (parts 1 and 2)
11. Robbie Blunt - electric and acoustic guitars, vocals (part 1)
12. Kevyn Grammond- electric guitar
13. John Pasternak - bass
14. Pete Robinson - drums
15. Paul Bennett - vocals
16. Trevor Lucas - vocals
17. "Some Uncertainty" - (Clifford Ward, Kevyn Grammond) - 3:39
18. Jess Roden - lead vocals, harmonica
19. Kevyn Grammond - rhythm acoustic guitar
20. Robbie Blunt - lead acoustic guitar
21. John Pasternak - bass
22. Pete Robinson - drums
23. Paul Davenport - piano
24. "4 Woman" - (Clifford Ward, Kevyn Grammond) - 4:18
25. Jess Roden - lead vocals
26. Kevyn Grammond - electric guitar
27. Robbie Blunt - electric guitar
28. John Pasternak - bass
29. Pete Robinson - drums
30. "New Day Avenue" - (Jess Roden, Suzy Worth) - 6:39
31. Jess Roden - lead vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion
32. Kevyn Grammond - electric guitar
33. Robbie Blunt - electric guitar (outro solo)
34. John Pasternak - bass
35. Pete Robinson - drums, congas
36. "Discernible" - (Kevyn Grammond, Suzy Worth) - 3:47
37. Jess Roden - lead vocals
38. Kevyn Grammond - electric and acoustic guitars
39. Robbie Blunt - electric and acoustic guitars
40. John Pasternak - bass
41. Pete Robinson - drums
42. Terry Allen - organ
43. "Sudden Street" - (Jess Roden) - 6:23
44. Jess Roden - lead vocals, acoustic guitar
45. Kevyn Grammond - lead electric guitar
46. Robbie Blunt - rhythm electric guitar
47. John Pasternak - bass
48. Pete Robinson - drums
49. Paul Bennett - backing vocals
50. "Joys & Fears" - (Jess Roden, Suzy Worth) - 3:39
51. Jess Roden - special guitars, lead vocals, piano

Smoking Mixture
1973 Label: Polydor 2383 215
1. Steal That Gold
2. Tennessee Saturday Night
3. Tell Me Why
4. Attraction
5. Southbound State Express
6. Turkey In The Straw
7. Zonker
8. Blueberry Pie
9. Strange Awakening

Hidden Masters : The Jess Roden Anthology
Label: HiddenMasters HM 3001 (2013) – contains a number of previously unreleased tracks by Bronco (including)
– Lazy Now – a different mix to the original 7" single mix released Summer 1970
– All The Love I Sing (Love) – a different mix of the song that was included on Country Home
– New Day Avenue – a different mix to the song that was included on Ace Of Sunlight
– Bumpers West – a different mix of the song that was included on Country Home
– Sudden Street – a different mix of the song that was included on Ace Of Sunlight
– Joys And Fears – a different mix of the song that was included on Ace Of Sunlight