Chilli Willi And The Red Hot Peppers - Kings Of The Robot Rhythm (1972)

Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers were one of the main British pub rock groups of the early 1970s. Later managed by Jake Riviera, who first worked for the band as a roadie, they reached their peak as part of the "Naughty Rhythms Tour" of 1975, along with other stalwarts of the same scene, Dr. Feelgood and Kokomo, each band alternately headlining on different dates.
The band has its origins in a folk-rock duo formed by ex-Junior's Blues Band members Martin Stone and Philip C. Lithman. Lithman moved to San Francisco in the late 1960s, leaving Stone to play with Savoy Brown and Mighty Baby. The duo reunited in the early 1970s, recording “Kings of the Robot Rhythm” with vocalist Jo Ann Kelly and various members of Brinsley Schwarz. The album was released in 1972; the same year, the duo expanded, adding Paul "Dice Man" Bailey, Paul "Bassman" Riley, and Pete Thomas to the line-up.
During the next two years, Chilli Willi & The Red Hot Peppers became a popular live act in Britain, and recorded two John Peel Sessions for BBC Radio 1, on 9 April 1973 and 25 July 1974. The band split in 1975, Thomas became the drummer for Elvis Costello's backing band, The Attractions; Riley played with Graham Parker; Bailey formed Bontemps Roulez; and Stone played with the Pink Fairies before quitting the music industry.
Lithman moved back to San Francisco where he began to work with his former associates, The Residents, under the name Snakefinger.

Track listing

01. "Living Out My Suitcase"  (Stone, Lithman)  - 4:50 
02. "The Ballad Of Chilli Willi"  (Stone, Lithman)  - 3:18 
03. "Window Pane"  (Stone, Lithman)  - 2:55 
04. "I'll Be Home"  (Stone, Lithman)  - 2:16 
05. "Nashville Rag"  (Lithman)  - 2:41 
06. "That's All Right Mamma"  (Lithman)  - 4:39 
07. "Drunken Sunken Red Neck Blues"  (Stone, Lithman)  - 2:32 
08. "Get Your Gauge Up Let Your Love Come Down"  (Stone, Lithman)  - 1:44 
09. "Happy You/Fiddle Dee"  (Stone, Lithman)  - 3:38 
10. "Astrella From The Astral Planet"  (Stone, Lithman)  - 2:23 
11. "Paper Mill"  (Lithman)  - 5:54 
12. "A Page In History"  (Stone, Lithman)  - 3:55 

Credits
Guitar, Bandura [Bandurra], Resonator Guitar [Dobro] – Martin Stone
Synthesizer [Ragtime Vcs3] – Dave "What Part Of The World Do You Come From Sweety" Vorhaus
Vocals – Jo Ann Kelly
Vocals, Guitar, Resonator Guitar [Dobro], Steel Guitar [Steel], Fiddle, Piano, Synthesizer [Vcs3], Mellotron, Performer [Banjolele] – Philip "Snake Finger" Lithman
Vocals, Piano – Bob Andrews
Bass – English John Fox
Bass, Vocals – Nick Lowe
Drums – Billy Rankin
Drums [Moroccan Hand Drums] – Barry Everitt
Engineer – Dave Vorhaus
Engineer [Cut] – John Smith 
Engineer [Mix] – Dave Humphries, Keith Allen
Producer – Ed Gimbo Da Bop

Notes
Genre:  Blues Folk, Pub Rock
Label:  Revelation Enterprises Ltd.
Length:  40:42

© 1972