Railroad Gin
| Company type | Ensemble / Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1968 in Brisbane, Australia |
| Defunct | 1977 |
| Headquarters | Brisbane , Australia |
| Products | Soul and R&B music, albums, singles |
Railroad Gin was an Australian ensemble specializing in soul and R&B, originating from Brisbane in 1968. In 1970, Laurie Stone became part of the group, contributing keyboards, vocals, saxophone, and trombone. By September 1971, Carol Lloyd took on the role of lead singer. The band issued two albums under Polydor Records: A Matter of Time (1974) and Journey's End (1976), before dissolving in 1977. According to musicologist Ian McFarlane, they were known for their dynamic live performances and a commercially appealing fusion of soul, brass-infused R&B, and rhythm-heavy hard rock. Phil Shields, a founding member, passed away in May 2006; Lloyd died in February 2017 at 68 due to pulmonary fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
1968–1971: Formation and early period
Railroad Gin emerged in Brisbane during 1968 as a band focused on soul and R&B genres. The initial members were Phil Shields and Glen Rickwood on guitars, Dimitri Jansons handling bass duties, Geoff Fitzgibbon providing vocals and flute, alongside Danny Murphy on drums. Fitzgibbon served as the original frontman.
Beginning as a group performing soul and blues covers, they built a reputation for spirited shows featuring R&B tracks from artists such as Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett. Their concerts were notable for engaging the audience actively, steering clear of extended solos, and typically concluding with their distinctive interpretation of "Try a Little Tenderness" inspired by Otis Redding.
Shields and Rickwood had collaborated since 1964 but officially formed the band after finishing school in 1968. Jansons joined immediately thereafter, followed by Murphy on drums and Fitzgibbon on vocals, who also suggested the name Railroad Gin. Their debut public appearance took place in early 1969 at Brisbane’s The Open Door venue, which led to a regular residency at Quentins—a prominent R&B spot in Brisbane—where they quickly gained popularity.
The drummer position saw several changes with John Hunter, Selwyn Wright (formerly of Parade), and Trevor Fielding (previously with Einstein's Theory) all taking turns. Laurie Stone (ex-The Touch) joined in 1970, broadening the band's instrumentation with keyboards, saxophone, trombone, and vocals. Other contributors included trumpet player Shields, flautist Fitzgibbon, versatile musician Peter Evans, percussionist Bob Brown, and vocalist Carol Lloyd. Former drummer Selwyn Wright also added bongos and congas; Paul Murphy (ex-Thursday's Children) made guest appearances on vocals and harmonica. Their performances often featured large line-ups that created immersive musical experiences.
By 1971, after Rickwood and Fitzgibbon left the group, Railroad Gin shifted their musical approach. Carol Lloyd assumed lead vocal duties as the band pursued a new artistic direction with her as the frontwoman.
1972–1977: Subsequent developments
The lineup by 1973 comprised Gary Evans, Peter Evans, Jansons, Lloyd, Shields, Stone, and Bob Brown. After signing with Polydor Records, they released their first album A Matter of Time in 1974. Musicologist Ian McFarlane described this work as merging influences from Shocking Blue, Jethro Tull, and Steely Dan with a guitar- and flute-driven hard rock sound. The album’s title track—co-written by Lloyd and Stone—achieved the number one spot on Brisbane charts in June 1974. Stone was credited with writing or co-writing seven out of nine songs on the album. Gary Evans had replaced Trevor Fielding on drums by this point.
Noteworthy events during this period included record-breaking concerts held at Brisbane Botanic Gardens and a Rock Mass performance at St John's Cathedral accompanied by the Queensland Youth Orchestra.
In May 1974 they opened for Suzi Quatro at Brisbane's Festival Hall. Following Lloyd’s departure in August 1975 to embark on a solo path, Judee Ford (formerly of Tramway) stepped in as lead singer. The band then toured major eastern Australian cities along with Adelaide. In December of that year Jansons exited the group and was succeeded by Jim Dickson on bass. Their sophomore album Journey's End, released in October 1976, maintained the style of its predecessor but adopted a smoother Adult Oriented Rock (AOR) approach reminiscent of Chicago, Styx, and Fleetwood Mac.
By late 1976 Roger Murray had taken over bass duties while Col Wilson was on drums. Early in 1977 Stone left the ensemble which soon afterward disbanded altogether. McFarlane summarized their legacy as delivering "intense live shows" that fused soul music with brassy R&B elements and rhythm-focused hard rock. Following this period Stone formed Moscos and later the duo Stone releasing a self-titled album in 1979 before transitioning into composing television and film scores including work on The Flying Doctors from 1986 onward. He eventually relocated to Los Angeles during the 1990s.
Phil Shields passed away in May 2006 while Carol Lloyd died in February 2017 due to interstitial pulmonary fibrosis combined with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at age 68.
Studio albums
| Album Title | Release Details | Highest Chart Positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||
| A Matter of Time |
|
35 |
| Journey's End |
|
— |
Singles
| Single Title | Release Year | Highest Chart Positions | Associated Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | |||
| "Matter of Time" | 1974 | 47 | A Matter of Time |
| "Do Ya' Love Me" / "The Academy Rock" | 59 | Standalone single | |
| "You Told the World" | 1975 | 53 | Standalone single |
| "The Keeper and the Lord" | — | Standalone single | |
| "Journeys End" | 1976 | 53 | Journey's End |