Widowmaker - Running Free: Jet Recordings 1976-1977

2017 two CD anthology celebrating the British rock band Widowmaker. Formed in 1975 by former Mott the Hoople and Spooky Tooth guitarist Luther Grosvenor, also known as Ariel Bender. The original line-up of the band featured vocalist Steve Ellis (ex-Love Affair and Ellis), guitarist Huw Lloyd-Langton (ex-Hawkwind), Australian bassist Bob Daisley (ex-Chicken Shack) and drummer Paul Nicholls who had previously been a member of Lindisfarne. A few months after they had begun rehearsing at Emerson, Lake & Palmer's Manticore Studios in London, Widowmaker signed to Don Arden's Jet Records label. Their self-titled debut album was released in 1976 and featured guest musicians Bobby Tench and Zoot Money. After touring with Nazareth, they joined Little Feat, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band and Streetwalkers as support to The Who on their "Who Put the Boot In' series of stadium shows in June 1976. Following a US tour opening for the Electric Light Orchestra, Steve Ellis left the band and was replaced by vocalist John Butler. This line-up recorded the final Widowmaker album Too late to Cry, released in 1977. Widowmaker disbanded soon after with Bob Daisley joining Rainbow (and subsequently Ozzy Osbourne's Blizzard of Oz and Gary Moore's band) and Huw Lloyd Langton eventually returning to Hawkwind.