Stealers Wheel

Stealers Wheel (correctly spelled without an apostrophe infront of the 's') was a British folk/rock band formed in Paisley, Scotland in 1972 by former school friends Joe Egan (* 1944) and Gerry Rafferty (* 1947).

In the beginning of the 70's the band was considered as the British version of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and, after two unsuccessful singles, came to worldwide fame with their hit Stuck In The Middle With You. The track in the style of Bob Dylan and the Beatles reached the top ten of the single charts in Great Britain and the US in 1973 - number 6 in the USA, number 8 in GB - and soled over one million copies on a worldwide basis. The first two albums were produced by the well-known Leiber & Stoller, the last because of disagreements and managerial problems by Mentor Williams. Although the Band's self-titled debut album soled quite good (number 50 in the US-album-charts) and was critically acclaimed, Stealers Wheel couldn't manage to repeat this success with following releases. In 1973/1974 the two Singles Everything Will Turn Out Fine and Star could also reach the top 30 of both the UK and US charts, but only the latter track is still relatively popular today. Former Spooky Tooth member Luther Grosvenor (later of Mott The Hopple) participated in the recordings for Everything Will Turn Out Fine and replaced Rafferty who left the band for quite some time.

Because Rafferty and Egan could not agree, whether they should continue as a full band or duo and because of artistical differences there was a delay of over 18 months in the release of their third (and last) album. After frequent changes in the line-up Stealers Wheel broke up in 1975 and their last album Right Or Wrong was released without a band to promote it. Almost two years after Ferguslie Park (1973) the group was hardly known and the two last single releases silently faded away in the charts.

In 1993 director Quentin Tarantino used the track Stuck In The Middle With You in the soundtrack of his debut film Reservoir Dogs and helped the band to revive. All three albums have been unavailable for years, but in 2004/2005 the British independent label Lemon Recordings (of Cherry Red) re-released them with remastered sound and new liner-notes.

Bandmembers

• Gerry Rafferty : Vocals, Guitar (1972-1975)
• Joe Egan : Vocals, Keyboard (1972-1975)
• Paul Pilnick : Lead Guitar (1972)
• Tony Williams : Bass (1972)
• Rod Coombes : Drums (1972)
• Joe Jammer : Guitar (1973-1975)
• Andrew Steele : Drums (1973-1975)
• Gerry Taylor : Bass (1973-1975)
• Benie Holland : Guitar (1975)
• Dave Wintour : Bass (1975)
• Luther Grosvenor : Vocals, Guitar (November 1972 - Juli 1973)

Further members, who did not participate in any recordings

• Rab Noakes : Guitar, Vocals (1972)
• Roger Brown : Vocals (1972)
• Ian Campell : Bass (1972)
• Delisle Harper : Bass (1973)

Discography

• 1990 - The Best Of Stealers Wheel

1. Stuck In The Middle With You
2. Nothing's Gonna Change My Mind
3. Star
4. This Morning
5. Steamboat Row
6. Next To Me
7. Right Or Wrong
8. Go As You Please
9. Benediction
10. Waltz
11. Blilnd Faith
12. Late Again
13. Wheelin'
14. José

• 1975 - Right Or Wrong

1. Benediction
2. Found My Way To You
3. This Morning
4. Let Yourself Go
5. Home From Home
6. Go As You Please
7. Wishbone
8. Don't Get Me Wrong
9. Monday Morning
10. Right Or Wrong

• 1973 - Ferguslie Park

1. Good Businessman
2. Star
3. Wheelin'
4. Waltz (You Know It Makes Sense)
5. What More Could You Want
6. Over My Head
7. Blind Faith
8. Nothing's Gonna Change My Mind
9. Steamboat Row
10. Back On My Feet Again
11. Who Cares?
12. Everything Will Turn Out Fine

• 1972 - Stealers Wheel

1. Late Again
2. Stuck In The Middle With You
3. Another Meaning
4. I Get By
5. Outside Looking In
6. Johnny's Song
7. Next To Me
8. José
9. Gets So Lonely
10. You Put Something Better Inside Me

sv:Stealers Wheel de:Stealer's Wheel