Gary Holton & Casino Steel

In the early 80s Gary Holton & Casino Steel made four albums together. On some sites this is reported as three - I have it on good authority that even Casino Steel himself doesn't own a copy of the fourth one and so can only assume its rarity has confused many. However it does exist and commands high prices on Ebay (meaning that I don't own a copy).

A friend first mentioned them as they'd been referenced in a Hanoi Rocks interview way-back-when and I stumbled across copies of the first two (Holton And Steel and Part II) in the Camden Record & Tape Exchange.

Comprising of covers of country and western songs (Ruby), sixties standards (Del Shannon's Runaway; The Beatles' No Reply) as well revisiting their own back catalogues (versions of The Boys' B-17 and the Heavy Metal Kids' She's No Angel both make appearances) and some new material for good measure (Good Ol' Gary) these albums are well worth digging out by anyone with a passing interest in either of the artists involved or the quirkier side of trash rock & roll.

The Hanoi link goes a little deeper, with Michael Monroe of course covering She's No Angel on both of his first two solo outings, as well as Jimmy Brown on 2003's Whatcha Want. I also can't help but feel that the Suicide Twins' Silver Missiles & Nightingales wouldn't have existed without this series of albums.




See also:
Hollywood Brats