Derringer: The Complete Blue Sky Albums 1976-1978, 5CD Box Set

• Three studio albums plus two live albums from the short but prolific three-year existence of the band Derringer.

• FOR FANS OF: TED NUGENT / MONTROSE / VAN HALEN

Rick Derringer first found fame aged just 17 in 1965, when his band The McCoys had a number one hit in America with ‘Hang On Sloopy’, famously knocking The Beatles’ ‘Yesterday’ off the top spot. Subsequently making significant appearances with Edgar Winter and Johnny Winter, as well as Steely Dan and Alice Cooper, and even squeezing in a solo hit with 1973’s ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll, Hoochie Koo’, before deciding to put together his own band in 1976.

Going for a rockier, harder, less poppy sound, Derringer signed to Blue Sky Records, a subsidiary of Columbia Records, in 1976. Simply titled ‘Derringer’, among the original tracks the debut included lyrical collaborations with famed song writer Cynthia Weil.

Although only achieving cult status, their debut was followed up by ‘Sweet Evil’ in 1977. With Jack Douglas, famed for his work with Aerosmith, enlisted for a more commercial edge.

As it was felt that the band didn’t quite capture their onstage fire in the studio, the release of a live album in 1977, simply titled ‘Derringer Live’, made perfect sense. It was also to be the final recording from the original quartet, as the band slimmed down to a three piece in 1978 for the more contemporary sound on ‘If I Weren’t So Romantic, I’d Shoot You’, Derringer's final album was produced by Mike Chapman, famed for his work with Blondie, Sweet and Suzi Quatro, among many others.

This set also features the rare, promo only ‘Live In Cleveland’ album, which includes an onstage version of ‘Rock And Roll, Hoochie Koo’ as well as a cover of Bowie’s ‘Rebel Rebel’. This collection is also completed with rare mono single versions for ‘Let Me In’, ‘Don’t Stop Loving Me’ and the Warren Zevon song ‘Lawyers, Guns And Money’.

TRACK LISTING

DISC ONE

DERRINGER (1976)

1.  LET ME IN

2.  YOU CAN HAVE ME

3.  LOOSEN UP YOUR GRIP

4.  ENVY

5.  COMES A WOMAN

6.  SAILOR

7.  BEYOND THE UNIVERSE

8.  GOODBYE AGAIN

BONUS TRACK

9.  LET ME IN (MONO VERSION)

DISC TWO

LIVE IN CLEVELAND (1976)

1.  LET ME IN

2.  TEENAGE LOVE AFFAIR

3.  SAILOR

4.  BEYOND THE UNIVERSE

5.  ROCK AND ROLL, HOOCHIE KOO

6.  ROLL WITH ME

7.  REBEL REBEL

DISC THREE

SWEET EVIL (1977)

1.  DON’T STOP LOVING ME

2.  SITTIN’ BY THE POOL

3.  KEEP ON MAKIN’ LOVE

4.  ONE EYED JACK

5.  LET’S MAKE IT

6.  SWEET EVIL

7.  DRIVIN’ SIDEWAYS

8.  I DIDN’T ASK TO BE BORN

BONUS TRACK

9.  DON’T STOP LOVING ME (MONO VERSION)

DISC FOUR

DERRINGER LIVE (1977)

1.  LET ME IN

2.  TEENAGE LOVE AFFAIR

3.  SAILOR

4.  BEYOND THE UNIVERSE

5.  SITTIN’ BY THE POOL

6.  UNCOMPLICATED

7.  STILL ALIVE AND WELL

8.  ROCK AND ROLL, HOOCHIE KOO

DISC FIVE

IF I WEREN’T SO ROMANTIC, I’D SHOOT YOU (1978)

1.  IT AIN’T FUNNY

2.  MIDNIGHT ROAD

3.  IF I WEREN’T SO ROMANTIC, I’D SHOOT YOU

4.  EZ ACTION

5.  LAWYERS, GUNS AND MONEY

6.  POWER OF LOVE

7.  SLEEPLESS

8.  TONIGHT

9.  ROCKA ROLLA

10.  ATTITUDE

11.  MONOMANIA

BONUS TRACK

12.  LAWYERS, GUNS AND MONEY (MONO VERSION)