Head East -

Head East was an American hard-rock band, best known for the FM evergreen “Never Been Any Reason” from their 1975 debut album Flat as a Pancake. Through 1980, they released six studio albums on A&M and scored further hits with “Love Me Tonight” and the Russ Ballard cover “Since You Been Gone.”

Members: Roger Boyd (keyboards, vocals, organ, piano, synthesizer, trumpet), Steve Huston (drums, vocals, 1969-83), John Schlitt (lead vocals, 1969-80), Dan Piper (guitar, 1969-72), Larry Boyd (bass, flute, 1969-72), Dan Birney (bass, vocals, 1973-80), Mike Somerville (guitar, vocals, bass, 1973-80, 1992-2003), Tony Gross (guitar, vocals, 1980-83, 1987-91), Dan Odum (lead vocals, percussion, 1980-83), Mark Boatman (bass, vocals, 1980-81), Robbie Robinson (bass, 1982-83), Brian Kelly (keyboards, 1983-86), J. Jaye Steele (lead vocals, 1983-84), Joel Parks (drums, 1983-84), Ricky Lynn Gregg (guitar, vocals, 1983-84), Kurt Hansen (bass, lead vocals, 1984-95), Donnie Dobbins (drums, 1984-91), Matt Stewart (guitar, 1984-86)

Background

Head East evolved from The TimeAtions, formed in 1969 by keyboardist Roger Boyd, a veteran of multiple mid-Sixties garage bands. Boyd hailed from Carlyle, Illinois, where he took piano lessons as a child and played trumpet in the school band.

He enrolled at the University of Illinois in Champaign–Urbana, where he assembled The TimeAtions with his bassist brother, Larry Boyd, and singer John Schlitt. They completed the lineup with guitarist Danny Piper (a townie) and drummer Steve Huston, who attended Eastern Illinois University in nearby Charleston.

Soon into their existence, band roadie Baxter Forrest Twilight suggested a new name, Head East, which purportedly came to him during a sunrise acid trip. After three years on the Midwest bar and club circuit, Piper and Larry Boyd cleared for guitarist Mike Somerville and bassist Dan Birney.

In late 1974, they financed sessions for their debut album at Golden Voice Studios, a South Pekin facility used by fellow Prairie State rockers Farm, Heartsfield, Styx, and the Finchley Boys.

Flat as a Pancake

Head East released their debut album, Flat as a Pancake, in early 1975 on Pyramid Records, a self-run label.

Singer John Schlitt wrote one track (“One Against the Other”) while guitarist Mike Somerville wrote three: “Never Been Any Reason,” “Love Me Tonight,” and “Lovin’ Me Along.” Drummer Steve Huston wrote the remaining five songs, including “Ticket Back to Georgia” and the epic opener “Jefftown Creek.”

A1. “Jefftown Creek” (6:43)
A2. “Lovin’ Me Along” (5:26)
A3. “Ticket Back to Georgia” (4:05)
A4. “Brother Jacob” (3:11)

B1. “Never Been Any Reason” (5:11)
B2. “One Against the Other” (3:49)
B3. “Love Me Tonight” (4:29)
B4. “City of Gold” (3:41)
B5. “Fly By Night Lady” (2:49)

“Never Been Any Reason” went into high rotation on multiple Midwest FM stations, notably KSHE 95 (St. Louis) and KY-102 (Kansas City). Pyramid swiftly sold out its run of Flat as a Pancake on both formats (5,000 LPs; 500 eight-tracks).

Encouraged by the title’s popularity, A&M Records signed Head East and re-released Flat as a Pancake in June 1975 with new cover art and a side-flipped tracklist.

“Never Been Any Reason” (b/w “One Against the Other”) reached No. 68 on the Billboard Hot 100 and retained its FM evergreen status into the 21st century. A&M also lifted “Love Me Tonight” (b/w “Fly By Night Lady”), which reached No. 54.

Flat as a Pancake reached No. 126 on the Billboard 200 and later received Gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Get Yourself Up

Head East released their second album, Get Yourself Up, in 1976 on A&M.

The album tightens the band into shorter forms and puts the vocal stack near the front. Roger Boyd drives much of the movement with organ, piano, Moog, and Mellotron, while Mike Somerville cuts clean rhythm figures and brief lead lines across a set that shifts from hard-charging openers to slower ballads, maritime drift, and tougher blues-based turns. The writing splits track by track.

“When I Get Ready” opens the record with a hard jolt and a quick forward pull. “Sailor” drops the tempo and opens a wider horizon, “Jailer” hits with a tougher blues shape, and “Trouble” closes the album with a more percussive finish.

