Dave Walker & Bob Brunning appreciation thread

[becca]

Although they were only briefly part of FM, I feel these two have made significant contributions to the group. Dave Walker's vocals on Penguin are treasures and it's sad that he left Savoy Brown just to be told after barely being part of FM that his services were no longer required. Bob Brunning's Behind The Masks book indicates Walker was devestated at the time and that his career never recovered. Also that the reasons for his firing were because he was too overpowering and too strong of a front person. The FM side of things is that Walker was basically forced upon them by manager Davis. What remains are a pitance of great tracks with Walker; they have really grown on me at least. I very much wish there had been more! Walker's drinking doesn't seem to have been a genuine issue in my opinion though given what Mick and John could put away.

As for Brunning, his bass is different from John's and he contributed well to the earliest FM recordings. I like John's bass a lot and he was certainly worth waiting for. I think Brunning and Bob Hall's Tramp records with Fleetwood and Kirwan are real gems. Aagain, I wish there had been more!

Overall I'm glad for these brief appearances by walker and brunning as they have led me, and no doubt many others, into checking out their other work.