THE ALMOST LOST LION ALBUM!!

The album ”Running all Night” by LION was released by A&M records in 1980 and has recently been made available on CD by Retrospect Records however these recordings (1979) are the first by the group which were never released for reasons which are unclear to me. Many of the tracks were re-recorded for the official release but there are some gems here!

The sessions took place at the Record Plant in Los Angeles with Ron Nevison producing assisted by Mike Clink. Ron has many credits to his name including Led Zeppelin, Jefferson Starship and The Babys with whom he had some massive hits in the U.S.A. Mike Clink is now known for his stupendous productions of Guns’n’Roses and I’m sure you will be able to hear the roots of his sound in Nevisons.

The tracks have been mastered from the only cassette copy still around and sent to me by John Sinclair. There are a couple of drop out here and there but most of it is intact. I guess the masters are in the vault at A&M, at least I hope they weren’t destroyed.

We had just been signed, we had a big budget, we were very enthusiastic and brimming with ideas.

Here are the tracks:

01. Summer Ghosts Lyric by Gary Farr. Music by John Sinclair
02. Cold Sheets Lyric by Gary Farr. Music by John Sinclair & Steve Webb
03. One Bite from a Bad Dog Lyric by Gary Farr. Music by John Sinclair
04. Night of the Grunion Lyric by Gary Farr. Music by John Sinclair
05. If I Don’t Get to See Her Lyric by Gary Farr. Music by John Sinclair
06. Helpless Lyric & Music by Gary Farr
07. Sweet Fire Lyric by Gary Farr. Music by John Sinclair & Steve Webb
08. How does it Feel? Lyric by Gary Farr. Music by John Sinclair & Steve Webb
09. Blind Dog Lyric by Gary Farr. Music by John Sinclair & Steve Webb
10. Running all Night Lyric by Gary Farr. Music by John Sinclair
11. Just like a Love Story Lyric by Gary Farr. Music by John Sinclair


Gary Farr – Lead vocal
John Sinclair – Keyboards, Vocals
Steve Humphries – Bass
Eric Dillon – Drums
Steve Webb – Guitar, Vocals
Robin Lemesurier – Guitar

For more about the band and members please go to the biography page but here is a short summary:

Gary Farr: The T Bones, a very popular R&B outfit in the early 60’s and then signed to Atlantic records (His album “Addressed to the censors of love” is now a collectors item and much sought after) before he formed LION. He later worked with Fred Tackett (Little Feat) after LION and also made a successful career as a still photographer on big budget Hollywood movies plus acted in the Oliver Stone movie “Salvador” Sadly he passed away a few years ago.

John Sinclair: The Heavy Metal Kids were a huge band in Britain (Gay Holton from “Auf wiedersein pet” was the lead singer. After LION and The Difference went on to a huge career with Uriah Heep. The Cult and of course Ozzy Osbourne. He is also the man who wrote and directed the music for “Spinal: Tap The Movie” He is currently living in the Highlands with a 9 foot grand piano

Steve Humphries: Mahatma Kane was a very popular theatrical band on the London scene. Steve was Gary’s first recruit for LION and was also in The Difference- twice! He then opened the top pub in L.A. “The Cat and Fiddle” with Kim Gardner. Two bass players owning a pub- wow.
Sadly Steve has passed away

Eric Dillon: Engelbert Humpadink followed by a stint in Hendrix bass player Noel Redding’s band “Fat Mattress” LION and the Difference. Last heard of as a commercial airline pilot.

Robin Lemesurier: Many well known London bands (Budgie and Cockney Rebel I think) and after LION the Difference then Rod Stewart, Bernie Taupin and is currently with French superstar rocker Johnny Halliday

Some of the spellings are probably wrong but you know what I mean.

So enjoy the record, download it and pass it on. For me when I hear it I can’t believe a record company would bury music like this but that’s the breaks!

There are also previously unheard tracks from The Jess Roden Band in the Downloads page so check those out too.