Tony O'Malley - Back At The Bag (2015)

The ball started rolling for this project back in January 2011, when top sound engineer Haydn Bendall suggested we get together to make a record. Astonishingly, the wheels were in motion within a few weeks when Tony Cronk offered to finance the recording of the bunch of songs at Ralph Salmins' lovely little studio in Welwyn Garden City. That was at the end of February 2011, with Neil Hubbard & Adam Phillips featuring on guitars, Mel Collins on sax, Steve Pearce on bass and Ralph Salmins on the drums. With the invaluable help of Gary McCulloch & Mark Lewis, several sessions of overdubs followed in Haydn's studio at Strongroom Studios in Shoreditch, East London. But it wasn't until the owner of the Bag O'Nails Club in London, Malik Ishmuratov, stepped in to help that we were able to finish the recordings in October 2014.

Finally, special words of thanks are due to a fine Yorkshireman. Without Mike Henderson's loyalty and assistance, this project could never have been completed. Cheers, Mike! In fact, big love and huge thanks go to ALL contributors, family and friends, especially Haydn, and to all the great musicians and singers who gave of themselves so generously. Here's to the next one...Tony