Country Home / Ace Of Sunlight

I first heard Bronco on the Island sampler "Bumpers", providing the title track I guess (Bumpers West) and went out and bought Country Home. Then along came the sampler "El Pea" & the track Sudden Street & off I went to buy Ace of Sunlight, despite it having one of the most unappealing sleeves of all time! Two nil to Island's marketing department!I thought a CD reissue was never going to happen, so hats off to the guys at BGO Records. The sound is good and you get an informative booklet. However, said booklet refers to the single Lazy Now/A Matter of Perspective but does not include the single in the reissue. The booklet also mentions that the version of Sudden Street on El Pea was different to the album version. Yes it was (better as I recall). That version is not included either. I can't imagine that this CD will sell widely outside the band's original fans so such omissions seem mean. 5 stars for the music on the CD and to BGO for caring. 1 star off for them not caring quite enough.

I first heard Country Home when I was at Uni in the early 70's, thanks to an amazing friend called Alison. It stuck a chord with me, particularly the terrifyingly brilliant guitar work in "Well, Anyhow". I have it on an LP, but have waited for many years to find that someone has finally done the decent thing and put it onto a CD. Oh how I loved my trip down memory lane, the whole album flows beautifully with a mixture of blues, rock, and the slightest hint of country hillbilly, but the whole is a great soundtrack for life, particularly for trips to the country on a lovely sunny day. Hard to define the genre as it crosses several, but do give it a whirl if you loved the 70's rock music, it should press the right buttons for you.

Jess Roden is one of the most underrated singer/songwriters of his generation. I've followed his career since he fronted The Alan Bown (Set) in the mid 60s and saw them several times at Newcastle's Mayfair. He left in 1969 to form Bronco and I couldn't wait for the release of their debut album Country Home the following year. Backed by a talented set of musicians including guitarists Kevyn Gammond and Robbie Blunt, the album still sounds as fresh and vibrant 48 years later. Well Anyhow, Bumpers West and Time are the stand-out tracks on a country rock LP if it's to be pigeon holed. The second album Ace of Sunlight was OK with Sudden Street the most memorable track, but I still prefer their first album. Nevertheless, it's great to have them both on one cd. By the way Roden's replacement in The Alan Bown was a little-known singer called Robert Palmer.

Ah Bronco, first heard them back in 1970 on Island Records great sampler - Bumpers with the track Love. Went out and bought the album at the time ( still got it ) but no longer own a turntable deck so seeing their 2 albums, Country Home and Ace of Sunlight on one cd was an obvious purchase and I’m not disappointed. Would I recommend ? Yes. Give them a listen

Early Jess Rodin band, with two albums of great interest. By the third and last Bronco album, Jess Rodin had moved on, but still a good album to check out. They should have had better success than they did. Great listen.

Im sure i've reviewed this before....Very evocative of its time.Jess Rodens voice is yet another example of ONE that got away.I would say a bit like Robert Palmers bands ,the content of the songwriting is not good enough.Thats not to say that the musicians were not up to it, just no memorable songs. BUT good listening none the less.

This is a brilliant purchase of a band featuring Jess Roden.I first heard of Bronco through 2 Samplers "Bumpers" and "El Pea" featuring 2 great songs "Love" and "Sudden Street".Thank you to BGO Records for releasing 2 albums on one CD of a brilliant rock album.I have been searching in record shops for years to get these 2 albums.The extensive sleeve notes make it an essential buy for anyone who enjoys British blue eyed soul from an under-rated 70's band.

Great to have these back in the collection. A reminder of old and good times!