Legs Diamond -

Legs Diamond was an American hard-rock band from San Francisco that made the 1977 Mercury albums Legs Diamond and A Diamond Is a Hard Rock, followed by the 1979 Cream Records release Fire Power. They returned with the 1984–86 Target/Metronome titles Out on Bail and Land of the Gun.

Members: Michael Prince (keyboards, guitar, vocals), Rick Sanford (lead vocals, percussion, flute, 1975-87), Jeff Poole (drums, percussion, 1975-85), Michael “Diamond” Gargano (bass, 1975-81), Roger Romeo (guitar, vocals, 1975-80), Jim May (guitar, vocals, 1980-87), Greg Chaisson (bass, 1982-84), Mike Christie (bass, 1984-87), Dusty Watson (drums, percussion, 1986), Jonathan Valen (drums, percussion, 1986-87)

Background

Legs Diamond formed in 1975 when drummer Jeff Poole and bassist Michael Gargano decided to form a hard-rock band named after Prohibition-era bootlegger Legs Diamond, an irrepressible figure who survived multiple attempts on his life. The pair moved to Los Angeles and hired singer Rick Sanford, guitarist Roger Romeo, and keyboardist Michael Prince.

In 1976, Legs cut an album’s worth of demos, including the track “Rat Race,” included that year on a multi-artist sampler by LA radio station K-West. One night, they crashed a Kiss after-party and lured Gene Simmons to their rehearsal room. Impressed, he linked Legs with his management and invited them onto Kiss’ “Rock & Roll Over” Tour.” Legs also played support slots for Styx, Riot, Angel, The Babys, Montrose, and Golden Earring. On select LA dates, Legs were supported by an up-and-coming Van Halen. That November, Legs signed to Mercury Records.

Legs Diamond

Legs Diamond released their self-titled debut album on March 15, 1977, on Mercury.

The album opens with the brash rocker “It’s Not the Music,” co-written by keyboardist Michael Prince and vocalist Rick Sanford. Guitarist Roger Romeo trades leads with Prince on the swirling, haunted “Stage Fright,” followed by the glam-funk strut of “Satin Peacock.” Side A ends with “Rock and Roll Man,” a searing mid-tempo anthem that pairs Romeo’s emotive soloing with Sanford’s gutsy delivery.

Side B features the urgent boogie of “Deadly Dancer” and the six-minute burnout “Rat Race,” a winding showcase for Legs Diamond’s dramatic tension and ensemble attack. The epic closer “Can’t Find Love” builds slowly from melancholic piano and voice into a storm of harmonized leads and rhythmic crescendos.

Prince co-wrote everything with bassist Michael “Diamond” Gargano apart from the lone-written “Stage Fright” and the Prince/Sanford opener.

A1. “It’s Not the Music” (3:27)
A2. “Stage Fright” (5:05)
A3. “Satin Peacock” (5:36)
A4. “Rock and Roll Man” (6:11)

B1. “Deadly Dancer” (2:58)
B2. “Rat Race” (6:43)
B3. “Can’t Find Love” (8:45)

Sessions occurred in late 1976 at Wally Heider Studios in Los Angeles, where Legs Diamond recorded the album with Englishman Derek Lawrence, the former Deep Purple and Wishbone Ash soundman who worked most recently with Angel and Tiger.

The cover of Legs Diamond features a vivid illustration of a classic blue car riddled with bullet holes, its gleaming chrome and tailfin evoking a vintage gangster vibe, while a sunburst semi-hollow electric guitar is propped boldly in the foreground like a Tommy gun, blending rock ‘n’ roll swagger with underworld menace.

Legs Diamond later gained cult status as a cornerstone of American hard rock.

A Diamond Is a Hard Rock

Legs Diamond released their second album, A Diamond Is a Hard Rock, in September 1977 on Mercury.

The album opens with the swaggering title track, a mission statement of determination set to a tight three-minute crunch. “Waiting” follows with soulful vocal phrasing and moody verses that explode into a harmonized guitar-keyboard climax. The punchy “Long Shot” rides a streetwise groove, while the side closes on “Woman,” a sprawling power ballad that gradually builds from delicate keys and vocals into a towering, dramatic finish.

