Hands in the Till

Description

Hands in the Till is the debut album by the American hard rock outfit Fortress, released on Atlantic Records in 1981. The album was recorded and mixed by Larry Brown and Win Kutz at Mama Jo’s Recording Studio, North Hollywood, California; and was produced by Freddie Piro with Win Kutz. (Piro is known for establishing Good News Records, the independent label that both Love Song and their lead singer Chuck Girard were signed to, and Piro was as well the owner of Mama Jo’s Recording Studio.)

Fortress features lead singer Jim West (who had participated on Ambrosia’s debut album), guitarist Eric Turner, and a rhythm section consisting of Charlie Souza on bass and Donny Vosburgh on drums. The band was signed to Atlantic Records by Bob Greenberg but unfortunately, while Fortress worked on their debut album he split from Atlantic and the band did not receive much attention from anyone at Atlantic after that. So when finally released, Hands In The Till did get no push from Atlantic Records.

Souza and Vosburgh also played on Darrell Mansfield’s 1980-release Get Ready, and Souza as well as Turner went on to play with the Darrell Mansfield Band.

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/hands-in-the-till/276964933)

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Hands In The Till” – 3:20
A2. “How Do I Exist” – 3:42
A3. “Comin’ After You” – 3:46
A4. “Requiem” – 4:25
A5. “Kisses” – 3:51

Side Two
B1. “Let’s Do It Again” – 3:24
B2. “Breakin’ Free” – 4:31
B3. “Carry Me Back” – 4:05
B4. “Back On The Path” – 5:16
B5. “Mystery” – 3:51

Note: Re-issued on CD by Wounded Bird Records in 2008. Re-issued once again by Rock Candy Records in 2014, remastered by Jon Astley (sound shaped from 24 bit digital tools via POW-r technology).

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CREDITS. Produced by Freddie Piro with Larry Brown. Recorded and mixed at Mama Jo’s Recording Studio, North Hollywood, California by Larry Brown and Win Kutz. Additional recording at Pasha Music House, Hollywood, California. Additional Production by Win Kutz.

Fortress: Jim West (Vocals, Background Vocals), Eric Turner (Guitar, Background Vocals), Charlie Souza (Bass, Background Vocals), Donny Vosburgh (Dums, Percussion). Additional musicians: Gabriel Katona (Keyboards), Duane Hitchings and Rich Gibbs (Additional Keyboards), Snuffy Walden (Acoustic Guitar), Gary Falcone and Ronn Price (Additional Vocals), Larry Brown (Additional Percussion).