The Road (group)

The Road was a rock band that was formed in 1967. They had a hit in Greece with a cover of the Zombies song "She's Not There". They released further singles on the Kama Sutra label. They broke up in the 1970s.

The Road
OriginBuffalo, New York
GenresRock, R&B
Years active1968-1972
LabelsKama Sutra
Associated actsThe Mellow Brick Road

History

The group origins can be traced to Buffalo, New York, where they started out in 1967 as The Mellow Brick Road. The original line-up was vocalists Phil and Jerry Hudson, bassist Joe Hesse, keyboardist Jim Hesse, guitarist Ralph Parker, and drummer Nick DiStefano.[1][2] They released a single on the United Artists label, "Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Basket".[3]

The group had a hit with She's Not There", which was released on Kama Sutra. By that time the group had become The Road. It sold in excess of 200,000 copies and registered at #88 in Cashbox,[4][5] and managed to reach the charts in Greece.[6]

Their album simply titled Road was released about a week before Christmas 1969. The 12 track album included "She's Not There", "A Taste of Honey", "Dance to the Music", "Never Gonna Give You Up", "Rock & Roll Woman", and "Mr. Soul", their latest single. By mid-February 1970, it had sold well in excess of 25,000 copies.

As of February 1970, the group was managed by Fred Saia. The line-up at the time consisted of band leader Jerry Hudson, Ralph Parker, Nick DiStefano, Joe Hesse, Phil Hudson, Jim Hesse and Larry Rizzuto, who had recently joined the band.[7][8]

In 1971, their double album Cognition was released on Kama Sutra KSBS 2032. The reviewer noted the Scientology content with the music.[9] A good deal of the material was composed by the band members.[10]

They broke up in 1972.[11]

Jerry Hudson, the lead singer recorded a solo single "Gillian Frank" bw "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better", and it was released on the Bandstand Records label in 1972, also the Big Tree label in early 1973.[12][13][14] Billboard reported in its February 10, 1973 issue that the single was bubbling under the Hot 100 at #117,[15] and stayed there for another week.[16]

Releases
Mellow Brick Road singles
Title Label, cat Year Notes
"Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Basket" / "Other Side Of This Life" United Artists UA 50333 1968 [17]
The Road singles
Title Label, cat Year Notes
"She's Not There" / "A Bummer" Kama Sutra KA 256 1968
"The Grass Looks Greener On The Other Side" / "In Love" Kama Sutra KA-266 1969
"Mr Soul" / "The Grass Looks Greener On The Other Side" Kama Sutra KA 504 1970
"If I Ever Needed A Woman" / "Alone" Kama Sutra KA 531 1971
"Night In The City" / "Feelin' The Sunshine" Goodtime GT 4504 1974
"She's Not There" / "A Bummer" Radio Active Gold RD 67 [18]
"Hard To Tell You Goodbye" / "Rosalie" Road MC 5552 [19]
"Music Man" / "You Give It All" Road MC 5610 1977 [20]
Albums
Title Label, cat Year Notes
The Road Kama Sutra KLPS 8075 1969
The Road Kama Sutra KSBS 2012 1970 Reissue of KLPS 8075[21]
Cognition Kama Sutra KSBS 2032 1971 2 LP[22]

References
  1. WNY Hitman - The Road
  2. The Sun, January 15, 1969 - Page 9
  3. Billboard, October 5, 1968 - Page 34 programming aids, * Continued from page 30
  4. Buffalo Music Hall of Fame - The Road
  5. Cash box pop singles charts, 1950-1993, Pat Downey, George Albert, Frank W. Hoffmann - Page 289
  6. Buffalo Music Hall of Fame - The Road
  7. Discogs - The Road – The Road
  8. Record World, February 14, 1970 - Page 36 The Road to Success
  9. Billboard, July 10, 1971 - Page 28 SPECIAL MERIT PICKS, POP
  10. AllMusic - Road, Cognition, Track Listing
  11. Buffalo Music Hall of Fame - The Road
  12. Top Shelf Oldies - The Road by Gary E. Myers, Discography
  13. 45Cat - Jerry Hudson - Discography, USA
  14. WNY.FM - 45 Friday: JERRY HUDSON – Gillian Frank
  15. Billboard, February 10, 1973 - Page 64 Bubbling Under The Hot 100
  16. Billboard, February 17, 1973 - Page 59 Bubbling Under The Hot 100
  17. 45Cat - Mellow Brick Rode - Discography, USA
  18. 45Cat - The Road - Discography, USA
  19. Discogs - The Road Discography, Singles & EPs
  20. Top Shelf Oldies - The Road by Gary E. Myers, Discography
  21. Goldmine Record Album Price Guide, By Dave Thompson - Page 496 ROAD, THE
  22. Billboard, July 17, 1971 - Page 47 New LP/Tape Releases
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