Alan Merrill, Love Express

"Love Express" was originally written in London by Alan Merrill and Terry Taylor (now of Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings band) in 1977 for the last vestiges of the band Arrows. Merrill and Taylor had signed on with ATV Music as staff songwriters in '77 and did a demo of this song that was covered by the Steve Collier band.
Several years later in 1980 Merrill was playing guitar in the USA with arena rock god (Rick) Derringer, and played him the song and Rick liked it enough to cover it. They recorded the song in the studio with the Derringer band, and Merrill sang lead and played lead guitar. Rick played rhythm and sang background vocals. Donnie Kisselbach played bass and sang backing vocals, Jimmy Wilcox on drums, backing vocals, Benjy King played the funky keyboard parts and also did backing vocals on "Love Express".
This was an unusual departure from the early 1980s era of the Derringer band, where Rick typically sang lead and played lead guitar, so this track is a unique collector's item for that time frame. Alan Merrill, at least on this one track, is fronting the Derringer band.
Although under consideration, the track was never included on Derringer's "Good Dirty Fun" album, so Alan Merrill bought the track and put it out on his 1985 solo album on Polydor. The track was remastered and has been reissued on his "Never Pet A Burning Dog" CD in the new millennium.
The lyric by Merrill is laden with metaphors from the libido as nuanced as flying mallets. Hence the subtle train references in the sildeshow. Yes, I am smiling.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• alan-merrill
• rock
• rick-derringer
• donnie-kisselbach
• jimmy-wilcox
• benjy-king
• love-express
• eighties
• arrows

[jojoranter]

Cool groove, the drummer is great. Catchy sexy song!!

[tsunamisasumi]

@jojoranter Yeah, good for dancing!

[thickmickslick]

1982- Alan's musically influenced by Michael Jackson on this this one for sure. RIP MJ.

[aleecat75]

Jimmy Wilcox drums, Donnie Kisselbach bass and Benjy King on keyboards, the 1980 Derringer band.

[kylesinglefile]

Since they did this track in 1981- Donnie Kisselbach's been with The Turtles, Fiona and also Alice Cooper, Benjy King has recently done the Scandal reunion, not sure if Jimmy Wilcox was a part of that tho'. Jimmy was with Scandal and Blue Oyster Cult. Derringer's gone solo. Alan Merrill spent some time with Meat Loaf after Derringer and then also went solo.

Whew....

[janespears1962]

LOL the 1980 line-up was my fav ;) I def should've taken up one offer-a recording session reminder by 'the bossman' got in the way of a great Chance-ah those were the days-yes they were-miracles everywhere-ere are they now?! JungleJane1962 back then known as Red.......

[whataracket]

I have always loved that 1985 Polydor album cover of Merrill by Deb Feingold. A great eighties photo.

[aleecat75]

I know~  ( - * }}

[kaibyogoten]

Meaning is like a pizza express? lol

[vivicola]

It is Rick Derringer and Alan Merrill on guitars here. I have the album. Merrill's playing lead on this cut.