Natural Gas

Earlier this year, Badfinger's Joey Molland passed away the age of 77. In addition to his work with that Beatles-linked band, however, Molland's discography encompasses plenty of other music worth discovering. Foremost might be his affiliation with Natural Gas, the band he formed with Humble Pie's Jerry Shirley upon his departure from Badfinger. Not to be confused with the Canadian horn-rock band of the same name, Molland and Shirley's Natural Gas also featured bassist/vocalist Mark Clarke (Colosseum) and keyboardist Peter Wood (co-writer of Al Stewart's "Year of the Cat").   Ultimately, Natural Gas just lasted for one studio album, released on the Private Stock label in 1976 and produced by Felix Pappalardi. Such is the LP's reputation that it's been released on CD numerous times - but never from original master tapes, which Iconoclassic has located for this new reissue. This generously expanded edition adds two pre-album demos ("Little Darlin'" and "Christmas Song") as well as a previously unreleased eight-song 1976 concert taken from a soundboard source. Ralph Chapman's new liner notes draw on interviews with Jerry Shirley, Mark Clarke, and Peter Frampton as well as archival quotes from the late Molland; Vic Anesini has remastered. The first 1000 copies of Natural Gas will come in a foil-stamped slipcase replicating the original cover artwork.