1977 was a transitional year for me as I spent more and more time in the studios with Steve, and I was going more than a bit stir-crazy.
I wanted to get out there doing gigs and touring. So mid year I decided to quit my pretty safe full time employment with Steve and take my chances as a freelance tour manager.
Before I 'flew the nest' though I had a very interesting visit to LA with Steve.......house hunting !!
But also on your right, a video of Mr Cregan telling a coule of funny stories
I think we did the charity show at the Rainbow Theatre at the end of January, or rather we were asked to do it at the same time as it was decided to record the show for a live album. 'Face to Face' was the outcome, a double live album.
We went down to Shepperton Studios again, this time Stage L for final rehearsals and I have notes in my diary that Electrosound was the PA company and I believe Entec did the lights. We used a projector for this show too and at this time late 70's the GLC (Greater London Council) were becoming the health and safety organisation for bigger shows around London. I had meetings with them at the Finsbury Park Rainbow Theatre and with the Police, probably because we were going to park a mobile recording studio on the Seven Sisters Road outside the venue......
Early in '77 I went back to Oxford and saw Kokomo at the Polytechnic. I had wanted to see them live ever since hearing their first album in 1975. I was in Air London Studios and lots was going on there, Brian Ferry was making his first album, I met Eddy Jobson, who came in to put fiddle on to the track 'Sympathy for the Devil'. But around midnight one evening the tape op of our session took me into a side room and said "have a listen to this new album just recorded here by a group called Kokomo". It was the original tape of the record and it sounded fantastic. I've been a fan ever since.
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When this album 'Face to Face' came out I was very surprised to find my voice on the very beginning of side one. They kept in my introduction that I constantly made live to the audiences up and down the country. So I am pleased to say, not only have I been given various credits on albums, and I have 'mumbled' on Mr Soft, but now I have been the voice opening the show on one too!
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