A1. “When I Get Ready” (3:44) — Huston
A2. “Separate Ways” (2:50) — Mike Somerville, Scott Somerville
A3. “This Woman’s in Love” (2:51) — Huston
A4. “I Don’t Want the Chance” (4:34) — Somerville
A5. “Sailor” (4:20) — Birney

B1. “Monkey Shine” (3:08) — Birney
B2. “Jailer” (3:30) — Boyd
B3. “Love My Blues Away” (3:40) — Somerville
B4. “The Victim” (5:55) — Mike Somerville, Rodney Smith
B5. “Trouble” (3:35) — John Schlitt

Head East recorded Get Yourself Up at Golden Voice Studios with producer Roger Boyd, engineer Tom Byler, string arranger Greg Oakley, and mastering engineer John Golden at Kendun Recorders in Burbank.

Chuck Beeson handled the album design, Roland Young handled art direction, and Rudi Keuntje supplied the front-cover photography.

Get Yourself Up reached No. 161 on the Billboard album chart.

Gettin’ Lucky

Head East released their third album, Gettin’ Lucky, in March 1977 on A&M.

The album tightens the band into shorter forms and places the vocal blend near the front. Keyboards carry much of the color through organ, piano, Moog, Mellotron, ARP strings, trumpet, and melodica, while the guitars alternate brisk rhythm figures, slide touches, and cleaner open passages across a set that leans toward direct choruses and polished studio framing. The writing splits track by track.

A1. “Gettin’ Lucky” (4:03) — Huston, Somerville
A2. “Back in My Own Hands” (3:55) — Birney, Somerville
A3. “Show Me I’m Alive” (3:46) — Birney
A4. “Take It on Home” (3:47) — Huston
A5. “Dancer Road” (4:10) — Birney

B1. “Don’t Let Me Sleep in the Morning” (5:59) — Somerville
B2. “Sands of Time” (4:13) — Roger Boyd
B3. “Call to Arms and Legs” (3:19) — Larry Boyd, Huston
B4. “Time Has a Way” (2:15) — Huston
B5. “Every Little Bit of My Heart” (5:39) — Roger Boyd, Schlitt

Head East recorded Gettin’ Lucky at American Recording Studio in Los Angeles with producer Richard Podolor, engineer Billy Cooper, and mastering engineer Mike Reese at the Mastering Lab.

A&M issued “Gettin’ Lucky” (b/w “Sands of Time”) as a single in 1977. Gettin’ Lucky reached No. 136 on the Billboard 200.

Head East

Head East released their self-titled fourth album in February 1978 on A&M.

The record pulls the vocal stack and keyboards closer to the front. Roger Boyd threads organ, piano, and synthesizer through tight choruses and mid-tempo hooks while Mike Somerville cuts brisk rhythm figures and short lead breaks across a polished studio surface. The writing divides track by track, and Russ Ballard’s “Since You Been Gone” supplies the one outside cover.

A1. “Open Up the Door” (4:39) — Huston
A2. “Man I Wanna Be” (3:46) — Somerville
A3. “Nothing to Lose” (3:14) — Birney
A4. “Since You Been Gone” (3:00) — Ballard
A5. “Pictures” (3:28) — Huston

B1. “Get Up & Enjoy Yourself” (4:46) — Schlitt
B2. “I’m Feelin’ Fine” (3:57) — Boyd
B3. “Dance Away Lover” (4:43) — Schlitt
B4. “Elijah” (5:45) — Sabatino

Head East recorded Head East at the Record Plant in January 1978 with producer and mixer Jeffrey Lesser, engineer Jeffrey Lesser, assistant engineer Mike Beiriger, associate engineer Michael Braunstein, and mastering engineer Bernie Grundman.

Roland Young handled the art direction, Michael Funk handled the design, and the yellow road-sign cover gave the LP its alternate Roadsign Album nickname.

A&M issued “Since You Been Gone” (b/w “Pictures”) as a single in 1978. The song reached No. 46 on the Billboard Hot 100, and Head East reached No. 78 on the Billboard 200.

Head East Live!

In January 1979, A&M issued Head East Live!, a two-record document of their recent tour.

The set pulls material from the band’s first four studio albums and leaves the writing split behind in favor of a straight stage document. Most of the program comes from Flat as a Pancake, Get Yourself Up, Gettin’ Lucky, and the self-titled Head East, while three entries fall outside that run: Rick Springfield’s “Take a Hand,” the Lennon-McCartney song “It’s For You,” and the short live link “Prelude to Creek.”

A1. “Take a Hand” (3:29) [live-only cover]
A2. “Man I Wanna Be” (3:14) [from Head East]
A3. “Gettin’ Lucky” (3:51) [from Gettin’ Lucky]
A4. “City of Gold” (3:56) [from Flat as a Pancake]
A5. “Fly By Night Lady” (3:01) [from Flat as a Pancake]

B1. “Monkey Shine” (3:31) [from Get Yourself Up]
B2. “When I Get Ready” (3:04) [from Get Yourself Up]
B3. “Every Little Bit of My Heart” (7:50) [from Gettin’ Lucky]
B4. “Get Up & Enjoy Yourself” (4:44) [from Head East]

C1. “Since You Been Gone” (3:04) [from Head East]
C2. “It’s For You” (3:08) [live-only Beatles cover]
C3. “Never Been Any Reason (Save My Life)” (5:37) [from Flat as a Pancake]
C4. “Elijah” (6:10) [from Head East]

D1. “Prelude to Creek” (3:12) [live intro unique to this set]
D2. “Jefftown Creek” (6:41) [from Flat as a Pancake]
D3. “Love Me Tonight” (4:21) [from Flat as a Pancake]
D4. “I’m Feelin’ Fine” (4:16) [from Head East]

Head East recorded Head East Live! live with the Record Plant Los Angeles Mobile Unit. Jeffrey Lesser produced the album, Roger Boyd served as associate producer, Lee De Carlo handled recording and mixing, Cary Pritikin assisted, and Lenny Hortter handled sound.

