February 2013 |

The Maroons were one of the tightest and hottest bands on the Chicago circuit in the 1980’s. They were a good time rockin’ band made up of veteran Chicago players. These recordings were captured at a smokin’ little club (now gone). The Tally Ho Pub, near Devon and Western in Chicago. Tally Ho was known for it’s hot music, generally bluegrass and country/rock. On September 8, 1984 the boys laid down three sets of material, recorded by engineer Jerry Larsen.

Two of those songs are available here for free download. The lineup on these songs was:

John Burns Lead Guitar/Vocals
Jim Bartholomew Lead Vocals/Guitar
Ray Lester Bass Guitar/Vocals
Rick Barr Drums/Vocals

Toll Road Blues – is one of John Burns’ guitar workouts. John could always burn on the rockers and had written a pocketful of songs on which he could really cut loose and shine. Toll Road was always a set ender and a highlight of the show. John sings it, Rick drives it on the drums along with Ray on Bass, and Jim B hanging on on rhythm electric guitar. This was John Burns at his finest.

Feel Like Running is a song Jim wrote with Cactus Jack guitarist Ric Winking at the very tale end of that band’s run. The first official studio recording was included in the first Cahoots session; it was an often-requested staple for that band and was voted “Country Song of the Year” by the patrons of the Phoenix, a bar on the North Side of Chicago where we served as House Band in the early 80’s. (We later found out that the vote had been “managed” in true Chicago fashion by a couple of the bands fans. God Bless ’em!)

When the Maroons formed, a short time after the demise of Cahoots, both John Burns and Jim Bartholomew brought their original songs to the party, which they mixed in with their own versions of classic ’60’s rock and roll. All of the band members had a deep bag o’ tricks when it came to arrangements. John, in particular, had a great ear and long memory for stylistic elements to bring out the best in a song, and Feel Like Running, which Jim had always seen as “Country” lent itself extremely well to a “British Invasion” approach. The tempo was slowed down and the rhythm emphasized; it became the classic guitar rock ballad that can be heard here.

Through the years, the song has continued to develop, with Dave Steffen’s twelve string adding a new dimension in the current MojoSkillet version.