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Fat Chance is the sole album by the American group formed around singer-songwriters Bill LaBounty and Steve Eaton. Originally released by RCA Victor in 1972, it blends melodic West Coast rock with soul, jazz, folk, blues and prominent brass and woodwind arrangements.
The group originated in Boise, Idaho, where LaBounty and Eaton began working together during the late 1960s. By the time of the album sessions, the line-up also included Dale Borge on bass and vocals, Gordon Hirsch on drums, Fred Sherman on trumpet and flugelhorn, and Phil Garonzik on woodwind instruments.
Bill LaBounty contributes vocals and keyboards, while Steve Eaton performs vocals, guitar and harmonica. Their contrasting songwriting styles give the album considerable variety: LaBounty favours carefully constructed melodies and polished arrangements, while Eaton frequently introduces a looser mixture of folk, blues and country influences.
“One More Time” opens the record with an energetic combination of guitar, keyboards, brass and harmony vocals. “We Are the People” adds a socially conscious lyric to a lively ensemble arrangement, while the reflective “Funny Hats” demonstrates LaBounty's gift for unusual but immediately memorable melodies.
“Oh Lavinia” has a sophisticated jazz-rock character, enhanced by keyboards and horns, while “That's Not Love” offers concise melodic pop. Steve Eaton's “Hello Misery” brings the first half to a darker conclusion through expressive vocals and a more expansive arrangement.
The second half begins with the gentle country-rock atmosphere of “Country Morning,” followed by LaBounty's dramatic “Pirate.” “Love Sick Rag” introduces an old-time blues and ragtime flavour, while “Lovin' Kind” returns to polished early-seventies soft rock.
“It's a Crime” develops through soulful vocals and a strong instrumental groove before “Beauty” closes the album with an optimistic message and a rich brass-led arrangement. Throughout the record, the additional horns and woodwinds give Fat Chance a broader sound than a conventional guitar-and-keyboard rock group.
Both principal writers continued successful musical careers after the band dissolved. Bill LaBounty became an established solo artist and Nashville songwriter, while Steve Eaton continued recording and writing independently. This Big Pink Music edition restores their rare collaborative album in a deluxe miniature LP-style sleeve.
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