Roland Young handled the art direction. Dennis Fischer shot the front and back cover photos, and Chuck Boatman, Dennis Fischer, and Neal Preston supplied the inside photography. Head East Live! reached No. 65 on the U.S. album chart and No. 66 in Canada.

A Different Kind of Crazy

Head East released their fifth album, A Different Kind of Crazy, in October 1979 on A&M.

The record keeps the vocal stack and keyboard color near the front, but the arrangements cut into tighter shapes than the earlier A&M albums. Roger Boyd threads synthesizer, keyboards, and vibraphone through brisk guitar figures and compact choruses, and the writing splits across Mike Somerville, Steve Huston, John Schlitt, and Boyd.

A1. “Speciality” (3:56) — Somerville
A2. “Keep a Secret” (3:52) — Huston
A3. “Feelin’ Is Right” (4:09) — Schlitt
A4. “Lonelier Now” (4:03) — Somerville
A5. “Morning” (4:06) — Boyd

B1. “Got to Be Real” (4:14) — Somerville
B2. “If You Knew Me Better” (4:21) — Somerville
B3. “Too Late” (4:10) — Boyd
B4. “Hard Drivin’ Days” (4:06) — Boyd

Head East recorded A Different Kind of Crazy at Axis Sound Studio with producer and engineer Jeff Glixman, assistant engineer Cheryl Bordagaray, and mastering engineer George Marino at Sterling Sound.

Lou Beach supplied the cover art, Roland Young handled art direction, and Amy Nagasawa handled the design.

A&M issued “Got to Be Real” (b/w “Morning”) as a single in 1979. It reached No. 103 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Specialty” appeared as a promotional 7-inch in 1979 with “Morning” on the reverse.

U.S. 1

Head East released their sixth studio album, U.S. 1, in October 1980 on A&M.

A near-total lineup reset produced the record after Mike Somerville, Dan Birney, and John Schlitt left the band. New singer Dan Odum, new guitarist Tony Gross, and new bassist Mark Boatman joined Roger Boyd and Steve Huston for the sessions.

The album trims the band into a more streamlined frame. Dan Odum and Tony Gross carry the front line, Roger Boyd places keyboards and backing vocals close to the surface, and the songs favor compact choruses, smoother studio polish, and a stronger AOR pull than the prior A&M records.

A1. “Fight for Your Life” (4:32)
A2. “I Surrender” (4:31)
A3. “Susan” (4:10)
A4. “You’ll Be the One” (4:55)

B1. “Love Me Now” (3:54)
B2. “Out of the Blue” (4:06)
B3. “Babie Ruth” (4:00)
B4. “Sister Sister” (3:27)
B5. “Look to the Sky” (2:37)

Head East recorded U.S. 1 with producer Roger Boyd, chief engineer Leonard Hortter, engineers Bill Schulenburg, Jesse Henderson, and Skip Saylor, and mastering engineer Frank DeLuna.

Chuck Beeson handled the art direction, and Willardson & White handled the design.

A&M issued “I Surrender” (b/w “Out of the Blue”) as a single in October 1980. U.S. 1 reached No. 137 on the Billboard album chart and became the band’s last charting A&M release.

Onward and Upward

Head East released their seventh studio album, Onward and Upward, in 1982 on Allegiance Records. It followed U.S. 1 and marked the band’s first release after A&M dropped the group.

Robbie Robinson replaced Mark Boatman on bass for this record. The album keeps Dan Odum at the front, places Roger Boyd’s keyboards high in the mix, and leans into a smoother AOR finish built on tighter choruses and cleaner guitar framing.

A1. “I’m Coming Home” (4:01)
A2. “Don’t Talk to Me” (3:02)
A3. “Show Me” (4:16)
A4. “I Make Believe I Believe Her” (3:25)
A5. “Ready to Go” (3:51)

B1. “Onward and Upward” (4:00)
B2. “Wanted Woman” (3:25)
B3. “She Doesn’t Mean a Thing to Me” (2:56)
B4. “Wrong Time” (4:05)
B5. “Take My Hand” (5:14)

Head East recorded Onward and Upward with producer Larry Cox. The lineup for the album was Roger Boyd, Steve Huston, Tony Gross Jr., Dan Odum, and Robbie Robinson.

Discography: