Hughes/Thrall
| Company type | Musical collaboration |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Founder | Glenn Hughes, Pat Thrall |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Hughes/Thrall emerged as a musical collaboration in 1982, featuring bassist and vocalist Glenn Hughes, formerly of Deep Purple and Trapeze, alongside guitarist Pat Thrall.
History
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Pat Thrall had established himself through his work with groups such as Automatic Man and Pat Travers. Meanwhile, after the breakup of Deep Purple in 1976, Glenn Hughes released a solo album titled Play Me Out, which showcased a sound rooted more in soul and funk than hard rock. Despite its release, the album achieved modest success, and Hughes gradually receded from the public eye except for sporadic guest appearances.
In 1981, after moving to Los Angeles to craft new music, Hughes teamed up with Thrall, having been impressed by his guitar skills. Together they began composing and recording under the guidance of producer Andy Johns, renowned for his collaborations with Led Zeppelin, Free, and The Rolling Stones. Their joint debut album, Hughes/Thrall, was launched in August 1982.
Released through Boulevard Records—a brief Epic Records subsidiary—the album garnered critical praise but suffered from inadequate promotion and underwhelming sales figures. Hughes later cited that both he and Thrall’s battles with substance abuse played a role in limiting their ability to support the album through touring.
The record blended accessible album-oriented rock with influences drawn from post-punk and new wave, contributing to the shaping of rock music throughout the 1980s. Over time, it has achieved a dedicated cult following.
To promote the album, Hughes/Thrall embarked on a short U.S. tour, performing in locations such as California and Texas as opening acts for Santana. The tour featured drummer Tommy Aldridge and keyboardist Jesse Harms as part of the live ensemble.
Further collaborations
Although Hughes and Thrall worked on demo recordings intended for a second album, the project was eventually abandoned. Some of these demos have surfaced over time but generally remain of limited audio quality.
One track from these unfinished sessions, "Still the Night," was featured on the 1985 Phenomena album with Hughes providing vocals. The song also appeared on guitarist John Norum’s 1992 release Face the Truth. Thrall recorded an alternate version titled "Steal the Night" alongside Tony Liddle and Billy Rush; however, it remained in demo form.
In 1987, Hughes and Thrall reunited briefly to contribute "City of Crime" to the soundtrack of the film Dragnet. This single included rap verses performed by Hanks and Aykroyd, with Hughes delivering the chorus vocals. A promotional video accompanied the release and received substantial airplay on MTV.
Two other songs originally intended for their shelved follow-up project—"You Were Always There" and "Devil in You"—were later re-recorded by Hughes alone for his 1994 solo album From Now On..., without Thrall’s participation.
Thrall’s most recent involvement with Hughes came on the 1995 album Feel, where he contributed guitar work, keyboards, and co-writing credits across eight tracks.
Hughes/Thrall follow-up
In 2006, Hughes and Thrall revealed their intention to create a sequel to their 1982 album, progressing into the final phases of recording by September with an anticipated release set for 2007.
This development was accompanied by the launch of hughesthrall.com and a remastered edition of their original album issued by Rock Candy Records in January 2007, which included two extra tracks.
By 2007, the release of the new album was postponed to 2008, consisting of thirteen tracks—eleven newly written songs alongside two from previous recording sessions.
In June 2009, Hughes announced that the project had been abandoned due to production setbacks, deciding to move forward after more than ten years since its inception in 1997.
On September 2, 2016, Thrall appeared on stage with Hughes in Las Vegas, performing two Hughes & Thrall songs during Hughes' solo tour.
Studio albums
- Hughes/Thrall (1982, remastered 2007)
Other collaborations between Glenn Hughes and Pat Thrall
- "City of Crime" (1987) - Single from the soundtrack of the movie Dragnet
- Feel - Glenn Hughes (1995)
Singles that charted
1983 "Beg, Borrow Or Steal" PEAK: #79 (US)
Line-up
Additional musicians in studio recordings
- Gary Ferguson – Drums
- Frankie Banali – Drums
- Gary Mallaber – Drums
- Peter Schless – Keyboards
Additional live performance musicians
- Tommy Aldridge – Drums
- Jesse Harms – Keyboards