Keith Glass

Probably the name ROSS RYAN brings a �whatever happened to?� response from most people these days.

But in the early 1970s his quirky singer/songwriter material not only brought hits but a slew of major label albums that inexplicably dried up with the last, Smiling For The Camera coming out over 20 years ago. Since then his biggest hit I Am Pegasus still fires up on hits and memories radio but the man himself has been even less than low key, averaging by his own estimation about "two gigs a year" over the past decade.

He has spent that time building his own studio, ironically intended for his own use but sidetracked by outside projects for SPECTRUM, JOJO LESLIE, DALE JUNER, PAUL WOOKEY and more. All the time he was warming up for a new project but explains "it wasn�t like people were beating down the door waiting for the album. I�ve walked away from albums in the past thinking �I wish we�d done this or that�. I didn�t have deadline pressures so I thought I�d do one that I like."

The result is One Person Queue, a finely manicured and honed work with an astounding variety of styles and sounds and guest performers snatched from past clients and present friends. Ross comments he spent "two and a half years plus installing the equipment and learning how to use it" and admits to maybe being a little obsessive/compulsive about the project. He is quick to point out "there is actually a huge drawback with infinite tracks because you have infinite options, I always worked live solo, for economic reasons, but the stuff I�m known for was recorded with orchestras and lots of extras. If I had the bucks I�d be BRIAN WILSON."

Not that obsessive/compulsive please Ross, but he did have the luxury of not watching any clock except his own biological one. He adds, "I wanted to craft what I did, for instance Not Our Time only came about because ANDREW CLERMONT came in and dumped a load of stuff on my hard drive which I spent a month turning into an arrangement."

Also joining in is Spectrum�s MIKE RUDD, MARK HOLDEN, GLYN MASON, sax/harmonica man STEVE WILLIAMS (from JOHN FARNHAM�S band), the aforementioned Ms Leslie and Brisbane choir THE O.K. CHORALE. The latter were briefly visiting Victoria and Ross grabbed them for the gospel closer Walk On Water. JoJo is on Ross� favourite cut The Only Show In Town � he says "it took ages to write and I agonised over the lyrics but it turned out to be easy to record and I like it!

The former budding country star (Jo Jo) is also on the current country single Cool Water while Mike Rudd plays harmonica and even yodels on the bluegrass style breakdown Look Out For The Ricochet, a real rootin� tootin rip snorter.

So is Ross Ryan now a country artist? "You tell me" he says, "the country market has been very accommodating and is playing my stuff."

With gigs increasing and more fun projects in mind � he is planning to go out with Mark Holden as �Idol & Idle� for instance - Ross Ryan is pretty contented with his lot. The album release date is promised for about the time you may read this along with a chance for immortality for the many who have responded to an offer to have their name engraved on the accompanying booklet in a brilliant promotional stunt thought up by Coathanger Productions. A load of Ross Ryan fans won�t have to ask anymore �whatever happened�� because (to paraphrase an old country song) "it�s happening to the whole country!".