Side B kicks off with “Jailbait,” a sleazy barroom stomper offset by the melodic bounce of “I Think I Got It,” a short-form glam-pomp track. “Evil” descends into darker territory with menacing riffs and vocal howls, culminating in the radio-ready anthems “Live a Little” and “Flyin’ Too High,” the latter a fist-pumper that channels the band’s hard rock heroics with AOR finesse.

Singer Rick Sanford and guitarist Roger Romeo share lead vocals, with keyboardist Mike Prince providing harmonies and rhythm guitar. Bassist Michael “Diamond” Gargano contributed the album’s visual concept.

A1. “Diamond Is a Hard Rock” (3:12)
A2. “Waiting” (4:53)
A3. “Long Shot” (3:31)
A4. “Woman” (6:44)

B1. “Jailbait” (3:22)
B2. “I Think I Got It” (2:50)
B3. “Evil” (5:21)
B4. “Live a Little” (3:27)
B5. “Flyin’ Too High” (3:15)

Sessions occurred at Cherokee Studios and A&M Studios in Los Angeles, with production by Eddie Leonetti — best known for his later work with Angel, Detective, and Yesterday & Today. Lee DeCarlo engineered the sessions, assisted by Cheech Damico and Skip Cottrell.

Vince Topazio illustrated the album cover: a black-leather-gloved fist punching through a metallic red vault door, sending shards of flying steel. The knuckles glint with a massive diamond ring, a direct visual pun on the album title. The Legs Diamond logo appears above the impact zone engraved in red. It reappears on the photo-spread backside in trademark chrome.

A Diamond Is a Hard Rock gained cult admiration for its fusion of glam flash, arena rock grit, and elaborate arrangements — positioning Legs Diamond as America’s answer to the UK pomp rockers.

Fire Power

Legs Diamond released their third album, Fire Power, in 1979 on Cream Records. It eschews the lavishness of prior albums for a streamlined blend of hard rock, balladry, and funk-pop.

Fire Power opens with “Underworld King,” a tense, riff-driven number that relives earlier fury with Rick Sanford’s commanding vocals and Roger Romeo’s sharp guitar bursts. “More Than Meets the Eye” introduces a melodic AOR angle, followed by a reverent but softened cover of “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’.” “Remember My Name” shifts into light pomp with layered keys from Mike Prince and a bittersweet tone, while “Chicago” taps into brisk boogie-rock rhythms.

Side B kicks off with the funky rocker “Midnight Lady,” driven by Romeo’s groove-laced guitar and tight ensemble interplay. The Hudson Brothers-penned “Help Wanted” mixes funk and harmony pop, while “Come With Me” (originally a CD bonus track on the debut) returns with a polished re-recording. The moody ballad “Tragedy” precedes the rousing closer “Man at the Top,” a spirited slice of AOR uplift.

A1. “Underworld King” (3:38)
A2. “More Than Meets the Eye” (3:03)
A3. “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” (3:23)
A4. “Remember My Name” (4:36)
A5. “Chicago” (3:01)

B1. “Midnight Lady” (3:39)
B2. “Help Wanted” (3:34)
B3. “Come With Me” (4:02)
B4. “Tragedy” (3:28)
B5. “Man at the Top” (4:07)

Sessions took place at Gold Star Studios with producers Walter P. Marriner Jr. and Legs Diamond. All five members—Rick Sanford (vocals, flute), Roger Romeo (guitar, vocals), Mike Prince (keyboards, rhythm guitar, vocals), Michael “Diamond” Gargano (bass), and Jeff Poole (drums, percussion)—returned for this release, rounding out their original trio of albums with a sleek, transitional work.

Cream lifted “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” and “Help Wanted” as singles. Legs Diamond disbanded in 1980 but regrouped in 1983 amid cult interest in their three albums.

