on the line

Band that evolved from Rhinoceros when band members returned to Toronto and released this one rare album on GRT records. Blackstone (featuring Finley, Fonfara, Hodgson and Leishman from the final Rhinoceros line-up) came together in July 1972. The group was completed with a new drummer, the late Richard Steinberg and the late singer and harp player Frank 'Zeke' Sheppard, who'd played with Leishman in Mainline. More importantly the new band saw the welcomed return of Danny Weis. With a suitable collection of songs to record, Finley invited his old friend Paul Rothchild up to Toronto to produce the band, a wise move bearing in mind that the original Rhinoceros members had enjoyed their greatest success with Rothchild at the helm. A deal with GRT was arranged and an album entitled 'On The Line' was duly cut on two-track at Toronto's RCA Recording Studios in a bid to recoup some of the group's and Rothchild's financial losses with this latest project. "On The Line" contains some excellent songs, notably a cover of Dr John's 'Qualified', and the Weis- Steinberg collaboration 'Mountain'"