A lot of record companies didn't think that Gregg was creative or reliable anymore. It was very frustrating for us because to me, he had never sung better. And the material was some of the best things I'd heard in a while. Then we got the" I'm No Angel" song demoed . We had the song in the can for a couple of years. Probably around 1985 or 1986. Finally, Epic Records, having passed on Gregg on more than one occasion, wanted to talk again. So we went to New York and talked and they came to some gigs and we signed the deal with them and cut that record. In fact, it's probably the biggest seller of any of the records since the original Capricorn releases. The video was the number nine video on MTV for the year. In between that record coming out from like 1983 and 1987, we were out pounding the circuit and Gregg started to build it back up again. We were making some decent money. It was just starting to get really big again. Did a lot of shows with Stevie Ray Vaughan who was also a client of Alex's com- pany.
JW What was the "Just Before The Bul- lets Fly " tour like? WP That was back in 1988. We actually felt the record was an ever better one than I'm No Angel. Gregg thought that his work on Bullets was a progression from the last album. It did- n't sell as well as I'm No Angel though. We had a number one AOR track from the title track. I guess there were two cuts off of that album that were number one AOR tracks, but it didn't sell as well. The company just was not behind it. It was getting a lot of airplay but it just wasn't selling as well as Angel.
JW What do you think of the One More Try compilation CD of Gregg's previous material? WP Well, everything but the kitchen sink is in there. There is some good stuff. It was put to- gether as a compilation. There is some pretty raw material in there.
JW Which I think gives it a lot of flavor. WP Yeah, I really like the solo album Gregg did last year Searching for Simplicity. I re- ally thought that was a great record!
JW How would you contrast Alex Hodge's style as far as his approach to production and promotion with Phil Walden's WP Well, they both believed in heavy touring. Their personalities were completely different. It's hard to contrast people. I like and respect them both. They are both very talented and good businessmen and I have a good relation- ship with both of them.
JW Tell us about Frank and Dan Toler, what it was like working with them, and what are the they doing these days? WP Well they are both living down in Sara- sota now. Frankie had done some playing with Marshall Tucker. They've periodically done some Toler Brothers touring. They worked some with a guy named Mike Reilly who is a client of mine. I had never really met them until I went to work with Gregg in No- vember of 1983, but immediately got along great with them. They are both great guys who are fun to work with and be around and excellent musicians. I have the greatest re- spect for both of them.
JW They seem to really gel well with Gregg's style. WP Right. They had some great shows.
JW Gregg toured with Stevie Ray Vaughan in 1987. What was it like being on the road with these two tal- ents? WP Basically, we were doing the sheds, which was the summer circuit. We were the opening act. And of course on all those shows you've got to get there on time and play and get off. It's real businesslike. And they all look the
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