Out on Bail

Legs Diamond released their fourth album, Out on Bail, in 1984 on Target (US), Metronome (Germany), and Music for Nations (UK).

Issued as a six-track mini-LP, Out on Bail marked Legs Diamond’s return after a five-year hiatus. With a new lineup anchored by vocalist Rick Sanford and longtime keyboardist–guitarist Michael Prince, the band embraced a punchier, synth-laced AOR sound in line with the mid-‘80s rock climate.

The album opens with the title track, a tightly wound hard rocker with choppy riffs and defiant lyrics co-written by drummer Jeff Poole and new guitarist Jim May. “Fugitive” follows with brooding dynamics and echo-laden atmospherics, while “Walk Away” contrasts a moody intro with an anthemic chorus and soaring bridge.

Side B kicks off with “Find It Out the Hard Way,” another May–Prince co-write driven by persistent synth lines and dark melodic turns. “Nobody’s Fool,” penned solely by Prince, leans into glossy power-pop territory with layered harmonies. The album concludes with “One Way Ticket,” a dramatic seven-minute number that shifts between balladic verses and triumphant refrains.

A1. “Out on Bail” (3:41)
A2. “Fugitive” (4:11)
A3. “Walk Away” (4:50)

B1. “Find It Out the Hard Way” (4:10)
B2. “Nobody’s Fool” (3:40)
B3. “One Way Ticket” (7:22)

Sessions took place at Sound City Studios with Mark Smith handling production, engineering, and arrangements. The lineup featured Rick Sanford (vocals), Michael Prince (keyboards, guitar, vocals), Jim May (guitar, vocals), Mike Christie (bass, vocals), and Jeff Poole (drums, vocals).

The 1985 reissue of Out on Bail added two bonus tracks: “Doomsday Flight” and “Seems Like a Dream,” both drawn from the band’s early 1980s sessions.

The album’s cover shows the band posed side-to-side in casual rocker attire in a dark-alley setting.

Land of the Gun

Legs Diamond released their fifth album, Land of the Gun, in 1986 on Target, Metronome, and Music for Nations.

The album finds Legs Diamond embracing slick mid-Eighties AOR production with a new rhythm section—bassist Mike Christie and drummer Jonathan Valen—backing the returning core trio of vocalist Rick Sanford, guitarist Jim May, and keyboardist–guitarist Michael Prince. Though the band retained its melodic hard rock roots, Land of the Gun is polished with studio sheen, sax solos, and lush backing vocals from guest players including Ernie Watts and Jason Scheff (then of Chicago).

The album opens with “My Own Game,” a bold, riff-heavy rocker driven by May’s punchy chords and Sanford’s assertive vocal. “Falling In Love” follows with a brighter melodic turn, while “Waitin’ for the Nite” coasts on uptempo hooks and crisp synth stabs. Side A closes with “Steal a Heart,” a slow-burning ballad that builds to a searing climax.

Side B includes the emotionally charged “Turn to Stone” and the synth-heavy “Raggedy Man,” both rich in atmospherics. “Rock Doktor” brings a tongue-in-cheek glam swagger before the title track, “Land of the Gun,” closes the set with dramatic flair and layered instrumentation.

A1. “My Own Game” (4:05)
A2. “Falling in Love” (4:18)
A3. “Waitin’ for the Nite” (3:51)
A4. “Steal a Heart” (5:35)

B1. “Turn to Stone” (4:31)
B2. “Raggedy Man” (4:06)
B3. “Rock Doktor” (4:01)
B4. “Land of the Gun” (4:16)

Sessions took place at Fiddler Studio with engineering and co-production by Robert Biles. May and Prince co-produced the album and co-wrote most of the material. Guest contributions include saxophonist Ernie Watts on “Land of the Gun,” and backing vocals by Jason Scheff on multiple cuts.

While less heavy than the band’s ’70s output, Land of the Gun showcases Legs Diamond’s adaptability during the melodic rock peak of the mid-’80s, balancing radio-friendly polish with their enduring sense of drama and craftsmanship.

Discography: