LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

Originally released in 1975 on the Vertigo record label, The Streetwalkers were fronted by former Family members Roger Chapman (lead vocals, percussion and harmonica) and John “Charlie” Whitney (guitar). Other band members included Bob Tench (who has played with everyone from Jeff Beck to Freddie King - see BGOCD137 - as well as Widow Maker, Hummingbird, Van Morrison, Eric Burdon, Humble Pie, Boxer, Alan Price and Topper Hendon) on vocals and guitar, Jonathan Plotel (ex-Casablanca) on bass, and Nicko (formerly unknown, later playing with Pat Travers and Iron Maiden) on drums After Family split in 1973, the two main songwriters (Chapman and Whitney) put together The Streetwalkers. In the winter of ‘73/’74, only months after the dissolution of Family, the pair completed a duo album called ‘Streetwalkers’on Reprise Records with a loose collection of famous musical friends. The album was released in May ‘74 In February 1975 they assembled a solid backing band and dubbed themselves The Streetwalkers. The sound was solidified by the only member of the previous lineup they kept - Bob Tench. The rhythm section of Plotel and Nicko lent more funk, heavy R’n’B and seventies’ style hard rock to the mix. In October ‘75, they released the album featured here, ‘Downtown Flyers’(known simply as ‘Streetwalkers’in the US) and toured the UK and Europe, where Roger Chapman became (and still is) very popular They disbanded in January 1977 after two more albums, and released a posthumous LP ‘Streetwalkers Live’in December of that year track listing: 1.Downtown-Flyers 2. Toenail Draggin’ 3. Raingame 4. Miller 5. Crawfish 6. Walking On Waters 7. Gypsy Moon 8. Burn It Down 9. Ace O’Spades