Hackensack

Hackensack formed first in 1969 and its origins and ancestry are obscure, but by ’71 founder Nicky Moore (who later replaced Bruce Dickinson who had moved on to Iron Maiden as frontman in Samson) felt he had put the right band together and started touring heavily.

By 1972 they were playing well over 250 concerts a year non-stop across Britain and Europe. That year, Island released their first and only single, the non-album Moving On / River Boat. The single was produced by Muff Winwood, older brother of Steve (both ex-Spencer Davis Group), who later produced Dire Straits’ debut (’78) and the first hits of Sparks. He was also working as A & R at Island. Hackensack also supported label-mates Mott The Hoople on their Rock ‘n’ Roll Circus tour a few months earlier.

Polydor eventually released the first and only album in 1974: Up The Hardway. The LP is a mix of straight heavy boogie and ballads with quality vocals and guitar. The line-up was Nicky Moore (lead vocals, guitar, electric piano), Ray Smith (lead guitar, vocals), Paul Martinez (bass), and Simon Fox (drums, percussion). Smith was soon better-known as Ray Majors, changing his name to avoid confusion with the guitarist of another Island band, Albert Lee’s Heads, Hands & Feet. The album’s first CD release, allegedly under licence, was by the French re-issue company Red Fox Records in 2002.