> After such a fantastic night I never wanted it to end but now that
> I've done a couple of shifts at work and come back to earth with a
> bump I thought I'd offer my twopennyworth as well.
>
> Apart from the obvious (John and Brent) I wanted to mention and
> thank a few others as well for making the night so magical. The
> whole experience for a fan like myself was unbelievable and I'd like
> to single out Charlie Hart, who was largely responsible for making
> it so special for me.
>
> Like all musicians Charlie has hardly any of his own recordings and
> I recieved a call from him a couple of months ago asking to loan my
> Ronnie CD collection, which of course I was delighted to do. I think
> that musos get so sick of hearing the tunes so many times while
> recording them that it often takes many years before they can listen
> to them again. Charlie told me what a revelation it was listening to
> those Slim Chance albums after so many years, he was especially
> impressed with Ronnie's singing ,"like honey" was how he described
> him.
>
> Knowing that I had managed to trace just about every member of Slim
> Chance (a lot of people)for the documentary,the next thing to do was
> to try and select the band members and again I was more than happy
> to pass on their phone numbers. What a great job Charlie did of that
> as well,he largely stuck with the core of Ronnie's last touring band
> (the one that did the Rockpalast TV show)with a couple of very
> astute substitutions e.g. Geraint Watkins for the late Ian
> Stewart,Geoff the "keen and hungry" drummer both with bags of
> experience, Alun Daves(acoustic guitar) was an obvious choice
> because,being a friend and neighbour, he was so involved with life
> and recording up at Ronnie's farm if not always credited on the
> albums, Steve Simpson had reminded us of Henry McCullough
> (guitar,mandolin) after playing us Henry's new version of "Kuschty
> Rye" on his car CD during our first days filming at Stan's farm last
> summer and Chrissie Stewart(bass)came in because well he's such a
> great player and lovely bloke AND had played on Ronnie's first solo
> venture (the "How Come" E.P.) which meant that every era of the band
> was somehow represented.
>
> We all got to see and hear how well the chemistry had worked
> although I certainly didn't envy Charlie's task and only hope that
> those that didn't get to play understood that he couldn't have
> changed personnel every couple of numbers like Sven does in England
> friendlys, (look what happened at the Australia game when he
> did!!).Of course the band also needed to be available for a couple
> of weeks rehearsal as well as the show which made the selection
> slightly easier (most of the Slim Chance boys are still jobbing
> musicians with work booked way in advance but they all would have
> loved to have been there if they could).
>
> I was already in dreamland being in a position to help my musical
> heroes in a tiny way and it just got better, we even started
> discussing the set list and it suddenly dawned on me that I was
> being asked to offer suggestions which immediately made me panic in
> case I forgot to mention a gem or 2. Charlie bought me back down to
> earth by reminding me they were only playing for an hour (not 10). I
> like to think we were pretty much on the same wavelength and Charlie
> had it all worked out anyhow but was kind enough to flatter me by
> talking the merits of each number through. To give you an example I
> remember suggesting "Little Piece of Nothing" for Sam Brown to which
> Charlie said "actually I was thinking of asking her to do "Lad's has
> Got Money" which as soon as I thought about it was absolutely
> perfect especially for a woman to sing with the added irony a female
> voice could give the lyrics.
>
> The one tune I like to think I did manage to persuade him to do was
> the instrumental "Harvest Home". It was the only tune Charlie co-
> wrote with Ronnie and being the dude he is, was far too modest to
> include it "I can't do that, bit self indulgent, bit slow" he'd
> say, "Nonsense Charlie it's a beautiful piece of music, the perfect
> tribute" I'd say, he still wasn't biting until I managed to point
> out that the track had been selected as a highlight in a "Word
> Magazine" review of the recent evangaline "twofer CD,it was also a
> favourite track (from One For The Road) of Ronnie himself and I even
> had the evidence of him saying so on tape (from Dave McNarie's great
> interview). That and the fact that they'd written it for Mrs
> Caulfield (one of Ronnie's farming neighbours) when she'd died
> probably swung it. It sounded tremendous in rehearsals and I was
> really pleased to see a couple of people single it out as a
> highlight in reviews of the gig as well.
>
> Here's another example of how the CD collection helped influence
> things ,Kent Benjamin was especially thrilled to learn
> that "Spiritual Babe" had been selected by Paul Weller, if Kent
> hadn't produced Ronnie's live in Austin CD then no one would have
> heard it. It was the last song Ronnie wrote and to be honest I
> wasn't that taken with it until hearing Paul's version. Not being a
> musician I couldn't hear past Ronnie's frail voice but thankfully
> Charlie and Paul recognised it as the great song it is and on the
> night it sounded fantastic.
>
> I probably am a bit biassed but Slim Chance absolutely blew me away
> on the night, they were incredible in rehearsal but by the end of
> the set in the RAH I'd virtually lost my voice and was close to
> tears. We'd (the film crew and I) gone to the gig with the family
> and a few survivors of the Passing Show and it meant the world to
> them as well. It was a good old fashioned celtic wake and I'm so
> pleased for Stan and the rest of the family that they finally
> managed to give Ronnie the send off he deserved.I was lucky enough
> to see Ronnie and Slim Chance a few times but I'd never even been to
> a Faces show (let alone back stage at one) Stan confirmed to me that
> the whole atmosphere both in the audience and backstage was just
> like one of their shows in their early 70's heyday.
>
> Charlie's been incredibly kind and helpful to me, not just for the
> gig but in the last 5 years I've been trying to get this film off
> the ground. I'm sure he groans every now and again when I ring him
> up and will probably do so when I start working on him to cut a
> studio album and tour (ssshhh don't tell him I've suggested it he'd
> kill me!!). The film and gig have been the catylist for reviving
> many old friendships and other projects and apart from anything else
> it'd be fantastic if the Slim Chance boys could have a decent pay
> day to go along with the critical aclaim.
>
> So Sam Brown supported by Slim Chance on "Later With Jools" anyone?
> A Slim Chance studio album (and DVD) of Ronnie's tunes by guest
> singers (including some of those who couldn't make the RAH), come on
> you record company execs stick yer hands in your pockets and help
> make it happen, there's definately an audience out there !!!
>
> GOD BLESS YOU CHARLIE, I LOVE YOU MATE !!!!