Ray Russell - The Running Man/Mouse (1972,1973 reissues)
(Amgel Air)
www.angelair.co.uk



Ray Russell, whose art we discuss reviewing Bill Fay ‘s albums was a very well established man on the early seventies london scene having started professionally in the previuous decade as part of the John Barry’s Seven at first, then becoming an accomplished session man. His two band bands from early seventies, nevertheless, did not find the response he was looking for. Mouse and The Running Man, whose first releases are sold on the second hand record market at outrageous prices, shared with the guitar player and composer some very good idea but a lack of realisation and a real sense of purpoise and focus. Of the two reissues The Running Man is the one with more potential: this is a musical unit not dissimilar from Procul Harum bar the late great Gary Windo on woodwinds whose eccentricity gave the band a twist of uniqueness. Mars, on the other hand, were looking into too many directions and are easy to forgive. Ray Russell split both bands at early stages and this is a signal that not even he was really convinced of the potential of The Running Man and Mouse. Russell in the coming years kept his good job sailing smooth til today and these two collections are just a step of his carreer mostly aimed at solid and serious collectors of the ebullient musical scene of the early seventies.

Ernesto de Pascale